

Lift Free And Diet Hard with Andrew Coates
Andrew Coates
The Lift Free and Diet Hard Podcast dives deep into the science and practice of living a strong, healthy, and intentional life. Hosted by Andrew Coates, the show brings together inspiring guests to share insights, stories, and practical advice that empower listeners to build confidence, make informed choices, and stay resilient in their fitness and wellness journeys. Every episode encourages thoughtful exploration of what it means to lift free, diet hard, and live fully.
Episodes
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4 snips
Oct 2, 2025 • 1h 14min
#404 Dr. Susan Kleiner - Women’s Performance Nutrition Masterclass
Dr Susan Kleiner is a PhD of Nutrition and Human Performance and a Registered Dietician who’s worked with the highest level athletes in sports. Susan guests in this masterclass on performance nutrition to share her expertise on:-Fuelling for athletic performance -Do female athletes face more pressure than men to appear lean-Tactics for short term leanness while not losing training effectiveness-Long term tactics to manage performance and aesthetic goals-The criticism female athletes like Serena Williams have traditionally faced, plus some nuanced thoughts on Serena’s current use of GLP-1 agonist medications-Fasted cardio-Leanness and injury risk-Creating client autonomy for adherence-Signs you’re potentially under-fuelling-Common micronutrient deficiencies in active people-And much more01:06 Pressure on Female Athletes04:21 Media Influence on Athlete Image08:27 Nutrition and Performance in Female Athletes12:57 Sponsorship and Media Demands15:53 GLP-1 Agonists and Athlete Health22:04 Fueling Strategies for Athletes32:42 Seasonal Nutrition Management38:45 Injury Risks and Body Composition40:02 The Ice Cream Boy: A Case Study45:42 Identifying Under-Fueling in Athletes52:52 The Female Athlete Triad01:04:23 Micronutrient Deficiencies in Athletes01:09:01 The Role of Dietitians in Sports NutritionI’ve been putting a lot of time and effort into making these new episodes valuable for you. You can help me get these great guests and their knowledge in front of more people by:-Subscribing and checking out more episodes-Sharing on your social media (please tag me - I promise I’ll respond)-Sharing with the friend you think of who needs this episodeFollow Andrew Coates:Instagram:@andrewcoatesfitnessJoin My Email List:www.andrewcoatesfitness.comGet the RP App at www.rpstrength.com/coates - use the code COATESRPUse Code ANDREWCOATESFITNESS to save 10% off at https://justbitememeals.com/Use MacrosFirst for tracking nutrition https://www.macrosfirst.com/Go to www.knkg.com/Andrew59676 for 15% off your KNKG bag.

Sep 30, 2025 • 52min
#403 Sharelle Grant - Using Your Weekend to Get Ahead Not Fall Behind
Sharelle Grant is a nurse turned online coach and founder of the Women’s Health Movement. Sharelle joins me to share her philosophy on success in fitness, health, and life including:-Setting and maintaining boundaries -Why weekends are your cheat code to get ahead-Not taking personally or reacting to everything you see online-Not being emotionally reactive and the power of pause-The risks of osteoporosis and serious osteoporosis fracture injuries and how to reduce risk-Nuanced thoughts on the use and misuse of GLP-1 agonist medications -Thoughts on the Biggest Loser documentary and why shame, fear, and extreme approaches to fat loss don’t work-And much more01:05 The Importance of Setting Boundaries05:14 Navigating Social Pressures and Boundaries12:54 Using Weekends to Get Ahead17:47 The Power of Structure and Routine19:15 Handling Online Opinions and Arguments25:13 Understanding Human Behavior and Reactions25:29 Creating Space Between Input and Output26:35 Mindful Eating and Emotional Triggers27:53 The Power of Data in Decision Making31:13 Charlie's Mental Model of Inversion32:37 Prioritizing Goals and Making Strategic Decisions34:17 Women's Health and Fitness Misconceptions37:05 The Role of GLP-1 Agonists in Weight Management47:44 The Importance of Support and AccountabilityI’ve been putting a lot of time and effort into making these new episodes valuable for you. You can help me get these great guests and their knowledge in front of more people by:-Subscribing and checking out more episodes-Sharing on your social media (please tag me - I promise I’ll respond)-Sharing with the friend you think of who needs this episodeFollow Andrew Coates:Instagram:@andrewcoatesfitnessJoin My Email List:www.andrewcoatesfitness.comGet the RP App at www.rpstrength.com/coates - use the code COATESRPUse Code ANDREWCOATESFITNESS to save 10% off at https://justbitememeals.com/Use MacrosFirst for tracking nutrition https://www.macrosfirst.com/Go to www.knkg.com/Andrew59676 for 15% off your KNKG bag.

