Wits & Weights | Evidence-Based Fat Loss & Strength Training Over 40

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

Wits & Weights is a strength training and nutrition podcast where in every episode I put a popular piece of fitness advice under the microscope, find the hidden reason it doesn't work, and give you the deceptively simple fix that does.For skeptics of the fitness industry who are tired of following the rules and still not seeing results. If you've been lifting weights, tracking macros, and doing "all the right things" but your body composition hasn't changed, you're probably overcomplicating it. This is the strength training and fat loss podcast that shows you how to build muscle, lose fat, and achieve a real body recomp by focusing only on what the evidence actually supports.Evidence-based fat loss coach Philip Pape brings an engineer's approach to strength training, nutrition, and metabolism. Instead of another generic program or meal plan, you get specific, science-based strategies for optimizing body composition, whether you're focused on building muscle, losing fat, or both. The focus is on strength training over 40, hormone health, perimenopause and menopause, and longevity.You've seen the conflicting advice, even on other nutrition podcasts. One expert says cut carbs, the next says eat more. One says train six days a week, another says three is plenty. Building the body you want doesn't have to be this confusing or time-consuming. By using your wits (systems + identity-based behavior change) and lifting weights, you can build muscle definition, improve your physique, and maintain your results for life without rebound weight gain.You'll learn smart, efficient strategies for movement, metabolism, muscle, and mindset, such as:- Why fat loss matters more than weight loss for both your health and your physique- Why all the macros, including protein, fats, and yes even carbs, are critical to body composition- How just 3 hours a week of proper hypertrophy training can deliver better results than most people get in twice that time- Why building muscle is the single most powerful thing you can do for metabolic health, longevity, and aging well- Why perimenopause and menopause don't have to derail your progress when your training and nutrition are dialed in- How shifting the way you think about fitness can unlock more physical (and personal) growth than any program aloneLooking for fat loss podcasts, nutrition podcasts, or strength training podcasts for women and men over 40? Wits & Weights brings the science-based answers without the conflicting noise. If you're ready to learn what actually works with evidence-based strength training and evidence-based nutrition, hit "follow" and let's engineer your best physique ever! Popular Guests Include: Mike Matthews (author of Bigger Leaner Stronger), Greg Nuckols (Stronger by Science), Alan Aragon (nutrition researcher), Eric Helms (3D Muscle Journey), Dr. Spencer Nadolsky (Docs Who Lift), Bill Campbell (exercise science researcher), Jordan Feigenbaum (Barbell Medicine), Holly Baxter (evidence-based physique coach), Laurin Conlin (physique coach), Lauren Colenso-Semple (nutrition researcher), Karen Martel (hormone optimization expert), Steph Gaudreau (women's strength and nutrition), Bryan Boorstein (hypertrophy coach) Popular Topics Include: fat loss tips, hormone health, menopause tips and advice, creatine for women, peptides for women, metabolism optimization, hypertrophy training, longevity and healthy aging, nutrition myths, nutrition tracking, best protein powder selection, strength training over 40, women's fitness, perimenopause, menopause, lifting weights for fat loss, muscle building, body recomp, macros and nutrition tracking

  1. 5 Signs You're Insulin Resistant Even If You Lift Weights (Amber Wilhoit) | Ep 468

