Chasing Clarity: Health & Fitness Podcast

One of the biggest bottlenecks holding many back from reaching their ideal physique is that many people overestimate how hard they’re actually training.They believe they’re pushing their sets to failure…But in reality they often still have several reps left in the tank.When this happens, the training stimulus they think they’re creating doesn’t match the stimulus their muscles are actually receiving, which is one of the reasons so many people train for years yet still look the same.In this episode of the Chasing Clarity Health & Fitness Podcast, I’m joined once again by Dr. Scott Stevenson to explore whether the average trainee is truly pushing their sets hard enough to maximize muscle growth.We examine the research on load selection, effort regulation, reps in reserve accuracy, and training volume, and discuss why many lifters may unknowingly be training further from failure than they think.We also explore Dr. Stevenson’s hypothesis of there being a potential central governor in resistance training, and whether subconscious pacing may influence effort during high-volume training sessions.In this episode we cover:WHY MOST TRAINEES SELECT LOADS THAT ARE TOO LIGHTRESEARCH SHOWING LIFTERS CHOOSE ~53% OF THEIR 1RM WHEN SELF-SELECTING WEIGHTSWHY LOW-LOAD TRAINING REQUIRES PUSHING CLOSER TO FAILURE TO STIMULATE HYPERTROPHYTHE LIMITATIONS OF USING RIR AND HOW INACCURATE FAILURE PREDICTION CAN BEWHY MANY LIFTERS BELIEVE THEY’RE TRAINING TO FAILURE WHEN THEY AREN’TWHY META-ANALYSES SHOW A DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VOLUME AND MUSCLE GROWTHTHE PELLAND META-REGRESSION AND WHY HIGHER VOLUMES DON’T SHOW A CLEAR INVERTED UHOW EFFORT PER SET MAY CHANGE AS TRAINING VOLUME INCREASESBEHAVIORAL CHANGES THAT MAY OCCUR DURING HIGH-VOLUME TRAINING SESSIONSSANDBAGGING, PACING, AND KEEPING REPS IN RESERVETHE POTENTIAL ROLE OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNOR THEORY IN REGULATING EFFORTWHY RPE OFTEN TOPS OUT AROUND 7-8 IN MANY TRAINING STUDIESWHETHER THIS REFLECTS EFFORT REGULATION OR ADAPTATION TO HIGH WORKLOADSPRACTICAL COACHING INSIGHTS ON HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU’RE TRULY TRAINING HARD ENOUGHUltimately, the goal of this episode is to encourage you to ask yourself one honest question:Am I really training as hard as I think I am?Because sometimes the biggest breakthroughs in physique development don’t come from adding more exercises or more volume…They come from learning how to push the sets you’re already doing to a higher level of effort.WHERE TO CONNECT WITH ME:Follow Brandon on IG: https://www.instagram.com/brandondacruz_/Email: Bdacruzfitness@gmail.comFor Info on Brandon’s Coaching Services: https://form.jotform.com/bdacruzfitness/coachinginquiryBrandon’s Website: https://www.brandondacruzfit.comMy Reading Recommendations: THE MUSCLE & STRENGTH PYRAMIDS https://getdpd.com/cart/hoplink/25469?referrer=1l54og96lf1ccwThe Central Governor Model of Exercise Regulation:https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-Central-Governor-Model-of-Exercise-Regulation-proposes-that-the-brain-regulates_fig2_224709105

