Wits & Weights | Strength & Fat Loss Over 40

Today, we get into the very relevant differences between two terms that seem similar on the surface, fat loss and weight loss, but are polar opposites in terms of the behaviors you would take to achieve them.

One of these can be downright destructive to your body, leading down a dark path that you’ve probably been down before, many times, that sacrifices your health and physique for the sake of hitting a number. The other drives you to make the changes you need and want to vastly improve your health and physique and do it in a sustainable, life-altering way that aligns with your body.

We talk about the semantic differences in how we use language in the fitness industry regarding the terms ‘weight loss’ and ‘fat loss.’ We talk about why fat loss is more important than weight loss. We also talk about the dangers of crash dieting and yo-yo dieting, and how they can backfire and make it even harder to get the results you want. Finally, we talk about how to achieve fat loss to get the exact results you want without the negatives of weight loss.

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[3:43] Weight loss vs. fat loss, definitions, and industry problems
[7:51] Struggling with weight loss before the wedding
[10:52] Unsustainable cycle of crash dieting and weight regain
[12:30] The backlash against weight loss and extreme approaches
[15:27] The debate between restrictive dieting and intuitive eating
[17:23] Using a data-based approach for efficient weight management
[26:32] Losing fat instead of losing weight
[28:13] Combining strength training with proper nutrition for muscle-building
[32:34] Recovery and stress management for a better physique
[37:24] Focus on fat loss
[38:09] Take action now for successful fat loss
[40:23] Outro

Episode resources:

• Ep 88: Break the Cycle of Body Fat Overshooting for a Stronger, Leaner, and Healthier Physique - https://www.witsandweights.com/88 

💪 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! 🙏

Have you ever heard of sweet proteins? If not, you’re in for a treat, pun intended, as we dive into this topic with Jason Ryder, CTO and Co-Founder of Oobli, a food technology company building a new category of food and beverages based on naturally sweet proteins.

You'll learn about sweet proteins, the science behind them, their health benefits, and where to find them. Jason will discuss sweet proteins' significance in our diet, how they will change the food industry, their health benefits, and how they're made.

Jason had senior technological leadership roles at Amyris, Bolt Threads, and Hampton Creek / Eat JUST before Oobli. He received a B.S. and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Alabama and the University of California at Berkeley, respectively. Jason became Adjunct Professor and Executive Director of the Master of Bioprocess Engineering (MBPE) program in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at UC Berkeley in 2018.

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[2:19] Interest and motivation in food technology and sweet proteins
[6:16] The science of sweet proteins
[10:24] Role and benefits of sweet proteins
[14:21] Human propensity for sweetness and the added sugar dilemma
[18:40] Health implications of sugar, artificial sweeteners, and sugar alcohols
[20:28] Quantity of sweet proteins in products
[27:41] Production process of sweet proteins
[30:19] Challenges in scaling production and increasing awareness
[33:27] Influence of academic role at UC Berkeley on his work
[35:09] Impact of sweet proteins on the food industry
[39:22] Addressing criticisms and skepticism
[41:07] Excitement and future vision for the field of sweet proteins
[42:10] Potential applications of sweet proteins in other foods and drinks
[49:28] The question Jason wished Philip had asked
[51:51] Where to learn more about Oobli
[53:09] Outro

Episode resources:

• Website: Oobli Sweet Teas
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ooblifoods 
• IG: @ooblisweetproteins 

💪 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! 🙏

Today, we are doing a Q&A to answer questions from the free Wits & Weights Facebook community, emails, and messages from listeners.

We have questions from four listeners about training at home with a video vs. your own program or a template, how supplements impact your immune system based on dosing, some of MacroFactor’s features and how they actually work, and options for grains and cereals as a carb source.

I’m sharing some of my favorite strategies for all of these, and refer to a few past episodes if you want to dive deeper into specific topics.