    3D AGO ·  VIDEO

    5 Signs You're Insulin Resistant Even If You Lift Weights (Amber Wilhoit) | Ep 468

    How can you lift weights, build muscle, and still be insulin resistant? What if your metabolism is sending warning signs before your A1C ever changes? Insulin resistance is often treated like a weight loss or carb problem, but Amber Wilhoit, a registered dietitian and diabetes specialist with 22 years of clinical experience, shows why muscle quality, visceral fat, fiber, sleep, stress, and daily movement all matter. We talk about fasting insulin, waist-to-hip ratio, post-meal walks, strength training, and why midlife hormone health can shift body composition even when your effort stays the same. You’ll learn how to lose fat, build muscle, and protect your metabolism with evidence-based nutrition and fitness strategies that go beyond “just lift more.” Join Eat More Lift Heavy, the 26-week fat loss program for adults over 40 where you learn the skills to improve your insulin sensitivity, build muscle, eat a flexible diet full of protein and carbs, and improve your sleep, stress, and movement... one week at a time so it's sustainable and you FINALLY keep the fat off for good. Timestamps: 0:00 - Why muscle may not fix insulin 2:39 - Visceral fat and waist-to-hip 6:26 - Fasting insulin, the underused test 10:06 - Exercise pathways, stress, and sleep 18:52 - Protecting muscle during fat loss 21:08 - Perimenopause shifts and visceral gain 26:53 - Stop over-restricting nutrition 34:28 - Sexual health as metabolic signal 39:04 - Fiber, gut health, and glucose control Episode resources: Website: Empowered Diabetes Podcast: The Diabetes Podcast®YouTube: @TheDiabetesPodcast Instagram: @empowereddiabetes  💪 Join Eat More Lift Heavy - a 26-week evidence-based strength training and fat loss program for lifters over 40 to build muscle, lose fat, and maintain your weight loss and physique (even in perimenopause and menopause) 📱 Get Fitness Lab - AI-powered coaching app for evidence-based fitness and nutrition over 40. Real-time, personalized guidance that evolves with your data and lifestyle to help you build muscle, lose fat, and body recomp 👥 Join our Facebook community -  For adults over 40 who want to build muscle with strength training and lose fat with evidence-based nutrition. Support for lifting weights, hypertrophy, fat loss, and hormones. 👋 Ask a question or find Philip Pape (evidence-based nutrition coach) on Instagram & thanks for making us one of the best fat loss and nutrition podcasts for adults over 40! 🙏

    53 min
  2. 3 Fat Loss Metrics to Track Before Summer (Beyond the Scale) | Ep 467

    5D AGO

    3 Fat Loss Metrics to Track Before Summer (Beyond the Scale) | Ep 467

    The scale can jump 2 to 5 pounds overnight yet you're still losing fat. How is that possible? Scale weight is one of the noisiest signals, and if you’re over 40, strength training, or dealing with hormonal fluctuations, it can push you into the exact wrong decisions: eating less when you shouldn’t, adding cardio when recovery is already limited, or assuming you're failing when you’re actually improving body composition. We walk through 3 metrics that tell a more accurate story about fat loss progress and long-term sustainability, especially for lifters over 40 running a fat loss phase before summer. This episode covers daily weight fluctuations from water, glycogen, sodium, and hormonal cycles, study findings on body composition during the menopause transition, the rate-of-loss range that separates fat loss from muscle loss, the link between waist circumference and cardiovascular risk, and a 4-marker biofeedback approach for spotting an unsustainable deficit regardless of what the scale weight says. This episode is for adults over 40, women in perimenopause and postmenopause, and anyone running a strength training and nutrition plan before summer. Cozy Earth - Bamboo pajamas, the Classic Cuddle Blanket, and other temperature-regulating products for better sleep and recovery. Use code WITSANDWEIGHTS for 20% off. Try Fitness Lab, the AI coaching app that tracks your nutrition, training, and biofeedback and tells you what to do next so you can build muscle and lose fat without spreadsheets or guesswork. Timestamps: 0:00 - Scale weight and the fat loss problem 3:30 - Daily fluctuations from water, glycogen, sodium 5:00 - Perimenopause and menstrual cycle changes 5:45 - Body composition during menopause 7:30 - Weight trend velocity (MacroFactor) 10:30 - Rate of loss and muscle preservation 12:00 - The #1 foundation of recovery 14:17 - Waist circumference 14:39 - Cohort data on cardiovascular risk 16:30 - Waist thresholds for men and women 17:30 - Visceral fat shifts in perimenopause (menopause belly) 19:30 - The 4-signal biofeedback composite score 26:17 - Bonus: red flag threshold for an aggressive cut 💪 Join Eat More Lift Heavy - a 26-week evidence-based strength training and fat loss program for lifters over 40 to build muscle, lose fat, and maintain your weight loss and physique (even in perimenopause and menopause) 📱 Get Fitness Lab - AI-powered coaching app for evidence-based fitness and nutrition over 40. Real-time, personalized guidance that evolves with your data and lifestyle to help you build muscle, lose fat, and body recomp 👥 Join our Facebook community -  For adults over 40 who want to build muscle with strength training and lose fat with evidence-based nutrition. Support for lifting weights, hypertrophy, fat loss, and hormones. 👋 Ask a question or find Philip Pape (evidence-based nutrition coach) on Instagram & thanks for making us one of the best fat loss and nutrition podcasts for adults over 40! 🙏

