
Lift Free And Diet Hard with 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.
Latest episodes

Feb 11, 2025 • 49min
#337 Mike Doehla - Successful Nutrition Philosophy and Tactics
Mike Doehla, the retired founder of Stronger You, shares his wealth of knowledge on nutrition and fitness. He critiques branded diets like keto and veganism, arguing for a more holistic understanding of health. The discussion navigates the challenges of the fitness industry, highlighting the importance of transparency and real-time support in coaching. Mike also dives into the impact of social circles on dietary choices and offers practical tips for meal planning, emphasizing personal responsibility in today’s complex eating environment.

Feb 6, 2025 • 47min
#336 Dr. Mike Israetel - A.I. and the Future of Your Fitness
Legendary PhD of Sport Physiology and co-founder of Renaissance Periodization Dr Mike Israetel joins the podcast to talk about how A.I. promises to enhance our everyday fitness and health lifestyle and health outcome. Dr Mike talks about:-How coaching will be affected by A.I.-How likely we’ll see an I Robot scenario (Will Smith movie).-What will humans do with their extra time if robots take care of daily household tasks?-Why we’ve seen a rise in Mike Mentzer style low volume training ideology on social media-Why there appears to be a rift between traditionally PhD educated authorities and social media hypertrophy coaches on training volume?-and much more00:16 Welcoming Dr. Mike Israetel00:35 The Role of AI in Health and Fitness01:36 AI in Coaching and Medicine04:53 Human Element in Coaching07:25 Future of AI and Robotics in Daily Life16:02 Ethical Considerations and AI20:15 Impact of AI on Fitness and Lifestyle25:56 The Status Game: A Never-Ending Cycle30:50 The Illusion of Superiority31:46 Debating Hypertrophy: Volume vs. Intensity32:26 Fitness Influencers: Credibility and Influence36:31 The Appeal of Low Volume Training40:08 The Importance of Vibes in Training45:28 Wrapping Up: 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.com

Feb 4, 2025 • 59min
#335 Dr. Joe Zundell - Cancer and Strength Training
Dr. Joe Zundell, a cancer biologist and educator, shares profound insights on the connection between strength training and cancer risk reduction. He discusses the vital role of resistance training in combating cachexia in cancer patients, stressing the importance of tailored exercise regimens. Dr. Zundell also debunks myths about diet and cancer, emphasizing the impact of environmental and lifestyle factors. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of how balanced nutrition and exercise can improve quality of life during cancer treatment.

Jan 30, 2025 • 51min
#334 Tom Morrison - How Strength Is Essential For Mobility And Dealing With Injuries
Mobility expert Tom Morrison joins to share wisdom from years of managing his own injuries and coaching others.
Tom talks about:
-How Tom avoided movement restrictions or pain despite probably having broken his neck
-What the everyday person with a busy life can do with limited time to improve mobility?
-How strength is the foundation of mobility
-The difference between active and passive range of motion
-Why being “degenerative” isn’t necessarily something you should be worried about
-Why medical scans of your joints doesn’t tell the whole story
-Why having physical injuries doesn’t guarantee you’ll experience pain
-Effective warmups for lifting
-Why spending time working down on the floor is important
-and much more
01:21 The Relationship Between Mobility and Injury Risk
02:52 Improving Mobility: Techniques and Tips
05:24 Strength and Mobility: Finding the Balance
12:21 Using Weights to Enhance Mobility
17:39 Personal Experiences with Injuries and Recovery
20:42 Understanding Abduction and Adduction
21:48 The Reality of Degeneration and Scans
25:14 Understanding Tissue Degeneration
26:53 Adapting Training with Age
28:07 Importance of Muscle Strength and Motor Control
32:54 Making Fitness Accessible for Busy Lives
34:57 Effective Warm-Up Strategies
39:25 Overcoming Mental Barriers in Mobility
42:35 Daily Movement and Lifestyle Tips
45:24 The Importance of Floor Movements
48:17 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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 episode
Follow Andrew Coates:
Instagram: @andrewcoatesfitness
Join My Email List: www.andrewcoatesfitness.com

Jan 28, 2025 • 1h 6min
#333 Jordan Syatt - How to Prioritize Your Fitness as a Parent
Jordan Syatt joins me to discuss:
-How his fitness routine has changed since becoming a parent
-How he prioritizes and finds time for fitness
-How his fitness goals have evolved over time
-Why Jordan has been working on doing Jean Claude Van Damme splits
-Jordan’s mobility routine
-What are “Movement Snacks”
-Choosing workout timing
-If Jordan misses the grind of his career before his family life
And much more
00:15 A Warm Welcome to Jordan Syatt
00:38 Balancing Fitness and Fatherhood
00:52 Flexible Fitness Routine
02:34 Maintaining Fitness Goals
03:46 Late Night Workouts and Family Life
05:25 Fitness Philosophy and Social Media
22:35 The Importance of Walking and Small Movements
33:41 Consistency is Key: Finding Your Optimal Workout Time
34:47 Fasted Training: Pros and Cons
35:28 Training on a Full Stomach: Lessons Learned
38:22 Family Fitness: Setting an Example
40:05 The Science of Mobility and Flexibility
51:46 Balancing Family Life and Career
55:00 The Impact of Social Media Fame
01:01:18 Final Thoughts and Reflections
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 episode
Follow Andrew Coates:
Instagram: @andrewcoatesfitness
Join My Email List: www.andrewcoatesfitness.com

