Wits & Weights | Fat Loss, Nutrition, & Strength Training for Lifters
Philip Pape, Evidence-Based Nutrition Coach & Fat Loss Expert
For skeptics of the fitness industry who want to work smarter and more efficiently to build muscle and lose fat. Wits & Weights is one of the best fitness podcasts for evidence-based nutrition and fitness strategies. We cut through the noise and deconstruct health and fitness with an engineering mindset to help you develop a strong, lean physique without wasting time.Evidence-based nutrition coach Philip Pape explores efficient strength training, nutrition, and lifestyle strategies to optimize your body recomp and metabolism. Whether you're focused on weight loss, muscle building, or both, you'll get simple, science-based, and sustainable info from an engineer turned lifter (that's why they call him the Physique Engineer). This show serves both women's fitness and men's health goals, with special attention to strength training over 40 and hormone health.From restrictive fad diets to ineffective workouts and hyped-up supplements, there's no shortage of confusing information out there. Getting in the best shape of your life doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming! By using your WITS (mindset and systems!) and lifting weights efficiently, you can build muscle, lose stubborn fat, and achieve and maintain a lean physique through sustainable body recomp.We bring you smart and efficient strategies for movement, metabolism, muscle, and mindset. You'll learn:- Why fat loss is more important than weight loss for health and physique- Why all the macros (protein, fats, and yes even carbs) are critical to body composition- Why you don't need to spend more than 3 hours in the gym each week to get incredible results with proper hypertrophy training- Why muscle (not weight loss) is the key to medicine, obesity, and longevity- Why age and hormones (even in menopause) don't matter with the right lifestyle- How the "hidden" psychology of your mind can unlock more personal (and physical) growth than you ever thought possible, and how to tap into that mindsetIf you're ready to separate fact from fiction, learn what actually works with evidence-based training and nutrition, and put in the intelligent work, hit that "follow" button and let's engineer your best physique ever!Popular Guests Include: Mike Matthews (author of Bigger Leaner Stronger), Greg Nuckols (Stronger by Science), Alan Aragon (nutrition researcher), Eric Helms (3D Muscle Journey), Dr. Spencer Nadolsky (Doc Who Lifts), Eric Trexler (Stronger by Science), Bill Campbell (exercise science researcher), Jordan Feigenbaum (Barbell Medicine), Andy Morgan (Ripped Body), Karen Martel (hormone optimization expert), Steph Gaudreau (women's strength and nutrition), Bryan Boorstein (hypertrophy coach)Popular Topics Include: hormone health, metabolism optimization, hypertrophy training, longevity and healthy aging, body positivity, best protein powder selection, strength training over 40, women's fitness, men's health, muscle building, body recomp, macros and nutrition tracking
Episodes
Mentioned books
5 snips
Aug 22, 2025 • 50min
Can Your DNA Predict How Fast You'll Build Muscle and Lose Fat? (Joe Cohen) | Ep 364
Joe Cohen, founder and CEO of SelfDecode, discusses the role of genetics in fitness and nutrition. He separates the hype from the science of DNA testing, revealing why most genetic health tests fall short. Joe explains how understanding genetic pathways and combining them with lab data can create personalized fitness strategies. He shares his personal journey battling food intolerances and the importance of tailored dietary approaches. This conversation is a deep dive into how your DNA might hold the key to your fitness success.