    30 min
  3. Is "High Protein" Just Another Fad Diet? | Ep 466

    MAY 7

    Is "High Protein" Just Another Fad Diet? | Ep 466

    Is high protein just another fad diet? Learn about the 3 criteria that define a fad, how protein performs against each one, the research on lean mass and strength training, the mechanisms behind protein's thermic effect and satiety, and why the case gets stronger for adults over 40. This episode covers the fad diet framework, research updates on protein and muscle building, the thermic effect on your metabolism and the satiety research that gives protein an advantage over carbs and fat, findings on muscle protein synthesis, and thedata on lean mass and body composition when postmenopausal women lose fat. Plus the protein leverage mechanism behind menopausal weight gain and a 3-question test for evaluating any nutrition trend you see on social media or TikTok. Get the Protein Day Builder, the tool that maps out a full day of meals hitting your protein target based on your schedule, dietary preferences, and the foods you eat every week. Don't forget: the Fitness Lab app is 20% off through Friday, May 8. AI-powered nutrition and training coaching for adults over 40: witsandweights.com/app Timestamps 0:00 - High protein fad narrative 3:25 - What defines a fad diet 4:30 - Fad diet examples 5:45 - The (false) link with fat and carb demonization 6:40 - High protein vs. the fad criteria 8:15 - Meta-analyses on protein and lean mass 9:45 - Sustainability and physical activity 11:45 - Hitting your protein target in practice 13:15 - Thermic effect of protein 15:40 - Protein and satiety 17:10 - Muscle protein synthesis and meal distribution 19:45 - Muscle loss and strength after 40 20:45 - Menopause and protein leverage 22:30 - Adequate protein for your goals 24:10 - 3-question fad diet test Episode Resources Join Eat More Lift Heavy, the 26-week coached program that includes the Protein Day Builder as one of many helpful tools to better plan your meals, build muscle, and lose fat sustainably 💪 Join Eat More Lift Heavy - a 26-week evidence-based strength training and fat loss program for lifters over 40 to build muscle, lose fat, and maintain your weight loss and physique (even in perimenopause and menopause) 📱 Get Fitness Lab - AI-powered coaching app for evidence-based fitness and nutrition over 40. Real-time, personalized guidance that evolves with your data and lifestyle to help you build muscle, lose fat, and body recomp 👥 Join our Facebook community -  For adults over 40 who want to build muscle with strength training and lose fat with evidence-based nutrition. Support for lifting weights, hypertrophy, fat loss, and hormones. 👋 Ask a question or find Philip Pape (evidence-based nutrition coach) on Instagram & thanks for making us one of the best fat loss and nutrition podcasts for adults over 40! 🙏

