The Drop Set: Bodybuilding Discussion on training, nutrition, motivation and more

This week I’m getting into what’s actually happening to your body during prep at a hormonal and metabolic level — without turning it into a physiology lecture. Leptin, cortisol, thyroid function, metabolic adaptation — these aren’t abstract concepts, they’re the reason you feel the way you feel at six weeks out, and understanding what’s driving those changes makes the experience less alarming and the decisions easier. I’ll keep it accessible but give you enough depth to actually understand what your body is doing and why. Then I’m talking about something I’m navigating in real time right now — running a full coaching business while being an athlete in my own prep. What the dual identity actually costs, how I’m managing it, and the strategy I’m using right now that’s working — staying deliberately busier than usual as a distraction tool to keep my head out of the hunger and in the work. I’ll also be honest about the fact that this approach has an expiration date, and what the pivot looks like when it stops working. Call in and leave a voicemail with your question!  865-226-9284 Bikini Blueprint is available now at pre-launch pricing – get in while it’s hot!  https://fivestarrphysique.com/bikini-blueprint/ Online coaching with Darin and a whole lot more (site updated recently!): http://fivestarrphysique.com/ Check out my online course collection, available now!  https://fivestarrphysique.com/courses/ Check me out on YouTube and subscribe to see what's coming up next:  https://www.youtube.com/@darin_starr Check me out on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thedropsetpodcast

This week I’m covering what happens after the show — and why the post-show period is one of the most important and most neglected phases of the entire prep cycle. Reverse dieting isn’t just eating more. It’s a structured process of restoring metabolic function, managing the psychological shift that follows a major goal, and setting up the next improvement season correctly. I’ll break down what’s actually happening physiologically after an extended deficit, why the rebound happens and what drives it, and what a well-managed post-show period actually looks like. Then I’m getting into something I see constantly on social media — the reflexive “just steroids” accusation that gets thrown at anyone making real progress. Most physiques people are calling enhanced are completely achievable naturally with good coaching, smart programming, and enough time. I’ve coached people there. The ‘roids card’ has become a lazy way to dismiss hard work from people who have no accurate reference point for what enhanced actually looks like versus what years of dedicated training produces — and I’m going to make that case directly. Call in and leave a voicemail with your question!  865-226-9284 Bikini Blueprint is available now at pre-launch pricing – get in while it's hot!  https://fivestarrphysique.com/bikini-blueprint/ Online coaching with Darin and a whole lot more (site updated recently!): http://fivestarrphysique.com/ Check out my online course collection, available now!  https://fivestarrphysique.com/courses/ Check me out on YouTube and subscribe to see what's coming up next:  https://www.youtube.com/@darin_starr Check me out on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thedropsetpodcast

This week I’m going deeper on posing — specifically what happens after you’ve got the mandatory poses dialed in. We’re talking about the finer points that separate technically correct from genuinely compelling on stage: transitions, weight distribution, facial expression, and how to craft a presentation that fits your specific category. I’ll also get into the mental side of show day — why everything moves faster than you practiced, why you forget what you’ve rehearsed, and why not being rushed backstage is one of the most underrated competitive advantages you have. Plus an honest conversation about routines and whether they’re actually being scored the way most competitors think. Then I’m breaking down how to troubleshoot a stalled cut systematically. Before you change anything, you need a clear picture of what’s actually happening — and most stalls are being misdiagnosed and fixed with the wrong solution. I’ll walk through the full diagnostic process: plan construction, tracking accuracy, sleep, digestion, training performance, load, cardio, and how to tell the difference between an actual stall and normal fluctuation that just feels like one. Call in and leave a voicemail with your question!  865-226-9284 Bikini Blueprint is available now at pre-launch pricing – get in while it’s hot!  https://fivestarrphysique.com/bikini-blueprint/ Online coaching with Darin and a whole lot more (site updated recently!): http://fivestarrphysique.com/ Check out my online course collection, available now!  https://fivestarrphysique.com/courses/ Check me out on YouTube and subscribe to see what's coming up next:  https://www.youtube.com/@darin_starr Check me out on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thedropsetpodcast

