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

Philip Pape, Evidence-Based Nutrition Coach & Fat Loss Expert
Wits & Weights | Fat Loss, Nutrition, & Strength Training for Lifters

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. Why Women Over 40 Don’t NEED to Lift Heavy to Fight Osteosarcopenia (Megan Dahlman) | Ep 349

    2D AGO

    Why Women Over 40 Don’t NEED to Lift Heavy to Fight Osteosarcopenia (Megan Dahlman) | Ep 349

    Want to build muscle, lose fat, and train smarter? ⁠⁠⁠Join the new Physique University for just $27/month⁠⁠⁠ and get your custom nutrition plan FREE (limited time) — Is your doctor telling you to “lift heavy” but you don’t even know where to start? Wondering how to build strong bones without ending up hurt or overwhelmed? Curious if weighted vests actually do anything for bone health? I brought Megan Dahlman back to the show to answer these questions and more. Megan is a strength coach who specializes in helping women over 40 build muscle, improve mobility, and fight back against a condition called osteosarcopenia. We talked about the risks of jumping into heavy lifting the wrong way and how to progress smartly and safely from bodyweight to weights. Today, you’ll learn all about: 2:50 – What is osteosarcopenia? 6:38 – How muscles and bones work together 11:28 – Why “lift heavy” can backfire 18:21 – The best place for beginners to start 23:11 – The truth about weighted vests 28:20 – What’s the minimum effective dose? 36:39 – Should you train for power too? 42:04 – Sample training structures that work 51:55 – Home vs. gym: how to decide 55:50 – Where to start with Megan's program Episode resources: Training program – Jumpstart 30Youtube: @vigeofitInstagram: @megandahlman Facebook: @vigeofit Website: vigeofit.com Support the show 🎓 Lose fat for good in Physique University, now just $27/mo (tap here and I’ll create a FREE custom nutrition plan when you join) 👥 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)

    58 min
  2. 4D AGO

    12 Rules of Training Volume to Build More Muscle | Ep 348

    Join the new Wits & Weights Physique University at just $27/month (was $87) - get access to training templates, course library, private community, and so much more. Podcast listeners get a custom nutrition plan FREE (normally $47) when you join by the end of July using this special link: bit.ly/podcast-new-wwpu -- Hitting the gym consistently but not seeing the muscle growth you want? You might be making one critical mistake with your training volume. Most lifters either do way too little to stimulate growth or pile on so much that they're hitting a wall and burning out. Learn about 12 evidence-based rules that separate muscle builders from muscle stragglers. Episode Resources: "The New Approach to Training Volume" - article by Greg NuckolsPhysique & Biofeedback Tracker - available in the new WWPU (now just $27/mo plus a FREE custom nutrition plan for podcast listeners with this link: bit.ly/podcast-new-wwpu)Episodes Mentioned: Strength vs. Hypertrophy (The 65% Threshold for Lifters Chasing PRs vs. Muscle Size) Timestamps: 0:01 - The critical volume mistake most lifters make4:59 - Rule 1: Hard sets per muscle group6:29 - Rule 2: Proximity to failure7:48 - Rule 3: Does more volume = more growth?9:19 - Rule 4: How many sets per muscle per week?10:32 - Rule 5: Rep range doesn't matter, effort does12:15 - Rule 6: What about strength (vs. hypertrophy)?15:28 - Rule 7: Periodize volume over time16:23 - Rule 8: Recovery capacity determines your ceiling18:57 - Rule 9: Wasted volume kills progress20:55 - Rule 10: Compound vs isolation lifts21:45 - Rule 11: What exactly should you track?22:33 - Rule 12: The ONE rule about volume that matters most24:49 - Advanced concept: Volume landmarks Support the show 🎓 Lose fat for good in Physique University, now just $27/mo (tap here and I’ll create a FREE custom nutrition plan when you join) 👥 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. 6D AGO

