Wits & Weights | Fat Loss, Nutrition, & Strength Training for Lifters

Philip Pape, Evidence-Based Nutrition Coach & Fat Loss Expert

For skeptics of the fitness industry who want to work smarter and more efficiently to build muscle and lose fat. Wits & Weights cuts through the noise and deconstructs health and fitness with an engineering mindset to help you develop a strong, lean physique without wasting time.Nutrition coach Philip Pape explores EFFICIENT strength training, nutrition, and lifestyle strategies to optimize your body composition. Simple, science-based, and sustainable info from an engineer turned lifter (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 confusing information out there.Getting in the best shape of your life doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming. By using your WITS (mindset and systems!) and lifting WEIGHTS (efficiently!), you can build muscle, lose stubborn fat, and achieve and maintain your dream physique.We bring you smart and efficient strategies for movement, metabolism, muscle, and mindset. You'll learn:- Why fat loss is more important than weight loss for health and physique- Why all the macros (protein, fats, and yes even carbs) are critical to body composition- Why you don't need to spend more than 3 hours in the gym each week to get incredible results- Why muscle (not weight loss) is the key to medicine, obesity, and longevity- Why age and hormones (even in menopause) don't matter with the right lifestyle- How the "hidden" psychology of your mind can unlock more personal (and physical) growth than you ever thought possible, and how to tap into that mindsetIf you're ready to separate fact from fiction, learn what actually works, and put in the intelligent work, hit that "follow" button and let's engineer your best physique ever!

  1. 1D AGO

    How Performance Bloodwork Reveals What's Really Blocking Your Fat Loss (Constraint Theory) | Ep 378

    Get your Performance Bloodwork Analysis - Use code VITALITY20 for 20% off and discover what's really constraining your progress at witsandweights.com/bloodwork -- Stop guessing what's holding back your metabolism, fat loss, or muscle gains. Learn how to use performance bloodwork analysis to identify your body's biggest constraint and fix it using the engineering principle of Constraint Theory. Main Takeaways: Your body is an engineering system limited by its weakest linkPerformance bloodwork uses optimal ranges (not just "normal" disease-prevention ranges) to identify constraintsPattern recognition reveals hidden issues that standard bloodwork misses (like being both inflamed and dehydrated)Max impact interventions can improve 5-7 biomarkers at once instead of chasing individual symptomsThe most efficient improvement comes from using a feedback loop to identify your constraintsEpisode Resources: Performance Bloodwork Analysis - Code VITALITY20 for 20% off at witsandweights.com/bloodworkTimestamps: 0:00 - The hidden constraint blocking your progress 2:08 - Introduction to Performance Bloodwork Analysis 2:55 - Your body as an engineering system (Constraint Theory) 7:25 - Performance vs. "normal" lab ranges 11:06 - Pattern recognition and hidden constraints missed by standard bloodwork 13:25 - How Performance Bloodwork Analysis works 16:53 - Max impact interventions and the engineering feedback loop 20:31 - Real-world application examples (fat loss, muscle growth, recovery) 29:06 - Why most people chase symptoms in circles 31:42 - Your body is a system to be optimized, not a mystery Support the show 🔥 Take our 2-minute Metabolic Quiz to find out what's stalling your metabolism... and get a personalized roadmap to sustainable fat loss 🩸 Book a Performance Bloodwork Analysis to find out what's slowing your metabolism, fat loss, and muscle gain - 20% off with VITALITY20 🎓 Join Physique University for just $27 + get a FREE 6-month nutrition plan: bit.ly/wwpu-free-plan 👥 Join our Facebook community for Q&As & support 👋 Ask a question or find me on Instagram 📱 Try MacroFactor 2 weeks free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS (my favorite nutrition app)

    37 min
  2. 3D AGO

    Lose Fat Faster with THIS One Thing (Hint: It's Not Cardio or Eating Less) | Ep 377

