9 Broscience Myths Destroyed With Actual Science

Mike Wines
Written By: Mike Wines
August 6th, 2015
Updated: October 27th, 2021
95.7K Reads
Bodybuilder standing in squat rack looking down
You want the truth? Maybe you can't handle the truth. But either way, it's time to learn what the research has to say and decide for yourself.

Alright, listen up bro, I’m here to crush some hopes and dreams.

If you’re not familiar with this commonly used fitness terminology, consider this succinct definition from nutritional wizard and broscientist expert, Alan Aragon: 

“Broscience is the predominant brand of reasoning in bodybuilding circles where the anecdotal reports of jacked dudes are considered more credible than scientific research.”

Essentially, it’s any piece of advice that has been handed down each decade from bench happy meatheads to their eager Padawans who have been half squatting since their first day under the bar.

Luckily for you, this article is going to drop the hammer on some of the biggest myths in the fitness industry in order to help you save time, reduce anxiety, and simplify the muscle building process.

1. Fasted Cardio

Ever since the dawn of the internet, bros everywhere have been waking up with an empty stomach to walk on a treadmill in the hopes that it would somehow help them reach elite levels of body fat while staying anabolic.

News flash, just in case you haven’t kept up with research surrounding physiology and the human body – fasted cardio has no additional benefits to body composition outside of those already found with fed cardio and an ample caloric deficit.[1]

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To quote a recent study from Mr. Aragon himself,

There is evidence that a greater utilization of fat for fuel during a given time period is compensated by a greater carbohydrate utilization later in the day. Hence, fat burning must be considered over the course of days, not on an hour to hour basis, to meaningfully assess its impact on body composition."

Yep, you read that right, the “fat burning zone” marketed on most treadmills and cycle ergometers is nothing more than a misinterpretation of science and human physiology.

No more growling stomachs or moody mornings while you’re trying to get those cardiovascular gains. 

2. Anabolic Window

If your house doesn’t have anabolic windows installed then you’re missing out. These things are guaranteed to fend off catabolism even in the worst of conditions.

In all seriousness though, bros have been trying to jump through the anabolic window ever since the first curl was completed in the squat rack.

We know from research conducted on the subject that the muscle protein synthesis (MPS) response from a mixed macronutrient meal lasts anywhere from 3-4 hours and cannot be re-stimulated due to the refractory nature of circulating amino acids.[2]

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However, it should be noted that carbohydrate utilization is generally higher after exercise given the upregulation of GLUT-4 which functions as a glucose modulator across the cell membrane.

From a physiological standpoint, if you’ve eaten a meal within 60-90 minutes of training, then there is no immediate need to ingest protein after your training session due to the high levels of amino acid availability from previous meals.[2]

In the end, if you choose to train in a fasted state or there is an extraordinarily large gap since your last meal (5+ hours), then it would be wise to ensure you have a fast digesting protein source such as whey.

3. Bodyweight Work Isn’t Effective

“Bro, pushups are good for 1 thing – getting a pump before going to the pool or a party. Besides that, they’re relatively pointless.”

First thing’s first, your “party pump” likely resembles a deflating balloon animal from my 2-year-old nephew’s birthday party.

That being said, if you’re going to dis bodyweight work simply because it’s “uncool”, you should seriously reconsider.

A recent study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that pushups performed with resistance from bands had similar EMG values and strength gains compared to the bench press.[3]

Not only that, I’ve written about the unique benefits of pushups for the scapular girdle in this article: Train Like An Athlete, Look Like A Bodybuilder.

Simply put, if you’re neglecting bodyweight movements such as chin-ups, dips, pushups, planks, and various other gymnastic elements then you’re missing out on the big picture.

4. Meal Frequency

We already know that meal frequency doesn’t have a marked influence on fat loss or thermic effect of food so there’s no point in cramming in 8 meals a day if you don’t want to.[4]

Not only that, nutrient timing likely only accounts for roughly 20% of the changes seen in body composition.

But, 20% for majoring in minutia is a small price to pay if you have physique related goals.

