Ep 357 - WNBF Champs Heitor Sousa and Adão Martins
In this episode of Iron Culture, Eric Helms is joined by world champions Heitor Sousa and Adão Martins to discuss their journeys in natural bodybuilding. They reflect on their experiences at the WNBF Worlds, the importance of community and support, and the lessons learned from both victories and setbacks. The conversation highlights their friendship, resilience, and the significance of never giving up in the pursuit of excellence in bodybuilding. They reflect on their successful competition year, the art of bodybuilding, strategies for competing annually, the importance of health and longevity, and the supportive community within the sport. The discussion emphasizes the balance between on-season and off-season training, the significance of mental health, and the shared passion for bodybuilding that unites athletes across the globe. If you're in the market for some lifting gear or apparel, be sure to check out EliteFTS.com (and use our code "MRR10" for a 10% discount) Chapters 0:00 Introduction to Iron Culture and Competitors 02:52 The Journey of Heitor and Adao in Bodybuilding 05:58 First Competitive Experiences and Challenges 08:53 The Importance of Community and Support in Bodybuilding 12:06 Reflections on Early Competitions and Learning Experiences 15:04 The Growth and Evolution of Heitor and Adao 17:56 The Role of Feedback and Improvement in Competitions 21:00 The Significance of Perseverance in Bodybuilding 23:46 Looking Ahead: Future Goals and Aspirations 33:45 Celebrating Wins Together 36:42 Experiences from Major Competitions 39:42 Learning and Growth in Bodybuilding 42:07 The Journey to World Championships 46:12 Reflecting on 2024's Achievements 49:32 Competing Frequently and Its Impact 51:59 The Art of Bodybuilding and Continuous Improvement 57:04 Balancing Competition and Health 1:06:10 Body Composition and Individual Differences 1:08:04 Training and Nutrition Strategies for Competitors 1:10:56 The Importance of Off-Season Planning 1:13:57 Mental Approach to Training and Competition 1:17:59 Community and Relationships in Bodybuilding 1:26:57 Future Plans and Final Thoughts
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Ep 356 - Pain-Free Training (ft. Dr. John Rusin)
In this episode of Iron Culture, Eric Trexler interviews Dr. John Rusin, a personal trainer and strength coach with a doctorate in physical therapy. They discuss Dr. Rusin's journey from working with professional athletes to focusing on general population training, emphasizing the importance of injury prevention and pain management. Dr. Rusin shares insights from his new book, 'Pain-Free Performance,' which outlines foundational movement patterns and the significance of individualization in training. The conversation highlights the need for a well-rounded approach to fitness that prioritizes health and longevity alongside performance. If you're in the market for some lifting gear or apparel, be sure to check out EliteFTS.com (as use our code "MRR10" for a 10% discount) If you want to check out Dr. Rusin's new book, app, or coaching services, check out these links: https://www.amazon.com/Pain-Free-Performance-Better-Smarter-Unbreakable/dp/162860509X/ref=zg_bs_g_4645_d_sccl_95/134-5360092-2910026?psc=1  becomeunbreakable.com  https://www.drjohnrusincoaching.com  If you want to stay up-to-date with Dr. Rusin, you can check out his website and social media profiles:  https://drjohnrusin.com  https://www.instagram.com/drjohnrusin https://www.facebook.com/drjohnrusin https://www.youtube.com/@Dr.JohnRusin  Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Dr. John Rusin 02:44 Journey from Athlete to Coach 05:52 High Performance Athletics and Injury Prevention 08:46 Transitioning from Physical Therapy to Performance Coaching 11:38 The Shift to General Population and Longevity 14:43 Understanding Pain and Movement 17:34 Foundational Movement Patterns in Training 31:44 Rebuilding the Foundation: Movement Patterns and Training 40:31 The Six Physical Characteristics of Health and Longevity 52:49 Individualization and Optimization in Movement 01:00:41 Empowering Pain-Free Performance
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Ep 355 - Mindset of a Bodybuilding Champion (ft. Oscar Moscat)
