Wits & Weights | Fat Loss, Nutrition, & Strength Training for Lifters

Register FREE for today's live workshop on Progressive Overload by joining Wits & Weights Physique University (WWPU). Get your first 2 weeks free, including today's free training, this month's challenge, and all the other goodies to help you lose fat, build muscle, and build your ideal physique:http://witsandweights.com/physiqueWe're announcing this month's podcast review giveaway toward the end of the episode. Just send me an email to claim your prize!--Understanding how to increase weights, sets, reps, and/or effort based on your training level and program type is crucial to get the most out of your training.Progressive overload gets confused because of the term "overload" when it's really about working within current capabilities to challenge yourself and progress over time.Our bodies are incredibly adaptive machines.They quickly get used to whatever stress we put on them... and then stop changing unless we intelligently modify that stress.That's why I'm dedicating our next Physique University live coaching call to the science of progressive overload, which is the missing link for most lifters in their 40s and beyond who feel stuck.Today (Tuesday June 3, 2025) at 1pm Eastern (replay will be available to everyone who signs up), I'm breaking down exactly when to:Add weight to the barIncrease repsAdd more setsPush closer to failureYou can get this training (including the replay and everything else in Physique University) free for your first two weeks when you join now.You'll get immediate access to the private community, your personalized nutrition plan, workout programs designed for real progress, and Tuesday's live call on progressive overload.===> Click here to join WWPU and claim your free 2-week trialSupport the show👩‍💻 Book a FREE 15-Minute Rapid Nutrition Assessment:https://witsandweights.com/free-call 🎓 Get your first challenge + 2 weeks FREE in Physique University:https://physique.witsandweights.com/ 👥 Join our Facebook community for live Q&As & support👋 Let's connect! Ask a question, get my FREE newsletter, or find me on Instagram📱 Try MacroFactor for free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS🏋️‍♀️ Download Boostcamp for free for evidence-based workout programs🫙 Get 20% off Legion supplements with code WITSpod

Join WWPU (Wits & Weights Physique University) to get a tailored nutrition and training system to lose fat and build muscle (at any age) - first two weeks free:https://witsandweights.com/physique--"You're too old to build muscle." "With injuries like that, you should stop lifting weights." Have you heard these discouraging statements from doctors, trainers, or well-meaning friends, either yourself or older adults in your life?We are shattering these harmful myths through the journey of my client Beth, who at 68 years old is successfully building muscle despite dealing with a significant shoulder injury.If you've been told that age means you can't build muscle anymore or that injuries mean you should abandon your fitness goals, this episode will change your perspective.Beth reveals exactly how she's adapting her training around medical limitations, why prioritizing muscle growth before fat loss has been revolutionary, and the specific techniques allowing her to gain muscle despite challenges that might sideline others.Main Takeaways:Why building muscle is not only possible but essential after 60How to adapt training around injuries without sacrificing progressThe mindset shift needed when transitioning from years of dieting to muscle buildingWhy strength training becomes more important, not less, as we ageHow to balance strength training with other activities like cyclingTimestamps: 0:01 - Building muscle after 60 despite shoulder injuries  4:50 - History with "traditional" dieting (Weight Watchers, Nutrisystem, etc.)6:53 - How thyroid medication changes affected her metabolism 15:49 - Dealing with shoulder injuries (SLAP lesion and rotator cuff issues)19:21 - Training modifications for shoulder limitations 24:44 - Psychological benefits of being strong at any age 26:56 - How she gained mostly muscle and dropped body fat without having to lose weight 31:01 - How strength training enhances her cycling performance 35:02 - Strategies for balancing strength training, biking, and recovery 46:54 - Advice for older adults hesitant about strength training 47:58 - Beth's 94-year-old mother who lifts weightsJoin WWPU (Wits & Weights Physique University) free for 2 weeks!Support the show👩‍💻 Book a FREE 15-Minute Rapid Nutrition Assessment:https://witsandweights.com/free-call 🎓 Get your first challenge + 2 weeks FREE in Physique University:https://physique.witsandweights.com/ 👥 Join our Facebook community for live Q&As & support👋 Let's connect! Ask a question, get my FREE newsletter, or find me on Instagram📱 Try MacroFactor for free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS🏋️‍♀️ Download Boostcamp for free for evidence-based workout programs🫙 Get 20% off Legion supplements with code WITSpod

