Unsolicited Lifting Advice

*Insert witty description that makes the audience laugh but also peaks their interest in the content of this podcast*

We all remember the glory days of our lifting careers when there were no responsibilities other than getting jacked and staying tan. Your entire day revolved around the gym and you could indulge your muscle's every fantasy with chalk and iron. But what happens when things like your job or family start selfishly taking focus away from the church of iron? Are there strategies for balancing an ever increasing commitment load with a need to be ever increasing your bench load? Sam and Manas address these questions and more on this week's episode of Unsolicited Lifting Advice!

There are many things that come naturally to us meatheads. Things like hitting a double bicep pose in the mirror long enough to mire your gains but not so long that you draw unnecessary attention from the civilians around you who will call you a douchebag, but jokes on them that only makes you stronger. Less natural for us is proper stretching and mobility work pre and post workout. In fact the only thing less natural than mobility work is actually being natural but we digress. In this weeks episode Sam and Manas bring on their good friend Dr. Teresa Berg to explain to us why stretching your hips is good for you and how Manas' lack of soccer defense led to his squat form improving tenfold.

If you can get past the title I promise it's a good episode. Waiting till November to give thanks is cool and everything, but as we sit on the precipice of Hot Boy Summer we felt this was the perfect opportunity to be thankful for the one constant in a world of turmoil. The church of iron was an island of normalcy in the oceans of the pandemic. Our faces were masked but our muscles were free. Our socials were distanced but our sleeves were tight. We braved the indignity of working out without people around to mire our gains and were rewarded for our sacrifice and patience. If the past 14 months have taught us anything it's that the cure for Covid was inside us all along, because this level of D-Ball could bring the dead back to life. We look forward to the months ahead with sleeves off and veins wide open, so let's not forget what kept us going when the going got tough.

Everybody knows the best part of being a super hero is having access to the coolest gadgets. What would Batman be without his batarangs, Iron Man without his suit, of Captain America without his shield? (Answer: rich, rich, beefcake). The best powers in the world are useless without a cool costume and cooler gizmos, and the gym is no different. This week on the pod, Sam and Manas learn you on the best accessories and assorted gym swag to take your gains from Bruce Banner to The Hulk.

I thought about making this description an extended parody of Drake lyrics but cards on the table this is a late upload so bear with the lazy description. Enjoy a conversation about knowing when its time to change up what you're doing in your routine by two people who's general attention spans prohibits doing almost anything longer than four weeks.

Going to the gym is a lot like building a house. You might know what a house should look like and some of the key components, but unless you've gone to house building school you're going to leave out something important like air vents or light switches. The same is true of the gym except instead of building a brick shit-house you're becoming one. Paying someone to do the designing for you is a great option, but what about those DIY-ers among us? Everybody can learn the basics of designing a workout program so that when you go to the gym you have a better plan than using equipment adjacent to the hot girl and hoping she falls in love with your heavy breathing and hilarious gym tee. In this episode Sam and Manas walk through 4 different program splits that will give you the foundations for designing your own workout routine. You wont be able to build an entire house, but you will avoid having to call your dad every time a lightbulb goes out.

There are few things more important than having a game plan. Whether getting ready for an athletic event, structuring your new business, or preparing for the inevitable collapse of society having a charted course of action is paramount for success. That being said the ability to quickly maneuver in light of new information or a fluid situation is just as important as sticking to rigid predetermined steps. Ok, all our card on the table: we had planned on talking about program design but the fluid nature of the situation dictated that Sam talk about getting his heart broken at senior prom and Manas discusses his preferred method of torturing the MCU writers that did Captain Marvel zero favors. Long story short proper planning prevents piss poor performance but consuming craft cocktails creates conversation changes. We hope you enjoy this one as much as we did!

What's up fellow former(ish) degenerates! Normally you tune in to hear us give our perspective on the world of fitness and all things swoly, but this week we're throwing a curve ball at you. For those of you who didn't know, we were both bouncers in college and amassed a selection of stories, knowledge, and advice surrounding the bar/bouncer culture we felt it was imperative to pass on to our valued listeners. So whether you're in college and new to the bars, or a seasoned veteran who can belt out Sweet Caroline with the best of them we hope you enjoy this foray into our time as security personnel. We also experienced our first real technical difficulty this episode (milestones!) so please excuse the audio getting a little quiet at some points.

New Series Alert! Introducing the first of hopefully many to come, this is the Simplified Series, in which we'll lay down the fundamentals of different aspects of fitness. This week we'll be breaking down weight loss as this is a major goal for a lot of people getting into the gym. Lucky for you, Sam and Manas are well versed in the art of repeating things that qualified experts say; a key skill when it comes to simplifying things.

If you're surprised that for 15 straight weeks two former(ish) degenerates have stuck to an upload schedule with military-like precision then you're not alone! They say the only constants in life are death and taxes and we'd like to add weekly episodes of the ULAPodcast to that list. In celebration of our momentous achievement we're taking a look back at where we started 3 months ago and where we want to be 3 months from now. Progress checks are an important part of achieving any goal whether its weight loss or being the biggest podcast to come out of a college park basement. Hopefully this week's episode will inspire you to check in with yourself (before you wreck yourself).

If the fitness journey was a magical quest through strange and ancient lands filled with treasures to be claimed and glory to be won, Body Dysmorphia would be the troll living under the bridge. It's an ever present nuisance that can be vanquished but takes dedicated work to overcome. Body Dysmorphia whispers lies to the hero in an attempt to derail their quest for glory and force them to live under the bridge too. No adventurer is immune from the trial of the troll and no shame is deserved if the hero needs to call for aid in defeating the creature. Sam and Manas walk through their experiences fighting Body Dysmorphia and give some tools to help you on your journey.

