EFR 903: How to Burn Fat, Build Muscle, and Stay Adherent to Your Workouts After 40 with Carl Daikeler

This episode is brought to you by Caldera Lab, Legion Athletics and Cured Nutrition.

In this high-energy episode, I sit down with Carl Daikeler, co-founder and CEO of BODi (formerly BeachBody), to uncover what it truly takes to stay fit, healthy, and motivated at any age—especially after 40. Carl shares the honest truth about hating workouts, why consistency trumps complexity, and how his own struggles inspired the creation of Shakeology and countless effective fitness programs. From breaking the myth of "more is better" to championing the power of 25-minute workouts, Carl explains how to build muscle, lose fat, and achieve longevity without perfection. He reveals how accountability, community, and mindset drive real transformation—and how the best way to help yourself might be by helping someone else. Whether you're looking to get shredded, manage weight over 40, or just finally stick to a routine, this episode is packed with practical, sustainable advice.

Follow Carl @carldaikeler

Follow Chase @chase_chewning

-----

00:00 – Intro and why this episode matters

01:18 – Carl's mission: help people get healthy with minimal daily effort

03:35 – The water ski test for longevity at 61

04:23 – Accountability: the real key to transformation

06:04 – Starting small: 100 squats, 50 pushups, save a life

07:53 – Why leading by example isn't enough—lead by invitation

10:22 – Carl admits he hates working out (and how he still does it daily)

13:09 – Shakeology: solving his own problem with vegetables

16:06 – The importance of quality and integrity in supplements

17:34 – The Body difference: short, effective workouts that stick

19:42 – Physical poverty: Carl's metaphor for neglecting your body

23:50 – Just show up: the spoon and starfish stories

26:12 – Why helping others makes you more accountable

27:18 – How Carl shaped company culture around health

30:25 – Reducing temptation: removing the sugar minefield

34:25 – Fitness by decade: what changes in your 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s

36:14 – Stop over-optimizing: why you don't need gadgets to succeed

37:30 – Power 90 to P90X: the foundation of scalable fitness

40:08 – Quantified vs qualitative health: how you feel matters

42:51 – Wine bottles to weights: Judy's lifestyle transformation

44:23 – Blue Zones, simplicity, and living past 100

45:47 – Carl's "secret sauce" for longevity: Don't quit

49:59 – Keeping it simple: what makes Body programs work

52:26 – Time under tension and progressive overload: the winning formula

53:22 – Fitness seasons: when to go hard, when to scale back

56:12 – The power of community and hybrid workout calendars

57:00 – Red flags in fitness: obsession with one modality

59:20 – Belvital: a hormone health game-changer for women

01:00:54 – New P90X Generation Next and what's coming in 2026

01:02:33 – Ever Forward

-----

Episode resources:

• Get 20% off the Hair Care system with code EVERFORWARD at https://www.CalderaLab.com
• BOGO sale on Whey+ protein powder, 20% off entire first purchase with code EVERFORWARD at https://www.LegionAthletics.com
• 20% off Serenity Gummies with code EVERFORWARD at https://www.CuredNutrition.com/everforward
• Watch and subscribe on YouTube