Discover how to achieve and maintain sub-12% body fat while building muscle, from metabolic strategies to hormone optimization. Learn the science-backed methods that separate the shredded 1% from everyone else.

How to get super cut as a young man. Like 10-12% body fat or less and retain a lot of muscle. And then how to build muscle but not fat. Actually mechanics of how to do it, lifestyle choices, general mindset, and how to maintain it long term


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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

Lena: Hey everyone, welcome to today's episode! I'm super excited about this one because we're tackling something many young men ask about—how to get that lean, muscular physique with visible abs and definition. Miles, did you know that according to studies, fewer than 1% of men ever reach that coveted 12% body fat level?
Miles: That statistic is mind-blowing, right? And it explains why so many guys struggle with this goal. The truth is, getting "shredded" isn't just about doing a few crunches and cutting carbs for a week.
Lena: Exactly! I think there's so much confusion about whether you should focus on losing fat first or building muscle first. Or can you actually do both at the same time?
Miles: That's the million-dollar question! Body recomposition—losing fat while gaining muscle simultaneously—is possible, but it depends heavily on your training experience. For beginners, it's almost like a superpower they have for about the first year of proper training.
Lena: Oh, that's fascinating! So there's actually a window of opportunity where this works really well?
Miles: Absolutely. In one study, police officers who were new to weightlifting lost 9-15 pounds of fat while gaining 4-9 pounds of muscle in just 12 weeks. But the rules change completely once you've been training consistently for a while. Let's break down exactly how to achieve this transformation and what realistic expectations look like based on your current fitness level.