However, we have to keep in mind that muscle growth and breakdown is not a pulsatile process, it occurs in a continuous fashion. If amino acids aren’t in the GI tract then they will be pulled from the largest cache of aminos (i.e. muscle tissue).

With that last point in mind, I think it’s clear that meal frequency still plays a role.

Carbohydrates directly before a workout can help to delay central nervous system fatigue, improve glycogen stores, and elevate blood glucose.

So, if you’ve hopped on the intermittent fasting or carb backloading band wagon, just make sure that you’ve consumed adequate protein and carbohydrates before your training session or else you’re going to be shortcutting your physique development.

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5. Brawn Equals Brains

There’s a startling trend within the fitness industry. For some reason, the aesthetics of someone’s physique seems to serve as the prediction of their knowledge base to the observer.

Now personal experience and anecdotal experimentation are generally required in the muscle building process but someone’s level of muscular development doesn’t necessarily determine their understanding of physiology, biomechanics, or periodization.

All too often, we assume that the biggest and strongest guy in the gym knows the most and can help everyone else get bigger, leaner, stronger, and faster.

Sadly, that's not the case.

There are many folks in the gym and on the internet who have merely "thrown crap against a wall and waited to see what stuck". In other words, they may have no idea what worked in their training or nutrition but surprisingly they got lucky.

Others may have been extremely blessed in the genetics department or chose the enhanced route but you can't consider their results "typical" unless you plan to take the same course of action.

I've seen many guys in the gym put up decent numbers in the big 3 despite faulty mechanics and lack of a structured training program. But, if you asked them how they got to that point, most would simply reply with: "Uhhh...work hard?"

I’ve seen my fair share of broscience promoted as fact from popular fitness icons and most believe them simply because of the weight from their social media following.

I'm not discrediting hard work but don't judge a book by its cover.

6. You Don’t Need to Do Cardio

“So riddle me this batman, if my only goal is to rival Arnold in his prime and attain biceps the size of softballs, what’s the point of cardio?”

Before you freak out about losing your gains, just relax. If you can’t handle 1-2 sessions of low intensity steady state work throughout the week then you’ve got bigger issues than your “lack of gains”.

Besides the general health benefits from steady state work (i.e. insulin sensitivity, reducing cardiovascular risk, improving general work capacity, etc.) in the 120-140BPM range, you have to remember that your aerobic energy system determines your day to day, set to set, and rep to rep recovery.

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Consider this for a moment as well – if an athlete increases the size of their cross sectional area (i.e. the diameter of their muscle fiber) then they will also increase the absolute amount of metabolic byproducts generated from training.

Steady state aerobic work can enhance peripheral capillary density which in turn can improve the filtration and removal of metabolites created during muscular stress and adaptation. 

On top of all that, cardiovascular work can also help to influence nervous system dominance, enhance brain plasticity, and balance neurotransmitters.

Can you get strong without it? Yes, but you could improve your training even further if you stopped ignoring the physiological benefits acquired from ALL energy systems.

7. “Your core is weak, just do some sit-ups.”

Better yet, you should try to “pull your belly button to your spine” and “hollow out” your core.

Your abs may be weak but learning how to breathe and brace effectively will pay much richer dividends when it comes to core stability and maximal force output.[6] If you struggle with low back pain or maintaining a neutral spine due to a weak core, then refer to this article which will get you straightened out: Ground Based Exercises To Increase Core Strength.

Sit-ups do have a place when it comes to hypertrophic outcomes but the majority of folks already get too much motion in their spine so they would benefit from learning to control a braced position while breathing under load.

The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research recently conducted a study on isometric versus dynamic core training and found:

…an isometric training approach was superior in terms of enhancing core stiffness. This is important since increased core stiffness enhances load bearing ability, arrests painful vertebral micromovements, and enhances ballistic distal limb movement.[5]

In other words, including movements that are isometric in nature (i.e. plank variations, dead bugs, rollouts, loaded carries, etc.) have the greatest carryover to enhancing power production, reducing spinal movement, and improving your ability to handle heavier loads.

Learn to control range of motion isometrically before trying to move through it dynamically.