    Get Cozy Earth temperature-cooling sheets and use code WITSANDWEIGHTS for 20% off: witsandweights.com/cozyearth -- Tracking every calorie, hitting your workouts consistently, staying in that deficit... but the scale isn't budging? Your energy is tanking and you're obsessing about food despite all your effort? This ONE thing is the often-overlooked catalyst that determines whether you can lose fat efficiently with good energy and minimal cravings, or find yourself stuck in a miserable cycle of extremely low calories and poor results. It's... recovery! Rest and recovery acts as your body's operating system, controlling whether you can lose fat eating plenty of calories with good energy, or get stuck at very low calories feeling miserable with terrible biofeedback. Main Takeaways: Recovery determines how much you can eat while still losing fat consistently by supporting higher energy expenditureSleep restriction can reduce fat loss by 55% compared to adequate sleep in the same caloric deficitChronic stress elevates cortisol, promoting visceral fat storage and water retention that masks progressPoor recovery creates a downward spiral: decreased performance → lower calorie burn → harsher deficits → worse recoveryStrategic recovery practices support higher NEAT, better training performance, and optimal metabolic functionEpisode Resources: Adaptive Cardio Workshop Replay at live.witsandweights.com/replaySubmit a question for the podcast (and get a personal reply plus a shoutout). Just go to witsandweights.com/questionTimestamps: 0:00 - Why your deficit isn't working 3:29 - Why traditional weight loss approaches fail 7:41 - The master controller of fat loss efficiency 11:53 - The #1 saboteur of fat loss even in a reasonable deficit 16:04 - Recovery-performance feedback loop 19:33 - Autonomic nervous system and measurable recovery markers 22:29 - Metabolic adaptation and why recovery acts as a buffer 23:45 - How recovery creates an upward spiral 26:42 - Recovery is NOT the opposite of intensity Support the show 🔥 Take our 2-minute Metabolic Quiz to find out what's stalling your metabolism... and get a personalized roadmap to sustainable fat loss 🩸 Book a Performance Bloodwork Analysis to find out what's slowing your metabolism, fat loss, and muscle gain - 20% off with VITALITY20 🎓 Join Physique University for just $27 + get a FREE 6-month nutrition plan: bit.ly/wwpu-free-plan 👥 Join our Facebook community for Q&As & support 👋 Ask a question or find me on Instagram 📱 Try MacroFactor 2 weeks free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS (my favorite nutrition app)

    28 min
  3. 4D AGO · BONUS

    Is THIS the Perfect Fitness App? | Bonus

    If you could design the perfect fitness app, what would it do? Let me know at witsandweights.com/question -- What if a fitness app could actually think like a human coach? Not just track your activities, but understand them, analyze them, and make intelligent adjustments in real-time? That's exactly what I'm designing: an AI-driven fitness coach in your pocket built on the Wits & Weights philosophy of personalized, sustainable body recomposition, built on sound principles of evidence, physique engineering, and experience. It will adapt dynamically to your training, nutrition, lifestyle, and biofeedback as you take action and make progress. It will motivate you and provide accountability. It will "close the loop" between what you do and the results you're seeing. The tentative launch timeline is this November 2025! And I need your help. What would the PERFECT fitness app do? I want to hear YOUR ideas! Go to witsandweights.com/question and let me know. Everyone who submits a question will be added to a special list and get a bonus when the app launches. Support the show 🔥 Take our 2-minute Metabolic Quiz to find out what's stalling your metabolism... and get a personalized roadmap to sustainable fat loss 🩸 Book a Performance Bloodwork Analysis to find out what's slowing your metabolism, fat loss, and muscle gain - 20% off with VITALITY20 🎓 Join Physique University for just $27 + get a FREE 6-month nutrition plan: bit.ly/wwpu-free-plan 👥 Join our Facebook community for Q&As & support 👋 Ask a question or find me on Instagram 📱 Try MacroFactor 2 weeks free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS (my favorite nutrition app)

    4 min
  4. How He Lost 340 Pounds with Lifting, Walking (No Cardio), & GLP-1 (Jamie Selzler) | Ep 376

    6D AGO

    How He Lost 340 Pounds with Lifting, Walking (No Cardio), & GLP-1 (Jamie Selzler) | Ep 376