    27 min
  4. Should You Fix Your Diet or Training First? | Ep 465

    MAY 5

    Should You Fix Your Diet or Training First? | Ep 465

    Should you fix your diet or your training first? You've probably heard that diet is 80% of the results, so nutrition is the obvious place to start. After all, "abs are made in the kitchen" right? The problem is this claim has no basis in science, and for a lot of you, training is the actual bottleneck. The real answer depends on which part of your system is the weakest link right now.  Learn about the research on resistance training for body recomp, the constraint theory "bottleneck" concept, how to tell whether nutrition or training is YOUR bottleneck, and a practical 5-question framework you can apply this week. If you're over 40 and stuck in the cycle of cutting calories and changing workout plans, you'll know where to start by the end of this episode. Try my favorite sheets! Cozy Earth's bamboo-derived sheets regulate temperature for better quality sleep, backed up with a 100-night sleep trial and 10-year warranty. Get 20% off at https://witsandweights.com/cozyearth Enroll in Eat More Lift Heavy, the 26-week coached program where Phase 1 diagnoses your specific constraint, Phase 2 fixes it with guided adjustments to training and nutrition, and Phase 3 teaches you to run this process on your own: https://eatmoreliftheavy.com Don't forget: the Fitness Lab app is 20% off through Friday, May 8. AI-powered nutrition and training coaching for adults over 40: witsandweights.com/app Timestamps 0:00 - Fix your diet or exercise first? 3:30 - The NEW trial and body composition 6:00 - Resistance training and body recomp 8:30 - Weight loss vs. fat loss 10:30 - Constraint theory and the bottleneck concept 13:00 - Is nutrition the bottleneck? 19:30 - Is training the bottleneck? 22:30 - Sleep and recovery 25:00 - The 5-question framework 33:00 - Strength training over 40 and perimenopause 35:30 - An efficient way to fix nutrition AND training 37:30 - Bonus: the 5-second bottleneck test 💪 Join Eat More Lift Heavy - a 26-week evidence-based strength training and fat loss program for lifters over 40 to build muscle, lose fat, and maintain your weight loss and physique (even in perimenopause and menopause) 📱 Get Fitness Lab - AI-powered coaching app for evidence-based fitness and nutrition over 40. Real-time, personalized guidance that evolves with your data and lifestyle to help you build muscle, lose fat, and body recomp 👥 Join our Facebook community -  For adults over 40 who want to build muscle with strength training and lose fat with evidence-based nutrition. Support for lifting weights, hypertrophy, fat loss, and hormones. 👋 Ask a question or find Philip Pape (evidence-based nutrition coach) on Instagram & thanks for making us one of the best fat loss and nutrition podcasts for adults over 40! 🙏

    33 min
  5. MAY 2 ·  BONUS

    Does Every Food Decision Feel Like a Moment of Panic During Fat Loss?

    Your fat loss plan isn’t broken! The real problem is what happens in the 10 seconds before you order, snack, or say “screw it” after a stressful day. Learn an under-discussed truth about nutrition and fitness progress: the gap between a solid plan and real-life execution is where most people "fall off track" and lose momentum. This episode covers a structural gap when it comes to food decisions in the context of the coaching industry, why "check-ins" just won't cut it, why those food-decision moments are where most fat loss attempts start to run into issues, and a new solution that massively improves your decision-making "in the moment". Get the Fitness Lab app, now 20% off all plans through Friday, May 8. Real-time coaching for fat loss, strength training, and lifting weights built for adults over 40 who would love an "instant coach in their pocket" for times like this 💪 Join Eat More Lift Heavy - a 26-week evidence-based strength training and fat loss program for lifters over 40 to build muscle, lose fat, and maintain your weight loss and physique (even in perimenopause and menopause) 📱 Get Fitness Lab - AI-powered coaching app for evidence-based fitness and nutrition over 40. Real-time, personalized guidance that evolves with your data and lifestyle to help you build muscle, lose fat, and body recomp 👥 Join our Facebook community -  For adults over 40 who want to build muscle with strength training and lose fat with evidence-based nutrition. Support for lifting weights, hypertrophy, fat loss, and hormones. 👋 Ask a question or find Philip Pape (evidence-based nutrition coach) on Instagram & thanks for making us one of the best fat loss and nutrition podcasts for adults over 40! 🙏

    11 min
  6. Why You Can't Lose Fat "Eating Clean" (Performance Chef Mario Limaduran) | Ep 464

    APR 30 ·  VIDEO

    Why You Can't Lose Fat "Eating Clean" (Performance Chef Mario Limaduran) | Ep 464

