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. 11H AGO

    13 Overhyped Fitness & Recovery Hacks That Waste Your Time and Money | Ep 383

    Review the podcast by October 15 for a chance to win 3 months free in Physique University Mastery Track ($261 value). Leave a review at Apple Podcasts... EVERYONE who leaves a review will get a gift from me :) Get 20% off Cozy Earth temperature-cooling sheets (with code WITSANDWEIGHTS) at witsandweights.com/cozyearth -- Confused about which fitness and recovery tools actually work? Ice baths, red light therapy, massage guns, collagen supplements, and more! The marketing makes them all sound like you NEED THEM NOW. Learn about 13 overhyped tools ranked from least to most overhyped based on what the science actually says, when they might help in specific situations, and how to avoid wasting money on gadgets that don't move the needle. 1 recovery tool that DOES actually work: Cozy Earth temperature-cooling sheets. Go to witsandweights.com/cozyearth and use code WITSANDWEIGHTS for 20% offTimestamps: 0:01 - Are these fitness tools worth it? 2:47 - Review giveaway! 5:55 - How I'm ranking these fitness and recovery tools 7:15 - #13: Ice baths 8:22 - #12: Cryotherapy 9:02 - #11: Compression garments 9:48 - #10: Massage therapy and foam rolling 11:43 - #9: Percussion guns 13:11 - #8: Tart cherry juice 14:26 - #7: Heat therapy and sauna 17:42 - #6: Dry needling 18:49 - #5: Red light therapy 20:00 - #4: BCAAs and EAAs 21:51 - #3: Collagen supplements 23:11 - #2: Electrical stimulation (TENS and EMS) 24:20 - #1: Glutamine/supplements 25:28 - What these tools have in common and 3 questions to ask Support the show 🔥 Take our 2-minute Metabolic Quiz for a free, personalized fat loss blueprint with training and nutrition recommendations 🩸 Book a Performance Bloodwork Analysis to find out what's slowing your metabolism, fat loss, & muscle gain (20% off with VITALITY20) 🎓 Lose fat + build muscle in Physique University (use code FREEPLAN for a free custom nutrition plan) 👥 Join our Facebook community for fitness support 👋 Ask a question or find me on Instagram 📱 Try MacroFactor 2 weeks free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS (my favorite nutrition and macros app)

    25 min
  2. The Metabolic Storm of Menopause and HRT Timing for Fat Loss & Muscle (Karen Martel) | Ep 382

    3D AGO

    The Metabolic Storm of Menopause and HRT Timing for Fat Loss & Muscle (Karen Martel) | Ep 382

    Register for the Live Q&A with Karen Martel on Tuesday October 14, only in Physique University (replay included). Use code FREEPLAN to get a free custom nutrition plan when you join ($97 value) at physique.witsandweights.com Get hormone creams and oils without a prescription at witsandweights.com/karenmartel (use code WITSANDWEIGHTS for 10% off) — What if waiting too long for hormone therapy meant more than hot flashes? What if it set you up for stubborn weight gain, bone loss, and low energy? I talk with hormone specialist Karen Martel about why timing matters for HRT, how hormone shifts impact metabolism, muscle, and mood, and why lifestyle alone isn’t always enough. We cover genetics, trauma, and the latest tools, from HRT to GLP-1s—that can help women reclaim vitality in midlife and beyond.  Karen Martel is the host of The Hormone Solution Podcast, where she helps women thrive through perimenopause and menopause with practical, science-backed solutions.  Today, you’ll learn all about: 6:35 – How hormones trigger a metabolic storm 12:56 – The rise of belly fat and insulin resistance 19:11 – Muscle, bone, and recovery challenges 23:51 – Life without hormone therapy 28:55 – Key tests to watch in your 40s 44:12 – GLP-1s as a new tool 59:17 – A positive future for women’s health Episode resources: Karen’s Bioidentical Hormone Products (Creams & Oils) - use code WITSANDWEIGHTS for 10% offKaren’s group hormone coaching Support the show 🔥 Take our 2-minute Metabolic Quiz for a free, personalized fat loss blueprint with training and nutrition recommendations 🩸 Book a Performance Bloodwork Analysis to find out what's slowing your metabolism, fat loss, & muscle gain (20% off with VITALITY20) 🎓 Lose fat + build muscle in Physique University (use code FREEPLAN for a free custom nutrition plan) 👥 Join our Facebook community for fitness support 👋 Ask a question or find me on Instagram 📱 Try MacroFactor 2 weeks free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS (my favorite nutrition and macros app)