Sep 25, 2025 • 56min
#402 Jaclyn Phillips - The Unseen Mental Health Battle
In this insightful discussion, Jaclyn (Jackie O) Phillips, Head Coach of Team Strong Girls and mental health advocate, shares her journey through anxiety and the transformative power of fitness. She candidly explores the pressure to maintain a happy facade, the loneliness often felt behind closed doors, and how movement became her lifeline. Jaclyn also delves into the balance between vulnerability and professional boundaries, critiques misleading fitness messaging, and underscores the importance of authenticity in the fitness community.

Sep 23, 2025 • 1h 2min
#401 Abby Langer - Scorched Earth On Nutritional Pseudoscience
Abby Langer is one of the best resources for combatting the lunacy we see online and backs it up as a dietician with years of experience. Abby joins me to share her thoughts on:-the negative reaction to Serena Williams using and endorsing GLP-1 agonist medication-the negative media and comments about the appearance of famous women like Nelly Furtado, Jessica Simpson, and Jennifer Love-Hewett-How moms can avoid perpetuating harmful handed down cultural and media beliefs about dieting and personal value to their children -Soulless grifters who do things like make videos buying up a table full of girl guide cookies while lecturing the kids about how bad the cookies are-Influencers who film themselves walking through Costco while demonizing random foods-The Biggest Loser Documentary -Home cortisol testers-Advice for the confused, overwhelmed, and desperate person who just wants to feel better-And much more as Abby goes scorched earth on influencers who peddle pseudoscience00:47 Discussing Serena Williams and GLP-1 Agonists04:16 The Pressure on Women in Society07:43 Hollywood's Double Standards on Aging09:32 The Influence of Mothers on Body Image11:16 The Role of Beauty in Women's Lives14:17 Combating Negative Self-Talk16:52 GLP-1 Agonists: A Balanced Perspective20:10 The Rise of Nutrition Misinformation23:47 Critiquing Popular Nutrition Influencers27:42 The Problem with Fear-Mongering in Nutrition32:51 The Decline of Critical Thinking34:17 The Biggest Loser Documentary Controversy37:31 Fragmented Media Consumption40:41 Navigating Misinformation in Health and Nutrition46:33 The Basics of Healthy Living49:21 The Cortisol Testing Scam52:19 The Rise of GLP-1 Agonists55:08 Protein Powders and Heavy Metals57:26 The Grift of Fearmongering in NutritionI’ve been putting a lot of time and effort into making these new episodes valuable for you. You can help me get these great guests and their knowledge in front of more people by:-Subscribing and checking out more episodes-Sharing on your social media (please tag me - I promise I’ll respond)-Sharing with the friend you think of who needs this episodeFollow Andrew Coates:Instagram:@andrewcoatesfitnessJoin My Email List:www.andrewcoatesfitness.comGet the RP App at www.rpstrength.com/coates - use the code COATESRPUse Code ANDREWCOATESFITNESS to save 10% off at https://justbitememeals.com/Use MacrosFirst for tracking nutrition https://www.macrosfirst.com/Go to www.knkg.com/Andrew59676 for 15% off your KNKG bag.