    You eat clean, cook at home, and choose whole foods, so why can’t you lose fat? Are your macros and portions quietly keeping you stuck?  I’m talking with Chef Mario Limaduran, culinary director at Trifecta Nutrition, who has cooked for UFC fighters, NFL athletes, Olympic-level competitors, and NCAA Division I wrestlers. You’ll learn why food quality matters, but quantity still drives weight loss, muscle building, and performance. We cover how a performance chef builds meals around protein, carbs, fats, satiety, sauces, and real-life meal prep.  Mario also explains why goal-based nutrition beats rigid named diets, how to cook better at home without becoming a chef, and when meal delivery can support evidence-based nutrition. Go to witsandweights.com/question and drop the secret code for a chance to win an entire week of free meals from Trifecta! Timestamps: 0:00 – Why clean eating stalls fat loss 3:03 – Sourcing food for performance 5:35 – Using the exchange system 8:42 – Consistency beats food labels 12:58 – Refeeds and the 80/20 rule 20:05 – Named diets versus goal-based plans 22:06 – Satiety, macros, and smarter sauces 35:58 – Simple weekly meal prep structure Episode resources: Trifecta Discount: witsandweights.com/trifecta (code WW50 for 50% off your first meal) Youtube: @ChefMarioLima Instagram: @chefmario._ and @trifecta  💪 Join Eat More Lift Heavy - a 26-week evidence-based strength training and fat loss program for lifters over 40 to build muscle, lose fat, and maintain your weight loss and physique (even in perimenopause and menopause) 📱 Get Fitness Lab - AI-powered coaching app for evidence-based fitness and nutrition over 40. Real-time, personalized guidance that evolves with your data and lifestyle to help you build muscle, lose fat, and body recomp 👥 Join our Facebook community -  For adults over 40 who want to build muscle with strength training and lose fat with evidence-based nutrition. Support for lifting weights, hypertrophy, fat loss, and hormones. 👋 Ask a question or find Philip Pape (evidence-based nutrition coach) on Instagram & thanks for making us one of the best fat loss and nutrition podcasts for adults over 40! 🙏

    44 min
  7. Mini-Cuts and Mini-Bulks for Faster Body Recomp After 40 | Ep 463

    APR 28

    Mini-Cuts and Mini-Bulks for Faster Body Recomp After 40 | Ep 463

    Bulking, cutting, bulking, cutting. If you've been through that cycle and ended up further from your goal than when you started, there's a reason the yo-yo keeps repeating, especially over 40. Learn about the metabolic adaptation and hormonal changes that make long diet phases more difficult (and sometimes unsustainable), a creative approach called intermittent dieting (not to be confused with intermittent fasting), a very powerful weekend refeed strategy, and the exact structure of a mini-cut and mini-bulk protocol including rate of loss, protein targets, surplus size, and the ratio of building to cutting. Plus learn the ONE warning sign that tells you to end a mini-cut early, even if you planned to go longer. Check out Fitness Lab (20% off through May 8), the AI coaching app built for adults over 40 who want daily structure, training feedback, biofeedback tracking, and meal planning that fits real life. Take the free onboarding quiz before you buy. 20% off all plans through Friday, May 8: https://witsandweights.com/app Timestamps: 0:00 - Bulking, cutting, and the yo-yo recomp cycle 5:24 - Metabolic adaptation during continuous dieting 7:10 - Hormonal disruption, testosterone, and estrogen after 40 9:20 - Muscle loss acceleration during longer cuts 10:06 - Large vs. small surplus and fat gain during bulks 12:12 - 2-week intermittent dieting blocks vs. continuous restriction 18:01 - Saturday meal planning for tight-window phases 21:31 - Mini-cut structure, rate of loss, and protein 26:06 - Mini-bulk surplus size and the 4-to-1 ratio 31:32 - Strategic cycling vs. phase-hopping 35:18 - Bonus: one reason to end a mini-cut early Episode Resources: My favorite macro tracking app (works even better alongside Fitness Lab!): MacroFactor (affiliate code WITSANDWEIGHTS for 2 weeks free) 💪 Join Eat More Lift Heavy - a 26-week evidence-based strength training and fat loss program for lifters over 40 to build muscle, lose fat, and maintain your weight loss and physique (even in perimenopause and menopause) 📱 Get Fitness Lab - AI-powered coaching app for evidence-based fitness and nutrition over 40. Real-time, personalized guidance that evolves with your data and lifestyle to help you build muscle, lose fat, and body recomp 👥 Join our Facebook community -  For adults over 40 who want to build muscle with strength training and lose fat with evidence-based nutrition. Support for lifting weights, hypertrophy, fat loss, and hormones. 👋 Ask a question or find Philip Pape (evidence-based nutrition coach) on Instagram & thanks for making us one of the best fat loss and nutrition podcasts for adults over 40! 🙏