    Want to build muscle, lose fat, and train smarter? ⁠⁠⁠Join the new Physique University for just $27/month⁠⁠⁠ and get a FREE custom nutrition plan using this special link. — Can you really lose 340 pounds without surgery? What if the secret isn’t dieting harder, but thinking differently? I am joined by Jamie Selzler, who completely transformed his body and life using three tools: GLP-1 medication, walking, and lifting weights, and four simple rules that kept him consistent when motivation ran out.  Jamie reveals how he went from struggling to walk 20 feet to seeking out movement every day, why food noise nearly controlled his life, and how self-respect changed everything. Whether you want to lose 20 pounds or 200, Jamie’s story proves it can be done without extremes. Today, you’ll learn all about: 3:06 – From avoiding movement to seeking it 6:07 – Facing mortality and fear of dying young 10:15 – Confidence versus true self-respect 14:25 – Keeping promises to yourself daily 18:03 – Food noise, GLP-1s, and relief 29:47 – Loose skin, body comp, and lifting 40:34 – Jamie’s four rules for sustainability 59:01 – Why lasting change takes years Episode resources: Website: jamieselzler.com Instagram: @jselzler Facebook Group: Jamie’s Wellness CircleTiktok: @jamselz Youtube: @jselzler Support the show 🔥 Take our 2-minute Metabolic Quiz to find out what's stalling your metabolism... and get a personalized roadmap to sustainable fat loss 🩸 Book a Performance Bloodwork Analysis to find out what's slowing your metabolism, fat loss, and muscle gain - 20% off with VITALITY20 🎓 Join Physique University for just $27 + get a FREE 6-month nutrition plan: bit.ly/wwpu-free-plan 👥 Join our Facebook community for Q&As & support 👋 Ask a question or find me on Instagram 📱 Try MacroFactor 2 weeks free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS (my favorite nutrition app)

    1h 7m
  5. SEP 17

    3 Sleep Fixes to Improve Fat Loss and Recovery | Ep 375

    Try my favorite sheets from Cozy Earth and get 20% off with code WITSANDWEIGHTS. Cozy Earth sheets are made with viscose from bamboo that wicks away heat and sweat to keep you cooler for deeper sleep and better recovery. Go to witsandweights.com/cozyearth -- Sleep isn't just about feeling rested. It's a foundation that amplifies everything else you're doing for your physique goals, from optimizing fat loss and recovery to enhancing cognitive performance. Learn 3 system-level sleep fixes that address root causes instead of just symptoms for deeper, more restful sleep and recovery. Episode Resources: Get Cozy Earth temperature-regulating sheets (20% with code WITSANDWEIGHTS) at witsandweights.com/cozyearthDownload the Better Sleep, Better Body GuideTimestamps: 0:00 - Why is sleep so important for fat loss, muscle gain, and recovery? 3:37 - Sleep fix #1 (training schedule) 7:48 - Sleep fix #2 (body temperature) 12:04 - Sleep fix #3 (weekends) 14:56 - 2 bonus sleep hacks Support the show 🔥 Take our 2-minute Metabolic Quiz to find out what's stalling your metabolism... and get a personalized roadmap to sustainable fat loss 🩸 Book a Performance Bloodwork Analysis to find out what's slowing your metabolism, fat loss, and muscle gain - 20% off with VITALITY20 🎓 Join Physique University for just $27 + get a FREE 6-month nutrition plan: bit.ly/wwpu-free-plan 👥 Join our Facebook community for Q&As & support 👋 Ask a question or find me on Instagram 📱 Try MacroFactor 2 weeks free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS (my favorite nutrition app)

    20 min
  6. SEP 15

    The Adaptive Cardio Pyramid That Maximizes Fat Loss in Minimum Time | Ep 374

    Join the Adaptive Cardio Workshop tomorrow (Tuesday, September 16) at 12 PM Eastern for only $27 (replay included). Get Philip's complete system for losing fat while personalizing your "minimum effective" cardio, plus the replay, 8 workout programs, and a custom 6-month nutrition plan. Register at live.witsandweights.com -- If you've been doing hours of cardio every week expecting fat loss results, but you're either not seeing changes, feeling exhausted, or watching your strength training suffer, this episode will transform your approach. What if there was a smarter, more efficient way to incorporate movement that actually supports fat loss, preserves muscle, and enhances longevity? That's exactly what the Adaptive Cardio Pyramid delivers – a 3-layer framework that prioritizes what truly works while eliminating what doesn't. It tells you exactly how much movement you need for fat loss, muscle growth, and longevity without wasting time. Main Takeaways: Why "cardio only" underperform by 20-50% and the 3 big cardio mythsThe Adaptive Cardio Pyramid to "layer" your cardio in a sustainable (and enjoyable) wayThe 4 common implementation mistakes that cause people to burn outPractical tips to start building your pyramid from the bottom upEpisode Resources: The Adaptive Cardio Workshop - Tuesday, September 16, 12 PM Eastern. Grab your spot at live.witsandweights.comRelated Episode: 7 Benefits of Sprinting to Lose Fat (And Why It Beats Cardio, Especially for Lifters!) | Ep 293Timestamps: 0:00 - The 3 biggest cardio myths 10:10 - The Adaptive Cardio Pyramid framework 22:23 - The science behind each layer 25:32 - Common mistakes when "doing cardio" 27:22 - Tips to implement the pyramid for fat loss and recovery Support the show 🔥 Take our 2-minute Metabolic Quiz to find out what's stalling your metabolism... and get a personalized roadmap to sustainable fat loss 🩸 Book a Performance Bloodwork Analysis to find out what's slowing your metabolism, fat loss, and muscle gain - 20% off with VITALITY20 🎓 Join Physique University for just $27 + get a FREE 6-month nutrition plan: bit.ly/wwpu-free-plan 👥 Join our Facebook community for Q&As & support 👋 Ask a question or find me on Instagram 📱 Try MacroFactor 2 weeks free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS (my favorite nutrition app)