    How to Stop Prediabetes and Insulin Resistance Without Cutting Carbs | Ep 347

    Get your free Nutrition 101 Guide at witsandweights.com/free to learn how to structure your nutrition (including carbs) for optimal health and body composition based on your goals. -- Could everything you've been told about carbs, insulin, and managing prediabetes be completely backward? For the 96 million American adults living with prediabetes, the standard advice has been clear. Cut carbs, avoid bread, ditch fruit.  But groundbreaking research reveals this approach might be keeping you stuck in a cycle of restriction without addressing the real problem. Insulin resistance isn't a carbohydrate problem. It's a muscle problem.  Today we expose the real culprit behind insulin resistance and why upgrading your ability to use and dispose of glucose efficiently can stop prediabetes and insulin resistance WITHOUT cutting out carbs. Main Takeaways: Prediabetes isn't a carb problem; it's a muscle problemEvery 10% increase in muscle mass = 11% reduction in insulin resistance and 12% reduction in prediabetes riskJust 1 strength training session can increase glucose uptake by 40% and improve insulin sensitivity for up to 48 hoursStrategic carb inclusion around workouts reverses insulin resistanceMuscle tissue releases myokines during contractions that improve metabolic functionEpisodes Mentioned: Blood Sugar Spikes, Carb Myths, GLP-1s, and Fat Loss Tips from a Type 1 Diabetic (Ben Tzeel) or YouTubeStrength vs. Hypertrophy (The 65% Threshold for Lifters Chasing PRs vs. Muscle Size)The 2-Minute Walking Hack That Builds 47% More MuscleThe REAL Triggers of Chronic InflammationTimestamps: 0:02 - The carb restriction myth for prediabetes 2:53 - What prediabetes really is (and standard medical advice) 4:13 - The muscle mass connection: 13,000-person study results 5:17 - How insulin resistance works at the cellular level 7:16 - GLUT4 transporters and glucose "doorways" 8:44 - How to engineer your glucose disposal machinery (training, walking, carbs, sleep, and stress) 17:18 - Myokines - how muscle acts as an endocrine organ 19:29 - Why this is a muscle disease, not a carb disease Support the show 🎓 Lose fat for good in Physique University, now just $27/mo (tap here and I’ll create a FREE custom nutrition plan when you join) 👥 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)

    23 min
  4. JUL 12 · BONUS

    Can Strategic Fasting Enhance Muscle Gain (Reduce Fat During a Bulk)? | Bonus

    Join the new Wits & Weights Physique University at just $27/month (was $87) - get access to training templates, course library, private community, and so much more. Podcast listeners get a custom nutrition plan FREE (normally $47) when you join by the end of July using this special link: bit.ly/podcast-new-wwpu -- Ever wondered if you could hack your bulking phase to gain more muscle and less fat? This episode answers a question from our free Facebook community that many data-driven "optimizers" are wondering about. John asked if strategic extreme deficit days during an otherwise surplus-focused bulking phase could help "clean up" fat gain. It seems logical on paper... create a weekly calorie surplus while periodically burning fat through protein-sparing modified fasts. But does your body respond to this the way you might expect? Learn how muscle building actually works and how to optimize your approach to building muscle with minimal fat gain. And if you want YOUR question answered with this level of detail, join our free Wits and Weights Facebook group and use the #AskPhilip monthly thread. Support the show 🎓 Lose fat for good in Physique University, now just $27/mo (tap here and I’ll create a FREE custom nutrition plan when you join) 👥 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)

    8 min
  5. Organic, Grass-Fed, and Natural - What Food Labels DON'T Tell You (Natalie Kovarik) | Ep 346

    JUL 11

    Organic, Grass-Fed, and Natural - What Food Labels DON'T Tell You (Natalie Kovarik) | Ep 346

    Are you overpaying for food that’s supposed to be healthier? Have food labels like “grass-fed,” “non-GMO,” and “all-natural” been misleading you? What if the truth behind your grocery cart was simpler and way less stressful? Natalie Kovarik, a fourth-generation cattle rancher and co-host of the Discover Ag podcast, joins me to clear up the confusion. We go behind the food labels to talk about what matters when it comes to nutrition, budgeting, and values, and what’s just clever marketing. Whether you're training hard, feeding your family, or just trying to make better choices, this will help you shop smarter without the overwhelm. Today, you’ll learn all about: 0:00 – Intro 2:18 – Why “non-GMO” frustrates farmers 4:06 – What is greenwashing? 5:39 – Organic vs all-natural vs grass-fed 7:44 – Smarter ways to shop on a budget 13:13 – The huge impact of food waste 16:10 – Grain-fed vs grass-fed nutrition 24:28 – How safe is your grocery store milk? 32:31 – Glyphosate and the dirty dozen 41:06 – Why fresh and local still matter 45:05 – Safe vs healthy: important distinction 48:10 – Debunking myths about factory farms Episode resources: Website: discoverag.com and kovarikcattleco.com Instagram: @nataliekovarik and @discoveragpodcast Tiktok: @discoveragpodcastPodcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/discover-ag/id1615443750 Youtube: @Discoveragpodcast  Support the show 🎓 Lose fat for good in Physique University, now just $27/mo (tap here and I’ll create a FREE custom nutrition plan when you join) 👥 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)

