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

Justin Silver, a serial entrepreneur and founder of SymptoGuard, shares his insights on managing the side effects of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic. He reveals his father's harrowing experience with these medications, highlighting why many users quit despite successful weight loss. They discuss the most common side effects that hinder progress, the concept of 'food noise,' and how specific lifestyle changes can minimize discomfort. Justin also emphasizes the importance of maintaining protein intake and introduces SymptoGuard as a solution to alleviate these challenges.

Get my new RESOLUTE 5-Day Powerbuilding template when you join Physique University to maximize both strength and muscle growth simultaneously at this link (special for podcast listeners to get a FREE custom nutrition plan when you join): bit.ly/wwpu-free-plan--Most lifters choose between getting strong or building size.Powerbuilding represents the intelligent marriage of strength training and hypertrophy, allowing lifters to make simultaneous progress in both areas without compromising either goal.Discover why the traditional approach of switching between strength and hypertrophy programs limits your progress, and how Philip's new RESOLUTE 5-day powerbuilding design helps you create synergistic gains.Main Takeaways:3-week rep range rotations prevent adaptation loss while maintaining progress across all rep rangesStarting every session with your heaviest main lift when fresh maximizes neurological demand and drives all other liftsDevelopmental lifts reinforce main movements without competing, addressing weaknesses while adding complementary volumeDedicated back and arms specialization accelerates physique development without interfering with main lift recoveryIntelligent deloading only when necessary (every 9-12 weeks) rather than forced periodic breaksEpisode Resources:Chef's Foundry P600 Cookware: Swiss-engineered ceramic coating with no PFAS, Teflon, or plastic components. Get 50% off at witsandweights.com/chefsfoundryTimestamps:0:01 - What is powerbuding for strength AND muscle? 3:15 - Why strength and hypertrophy training are synergistic 5:37 - 3-week rep range rotation system 10:08 - Main lifts and developmental variations 14:37 - Back and arms specialization 16:51 - Adaptive deloading 19:34 - Frameworks vs rigid programs 22:28 - Building both strength and size systematicallyGet RESOLUTE when you join Physique U (and get a FREE nutrition plan with this special link): bit.ly/wwpu-free-planSupport the show🔥 Take our 2-minute Metabolic Quiz to find out what's stalling your metabolism... and get a personalized roadmap to sustainable fat loss 🎓 Join Physique University for just $27 + get a FREE 6-month transformation plan (podcast exclusive): bit.ly/wwpu-free-plan 👥 Join our Facebook community for Q&As & support👋 Ask a question or find me on Instagram📱 Try MacroFactor 2 weeks free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS (my favorite nutrition app)

Get a FREE custom nutrition plan when you join Physique University to maximize both strength and muscle growth simultaneously at this link (special for podcast listeners): bit.ly/wwpu-free-planGet 50% off Chef's Foundry P600 ceramic cookware (no PFAS, no Teflon, no microplastics) at witsandweights.com/chefsfoundry--Influencers claim you can get shredded eating nothing but junk food. At the same time, clean eating gurus demonize a single cookie (or even broccoli!) as though it's poison. Both miss the point entirely.This false dichotomy creates an all-or-nothing mindset that undermines your success. When we operate at extremes, either "if it fits your macros" with zero regard for food quality or rigid clean eating that moralizes every bite, we set ourselves up for an unhealthy relationship with food. The research consistently shows that the sustainable solution lives in the unsexy middle ground that nobody wants to talk about because it doesn't get views or sell weight loss programs.Learn about Lyle McDonald's concept of "Excluding the Middle" and why the fitness industry's obsession with extremes traps you in cycles of all-or-nothing thinking that undermine long-term success.Main Takeaways:Why both "if it fits your macros" junk food diets and rigid clean eating miss the pointThe research supporting the middle ground: 85% whole foods, 15% flexibilityHow rigid dietary restraint increases binge eating risk while flexible restraint improves outcomesThe exact framework for implementing sustainable nutrition without moralizing foodWhy planning for flexibility (not spontaneous perfection) is key to long-term successEpisode Resources:Get 50% off Chef's Foundry P600 ceramic cookware (no PFAS, no Teflon, no microplastics)Lyle McDonald's "Excluding the Middle" articleTry MacroFactor for free with code WITSANDWEIGHTSEpisode: Why Macros Might Be All You Need to Streamline Your NutritionTimestamps:0:01 - The false dichotomy of nutrition extremes 6:04 - All "junk food" diet 10:35 - 100% clean eating 15:28 - The middle ground 21:07 - 300 calories a day for enjoyment 22:27 - Flexible vs. rigid restraint (targets + guidelines) 24:19 - THIS is everything 25:30 - PlanningSupport the show🔥 Take our 2-minute Metabolic Quiz to find out what's stalling your metabolism... and get a personalized roadmap to sustainable fat loss 🎓 Join Physique University for just $27 + get a FREE 6-month transformation plan (podcast exclusive): bit.ly/wwpu-free-plan 👥 Join our Facebook community for Q&As & support👋 Ask a question or find me on Instagram📱 Try MacroFactor 2 weeks free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS (my favorite nutrition app)