8. GOMAD is Extremely Effective for Most Trainees

Lactose discussion aside, I think GOMAD isn’t exactly the best strategy for most trainees who have physique related goals. I’m sure there are a few “internet experts” who will disagree with me and express their opinions via YouTube but that’s beside the point.

I’ve written about linear progression schemes before (See here: Daily Undulating Periodization (DUP)) and I think they certainly have their place but the nutritional recommendations that follow them are often short sighted and sometimes outright foolish.

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I want to see one GOMAD “transformation” where the end result was a large proportion of muscle mass without excessive fat gain.

Just one.

There’s a reason the vast majority of beginners are put on this sort of nutrition and training regimen: it’s easy and someone doesn’t want to take the time to explain the basics to them.

Don’t let someone else’s laziness be your excuse for excess body fat and lactose intolerance.

9. Everyone NEEDS to squat and deadlift

This isn’t a myth, it’s actually true; you should actively maintain your squat and hinge motor patterns.

However, you should keep in mind that not everyone will be able to conventional deadlift and low bar squat on day one.

In fact, in my opinion, there are some folks who should never use the low bar position for squatting due to their anthropometry, injury history, or bony articulations.

If any movement causes pain then you need to find an adequate substitution until your central nervous system establishes control through the entire range of motion. 

For deadlifts you could use any of the following variations:

  • Rack Pull
  • Snatch Grip Rack Pull
  • Sumo Deadlift
  • Double Kettlebell Sumo Deadlift
  • Trap Bar Deadlift
  • Romanian Deadlift
  • Landmine Romanian Deadlift
  • Double Kettlebell Suitcase Deadlift
  • Block Pull
  • American Deadlift
  • Snatch Grip Deadlift

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For squats you could use any of the following variations:

Keep squatting and deadlifting but if you’re smart, you’ll adapt your training to work around injuries and pain.

Broscience or Bust

I know, I know, the article is way too long so you just scrolled through the whole thing while doing fasted cardio or eating your 7th meal of the day.

Well, whenever you’re ready to simplify your life and make your best gains yet, give this piece a read and learn what science has to say, bro.

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17 Comments
Panther Bro
Posted on: Fri, 06/18/2021 - 14:21

This article is the joke, and then you scroll down and see Mike Wines picture as the punchline. Lol! Maybe try some of these broscience myths and you won't look like an androgynous lesbian.

Daniel
Posted on: Wed, 09/05/2018 - 21:17

Hey Mike, great article. I am in my 13th week of weightlifting after building my own (air conditioned!) gym, and I am a little concerned about my eating schedule. I typically eat two meals a day. One at 11 AM, one at 7 PM. When I get home from work, I'm simply not hungry. My workouts are always at 4:15 PM. Am I missing out on muscle growth, inducing my body to use more calories for fat? I *have* been seeing significant progress, but also some fat gain. I have gained about 9 lbs, and though I still fit in my 32 waist pants, an increase in adipose tissue is visible around my midsection. I realize some fat gain is inevitable and it should mostly come down to what and how much I eat. I just want to know if a change to meal timing would make a meaningful difference.

Nick
Posted on: Mon, 12/21/2015 - 18:31

I agree that you don't NEED to have perfect nutrient timing for gains as long as you train correctly and are in a caloric surplus. But if it can make it slightly more effective it should be done in my opinion. Why purposely do something less efficient than possible?

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MikeWines
Posted on: Thu, 12/31/2015 - 12:57

Nick,

Agreed, which is exactly what I stated within the article, "But, 20% for majoring in minutia is a small price to pay if you have physique related goals."

I touched on the point in order to make folk's lives easier; there's no rush to slam a shake if you just ate 90 minutes ago. Go enjoy a meal with family or friends and live your life, it's not going to have a negative impact on muscular growth. If anything, the stress of trying to "perfectly time" your nutrients could negate some of the potential benefits, at least psychologically.

