The Discover Strength Podcast: Recent Episodes
Logan Emmett Herlihy
Busy people don't have time to waste on exercise that doesn't work. The Discover Strength Podcast focuses on bringing on the best minds in the field of evidence-based exercise so you can look and feel your best in a fraction of the time.
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, Luke Carlson explores the power of an essentialist approach to exercise: focusing on the few things that actually drive the majority of results. Rather than getting distracted by optimization, new trends, and minor details, what should we really be prioritizing?
Luke breaks down the fundamentals of an effective, sustainable exercise program, including high-intensity resistance training, progressive overload, adequate recovery, and intelligent cardiovascular exercise. He also discusses why sustainability and safety matter more than chasing the “perfect” workout, and why the best program is ultimately the one you can continue doing for years to come.
The message is simple: don’t major in minor things. Focus on what matters most, and let the rest take a back seat.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
What does it take to stay active, engaged, and optimistic at 96 years old?
On this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson sits down with Ben Jaffray—a 10-year Discover Strength client, Air Force veteran, former Cargill executive, philanthropist, and lifelong learner—to discuss a remarkable life spanning nearly a century.
Ben shares the lessons he's learned from military service, leadership, business, and aging with purpose. He explains why it's never too late to contribute, why fulfillment matters more than wealth, and how strength training has given him the vitality and confidence to continue living life on his terms.
Whether you're 30, 60, or 90, this conversation is filled with timeless wisdom about resilience, relationships, leadership, and the power of investing in your health.
In this episode:
- Why it's never too late to start strength training
- Leadership lessons from the military and business
- How to build a meaningful career—and an even more meaningful life
- The connection between strength, confidence, and independence
- What healthy aging really looks like at 96
- Why purpose—not retirement—is the key to longevity
This episode is a reminder that strength isn't just about muscles—it's about living a life of purpose for as long as possible.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, Luke Carlson examines a recent systematic review and meta-analysis exploring one of the most overlooked variables in resistance training: repetition speed.
Most people lift weights at whatever pace feels natural. But what happens when you intentionally control the tempo of every repetition?
Luke breaks down the latest research on tempo-controlled resistance training and explains how slowing down your repetitions may improve communication between your brain and muscles, enhance neuromuscular function, and produce greater strength gains than self-paced lifting. Along the way, he explores why repetition speed has been largely ignored in traditional fitness settings—and why it has been a cornerstone of the Discover Strength approach for years.
If you've ever wondered whether the speed of your repetitions really matters, this episode offers an evidence-based answer.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
Does body weight matter more than fitness when it comes to living a longer, healthier life?
In this episode, Luke Carlson explores a brand-new meta-analysis published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine examining the relationship between body mass index (BMI), cardiorespiratory fitness, and mortality. The findings reinforce decades of research behind the "Fit-Fat Paradox": individuals who are physically fit—even if they are overweight—often have a lower risk of premature death than individuals who are lean but unfit.
Luke breaks down what this research means for exercisers, explains why fitness and body weight are not the same thing, and discusses why improving your VO₂ max and muscle strength should be prioritized over simply chasing a lower number on the scale. He also examines why exercise is remarkably effective at improving fitness but relatively ineffective for weight loss—and why that's actually good news.
If your goal is longevity, this episode offers an evidence-based perspective that may completely change how you think about health, fitness, and body composition.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
What makes a business more than just four walls?
In this thought-provoking episode, Discover Strength CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson explores the idea of a "church with no religion"—an analogy he has used for decades to describe organizations that have facilities, products, and services but lack a clear philosophy or way of doing things.
Luke discusses why Discover Strength was built around principles rather than equipment, and why a company's beliefs should outlive its physical location. He shares the foundational ideas that guide Discover Strength, including evidence-based resistance training, the professionalization of exercise physiologists, an unwavering commitment to safety, servant leadership, and the pursuit of continuous improvement.
Whether you're a fitness enthusiast, business leader, entrepreneur, or someone interested in building a values-driven organization, this episode offers a compelling perspective on what it means to create something that stands for more than the services it provides.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
How much strength training do you really need if you also enjoy running, cycling, pickleball, yoga, Pilates, hiking, or recreational sports?