Join Physique University for just $27 a month to access our workshop on sprint training and receive a free custom nutrition plan using this exclusive listener link: http://bit.ly/podcast-new-wwpu--Today we're celebrating a huge win for 73-year-old listener Bruce @bruceandjantrain.Bruce achieved impressive results following the sprint protocol discussed in Episode 293, increasing his power output by 78% in just 4 months and demonstrating the effectiveness of this time-efficient training approach for lifters. Age is no barrier!Listen to the Sprinting for Lifters episode here:7 Benefits of Sprinting to Lose Fat (And Why It Beats Cardio, Especially for Lifters!)Support the show🔥 Take our 2-minute Metabolic Quiz to find out what's stalling your metabolism... and get a personalized roadmap to sustainable fat loss 🎓 Join Physique University for just $27 + get a FREE 6-month transformation plan (podcast exclusive): bit.ly/wwpu-free-plan 👥 Join our Facebook community for Q&As & support👋 Ask a question or find me on Instagram📱 Try MacroFactor 2 weeks free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS (my favorite nutrition app)

Get your free custom nutrition plan (exclusive to podcast listeners) when you join Wits & Weights Physique University for just $27/month--The psychology behind weight loss methods has created a moral battleground where people judge themselves and others based on whether they use traditional lifestyle approaches or pharmaceutical interventions like GLP-1 drugs.People are losing 40 pounds on Ozempic or secretly microdosing GLP-1 drugs, while underground resentment brews between those who "did it the hard way" and those accused of taking "shortcuts."We're keeping it real about the psychology behind the Weight Loss Wars using a (more reasonable) systems-based approach that eliminates judgment while optimizing for what actually matters: YOUR sustainable results.Main Takeaways:"Ozempic envy" reveals more about our relationship with effort than with resultsFat loss is an engineering problem, not a moral issueGLP-1 microdosing creates fascinating case studies in behavior modification (and still requires building lifestyle skills)The most successful people combine external tools with internal skill developmentStop keeping score of who's doing it "right" and start engineering systems that work sustainably for YOUEpisode Mentioned:Eat More To Lose Weight? (The Iron Triangle of Fat Loss)Timestamps:0:00 - The Weight Loss Wars and moral superiority 3:00 - What is "Ozempic Envy"? 8:00 - GLP-1 microdosing 11:00 - Why we assign moral value to effort and struggle 15:00 - GLP-1s and/or lifestyle skills18:00 - Designing YOUR system (ignoring distractions)22:00 - Lifelines vs. shortcuts 24:00 - How to stop the weight loss warsSupport the show🔥 Take our 2-minute Metabolic Quiz to find out what's stalling your metabolism... and get a personalized roadmap to sustainable fat loss 🎓 Join Physique University for just $27 + get a FREE 6-month transformation plan (podcast exclusive): bit.ly/wwpu-free-plan 👥 Join our Facebook community for Q&As & support👋 Ask a question or find me on Instagram📱 Try MacroFactor 2 weeks free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS (my favorite nutrition app)

