Fat Loss and Nutrition Made Easy for Men Over 40: Driven For Health

Coach Brian Parana

Driven For Health is a podcast for career-driven men in their 40s and 50s who feel stuck with weight gain, low energy, and declining health despite working hard in every other area of life. Hosted by Coach Brian Parana, each episode breaks down simple, science-backed strategies for fat loss, strength, metabolism, nutrition, stress, and lifestyle habits that actually fit a busy schedule. Just clear guidance to help you lose weight, rebuild strength, & take control of your health without sacrificing your family or success. Expect tips, insights, and motivational stories to inspire you.

  1. 2d ago

    Why Your Health Is Part of Your Personal Brand with David Denning 132

    David Denning went in for his yearly checkup. His doctor said his cholesterol was high enough to start a statin. David asked to fix it on his own first. His doctor agreed to check back in three months. (Have you ever gotten a lab result that pushed you to change before your doctor made you? See what worked for David at www.thecalltorise.com) Coach Brian sits down with David Denning, co-founder of Jumpstart Go and host of The Modern Insurance Agent podcast. David breaks down what he changed to bring his cholesterol down, from his morning coffee to his one meal at dinner. He also explains why a real story builds more trust than a polished post, with AI content everywhere now. By the end of this episode you will know how David fixed his cholesterol without a statin, and how telling that story only made people trust him more. Main topics in this episode: - Why David's doctor gave him three months before starting a statin - How one meal a day and a morning walk brought his cholesterol down - Why he keeps coming back to his "default" instead of chasing perfect - Running a business and a marriage with the same person every day - Why real, unpolished content builds more trust in an AI-heavy world - Why David tells clients to pick one social platform and go deep The Call To Rise is a 100-day fat loss challenge for driven men ready to take their body back. It combines strength training, personalized nutrition and real accountability. Most men drop 20 to 30 pounds and rebuild the confidence that comes with it. This program also works if you are dealing with high blood pressure, high cholesterol or Type 2 diabetes. It was built for those men too. Many men see those numbers move in the right direction alongside their weight loss. Inside the program you also join a Brotherhood of men doing the same work. Together you build a body you're proud of and start leading like the man you already are at work. This is your wake-up call to rise. Learn more and apply at www.thecalltorise.com About David Denning: David Denning is co-founder of Jumpstart Go. He runs it with his wife, Elle. She is also his high school sweetheart. Jumpstart Go teaches insurance agents and agency owners how to grow through organic social media and referral partnerships instead of cold calling. David and Elle host The Modern Insurance Agent podcast. They cover marketing, sales and business strategy for insurance professionals. They also lead a Facebook group called Marketing for Insurance Agents, now past 37,000 members. David went to Georgia Tech and worked in construction before moving into marketing. He met Elle in high school at 16, and they married at 21. They lived in South Africa for two years. They worked out of Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines next. They now live in St. Petersburg, Florida. David and Elle share their home with Lula, a Rhodesian Ridgeback they brought back from South Africa. You can find David at jumpstartgonow.com, or search for him by name on social media. Common questions from this episode: - Can you lower high cholesterol without a statin? - Doctors do not always start with medication. David's doctor agreed to hold off and check his numbers again in three months. Diet and movement changes brought his cholesterol down enough that he never needed the statin. - Does eating one meal a day help with weight loss? - For David it did. He drank black coffee and water during the day and ate one meal at dinner. That change helped him drop weight without tracking a single calorie. A morning walk added even more. - Why do insurance agents hate cold calling? - Contact rates have dropped so far that agents now need 300 to 500 dials a day to get through. David calls the old method "frown and drown" because of how it wears people down.

