Strength For Life

In this episode of the Strength for Life Podcast, brought to you by Village Fitness, we sit down with Dr. Jameson Wong to dive deep into back health, pain prevention, and long-term spinal care.

Whether you're currently managing back discomfort or looking to build a resilient, pain-free body to keep you active for years to come, Dr. Wong shares practical insights and actionable strategies to help you move better and live stronger.

In this episode, we cover:

Common causes of lower back pain and stiffness

Daily movement habits to protect and support your spine

Core and strength exercises tailored for spinal stability

How to balance training, mobility, and recovery for optimal back health

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If a bag of chips or bottle of dressing says it’s made with avocado oil, is that what you’re getting?

A new 2026 UC Davis study tested processed foods that listed avocado oil as their oil ingredient. Researchers analyzed 54 samples from 27 different products and found that 48 of the 54 had oil profiles inconsistent with authentic avocado oil. The results included 93% of the chip samples, 71% of the mayonnaise samples, and every salad dressing sample tested.

The products came from familiar brands including Jackson’s, Siete, Boulder Canyon, Kettle Brand, Chosen Foods, Primal Kitchen, Sprouts, Good Health, LesserEvil, BetterBody Foods, Sir Kensington’s, and others. The study only tested two lots of each product, so the results shouldn’t be taken to mean every product from those companies has the same issue today. UC Davis also noted that manufacturers may not know if oil supplied to them has been adulterated.

In this episode, Dr. Matt, Nicole, and Village nutritionist Casi Garcia break down what the study found and what it does and doesn’t tell us.

They talk about the oils they use at home, which fats make sense for higher-heat cooking, what they look for on ingredient labels, and how much attention we should be paying to the cooking oils used in packaged foods.

They also zoom out from the avocado oil debate and talk about a more useful question: what should most of the food you eat every day look like?

If you buy products specifically because the label says “made with avocado oil,” this is an episode worth hearing.

If you’re interested in working with casi, you can book a call HERE: https://eng.zenplanner.com/widget/booking/v7eR5O5BKo8cz15l5bHd

And learn more about our nutrition coaching program HERE: https://www.villagefpt.com/nutrition

It’s our one-year podiversary! Matt and Nicole celebrate a full year of Strength for Life by looking back at the meaningful client stories, expert guests, and memorable moments that made the first year so special. 

They also return to the podcast’s most-downloaded topic: creatine, to separate the research from the rumors and answer your biggest questions.

ONE-YEAR PODIVERSARY GIVEAWAY!

To celebrate one year of Strength for Life, we’re giving one listener a 10-pack of one-on-one personal training sessions at the Village location closest to you!

To enter:

Enter within one week of this episode’s release for your chance to win!

OUR FAVORITE CREATINE: Momentous Creatine (Use code: VillageFitness): https://www.livemomentous.com/?mct=LBQYGPaO&utm_source=current&dc=VillageFitness&ref=LBQYGPaO

Former collegiate runner, and a good friend of the Klingler's, Bethany Blomquist joins Dr. Matt and Nicole to share how she went from doing very little strength training to hitting all 12 Village Movement Standards. She discusses balancing running with lifting, overcoming injuries and plateaus, fueling before and after workouts, and making fitness a priority while working and raising two young children.

In this episode of Strength for Life, Dr. Matt explains why pain doesn’t always mean your body is damaged—and how fear, inactivity, stress, poor sleep, and weakness can keep pain around long after an injury has healed.

You’ll learn why scans don’t tell the whole story, how the pain-avoidance cycle works, what to do during a flare-up, and why gradual movement, strength training, and personalized physical therapy can help you rebuild confidence and capacity.

We also introduce our new 21-Day Solve Your Pain Challenge, which combines one-on-one physical therapy, pain education, daily habits, and accountability to help you better understand your pain and leave with a clear plan for moving forward.

Learn more and apply at: www.villagefpt.com/solve-your-pain

For decades, the fitness industry has promoted strategies that sound convincing but do not hold up under scrutiny. In this episode, Nicole and Dr. Matt revisit seven common fitness myths and explain what actually works.

They discuss:

The takeaway is simple: lasting results come from progressive strength training, good coaching, proper recovery and sustainable nutrition

What does a typical day of eating actually look like for two strength coaches?

In this episode of the Strength for Life Podcast, Matt and Nicole share everything they ate over the course of a day—including every meal, snack, coffee, supplement, calories, macronutrients, and the reasoning behind their food choices. No gimmicks. No "cheat days." Just a realistic look at how they fuel for strength, health, and longevity.

They also discuss the six habits they believe will give you the biggest return if you're trying to lose fat, gain muscle, and improve your overall health:

Toward the end of the episode, they share a few more advanced nutrition strategies for people who have already mastered the basics and are trying to get leaner without sacrificing muscle.

One of the recipes we mention in the episode is this incredibly simple, high-protein Greek chicken that has become a staple in our house.

Marinade:

Cut 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken into bite-sized pieces and toss with the marinade. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours (overnight is even better). Thread onto skewers and grill over medium-high heat for 8–10 minutes, turning halfway, until the chicken reaches 165°F. Finish with fresh lemon juice and parsley, and serve with tzatziki, pita, grilled vegetables, or a Greek salad.

Greek Salad Recipe: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021079-greek-salad?unlocked_article_code=1

Tzatziki Recipe: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023364-tzatziki?unlocked_article_code=1 

Whether you're just starting your health journey or looking to optimize your nutrition, this episode is full of practical advice that you can put into action today.

Village is growing!

In this episode, Dr. Matt and Nicole take you behind the scenes of the journey to opening Village's third location in Westlake Village. They reflect on the lessons learned from opening their first gym in Glendora, how those experiences shaped the launch of their San Marino location, and what ultimately led them to choose Westlake Village as the next community to serve.

From the challenges and growing pains to the excitement of expanding the Village mission, this episode is an honest look at what it takes to build a business centered on helping people get stronger and live healthier lives.

Interested in following the journey? 

Be sure to follow @VillageFitnessWestlake on Instagram for updates as we prepare to open our newest strength training location

Get on our waitlist for opening specials: https://www.villagefpt.com/wlv

Where we’re located: https://share.google/uczQFEa3i1xbyLeRh

In this episode, Dr. Justin Lee, Doctor of Physical Therapy at Village Fitness & Physical Therapy, explains what plantar fasciitis is, what causes it, and why taking care of your feet is so important…especially as we get older. He also shares what he's learned from helping adults 40+ overcome foot pain and stay active for the long term.

Want to learn even more? Dr. Justin is hosting a FREE Plantar Fasciitis Workshop:

📅 Friday, August 7

Reserve your spot: https://eng.zenplanner.com/widget/booking/KykAVy5mRi5ydKtGk7re

Barefoot shoes Dr. Justin recommends:

In this episode of the Strength for Life Podcast, we sit down with Justin, the very first Village Fitness client to complete all 12 Village Movement Standards.

Justin shares what the journey was really like—from the standards that came more naturally to the ones that challenged him the most. He talks about the setbacks, the sticking points, and the mindset it took to keep showing up and working toward a goal that requires strength, consistency, mobility, skill, and patience.

Throughout the conversation, Justin gives practical advice for anyone who feels intimidated by the standards or wonders if they’ll ever be able to accomplish all 12. His encouragement is simple but powerful: focus on progress, keep training consistently, and don’t count yourself out.

Whether you’re chasing your first push-up, working toward a pull-up, or trying to complete all 12 standards yourself, this episode will inspire you to stay the course and keep building strength for life.