Today we’re going to take a break from the standard format and just dive in to some Q&A on a range of topics.  And at the end you can help me troubleshoot my new shop project with Claude – it’s more interesting than it might sound, trust me! As always you can call in and leave a question as a voicemail and I’ll play it and discuss it in an upcoming episode – 865-226-9284 Call in and leave a voicemail with your question!  865-226-9284 Bikini Blueprint is available now at pre-launch pricing – get in while it’s hot!  https://fivestarrphysique.com/bikini-blueprint/ Online coaching with Darin and a whole lot more (site updated recently!): http://fivestarrphysique.com/ Check out my online course collection, available now!  https://fivestarrphysique.com/courses/ Check me out on YouTube and subscribe to see what's coming up next:  https://www.youtube.com/@darin_starr Check me out on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thedropsetpodcast

This week I’m breaking down how to eat for your physique without letting your grocery bill get out of control. Whether you’re in prep or just trying to eat well on a budget, there are some simple swaps and principles that can cut your food costs significantly without touching your results. We’re talking bulk buying, protein source cost comparisons, why frozen vegetables are just as good as fresh for bodybuilding purposes, and why you’re probably overpaying for products you don’t need. Then I’m weighing in on something the NY Pro this weekend put front and center for me — the case for instituting weight caps in Women’s Physique and Figure. Classic Physique already does this for men and it works. Women’s divisions are overdue for the same structural guardrails. I’ll make the argument for why weight caps enforce the original intent of these divisions, create a conditioning baseline, and actually benefit newer competitors who need a clear target to aim for. Quantum computing article from TheBulletin.org mentioned in this episode Call in and leave a voicemail with your question!  865-226-9284 Bikini Blueprint is available now at pre-launch pricing – get in while it’s hot!  https://fivestarrphysique.com/bikini-blueprint/ Online coaching with Darin and a whole lot more (site updated recently!): http://fivestarrphysique.com/ Check out my online course collection, available now!  https://fivestarrphysique.com/courses/ Check me out on YouTube and subscribe to see what's coming up next:  https://www.youtube.com/@darin_starr Check me out on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thedropsetpodcast

This week I’m breaking down one of the most common training mistakes I see when athletes transition from a growth phase into prep — failing to shift the mindset around progressive overload. The goal of your training changes the day prep starts, and if your program and your expectations don’t change with it, you’re going to spend the entire prep fighting yourself. I’ll walk through what that shift actually looks like mechanically, how to manage load as the deficit deepens, and why letting go of the PR mindset isn’t a step backward — it’s the whole point. Then I’m getting into something I’ve wanted to address for a while — cookie-cutter coaching and why it’s one of the industry’s most accepted and least talked about problems. High client volume, templated programs, and championing the small percentage who succeed while quietly ignoring everyone else isn’t coaching — it’s a numbers game. I’ll cover what real individualized coaching actually requires, what the red flags look like from the athlete’s side, and what you should expect from anyone you’re paying to guide your prep. Call in and leave a voicemail with your question!  865-226-9284 Bikini Blueprint is available now at pre-launch pricing – get in while it’s hot!  https://fivestarrphysique.com/bikini-blueprint/ Online coaching with Darin and a whole lot more (site updated recently!): http://fivestarrphysique.com/ Check out my online course collection, available now!  https://fivestarrphysique.com/courses/ Check me out on YouTube and subscribe to see what's coming up next:  https://www.youtube.com/@darin_starr Check me out on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thedropsetpodcast

In this episode I break down how to build an actual training program from scratch — not just a collection of exercises, but a structured plan with intention behind every decision. From needs analysis to split selection, volume, intensity, and progression, this is the framework most people never get but every serious physique athlete needs. Plus — the financial reality of competing that nobody lays out for you before you register. Entry fees, suit costs, tan, hair, makeup, federation membership, show day incidentals, and the travel variable that catches first-timers off guard. What a local show actually costs vs. a travel show, and how to compete smart without cutting corners that show up on stage. Call in and leave a voicemail with your question!  865-226-9284 Bikini Blueprint is available now at pre-launch pricing – get in while it’s hot!  https://fivestarrphysique.com/bikini-blueprint/ Online coaching with Darin and a whole lot more (site updated recently!): http://fivestarrphysique.com/ Check out my online course collection, available now!  https://fivestarrphysique.com/courses/ Check me out on YouTube and subscribe to see what's coming up next:  https://www.youtube.com/@darin_starr Check me out on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thedropsetpodcast