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Today you’ll learn all about:

[2:02] How should I program my home workout?
[13:48] Do exogenous antioxidants (supplements like Vitamin C) negatively impact the immune system when consumed in high quantities, and how much is too much (if there is a case of “too much”)?
[21:54] Does MacroFactor allow you to pre-log the day before?
[25:41] Is it only via your body weight that it figures out how to change calories and macros?
[29:57] Can you change the macro amounts? For example, I eat pretty high protein for my weight, as I am a petite female. Or does it do a standard like 1 gram per pound?
[32:09]  Aside from oatmeal, are there any other cereals or grains that we can incorporate? Also, do high-protein cereals such as Kashi Go ( which I love with plain Kefir or Greek yogurt) or Magic Spoon offer an acceptable alternative? I guess the main question would be, should we avoid going down the cereal/granola aisle and stick with plain oats?
[41:00] Outro

Episode resources:

• Wits & Weights Facebook community
• MacroFactor app – use code WITSANDWEIGHTS to extend your free trial to two weeks
• Ep 98: Is Your Food Logging App Sabotaging Your Fat Loss and Physique Goals?
• Ep 6: Set Your Fitness and Nutrition Habits on Autopilot

💪 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! 🙏

In this episode, I talk to UK post-partum recovery expert Peter Lap. Peter will dispel myths and offer post-partum recovery tips, from diastasis recti to women's specific health concerns.

We'll explore the physical, mental, and emotional journey after motherhood, challenging your assumptions and changing your view of women's health and fitness. This episode is also for men since we all want to support the women in our lives.

Peter is an expert in postpartum recovery with 12 years of experience. He has authored hundreds of articles on post-partum recovery, diastasis recti, and back and neck discomfort. He also advocates for more affordable access to women's health professionals.

Peter hosts the Healthy Post Natal Body podcast, which interviews experts and answers listener questions on post-partum topics. He has also appeared on various podcasts, radio shows, and panels.

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[2:02] Becoming a male expert in women’s post-partum recovery
[6:57] Understanding and managing diastasis recti
[14:01] Effects on the core muscles, alignment, and core function
[17:49] Basic exercises for core and glute strength
[23:31] Training protocol for women who trained during pregnancy
[25:36] Post-partum recovery: timelines, misconceptions, strategies
[28:26] Measuring diastasis recti and testing muscle functionality
[31:20] Progression for postpartum recovery
[37:01] The societal pressure to lose baby weight post-partum
[42:03] Addressing and coping with post-partum depression
[50:20] Unethical practices toward post-partum women in the health industry
[55:30] Advocacy for better post-natal health support
[58:39] Key insights from the Healthy Post Natal Body podcast
[1:03:26] The question Peter wished Philip asked him
[1:05:50] Where to learn more about Peter
[1:08:58] Outro

Episode resources:

• Peter’s website – free program after you sign up for 90 days, then goes deeper after the 3 months, then ~$10/mo for 5 months - https://www.healthypostnatalbody.com/
• The Healthy Post Natal Body podcast
• Email: [email protected]

💪 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! 🙏

This is the 100th episode of the Wits & Weights podcast, and it’s going to be epic!

Today, I’ll cover not just one topic but five, taken from lessons I’ve learned since publishing the first episode of Wits & Weights almost two years ago.

We will uncover 5 of the most important and recurring themes related to evidence-based nutrition, training, and mindset that come up on the show and that listeners are always asking about. I will also mention three episodes related to each lesson, and I’ll give you my current thoughts and strategies on each topic, including the main takeaways you can take action on today.

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Click here to apply for coaching!
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Today you’ll learn all about:

[3:07] Listener reviews
[7:55] Lesson 1: The importance of energy availability
[12:59] Lesson 2: Evidence doesn't always mean science
[26:34] Lesson 3: There is magic in maintenance
[35:10] Lesson 4: Nothing matters if you can't be consistent.
[45:52] Lesson 5: Your health is the most important investment
[1:00:30] Outro

Episode resources:

• COACHING GIVEAWAY! Enter code “EPISODE100” and get an extra month of coaching, a free tub of 1st Phorm protein powder, and a 12-month subscription to MacroFactor when you sign up for our popular 6-month 1:1 coaching program.
• Lesson 1: 58, 76, 86
• Lesson 2: 80, 84, 92
• Lesson 3: 66, 69, 77, 98
• Lesson 4: 70, 72, 74
• Lesson 5: 32, 51, 95

💪 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! 🙏

Today's episode was an answer to a question posted in the Wits & Weights Facebook community as part of the #AskPhilip weekly thread where I answer member questions live every Friday.

