This episode tackles major debates in health and performance! We resolve the question of whether your cholesterol (LDL/ApoB) can ever be "too low" by examining genetic and clinical trial evidence. We dive into the psychology of starting—explaining the "dread" before a task as psychological inertia—and offer actionable tips to overcome it. Finally, we cover optimizing time-limited cardio with high-intensity strategies.

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Timestamps

2:43 | Is there such a thing as too low of a cholesterol level (specifically LDL and ApoB)?

27:45:00 Is it normal to not feel motivated to do a task before doing it, but get the inclination after starting?

32:00 :How to improve cardio when you have limited time (two 30-minute sessions/week)?

Resources

LDL/ApoB

• https://www.barbellmedicine.com/blog/a-basic-guide-to-cholesterol/ 
• https://www.escardio.org/static-file/Escardio/Guidelines/publications/DYSLIPguidelines-dyslipidemias-FT.pdf 
• Consultations

Starting something new

• https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-psych-020223-012208?crawler=true 
• https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01328/full 
• Do Hard Things- Steve Magness  

Cardio

• https://www.barbellmedicine.com/resources/max-heart-rate-and-zone-calculator/ 
• https://www.barbellmedicine.com/blog/hiit-high-intensity-interval-training/ 
• https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-63475-2 
• https://pacompendium.com/adult-compendium/ 

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Got pain and need a professional who understands you lift? Or, do you need an experienced coach to help you get the most out of your training? Contact us at [email protected]

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In this special episode of the Barbell Medicine Podcast, Dr. Jordan Feigenbaum welcomes back friend of the show, Dr. Sohee Carpenter, PhD, to share her latest insights following the completion of her PhD in Sports Science from the Auckland University of Technology. 

We dive deep into the research from her recently published paper in the European Journal of Sports Science, exploring a highly relevant question for strength athletes and the general population alike: How do high-intensity circuit training (HICT) and traditional strength training compare?

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Key Topics Covered:

• PhD Research Deep Dive: Dr. Carpenter breaks down her study, which compared HICT against traditional resistance training in trained women over an eight-week period. The groups performed the same exercises, sets, and reps, and pushed to similar proximity to failure, with the key difference being the rest periods.
• The Results: Find out the surprising, yet encouraging, findings regarding strength gains and muscle growth between the two popular training modalities. The results suggest that for many, personal preference, time constraints, and gym logistics should be the deciding factors for training style—as long as you push close to technical failure. 
• Circuit Training & Time Efficiency: We discuss why circuit training is a popular option for time efficiency—her study's circuit group completed their sessions in approximately 50-55 minutes, compared to 70-75 minutes for the traditional group. 
• Coaching Loved Ones: Dr. Carpenter shares her personal experience and advice on training her 64-year-old mother. We cover how she successfully addressed barriers like accountability and self-efficacy, starting with short, positive sessions (initially only 20 minutes) and gradually progressing to longer, more challenging workouts. 

Resources:

• Original podcast
• Effects of High Intensity Circuit versus Traditional Strength Training on Physiological Responses in Trained Women in the European Journal of Sports Science.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Background

05:02 Research Focus: Circuit Training vs. Traditional Resistance Training

10:00 Study Design and Methodology

14:58 Findings and Implications of the Study

21:36 Optimizing Group Workouts

30:21 Training Family: A Personal Journey

39:40 The Challenge of Progression in Strength Training

41:57 Individual Differences in Training and Motivation

46:00 Overcoming Barriers to Exercise for Older Adults

50:00 Encouraging Loved Ones to Start Exercising

Find Dr. Sohee Carpenter:

• Instagram/Social Media: @Soheefit
• Website: https://soheefit.com/

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Got pain and need a professional who understands you lift? Or, do you need an experienced coach to help you get the most out of your training? Contact us at [email protected]

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In this episode, Dr. Jordan Feigenbaum hosts a live "Ask Me Anything" session, tackling a wide range of questions on health, fitness, nutrition, and training philosophy.

