Are you struggling to achieve your health and fitness goals despite following your diet and exercise routine? Do you feel like something is holding you back? 
 
Happy New Year! In this first episode of 2024, Philip  (@witsandweights) talks about stress, its impact on health and fitness goals, and how to reduce or cope with it effectively. He gives a lot of attention to nutrition, training, and even sleep, and he talks about how sometimes stress can be the hidden barrier to unlocking a higher metabolism, more effortless fat loss, increased energy, and better health. Philip dives into practical, evidence-based strategies to identify and mitigate stress in the context of both physical and mental health.

Philip also created a free Stress Solution Guide to accompany this episode that you can download at witsandweights.com/free or click here for direct access. Today you’ll learn all about:

3:19 Recent 5-star reviews on the podcast
6:31 What is stress?
11:08 Acute vs. chronic stress
12:54 What creates more stress
14:41 The effects of stress
18:55 The physiology of the stress response
21:20 Pick one thing
23:18 Self-therapy
24:54 Social connection
25:39 Spending time in nature or outdoors
26:16 Planning or organizing
27:07 Optimizing nutrition and training
30:27 Ideas on managing stress from the community 
38:52 More stress management ideas
43:53 Outro

Episode resources:Free Stress Solution GuideMindfulness Special: Relaxing Guided Session to Manage Stress and Anxiety with Allen FriedmanShoutout to the Sam Miller Science podcast (inspiration for episode)Send me a question for Q&A;! Support the Show. 


Ep 134: A Simple Tweak to Increase Your Metabolism, Hormones, Fat Loss, Workouts, and Sleep

For skeptics of the fitness industry who want to work smarter, not harder. Wits &amp; Weights cuts through the noise and deconstructs health and fitness with an engineering mindset to help you build a strong, lean physique without the BS.

Nutrition coach Philip Pape explores time-efficient strength training, nutrition, and lifestyle strategies to optimize your body composition sustainably. Simple. Science-based. No fads, no gimmicks, just evidence-based info you can trust. That's why they call him the Physique Engineer.

From restrictive fad diets to ineffective workouts and hyped-up supplements, there's no shortage of lies and half-truths designed to keep you confused and spending your hard-earned cash (and time) on stuff that doesn't work.

But getting in the best shape of your life doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming. By using your WITS and lifting WEIGHTS, you can build muscle, lose stubborn fat, and achieve your dream physique. We bring you smart, time-efficient strategies for movement, metabolism, muscle, and mindset.

If you're ready to separate fact from fiction, learn what actually works, and join a tribe of truth-seekers who are done with the hype and ready to put in the intelligent work, hit that "follow" button and let's engineer your best physique ever.

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How do you balance getting shredded with peak performance? Can tracking your fitness metrics be the ultimate game-changer in reaching your body composition goals? 

On this classic episode (a replay of Ep 70), I had Cody McBroom on to share his expertise, his philosophy, and some inside strategies with us for looking like you lift. Cody and I discuss how to use data to reach your goals more efficiently, how to balance training for aesthetics and performance to improve your body composition, and how to overcome plateaus and obstacles along the way. We also get into Cody’s coaching and podcasting experience and how to maintain a balanced life.

Cody McBroom is a Trainer, Sports Performance Specialist, and Sports Nutritionist (CPT, PES, CISSN, MNU, PN2) and the owner of Tailored Coaching Method, a world-renowned online fitness and nutrition coaching company. He’s worked with everyone from bikini and physique competitors to TV show actors and numerous WWE stars, but most of all he’s worked with everyday people like you, helping them FINALLY look like they actually lift.

You'll learn about the interconnectedness of body, being, balance, and business, showcasing how prioritizing physical health serves as the foundation for personal and professional growth. The message is clear: by taking care of your body, you set the stage for a balanced and fulfilling life. We also tackle the often-overlooked aspect of tracking metrics, whether it’s in fitness, business, or podcasting. Cody and I discuss how keeping tabs on your progress can bust through plateaus and guarantee success. 

Check out the original episode (including full timestamps and how to connect with Cody) here:Ep 70: Tailor Your Physique for Aesthetics, Fat Loss, Performance, and Health with Cody McBroom
 Send me a question for Q&A;! Support the Show. 


Bonus Episode: Cody McBroom on Body Composition and Training to Balance Physique and Performance

What’s the secret behind the fluctuating numbers on your scale? What’s the real deal between weight loss and fat loss? How can you escape the emotional rollercoaster of fat loss and body image?

Today, Philip (@witsandweights) welcomes Louise Digby, a registered nutritional therapist and women’s weight loss expert. She dives deep into the real reasons behind scale weight fluctuations, the dangers of scale obsession, and the importance of non-scale victories. Louise shares her insights on the role of hormones in weight management, the problem with restrictive dieting, and the emotional and psychological side of fat loss and body image. She also provides top tips for sustainable fat loss, improving body image, and addressing underlying health issues for long-lasting results.