  2. 4d ago

    Everyone Around Me Is On GLP-1. Should I Be Too? - 131

    A guy in your gym dropped thirty pounds since spring, and your brother-in-law is on it too. You haven't touched a GLP-1 or called your doctor about one, but you're starting to wonder if you're missing out. Underneath that sits a real worry. If it costs you muscle, does that make it even harder to lose weight later? (Wondering if you need a GLP-1 to lose the weight, or if there's another way? See what makes this time different at www.thecalltorise.com) This episode runs seventeen questions back to back, the way they stack up in a man's head over six months. Coach Brian Parana walks through the decision to start. Then he covers what happens once you're taking it. He closes with what happens after you lose the weight, including who benefits most and what happens if you stop. By the end you'll know what to ask your doctor before you fill a script. You'll also know what these drugs do to your appetite and muscle, and what to have ready before you ever open the box. Main Topics: - Whether to try a GLP-1 or lose the weight the old way first - What it means that one in eight adults in this country are now on one - Four questions to ask your doctor before you start - What the first few weeks on a GLP-1 feel like - Why your muscle is at risk on these drugs, and how to protect it - What happens to your weight if you stop, and how to come off it the smart way The Call To Rise is a 100-day fat loss challenge for driven men ready to take their body back. It combines strength training, personalized nutrition and real accountability. Most men drop 20 to 30 pounds and rebuild the confidence that comes with it. This program also works if you are dealing with high blood pressure, high cholesterol or Type 2 diabetes. It was built for those men too. Many men see those numbers move in the right direction alongside their weight loss. Inside the program you also join a Brotherhood of men doing the same work. Together you build a body you're proud of and start leading like the man you already are at work. This is your wake-up call to rise. Learn more and apply at www.thecalltorise.com

  3. 4d ago

    The Energy Debt Every Successful Man Is Paying with Adam Barney - 130

    Halfway through this episode, Adam Barney lost power. The lights cut out in the middle of a talk about running out of energy in your body. It felt fitting, since the topic was running on empty. (Do you push through tired days for months before something finally breaks? See what real energy looks like at www.thecalltorise.com) Coach Brian sits down with Adam Barney, an energy coach and the host of the podcast Is Anything Real. Adam spent over 20 years in corporate marketing at Microsoft, Digitas and Akamai Technologies. There he managed more than 100 million dollars in ad spend, then got laid off twice. He now teaches that burnout comes from energy debt. Years of skipped rest, skipped meals and skipped time with family pile up like interest on a loan. They also break down the Ikigai framework and Adam's own Energy OS Alignment Framework. They use it to explain why so many successful people still feel burned out. By the end of this episode you will have a simple way to spot where your energy leaks out. You will also have three questions to ask yourself before bed, so you can see where your energy went today. Main Topics: - What energy debt is, and how it builds up like an unpaid loan - The Ikigai framework and Adam's Energy OS Alignment Framework - Why "I'll take care of myself after this project" keeps pushing your health back - What losing his job twice taught Adam about his own identity - Three questions to ask yourself before bed to see where your energy went - Why success can cost too much if it costs your health or your family - How small daily choices build into real change over time About Adam Barney: Adam W. Barney is an energy coach and transition leadership coach based in Boston. Adam is the author of Make Your Own Glass Half Full: The Path To Empowered Optimism and Autonomy. He built the Energy OS Alignment Framework. It grows out of the Japanese Ikigai concept. The framework helps leaders find where their energy, their skills and their impact line up. He also hosts the podcast Is Anything Real, where he talks with founders and leaders about what works in business and in life. Adam has coached more than 200 leaders through burnout, career transitions and real change. He lives in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston with his wife, two young daughters and two dogs. He calls it a good kind of chaos. You can find Adam on Instagram at @adamwbarney or at adamwbarney.com. His book Make Your Own Glass Half Full is available wherever books are sold. The Call To Rise is a 100-day fat loss challenge for driven men ready to take their body back. It combines strength training, personalized nutrition and real accountability. Most men drop 20 to 30 pounds and rebuild the confidence that comes with it. This program also works if you are dealing with high blood pressure, high cholesterol or Type 2 diabetes. It was built for those men too. Many men see those numbers move in the right direction alongside their weight loss. Inside the program you also join a Brotherhood of men doing the same work. Together you build a body you're proud of and start leading like the man you already are at work. This is your wake-up call to rise. Learn more and apply at www.thecalltorise.com