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Timestamps:

• 0:32 How important are volume, intensity, and proximity to failure for hypertrophy?
• 3:46 Does muscle memory exist?
• 7:03 What is the reasoning behind the heavy "fatigue single" in the low fatigue template?
• 9:00 What is Barbell Medicine's take on the Mike Israetel PhD controversy?
• 13:18 What is the TLDR on peptides?
• 16:47 What's the cutoff in terms of sets for a hypertrophy response?
• 19:23 If Viagra/Cialis works for a patient, does it mean there's a cardiovascular concern?
• 20:26 Would you recommend "Murph" from CrossFit as a good overall fitness exercise?
• 21:37 Can you still build muscle while running 70 kilometers per week?
• 22:53 Is training three times per week for 30 minutes realistic for a late novice?
• 25:30 How should I handle lower back pain after returning to lifting?
• 28:44 Which offseason template should I choose: Hypertrophy 2 or Powerbuilding 2?
• 30:22 I've had knee tendonitis for two years, any ideas?
• 32:16 How many rest days do you recommend per week?
• 34:29 How to manage low back pain without a specific diagnosis from a chiro or acupuncturist?
• 36:50 If training is only possible at the expense of sleep, is it worth it?
• 38:06 For health and hypertrophy, how much cardio should you do?
• 39:54 Is there a benefit to having heels below the platform for calf raises?
• 41:00 Why are you against acupuncture?
• 41:48 Recommendations for training for people coming off chemotherapy?
• 43:29 Is a lunge or Bulgarian split squat considered a squat pattern?
• 44:13 What accessories complement a Mammoth Bar deadlift?
• 45:30 How is your dad's training going, and how to get an older parent started?
• 47:32 Why do you think medical schools give so little instruction on exercise if it's a "panacea"?
• 49:47 How to approach nutrition for building muscle while staying lean?
• 51:06 Which workout offers the least benefits?
• 51:48 What frequency of exercise do you program for a focus on glutes?
• 53:09 How would you add full-body training for a teen playing tennis twice a week?
• 54:13 : How would you approach osteoarthritis treatment in general?

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Got pain and need a professional who understands you lift? Or, do you need an experienced coach to help you get the most out of your training? Contact us at [email protected]

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The old rules for blood pressure are changing. In this episode, we break down the critical 2025 updates that are reshaping how we diagnose and manage hypertension. We move beyond the simple 120/80 cutoff to explore a new risk-based approach, updated ACC/AHA guidelines pushing for lower targets, and new recommendations to screen for the "silent epidemic" of primary aldosteronism. Plus, we cover why low-dose combination therapy is the new standard for treatment and take a realistic look at the new Apple Watch hypertension detection feature.

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Timestamps:

• (01:45) Moving Beyond Binary Cutoffs: Why cardiovascular risk is a continuous spectrum and how the diagnostic approach is shifting from a single number to a person's absolute CVD risk.
• (10:15) The New 2025 ACC/AHA Guidelines: We break down the updated targets, including the push for systolic blood pressure below 120 mmHg and new treatment thresholds based on the PREVENT risk calculator.
• (30:15) The "Silent Epidemic" - Primary Aldosteronism: Learn why new guidelines suggest screening all individuals with hypertension for this common but often-missed condition that significantly increases cardiovascular risk.
• (40:10) Smarter Treatment Strategies: An analysis of new data showing that starting with multiple medications at lower doses is more effective and has fewer side effects than traditional monotherapy.
• (48:30) How Often to Check Your BP at Home: For stable patients, monitoring too frequently can be misleading. We discuss the optimal interval for re-testing to avoid acting on statistical "noise".
• (58:15) The Apple Watch Hypertension Feature: Is it a helpful tool or just hype? We review Apple's data on its accuracy, including its low sensitivity (41.2%) and high specificity (92.3%), and discuss its best use case.
• 
  