I am hardly infallible (cue the sarcastic gasps of shock and horror).  I know, hard to believe right?  There have been PLENTY of times where I’ve failed as a coach and couldn’t do what I was hired to do.  I’ve built those failure out into 14 separate categories (!!!) with specific examples that I’m going to share with you today. On a lighter and less self-incriminating note, let’s talk about exercise selection and auditing your training program.  Because following a program by the book without questioning it is what rookies do, and we aren’t rookies.  Right?!!? Let’s hit it! Call in and leave a voicemail with your question!  865-226-9284 Bikini Blueprint is available now at pre-launch pricing – get in while it’s hot!  https://fivestarrphysique.com/bikini-blueprint/ Online coaching with Darin and a whole lot more (site updated recently!): http://fivestarrphysique.com/ Check out my online course collection, available now!  https://fivestarrphysique.com/courses/ Check me out on YouTube and subscribe to see what's coming up next:  https://www.youtube.com/@darin_starr Check me out on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thedropsetpodcast

Yep you read that right – prep is underway for me yet again for 2 shows this year.  Let me bring you up to speed on what I’m doing, how I’m doing it, and…who I’m doing it with? Also, clickbait.  Ragebait?   Just plain stupid content?  Allow me to vent for a minute about the state of our society at large and how you can be a part of the solution. Call in and leave a voicemail with your question!  865-226-9284 Bikini Blueprint is available now at pre-launch pricing – get in while it’s hot!  https://fivestarrphysique.com/bikini-blueprint/ Online coaching with Darin and a whole lot more (site updated recently!): http://fivestarrphysique.com/ Check out my online course collection, available now!  https://fivestarrphysique.com/courses/ Check me out on YouTube and subscribe to see what's coming up next:  https://www.youtube.com/@darin_starr Check me out on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thedropsetpodcast

Wait, a coach that wants you to do LESS cardio?  Well…maybe.  Let’s talk about it, it’s complicated.  Also, should you hire a coach or can you just DIY this thing?  The pros and cons of it all and plenty more, hop in and let’s take a ride! Call in and leave a voicemail with your question!  865-226-9284 Bikini Blueprint is available now at pre-launch pricing – get in while it’s hot!  https://darinstarr.com/bikini-blueprint Online coaching with Darin and a whole lot more (site updated recently!): http://fivestarrphysique.com/ Check out my online course collection, available now!  https://www.darinstarr.com/ Check me out on YouTube and subscribe to see what's coming up next:  https://www.youtube.com/@darin_starr Check me out on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thedropsetpodcast

If I’ve said it once I’ve said it a thousand time, so one more time won’t hurt.  Your peak week should be the easiest week of your prep.  Let’s fix this once and for all. And what level of blame do your genetics deserve for when you plateau or you think you’re underachieving as far as your potential goes?  Let’s dig in and talk about it. Let’s hit it! Call in and leave a voicemail with your question! 865-226-9284 Bikini Blueprint is available now at pre-launch pricing – get in while it’s hot! https://darinstarr.com/bikini-blueprint Online coaching with Darin and a whole lot more (site updated recently!): Five Starr Physique – Bodybuilding Coaching, Courses, and Programs Check out my online course collection, available now! https://www.darinstarr.com/ Check me out on YouTube and subscribe to see what's coming up next: https://www.youtube.com/@darin_starr Check me out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedropsetpodcast

Let’s get a new streak going!  It was 3 episodes ago (aka 1 year in real time – oof) that I first talked about AI in bodybuilding so let’s hit it again with some crazy discoveries.  After that I dig into the top 5 signs that you’re not yet ready to compete – which is ok!!! – and, importantly, what to do about it. Also how to go about running more readiness checks so you can ensure a smooth prep. Let’s hit it! Call in and leave a voicemail with your question! 865-226-9284 Bikini Blueprint is available now at pre-launch pricing – get in while it’s hot! https://darinstarr.com/bikini-blueprint Online coaching with Darin and a whole lot more (site updated recently!): Five Starr Physique – Bodybuilding Coaching, Courses, and Programs Check out my online course collection, available now! https://www.darinstarr.com/ Check me out on YouTube and subscribe to see what's coming up next: https://www.youtube.com/@darin_starr Check me out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedropsetpodcast

