Wits & Weights | Strength & Fat Loss Over 40

Book a FREE 15-minute Rapid Nutrition Assessment, designed to fine-tune your strategy, identify your #1 roadblock, and give you a personalized 3-step action plan in a fast-paced 15 minutes.

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Are your long runs and cardio sessions actually making fat loss harder? Could walking be more effective for your physique and longevity?

I bring on former pro triathlete and Olympic coach Brad Kearns to challenge the conventional wisdom around running and fat loss. Brad explains why chronic cardio may sabotage your metabolism and make it harder to lose fat, why your nutrition matters more than your cardio for body recomp, and how walking might be the smarter move.

Brad Kearns is a two-time US national champion and a former #3 world-ranked professional triathlete. He is the co-author of Born to Walk with Mark Sisson. Brad is a coach, researcher, and speaker focused on longevity, fat loss, and performance.

Today, you’ll learn all about:

02:12 – Why running is the second most dangerous sport after football
06:19 – The genetic flaw in the argument that humans are "Born to Run"
09:34 – How chronic cardio affects metabolism and fat loss
14:27 – Why most calorie burn calculations are totally inaccurate
20:56 – Walking is anabolic, running is catabolic—here’s why
30:02 – The best way to sprint for fat loss (without burnout)
39:09 – Why endurance runners tend to be lazier throughout the day
45:46 – The fat max heart rate and why most people run too fast
55:36 – How to run without destroying your metabolism or joints
1:04:13 – Outro

Episode resources:

• Free bonuses when you buy the book: borntowalkbook.com
• The B.rad Podcast
• Website: bradkearns.com 
  
  

💪 Join Eat More Lift Heavy - a 26-week evidence-based strength training for men and women over 40 and fat loss program to build muscle after 40, lose fat, and maintain your results (even in perimenopause and menopause)

📱 Get Fitness Lab - AI-powered coaching app for strength training after 40, body recomposition, and evidence-based nutrition. Daily coaching that adjusts to your energy, recovery, and schedule. No calorie counting, no guesswork.

👥 Join our Facebook community - Build muscle after 40, improve body composition, and lose fat with evidence-based nutrition. Support for lifting weights, hypertrophy, fat loss, and hormones.

👋 Ask a question or find Philip Pape (strength training & fat loss nutrition coach) on Instagram & thanks for making us one of the best fat loss podcasts for men & women over 40! 🙏

Get FREE 2 weeks free + access to the MGE Calculator in Wits & Weights Physique University (WWPU) along with a custom nutrition plan, live coaching calls, monthly workout programs and challenges, weekly check-ins, a supportive community, a resource vault, and courses on fat loss, physique development, and more!

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Want to know if you're actually building muscle or just gaining fat during your bulk? 

Learn about the Muscle Gain Efficiency (MGE) score and how to use engineering's Bottleneck Effect to optimize your muscle-building system.

Discover how factors like training experience, frame size, and strength ratios influence your muscle-building potential, then learn to identify and fix what's limiting your gains.

Main Takeaways:

• You have a unique muscle-building potential
• Your Muscle Gain Efficiency (MGE) indicates how well you're gaining muscle vs. fat (how "efficient" you are)
• The 5 key bottlenecks that limit your muscle-building success
• Having a solid system + consistency = sustainable results

Episode Resources:

• Download my free Nutrition 101 guide to setup your calories and macros to lose fat, gain muscle, and improve health, performance, and longevity

Timestamps: 

0:01 - Why we need a better way to measure muscle gains
3:05 - Introducing Muscle Gain Index (MGI) and Muscle Gain Efficiency (MGE)
7:31 - Interpreting your MGE score
9:46 - The 5 bottlenecks holding back your gains
19:13 - Using data to validate progress
21:30 - Tips to implement for your next muscle building phase

Get FREE 2 weeks free + access to the MGE calculator in Wits & Weights Physique University (WWPU)

💪 Join Eat More Lift Heavy - a 26-week evidence-based strength training for men and women over 40 and fat loss program to build muscle after 40, lose fat, and maintain your results (even in perimenopause and menopause)

📱 Get Fitness Lab - AI-powered coaching app for strength training after 40, body recomposition, and evidence-based nutrition. Daily coaching that adjusts to your energy, recovery, and schedule. No calorie counting, no guesswork.