Aug 20, 2025 • 36min
How to Estimate Your Metabolism ACCURATELY (The Best Way to Calculate Calories) | Ep 363
Get your free Nutrition 101 for Body Composition Guide to learn the fundamentals of energy balance, macros, and meal timing for building muscle and losing fat: witsandweights.com/freeGet Chef's Foundry P600 Ceramic Cookware - 50% off at witsandweights.com/chefsfoundry--Stop letting inaccurate metabolism estimates sabotage your nutrition goals. The fitness industry has convinced us that estimating metabolism requires expensive tests, fancy gadgets, or complex formulas, but there's one method that cuts through the noise using evidence, engineering, and efficiency.Your fitness tracker says you burned 3,200 calories, online calculators recommend 2,400 for maintenance, and your metabolic test shows 1,850 RMR. They're all probably wrong.Discover the one method gives you your actual daily calorie burn with scientific precision so you can run your next fat loss or muscle building phase confidently and with success.Main Takeaways:Your metabolism has 4 components that fluctuate constantlyOnline calculators can be off by 300-600 calories per personFitness trackers have 27-93% error rates for energy expenditureThe only accurate method is to track calorie intake + trend weight over 3-4 weeks to reverse-engineer your actual TDEEThis approach is self-correcting, personalized, adaptive, and works even with imperfect food loggingEpisode Resources:Try MacroFactor for free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS - the app that automates metabolism tracking using the method discussedGet Chef's Foundry P600 Ceramic Cookware - 50% off at witsandweights.com/chefsfoundryRelated Episode:4 Ways to Increase Your Metabolism by 500 to 1000 Calories per DayTimestamps:0:01 - Why most metabolism estimates are completely wrong 6:30 - Online calculators 9:10 - Fitness trackers and wearables 10:43 - RMR testing 12:29 - Measuring inputs/outputs vs. mechanisms/effects 15:10 - How to calculate your real TDEE 23:38 - My favorite app that does this for you 26:08 - Imperfect food logging, water weight, and metabolic issues 30:40 - Why you should start tracking TODAY 31:48 - Becoming the scientist Support the show📱 Get Fitness Lab - Philip’s science-based AI app for fat loss, muscle building, and strength training for people over 40. It adapts to your nutrition, recovery, and training to improve body composition without guesswork. 🎓 Try Physique University - Evidence-based nutrition coaching and strength training to help you lose fat, build muscle, and master your metabolism with support and accountability (free custom nutrition plan with code FREEPLAN). 👥 Join our Facebook community - Free fat loss, muscle building, and body recomposition strategies for adults over 40 who want practical, science-backed fitness guidance.👋 Ask a question or find Philip Pape on Instagram
Aug 18, 2025 • 33min
Fat Loss WITHOUT a Calorie Deficit? (Body Recomp Explained) | Ep 362
Join the 90-Day Body Recomp Workshop tomorrow (Tuesday, August 19) at 12 PM Eastern for only $27 (replay included). Get Philip's complete system for simultaneous fat loss and muscle gain, plus a custom nutrition plan. Register at live.witsandweights.com--Think you need a calorie deficit to lose fat? Or months of bulking followed by months of cutting to reshape your physique?Think again.Body recomp (the simultaneous loss of fat and gain of muscle) isn't just possible... it's achievable for most people under the right conditions. Your body can become remarkably efficient at energy partitioning, directing nutrients toward muscle growth while mobilizing stored fat for fuel. This episode breaks down exactly how this works: how your body can simultaneously burn fat and build muscle, often without scale changes.Learn who can achieve this "impossible" feat and how to do it.Main Takeaways:Body recomp is simultaneous fat loss and muscle gain, possible even at maintenance caloriesYour body actively partitions energy based on training stimulus and protein intakeBeginners, detrained individuals, and overweight people have the highest recomp potentialScale weight becomes virtually useless - track strength, measurements, and photos tooEpisode Resources:90-Day Body Recomp Workshop - Tuesday, August 19, 12 PM Eastern ($27)Chef's Foundry P600 Non-Toxic Ceramic Cookware - 50% off at witsandweights.com/chefsfoundryTimestamps:0:01 - The scale weight paradox 3:45 - Body recomposition 5:06 - Why THIS is non-negotiable for recomp 6:48 - Energy partitioning and insulin sensitivity 9:30 - Who can achieve body recomp (spoiler: more people than you think) 12:27 - Detrained individuals 13:45 - Overweight or obese 15:09 - Older adults and advanced lifters 18:34 - What is required for body recomp & how to track 22:37 - Patience + realistic expectations 26:02 - Metabolic health improvements 28:39 - Sustainable physique developmentSupport the show📱 Get Fitness Lab - Philip’s science-based AI app for fat loss, muscle building, and strength training for people over 40. It adapts to your nutrition, recovery, and training to improve body composition without guesswork. 🎓 Try Physique University - Evidence-based nutrition coaching and strength training to help you lose fat, build muscle, and master your metabolism with support and accountability (free custom nutrition plan with code FREEPLAN). 👥 Join our Facebook community - Free fat loss, muscle building, and body recomposition strategies for adults over 40 who want practical, science-backed fitness guidance.👋 Ask a question or find Philip Pape on Instagram
