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3D Muscle Journey

3D Muscle Journey
3D Muscle Journey
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315 episodes

  • 3D Muscle Journey

    #316: Maintenance Phases in Bodybuilding

    2026/09/03 | 1h 12 mins.
    Brian, Alberto, and Brad discuss the benefits of maintenance phases, why they are sometimes superior to gaining phases, and what to consider when setting your rate-of-weight-gain goal. Why do the coaches program less intentional surpluses than they used to? What is the difference between weight maintenance and progress maintenance? Are DEXA scans helpful for programming? How do elite powerlifters put on muscle while minimizing fat gain? If you gain 30 lbs. and your dumbbell bench press goes up 15 lbs., is that progressive overload? Do the coaches ever have athletes do dreamer bulks anymore? In what situations do the coaches tend to program an intentional surplus instead of a maintenance phase? The answers to these questions and more are covered in this episode.

    Timestamps
    0:00- Introduction
    1:32- Why the coaches program less intentional surpluses than they used to
    13:43- Weight maintenance vs. Progress Maintenance
    19:50- When setting up a gaining phase, consider the profit margin
    30:21- If you gain 30 lbs. and your dumbbell bench press goes up 15 lbs., is that progressive overload?
    34:34- Do the coaches ever have athletes do dreamer bulks anymore?
    39:00- Situations where the coaches program an intentional surplus
    48:53- Are DEXA scans (and other methods that estimate body composition) helpful for programming?
    58:33- The behavioral aspects and usefulness of maintenance phases

    Selected Links From This Episode
    Coaching By Team 3DMJ- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://3dmusclejourney.com/coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
    The Off-Season Mastery Course- https://www.3dmusclejourney.com/off-season
    3DMJ Podcast Episode #238: Cutting Weight For Powerlifting- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ3B-rC5A1c&t=46s

    Thanks for listening to The 3D Muscle Journey Podcast 💪 
    GET COACHING AND COURSES - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.3dmusclejourney.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
    Watch our show on YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/team3dmj
  • 3D Muscle Journey

    #315: The Identity Trap of Bodybuilding

    2026/08/20 | 1h 10 mins.
    Jeff, Brian, and Brad discuss how a person’s identity as a bodybuilder can change across their training career, why it’s important to see yourself as more than just a bodybuilder, and how having a limited identity can ultimately hold you back. What was Jeff’s relationship with bodybuilding like when he was in his 20s and why does he consider it “ugly”? What did Brad’s life look like when he was too obsessed with bodybuilding? What advice would Brian give his 16-year-old self? How can a person’s identity interfere with them being able to tone things down and have a more balanced approach? How can being hardcore actually be a symptom of being insecure? Why is it important to not tie your identity to a particular type of training? The answers to these questions and more are covered in this episode.

    Timestamps
    0:00- Introduction
    1:39- Who is Jeff without bodybuilding?
    13:02- The time in Brad’s life when he was too obsessed with bodybuilding
    17:52- What Brian would tell his 16-year-old self
    23:31- How a person’s identity can interfere with toning things down and taking a more balanced approach
    35:53- Brad’s equalizer analogy
    42:36- Sometimes you just need a break from bodybuilding
    46:15- Don’t tie your identity to a particular type of training
    49:02- How Jeff wears his different hats and how he views bodybuilding as a vessel
    55:54- Do the coaches think bodybuilding attracts people with bigger egos, or do they think it attracts people who want to feel better about themself?
    1:01:03- Strive for excellence not perfection

    Selected Links From This Episode
    Coaching By Team 3DMJ- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://3dmusclejourney.com/coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
    Monthly Applications In Strength Sport (MASS)- https://www.3dmusclejourney.com/mass

    Thanks for listening to The 3D Muscle Journey Podcast 💪 
    GET COACHING AND COURSES - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.3dmusclejourney.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
    Watch our show on YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/team3dmj
  • 3D Muscle Journey

    #314: Training Modifications During a Diet

    2026/08/06 | 1h 15 mins.
    Alberto, Eric, and Jeff discuss autoregulating your training while dieting and how learning to autoregulate your training is vital if you want to get the most out of yourself. How do the coaches help their athletes develop the skill of being able to autoregulate their training? How can a person’s personality influence the way they autoregulate their training? How necessary are deloads? How has Eric’s opinion on deload frequency changed? Can a person develop more grit? Why is it beneficial to expose yourself to lifters who have different perspectives than you? What is the best training split? What was Alberto’s biggest lesson from his last prep? Why are “autoregulation” and “intuitive training” *not* the same thing? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode.