In this episode of Iron Culture, Eric Helms interviews Oscar Moscat, a pro natural bodybuilder who shares his journey in the sport. Oscar discusses the importance of personal motivation, family values, and the balance between competition and self-improvement. He emphasizes the significance of finding what works for each individual in training and the camaraderie within the bodybuilding community. The conversation also touches on Oscar's training philosophy, his aspirations for the future, and his desire to inspire the next generation of athletes. As always, please be sure to support our friends at elitefts.com! If you're in the market for some new gym gear or apparel, you can use our code (MRR10) for a 10% discount Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Iron Culture and Guest Introduction 02:52 Oscar Moscat's Journey in Bodybuilding 05:48 The Competitive Spirit and Personal Growth 08:53 Balancing Family and Bodybuilding 11:45 The Mindset of a Natural Bodybuilder 14:43 Martial Arts Influence on Competitive Mindset 17:40 The Pursuit of Personal Excellence 20:45 Artistry and Competition in Bodybuilding 34:30 The Art of Bodybuilding: Beyond Competition 37:05 Genetics vs. Hard Work: A Bodybuilder's Perspective 40:35 The Mindset of a Champion: Balancing Talent and Effort 43:29 Passion and Drive: The Heart of Bodybuilding 48:52 Individuality in Training: Finding What Works for You 58:28 The Science of Bodybuilding: Applying Knowledge to Practice
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Ep 354 - All About "Central" or "Systemic" Fatigue
In this episode, Eric Trexler and Eric Helms begin by discussing Helms' competition updates and the sad state of affairs in academic publishing (that is, scientific journals). Eric and Eric then take a deep dive into the complexities of central fatigue, systemic fatigue, the accumulation of fatigue, and deloading strategies. The conversation emphasizes the importance of personalized approaches to recovery and the role of intensity in achieving hypertrophy. They close by discussing misconceptions surrounding fatigue management in bodybuilding, the necessity of understanding the mechanisms behind muscle growth, and how current trends in "evidence-based content" are leading new lifters astray. If you're in the market for new lifting gear or apparel, be sure to check out elitefts.com and use our code (MRR10) to get a 10% discount. Chapters 0:00 Introduction and Helms Bodybuilding Updates 5:17 A New Threat to the Integrity of PhDs 8:25 Academic publishing (i.e., scientific journals) is so over 26:52 Understanding Systemic and Central Fatigue 41:31 Holistic Approaches to Deloading and Fatigue Management 1:00:42 Tiger Balm and Icy Hot 1:08:04 Cardio (To Build Work Capacity for Bodybuilding) 1:15:41 Current trends in "evidence-based content" are leading new lifters astray
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Ep 353 - How To Actually Embrace Long-Term Dietary Changes
In this conversation, Eric Helms reflects on his recent competition experience, discussing the nostalgia of returning to a familiar stage and the significance of competing at a pro level. He emphasizes the importance of mindset during contest prep and the challenges of transitioning from a dieting phase to maintenance. The discussion also covers the psychological aspects of maintaining weight loss and the need for a lifestyle that supports health and fitness. Eric shares insights on setting realistic goals and the importance of community in the bodybuilding journey. In this conversation, Trexler and Helms delve into the complexities of dieting, weight maintenance, and the psychological challenges that accompany lifestyle changes. They discuss the importance of acceptance and compromise in post-diet life, the struggle of reintegrating comfort foods, and the need for empathetic approaches to dieting. The dialogue also touches on social eating dynamics and practical tips for navigating dietary choices in group settings, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and honest conversations about food and lifestyle. If you're in the market for some gym gear or apparel, please support our friends over at elitefts.com and use code "MRR10" for 10% off your order Chapters: 00:00 The California Muscle Mayhem Experience 8:20 Personal Reflections 15:40 Discussion on Food Choices and Post-Competition Plans 24:38 Post-Diet Mentality and Maintenance Challenges 44:13 Finding Balance in Dietary Lifestyle Changes 58:39 Making Goal-Directed Food Choices 1:08:57 Striking a Balance With Step Counts 1:10:50 Energy Expenditure Scaling By Body Weight/Size 1:13:32 When People Criticize Your Dietary Choices
Iron Culture was started by Eric Helms and Omar Isuf as a means of exploring the world of physical culture and attempting to distill a unified philosophy of lifting and to help listeners find greater meaning from the iron. It's now hosted by Eric Helms and Eric Trexler, who repeatedly beg Omar to return as a guest.
Iron Culture focuses on dispensing practical, useful information to the listener, bouncing from history, to philosophy, to contemporary lifting culture issues, to science. The format includes casual conversations between the two hosts on a variety of topics, discussions with a panel of experts and interviews with authoritative figures in the lifting community.
Iron Culture is proudly presented by the MASS Research Review.