Aug 17, 2025 • 8min
90 Days to Lose Fat and Build Muscle at the Same Time | Bonus
Register for the 90-Day Body Recomp Workshop this Tuesday, August 19th at 12pm Eastern (replay included) at live.witsandweights.com--Tired of cutting and bulking (or just don't want to)? Frustrated with approaches that leave you either feeling too fluffy or too depleted?Is there a middle ground that works instead?Yes, it's called body recomposition or "body recomp" where you build muscle and lose fat at the same time.Most people get stuck in the cut-bulk cycle, never feeling satisfied with where they land.But body recomposition offers a smarter approach: a method that fuels muscle growth while still allowing for fat loss.What You'll Learn:Why the scale lies during body recompThe 3 biggest myths keeping you stuckHow "aggressive maintenance" worksWhat metrics actually matter for tracking progressReady to dive deeper?Join the 90-Day Body Recomp Workshop this Tuesday, August 19th at 12pm Eastern (replay + bonuses included).Get the complete 3-phase plan, Physique & Biofeedback Tracker, training template, and a full month in Wits & Weights Physique University.Register: live.witsandweights.comSupport the show📱 Get Fitness Lab - Philip’s science-based AI app for fat loss, muscle building, and strength training for people over 40. It adapts to your nutrition, recovery, and training to improve body composition without guesswork. 🎓 Try Physique University - Evidence-based nutrition coaching and strength training to help you lose fat, build muscle, and master your metabolism with support and accountability (free custom nutrition plan with code FREEPLAN). 👥 Join our Facebook community - Free fat loss, muscle building, and body recomposition strategies for adults over 40 who want practical, science-backed fitness guidance.👋 Ask a question or find Philip Pape on Instagram
Aug 15, 2025 • 49min
The Lost Legacy of Women's Strength (Anne Marie Chaker) | Ep 361
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): bit.ly/wwpu-free-plan—Were women in the past weaker than men, or have we been sold a lie? What if prehistoric women could outlift most modern athletes? And how does understanding this history change the way you train today?I’m joined by Anne Marie Chaker, author of Lift: How Women Can Reclaim Their Physical Power and Transform Their Lives. We break down archaeological evidence that shows ancient women had elite-level strength, explore how cultural narratives have stripped women of their physical identity, and reveal why midlife can be a prime time for building muscle. You’ll learn simple, sustainable ways to start lifting, structure your workouts, and rethink food as fuel, not the enemy.Today, you’ll learn all about:0:00 – Intro2:24 – From journalist to competitive bodybuilder4:30 – Archaeological proof of elite ancient women7:07 – The Viking warrior who wasn’t a man11:10 – The mixed messages of modern fitness culture17:37 – How to fuel like an athlete26:10 – Navigating perimenopause and training30:05 – First steps for women new to lifting36:10 – A brief history of strong women in sport40:09 – How lifting shapes identity and mindsetEpisode resources:Website: annemariechaker.comBook: Lift: How Women Can Reclaim Their Physical Power and Transform Their LivesLift SubstackLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anne-marie-chaker-62119317 Instagram: @annemariechaker Support the show📱 Get Fitness Lab - Philip’s science-based AI app for fat loss, muscle building, and strength training for people over 40. It adapts to your nutrition, recovery, and training to improve body composition without guesswork. 🎓 Try Physique University - Evidence-based nutrition coaching and strength training to help you lose fat, build muscle, and master your metabolism with support and accountability (free custom nutrition plan with code FREEPLAN). 👥 Join our Facebook community - Free fat loss, muscle building, and body recomposition strategies for adults over 40 who want practical, science-backed fitness guidance.👋 Ask a question or find Philip Pape on Instagram
Aug 13, 2025 • 25min
1920s Weight Loss Secrets (Calories, Candy, and Cigarettes) | Ep 360
Get your free Nutrition 101 for Body Composition guide to understand the fundamentals of nutrition and personalize your calories/macros:witsandweights.com/free--Diet culture emerged in the 1920s, when calorie counting was invented, cigarettes were marketed as weight loss aids, and thinness became associated with moral virtue for the first time in American history.Discover how the birth of modern diet culture 100 years ago created patterns we're still repeating today.Main Takeaways:Dr. Lulu Hunt Peters invented calorie counting in 1918, selling 2+ million copies of the first diet bestsellerLucky Strike's "Reach for a Lucky instead of a sweet" campaign increased cigarette sales 300% by targeting weight-conscious womenThe moral dimension of dieting (connecting food choices to character and virtue) started in the 1920s and persists todayBizarre 1920s fads (grapefruit diets, tapeworm pills, vibrating belts) reveal humanity's eternal search for effortless weight loss shortcutsEnergy balance remains the core principle, but now we understand the many other nutrition and lifestyle components that matterThe desire for quick fixes is deeply human but misleading... sustainable success comes from embracing fundamentalsEpisode Resources:Join Wits & Weights Physique University for $27/month - get your custom nutrition plan built for free when you use this exclusive podcast listener link: bit.ly/wwpu-free-planGet Chef's Foundry P600 Ceramic Cookware - 50% off at witsandweights.com/chefsfoundryTimestamps:2:37 - Dr. Lulu Hunt Peters, calorie counting pioneer 6:42 - Cigarettes vs. sweets campaign 9:30 - Bizarre 1920s fads (grapefruit diet, tapeworms, and vibrating belts) 12:44 - What the 1920s got right about weight loss 15:18 - 3 major mistakes that persist today 19:17 - Why we still seek the same quick fixes 100 years later 22:21 - Sustainable fundamentals vs. magic solutionsSupport the show📱 Get Fitness Lab - Philip’s science-based AI app for fat loss, muscle building, and strength training for people over 40. It adapts to your nutrition, recovery, and training to improve body composition without guesswork. 