335 ‒ The science of resistance training, building muscle, and anabolic steroid use in bodybuilding

Mike Israetel is a sports physiologist, competitive bodybuilder, & co-founder of Renaissance Periodization, where he coaches athletes & professionals in diet & weight training. In this episode, Mike shares his journey from powerlifting to academia, breaking down the core principles of resistance training, including exercise selection, volume, intensity, & frequency. He debunks common misconceptions about strength training, explains how to structure an effective program for beginners & advanced lifters, & provides candid insights into his experience with anabolic steroids, discussing their effects on muscle growth, performance, & health risks. This conversation offers a deep dive into the science of building muscle, the realities of bodybuilding at the highest levels, & explores the potential of AI-driven breakthroughs to advance human performance & longevity. View show notes here: https://bit.ly/3EqVqYp Become a member to receive exclusive content: https://peterattiamd.com/subscribe/ Sign up to receive Peter's email newsletter: https://peterattiamd.com/newsletter/ 0:00:00-Intro 0:01:07-Mike’s academic journey, early experiences in powerlifting, personal training, & sports physiology 0:07:25-Mike’s transition from powerlifting to bodybuilding, & his scientific & artistic approach 0:13:28-Value of strength training, time efficiency, & how it differs from endurance training 0:26:38-Neurological fatigue in strength training: balancing recovery & pushing the limits 0:36:06-Relationship between training intensity & volume, why muscle growth is not linear, & how different approaches affect results 0:41:46-Sustainable & effective approaches to maximizing muscle growth: training close to failure while minimizing fatigue 0:51:16-Efficient & effective resistance training program for beginners with limited time 1:10:14-Advice for finding a good trainer 1:18:03-Troubleshooting training plateaus: optimizing exercise selection, intensity, & recovery for muscle growth 1:33:54-Impact of genetics, age, & lifestyle on muscle growth 1:37:28-Importance of nutrition, protein intake, & consistency in both training & diet for muscle growth 1:42:57-Anabolic steroids to boost muscle growth: doses, drug combinations, & side effects 2:01:51-Long-term impact of steroid use: muscle retention, genetics & individual variability, & impact after discontinuation 2:11:06-Trade-offs of long-term usage of supraphysiologic doses of testosterone 2:19:05-The potential for AI-driven medical breakthroughs to reverse aging & disease 2:32:58-Role of AI in accelerating drug development, advancing human longevity, & overcoming biological limitations 2:38:51-The philosophical implications of simulated reality, the impact of robotics on human labor & economics, & the challenge of predicting the future 2:46:32-Would having kids change Mike’s philosophy around anabolic steroid use? 2:50:32-Role of GLP-1 agonists in bodybuilding & general weight management, & the moral & philosophical debates surrounding their use -------- About: The Peter Attia Drive is a deep-dive podcast focusing on maximizing longevity, & all that goes into that from physical to cognitive to emotional health. With over 90 million episodes downloaded, it features topics including exercise, nutritional biochemistry, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, mental health, & much more. Peter Attia is the founder of Early Medical, a medical practice that applies the principles of Medicine 3.0 to patients with the goal of lengthening their lifespan & simultaneously improving their healthspan. Learn more: https://peterattiamd.com Connect with Peter on: Facebook: http://bit.ly/PeterAttiaMDFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/PeterAttiaMDTW Instagram: http://bit.ly/PeterAttiaMDIG Subscribe to The Drive: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/TheDriveApplePodcasts Overcast: http://bit.ly/TheDriveOvercast Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheDriveSpotify Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/TheDriveGoogle Disclaimer: This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services, including the giving of medical advice. No doctor-patient relationship is formed. The use of this information and the materials linked to this podcast is at the user's own risk. The content on this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they have, and they should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions. I take conflicts of interest very seriously. For all of my disclosures and the companies I invest in or advise, please visit my website where I keep an up-to-date and active list of such companies. For a full list of our registered and unregistered trademarks, trade names, and service marks, please review our Terms of Use: https://peterattiamd.com/terms-of-use/