

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
Mentioned books

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.
Thank you
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

Jan 7, 2025 • 53min
#327 Dr Allan Bacon - Supplements: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
In this engaging discussion, Dr. Alan Bacon, a nutrition educator and owner of Maui Athletics, busts myths about supplements and shares practical insights. He highlights the benefits of creatine for all ages, including its role in bone health. Bacon emphasizes individual needs in supplementation, tackling the importance of omega-3s and vitamin D. He also explores baking soda’s effectiveness pre-workout and addresses misconceptions around anti-nutrients, promoting a balanced diet that includes both whole and plant-based foods.

Jan 2, 2025 • 45min
#326 Luka Hocevar - Why Everyone Should Train Like An Athlete For Life
Luka Hocevar returns with his usual big energy to share wisdom on:
-The importance of training and maintaining speed, power, and explosiveness as we get older.
-Building resilience against fall injuries.
-How to structure training programs for athletic qualities .
-How strength training reduces risk and slows the progression of neurodegenerative disease like Parkinson’s.
-The importance of developing movement and muscle reserves as we age.
-And much more.
Enjoy this deep dive into where Luka’s life’s work intersects close to home with the health issues of loved ones.
Follow Luka on IG: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar?igsh=MTc2aHRkZGlwdnFpYQ==
Thank you for listening.
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:16 Catching Up with Luka Hocevar
02:33 The Athlete for Life Philosophy
06:05 Training for Longevity and Quality of Life
12:06 Programming and Training Strategies
21:33 Advanced Warmup Techniques
22:06 The Importance of Intent in Training
22:21 Using Technology for Performance Tracking
23:43 Contrast Training Explained
24:33 Post Activation Potentiation (PAP)
24:58 Time Efficiency in Training
26:15 Maintaining Skills Under Fatigue
27:00 Personal Challenges and Lifestyle Impact
28:41 Strength Training and Parkinson's
31:20 Building Physical and Mental Reserves
37:41 Focus on What You Can Control
39:21 Empowering Clients Through Training
41:09 Resources 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
Thank you so much
Follow Andrew Coates:
Instagram: @andrewcoatesfitness
Join My Email List: www.andrewcoatesfitness.com

Dec 31, 2024 • 49min
#325 Brad Jensen - A Conversation About Addiction and Fitness
Brad Jensen, The Sober Bodybuilder joins me to share his story of a history of addiction and homelessness and how fitness was a linchpin in his recovery and sustained sobriety.
Learn:
-Can fitness addiction be taken too far?
-Why the people you surround yourself with matter A LOT.
-Why more people are drinking less or giving up alcohol completely.
-Why identity is an important part of change and success.
-First steps to get help or try to help someone in your world who’s battling addiction.
And More
This episode is among the earliest in a significant shift in discussion topics and theme for this podcast going forward. I still believe there’s a goldmine here for coaches, but this is now intended to be a valuable resource to the end users, the enthusiasts, and even the beginners who need our help navigating the often confusing and conflicting world of fitness and nutrition. If you find this valuable, please share it with a friend who needs it. Thank you.
00:00 Introduction and Podcast Mission
00:15 Welcoming Brad Jensen
02:09 Brad's Journey with Addiction and Fitness
04:28 The Role of Fitness in Recovery
08:05 Balancing Fitness and Life
13:27 Social Dynamics and Healthy Living
18:37 Changing Attitudes Towards Alcohol
23:11 Choosing Not to Drink
24:10 Recognizing Problematic Drinking
25:05 Addiction and Food
26:24 Life Changes and Priorities
28:43 The Role of Environment
33:45 Identity and Sobriety
40:32 Helping Others with Addiction
42:04 Spirituality and Sobriety
46:20 Final Thoughts and Resources
Follow Andrew Coates:
Instagram: @andrewcoatesfitness
Join My Email List: www.andrewcoatesfitness.com