Is the anguish of your recent breakup no longer providing the raging fire needed to sustain your gym habit? Do you find yourself questioning if being constantly sore has any benefits beyond getting Swole Body Thicc Daddy? Well fear not dear listener, Sam and Manas are here to assuage all your concerns. In this week's episode they go over all the ways lifting has improved their lives and how it can improve yours too! From not committing war crimes during pick up soccer to helping grandma rearrange her living room, the gym is the go to source for self improvement.

Oh the places you'll grow, oh the places you'll be Where you get nasty delt pumps and stretch out your tee. Oh the places you'll grow, oh the gyms you'll walk through With barbells and dumbells and kettlebells too. You'll find gym bros and gym babes and gym OGs lifting Shaking the ground with the weight they are shifting. But fear not young lifter for gains you will find If only you'll dig deep and embrace the grind

Do you remember a time when you didn't have the right tool for the job? Maybe you lacked an allen wrench whilst putting together IKEA furniture, or instead of using a ruler to do you crush's algebra homework you used the Valentine's day card you didn't have the guts to give her as your straight edge. We can all agree that both situations are less than ideal and would be remedied by having the correct apparatus for completing the task. Well your health and wellness goals are no different. Sam and Manas discuss the variety of ways you can gauge your progress when it comes to measuring goals and why it's always better to have more than one option available.

What do a dive bar, a fitness addiction, and a caffeine habit all have in common? Besides being the Professor Utonium recipe for making a Former(ish) Degenerate, they are the link between this episode's participants. Sam and Manas are joined by old coworker and good friend Jamie Rapp and pick her brain on how she trains her clients, what her opinion on balance is, and whether or not eating bread alone in the dark is kinda sad or really sad.

Rest day best day! Now before you spit out your C4 in disgust at the lack of balls to the walls training mentality displayed in that statement give us a chance to explain. We understand “Rise and Grind”, “Can't Stop Won't Stop”, and the plethora of other “motivational” quotes that make up the bedrock of your personality, but let's talk about the importance of taking time off. Sam and Manas walk through the times when taking a day off from the gym or reducing the intensity of a training session is actually the most badass thing to do.

Flag on the play! Wait, not enough flags on the play? Sam and Manas are joined by collegiate football referee and longtime drinking buddy: the man, the myth, the legend, Nasty™. The combination of his professional experience and our crippling need to hear our own voices results in a conversation spanning the solidification of Tom Brady's GOAT status, recounting a time where Nasty had to be escorted to his car by police after a high school game, and the differences in training for athletics vs. training for strength sports. If you like football commentary but feel the Former(ish) Degenerate Millennial is underrepresented in the broadcast booth, this is the podcast for you!

So you're into lifting, now what? The gym is a high school lunchroom, and the table you sit at will determine the rest of your lifting career. Do you sit with the always popular Bodybuilders, the degenerate Powerlifters, or the eclectic collection of personalities that is Crossfit? Lucky for you Sam and Manas are here to walk you through the various cliques that inhabit the gym and help you decide which cult will best condense your self worth down to a number.

What's up Doc! Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with being small AF? Have you tried every natural remedy besides dialing in your diet and getting enough sleep to cure your affliction? If this sounds like you then this podcast on steroids is right for you! We'll give you the best tips and tricks for going to a practicing endocrinologist who will walk you through the pro's and con's of taking anabolic steroids to help you achieve Swole Body Thicc Daddy status. Side effects of this podcast may include a realization that the literature on steroids isn't really conclusive on the long term negative effects, recognition that most people don't need anabolic steroids to achieve their fitness goals, and an understanding that you should always talk to a licensed physician before undertaking any new supplementation especially anabolic steroids.

New hobby who dis! Have you gotten tired of trying to develop a personality and would rather develop sick anterior delts? Have you correctly decided the antidote to all your problems is to get Swole Body Thicc Daddy and flex on all these haters, but don't know the best way to get started? Do you wish that getting called “big guy” was meant as a compliment? Well look no further! Sam and Manas are here to walk you through the do's and don'ts of the gym. Their step by step guide will give you the confidence you need to ask your local bearded gorilla for a spot and maybe even enough confidence to ask the smoothie girl for her number (results may vary).

Let's get down to meal prep, to defeat the huns (HUAH!) Did they add ranch dressing when I asked for none? I've had chicken now for every meal, and I'm only on week two. How can I persevere and come through! Sam and Manas discuss creating a sustainable meal plan and training program then go over their personal regimens.

New Year's Resolutions! Everybody's life goal is to be jacked and tan, this is fact, but have you considered improving your communication muscles? Sam and Manas break down how being honest with yourself and others is just as rad as quad striations, then dive deep into why movie elitism sucks and the Fast Franchise is the greatest cinema experience of the last few decades.

Origin story time! What do a pre-law professional fraternity, Bradley Cooper, and 6am workouts all have in common? Should you warm up your shoulders before squatting? Is salsa with eggs the only way to choke them down ten weeks into a cut? All these questions and more answered in this weeks episode of Unsolicited Lifting Advice!

The inaugural podcast! Welcome to Unsolicited Lifting Advice, the show where the blind lead the blind. Hosts Sam and Manas lay the groundwork for what will be the best thing to come out of 2020 by recognizing middle school crushes 15 years too late, over-rationalizing our extroverted tendencies, and giving the pros and cons of hitting on your gym's smoothie girl. So dry scoop your pre-workout, grab your name brand lifting straps, and enjoy the ride!