    52 min
  6. JUL 9

    The PERMA Framework - 5 Pillars of Positive Psychology for Sustainable Fat Loss | Ep 345

    Join my email list for exclusive content on the psychology of transformation that you won't find anywhere else. Go to witsandweights.com/email -- Struggling with fat loss despite knowing exactly what to do? You're not alone. The answer isn't about knowledge, it's about psychology.  Learn how the PERMA framework from positive psychology reveals the 5 psychological elements that separate people who sustain their transformation from those who remain stuck. Discover how to engineer your fat loss approach to work WITH your psychology instead of against it, creating conditions where healthy behaviors actually feel good to maintain. Main Takeaways: The intelligence paradox: Why smart people often struggle most with sustainable fat lossThe 5 PERMA elements: Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and AccomplishmentHow to systematically engineer psychological momentum into your fat loss approachWhy traditional approaches focus on mechanics but miss the psychological infrastructureHow to audit yourself across the PERMA dimensions to identify your weakest areaTimestamps: 0:01 - The intelligence paradox in fat loss 3:22 - Why smart people struggle with fat loss 5:06 - Introduction to the PERMA framework 6:17 - P: Positive Emotion and cognitive flexibility 8:31 - E: Engagement and finding flow states 10:50 - R: Relationships and social connection 13:07 - M: Meaning and purpose-driven goals 14:05 - A: Accomplishment and self-efficacy 17:24 - How to engineer YOUR psychology Support the show 🎓 Lose fat for good in Physique University, now just $27/mo (tap here and I’ll create a FREE custom nutrition plan when you join) 👥 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)

    24 min
  7. JUL 7

    7 Fat Loss Tips from 70 Years of Research | Ep 344

    Grab your free Ultimate Macros Guide ebook to implement everything covered in today's episode with specific formulas and practical steps. Go to witsandweights.com/free -- What really works for fat loss? After 70 years of scientific research spanning thousands of studies and millions of participants, the truth is both simpler and more nuanced than the fitness industry would have you believe. Forget the latest fat loss hack or magic supplement. After 70 years of rigorous research (thousands of studies spanning from NASA's bedrest experiments in the 1970s to today's landmark trials), science has identified 7 key principles that determine fat loss success. These aren't TikTok trends or new theories. They're evidence-based principles proven over and over again in controlled studies, meta-analyses, and real-world applications. Main Takeaways: A calorie deficit remains non-negotiable for fat loss, but the method to create it is highly flexibleProtein preserves muscle and controls hunger through multiple mechanismsResistance training beats cardio for body composition every single timeDiet adherence matters more than diet type when calories are controlledNEAT (non-exercise activity) can swing your daily calorie burn by up to 2,000 caloriesMuscle mass serves as your metabolic insurance policy for long-term successSustainable approaches always beat aggressive "quick fix" methodsEpisode Resources: Try MacroFactor for free with code WITSANDWEIGHTSDownload our popular ebook, Ultimate Macros GuideRelated episode: The 3+3 Optimal Model of Fat LossTimestamps: 0:01 - 70 years of research distilled into 7 principles 3:28 - Principle #1: A calorie deficit is required 7:23 - Principle #2: Protein is king 11:13 - Principle #3: Resistance training is best for body composition 15:45 - Principle #4: Diet adherence beats diet type 19:56 - Principle #5: NEAT can make or break your deficit 25:09 - Principle #6: Muscle mass is your fat loss insurance policy 29:39 - Principle #7: Sustainability vs. speed 35:36 - How these principles work together for life optimization Support the show 🎓 Lose fat for good in Physique University, now just $27/mo (tap here and I’ll create a FREE custom nutrition plan when you join) 👥 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)

    40 min

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4.8
out of 5
202 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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