We’re back!  A little catch-up to cover here but I dig straight in (more or less) to talk about the Arnold Classic and specific whether or not Sam Sulek made a big mistake in choosing this show. After that, it’s worth talking about body image as it relates to social media because this is a problem that I only see growing bigger and bigger with every passing year.  It’s a good idea to take a few easy steps to innoculate yourself against any possible negative influence. And finally I wrap up with a little TV/movie recap and some recommendations.  I also mentioned my wife’s print mail club which you can read about here:  https://www.deniakirk.com/shop/p/kindred-spirits Call in and leave a voicemail with your question! 865-226-9284 Bikini Blueprint is available now at pre-launch pricing – get in while it’s hot! https://darinstarr.com/bikini-blueprint Online coaching with Darin and a whole lot more (site updated recently!): Five Starr Physique – Bodybuilding Coaching, Courses, and Programs Check out my online course collection, available now! https://www.darinstarr.com/ Check me out on YouTube and subscribe to see what's coming up next: https://www.youtube.com/@darin_starr Check me out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedropsetpodcast

The IFBB just announced the return of the point system for Olympia Qualifications and it's being met resoundingly positive feedback – except from me.  I think it's a horrible idea for many reasons, which I'll get into here.  Many say things like “well at least now only the real, true athletes will be at the […]

LISTEN ON SPOTIFY | LISTEN ON APPLE Show of hands – who is sick to DEATH of seeing AI talked about for everything?  Are you inundated all day long with ads in your social media pushing AI tools, or is it just me?  I'm over it, BUT…when it comes to bodybuilding, there are some smart… Read More » The post 282 – AI in Bodybuilding appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

Has competing gotten more expensive lately?  If so, what can you do about it?  Where are some places where you can cut a few budgetary corners without totally hosing yourself, and where is it smart to still spend a little money?  Let's dive in on that today. But first…ever notice how people tend to make… Read More » The post 281 – Competing on a Budget appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

How bad am I at responding to text messages?  Bad enough that I actually find it easier to respond to a text with a podcast episode, THAT bad.  I know, I know.  But you see, I'm *beyond* help.  I've tried. My friend Melony texted me asking – more or less – about intermittent fasting so… Read More » The post 280 – The Final Word on Intermittent Fasting appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

Well, that fit model thing sure caused a bit of a stir.  In today's episode I clean up some of the carnage from negative comments I got from my take.  I welcome all opinions, but I will also clap back if I think some are misguided.  It's in my nature, sorry.  Blame my parents! Next… Read More » The post 279 – Macro Exchanges, Fit Model Revisited appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

The NPC/IFBB just announced this week a new “Fit Model” category which will be slotted ‘under' bikini in terms of both muscularity and conditioning requirements, making this the new ‘entry level' division for women.  This is the SEVENTH category for women, and with the stated goal of the organizations being to draw more casual eyes… Read More » The post 278 – Why Fit Model Is The Wrong Move appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

In episode 277, I make a TRIUMPHANT RETURN to solo episodes…for now (my interview schedule is clear – insert sad face here).  I've also been wanting to talk for a bit about genetic potential as it relates to bodybuilding so it seemed like a good time while there's a lull between interview guests! LIMITED coaching… Read More » The post 277 – Understanding Genetic Potential appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

Lori Conley had been on my “get” list for awhile but due to scheduling and other things it wasn't until now we were able to finally sit down and chat – and, well..it was worth the wait in my opinion. I asked Lori about her competitive history, journey to becoming an IFBB Pro, her experience… Read More » The post 276 – IFBB Pro Lori Conley appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

I won't lie – interviewing Julia Whitesel was on my list after watching her in the Rising Phoenix earlier this year, and after the Olympia I knew we had to chat – just from watching her on social media I knew she had interesting stuff to say, and she's super transparent and self-depricating so I… Read More » The post 275 – IFBB Pro Bodybuilder Julia Whitesel appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

Before becoming an IFBB Bikini Pro, Monique Chilcutt had a previous career as a pro dancer for an NBA team – I get her entire story in this in depth interview Online coaching with Darin and a whole lot more (site updated recently!): Five Starr Physique – Contest Prep and Lifestyle Coaching Check out my… Read More » The post 274 – IFBB Bikini Pro Monique Chilcutt appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

IFBB Wellness Pro Teresa Myers has been at this bodybuilding thing for a bit – starting in 2013 in women's physique, eventually turning pro in 2018 and competing as a WPD pro for 3 years before taking a short break and coming back in 2023 in wellness.  She was gracious enough to sit down with… Read More » The post 273 – IFBB Wellness Pro Teresa Myers appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

I've been watching a ton of IFBB Pro bodybuilding shows lately and recording my commentary to post as videos on my YouTube and Patreon channels (links below if you're interested), and in doing so have noticed some pretty stark contrasts in how pro shows are run and operated vs. the amateur shows that I'm much… Read More » The post 272 – Amateur vs. Professional Bodybuilding appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