🎓 Try Physique University - Evidence-based nutrition coaching and strength training to help you lose fat, build muscle, and master your metabolism with support and accountability (free custom nutrition plan with code FREEPLAN). 👥 Join our Facebook community - Free fat loss, muscle building, and body recomposition strategies for adults over 40 who want practical, science-backed fitness guidance.👋 Ask a question or find Philip Pape on Instagram
Aug 11, 2025 • 27min
Are Nonstick Pans Leaching Microplastics and Forever Chemicals Into Your Food? | Ep 359
Get Chef's Foundry P600 ceramic cookware at 50% off plus a complete guide on cookware materials and safety at:witsandweights.com/chefsfoundry--Do you cook with nonstick pans, microwave with plastic containers, or wonder about materials you drink out of?Learn about the science behind 3 major categories of chemical exposure from cookware and food packaging: microplastics, PFAS ("forever chemicals"), and plasticizers like BPA.While avoiding fear-mongering, we discuss legitimate concerns about how these compounds might affect hormones, inflammation, and long-term health when exposure accumulates over time.Plus, learn practical steps to minimize exposure without losing your mind over every container in your kitchen.Main Takeaways:Microplastics from scratched cookware and PFAS from nonstick coatings are legitimate concerns worth addressing through simple swapsThe "dose makes the poison" cumulative exposure over time matters more than occasional contactEasy wins include replacing scratched nonstick pans, using glass containers for microwaving, and choosing ceramic or stainless steel cookwareYour body's detoxification systems are enhanced by the same foundational health practices we always discuss (strength training, quality nutrition, adequate sleep)Timestamps:0:02 - 3 categories of chemical exposure from cookware 3:20 - Microplastics 5:21 - PFAS "forever chemicals" 6:56 - Plasticizers, BPA, and aluminum leaching 8:38 - How these exposures might affect you 10:38 - Recommended cookware 14:46 - Should you be concerned? 19:25 - 3 levels of kitchen safety 21:30 - Avoiding food safety anxiety 22:17 - Recap for cookware, storage, and waterTry Chef's Foundry P600 ceramic cookware at 50% off - Swiss-engineered ceramic coating with removable handles, no PFAS, no Teflon: witsandweights.com/chefsfoundrySupport the show📱 Get Fitness Lab - Philip’s science-based AI app for fat loss, muscle building, and strength training for people over 40. It adapts to your nutrition, recovery, and training to improve body composition without guesswork. 🎓 Try Physique University - Evidence-based nutrition coaching and strength training to help you lose fat, build muscle, and master your metabolism with support and accountability (free custom nutrition plan with code FREEPLAN). 👥 Join our Facebook community - Free fat loss, muscle building, and body recomposition strategies for adults over 40 who want practical, science-backed fitness guidance.👋 Ask a question or find Philip Pape on Instagram
Aug 8, 2025 • 35min
Managing GLP‑1 Side Effects for Weight Loss Without Losing Muscle (Justin Silver) | Ep 358
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.
Aug 6, 2025 • 24min
5‑Day Powerbuilding Blueprint for Strength and Size (Introducing RESOLUTE) | Ep 357
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📱 Get Fitness Lab - Philip’s science-based AI app for fat loss, muscle building, and strength training for people over 40. It adapts to your nutrition, recovery, and training to improve body composition without guesswork. 🎓 Try Physique University - Evidence-based nutrition coaching and strength training to help you lose fat, build muscle, and master your metabolism with support and accountability (free custom nutrition plan with code FREEPLAN). 👥 Join our Facebook community - Free fat loss, muscle building, and body recomposition strategies for adults over 40 who want practical, science-backed fitness guidance.👋 Ask a question or find Philip Pape on Instagram
Aug 4, 2025 • 30min
The All Junk Food Diet vs. Clean Eating (Lyle McDonald on "Excluding the Middle") | Ep 356
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 (targetSupport the show📱 Get Fitness Lab - Philip’s science-based AI app for fat loss, muscle building, and strength training for people over 40. It adapts to your nutrition, recovery, and training to improve body composition without guesswork. 🎓 Try Physique University - Evidence-based nutrition coaching and strength training to help you lose fat, build muscle, and master your metabolism with support and accountability (free custom nutrition plan with code FREEPLAN). 👥 Join our Facebook community - Free fat loss, muscle building, and body recomposition strategies for adults over 40 who want practical, science-backed fitness guidance.👋 Ask a question or find Philip Pape on Instagram