Sep 18, 2025 • 1h 4min
#400 Holly Baxter - Muscle Building: Volume, Frequency, and Intensity
Holly Baxter is a prominent evidence based coach and research communicator with a Masters in Dietetics, all while being a competitive IFBB Pro.Holly joins me to deep dive into research and practical application of:-Do we need to train to failure to optimize muscle growth-Volume and muscle growth-How many weekly sets do you need to grow muscle and to optimize for muscle growth-Is one set per week enough for robust muscle growth-Does training frequency matter-Do squats, deadlifts, and other heavy compound lifts “thicken your core muscles”-Self selection bias in body type and sport-Do older women need more protein-Plus how Holly manages to balance her coaching and competitive careers-And much more00:58 Training to Failure: Do We Need It?01:52 Research Insights on Training to Failure04:49 Experienced vs. Beginner Lifters: Knowing Failure10:20 Effective Reps and Training Volume12:16 Research on Training Volume and Muscle Growth18:23 High Volume Training: Pros and Cons23:11 Practical Advice for General Population32:01 Exploring Training Frequency and Volume35:17 Benefits of Full Body Training38:42 The Debate on Compound Lifts and Core Thickness49:22 Balancing Life and Competitive Training01:00:17 Protein Needs for Older WomenI’ve been putting a lot of time and effort into making these new episodes valuable for you. You can help me get these great guests and their knowledge in front of more people by:-Subscribing and checking out more episodes-Sharing on your social media (please tag me - I promise I’ll respond)-Sharing with the friend you think of who needs this episodeFollow Andrew Coates:Instagram:@andrewcoatesfitnessJoin My Email List:www.andrewcoatesfitness.comGet the RP App at www.rpstrength.com/coates - use the code COATESRPUse Code ANDREWCOATESFITNESS to save 10% off at https://justbitememeals.com/Use MacrosFirst for tracking nutrition https://www.macrosfirst.com/Go to www.knkg.com/Andrew59676 for 15% off your KNKG bag.

Sep 16, 2025 • 52min
#399 Dan Go - Getting Healthy in Your 40’s and Beyond
Dan Go is a fitness coach for entrepreneurs who’s build a massive media presence with actionable advice while ignoring the combativeness of the fitness industry. Dan guests to share his wisdom on:-What you need to focus on to feel better in your 40’s and beyond than you did in your 20’s-Beliefs to let go of to be healthier -A nuanced approach to reducing alcohol intake -Getting away from victim mentality -The mindset of not seeing change in your 40’s as already too late-What to focus on for long term longevity -Why financial stress negatively impacts your health-The importance of curating the environment, the people, and the media you surround yourself with -And much more00:16 Guest Introduction: Dan's Journey02:59 Fitness in Your Forties: Key Strategies04:58 Beliefs and Behaviors for Success11:22 The Impact of Alcohol on Health24:40 Blame and Responsibility in Fitness27:20 Misrepresentation in Health Studies28:30 The Vicious Cycle of Misinformation29:46 Promoting Longevity and Healthy Living35:09 Financial Health and Stress Management40:19 The Importance of Your Social Environment46:17 Curating Your Environment for Success49:41 Final Thoughts and ResourcesI’ve been putting a lot of time and effort into making these new episodes valuable for you. You can help me get these great guests and their knowledge in front of more people by:-Subscribing and checking out more episodes-Sharing on your social media (please tag me - I promise I’ll respond)-Sharing with the friend you think of who needs this episodeFollow Andrew Coates:Instagram:@andrewcoatesfitnessJoin My Email List:www.andrewcoatesfitness.comGet the RP App at www.rpstrength.com/coates - use the code COATESRPUse Code ANDREWCOATESFITNESS to save 10% off at https://justbitememeals.com/Use MacrosFirst for tracking nutrition https://www.macrosfirst.com/Go to www.knkg.com/Andrew59676 for 15% off your KNKG bag.

