114 - Eric Helms: Nutrition, Bodybuilding, & Supplementation for Strength and Aesthetics

Eric Helms is an AUT Research Fellow at the Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand (Auckland University of Technology) in the Strength & Conditioning and Sports Physiology and Nutrition research groups. He is also the Director and Chief Science Officer of 3DMJ, an organization devoted to strength training and education centered around the same, a competitive bodybuilder, co-host of the Iron Culture podcast—which comes highly, highly recommended by Robinson—and a founding editor and reviewer for Monthly Applications in Strength Sport. Eric is also the author of two terrific books on strength training and nutrition respectively, The Muscle and Strength Pyramid: Training and The Muscle and Strength Pyramid: Nutrition. In this episode, Robinson and Eric discuss one of his areas of expertise, nutrition, covering both broad topics like various approaches to structuring one’s diet and more specific questions like how much protein you should be consuming and what supplements you should be taking.

Eric’s Instagram: @helms3dmj

Iron Culture: https://ironculture.libsyn.com

MASS: https://massresearchreview.com

3DMJ: https://3dmusclejourney.com

OUTLINE

00:00 Introduction

03:36 Eric’s Academic Background

11:14 Should You Get Your Diet Advice From Bodybuilders?

18:28 The Benefits of Intuitive Eating

52:25 How to Determine Maintenance Calories

59:50 How Much Protein Should You Be Eating?

01:16:38 MASS

01:20:08 Creatine

01:30:43 Should You Take BCAAs?

01:38:33 The Role of Meta-analyses in Sports Science

Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com

Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University. Join him in conversations with philosophers, scientists, weightlifters, artists, and everyone in-between.