“The rule is: the basics are the basics and you can’t beat the basics.”

– Charles Poliquin

Charles Poliquin (@strengthsensei) is one of the best known strength coaches in the world. He has trained elite athletes from nearly 20 different sports, including Olympic gold medalists, NFL All-Pro’s, NHL All-Stars and Stanley Cup champions, and IFBB bodybuilding champions. His clients include long-jump gold medalist Dwight Phillips, NHL MVP Chris Pronger, and MLB batting champion Edgar Martinez, among many others.

Poliquin is currently teaching advanced hypertrophy, nutrition, and strength seminars alongside one of my favorite athletes, Olympic weightlifting icon and medalist Dimitry Klokov.

Poliquin has authored more than 600 articles on strength training, and his work has been translated into 12 different languages. He has written 8 books, including his latest, a short gem entitled Arm Size and Strength: The Ultimate Guide. Find much more about Poliquin and his latest at strengthsensei.com.

#91: Charles Poliquin on Strength Training, Shredding Body Fat, and Increasing Testosterone and Sex Drive https://rss.art19.com/episodes/97582339-41b3-41c2-bdf2-9545fa765171.mp3 Download

In this podcast, we frequently referred to my past episode with Arnold Schwarzenegger. You can listen to my conversations with Arnold here. In this episode, we discuss psychological warfare and much more (stream below or right-click here to download):

Ep 60: Tim Ferriss Interviews Arnold Schwarzenegger on Psychological Warfare (And Much More) https://rss.art19.com/episodes/e2ac0ce7-d799-47fd-9276-fbde62440e2a.mp3 Download

This episode is sponsored by Athletic Greens. I get asked all the time, “If you could only use one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is, inevitably, Athletic Greens. It is my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body and did not get paid to do so. Get 50% off your order at Athletic Greens.com/Tim

This podcast is also brought to you by 99Designs, the world’s largest marketplace of graphic designers. Did you know I used 99Designs to rapid prototype the cover for The 4-Hour Body? Here are some of the impressive results. Click this link and get a free $99 upgrade. Give it a test run…

QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: After listening to Poliquin, are there any strength or diet experiments you’d like me to explore and report back on? Please let me know in the comments.

Scroll below for links and show notes…

Enjoy!

Selected Links from the Episode

StrenthSensei.com | Facebook | YouTube | Google + | Twitter | Instagram

Show Notes

The story behind Charles’s passion for strength and how he quickly learned multiple languages [6:05]

Charles’s secret skill that only his best friends know [10:40]

How to eliminate stretch marks or loose skin after extreme fat loss [15:05]

Something Charles believes that most people find crazy [18:20]

On taking huge doses of fish oil [31:35]

How to select a quality doctor who can administer and interpret blood testing [42:10]

Favorite go-to sources for research [50:50]

Thoughts on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) [53:50]

HRT challenges with DHEA-sulfate levels [1:00:05]

Exploring the use of Deca-Durabolin to support joint repair [1:04:05]

What Charles tries to eliminate from his home [1:06:35]

Thoughts on warmup routines [1:11:45]

The perfect preparation for strength workouts [1:14:40]

Most common post-workout mistakes [1:20:25]

Commonly neglected ways to decrease body fat [1:25:05]

On planning vacation first [1:34:05]

Common mistakes training female clients [1:46:10]

On CrossFit and training with Dmitry Klokov [1:48:50]

Favorite mobility exercises [1:57:40]

On the surprising side effects of kettlebell swings [2:03:55]

Thoughts on achieving maximal strength on a plant-based diet [2:05:35]

High-bar vs. low-bar squats. Sumo vs. conventional deadlift. [2:06:40]

Most bang for your buck tips to increase testosterone and sex drive [2:10:50]

The supplements everyone should take [2:14:15]

When Charles thinks of the word “successful,” who is the first person that comes to mind? [2:19:35]

Favorite documentaries and movies [2:21:35]

A purchase of $100 or less that improved Charles’s life [2:24:05]

On morning routines [2:25:40]

If you could have one billboard anywhere, where would it be and what would it say? [2:36:50]

Advice to your thirty-year-old self [2:40:00]

People Mentioned

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