  4. 6d ago

    This Client Broke All Or Nothing Cycle To Lose 25 Pounds - 129

    Chandler had already lost weight four or five times before he found The Call To Rise. Each time it came back within a few months. One bad day at the office would turn into a full week off track. Then the scale crept right back up. (Have you lost the weight before, only to gain it back? See what makes this time different at www.thecalltorise.com) In this episode Chandler shares how he lost 25 pounds in 100 days inside the Call To Rise program. He learned to cook simple meals like chicken and rice with his dad. He stayed on track through a full week without power after tornadoes hit Illinois. At a festival with friends who looked fit on paper, he had more energy than any of them. Brian and Chandler talk through the middle gear mentality that finally broke his all or nothing cycle. This happened right before Chandler moved from Illinois to Indianapolis for a new job in political and addiction policy. By the end you will know how to break the all or nothing cycle for good. You will see what real consistency looks like, even when life gets messy. Main Topics: - Breaking the all or nothing dieting cycle - Losing 25 pounds in 100 days - Staying consistent during a move to a new city - Learning to cook simple meals like chicken and rice - Handling stress and disruption without falling off track - Building real energy and stamina through consistent training - Using the middle gear mentality to keep weight off long term The Call To Rise is a 100-day fat loss challenge for driven men ready to take their body back. It combines strength training, personalized nutrition and real accountability. Most men drop 20 to 30 pounds and rebuild the confidence that comes with it. This program also works if you are dealing with high blood pressure, high cholesterol or Type 2 diabetes. It was built for those men too. Many men see those numbers move in the right direction alongside their weight loss. Inside the program you also join a Brotherhood of men doing the same work. Together you build a body you're proud of and start leading like the man you already are at work. This is your wake-up call to rise. Learn more and apply at www.thecalltorise.com

  5. Jul 12

    Macros Made Simple: Finally Lose The Gut After 40 - 128

    Most men over 40 can handle a hard day at work without a problem. But ask one what makes a carb different from a protein, and he does not know the answer. That mix-up leads to guessing at every meal. Some days he eats too much protein. Other days he eats too little. He loses the same 10 pounds again and again, but it always comes back. (Tired of guessing what to eat? Learn the way that finally makes sense at www.thecalltorise.com) Coach Brian sat down with Aesha Tahir on her podcast, 9 to 5 Wellness. Together they explain what protein, carbs and fat do inside the body. They show how to build a plate that keeps a man full and steady through the day. They also cover the best time to eat around a workout, so the work you put in at the gym pays off. By the end of this episode you will know exactly what to put on your plate and when to eat it, without needing to track every bite for the rest of your life. That kind of clarity turns nutrition from a guessing game into a real advantage at work and at home. Main Topics: - What macros are: protein, carbs and fat - How calories and macros connect - A simple starting ratio for balanced meals - Why meal timing around a workout matters for recovery - Ways to track macros without obsessing over every bite - Free tools for tracking food, calories and macros - Why consistency matters more than a "perfect" plate About Aesha Tahir: Aesha Tahir is a clinical exercise physiologist and the founder of Tone and Strengthen Wellness, a corporate wellness consulting firm. She helps corporate teams and busy professionals with posture, movement and everyday health. She wrote the book Unhunched. It looks at how poor posture affects pain, breathing and stress at a desk job. She also hosts the 9 to 5 Wellness podcast. On the show she talks with leaders from healthcare, finance and other industries about wellness at work. Her podcast reaches listeners in over 100 countries. Aesha has spoken at conferences including Spinning, Toastmasters and Canfitpro. Outside of work she is a distance runner and has finished five marathons. You can find her on Instagram at @tone_and_strengthen for workout tips and wellness advice, or at 9to5wellness.com and aeshatahir.com. The Call To Rise is a 100-day fat loss challenge for driven men ready to take their body back. It combines strength training, personalized nutrition and real accountability. Most men drop 20 to 30 pounds and rebuild the confidence that comes with it. This program also works if you are dealing with high blood pressure, high cholesterol or Type 2 diabetes. It was built for those men too. Many men see those numbers move in the right direction alongside their weight loss. Inside the program you also join a Brotherhood of men doing the same work. Together you build a body you're proud of and start leading like the man you already are at work. This is your wake-up call to rise. Learn more and apply at www.thecalltorise.com