In this episode, Discover Strength CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson explores the science and practicality of combining strength training with the other activities you love. He discusses the often-misunderstood "interference effect," explains why strength training remains the foundation of long-term health and fitness, and outlines three common approaches to balancing exercise, recreation, and performance goals.
Busy people do not have time to waste on exercise that doesn't work. Tune in to learn how to make strength training fit alongside everything else you love to do.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
This week on the Discover Strength Podcast, Luke Carlson reflects on 20 of the most important business lessons he has learned over two decades of building Discover Strength. To celebrate the company’s 20th anniversary, Luke steps away from exercise science and instead shares the principles that have shaped Discover Strength’s culture, leadership philosophy, and long-term growth strategy.
Throughout the episode, Luke breaks down practical lessons on hiring exceptional people, building a values-driven culture, creating clarity around mission and standards, focusing relentlessly on customer experience, and maintaining long-term thinking in business. Drawing inspiration from influential thinkers like Jim Collins, Luke explains how concepts such as “First Who, Then What” became foundational to the success of Discover Strength.
Rather than offering trendy business hacks or fitness-industry-specific tactics, the conversation focuses on timeless principles applicable to leaders and organizations in any field. The episode is both a reflection on the journey of Discover Strength and a practical leadership guide for entrepreneurs, managers, and anyone interested in building a high-performing organization with purpose and staying power.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
On this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, Luke Carlson shares key takeaways from the 2026 Discover Strength Summit, featuring exercise scientist Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple. Together, they unpack the evidence-based realities surrounding menopause, metabolism, muscle loss, and resistance training for women.
Luke explores why so many women have been misled about exercise, how fear-based fitness messaging has created confusion, and what the latest research actually says about strength training during midlife and beyond. From debunking myths about metabolism slowing during menopause to discussing why exercise should not be viewed solely as a tool for weight loss, this episode delivers practical, science-backed insights every woman should hear.
If you want a clearer understanding of how to train smarter, avoid misinformation, and focus on what truly matters for long-term health and strength, this episode is for you.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
What separates meaningful research from misleading results? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. James Steele to break down the most important—but often overlooked—aspect of exercise science: methodology.
As part of our latest Project Discover study, we go beyond the headlines and dig into how research is actually conducted, why study design matters, and what it takes to produce results you can trust. Because in strength training, it’s not just what a study finds—it’s how it finds it.
If you’ve ever wondered why studies seem to contradict each other, or how to separate high-quality evidence from noise, this episode will change the way you think about fitness research—and how you apply it to your workouts.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
Should you combine strength training and cardio—or does one compromise the other?
In this episode, we explore the concept of concurrent training and the long-debated “interference effect”—the idea that adding cardio to a strength program may blunt gains in muscle size and strength. For decades, researchers and practitioners have debated whether you can truly optimize both at the same time.
We break down a brand-new study investigating strength training alone versus concurrent training, and what the latest evidence tells us about hypertrophy, performance, and overall health outcomes. Does cardio actually interfere with your results, or is the concern overstated?
As always, we cut through the noise and focus on what matters most: how to apply the science in a way that helps you train more effectively—and get better results.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
Eccentric exercise might be the most important and most overlooked component of resistance training.
In this episode, Luke Carlson breaks down the science behind eccentric contractions—the lowering phase of a lift—and explains why this often-neglected portion of an exercise may deliver the greatest return on your investment in the gym.
You’ll learn:
- The fundamental differences between concentric, isometric, and eccentric muscle contractions
- Why eccentric training produces superior strength and hypertrophy adaptations
- How eccentric loading impacts muscle physiology and long-term health outcomes
- Practical ways to incorporate eccentric-focused training into your workouts
If your goal is to train smarter, not just harder, this episode will challenge how you think about every repetition you perform.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode, we break down key insights from one of the largest gatherings in the fitness industry, where thousands of operators, leaders, and innovators came together to discuss the future of health and strength training.