👥 Join our Facebook community - Build muscle after 40, improve body composition, and lose fat with evidence-based nutrition. Support for lifting weights, hypertrophy, fat loss, and hormones.

👋 Ask a question or find Philip Pape (strength training & fat loss nutrition coach) on Instagram & thanks for making us one of the best fat loss podcasts for men & women over 40! 🙏

Get your free Muscle-Building Nutrition Blueprint at witsandweights.com/muscle to optimize your nutrition for maximum muscle growth while minimizing fat gain.

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Learn how your metabolism can fight back during an aggressive muscle-building phase by dramatically increasing energy expenditure, even when you're doing everything right. 

Discover the hidden factors driving this metabolic adaptation and how to overcome them.

Main Takeaways:

• Your maintenance calories can increase significantly during a bulk due to metabolic adaptation (400+ calories)
• High-quality muscle gains are still possible even when facing metabolic resistance
• The 3 key factors that drive increased energy expenditure during a building phase
• How to successfully break through a hardgaining plateau

Episode Resources:

• Try MacroFactor for free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS
• Download my Muscle-Building Nutrition Blueprint

Timestamps:

0:00 - The unexpected metabolic challenge
3:10 - Real data from my current bulk
8:33 - The hidden energy drain revealed
14:50 - 3 factors driving metabolic adaptation
16:48 - Strategic approach to overcoming plateaus
21:27 - Being realistic about timelines and goals
23:19 - Key lessons and broader applications

💪 Join Eat More Lift Heavy - a 26-week evidence-based strength training for men and women over 40 and fat loss program to build muscle after 40, lose fat, and maintain your results (even in perimenopause and menopause)

📱 Get Fitness Lab - AI-powered coaching app for strength training after 40, body recomposition, and evidence-based nutrition. Daily coaching that adjusts to your energy, recovery, and schedule. No calorie counting, no guesswork.

👥 Join our Facebook community - Build muscle after 40, improve body composition, and lose fat with evidence-based nutrition. Support for lifting weights, hypertrophy, fat loss, and hormones.

👋 Ask a question or find Philip Pape (strength training & fat loss nutrition coach) on Instagram & thanks for making us one of the best fat loss podcasts for men & women over 40! 🙏

Download my free Progressive Overload Guide to maximize your progress in the gym and build strength and size.

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What if sticking to just one squat style is actually limiting your gains? Struggling with joint pain or mobility issues from low bar squats but are afraid to switch?

I’m joined by elite strength coach Andy Baker to break down the myth that low bar squatting is mandatory for gains. We dive deep into the world of squats, comparing different styles to see which ones are best for building muscle and strength. Andy and I will help you figure out the perfect squat for your body and what you want to achieve.

Andy Baker is a highly sought-after strength coach, co-author of Practical Programming and The Barbell Prescription, and owner of Kingwood Strength & Conditioning. Through his Baker Barbell Club, he’s helped thousands of lifters get stronger by training smarter.

Today, you’ll learn all about:

05:59 – Why low bar squats aren’t as superior as you think
09:40 – The origins of low bar squatting and why it became dominant
16:40 – When and why you shouldn’t low bar squat
22:05 – How to know if you should switch your squat
29:20 – The real reason elbow and shoulder pain happens with low bar
35:40 – Why strategic variation makes you stronger and healthier
46:07 – The most underrated squat variation for quad growth
55:49 – The #1 most common squat mistake lifters make
1:09:05 – Best squat variations for quads—Andy’s top picks
1:20:52 – How to cue yourself for a perfect squat
1:25:00 – Outro

Episode resources:

• Baker Barbell Club: andybaker.com 
• Ep 60: Strength and Programming for Maximum Gains at Any Age with Andy Baker
• Ep 131: Andy Baker on Bodybuilding for Hypertrophy and an Aesthetic, Muscular Physique
  
  

💪 Join Eat More Lift Heavy - a 26-week evidence-based strength training for men and women over 40 and fat loss program to build muscle after 40, lose fat, and maintain your results (even in perimenopause and menopause)

📱 Get Fitness Lab - AI-powered coaching app for strength training after 40, body recomposition, and evidence-based nutrition. Daily coaching that adjusts to your energy, recovery, and schedule. No calorie counting, no guesswork.

👥 Join our Facebook community - Build muscle after 40, improve body composition, and lose fat with evidence-based nutrition. Support for lifting weights, hypertrophy, fat loss, and hormones.

👋 Ask a question or find Philip Pape (strength training & fat loss nutrition coach) on Instagram & thanks for making us one of the best fat loss podcasts for men & women over 40! 🙏

Get FREE access to your first challenge + 2 weeks free in Wits & Weights Physique University (WWPU) along with a custom nutrition plan, live coaching calls, monthly workout programs and challenges, weekly check-ins, a supportive community, a resource vault, and courses on fat loss, physique development, and more!

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Stop chasing arbitrary strength standards and learn why progressive overload is the only metric that matters for continuous progress.

Discover how engineering Control Systems reveal the three key components that regulate your training adaptation, and why understanding them transforms your approach to building strength. 

Whether you're plateaued or just starting out, this framework will help you create sustainable progress without burnout.

Main Takeaways:

• Your body operates like a control system with built-in feedback loops
• Three components (PID control) determine training adaptation
• Progressive overload requires strategic adjustments based on data
• Small, consistent changes beat random progress chasing

Timestamps:

0:01 - Why arbitrary strength standards hold you back
2:53 - Control systems and progressive overload
8:01 - Understanding PID control for training
10:22 - Proportional control: Immediate response
13:15 - Integral control: Accumulated training effects
14:35 - Derivative control: Rate of adaptation
16:48 - Practical metrics to track
20:25 - Creating a sustainable feedback loop 

Get FREE access to your first challenge + 2 weeks free in Wits & Weights Physique University (WWPU)

💪 Join Eat More Lift Heavy - a 26-week evidence-based strength training for men and women over 40 and fat loss program to build muscle after 40, lose fat, and maintain your results (even in perimenopause and menopause)

📱 Get Fitness Lab - AI-powered coaching app for strength training after 40, body recomposition, and evidence-based nutrition. Daily coaching that adjusts to your energy, recovery, and schedule. No calorie counting, no guesswork.

👥 Join our Facebook community - Build muscle after 40, improve body composition, and lose fat with evidence-based nutrition. Support for lifting weights, hypertrophy, fat loss, and hormones.

👋 Ask a question or find Philip Pape (strength training & fat loss nutrition coach) on Instagram & thanks for making us one of the best fat loss podcasts for men & women over 40! 🙏

Submit your nutrition and training questions at witsandweights.com/question to get featured on the show

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Discover how a natural sugar called allulose is getting attention for potentially offering similar metabolic benefits as modern weight loss drugs by stimulating GLP-1. 

Learn the science behind how this unique compound affects blood sugar, appetite, and fat loss through natural pathways.

Main Takeaways:

• Allulose stimulates GLP-1 more modestly than medications, working with natural body rhythms
• Research shows up to 50% reduction in post-meal blood sugar spikes
• Practical dosing starts at 5-10g per serving, best taken with meals
• May help with transitioning off GLP-1 medications while maintaining results
• Shows promise for preserving muscle glycogen during training

Timestamps:

4:00 - What is allulose and how it differs from regular sugar
5:17 - Key research findings and real-world uses
8:24 - Practical dosing guidelines and timing considerations
10:05 - Benefits and potential side effects

💪 Join Eat More Lift Heavy - a 26-week evidence-based strength training for men and women over 40 and fat loss program to build muscle after 40, lose fat, and maintain your results (even in perimenopause and menopause)

📱 Get Fitness Lab - AI-powered coaching app for strength training after 40, body recomposition, and evidence-based nutrition. Daily coaching that adjusts to your energy, recovery, and schedule. No calorie counting, no guesswork.