A lot of people say they want to build muscle.But what they end up doing is taking the same extreme mindset they use during fat loss and flipping it in the opposite direction.They go from cutting calories aggressively to force feeding food, loosening up diet quality, gaining weight too fast, and calling that a productive building phase.And that is exactly where a lot of people go wrong.In this episode of the Chasing Clarity Health & Fitness Podcast, I break down the difference between a Lean Building Phase and the more traditional bulking approach many people take, why the “eat big to get big” mentality backfires, and how to actually gain muscle without packing on unnecessary body fat in the process.If you’ve ever been hesitant to go into a building phase because you’re afraid of getting fat, or if you’ve tried to build in the past and ended up overshooting, this episode will help you reframe the entire process.HERE’S WHAT WE COVER:THE MOST COMMON MISTAKE MANY PEOPLE MAKE WITH NUTRITION FOR MUSCLE GROWTHWHY YOU CANNOT FORCE FEED THE MUSCLE GROWTH PROCESSLEAN BUILDING VS BULKING PHASESWHY FOOD QUALITY, ADHERENCE & TRACKING STILL MATTER IN A SURPLUSTHE DRAWBACKS OF TAKING AN AGGRESSIVE BULKING APPROACHHOW EXCESS FAT GAIN CAN WORSEN BODY COMPOSITION, BIOFEEDBACK & METABOLIC HEALTHTHE ADVANTAGES OF TAKING A LEAN BUILDING APPROACH TO MUSCLE GAINHOW TO GAIN MORE LEAN MASS WITH LESS FAT MASS WHILE STAYING HEALTHIER THROUGHOUT THE PHASEIf you’re interested in doing a Lean Building Phase and want to be properly guided through the process, this is a phase I take many clients through to help them maximize muscle gain while minimizing unnecessary fat gain.WHERE TO CONNECT WITH ME:Follow Brandon on IG: https://www.instagram.com/brandondacruz_/Email: Bdacruzfitness@gmail.comFor Info on Brandon’s Coaching Services: https://form.jotform.com/bdacruzfitness/coachinginquiryBrandon’s Website: https://www.brandondacruzfit.comMy Reading Recommendations: THE MUSCLE & STRENGTH PYRAMIDS https://getdpd.com/cart/hoplink/25469?referrer=1l54og96lf1ccw

A lot of people still think muscle gain is simple: eat more to gain more muscle.But the real question is: do you actually need an energy surplus to maximize hypertrophy or do you just need to be out of a deficit, training hard, and executing consistently?In this episode, I’m joined by return guest Dr. Eric Helms to break down the relationship between weight gain, rate of gain, and muscle growth — including what the research actually shows and how to apply it in the real world.TOPICS WE COVER:IS AN ENERGY SURPLUS NEEDED FOR MAXIMIZING MUSCLE GAIN (SLATER ET AL.)WHAT PREVIOUS WORK LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR YOUR RECENTLY RELEASED WEIGHT GAIN STUDY?A BREAKDOWN OF THE HELMS ET AL. 2023 STUDY “EFFECT OF SMALL AND LARGE ENERGY SURPLUSES ON STRENGTH, MUSCLE, AND SKINFOLD THICKNESS IN RESISTANCE-TRAINED INDIVIDUALS: A PARALLEL GROUPS DESIGN”HOW TO TRACK MUSCLE GAIN PROGRESS IN THE REAL WORLDIf you want a smarter framework for building muscle without blindly force-feeding calories, this one will bring a lot of clarity.WHERE TO CONNECT WITH ME:Follow Brandon on IG: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/brandondacruz_/⁠Email: ⁠Bdacruzfitness@gmail.com⁠For Info on Brandon’s Coaching Services: ⁠https://form.jotform.com/bdacruzfitness/coachinginquiry⁠Brandon’s Website: ⁠https://www.brandondacruzfit.com⁠My Reading Recommendations: THE MUSCLE & STRENGTH PYRAMIDS ⁠https://getdpd.com/cart/hoplink/25469?referrer=1l54og96lf1ccw⁠