If that sounds like something that would help you too, search for Wits & Weights on Facebook or click here to join the group. It’s totally free and you’ll have the chance to ask me specific questions for your situation and get direct, no-BS answers to take your results to the next level.

Here's the full question:

What are your thoughts on the carnivore diet? Specifically, I adhered pretty strictly to the carnivore diet for about four months a few years ago. I lost about 15 pounds, had some improvements in my blood work (triglycerides - of all things - came down significantly), some improved digestion (after initial 2 weeks), etc. Didn't maintain it because it was just too restrictive long term.

My question is, do you think people's success on the diet is mostly just incidental due to the reduction in total caloric intake (i.e., eating more satiating whole food) and the general benefits of reducing carbohydrate intake for folks that may be more insulin resistant?

Or do you think there's something more specific going on with the carnivore diet that's resulting in benefits for some people (at least for as long as they are able to adhere)?

Reason for the question is I've lost just about as much weight by getting serious about my calorie and macro tracking in the short time we've been working together, while eating a much more balanced and sustainable diet (albeit fairly low carb, given my specific family history and metabolism).

Listen to the episode for my answer!

Episode resources:

• Wits & Weights Facebook community

💪 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! 🙏

Today I have the pleasure of talking to Brandon DaCruz for his second appearance on the show. Brandon is an online nutrition and physique coach, educator, internationally published fitness model, and National Level NPC competitor. He uses an evidence-based approach to help his clients achieve their goals sustainably.

On episode 58, we talked about energy flux and the high energy flux lifestyle, which is a way of eating more, burning more fat, and building more muscle. If you haven't listened to that episode yet, I highly recommend you check it out. It's full of practical strategies to improve your health and body composition.

We're going to talk about how to make fat loss feel easier to get and stay lean. We all know that losing fat can be challenging, so we're going to discuss some strategies and scenarios that can help you overcome the obstacles and make dieting more manageable and sustainable.

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Click here to apply for coaching!
__________

Today you’ll learn all about:

[4:33] Personal struggles with fat loss and fitness modeling
[15:01] The importance of energy balance in fat loss
[20:02] Proactive dieting vs reactive training
[27:20] Energy density and comparing food sources
[31:34] The importance of food choices and satiety
[39:20] Constructing fat loss diets with whole foods first approach
[46:47] The importance of viewing food choices holistically
[52:53] Setting clients up for success in fat loss
[58:10] The importance of tracking in body composition progress, and improving awareness and relationship with food
[1:05:30] Self-monitoring techniques and weight maintenance thresholds
[1:09:35] Energy intake, expenditure, and movement
[1:15:15] What Brandon is up to now and where to learn more
[1:17:10] Outro

Episode resources:

• Brandon's podcast: Chasing Clarity: Health and Fitness Podcast
• IG - @brandondacruz_
• Email - [email protected]
• Ep 58: Using High Energy Flux to Eat More, Burn More Fat, and Build More Muscle with Brandon DaCruz

💪 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! 🙏

Today, we are going to explore the value of using a food logging app as a tool to serve you in reaching your health and physique goals, and how many people hate the idea of food tracking because most apps completely fail in this mission.

I'll discuss the importance of food logging, what the science says, and why most food logging apps fail, not just in features and usability but also because they are not based on body composition science, don't adjust to you and your goals, and encourage an all-or-nothing approach that leads to failure every time you use them.

I'll then talk about MacroFactor, the food-logging app that changed my life and helped me transform faster and more successfully than I imagined possible. I think MacroFactor is the only app that fills the gaps in other apps because it was built from a different perspective by nutrition and physique scientists.

I've used it since it launched, all my clients use it, and in full disclosure, I'm an affiliate because I recommend it to everyone who wants to attain their goals quickly and easily. To find out why it's a cut above the rest, make sure to listen to the whole episode.