👥 Join our Facebook community - Build muscle after 40, improve body composition, and lose fat with evidence-based nutrition. Support for lifting weights, hypertrophy, fat loss, and hormones.

👋 Ask a question or find Philip Pape (strength training & fat loss nutrition coach) on Instagram & thanks for making us one of the best fat loss podcasts for men & women over 40! 🙏

Get FREE access to your first challenge + 2 weeks free in Wits & Weights Physique University (WWPU) along with a custom nutrition plan, live coaching calls, monthly workout programs and challenges, weekly check-ins, a supportive community, a resource vault, and courses on fat loss, physique development, and more!

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In this bonus episode, I share results from our 2025 podcast listener survey and how your feedback is shaping the future of Wits & Weights. Find out what content resonated most, what you want to see more of, and potential changes coming to episode frequency and format.

I also announce exciting new monthly fitness challenges starting March 2025. Each challenge includes group accountability, coaching support, and a chance to win a free coaching session plus be featured on the podcast. Listen to find out how to join these challenges!

Get FREE access to your first challenge + 2 weeks free in Wits & Weights Physique University (WWPU) 

💪 Join Eat More Lift Heavy - a 26-week evidence-based strength training for men and women over 40 and fat loss program to build muscle after 40, lose fat, and maintain your results (even in perimenopause and menopause)

📱 Get Fitness Lab - AI-powered coaching app for strength training after 40, body recomposition, and evidence-based nutrition. Daily coaching that adjusts to your energy, recovery, and schedule. No calorie counting, no guesswork.

👥 Join our Facebook community - Build muscle after 40, improve body composition, and lose fat with evidence-based nutrition. Support for lifting weights, hypertrophy, fat loss, and hormones.

👋 Ask a question or find Philip Pape (strength training & fat loss nutrition coach) on Instagram & thanks for making us one of the best fat loss podcasts for men & women over 40! 🙏

Download my free Better Sleep, Better Body guide to optimize your sleep for fat loss, body composition, and hormones

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Could your sleep position be holding you back from optimal recovery? You track your training, nutrition, and HRV—but what about your neck alignment during sleep? 

Dr. Peter Martone joins me to explain how your sleep position affects your nervous system, HRV, and overall performance. He reveals how traditional sleeping positions might be sabotaging your recovery and shares practical tips to start fixing it—tonight.

Dr. Peter Martone is a chiropractor and exercise physiologist with over 25 years of experience. Through his research, he discovered how sleep position and spinal alignment impact nervous system function, recovery, and pain. He has helped thousands optimize their sleep and performance through proper positioning. 

Today, you’ll learn all about:

02:12 – What is a "sleep avatar," and why does it matter?
06:28 – How Dr. Martone discovered the link between sleep and spinal health
10:30 – The one sleep change that fixed Dr. Martone’s chronic pain
14:13 – How your sleep position affects your nervous system and HRV
20:09 – The #1 mistake people make with pillows (and how to fix it)
25:47 – Why side sleeping could be causing your shoulder pain
30:42 – The real reason for imbalances and chronic pain
35:35 – How sleep position impacts snoring and sleep apnea
41:18 – The easiest way to start fixing your sleep position

Episode resources:

• Website: drsleepright.com
• Instagram: @drsleepright
  
  

💪 Join Eat More Lift Heavy - a 26-week evidence-based strength training for men and women over 40 and fat loss program to build muscle after 40, lose fat, and maintain your results (even in perimenopause and menopause)

📱 Get Fitness Lab - AI-powered coaching app for strength training after 40, body recomposition, and evidence-based nutrition. Daily coaching that adjusts to your energy, recovery, and schedule. No calorie counting, no guesswork.