Most people keep trying to diet their way into a better physique.They chase scale weight loss.They bounce from deficit to deficit.And they never build the foundation of muscle that actually creates the look they’re after.So they end up becoming a smaller version of themselves, not a better version of themselves.And this is especially true for the person who describes themselves as “skinny fat” or what I think is more accurately described as being overfat yet under muscled.In this episode of the Chasing Clarity Health & Fitness Podcast, I break down why a dedicated Lean Building Phase is often the missing piece for long-term physique development.We’re going to cover why building muscle changes your shape, improves your metabolism, supports better training performance, and sets you up so your next fat loss phase actually reveals something worth revealing.If you’ve been stuck in the cycle of always trying to get leaner but never looking more muscular or defined, this episode is for you.HERE IS WHAT WE COVER:WHY YOU NEED A LEAN BUILDING PHASE FOR LONG-TERM PHYSIQUE OUTCOMESTHE REAL GOAL OF A BUILDING PHASE & WHY MOST PEOPLE EXECUTE IT POORLYWHY YOU CAN’T MAXIMIZE MUSCLE GROWTH IN A CALORIE DEFICITHOW TO SET YOUR CALORIE SURPLUS FOR LEAN MUSCLE GAINTHE RATE OF GAIN I AIM FOR TO MINIMIZE FAT GAIN & MAXIMIZE THE GROWTH RUNWAYTHE NUTRITIONAL HIERARCHY OF IMPORTANCE FOR MUSCLE GROWTHHOW TO SET UP TRAINING TO ACTUALLY DRIVE HYPERTROPHYWHERE TO CONNECT WITH ME:Follow Brandon on IG: https://www.instagram.com/brandondacruz_/Email: Bdacruzfitness@gmail.comFor Info on Brandon’s Coaching Services: https://form.jotform.com/bdacruzfitness/coachinginquiryBrandon’s Website: https://www.brandondacruzfit.comMy Reading Recommendations: THE MUSCLE & STRENGTH PYRAMIDS https://getdpd.com/cart/hoplink/25469?referrer=1l54og96lf1ccw

In the fitness space, most conversations revolve around two things.Being in a calorie deficit to lose body fat. Or being in a calorie surplus to build muscle.But very rarely do you hear people talk about the value of intentionally spending time eating at maintenance. And that’s a mistake.Because spending time at maintenance can provide a wide range of metabolic, physiological, behavioral, and psychological benefits that support long-term body composition progress.In this episode of the Chasing Clarity Health & Fitness Podcast, I’m joined once again by my good friend Jeff Hoehn, host of the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast, for Episode 2 of our monthly podcast collaboration.IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:INTRO TO THE TOPIC OF THE OVERLOOKED BENEFITS OF EATING AT MAINTENANCETHE METABOLIC BENEFITS OF EATING AT MAINTENANCE THE PHYSIOLOGICAL BENEFITS OF EATING AT MAINTENANCETHE BEHAVIORIAL BENEFITS OF EATING AT MAINTENANCE THE PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS OF EATING AT MAINTENANCE HOW CAN PERIODS OF EATING AT MAINTENANCE BE USED ACROSS THE YEAR & BETWEEN PHASES? If you’ve ever wondered whether spending time eating at maintenance is productive or necessary, this episode will give you a much deeper understanding of why it can play such an important role in a well structured body composition plan.WHERE TO CONNECT WITH ME:Follow Brandon on IG: https://www.instagram.com/brandondacruz_/Email: Bdacruzfitness@gmail.comFor Info on Brandon’s Coaching Services: https://form.jotform.com/bdacruzfitness/coachinginquiryBrandon’s Website: https://www.brandondacruzfit.comMy Reading Recommendations: THE MUSCLE & STRENGTH PYRAMIDS https://getdpd.com/cart/hoplink/25469?referrer=1l54og96lf1ccw

What actually makes a great coach?In this episode of the CHASING CLARITY HEALTH & FITNESS PODCAST, I sit down with longtime bodybuilding coach, mentor & founder of Cement Factory Nutrition — AJ Sims.AJ is a coach, a leader, and a man who lives the standards he teaches. From training alongside Jay Cutler as a teenager to building a reputation rooted in discipline, faith, identity & high standards, AJ brings a perspective that goes far beyond macros & programming.This conversation goes deeper than training.We talk about:AJ’s early journey into bodybuilding & lessons from training with Jay CutlerWhat separates a real coach from someone just handing out macrosThe responsibility that comes with leading othersThe qualities that drive long-term transformationThe common traits of clients who actually succeedCoaching isn’t about information.It’s about leadership, empathy, standards & helping people become someone capable of sustaining the result.If you’re a coach, athlete, or someone serious about leveling up your physique & life, this episode will hit. WHERE TO CONNECT WITH ME:Follow Brandon on IG: https://www.instagram.com/brandondacruz_/Email: Bdacruzfitness@gmail.comFor Info on Brandon’s Coaching Services: https://form.jotform.com/bdacruzfitness/coachinginquiryBrandon’s Website: https://www.brandondacruzfit.comMy Reading Recommendations: THE MUSCLE & STRENGTH PYRAMIDS https://getdpd.com/cart/hoplink/25469?referrer=1l54og96lf1ccw