Jan 23, 2025 • 52min
#332 Dan Feldman - Nutrition Mythbusting: Carbs/Insulin, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Omega 3-6 Edition
00:52 Debunking the Carbs and Diabetes Myth
02:49 Understanding Insulin Resistance
06:01 The Role of Resistance Training
09:26 Obesity and Health Risks
14:25 High Fructose Corn Syrup vs. Other Sugars
22:27 The Truth About Fruit and Fructose
26:46 Fruit Juice vs. Whole Fruit: Blood Sugar Impact
27:33 Personal Preferences: Fruit Juice vs. Soda
28:27 Glucose Monitors: Are They Worth It?
30:45 Understanding Inflammation: Acute vs. Chronic
34:26 Omega 3 vs. Omega 6: What You Need to Know
43:51 Dietary Fat: Importance and Recommendations
49:52 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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 episode
Follow Andrew Coates:
Instagram: @andrewcoatesfitness
Join My Email List: www.andrewcoatesfitness.com

Jan 21, 2025 • 51min
#331 Dr. Christle Guevarra - All Things Ozempic
Dr Christle Guevarra returns with the every day person’s guide to Ozempic and GLP-1 agonist medications
Follow Christle: https://www.instagram.com/dr.christle?igsh=Yml3dnhreTk2d28w
Christle explains:
-Why resistance training matters when using Ozempic
-Does Ozempic really cause bone and muscle loss, over and above what we would see from dieting and calorie restriction?
-What’s going on with “Food Noise”?
-Are any of the criticisms of Ozempic and similar medications valid?
-Is there any merit to products claiming to be “nature’s Ozempic”?
-Plus much more
We also mention the upcoming RPU - Renaissance Periodization University. That will be going live to everyone around May so stay tuned for more.
The new episode format is gaining a lot of buzz and traction. Please help me get these great guests with more nuance and less sensationalism in the hands of your friends. Share with someone you believe would love this episode.
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00:15 Meet Dr. Crystal Guevara
00:53 Diving into Ozempic and GLP-1 Agonists
02:55 Addressing Concerns and Side Effects
05:57 Navigating Weight Loss and Maintenance
34:02 The Role of AI in Health and Nutrition
40:03 Exploring Ozempic's Broader Implications
48:51 Final Thoughts and Resources
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 episode
Follow Andrew Coates:
Instagram: @andrewcoatesfitness
Join My Email List: www.andrewcoatesfitness.com

Jan 16, 2025 • 51min
#330 Don Saladino - Philosophy On Grit, Discipline, and Life
00:00 Welcome and Introduction
00:15 Catching Up with Don Saladino
01:12 Celebrity Training Insights
01:43 Balancing Family and Career
02:35 Training Philosophy and Approach
03:33 Challenges of Training Actors
07:37 Misconceptions About Celebrity Life
15:05 Grit and Determination
28:15 The Importance of Accountability in Parenting
29:38 Balancing Fitness and Family Life
31:38 The Discipline of Consistent Training
33:18 Reflections on Brian Johnson's Lifestyle
36:25 Helping Clients Overcome Self-Defeating Beliefs
39:30 The Minimalistic Approach to Fitness Coaching
47:42 Upcoming Projects and Collaborations
49:54 Final Thoughts and Farewell
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 episode
Follow Andrew Coates:
Instagram: @andrewcoatesfitness
Join My Email List: www.andrewcoatesfitness.com

Jan 14, 2025 • 44min
#329 Jonathan Goodman - Becoming The Obvious Choice
Jonathan Goodman joins to talk about his brand new book The Obvious Choice, out now.
We talk about:
-Why Jonathan chose to write this book?
-Why this book is a pivot into a more mainstream audience?
-The 4 stages of content creation
-How stories and narratives affect your decisions
And more
Follow Jonathan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/itscoachgoodman?igsh=MTI0ejliOGRuOWN4OA==
This episode talks about business, career, and life lessons that can help anyone, more than just the fitness professional. Going forward my mission is to get these episodes and my guests into as many new hands as possible. Help me help the people in your world by taking this episode and gifting it to someone you know will love the topics we discuss. Thank you.
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
00:16 Welcoming Jonathan Goodman
00:41 The Obvious Choice: Book Insights
01:51 The Role of Social Media in Business
03:35 Human Behavior and Decision Making
12:10 The Four Stages of Content Creation
21:58 Embarrassingly Bad Decisions
22:33 The Emotional Nature of Decision Making
22:47 New Year's Resolutions and Fixed Identity
24:55 Leapfrog Skills in the Fitness Industry
25:42 The Importance of Complementary Skills
28:53 Building Social Media Presence
32:56 Becoming an Industry Leader
38:30 The Journey to Thought Leadership
41:26 The Obvious Choice: Book Promotion
42:53 Final Thoughts and Podcast Growth
Follow Andrew Coates:
Instagram: @andrewcoatesfitness
Join My Email List: www.andrewcoatesfitness.com

Jan 9, 2025 • 55min
#328 Dr. Brandon Parker - How Safe Is Strength Training? How Dangerous Is Not Strength Training?
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:15 Guest Introduction: Dr. Brandon Parker
01:09 Movement Optimism and Strength Training Safety
02:33 Rounding Your Back: The Nuances
06:34 The Importance of Resistance Training
09:36 Exercise Form and Injury Risk
16:44 Load Management and Recovery
23:29 Stability in Training: Machines vs. Free Weights
26:19 Training Modifications and Warm-Up Techniques
27:07 Exploring Exercise Variations
28:01 Addressing Lower Back Pain
30:06 Fear of Pain and Injury in Fitness Content
32:09 The Power of Belief in Healing
36:57 The Importance of Health for Longevity
46:08 Motivation and Personal Needs
51:49 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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 episode
Follow Andrew Coates:
Instagram: @andrewcoatesfitness
Join My Email List: www.andrewcoatesfitness.com
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