👥 Join our Facebook community - Build muscle after 40, improve body composition, and lose fat with evidence-based nutrition. Support for lifting weights, hypertrophy, fat loss, and hormones.

👋 Ask a question or find Philip Pape (strength training & fat loss nutrition coach) on Instagram & thanks for making us one of the best fat loss podcasts for men & women over 40! 🙏

Book a FREE 15-minute Rapid Nutrition Assessment to identify your stress triggers and get a personalized 3-step action plan

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If your stress response feels stuck in overdrive where small triggers cause massive anxiety, this episode explains why using a fascinating engineering concept.

Learn how the Nyquist Stability Criterion from control systems engineering reveals why some people maintain their cool while others get overwhelmed by the same stressors. Discover how to build a more resilient stress response system based on proven engineering principles.

Main Takeaways:

• Your perceived stress matters more than actual stressors
• Stress operates as a feedback system that can become unstable
• Three engineering principles for stabilizing your stress response
• How to measure and adjust your stress management strategy

Timestamps:

2:41 - Overview of stress as a feedback system
5:03 - Understanding stability and the Nyquist Criterion
7:58 - Three key factors in stress response
10:42 - Strategy #1: Implementing negative feedback loops
13:04 - Strategy #2 & #3: Signal delay and stability margins
16:12 - Building resilience and key takeaway

💪 Join Eat More Lift Heavy - a 26-week evidence-based strength training for men and women over 40 and fat loss program to build muscle after 40, lose fat, and maintain your results (even in perimenopause and menopause)

📱 Get Fitness Lab - AI-powered coaching app for strength training after 40, body recomposition, and evidence-based nutrition. Daily coaching that adjusts to your energy, recovery, and schedule. No calorie counting, no guesswork.

👥 Join our Facebook community - Build muscle after 40, improve body composition, and lose fat with evidence-based nutrition. Support for lifting weights, hypertrophy, fat loss, and hormones.

👋 Ask a question or find Philip Pape (strength training & fat loss nutrition coach) on Instagram & thanks for making us one of the best fat loss podcasts for men & women over 40! 🙏

Join our free Facebook community to connect with others optimizing their nutrition and training.

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Can strength training alone help optimize your hormones after 40, or do you need homone replacement therapy (HRT)?

Learn what the research actually says about how lifting weights impacts your endocrine system and body composition.

Whether you're dealing with menopause, andropause, or age-related changes, discover how to make informed decisions about combining lifestyle interventions with medical approaches for optimal results.

Main Takeaways:

• Strength training influences hormones through multiple pathways beyond just building muscle
• Your body becomes more efficient at using hormones through proper training
• The type and intensity of training matters significantly for hormone optimization
• Context is crucial when deciding between training alone or combining with HRT
• Consistency and progression are key for long-term hormonal health

Timestamps: 

00:01 - Can strength training really impact your hormones after 40?
03:47 - Breaking down what happens to hormones with age
08:29 - Three key pathways strength training affects hormones
13:21 - Systems optimization approach for hormone health
17:32 - Three scenarios for combining strength training and HRT
21:04 - Research on maintaining youthful hormone profiles 
22:45 - Closing remarks and community invitation 

💪 Join Eat More Lift Heavy - a 26-week evidence-based strength training for men and women over 40 and fat loss program to build muscle after 40, lose fat, and maintain your results (even in perimenopause and menopause)

📱 Get Fitness Lab - AI-powered coaching app for strength training after 40, body recomposition, and evidence-based nutrition. Daily coaching that adjusts to your energy, recovery, and schedule. No calorie counting, no guesswork.

👥 Join our Facebook community - Build muscle after 40, improve body composition, and lose fat with evidence-based nutrition. Support for lifting weights, hypertrophy, fat loss, and hormones.

👋 Ask a question or find Philip Pape (strength training & fat loss nutrition coach) on Instagram & thanks for making us one of the best fat loss podcasts for men & women over 40! 🙏