Sep 11, 2025 • 48min
#398 Aidan Muir - Creatine 101, Nutrition For PCOS, and When Meal Timing Matters
Aidan Muir is a dietitian(Australian spelling) who’s masterful at presenting evidence based nutrition through his media. Aidan joins me to talk about:-The basics of creatine, who should consider taking it, -Is the evidence for creatine’s physical and cognitive benefits as strong as some believe-Does PCOS require a special approach to nutrition-Is it really harder to lose fat with PCOS-Do GLP-1 agonist medications work as well for PCOS-Are there situations where meal timing has benefits?-How to track raw vs cooked weight for your meals-Nutrition and hydration strategies for hybrid and endurance athletes-Is there strong evidence that high fibre intake affects longevity-What Aidan means by saying: “Not every nutrition decision needs to be something sustainable you can do for the rest of your life”-And much more00:56 Creatine 101: Benefits and Misconceptions03:07 Debunking Creatine Myths07:02 Creatine and Cognitive Function10:53 Nutrition for PCOS19:14 Anti-Inflammatory Diets22:58 The Importance of Meal Timing24:50 High Training Volumes and Calorie Modulation26:09 Nutrition Strategies for Endurance Athletes27:18 Tracking Nutrition: Raw vs Cooked30:12 Carbohydrate Intake for Hybrid Athletes38:28 GLP-1 Agonists and PCOS39:49 Fiber Intake and Longevity43:09 Sustainability in Nutrition DecisionsI’ve been putting a lot of time and effort into making these new episodes valuable for you. You can help me get these great guests and their knowledge in front of more people by:-Subscribing and checking out more episodes-Sharing on your social media (please tag me - I promise I’ll respond)-Sharing with the friend you think of who needs this episodeFollow Andrew Coates:Instagram:@andrewcoatesfitnessJoin My Email List:www.andrewcoatesfitness.comGet the RP App at www.rpstrength.com/coates - use the code COATESRPUse Code ANDREWCOATESFITNESS to save 10% off at https://justbitememeals.com/Use MacrosFirst for tracking nutrition https://www.macrosfirst.com/Go to www.knkg.com/Andrew59676 for 15% off your KNKG bag.

Sep 9, 2025 • 1h 3min
#397 Adrian Vanvleck - Boundaries Are For You To Enforce, Don’t Expect Others To Respect Them
Adrian Vanvleck is The High Wizard of a magical realm where nerd culture and fitness merge. Adrian’s power is creating access for anyone to experience fitness without elitism or gatekeeping. Adrian guests to share his thoughts on:-Are more nerds participating in fitness-What created a portal for nerd culture enthusiasts to be more visible in the mainstream-How can we create room for both our nerdy pursuits and health and fitness-What elitism and gatekeeping looks like in fitness-Why you can’t just say you have boundaries, you have to enforce them-Why we can’t expect to experience life on easy mode all the time-How to find a system for getting the right calorie intake for your goals without forcing a triggering approach-His experience in a GLP-1 agonist medication scientific trial where he was locked in a metabolic ward for 30 days-And much more00:56 The Rise of Nerd Culture in Fitness06:03 The Impact of Pop Culture on Fitness12:02 Breaking Down Fitness Barriers for Nerds19:02 Setting Boundaries and Overcoming Self-Sabotage26:45 The Stoplight System: Managing Expectations in Fitness31:58 Setting Realistic Fitness Goals32:15 The Importance of Commitment32:26 Managing Expectations in Fitness33:44 Permission and Control in Fitness35:29 Gatekeeping and Elitism in Fitness44:37 The Role of Genetics and Environment in Obesity53:41 Calories and Weight Management59:49 Building a Supportive Fitness CommunityI’ve been putting a lot of time and effort into making these new episodes valuable for you. You can help me get these great guests and their knowledge in front of more people by:-Subscribing and checking out more episodes-Sharing on your social media (please tag me - I promise I’ll respond)-Sharing with the friend you think of who needs this episodeFollow Andrew Coates:Instagram:@andrewcoatesfitnessJoin My Email List:www.andrewcoatesfitness.comGet the RP App at www.rpstrength.com/coates - use the code COATESRPUse Code ANDREWCOATESFITNESS to save 10% off at https://justbitememeals.com/Use MacrosFirst for tracking nutrition https://www.macrosfirst.com/Go to www.knkg.com/Andrew59676 for 15% off your KNKG bag.