Louise, the founder of The Nourish Method to Lasting Fat Loss, is renowned for her unique approach to health and well-being. She doesn’t advocate for restrictive dieting or superhuman willpower. Instead, she empowers her clients to sustainably lose fat, optimize their health, and rediscover their sparkle.

Today, you’ll learn all about:

2:18 Reasons for weight fluctuations beyond fat gain
9:36 When and what to measure 
14:03 Weight loss vs fat loss
16:27 Dangers of scale obsession
19:15 Hormonal influences on weight
27:20 Recommended tests to start with
29:40 Problems with restrictive dieting
36:00 Emotional aspects and body image
40:11 Celebrating non-scale victories
43:45 Tips for sustainable progress and positive body image
50:41 Where to find Louise
51:02 Outro

Episode resources:Masterclass: Learn The 3 Steps to Remove Weight Loss Inhibitors & Activate Weight Loss Accelerators Website: louisedigbynutrition.comThe Thriving Metabolism PodcastIG: @louisedigbynutritionSend me a question for Q&A;! Support the Show. 


Ep 179: The Real Reasons Your Scale Weight Fluctuates (It's Not Always Fat Gain) with Louise Digby

Today, we're diving into a topic that's near and dear to my heart (and my dinner table): raising kids to eat well. As a father of three, I've been through the food fights, the picky eating phases, and the mealtime meltdowns – and I've come out the other side with a few battle scars and a whole lot of wisdom to share.

If you're struggling to get your kids to eat their veggies or try new foods, know that you're not alone. It's a universal parenting challenge, and there's no magic formula for creating perfect little foodies overnight.

The good news is, by taking a long-term view and focusing on building healthy habits and attitudes around food, you can set your kids up for a lifetime of nutritious eating – and save yourself a whole lot of stress and frustration in the process.

So, what are some of the key lessons I've learned as a dad in the trenches of mealtime warfare? Find out on today's Quick Wits.

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“Quick Wits” are short mini-episodes between full episodes to give you an actionable strategy or hit of motivation.

If you enjoy these bonus episodes or have feedback on how to make them better, just send me a text message. Send me a question for Q&A;! Support the Show. 


Quick Wits: Raising Kids to Eat Well (Lessons from a Dad)

There is one thing you're doing in the bedroom that might be compromising your gains and your health.

No, not that. Or that. Not that either. It's...your sleep routine!

Do you really need 7-9 hours of sleep? Can you compensate for poor sleep with diet or exercise? What if you could turbocharge your metabolism, balance your hormones, and redefine your body composition with some tweaks to your sleep habits?

Today, Philip (@witsandweights) tackles the often neglected aspect of health and fitness - sleep. He goes beyond the usual advice of “get 7-9 hours of sleep” and explores the significant impact of sleep on your body composition, fat loss, and muscle gain. Is it possible to compensate for poor sleep with diet or exercise? How significant is sleep compared to nutrition and exercise? He answers these questions and more, offering valuable insights for busy, ambitious individuals like you seeking to improve sleep quality and quantity. As a bonus, you can access a free guide, “Better Sleep, Better Body,” packed with evidence-based strategies and practical tips to optimize sleep habits for improved metabolism, hormones, and body composition.

Today, you’ll learn all about:

3:51 The science of sleep
6:10 The connection between sleep and fat loss
11:26 Sleep and muscle gain
16:37 Sleep’s effect on overall health
24:48 7 practical tips to improve sleep quality and quantity
40:06 Outro

Episode resources:Download the Better Sleep, Better Body guide FREESend me a question for Q&A;! Support the Show. 


Ep 178: Sleep Science - Doing THIS in the Bedroom is Killing Your Fat Loss, Gains, Hormones, & Metabolism

Today, we're taking a quantum leap into the realm of science fiction and self-discovery as we explore the concept of the multiverse and how it can help you become your healthiest, most authentic self.

If you're a fan of comic books, sci-fi movies, or theoretical physics (and let's be real, who isn't?), you've probably encountered the idea of the multiverse. It's the theory that there are infinite parallel universes out there, each one containing a different version of reality – and a different version of you.

But what if we could use this mind-bending concept not just as a plot device for Hollywood blockbusters, but as a tool for personal transformation?

What if we could imagine our multiverse counterparts as a way to explore our own untapped potential and reshape our identities?

Find out on today's Quick Wits.

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“Quick Wits” are short mini-episodes between full episodes to give you an actionable strategy or hit of motivation.

If you enjoy these bonus episodes or have feedback on how to make them better, just send me a text message.

 Send me a question for Q&A;! Support the Show. 


Ep 134: A Simple Tweak to Increase Your Metabolism, Hormones, Fat Loss, Workouts, and Sleep

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