Barbell Shrugged

Heart Attack Awareness for Fit People w/ Joel Jamieson, Anders Varner, Doug Larson, and Travis Mash #792

Apr 2, 2025

Joel Jamieson, a leading expert in strength and conditioning for combat sports, shares eye-opening insights about heart health even among fit individuals. He discusses the hidden dangers of cholesterol and the importance of regular health screenings, fueled by his own experiences with serious blockages. The conversation challenges common myths surrounding fitness and genetics, emphasizing the significance of heart rate variability. They also delve into the essential role of zone two cardio and the evolution of athlete development, highlighting the need for balanced training approaches.

46:43

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Episode guests

Joel Jamieson

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Despite a fitness-focused lifestyle, individuals with family histories of heart disease must prioritize regular medical evaluations to detect unseen risks.

The podcast underscores that genetics significantly influence cardiovascular health, requiring awareness even among those maintaining rigorous fitness regimens.

A balanced fitness approach, incorporating both aerobic exercise and strength training, is essential for optimal heart health and overall well-being.

Deep dives

Unexpected Cardiovascular Risk

Despite leading a fitness-focused lifestyle, an individual faced the shocking revelation of significant heart blockages during a routine checkup, highlighting that cardiovascular risk can impact anyone, regardless of their health practices. The speaker emphasizes the importance of regular medical evaluations, especially if there's a family history of heart disease, as their own experience revealed they were at high risk despite normal cholesterol and blood pressure levels. This situation underscored the reality that lifestyle choices alone may not be sufficient to prevent heart problems, particularly for those with genetic predispositions. It serves as a cautionary tale for fit individuals to engage in preventive checkups and screenings, particularly CT angiograms and calcium scoring.

Intro

3min

Unexpected Heart Health Insights

7min

Navigating Cholesterol and Heart Health

6min

Confronting Heart Health Myths

11min

The Evolution of Athlete Development

7min

The Vital Role of Zone Two Cardio

9min

Closing Insights on Cardiovascular Health and Proactive Screening

2min

Joel Jamieson is widely considered one of the world’s foremost authorities on strength and conditioning for combat sports, having trained many of the sports best athletes since 2004. He is the author of the bestselling book Ultimate MMA Conditioning and is a contributing writer to several top magazines and a frequent guest speaker at conferences and seminars all over the world.

Joel has worked with and consulted extensively for teams and organizations ranging from Navy SEALS to Life Time Fitness and his BioForce HRV system is used by teams in the NFL, NBA, MLS, NCAA, and more. He is best known for an individualized approach that is both based on solid science and yet practical to apply.

Joel created 8WeeksOut in 2009 to help clear up the misinformation and confusion surrounding energy systems. Since then, the site has become one of the authorities on strength, conditioning, and performance.

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Links:

Joel Jamieson - 8weeksout.com

Anders Varner on Instagram

Doug Larson on Instagram

Coach Travis Mash on Instagram