Sep 4, 2025 • 1h 7min
#396 Hattie Boydle - What’s The Story You’re Telling Yourself?
Hattie Boydle is a world champion competitor plus coach and educator. Hattie joins the podcast to share her wisdom on:-Challenging our narratives and stories about why believe and do what we do-Why women can build muscle as effectively as men-How challenging it is to stay “lean” year round-Her competitive history and approach that created her physique -Her discipline and devotion to her training and nutrition-The tradeoffs we make to maintain a physique and the tradeoffs we make when we don’t-Diet culture-The importance of asking questions-Why women would more quickly develop their dream physiques by focusing on building vs dieting. -And much more01:00 - “I often call myself the grandma of the fitness industry.” 02:00 - Why she thought she’d stop competing at 30 but kept going 04:00 - Competing as a personal venture: “It’s selfish — I do it for me.” 06:00 - On AI in fitness: “AI will never take my job — it will never be human.” 07:00 - Misinformation: “Charisma isn’t science, and a six-pack doesn’t equal expertise.” 10:00 - Myth-busting: Women can build muscle as effectively as men 16:00 - From gymnast to competitor: 20 years of consistent training 18:00 - “Discipline is self-care. Even when unmotivated, I still do it.” 21:00 - Learning flexible dieting with @biolayne to repair food relationship 25:00 - Loving the prep process more than show day 31:00 - On aging: “We earn wisdom and muscle maturity — age isn’t a limitation.” 41:00 - Why fitness models influence: most of the world is out of shape 45:00 - “Every goal has a cost. Fear pushes us, desire pulls us.” 49:00 - Respect the build: “Everybody respects the diet, but not enough respect the build.” 55:00 - Diet culture’s claws: peeling them off one by one I’ve been putting a lot of time and effort into making these new episodes valuable for you. You can help me get these great guests and their knowledge in front of more people by:-Subscribing and checking out more episodes-Sharing on your social media (please tag me - I promise I’ll respond)-Sharing with the friend you think of who needs this episodeFollow Andrew Coates:Instagram:@andrewcoatesfitnessJoin My Email List:www.andrewcoatesfitness.comGet the RP App at www.rpstrength.com/coates - use the code COATESRPUse Code ANDREWCOATESFITNESS to save 10% off at https://justbitememeals.com/Use MacrosFirst for tracking nutrition https://www.macrosfirst.com/Go to www.knkg.com/Andrew59676 for 15% off your KNKG bag.

Sep 2, 2025 • 58min
#395 Josh Taylor - Beating Gym Anxiety, Video Games, and The Problem With “Science Based Influencers”
Josh Taylor is coach who’s media combines evidence based information with his love of gaming. Josh opens up about his personal experience and shares:-His experience with gym anxiety and how he worked through it-How the fitness helps with mental health struggles-The challenges dealing with a large and engaged social media presence-The evidence based benefits of gaming-How set boundaries and enjoy personal joys without guilt-Why he distanced himself from the “science based label”-The problem with influencers who speak in absolutes -How to best apply research to real world experience-Why “boring makes for good results but not for good content”-And much more00:51 Struggling with Gym Anxiety01:43 Dealing with Personal Challenges04:54 Impact of Home Stress on Gym Attendance06:02 Finding Refuge in the Gym09:46 Overcoming Gym Anxiety11:18 Fitness and Mental Health14:54 Navigating Social Media Pressures20:12 Balancing Work and Downtime22:05 Guilty Pleasures and Relaxation29:01 Critique of Modern TV Shows and Movies30:21 The Witcher: A Deep Dive33:58 Gaming: Benefits and Misconceptions40:48 The Science-Based Lifting Debate54:35 The DiCaprio Method and Rep Ranges56:43 Final Thoughts and ResourcesI’ve been putting a lot of time and effort into making these new episodes valuable for you. You can help me get these great guests and their knowledge in front of more people by:-Subscribing and checking out more episodes-Sharing on your social media (please tag me - I promise I’ll respond)-Sharing with the friend you think of who needs this episodeFollow Andrew Coates:Instagram:@andrewcoatesfitnessJoin My Email List:www.andrewcoatesfitness.comGet the RP App at www.rpstrength.com/coates - use the code COATESRPUse Code ANDREWCOATESFITNESS to save 10% off at https://justbitememeals.com/Use MacrosFirst for tracking nutrition https://www.macrosfirst.com/Go to www.knkg.com/Andrew59676 for 15% off your KNKG bag.