Join Physique University (free for 2 weeks) to get a custom, flexible nutrition plan so you can enjoy foods that feel good!–Are you stuck in a cycle of guilt every time you eat something “off plan”? Do food rules make grocery shopping feel like a minefield? Alana Bonnemann, a naturopathic nutritionist and host of the Health After 30 podcast, joins me to talk about the rising culture of food fear and how to escape it. We unpack why our relationship with food often feels so complicated, the role of diet culture and childhood conditioning, and how to replace guilt with trust. Together, we explore what it actually means to “feel good” after eating, how to eat with intention (not obsession), and why a little cake won’t wreck your health goals.Today, you’ll learn all about:2:36 - Childhood food rules and guilt4:16 - What eating without fear looks like6:02 - Why body awareness matters11:01 - Can healthy food taste good14:31 - The truth about eating cake20:13 - Diet culture vs true health29:54 - How to know what feels good41:05 - Change your default eating loop47:32 - OutroEpisode resources:Health After 30 PodcastWebsite: alanabonnemann.comInstagram: @naturopath.alana Youtube: @alanabonnemann Support the show👩‍💻 Book a FREE 15-Minute Rapid Nutrition Assessment:https://witsandweights.com/free-call 🎓 Get your first challenge + 2 weeks FREE in Physique University:https://physique.witsandweights.com/ 👥 Join our Facebook community for live Q&As & support👋 Let's connect! Ask a question, get my FREE newsletter, or find me on Instagram📱 Try MacroFactor for free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS🏋️‍♀️ Download Boostcamp for free for evidence-based workout programs🫙 Get 20% off Legion supplements with code WITSpod

Discover the crucial distinction between fat burning and actual fat loss. Learn how the Randle Cycle impacts metabolism and why fasted cardio isn't a guaranteed solution. Explore the truth behind low-carb diets; while they can increase fat oxidation, they don’t always lead to better fat loss results. Instead of focusing on short-term processes, shift your mindset to optimize for actual fat loss outcomes. Get ready to debunk common myths and arm yourself with science-backed strategies for effective weight management!

Download my free Nutrition 101 for Body Composition guide to implement these principles with exact calorie and macro targets:https://www.witsandweights.com/free/nutrition-101-guide--Tired of regaining the weight or losing muscle every time you diet? Sick of feeling like garbage during fat loss phases?Today I'm breaking down The 3+3 Model, a science-based framework for optimal fat loss that separates what you absolutely need from what's just nice to have.Learn the 3 foundational elements you must have in place for effective fat loss (the non-negotiables), plus 3 powerful enhancers that can take your results to the next level (the optimizers).This isn't about suffering through chicken and broccoli or earning your carbs with cardio. It's about engineering a fat loss process that preserves your hard-earned muscle, maintains your metabolic rate, and actually feels sustainable.Main Takeaways:The 3 Non-Negotiables form the foundation of effective fat lossThe 3 Optimizers enhance your results once the foundation is in placeWeight loss is not the same as fat loss – this model ensures you lose fat while preserving your hard-earned muscleA properly executed fat loss phase can actually improve your body's future muscle-building capacity through enhanced insulin sensitivity and nutrient partitioningTimestamps:0:01 - Weight loss vs. fat loss and The 3+3 Model 4:12 - Non-Negotiable #1 7:41 - Non-Negotiable #2 11:02 - Non-Negotiable #3 15:05 - Optimizer #1 17:55 - Optimizer #2 20:56 - Optimizer #3 24:36 - How to put everything together 27:42 - Why a proper fat loss phase improves future muscle gain 29:11 - Final recap and tips to implementSupport the show👩‍💻 Book a FREE 15-Minute Rapid Nutrition Assessment:https://witsandweights.com/free-call 🎓 Get your first challenge + 2 weeks FREE in Physique University:https://physique.witsandweights.com/ 👥 Join our Facebook community for live Q&As & support👋 Let's connect! Ask a question, get my FREE newsletter, or find me on Instagram📱 Try MacroFactor for free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS🏋️‍♀️ Download Boostcamp for free for evidence-based workout programs🫙 Get 20% off Legion supplements with code WITSpod