Check out my newly relaunched website featuring my online courses:  Bikini Blueprint, Hypertrophy University, and Macro Boot Camp: https://darinstarr.com/ Ok kids, it's time for a manifesto.  I strongly believe that bodybuilding can achieve a reasonable level of mainstream success, but EVERYTHING about how shows are produced and put on seem to actively discourage that.  This… Read More » The post 271 – How To Make Bodybuilding Mainstream appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

Bodybuilding is a funny thing. Following a craptastic showing at Tampa and then a glorious return the top 5 in Tupelo, IFBB Women's Physique Pro Alyssa Coppolino was nice enough to sit down with me for a chat about her most recent season, previous experience, plans for the future, and more. We cover all the… Read More » The post 270 – IFBB WPD Pro Alyssa Coppolino appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

A good home gym can be a great asset. A lousy home gym will set your potential progress back years. In episode 269 I tell you how to build the best possible home gym for bodybuilding purposes – in order of importance with examples of exactly what you want and what you should avoid. https://youtu.be/K2W4jB1E0J8… Read More » The post 269 – Building The Perfect Home Gym appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

Maintaining your diet on the road can be, to put it mildly, a pain.  BUT it's worth noting that it is, in all situations and with a bit of advance planning, doable.  It requires more work but then again so does pretty much everything in bodybuilding when compared to the alternative, so that shouldn't come… Read More » The post 268 – The Ultimate Guide to Travel Dieting appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

Carb cycling in bodybuilding is something that, for some reason, generates some very passionate opinions. Certainly, most dietary strategies have their fans much look footballs teams do, but as a coach I can't be “Team Keto” or “Team Carb Cycle” because I have to recognize that everything has a place and not everything is right… Read More » The post 267 – Debunking the Myth of Carb Cycling appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

The bodybuilding industry is loaded with coaches – if you're searching for a good one either for contest prep or for a more general transformation, the process can be, frankly, a pain in the ass – IF you approach it more like shopping for a car as opposed to buying a loaf of bread.  Coaches… Read More » The post 266 – Sketchy and Sus Coaches – Finding a Good One appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

You often hear people talk about recomping or “building muscle in a deficit”, but realistically the goal just needs to be to not LOSE muscle while you're dropping fat. Unfortunately that's easier said than done, but today I want to go over some considerations for giving you the best chance at keeping all that lean… Read More » The post 265 – Keeping Muscle on a Deficit appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

In the bodybuilding industry specifically and the fitness industry more generally, confusion abounds. Stuff that was “fact” decades ago we now know to be wrong, but their legends still live on. Let's bust some of 'em today. In episode 264 of The Drop Set I debunk (or possibly agree with?) a whopping 43 fitness and… Read More » The post 264 – Fitness & Bodybuilding Myths – The Truth appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

How much does food quality really matter when it comes to your diet in bodybuilding?  There's “healthy”, but then what about just dropping body fat or building muscle?  And can you be “healthy” even if you eat some junk food?  And how do we want to define that, anyway? In episode 263 I break down… Read More » The post 263 – Does Food Quality Matter? appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

There's been a myth circulating for a long time that after your contest prep phase for a bodybuilding show, or after a hard fat loss phase in general, THAT is when you're most primed to experience your highest rate of building muscle.  And logically, it kinda makes sense. The problem with bodybuilding is that logic… Read More » The post 262 – Post-Show Rebound Myths Exposed appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

Being in Oregon to visit family, it seemed like a great opportunity to get some fresh faces on here as I shamelessly exploit my family's lack of bodybuilding knowledge for podcast material. And as one might expect, that ‘lack of knowledge' can cut both ways as you'll see here. Big thanks to my big brother… Read More » The post 261 – The Bodybuilder and the Mathematician appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

Well, at long last here we are – 22 weeks of prep, 110 training sessions, mountains of cardio, 17 near flawless weeks followed by 5 that border on “train wreck”, and tomorrow is show day.  I'm not kidding when I say “it's about time” – every prep phase is full of challenges I always say,… Read More » The post 260 – Smooth Sailing Into Show Day? appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

Bodybuilding is a funny thing…of this 22 week contest prep phase, the first 17 weeks were pretty quiet…and since then it's been an epic mess. Right now I find myself approaching peak week and a bit behind the 8 ball and not quite ready, so let me walk you through how I'm approaching this penultimate… Read More » The post 259 – Salvaging a Broken Prep appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