References

• https://www.acc.org/Latest-in-Cardiology/Journal-Scans/2025/08/28/16/33/New-Scientific-Statement-Deep-Dives 
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40825202/
• https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/ANNALS-25-02804
• https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2025.08.047
• https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2025.05.002
• https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.125.25466  
• https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/110/9/2453/8196671?login=false
• https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/ANNALS-24-03153
• https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/ANNALS-25-01368
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37439256/
• https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.123.066389
• https://academic.oup.com/ajh/article/35/12/967/6620780.
• https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/10491/predicting-risk-cardiovascular-disease-events-prevent 
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40324193/
• https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)00991-2/abstract
• https://www.bpmodel.org/
• https://journals.lww.com/jhypertension/fulltext/9900/how_often_should_self_monitoring_of_blood_pressure.736.aspx 
• https://www.apple.com/health/pdf/Hypertension_Notifications_Validation_Paper_September_2025.pdf  

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Got pain and need a professional who understands you lift? Or, do you need an experienced coach to help you get the most out of your training? Contact us at [email protected]

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In this episode of the Barbell Medicine Podcast, Dr. Jordan Feigenbaum and Dr. Austin Baraki discuss various topics including a purported creatine overdose by golfer Ben Griffin, the implications of GLP-1 agonists on cancer risk, a new weight loss drug called MariTide, LeBron James doing silly exercises, and more.

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Timestamps:

00:45 Ben Griffin overdoses on creatine 

• https://www.instagram.com/p/DNeI9DKxbZc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== 

09:16 GLP-1 and Cancer Risk

• https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/article-abstract/2837870 

17:16 MariTide 

• https://www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1056/NEJMoa2504214 

28:24 Lebron does silly exercise

• https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNgYIMOMRBX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== 

38:24 ChatGPT goes wrong 

• https://tinyurl.com/57c3fh8x 

49:00 Plant-based diets and blood pressure

• https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/JAHA.124.037813 

55:00 Gender eligibility in sport

1:07:00 Bodyweight vs. mortality

• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250914205759.htm  

1:14:00 Ultra-Processed Food and MAHA

• Food and Beverage News and Trends - September 19, 2025

1:22:00 -The Rock Loses Weight! 

Resources Page: https://www.barbellmedicine.com/resources/

Template Quiz: https://www.barbellmedicine.com/template-quiz/

Got pain and need a professional who understands you lift? Or, do you need an experienced coach to help you get the most out of your training? Contact us at [email protected]

Our Sponsors:
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In this episode, we're joined by renowned sports scientist and researcher, Dr. Franco Impellizzeri, for a deep dive into the complex world of training load.

Dr. Impellizzeri discusses his journey in sports science and helps us cut through the confusion surrounding a core concept of training: training load. We break down the crucial distinction between external load (the physical work you do, like weight on the bar or distance run) and internal load (your body's unique physiological and psychological response to that work). You'll learn why measuring both is essential for effective programming and long-term progress.

Whether you’re a coach, an athlete, or just someone looking to optimize your training, this episode will provide a new framework for thinking about stress, adaptation, and the road to smarter, safer gains.

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Resources:

• Second Generation Low Fatigue Programs 
• Dr. Impellizzeri's publications

Resources Page: https://www.barbellmedicine.com/resources/

Template Quiz: https://www.barbellmedicine.com/template-quiz/

Got pain and need a professional who understands you lift? Or, do you need an experienced coach to help you get the most out of your training? Contact us at [email protected]

Our Sponsors:
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In this episode of the Barbell Medicine Plus podcast, the hosts discuss various topics related to strength training, such as: vaccination effects on training, the role of deadlifts in hypertrophy, and recovery from non-traumatic injuries.

