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
Aug 3, 2025 • 4min
73 Year Old Listener Doubles Sprinting Power in 4 Months (12-Minute Protocol) | Bonus
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📱 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 1, 2025 • 27min
Ozempic Envy, GLP-1 Microdosing, and the Weight Loss Wars | Ep 355
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📱 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
Jul 30, 2025 • 56min
Q&A - Post-Bulk Fat Loss, Walking Too Much, and Diet Fatigue (Brandon DaCruz) | Ep 354
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📱 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
Jul 28, 2025 • 31min
5 Rules of Ronnie Coleman, King of Bodybuilding (Lifting Legends #1) | Ep 353
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📱 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
Jul 25, 2025 • 40min
Is Your LIVER Stalling Fat Loss and Muscle Growth? (Sara Banta) | Ep 352
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📱 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
Jul 23, 2025 • 29min
How to Warmup and Lift Heavy Weights Safely (Cold Start Problem) | Ep 351
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📱 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
Jul 21, 2025 • 29min
The Day Weight Loss Changed Forever | Ep 350
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📱 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
Jul 20, 2025 • 48min
The #1 Habit for Blood Sugar Control and Insulin Resistance | Bonus
Discover the most powerful daily habit for blood sugar control that most people completely overlook.In this bonus episode, I'm sharing my recent conversation with Ben Tzeel from the Your Diabetes Insider podcast, where we nerd out on the surprising connection between strength training and metabolic health.Main Takeaways:Why resistance training beats cardio for blood sugar control and insulin sensitivityThe shocking 25-point blood sugar difference from just one week without liftingHow to overcome gym intimidation and start strength training safelyThe 2-minute movement "snacks" that increase muscle protein synthesis by 47%Efficient training protocols that deliver results in 30-45 minutes, 3 days per weekWhy compound movements like squats and deadlifts are metabolic game-changersEpisode Resources:Your Diabetes Insider Podcast - Ben Tzeel's showPhilip's YouTube channel to watch the video on how to stop prediabetes and insulin resistance without cutting carbsMy favorite nutrition app - try MacroFactor for free with code WITSANDWEIGHTSSupport 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
Jul 18, 2025 • 59min
Why Women Over 40 Don’t NEED to Lift Heavy to Fight Osteosarcopenia (Megan Dahlman) | Ep 349
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)—Is your doctor telling you to “lift heavy” but you don’t even know where to start? Wondering how to build strong bones without ending up hurt or overwhelmed? Curious if weighted vests actually do anything for bone health?I brought Megan Dahlman back to the show to answer these questions and more. Megan is a strength coach who specializes in helping women over 40 build muscle, improve mobility, and fight back against a condition called osteosarcopenia. We talked about the risks of jumping into heavy lifting the wrong way and how to progress smartly and safely from bodyweight to weights.Today, you’ll learn all about:2:50 – What is osteosarcopenia?6:38 – How muscles and bones work together11:28 – Why “lift heavy” can backfire18:21 – The best place for beginners to start23:11 – The truth about weighted vests28:20 – What’s the minimum effective dose?36:39 – Should you train for power too?42:04 – Sample training structures that work51:55 – Home vs. gym: how to decide55:50 – Where to start with Megan's programEpisode resources:Training program – Jumpstart 30Youtube: @vigeofitInstagram: @megandahlman Facebook: @vigeofit Website: vigeofit.com 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
Jul 16, 2025 • 28min
12 Rules of Training Volume to Build More Muscle | Ep 348
Join the new Wits & Weights Physique University at just $27/month (was $87) - get access to training templates, course library, private community, and so much more.Podcast listeners get a custom nutrition plan FREE (normally $47) when you join by the end of July using this special link: bit.ly/podcast-new-wwpu--Hitting the gym consistently but not seeing the muscle growth you want?You might be making one critical mistake with your training volume.Most lifters either do way too little to stimulate growth or pile on so much that they're hitting a wall and burning out.Learn about 12 evidence-based rules that separate muscle builders from muscle stragglers.Episode Resources:"The New Approach to Training Volume" - article by Greg NuckolsPhysique & Biofeedback Tracker - available in the new WWPU (now just $27/mo plus a FREE custom nutrition plan for podcast listeners with this link: bit.ly/podcast-new-wwpu)Episodes Mentioned:Strength vs. Hypertrophy (The 65% Threshold for Lifters Chasing PRs vs. Muscle Size) Timestamps:0:01 - The critical volume mistake most lifters make4:59 - Rule 1: Hard sets per muscle group6:29 - Rule 2: Proximity to failure7:48 - Rule 3: Does more volume = more growth?9:19 - Rule 4: How many sets per muscle per week?10:32 - Rule 5: Rep range doesn't matter, effort does12:15 - Rule 6: What about strength (vs. hypertrophy)?15:28 - Rule 7: Periodize volume over time16:23 - Rule 8: Recovery capacity determines your ceiling18:57 - Rule 9: Wasted volume kills progress20:55 - Rule 10: Compound vs isolation lifts21:45 - Rule 11: What exactly should you track?22:33 - Rule 12: The ONE rule about volume that matters most24:49 - Advanced concept: Volume landmarksSupport 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
