You Don't Need More Sets | Training Hard, Failure & Earning Volume - Steve & Mike episode artwork

EPISODE · Sep 15, 2026 · 1H 45M

You Don't Need More Sets | Training Hard, Failure & Earning Volume - Steve & Mike

from The Improvement Season Podcast · host Revive Stronger

Steve Hall and Magic Mike open with a candid catch-up on training, recovery, and the realities of bodybuilding prep. They also break down a weekend of show support for Rob and Anthony, including posing tweaks, show-day nerves, judging differences, and how to stay grounded when placings do not match expectations. Plus a long Q&A covers recreational clients, elbow-friendly arm training, adductor work, stiff-leg deadlift mechanics, photos in the off season, prep fatigue red flags, cutting calories, refeed use, peak week foods, biceps tendinitis, and show-day nerves Join the hypertrophic time chamber to ask questions: https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbazLhBRouBrMkCq/ Chapters 00:00 Opening Catch-Up & Training Week Check-In 14:23 Mike's Weekend With His Dad & Nutrition Reflections 23:22 Rob's Show Weekend & Supporting Athletes in Person 38:35 Anthony's Show in Cyprus & the Value of Live Support 47:13 Q&A Begins + Coaching & Lead Generation 48:08 How Much of the Client Roster Is Recreational Lifters? 51:48 Pec "Dancing" – Can Either Host Do It? 53:01 Are Direct Adductor Exercises Necessary? 54:21 0 RIR vs 2 RIR: Why the Full Program Matters More 57:15 What Determines Maintenance Calories Over Time? 57:46 What the Hosts Think the Other Could Improve On 1:01:04 How a Book on Self-Esteem Is Helping Mike 1:01:51 Stiff-Leg Deadlifts: Knee Bend, Pauses & Digestion 1:03:53 Progress Photo Frequency for Off-Season Clients 1:06:35 Elbow-Friendly Ways to Train Biceps & Triceps 1:08:36 How to Know When Prep Is Going Too Far 1:11:25 Where to Cut Calories First When Starting a Diet 1:13:36 Managing Lower-Back Flare-Ups on Leg Movements 1:14:45 Losing Definition While Gaining: The Psychological Challenge 1:17:38 When Is a Refeed Actually Needed? 1:19:15 What Science Doesn't Clearly State — But May Still Help Bodybuilding 1:21:23 Do Pump Workouts & Carb Loads Work During Peak Week? 1:23:11 How to Manage Biceps Tendinitis 1:26:00 Steve's Coaching Process & Client Check-Ins 1:29:49 Feeling Suboptimal in Prep & What Recovery Scores Mean 1:30:42 Skills Each Host Would Love to Learn From Another Coach 1:34:17 Food Tracking, Bodybuilding Eating & MyFitnessPal Confusion 1:35:25 How Rest-Pause & Drop Sets Fit Into Training 1:36:39 Best Peak Week Foods: Easy Digestion & Low Volume 1:38:14 Backstage Nerves & Show-Day Comparisons 1:41:00 Closing Thoughts + Coaching Applications & Questions Thanks, please comment, like and subscribe! COACHING: https://revivestronger.com/online-coaching/ INSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/revivestronger NEWSLETTER: https://bit.ly/2rRONG5 __________________________________________________________________ Epic Workout Clothing (use code STRONGER): • US: https://www.raskolapparel.com?snowball=STRONGER • Europe: https://raskolapparel.eu/ • Canada: https://raskolapparel.ca/ __________________________________________________________________ Our Ebooks! Ultimate Guide To Contest Prep Ebook: • https://revivestronger.com/product/the-ultimate-guide-to-contest-prep/ __________________________________________________________________ Stay up to date with the latest research and educate yourself! MASS (Research Review): • https://www.massmember.com/a/2147994108/MxeV4T3M Muscle & Strength Pyramids • https://getdpd.com/cart/hoplink/25469?referrer=1uk0lvv6e1rqv __________________________________________________________________ When you're interested in online coaching, please go visit our website and follow the application form: https://www.revivestronger.com/online-coaching/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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You Don't Need More Sets | Training Hard, Failure & Earning Volume - Steve & Mike

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