  6. Jul 11

    Ask Me Anything: Fat Loss, Labs, and Training Questions Men Over 40 Keep Asking - 127

    One listener eats nuts and trail mix as a healthy snack and still can't explain why the scale won't move. A third of a cup runs about 180 calories. Two handfuls can add up to almost a full meal without him noticing. (Ever eat something you call healthy and still can't explain why the scale won't move? See what actually works at www.thecalltorise.com) Coach Brian breaks down simple fixes for better fat loss, stronger workouts, improved energy, steadier blood sugar, lower blood pressure, better cholesterol, and more control around food. He covers what to eat for breakfast, why “clean eating” can still leave you starving, how drinks and snacks stall progress, and how to handle buffets, restaurants, alcohol, vacations, and Sunday night overeating. He also answers common training questions for men in their 40s, 50s, and beyond, including how often to lift, whether heavy weights make you bulky, when cardio helps or hurts, why warmups matter more as you age, and how short walks after meals can help with fat loss and blood sugar. If your blood panel came back worse than expected, this episode gives you a practical starting point. Coach Brian talks through A1C, blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, GLP-1 weight regain, and how long it usually takes for labs to move when you start changing your nutrition, training, walking, and daily habits. By the end you will know what to eat and how to train. You will also know where to start on your next blood panel. Main Topics: - What to eat for breakfast to reduce afternoon snacking - Why protein and fiber matter for hunger control - Why nuts and trail mix can push calories higher than you think - How many strength workouts men over 40 need each week - The cardio mistake many men make after 40 - How 10-minute walks after meals support blood sugar and fat loss - Where to start when A1C, blood pressure, or cholesterol are high - Coming off GLP-1 medication without regaining weight The Call To Rise is a 100-day fat loss challenge for driven men ready to take their body back. It combines strength training, personalized nutrition and real accountability. Most men drop 20 to 30 pounds and rebuild the confidence that comes with it. This program also works if you are dealing with high blood pressure, high cholesterol or Type 2 diabetes. It was built for those men too. Many men see those numbers move in the right direction alongside their weight loss. Inside the program you also join a Brotherhood of men doing the same work. Together you build a body you're proud of and start leading like the man you already are at work. This is your wake-up call to rise. Learn more and apply at www.thecalltorise.com