    32 min
  7. Losing Weight is Easy But Keeping It Off Takes Real Skill (Mikki Williden) | Ep 373

    SEP 12

    Losing Weight is Easy But Keeping It Off Takes Real Skill (Mikki Williden) | Ep 373

    Want to build muscle, lose fat, and train smarter? ⁠⁠⁠Join the new Physique University for just $27/month⁠⁠⁠ and get a FREE custom nutrition plan using this special link. — Lost weight only to gain it back? Tired of quick-fix diets that leave you weaker, not stronger? What if real success has nothing to do with the scale? Dr. Mikki Williden, a registered nutritionist, researcher, and host of the Mikkipedia Podcast, joins me, and we break down why most people are chasing the wrong metrics. We discuss why weight loss and lasting transformation are completely different skill sets, and how to develop the competencies that actually keep the results you’ve worked for. This conversation will change the way you measure progress and help you build not just a smaller body, but a stronger, healthier, and more capable one. Today, you’ll learn all about: 0:00 – Intro 4:06 – Why weight loss isn’t the real goal 7:44 – The danger of regaining weight 11:18 – Weight loss as a learned skill 14:47 – Meal prep and planning as foundation 18:53 – Building mindset through daily input 22:08 – Shifting identity to strength and health 40:24 – The truth about rapid fat loss 47:36 – Why maintenance is not a free-for-all 57:35 – Flexibility, sustainability, and final takeaways Episode resources: Mikkipedia PodcastWebsite: mikkiwilliden.com Instagram: @mikkiwilliden Facebook: @mikkiwillidennutrition X: @MikkiWilliden Support the show 🔥 Take our 2-minute Metabolic Quiz to find out what's stalling your metabolism... and get a personalized roadmap to sustainable fat loss 🩸 Book a Performance Bloodwork Analysis to find out what's slowing your metabolism, fat loss, and muscle gain - 20% off with VITALITY20 🎓 Join Physique University for just $27 + get a FREE 6-month nutrition plan: bit.ly/wwpu-free-plan 👥 Join our Facebook community for Q&As & support 👋 Ask a question or find me on Instagram 📱 Try MacroFactor 2 weeks free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS (my favorite nutrition app)

    59 min

Trailer

5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

For skeptics of the fitness industry who want to work smarter and more efficiently to build muscle and lose fat. Wits & Weights cuts through the noise and deconstructs health and fitness with an engineering mindset to help you develop a strong, lean physique without wasting time.Nutrition coach Philip Pape explores EFFICIENT strength training, nutrition, and lifestyle strategies to optimize your body composition. Simple, science-based, and sustainable info from an engineer turned lifter (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 confusing information out there.Getting in the best shape of your life doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming. By using your WITS (mindset and systems!) and lifting WEIGHTS (efficiently!), you can build muscle, lose stubborn fat, and achieve and maintain your dream physique.We bring you smart and efficient strategies for movement, metabolism, muscle, and mindset. You'll learn:- Why fat loss is more important than weight loss for health and physique- Why all the macros (protein, fats, and yes even carbs) are critical to body composition- Why you don't need to spend more than 3 hours in the gym each week to get incredible results- Why muscle (not weight loss) is the key to medicine, obesity, and longevity- Why age and hormones (even in menopause) don't matter with the right lifestyle- How the "hidden" psychology of your mind can unlock more personal (and physical) growth than you ever thought possible, and how to tap into that mindsetIf you're ready to separate fact from fiction, learn what actually works, and put in the intelligent work, hit that "follow" button and let's engineer your best physique ever!

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