We explore what’s actually changing—AI, operations, and scaling businesses—and what isn’t: the enduring importance of human connection, high-quality coaching, and evidence-based training.
If you’re interested in where the fitness industry is headed (and where Discover Strength fits into that future), this conversation highlights the trends that matter—and the noise that doesn’t.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson breaks down new research on resistance training and fat loss. He reviews a recent study published in Frontiers in Endocrinology and connects it to over a decade of evidence on how strength training influences body composition.
Luke explains why the goal of weight loss should be fat loss—not just a lower number on the scale—and how resistance training helps preserve or increase lean muscle while maximizing fat reduction. He also explores the critical role of abdominal fat in cardiometabolic risk and what the latest findings reveal about reducing central obesity.
If you want to understand the science behind “high-quality weight loss” and why lifting weights is essential for long-term health and weight maintenance, this episode delivers the key takeaways.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson shares six underrated business books that have had a meaningful influence on him. Drawing on lessons from mentors, personal reading habits, and years of leadership experience, Luke explains why these books have been so impactful.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, Luke Carlson sits down with Rick Rignell to reflect on the life and legacy of Kim Wood, one of the most influential figures in the history of strength training.
Kim Wood was the NFL’s first full-time strength and conditioning coach, serving the Cincinnati Bengals for nearly three decades and helping shape how professional athletes train to this day. Long before strength training was widely accepted in professional sports, Kim was pioneering methods focused on strength training, discipline, and long-term athlete development.
Luke and Rick share personal stories and firsthand experiences with Kim, discussing his mentorship, his larger-than-life presence in the weight room, and the profound impact he had on their careers and perspectives on training. The conversation highlights not only Kim’s contributions to professional football, but also the values he instilled—work ethic, humility, and respect for the process.
This episode serves as a tribute to a true pioneer whose influence continues to be felt throughout the strength training industry.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
As Luke prepares for an upcoming marathon, he shares what this endurance-focused training is teaching him about strength, fatigue, and exercise adaptation. In this episode, we explore how marathon training impacts muscle, why endurance and strength produce very different outcomes, and how Luke is balancing high-mileage running while maintaining strength. A practical look at training tradeoffs—and what they mean for anyone trying to get fitter, stronger, and healthier.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode, Luke Carlson reflects on what he believes was an exceptional year for exercise science research. He breaks down 5 excellent research papers and important conclusions that can be drawn from them.
If you care about evidence-based training, intelligent decision-making, and separating signal from noise in the fitness industry, this conversation will sharpen your perspective.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Loenneke sits down with Luke to discuss strength training, health, and evidence-based fitness for long-term results. They break down common exercise myths, explain why consistency matters more than intensity, and explore how strength training improves longevity, muscle mass, metabolism, and overall quality of life as we age.
The conversation covers practical, time-efficient workouts, sustainable fitness habits, and how to approach training when motivation is low. This episode is ideal for anyone interested in strength training for longevity, healthy aging, and building lifelong fitness through simple, effective exercise.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
Most people approach fitness goals the same way they approach a New Year’s resolution—focused on outcomes, timelines, and motivation. And most people abandon them just as quickly.
In this episode, we take a different approach.
Drawing from years of coaching experience with executives and high-performing professionals, this conversation reframes how to think about fitness, health, and long-term performance. Instead of asking what you want to achieve, we explore the more important question: what can you realistically sustain when life gets busy, stressful, and unpredictable?
You’ll learn why outcome-based goals often fail, how shifting your focus to process creates consistency, and how to design a fitness plan that actually fits into real life—not ideal conditions. Whether you’re setting goals for the year ahead or rethinking an approach that hasn’t worked in the past, this episode offers a practical, evidence-based framework for building momentum that lasts.
This is a conversation about sustainability, discipline, and playing the long game with your health—without gimmicks, shortcuts, or burnout.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
Can you build muscle and lose fat in your late 60s or 70s—even after years of consistent training?