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New Stuff:

• Seminar Sign-up
• Second Generation Low Fatigue Programs 

Resources Page: https://www.barbellmedicine.com/resources/

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Got pain and need a professional who understands you lift? Or, do you need an experienced coach to help you get the most out of your training? Contact us at [email protected]

Our Sponsors:
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In this conversation, Dr. Feigenbaum and Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple discuss the pervasive issues in the fitness industry, particularly focusing on Dr. Stacy Sims' commentary surrounding cycle-syncing, fasted cardio for women, as well as 'pink tax' that targets women with ineffective marketing strategies. They evaluate the effectiveness of popular fitness trends such as weighted vests, creatine supplementation, and Pilates, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based practices in exercise and nutrition. The discussion also highlights the need for individualized approaches to fitness, debunking myths surrounding gender-specific training and the marketing tactics that exploit women's insecurities.

Find Dr. Colenso-Semple:

On instagram @drlaurencs1

Click here for all her links

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New Stuff:

• Seminar Sign-up
• Second Generation Low Fatigue Programs 
• Stacy Sims Debate

Referenced Podcasts:

• Weighted Vest 
• Pilates Podcast 

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Got pain and need a professional who understands you lift? Or, do you need an experienced coach to help you get the most out of your training? Contact us at [email protected]

Our Sponsors:
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In this Instagram live, Dr. Jordan Feigenbaum of Barbell Medicine addresses a variety of health and fitness topics, ranging from stretching techniques and range of motion to personal anecdotes.

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New Stuff:

• Seminar Sign-up
• Second Generation Low Fatigue Programs 

Articles:

• https://www.barbellmedicine.com/blog/pain-in-training-what-do/ 
• https://www.barbellmedicine.com/blog/lifting-rehab-mistakes/ 

Resources Page: https://www.barbellmedicine.com/resources/

Template Quiz: https://www.barbellmedicine.com/template-quiz/

Got pain and need a professional who understands you lift? Or, do you need an experienced coach to help you get the most out of your training? Contact us at [email protected]

Our Sponsors:
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In this episode of the Barbell Medicine podcast, Dr. Jordan Feigenbaum and Dr. Lorraine Baraki discuss Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), a common endocrine disorder affecting women's health. They explore the complexities of PCOS, including its diagnosis, treatment options, and the importance of individualized care.

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New Stuff:

• Consult with Dr. Loraine Baraki 
• Seminar Sign-up
• Second Generation Low Fatigue Programs 

Timestamps:

1:41 What is PCOS?

4:24 Ovulatory dysfunction in PCOS

6:20 Hyperandrogenism in PCOS

8:50 Polycystic ovarian morphology

13:00 Presentation of PCOS

15:40 Epidemiology of PCOS

18:45 Diagnosing PCOS

23:40 Workup of PCOS

29:00 Pathophysiology of PCOS

35:30 Risk factors for PCOS

41:15 Weight loss in PCOS

46:30 Exercise for PCOS

 55:40 PCOS in sport

1:03:00 Nutrition for PCOS

1:11:00 Medical and surgical treatment for PCOS

1:27:00 Fertility and PCOS

Papers:

• https://www.monash.edu/medicine/mchri/pcos/guideline 
• https://mchri.org.au/guidelines-resources/community/askpcos-app/ 
• Gibson-Helm 2016  
• Gao 2023
• Deswal 2020
• Bozdag 2016
• Teede 2023 
• Christ 2023
• Rosenfeld 2016
• DeUgarte 2005
• Stepto 2013
• Yidiz 2008 
• Brower 2019
• Codner 2006
• Peppard 2001
• Holte 1998
• Rosenfield 2007
•  Kahsar-Miller 2001
• Kazemi 2022
• Hirschberg 2020
• Sorensen 2012 
• Moran 2007
• Herbert 2023
• Jakubowicz 2013

Resources Page: https://www.barbellmedicine.com/resources/

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Got pain and need a professional who understands you lift? Or, do you need an experienced coach to help you get the most out of your training? Contact us at [email protected]

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