    Timestamps
    0:00- Introduction
    1:55- How the way Alberto autoregulates his training changes when he’s prepping
    7:44- Jeff’s advice for beginner, intermediate, and advanced lifters
    16:47- Longer-term patterns Eric has identified in his training
    23:38- How Alberto helps his athletes develop the skill of being able to autoregulate their training
    30:36- How Jeff helps his athletes develop the skill of being able to autoregulate their training
    38:40- How Eric’s opinion on deload frequency has changed
    46:31- How Eric helps his athletes develop the skill of being able to autoregulate their training
    51:46- Purposely expose yourself to different perspectives
    56:18- The value of good coaching
    1:02:34- It’s scary to stop doing what you’ve seen success with
    1:08:45- Work with your body versus trying to make it submit to you
    1:11:07- “Autoregulation” and “intuitive training” are *not* the same thing

    Selected Links From This Episode
    Coaching By Team 3DMJ- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://3dmusclejourney.com/coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Thanks for listening to The 3D Muscle Journey Podcast 💪 
    GET COACHING AND COURSES - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.3dmusclejourney.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
    Watch our show on YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/team3dmj
  • 3D Muscle Journey

    #313: Diets For Crazy Schedules

    2026/07/23 | 1h 15 mins.
    Brad, Brian, and Alberto discuss the details that actually matter for fat loss, so you can create an eating routine that works well for you and your schedule. How many times per day do the coaches recommend eating? Does the number of times you eat per day influence your metabolic rate? Do you have to distribute your protein evenly throughout the day? What are the coaches’ thoughts on and what is the effectiveness of intermittent fasting? What are 48-hour feeding windows and how can you use them? What advice do the coaches have around pre workout nutrition? What nutritional details matter more when you’re super lean? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode.

    Timestamps
    0:00- How Brad ate during prep when he used to work graveyard shifts and how he could have done it better
    14:27- Meal-timing recommendations for drug-free athletes
    19:08- Protein-distribution recommendations during prep
    30:17- Adherence really is the base of the pyramid
    34:22- The downsides of always micromanaging your nutrition
    49:43- 48-hour feeding windows
    55:49- Pre-workout nutrition
    1:03:01- The nutritional details that matter more when you’re super lean

    Selected Links From This Episode
    Coaching By Team 3DMJ- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://3dmusclejourney.com/coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
    Monthly Applications In Strength Sport (MASS)- https://www.3dmusclejourney.com/mass

    Thanks for listening to The 3D Muscle Journey Podcast 💪 
    GET COACHING AND COURSES - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.3dmusclejourney.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
    Watch our show on YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/team3dmj
  • 3D Muscle Journey

    #312: The Mentality Required to Finish a Bodybuilding Prep

    2026/07/09 | 1h 15 mins.
    Brad, Jeff, and Brian discuss the mindset an athlete needs to have to successfully complete a bodybuilding prep and to feel good about the end results, whatever they are. What motivates the coaches to continue to execute when things get hard? How does Jeff utilize comparison to make prep feel easier? Why does getting weaker not necessarily mean you’re losing muscle? Why is training in higher rep ranges when you’re depleted maybe not the best idea? Should you proactively change your training when you start prep? What is Brad’s advice on what to do to help you feel better during those times you don’t feel good about the way you look? The answers to these questions and many more are covered in this episode.

    Timestamps
    0:00- How Jeff is feeling 4 days out from his show
    2:43- The mindset you have to have to finish a bodybuilding prep
    15:04- Trust that the reward is coming and surrender to the process
    25:13- The feeling of knowing you did everything you could
    29:03- How to handle the parts of prep when you don’t feel like you look good
    36:51- Don’t make winning the most important thing
    45:32- Why Jeff views bodybuilding as more of an art than a sport
    47:16- Tips on training during prep
    57:13- How Brad’s focus on effort has lowered his stress around the numbers when it comes to his training
    1:00:52- A loss of performance is *normal* during prep and what to do if that’s making your training not enjoyable
    1:06:50- Brad’s advice on what you can do to help you feel better during those times you don’t feel good about the way you look

    Selected Links From This Episode
    Coaching By Team 3DMJ- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://3dmusclejourney.com/coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Thanks for listening to The 3D Muscle Journey Podcast 💪 
    GET COACHING AND COURSES - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.3dmusclejourney.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
    Watch our show on YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/team3dmj
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About 3D Muscle Journey
The 5 natural bodybuilding and powerlifting coaches from 3D Muscle Journey come together for conversations dissecting the art and science of muscle and strength. Be a fly on the wall as this collective of coaches discuss the ins and outs of helping athletes reach their potential on the stage, platform and in their personal lives. Dedication. Discipline. Desire. #Team3DMJ
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