They explain why eating less prevents maximal muscle growth and when a calorie deficit becomes counterproductive. The conversation covers why maintenance or a slight surplus fuels training, recovery, and hypertrophy. Practical timelines and build-to-cut ratios are discussed, plus real client transformations showing slow, strategic bulks that preserve long-term gains.

Jeff Hoehn, host of The Mind Muscle Connection and physique coach focused on evidence-informed training and recovery. They discuss when a body is truly ready for fat loss. Short takes cover primer phases before dieting, physiological readiness markers, appetite and metabolic history, practical recovery tips to reduce soreness, and how to pick trustworthy supplements.

In this episode of the Chasing Clarity Health & Fitness Podcast, I’m joined by Ben Mayfield-Smith for a raw and honest conversation that goes far beyond reps, macros, and training splits.We dive deep into the pivotal moments that shaped who we are from career-altering accidents to caring for terminally ill family members and how adversity became the catalyst for personal growth, mindset evolution, and purpose.Together, we unpack:How major life events reshape your identityThe mindset shift required to rebuild yourself after traumaWhat bodybuilding teaches beyond the stageTime management, work ethic & using failure as feedbackWhat it means to live with radical extreme ownershipTurning personal pain into purpose, leadership & serviceThis one’s for anyone who’s ever been knocked down and had to rebuild from the ground up.WHERE TO CONNECT WITH ME:Follow Brandon on IG: https://www.instagram.com/brandondacruz_/Email: Bdacruzfitness@gmail.comFor Info on Brandon’s Coaching Services: https://form.jotform.com/bdacruzfitness/coachinginquiryBrandon’s Website: https://www.brandondacruzfit.comMy Reading Recommendations: THE MUSCLE & STRENGTH PYRAMIDS https://getdpd.com/cart/hoplink/25469?referrer=1l54og96lf1ccw

Most people still think about physique transformation in black & white: you’re either cutting or you’re bulking.But in my coaching, I use a third strategy—body recomposition—when it’s the right client, at the right time, under the right conditions.This episode breaks down exactly how I coach recomp phases to help high performers improve both ends of the spectrum—gain muscle & lose fat at the same time—while optimizing their health, recovery & long-term sustainability.If you’re a high performer, physique enthusiast or high-level lifestyle client looking to elevate your approach, this episode will give you the full framework.WE COVER:WHEN & WHY I USE RECOMP PHASESWHO RECOMP PHASES ARE BEST FOR & WHO THEY’RE NOT FORTHE CLIENT CONDITIONS I LOOK FOR BEFORE DEPLOYING RECOMPSETTING THE FOUNDATION FOR RECOMPINGNUTRITION STRATEGY FOR BODY RECOMPTRAINING STRATEGY FOR RECOMPINGLIFESTYLE, STEPS & RECOVERY STRATEGYPSYCHOLOGY OF RECOMPINGHOW THIS FITS INTO MY HEALTH-CENTRIC COACHING MODEL TO BUILD A BODY THAT’S BOTH RESPONSIVE & RESILIENTIf you’ve ever been stuck between wanting to build but not wanting to gain fat or wanting to lean out but not sacrifice muscle, this episode is for you.WHERE TO CONNECT WITH ME:Follow Brandon on IG: https://www.instagram.com/brandondacruz_/Email: Bdacruzfitness@gmail.comFor Info on Brandon’s Coaching Services: https://form.jotform.com/bdacruzfitness/coachinginquiryBrandon’s Website: https://www.brandondacruzfit.comMy Reading Recommendations: THE MUSCLE & STRENGTH PYRAMIDS https://getdpd.com/cart/hoplink/25469?referrer=1l54og96lf1ccw