Anthony Acosta
Posted on: Wed, 09/30/2015 - 09:50

Great article. I've been trying to drop 50 lbs and my progress is slow. I've been told over and over to eat 6-8 meals a day, and even though I thought they were small portions, I gained 3 lbs. I do a lot of weight training and very little cardio (due to my fear of losing muscle). I'm one of those people who for sure needs to increase cardio. Thanks for the informative article

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MikeWines
Posted on: Thu, 10/01/2015 - 09:45

Anthony,
Glad you enjoyed it my friend. Weight gain or loss ALWAYS comes down to calories in versus calories out (meal frequency, timing, and portion sizes are irrelevant in terms of this discussion). Cardio won't make you lose muscle mass, you just have to be smart about the amount your performing and ensuring you have some protein on board before hitting a session.

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MikeWines
Posted on: Mon, 10/05/2015 - 13:19

Calorie intake will be determined by where you're starting and how your metabolism has responded.

For example, over the last 2 years I've walked my calories up to 4,000 a day and now I maintain on roughly that amount but that might not be the case for someone else. You need to establish a baseline and then make adjustments from there. Sometimes in order to kickstart weight loss you have to increase calories for a short period in order to allow your metabolism to respond positively to a lower caloric amount.

Anthony acosta
Posted on: Thu, 10/01/2015 - 11:13

Ive been doing the kris gethin 12 week trainer and im pretty sure im eating too much. Im 510 233. I was eating 2200 cals but i just cut it back to 1500. My body is losing inches but i want to lose weight lol

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MikeWines
Posted on: Fri, 10/02/2015 - 10:44

Anthony,
Couple of things:
1. Are you actually measuring/weighing your portions?
2. How are you keeping track? Just mentally tracking or actually using an app?

Those numbers seems very low for someone your size if you have a moderately high activity level.

Keep in mind that there are much more important details than just weight on the scale. If you're simultaneously losing fat and building muscle then the number on the scale won't change. The most important factor in this equation is your body COMPOSITION, not just your body WEIGHT.

Anthony acosta
Posted on: Fri, 10/02/2015 - 11:04

Yes the scale is upsetting me. I gained 3 lbs and track all my food with myfitnesspal. I am extremely disciplined and im only losing inches. I just assumed my calories were too high

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MikeWines
Posted on: Fri, 10/02/2015 - 16:41

If things aren't budging then give it a week or so. Remember, weight loss isn't always linear as day to day expenditure changes and there's a variety of other factors affecting scale weight (water, glycogen, cortisol, etc.).

However, whenever you make changes they should be small and gradual. A drop that drastic will definitely not be conducive to long term adherence or metabolic health.

Anthony acosta
Posted on: Fri, 10/02/2015 - 17:57

So you recommend staying at 2000?

Jim Brewster
Posted on: Sun, 12/20/2015 - 09:19

Weight loss - do you mean fat loss or just general weight loss - there is a difference. Fat loss is more than merely calories in/calories out, although that's the starting point. You really can't ignore things like the hormonal impact, timing, quality of calories taken in and so on if you want to talk about fat loss. Weight loss, on the other hand, may be that simple, you're losing muscle, water and fat. Your statement about cardio makes perfect sense.

Adedos
Posted on: Mon, 08/10/2015 - 13:47

Great article Mike,
It's sad to see clueless bigenners going for the biggest guy in the gym thinking muscle mass directly correlates with someones expertise.
Thanks.

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MikeWines
Posted on: Fri, 08/07/2015 - 12:40

Agree? Disagree? Lets chat...

Chip Cunningham
Posted on: Sun, 08/09/2015 - 17:23

I really like your article. This is one of the few articles I've read lately that doesn't totally dismiss steady state cardio. I primarily focus on HIIT but I don't think steady state should be completely dismissed either. Do you think there is a benefit to doing steady state following strength training versus a separate session?

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MikeWines
Posted on: Mon, 08/10/2015 - 13:26

Hey Chip,
Thanks for the compliment, glad you enjoyed it. Provided your schedule allows, I would recommend splitting your CV sessions from your strength work given the different signaling pathways you're activating.

Here's a good read on the subject if you're curious about more details: http://suppversity.blogspot.com/2013/04/concomitant-training-whats-best....