Check out the other half of our Q&A on Brandon's Chasing Clarity podcast, where we tackle your questions on hunger, cravings, appetite, and artificial sweeteners.---Just wrapped a bulk and scared to lose muscle? Over 50 and unsure if gains are still possible? Walking 20,000 steps a day with no results?In this Q&A, I team up with physique coach Brandon DaCruz, host of the Chasing Clarity podcast, to tackle five hot topics around fat loss, muscle building, and diet fatigue. We break down smart post-bulk strategies, how much walking is too much, and realistic expectations for muscle gain over 50, plus how to recover when dieting burns you out.Don’t miss part two of this episode on the Chasing Clarity podcast, where we explore how hunger, cravings, and sweeteners impact your results.Main Takeaways:A smarter way to cut after a bulkWhen walking too much backfiresMuscle gain over 50 is slow—but possibleDon’t underestimate diet fatigueLifestyle stress and recovery matter more than you thinkTimestamps:2:00 – Post-bulk strategy for women 40+8:34 – Are 20K steps a day too much?22:15 – Building muscle after 5028:49 – Best small-space home gym setup36:56 – How to recover from diet fatigue41:08 – Training and recovery during a fat loss phase46:54 – The signs you're hitting a wall53:50 – Training mindset and strength drops during a cutCheck out the other half of our Q&A on Brandon's Chasing Clarity podcast, where we tackle your questions on hunger, cravings, appetite, and artificial sweeteners.Support the show🔥 Take our 2-minute Metabolic Quiz to find out what's stalling your metabolism... and get a personalized roadmap to sustainable fat loss 🎓 Join Physique University for just $27 + get a FREE 6-month transformation plan (podcast exclusive): bit.ly/wwpu-free-plan 👥 Join our Facebook community for Q&As & support👋 Ask a question or find me on Instagram📱 Try MacroFactor 2 weeks free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS (my favorite nutrition app)

Get the new RESOLUTE 5-day Powerbuilding Program in Physique University and stop second-guessing your approach to lifting. Join for just $27/month and get a custom nutrition plan included when you tap this special link for podcast listeners--Eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman didn't just build a legendary physique. He created a blueprint for what dedication, consistency, and love for lifting can achieve.His famous "light weight, baby!" was about an approach to training that transformed his body and an entire culture of lifting.This is the first episode in our new Lifting Legends series, where we connect modern training science with the rich history of lifting culture to extract timeless principles that are relevant today more than ever.Main Takeaways:Ronnie's blueprint for greatness: consistency, simplicity, and genuine love for the lifting processWhy fundamental movements (squats, deadlifts, presses, rows) built the greatest physique in bodybuilding historyHow to channel Ronnie's commitment while training smarter for long-term health and sustainabilityThe difference between training hard and training smart (and why you need both)Episode Mentioned:12 Rules of Training Volume to Build More MuscleTimestamps:0:02 - The King's blueprint for greatness 4:22 - Ronnie's humble beginnings at Metroflex Gym 6:30 - Ssimplicity executed at an elite level 12:56 - Why Ronnie's methods align with modern science 17:13 - Building your own lifting legacy 18:44 - What to emulate vs. what to avoid from Ronnie's approach 23:25 - Excellence + sustainability 26:48 - THIS separates legends from everyone elseSupport the show🔥 Take our 2-minute Metabolic Quiz to find out what's stalling your metabolism... and get a personalized roadmap to sustainable fat loss 🎓 Join Physique University for just $27 + get a FREE 6-month transformation plan (podcast exclusive): bit.ly/wwpu-free-plan 👥 Join our Facebook community for Q&As & support👋 Ask a question or find me on Instagram📱 Try MacroFactor 2 weeks free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS (my favorite nutrition app)

Want to build muscle, lose fat, and train smarter? ⁠⁠⁠Join the new Physique University for just $27/month⁠⁠⁠ and get your custom nutrition plan FREE (limited time).—Why are you gaining belly fat even while lifting and eating well? Could your sluggish metabolism be a liver problem in disguise?I sit down with certified supplement expert Sara Banta to reveal how your liver and thyroid work together to control metabolism, muscle retention, and fat loss and why ignoring liver health might be what’s sabotaging your fitness progress. We unpack how stress, sleep, hormones, and toxins overload your body’s ability to function efficiently, even if you’re doing everything “right.” If you're consistent with training and nutrition but still stuck, this might be the missing piece.Today, you’ll learn all about:3:12 – Sara’s health crisis and muscle loss9:36 – Iodine’s surprising benefits12:36 – Liver's role in fat storage17:56 – The real hierarchy of healing24:29 – What to eliminate—and when28:15 – Movement and metabolic communication33:30 – Alcohol, toxins, and your thyroid36:08 – Final truth: Why proactive health mattersEpisode resources:Website: sarabantahealth.com Facebook: @acceleratedhealthproducts Instagram: @acceleratedhealthproducts Youtube: @AcceleratedHealthSaraBantaSupport the show🔥 Take our 2-minute Metabolic Quiz to find out what's stalling your metabolism... and get a personalized roadmap to sustainable fat loss 🎓 Join Physique University for just $27 + get a FREE 6-month transformation plan (podcast exclusive): bit.ly/wwpu-free-plan 👥 Join our Facebook community for Q&As & support👋 Ask a question or find me on Instagram📱 Try MacroFactor 2 weeks free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS (my favorite nutrition app)