Body dysmorphia, or body dysmorphic disorder, is yet another serious issue (like binge eating that we talked about last week) that disproportionately plagues bodybuilders.  In today's episode I break down (again) MY experience with dealing with this firsthand, my experience in helping clients deal with this, talk about how it comes up and what we… Read More » The post 258 – Body Dysmorphia: Causes and Solutions appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

Binge eating and bodybuilding go together like PB&J, sadly.  It's often thought that you can't have one without the other, but you DEFINITELY can – I've managed to pull it off mostly after years of struggling with it, and today I wanted to share my journey in arriving at where I'm at now with it,… Read More » The post 257 – How I Manage My Cravings and Binge Eating appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

Recomping is all the rage these days – dropping body fat and building muscle at the same time.  Every prominent YouTube channel has videos talking about how the traditional bulk/cut methodology is outdated and doesn't work, based on a handful of studies that assess the feasibility of recomping, with one big issue – they completely… Read More » The post 256 – Why Recomping Doesn't Work appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

Ah yes, macro tracking apps.  We all use something like MyFitnessPal at some point, right?  Well, maybe some of us don't but it's nonetheless super common.  The problem is, that app is hot garbage and there are WAY better options out there.  In episode 255 I explore 10 of the most popular apps and put… Read More » The post 255 – Macro Trackers: The Best and the Worst appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

In episode 254 of The Drop Set, I'm going to talk about steroids – specifcally, the risks involved in taking anabolic compounds as they relate to bodybuilding. I'll differentiate between “TRT” and what is more widely considered to be ‘common use' in the landscape of competitive bodybuilding, break down exactly what the risks are, what… Read More » The post 254 – Steroid Risks: The Full Truth appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

Welcome to episode 253! Today, we're diving into the whole bulk or cut dilemma in bodybuilding. The key? Knowing what your body needs — more muscle or less fat. It's not just a short-term thing; we're talking long-haul commitment here…think years, not just weeks or months. This process can't be about quick fixes; we're in… Read More » The post 253 – Should I Bulk or Cut? appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

In episode 252 of The Drop Set, I delve into the nuanced concept of stage readiness, exploring the subjective nature of preparation for competition. We examine the importance of early competition as a means to gain valuable experience and establish personal benchmarks. I also discuss the essential prerequisites for competing, including discipline, commitment, and a… Read More » The post 252 – Am I Stage Ready? appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

0:00 – Intro 0:40 – Getting Started 3:47 – Supplements: Worth It or Waste It? 26:49 – Adapting to Sickness, Missing Gym Time 43:05 – What Actually Happens on Show Day? In the opening segment of Episode 251, we dive into the world of supplements – starting with the age-old debate: Is creatine worth it?… Read More » The post 251 – Supplements: Worth It or Waste It? appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

Welcome to episode TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY! In the first segment, I dive deep into strategies for busting through growth plateaus in bodybuilding. First, I emphasize the importance of consistency and dedication during the off-season or growth phases. I discuss assessing whether you're truly at a plateau and stress the need to attack growth seasons… Read More » The post 250 – Busting Through Growth Plateaus appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

In this episode, we dig in on the finer points of having a successful cut, whether it's for a contest or just a personal transformation. The final point I make here is possibly the most important: remember to have fun with it all – it's a challenging journey, but it should still be enjoyable overall.… Read More » The post 249 – How to Dominate Your Next Prep appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

In episode 248 of The Drop Set, I delve into the intricate journey to becoming a professional bodybuilder in the USA, breaking down the processes of various amateur organizations like NPC, OCB, INBA, and INBF. From earning qualifications to competing at national levels, the road to obtaining a pro card is filled with complexities and… Read More » The post 248 – The Path to Going Pro appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

(3:15) In this episode of The Drop Set podcast, I can't help but unravel the aftermath of the Arnold Classic with a heavy dose of frustration. I find myself questioning the show's BEYOND curious choices, particularly in excluding categories like women's physique, figure, and 212 men's bodybuilding. With a healthy dose of skepticism, I delve… Read More » The post 247 – Why the Arnold Classic Sucks appeared first on Five Starr Physique.

I've had a lot of coaches myself over the past 20 years and I've spent the last 15 years being a coach myself, so I've seen every argument there is on the topic of meal plans vs. macro plans. Let's put this to rest once and for all. Also some training and hormone management discussion!… Read More » The post 246 – The Final Word on Meal Plans vs. Macro Plans appeared first on Five Starr Physique.