  7. Jul 10

    Your Self-Talk Is Ruining Your Health with Pat Smith - 126

    Abracadabra means “I create as I speak.” That sounds simple until you look at how often a man talks himself into stress, poor food choices, skipped workouts, low energy, and the same patterns he keeps trying to break. (Do you ever catch yourself saying "I can't" before you even try? See what changes when you catch it at www.thecalltorise.com) Coach Brian sits down with Pat Smith to talk about the words men use, the stories they repeat, and how those words shape health, focus, business performance, and follow-through. This conversation hits the guy carrying a business, a family, a full calendar, and the pressure to keep producing while his own health keeps getting pushed down the list. For men over 40, words matter because stress does not stay in your head. Stress changes your nutrition, sleep, workouts, patience, energy, and the way you lead at home and in business. Pat breaks down how language patterns like “I can’t,” “I’ll try,” “this always happens,” and “I have a problem with this” can keep a man stuck. He also walks through a simple exercise that shows how changing a few words can change your emotional state and help you make better decisions. This conversation connects mindset, nervous system regulation, fat loss, fitness, productivity, work-life balance, online business pressure, and real-life stress management in a practical way. No hype. No magic trick. This is a better way to catch the words that are steering your life. Main Topics: - Why the words you use affect your health decisions - How self-talk changes food choices, workouts, and consistency - How stress impacts energy, focus, productivity, and fat loss - The connection between language, nervous system regulation, and better decisions - Why “I’ll try” often gives men an easy way out - How business pressure and family pressure show up in your health - The role of meditation, breathing, and slowing down - A simple word-swap exercise you can use right away Pat Smith is a men’s high performance coach who has spent the past four years helping driven men become wildly successful professionally without losing themselves in the process. He has coached Fortune 500 executives, professional athletes, celebrity actors, business owners, top sales professionals, and men across various leadership roles. His work draws from his background in corporate sales across multiple Fortune 1000 companies, as well as his continued education under Dr. Joe Dispenza while serving as a corporate trainer for NeuroChangeSolutions. Pat blends mental performance, emotional mastery, and conscious leadership to help men lead, perform, and live with greater clarity, presence, and purpose. The Call To Rise is a 100-day fat loss challenge for driven men ready to take their body back. It combines strength training, personalized nutrition and real accountability. Most men drop 20 to 30 pounds and rebuild the confidence that comes with it. This program also works if you are dealing with high blood pressure, high cholesterol or Type 2 diabetes. It was built for those men too. Many men see those numbers move in the right direction alongside their weight loss. Inside the program you also join a Brotherhood of men doing the same work. Together you build a body you're proud of and start leading like the man you already are at work. This is your wake-up call to rise. Learn more and apply at www.thecalltorise.com

  8. Jul 9

    Matt Dropped 40 Pounds For A Life Well Lived - 125

    Matt lost 40 pounds while still traveling, going to concerts, eating at restaurants, drinking wine, running businesses, and enjoying his life. (Tired of guessing what to eat? Learn the way that finally makes sense at www.thecalltorise.com) That is why this conversation matters for business owners, entrepreneurs, and driven men who feel too busy to lose weight. Matt was already disciplined. He tracked numbers in business. He trained. He moved. He had tried keto, fasting, Weight Watchers, macro tracking, and other nutrition plans. The problem was simple. None of those approaches fit his real life. Coach Brian and Matt break down how fat loss finally clicked when the plan became simple, personal, and repeatable. Matt needed a nutrition and fitness system that worked at home, on the road, in restaurants, at concerts, and during busy business seasons. You will hear how he handled restaurants, wine, bread baskets, travel, steps, protein, strength training, accountability, and the daily choices that helped him lose 40 pounds while keeping his life full. By the end you will know how to build a plan that fits real life. You will also know what kept Matt consistent for 100 days. Main Topics: - How Matt lost 40 pounds with a simple plan he could use anywhere - Why discipline alone does not always fix nutrition and fitness - How business owners and entrepreneurs can lose fat without putting life on hold - How to eat out, travel, attend events, and still make progress - Why protein, produce, steps, and strength training gave Matt structure - How accountability helped Matt stay consistent - Why men over 40 need to connect fat loss with energy, focus, productivity, and health - Why a life well lived still needs intentional nutrition, movement, and stress management The Call To Rise is a 100-day fat loss challenge for driven men ready to take their body back. It combines strength training, personalized nutrition and real accountability. Most men drop 20 to 30 pounds and rebuild the confidence that comes with it. This program also works if you are dealing with high blood pressure, high cholesterol or Type 2 diabetes. It was built for those men too. Many men see those numbers move in the right direction alongside their weight loss. Inside the program you also join a Brotherhood of men doing the same work. Together you build a body you're proud of and start leading like the man you already are at work. This is your wake-up call to rise. Learn more and apply at www.thecalltorise.com

5
out of 5
53 Ratings

About

Driven For Health is a podcast for career-driven men in their 40s and 50s who feel stuck with weight gain, low energy, and declining health despite working hard in every other area of life. Hosted by Coach Brian Parana, each episode breaks down simple, science-backed strategies for fat loss, strength, metabolism, nutrition, stress, and lifestyle habits that actually fit a busy schedule. Just clear guidance to help you lose weight, rebuild strength, & take control of your health without sacrificing your family or success. Expect tips, insights, and motivational stories to inspire you.

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