Join Physique University (free for 2 weeks) to engineer your best physique using our science-based fat loss and muscle-building blueprint.–Do you feel like alcohol helps you relax? What if it’s quietly sabotaging your fitness, sleep, and focus? I welcome James Swanwick, former ESPN anchor and founder of Alcohol-Free Lifestyle, and we talk about why so many smart, health-focused people still drink, even when they know it’s holding them back. James breaks down the hidden impact alcohol has on your sleep, metabolism, hormones, and mindset, and why willpower alone isn’t the answer.He also shares how to reframe your relationship with alcohol using science-backed tools from his book “Clear” and his 90-day program. If you’re serious about building a strong body and a clear mind, this might be the shift you didn’t know you needed.Today, you’ll learn all about:2:07 – How alcohol became culturally normal5:07 – One drink a day still harms your brain9:42 – The smiling assassins in our lives13:14 – Alcohol vs food: the real cost20:29 – The hormonal and metabolic toll25:50 – Why “don’t drink” backfires33:02 – Rewiring your environment and cues38:19 – When to try non-alcoholic substitutes42:34 – A glimpse into the alcohol-free life47:32 – OutroEpisode resources:James Swanwick’s book: CLEARAlcohol-Free Lifestyle podcastInstagram: @jamesswanwickSupport the show👩‍💻 Book a FREE 15-Minute Rapid Nutrition Assessment:https://witsandweights.com/free-call 🎓 Get your first challenge + 2 weeks FREE in Physique University:https://physique.witsandweights.com/ 👥 Join our Facebook community for live Q&As & support👋 Let's connect! Ask a question, get my FREE newsletter, or find me on Instagram📱 Try MacroFactor for free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS🏋️‍♀️ Download Boostcamp for free for evidence-based workout programs🫙 Get 20% off Legion supplements with code WITSpod

Download the FREE Precision Fat Loss Guide to choose one of 6 strategies designed for your experience, goals, and lifestyle:witsandweights.com/free--What if shifting WHEN you eat could accelerate your fat loss results?Most of us tackle dieting by reducing calories evenly each day, but research suggests there may be a more effective approach (and it's easy and even fun to implement).Learn about a fascinating study that tested weekend refeeds against traditional daily restriction... with surprising results for muscle preservation and how your metabolism slows down during weight loss.You'll discover how restructuring your weekly calories could significantly impact body composition outcomes, despite creating the same total weekly calorie deficit.Maybe it is about calorie timing after all!Main Takeaways:Traditional daily calorie restriction works, but research suggests strategic timing may offer muscle-preservation advantagesThe "Weekend Diet" approach maintains the same weekly deficit while distributing calories differentlyTargeted carbohydrate increases on specific days could help minimize metabolic adaptationPractical implementation requires careful calculation of weekly weight loss targetsEpisode Resources:Download my FREE Precision Fat Loss GuideTry MacroFactor for free with code WITSANDWEIGHTSLink to 2020 study by Campbell et al.Previous episode: The #1 Reason to Eat More CarbsTimestamps:0:00 - Traditional dieting vs. the "weekend diet" (carb refeeds) 7:39 - Findings on fat-free mass preservation 9:23 - Metabolic impacts beyond muscle preservation 10:22 - Carbs, insulin, and muscle protein synthesis12:02 - Anabolic signaling pathways 13:03 - Glycogen replenishment (training hard on Monday!) 15:44 - Psychological factors 16:38 - How to implement the Weekend Diet 21:32 - Leptin, refeeds, and hormones Support the show👩‍💻 Book a FREE 15-Minute Rapid Nutrition Assessment:https://witsandweights.com/free-call 🎓 Get your first challenge + 2 weeks FREE in Physique University:https://physique.witsandweights.com/ 👥 Join our Facebook community for live Q&As & support👋 Let's connect! Ask a question, get my FREE newsletter, or find me on Instagram📱 Try MacroFactor for free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS🏋️‍♀️ Download Boostcamp for free for evidence-based workout programs🫙 Get 20% off Legion supplements with code WITSpod