    1h 9m
  3. 5D AGO

    Is Personalized Health a Luxury or a Necessity? (Fishbone Diagram) | Ep 381

    Take our free 2-minute Metabolic Quiz and get a 15-page assessment and body recomposition road map  Book your Performance Bloodwork Analysis at witsandweights.com/bloodwork to identify your biggest constraints and get a personalized plan based on your hormone levels and metabolic markers. Podcast listeners get 20% off with code VITALITY20. -- We've been conditioned to think that spending money directly on coaching, guidance, accountability, and taking ownership of our own healthcare is indulgent, while spending on products, equipment, and supplements feels responsible. The average American spends $13,000 annually treating preventable conditions, while personalizing your health might cost $2,000. Learn how an engineering tool called the Fishbone Diagram helps you prioritize where your resources (time, money, effort) should best be spent. Investing in your health isn't selfish. When you have more energy, you show up better for your family. When you're strong and confident, you're more effective at work. When you feel good in your body, you're more present in relationships. Taking care of yourself doesn't take away from others, it's what allows you to give more. Main Takeaways: 5 high-ROI interventions that actually move the needle for personalized healthHow to separate evidence-based health optimization from expensive wellness theaterInvesting in your health isn't selfish, it's foundational for showing up for othersEpisode Mentioned: How Performance Bloodwork Reveals What's Really Blocking Your Fat Loss (Constraint Theory)Timestamps: 0:00 - The personal spending paradox 5:13 - The privilege narrative 8:03 - Wellness "theater" vs. what works 11:50 - What personalized health actually means 17:23 - The real cost of prevention vs. treatment 22:22 - Permission to invest in yourself 23:37 - What is the Fishbone Diagram? 28:34 - 5 high-ROI health interventions 41:03 - Addressing the "selfish investment" mindset 44:29 - Accessibility doesn't mean compromise Support the show 🔥 Take our 2-minute Metabolic Quiz for a free, personalized fat loss blueprint with training and nutrition recommendations 🩸 Book a Performance Bloodwork Analysis to find out what's slowing your metabolism, fat loss, & muscle gain (20% off with VITALITY20) 🎓 Lose fat + build muscle in Physique University (use code FREEPLAN for a free custom nutrition plan) 👥 Join our Facebook community for fitness support 👋 Ask a question or find me on Instagram 📱 Try MacroFactor 2 weeks free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS (my favorite nutrition and macros app)

    50 min
  4. SEP 29

    Drop Belly Fat Without Dieting or Ab Exercises (7 Root Causes and Solutions) | Ep 380

