Ep 325 - Plant-Based Bodybuilding With a World Champ (ft. Maddie McConnell)

In this episode of Iron Culture, hosts Eric Helms and Michael Zourdos reconnect and reflect on their experiences at the 2025 Sports Nutrition Association annual conference. Joined by guests Dr. Nick Washmuth and Kaylee Chism, they delve into the concept of daily 1RM training, discussing its origins, methodology, and findings from a recent study involving participants who maxed out daily. Insights from the participants reveal varied results and experiences, highlighting the mental and physical challenges of such a training protocol. The conversation also explores the importance of dosage, frequency, intensity, and the need for more empirical data to better understand the effectiveness of daily 1RM training. The episode covers various training protocols, particularly focusing on volume training and its effects on strength gains. The hosts and guests discuss personal experiences with different lifting protocols, the importance of balancing other lifts during intense training, and the recommendations for those interested in 1RM training. Additionally, they explore the intriguing concept of swearing as a performance enhancer, examining its psychological effects and potential benefits in athletic performance.

Reminder:Don't forget to check out our sister podcast, Front Page Fitness, hosted by Drs. Lauren Colenso-Semple and Eric Trexler!
youtube.com/@fpfpodcast

Time stamps:
00:00 Intro
04:00 Daily 1RM Training: Origins and Insights
12:00 Introducing the New Study on Daily One RM Training
33:30 Auto-Regulation in Training
39:30 "Dosage": Frequency, Intensity, and Proximity to Failure
44:26 Specificity vs. Generalization in Training
54:00 Volume Considerations
01:11:00 Recommendations for 1RM Training Protocols
01:16:30 Squat Mechanics and Individual Variability
01:22:30 Effects of Swearing in Performance
01:39:40 Wrapping up