The Mind Muscle Connection

Why A Single And Short Build Phase Isn't Going To Drastically Change Your Physique | Ep 752

The Mind Muscle Connection

Show Notes

Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! Many people finish a building phase feeling frustrated because they didn’t gain as much muscle as they expected. In today’s episode, I explain why that happens, why a short building phase is rarely enough to create dramatic physique changes, and why muscle growth is often much slower than people realize. I also discuss the biggest mistakes people make during a build, why spending time out of a calorie deficit is so important, how muscle can still...

More from The Mind Muscle Connection

Oct 23, 2026

Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! Gaining more weight than you planned during a building phase doesn’t mean you have to jump straight back into a fat loss phase. In part two of my building phase series, I break down what to do if you overshot your build, starting with what I look at with clients before we change anything, including whether the increase is temporary, whether the weight gain is actually a bad thing, and whether you’re trying to stay leaner than your lifestyle and t...

Oct 19, 2026

Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! If you feel like you have to be in a fat loss phase all year to stay in shape, your building phases are probably the problem. In this episode, I go over how to run a building phase without unnecessary fat gain, starting with the expectations you need going in and how I set up calories and macros with clients. I also cover the habits that keep fat gain in check, like not saving all your calories for the end of the day, fueling around your workouts...

Oct 16, 2026

Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! Aaron Straker, founder of Straker Nutrition Co. and co-host of the Eat Train Prosper Podcast with Bryan Boorstein, is back on for the third time. Aaron recently earned his IFBB Pro card in men’s physique and just moved back to the States after four years in Bali. In this episode, we talk about how he’s running his offseason build and how he’s working to bring up his upper back after his first bodybuilding season. We also get into his low-volume l...

Oct 12, 2026

Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! Whether you need to eat before a workout depends on the type of training you’re doing. In this episode, I break down how I approach pre-workout nutrition with clients for both body composition and performance, including when training fasted makes sense, when it can hold you back, and what to eat if you do have something beforehand. I also cover how your timing changes based on when you train and why heavy meals high in fat and fiber can hurt your...

Oct 9, 2026

Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! Cody McBroom, founder of Tailored Coaching Method and host of the Choose Hard Podcast, is back on for the second time. In this episode, we talk about building discipline, confidence, and habits that last when motivation runs out. Cody walks through his Self-Formation Framework, the four stages he uses to help clients create real behavior change. We also cover why "just try harder" doesn't work, how the way you talk to yourself affects your follow...

See all episodes →