Get the other side of this powerful conversation on Brooke’s podcast ”Fitness Simplified,” where she interviews Philip on the muscle and metabolism side of perimenopause fat loss.--Are you over 40, doing everything right, but your belly fat won’t budge?You’re not crazy. Perimenopause changes your entire physiology, and the old rules no longer apply. In this episode, Brooke Davis, founder of Elysian Women’s Wellness and host of the  ”Fitness Simplified” podcast, joins Philip to unpack the real reason your body is resisting fat loss and how to finally reclaim your results.Don’t miss part two of this episode on ”Fitness Simplified,” where Brooke interviews Philip about building muscle and boosting metabolism during this critical stage.Main Takeaways:Perimenopause creates hormonal chaos that impacts fat storage“Move more, eat less” is outdated advice for midlife womenStress, blood sugar, and undernourishment stall resultsMuscle is essential for fat loss, hormone health, and agingNutrition timing and quality matter more than restrictionTimestamps:2:51 – Hormonal chaos and your shifting physiology6:13 – Vital reserve and burnout from your 20s8:33 – Cortisol, estrogen, and weight gain14:20 – Blood sugar, insulin, and fat storage15:57 – How to eat to support hormones19:19 – Simple habits to stabilize blood sugar23:12 – The truth about fasting and low-carb diets29:02 – Carbs, cortisol, and unlocking fat loss33:09 – Lifting heavy and building muscle in midlife35:54 – Smart cardio and stress recovery36:39 – Where to start without another “diet”Get the other side of this powerful conversation on Brooke’s podcast ”Fitness Simplified,” where she interviews Philip on the muscle and metabolism side of perimenopause fat loss.Support the show👩‍💻 Book a FREE 15-Minute Rapid Nutrition Assessment:https://witsandweights.com/free-call 🎓 Get your first challenge + 2 weeks FREE in Physique University:https://physique.witsandweights.com/ 👥 Join our Facebook community for live Q&As & support👋 Let's connect! Ask a question, get my FREE newsletter, or find me on Instagram📱 Try MacroFactor for free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS🏋️‍♀️ Download Boostcamp for free for evidence-based workout programs🫙 Get 20% off Legion supplements with code WITSpod

Join our FREE Wits & Weights Facebook group to connect with other listeners who are applying these evidence-based approaches to their fitness journey (or search “Wits & Weights” on Facebook)–Have you tried to eat more freely, but old low-carb rules keep creeping in? What if the real issue isn’t carbs at all, but your identity?I share the raw truth of my journey from strict keto and paleo to happily eating over 300 grams of carbs a day without guilt, without bloat, and with better results than ever. You’ll learn how I confronted disordered thinking, broke free from nutrition dogma, and rebuilt my beliefs around food and performance. If you’ve struggled with all-or-nothing dieting, this one’s for you.Today, you’ll learn all about:01:01 - Why I stopped fearing carbs05:14 - First experiences with low-carb diets10:50 - My paleo obsession and food dogma14:36 - When training didn’t match my nutrition18:05 - The breaking point that changed everything23:45 - How I overcame my fear of carbs29:06 - The identity shift behind better eating32:30 - What actually changed when I added carbs40:42 - Do carbs need to be high or low?45:19 - Travel and tracking without a food scale58:55 - OutroEpisode resources:Try MacroFactor free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS – Apple/iPhone or Google/AndroidSupport the show👩‍💻 Book a FREE 15-Minute Rapid Nutrition Assessment:https://witsandweights.com/free-call 🎓 Get your first challenge + 2 weeks FREE in Physique University:https://physique.witsandweights.com/ 👥 Join our Facebook community for live Q&As & support👋 Let's connect! Ask a question, get my FREE newsletter, or find me on Instagram📱 Try MacroFactor for free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS🏋️‍♀️ Download Boostcamp for free for evidence-based workout programs🫙 Get 20% off Legion supplements with code WITSpod

Love the podcast? Support the show (for as little as $3/mo) and keep it completely ad-free with no "hidden" episodes! Go to:https://www.buzzsprout.com/1870546/support--If you're struggling with fat loss that's slower than expected despite doing "everything right," this episode helps you figure out why.I discuss my personal experience in my recent 7-week mini-cut and how a seemingly minor change in daily habits became the limiting factor, resulting in slower fat loss than in the past.Text this episode to a friend who might be struggling with their progress!Learn to identify your own Critical Path... the one thing currently constraining your progress regardless of how well you execute everything else.Main Takeaways:The Critical Path concept identifies what's truly limiting your progressSmall changes in daily habits can significantly impact your resultsData tracking is essential for uncovering hidden roadblocksThe most effective intervention often requires less willpower than you thinkYour limiting factors shift over time as circumstances changeTimestamps:0:01 - What is critical path and how does it relate to fat loss?  6:50 - Philip's personal fat loss case study 11:59 - Why limiting factors change throughout your fitness journey 18:00 - Creating solutions for your specific situation 21:14 - How to identify your own Critical Path 24:51 - Working smarter and more efficiently for fat lossText this episode to a friend who might be enjoy it!Support the show👩‍💻 Book a FREE 15-Minute Rapid Nutrition Assessment:https://witsandweights.com/free-call 🎓 Get your first challenge + 2 weeks FREE in Physique University:https://physique.witsandweights.com/ 👥 Join our Facebook community for live Q&As & support👋 Let's connect! Ask a question, get my FREE newsletter, or find me on Instagram📱 Try MacroFactor for free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS🏋️‍♀️ Download Boostcamp for free for evidence-based workout programs🫙 Get 20% off Legion supplements with code WITSpod