Dr. Eric Helms

Dr. Eric Helms is the Chief Science Officer and co-founder of 3D Muscle Journey (3DMJ), where he guides athletes in leveraging their strengths, staying updated with best practices, and communicating science effectively to achieve sustainable high performance. He is also the chief author of the acclaimed Muscle and Strength Pyramids books and a co-founder of the Monthly Applications in Strength Sport (MASS) research review.

Dr. Helms is a Senior Research Fellow at the Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand at Auckland University of Technology, where he mentors master's and PhD students in applied strength and physique sport science. His research encompasses training, nutrition, and psychology for strength and physique athletes.

Academically, Dr. Helms holds a PhD in Strength and Conditioning, focusing on autoregulating powerlifting, two master's degrees—one in exercise science and the other in sports nutrition—and a bachelor's degree in sports management, fitness, and wellness. His extensive educational background supports his evidence-based approach to coaching and research.

As an athlete, Dr. Helms is a WNBF Pro natural bodybuilder and has competed in numerous strength sports, including 17 powerlifting meets, 3 Olympic weightlifting meets, 2 Strongman competitions, and 13 natural bodybuilding competitions. His personal experience in competitive sports enhances his ability to coach athletes at all levels, from novices to world champions.

Dr. Helms is also a prolific content creator, co-hosting the Iron Culture Podcast with Omar Isuf and regularly publishing peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on strength and conditioning, nutrition, and personal training. His dedication to bridging the gap between science and practice has made him a respected figure in the fitness community.

The Muscle and Strength Pyramid books

Navigating the available fitness information online can be confusing and time-consuming at best, and a minefield of misinformation at worst. One inherent problem is that information online is always presented as supremely important and as the next ‘big thing,’ without context or any understanding of priorities.

Enter The Muscle and Strength Pyramid books. The foundational concept of these books is understanding priorities and context, so you can take all the pieces of the puzzle and fit them together into an actionable plan.

The chief author of the books, Dr. Eric Helms, has not only the academic understanding of training and nutrition as an active researcher but also extensive practical experience. He has been a personal trainer, powerlifting and bodybuilding coach since 2005. In addition, he has the minds of Andrea Valdez, and Andy Morgan to ensure the concepts are communicated clearly and effectively communicated and no stone is left unturned.