__________

Click here to apply for coaching!
__________

Today you’ll learn all about:

[3:32] Why you should track your food intake
[7:09] The areas where tracking apps fall short
[13:50] How MacroFactor changed my life
[23:38] Easy food logging with MacroFactor
[26:30] The app is fast and requires fewer taps to use
[29:10] True weight trend with the weight trend algorithm
[31:37] Metabolism tracking with the expenditure algorithm
[36:33] Dynamic adjustments based on your data
[38:06] Full macronutrient tracking, including targets
[39:37] How MacroFactor creates a positive feedback loop
[41:13] Other features worth mentioning
[43:30] Why a nutrition coach would recommend MacroFactor
[47:36] Outro

Episode resources:

• MacroFactor app – use code WITSANDWEIGHTS to extend your free trial
• Ep 78: Stress-Free Macro Tracking, Nerding Out on Metabolism, and Fitness Science with Greg Nuckols
• Ep 95: How Carol Lost 20 Pounds and 14% Body Fat, Set a Lifting PR, and Gained Food Freedom in Her 40s

💪 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! 🙏

Today is all about FUN, a FUN-ctionally fit life with my guest Dai Manuel. You’ll learn how to balance personal and professional roles while prioritizing fitness. We’ll explore the concept of what “optimal” means in fitness and life, the role of ‘fun’ in fitness, and practical strategies for finding balance while living a fit life.

Known for his award-winning digital thought leadership and best-selling publications, he’s an extraordinary blend of business acumen and contagious enthusiasm. Dai’s journey as co-founder, COO, and CMO of an eight-figure retail company and a sought-after lifestyle mentor and executive performance coach is impressive and inspiring.

Navigating the balance beam of life’s responsibilities while keeping health and happiness at the forefront, Dai knows the struggle of the juggle. His philosophy is based on the 5 F’s: fitness, family, faith, and finances, all wrapped under the roof of fun, and built on a foundation of health.

__________

Click here to apply for coaching!
__________

Today you’ll learn all about:

[3:17] Meaning of fitness and fun in a FUN-ctionally fit life context
[7:43] Instant gratification fun vs. true meaningful fun
[10:10] Role of ‘fun’ in difficult but effective fitness activities
[15:36] Coping with constraints in achieving personal goals
[17:59] Definition of “optimal” in life and fitness
[25:31] Personal optimization considering individual circumstances and trade-offs
[28:32] Max thanks Philip for helping him prioritize his health and dropping 45 Lbs
[31:04] Having a big enough "why"
[35:15] Handling uncertainty and variability in personal optimization strategies
[43:13] Gravitating toward something that makes you nervous
[48:08] Giving people power and agency to go after a goal 
[52:01] Role of data and feedback in the optimization process
[54:39] One question Dai wished Philip had asked
[57:21] Where to learn more about Dai and his work
[58:45] Outro

Episode resources:

• Instagram: @daimanuel
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/daimanuel/
• Dai Manuel’s Whole Life Fitness Manifesto: 30 Minutes a Day for a Healthier Body, Mind and Spirit - https://amzn.to/3O4La9D

💪 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! 🙏

Today’s episode is about reverse dieting. This popular but controversial concept claims to boost metabolism, prevent weight regain, and make future weight loss easier by gradually increasing calorie intake after a period of calorie restriction.

I will discuss why reverse dieting does not work as advertised, the misconceptions behind it, and an alternative to reverse dieting that is more adaptive, less stressful, and allows your metabolism to recover more quickly from a fat loss phase, as well as scenarios where some of the approaches from reverse dieting might still be helpful, but for entirely different reasons.

__________

Click here to apply for coaching!
__________

Today you’ll learn all about:

[2:05] What is reverse dieting, and how it actually works
[4:52] Does reverse dieting really "fix" your metabolism?
[6:46] Does it boost your metabolism?
[8:26] Does it prevent weight regain?
[10:32] The four illusions that make it seem like reverse dieting is effective
[15:52] Stephanie shares her experience with her one-on-one nutrition coaching with Philip
[16:37] What is a recovery diet, and why it is better
[20:04] What is dynamic maintenance
[22:05] Psychological and physiological benefits of recovery dieting
[23:27] What to expect when you come out of a fat loss phase, and some scenarios
[27:17] Recommended tool to track your progress
[31:33] Outro

Episode resources:

• MacroFactor app – use code WITSANDWEIGHTS to extend your free trial
• Eric Trexler's article – Reverse Dieting: Hype Versus Evidence

💪 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! 🙏