    39 min

Trailer

4.8
out of 5
239 Ratings

About

Wits & Weights is a strength training and nutrition podcast where in every episode I put a popular piece of fitness advice under the microscope, find the hidden reason it doesn't work, and give you the deceptively simple fix that does.For skeptics of the fitness industry who are tired of following the rules and still not seeing results. If you've been lifting weights, tracking macros, and doing "all the right things" but your body composition hasn't changed, you're probably overcomplicating it. This is the strength training and fat loss podcast that shows you how to build muscle, lose fat, and achieve a real body recomp by focusing only on what the evidence actually supports.Evidence-based fat loss coach Philip Pape brings an engineer's approach to strength training, nutrition, and metabolism. Instead of another generic program or meal plan, you get specific, science-based strategies for optimizing body composition, whether you're focused on building muscle, losing fat, or both. The focus is on strength training over 40, hormone health, perimenopause and menopause, and longevity.You've seen the conflicting advice, even on other nutrition podcasts. One expert says cut carbs, the next says eat more. One says train six days a week, another says three is plenty. Building the body you want doesn't have to be this confusing or time-consuming. By using your wits (systems + identity-based behavior change) and lifting weights, you can build muscle definition, improve your physique, and maintain your results for life without rebound weight gain.You'll learn smart, efficient strategies for movement, metabolism, muscle, and mindset, such as:- Why fat loss matters more than weight loss for both your health and your physique- Why all the macros, including protein, fats, and yes even carbs, are critical to body composition- How just 3 hours a week of proper hypertrophy training can deliver better results than most people get in twice that time- Why building muscle is the single most powerful thing you can do for metabolic health, longevity, and aging well- Why perimenopause and menopause don't have to derail your progress when your training and nutrition are dialed in- How shifting the way you think about fitness can unlock more physical (and personal) growth than any program aloneLooking for fat loss podcasts, nutrition podcasts, or strength training podcasts for women and men over 40? Wits & Weights brings the science-based answers without the conflicting noise. If you're ready to learn what actually works with evidence-based strength training and evidence-based nutrition, hit "follow" and let's engineer your best physique ever! Popular Guests Include: Mike Matthews (author of Bigger Leaner Stronger), Greg Nuckols (Stronger by Science), Alan Aragon (nutrition researcher), Eric Helms (3D Muscle Journey), Dr. Spencer Nadolsky (Docs Who Lift), Bill Campbell (exercise science researcher), Jordan Feigenbaum (Barbell Medicine), Holly Baxter (evidence-based physique coach), Laurin Conlin (physique coach), Lauren Colenso-Semple (nutrition researcher), Karen Martel (hormone optimization expert), Steph Gaudreau (women's strength and nutrition), Bryan Boorstein (hypertrophy coach) Popular Topics Include: fat loss tips, hormone health, menopause tips and advice, creatine for women, peptides for women, metabolism optimization, hypertrophy training, longevity and healthy aging, nutrition myths, nutrition tracking, best protein powder selection, strength training over 40, women's fitness, perimenopause, menopause, lifting weights for fat loss, muscle building, body recomp, macros and nutrition tracking

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