    Book your Performance Bloodwork Analysis at witsandweights.com/bloodwork to identify your biggest constraints and get a personalized plan based on your hormone levels and metabolic markers. Podcast listeners get 20% off with code VITALITY20. Get 20% off Cozy Earth temperature-cooling sheets (with code WITSANDWEIGHTS) at witsandweights.com/cozyearth -- Are you gaining belly fat with age and frustrated that restricting calories and ab exercises aren't working any more (if they ever did)? Discover the 7 root causes of midlife belly fat, most having nothing to do with what you're eating or how you're training.  Understanding these physiological mechanisms helps create targeted solutions that address the real reasons fat is being stored around your midsection rather than simply doing more of the same. Main Takeaways: Root cause #1 tells your body to store fat centrally, even in a calorie deficitRoot cause #2 disrupts hunger hormones and directly raises insulin resistanceRoot cause #3 shifts fat distribution to the abdomen with ageRoot cause #4 promotes belly fat storage, especially liver and visceral fatRoot cause #5 suppresses fat-burning enzymes independent of exerciseRoot cause #6 slows metabolism and favors central fat storageRoot cause #7 suppresses fat oxidation while raising cortisol and lowering testosteroneEpisode Resources: Get 20% off Cozy Earth bamboo-derived sheets (use code WITSANDWEIGHTS) at witsandweights.com/cozyearthGet 20% off a Performance Bloodwork Analysis (use code VITALITY20) at witsandweights.com/bloodworkTimestamps: 0:00 - Why you gain more belly fat with age 5:06 - The 7 root causes 41:13 - Why belly fat responds fastest when you fix the right things 42:17 - How to get deeper answers about the 7 root causes Support the show 🔥 Take our 2-minute Metabolic Quiz for a free, personalized fat loss blueprint with training and nutrition recommendations 🩸 Book a Performance Bloodwork Analysis to find out what's slowing your metabolism, fat loss, & muscle gain (20% off with VITALITY20) 🎓 Lose fat + build muscle in Physique University (use code FREEPLAN for a free custom nutrition plan) 👥 Join our Facebook community for fitness support 👋 Ask a question or find me on Instagram 📱 Try MacroFactor 2 weeks free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS (my favorite nutrition and macros app)

    44 min
  5. This Former Athlete Ditched Low Carb to Stay Shredded After 40 | Ep 379

    SEP 26

    This Former Athlete Ditched Low Carb to Stay Shredded After 40 | Ep 379

    Want to build muscle, lose fat, balance hormones, and enjoy life? ⁠⁠⁠Join Physique University and get a FREE custom nutrition plan using code FREEPLAN. Go to witsandweights.com/physique — Think you’re too old to transform your body? Brian Kopka proves otherwise. At 46, Brian, a medical professional and former athlete, was stuck in the low-carb trap, feeling drained and frustrated. Six months later, he’s stronger, leaner, and more energized than ever.  Brian joins me today to share how reintroducing carbs supercharged his workouts, why logging every rep reignited progress, and how coaching gave him the push he didn’t know he needed. We also talk openly about the struggles men rarely admit: scale obsession, restrictive eating, and the mental toll of chasing fitness alone. Today, you’ll learn all about: 3:07 - Why Brian hired a coach 6:09 - Tracking workouts and progressive overload 8:08 - How carbs transformed performance 15:12 - Using data to cut through fitness myths 18:43 - The truth about aging and decline 25:00 - Coaching as an accelerator for growth Episode resources: Brian’s email: mdkicker17 [at] yahoo.com Support the show 🔥 Take our 2-minute Metabolic Quiz for a free, personalized fat loss blueprint with training and nutrition recommendations 🩸 Book a Performance Bloodwork Analysis to find out what's slowing your metabolism, fat loss, & muscle gain (20% off with VITALITY20) 🎓 Lose fat + build muscle in Physique University (use code FREEPLAN for a free custom nutrition plan) 👥 Join our Facebook community for fitness support 👋 Ask a question or find me on Instagram 📱 Try MacroFactor 2 weeks free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS (my favorite nutrition and macros app)

    47 min
  6. SEP 24

    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 for a free, personalized fat loss blueprint with training and nutrition recommendations 🩸 Book a Performance Bloodwork Analysis to find out what's slowing your metabolism, fat loss, & muscle gain (20% off with VITALITY20) 🎓 Lose fat + build muscle in Physique University (use code FREEPLAN for a free custom nutrition plan) 👥 Join our Facebook community for fitness support 👋 Ask a question or find me on Instagram 📱 Try MacroFactor 2 weeks free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS (my favorite nutrition and macros app)

    37 min
  7. SEP 22

    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 for a free, personalized fat loss blueprint with training and nutrition recommendations 🩸 Book a Performance Bloodwork Analysis to find out what's slowing your metabolism, fat loss, & muscle gain (20% off with VITALITY20) 🎓 Lose fat + build muscle in Physique University (use code FREEPLAN for a free custom nutrition plan) 👥 Join our Facebook community for fitness support 👋 Ask a question or find me on Instagram 📱 Try MacroFactor 2 weeks free with code WITSANDWEIGHTS (my favorite nutrition and macros app)

    28 min

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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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