Get a full Lifting Lessons course including how to warmup in Physique University and stop second-guessing your approach to lifting. Join for just $27/month and get a custom nutrition plan included when you tap this special link for podcast listeners--Most lifters either skip their warmup or spend 30 minutes on elaborate routines that miss the point.Learn how the engineering concept of the Cold Start Problem reveals the systematic approach to preparing your body for heavy lifting.Discover why your body needs a proper boot sequence before loading heavy weights, and how to design a targeted warmup that primes your nervous system for peak performance while serving as a diagnostic tool for your training readiness.Main Takeaways:Your body operates like a computer system that requires proper initialization before running high-performance tasksThe 3-phase warmup sequence: System Power-On, Hardware Check, and Application-Specific LoadingYour warmup serves as both preparation and diagnostic tool... listen to what your body is telling you!Movement-specific ramp-up sets are non-negotiable; everything else is optional based on your needsDistinguish between normal muscle soreness (DOMS) and pain that signals potential problemsEpisode Mentioned:Never Fall Off Track Again with Your Fitness or Fat Loss - Risk management principles for trainingTimestamps:1:16 - Why most warmup approaches are fundamentally flawed 3:37 - The Cold Start Problem 6:13 - The 3-phase warmup sequence 10:41 - Example: How to warmup for a 405-pound deadlift 14:50 - The biggest warmup mistakes to avoid 17:49 - Using your warmup as a diagnostic tool 19:03 - DOMS vs. pain 20:59 - Customizing warmups for different scenarios 24:39 - Systemic communication within your body during warmupsSupport the show🔥 Take our 2-minute Metabolic Quiz to find out what's stalling your metabolism... and get a personalized roadmap to sustainable fat loss 🎓 Join Physique University for just $27 + get a FREE 6-month transformation plan (podcast exclusive): bit.ly/wwpu-free-plan 👥 Join our Facebook community for Q&As & support👋 Ask a question or find me on Instagram📱 Try MacroFactor 2 weeks free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS (my favorite nutrition app)

Get your free custom nutrition plan (exclusive to podcast listeners) when you join Wits & Weights Physique University for just $27/month--There was a day when everything we thought we knew about losing weight got turned upside down.For decades, the advice was simple: eat less, move more.But then scientists started asking why weight loss always seemed to get harder over time, and what they discovered changed everything.This landmark Episode 350 explores the paradigm shift that revolutionized our understanding of metabolism, fat loss, and why 95% of people regain lost weight.Main Takeaways:Your body doesn't just passively lose weight, it actively fights back by slowing metabolism and increasing hunger within 2-3 weeks of dietingThe shift from moral food judgments to flexible, data-driven nutrition revolutionized sustainable fat lossThree game-changing strategies emerged: macro tracking as a foundation, working with (not against) metabolic adaptation, and strength training as metabolic insuranceThis scientific revolution changed how we view our bodies, from broken machines needing punishment to intelligent adaptive systems responding to our lifestyle signalsEpisode Mentioned:Fat Loss vs. Weight LossTimestamps:0:01 - The day everything changed about weight loss 4:30 - Why the "eat less, move more" approach failed 8:47 - How your body fights back: the hormone cascade 10:47 - The rise of flexible dieting and evidence-based coaching 12:29 - Key people who changed the game 14:37 - From food restriction to food awareness 19:35 - 3 game-changing strategies from the research Support the show🔥 Take our 2-minute Metabolic Quiz to find out what's stalling your metabolism... and get a personalized roadmap to sustainable fat loss 🎓 Join Physique University for just $27 + get a FREE 6-month transformation plan (podcast exclusive): bit.ly/wwpu-free-plan 👥 Join our Facebook community for Q&As & support👋 Ask a question or find me on Instagram📱 Try MacroFactor 2 weeks free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS (my favorite nutrition app)