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson walks listeners through the real-life body composition journey of his own mother, who began strength training in her 50s and continued into her mid-70s. Using 8 years of Bod Pod data, Luke unpacks how she gained over 6 pounds of lean muscle and lost 12 pounds of fat.
This example provides a a powerful, evidence-based case for what consistent resistance training, adequate protein intake, and creatine supplementation can do for your fitness journey. You’ll learn: Why building muscle later in life is possible despite being more difficult, how Bod Pod tests reveal deeper insights than a scale ever could, and why a consistent strength training routine can aid in muscle growth at older ages.
This is a data-rich look at how aging doesn't have to mean decline.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, Luke Carlson sits down with Ulrich Dempfle, CEO and co-founder of Carol Bike, to discuss how Reduced Exertion High-Intensity Interval Training (REHIT) is transforming the world of cardio. Built on cutting-edge scientific research, REHIT protocols deliver remarkable improvements in VO2 max and metabolic health with workouts as short as 5 minutes.
Ulrich explains how Carol Bike was designed from the ground up using lab-validated protocols and integrated AI to create an efficient, automated workout that eliminates excuses like lack of time and complexity. They explore the science behind the two 20-second sprint model, how it compares to traditional cardio and HIIT, and why shorter, more intense efforts may be more effective for both longevity and adherence.
Learn more about CAROL and the most efficient workout.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, CEO Luke Carlson is joined by a powerhouse panel including Discover Strength leaders and Dr. James Fisher for a roundtable discussion straight from the Strength Forum in Orlando, Florida.
The Strength Forum is a small, annual conference hosted by Discover Strength that brings together like-minded resistance exercise practitioners, physicians, and researchers from around the world to explore all aspects of evidence-based resistance training.
Together, the panel shares their top takeaways from this intimate, high-level event—including the acute and chronic benefits of resistance training, the real-world value of 3x3 and 4x4 training protocols, pain desensitization strategies, return-to-exercise considerations, and the legacies of pioneers like Arthur Jones and Casey Viator.
Whether you're a trainer, clinician, or someone who simply wants to train smarter, this episode delivers science-backed insights to help you elevate your understanding and application of resistance exercise.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
Can your workout make you a better leader?
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson explores the science and psychology behind the powerful connection between physical training and leadership performance.
Drawing from published research and real-world leadership examples—from John D. Rockefeller to Jerry Seinfeld—Luke makes the case that consistent, high-effort exercise isn’t just good for your health, it’s a foundational habit for mental clarity, resilience, decision-making, and leading effectively under pressure.
You’ll learn:
- Why physical training enhances cognitive performance and stress management
- How great leaders across industries prioritize fitness as a non-negotiable habit
- The link between deliberate practice in training and high-performance leadership
Whether you’re leading a team or company, this episode will challenge how you think about the role of exercise in your leadership effectiveness.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson is joined by longtime client Dr. Brian Davis to discuss his journey to increasing lean muscle, losing fat, getting stronger, and pursuing healthy aging.
With over 10 years of training at Discover Strength, Dr. Davis shares how pairing evidence-based strength training with a GLP-1 allowed him to lose significant weight without sacrificing muscle or metabolic health. He reflects on the mindset, consistency, and simple workout structure that helped him stay strong and resilient through the highs and lows of life.
This real-world success story is packed with insights for anyone navigating body change, modern weight loss interventions, and the science of healthy aging.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
What’s the difference between living long and living well? In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson dives into the critical distinction between longevity and healthy aging—and how strength training plays a foundational role in both.
Luke breaks down what the latest research says about the lifestyle factors that actually impact healthspan, including resistance training, cardiorespiratory fitness, and nutrition. He also challenges some of today’s most popular longevity trends—from extreme Zone 2 cardio to endless bloodwork—to refocus the conversation on what’s evidence-based, practical, and proven to work.
You’ll learn:
- Why VO2 max and muscle mass are two of the strongest predictors of mortality
- The overlooked power of resistance training in aging well
- How to align your fitness goals with actual health outcomes—not fads
- Why Discover Strength’s training model supports both performance and long-term health
If you’re chasing longevity, this episode will help you cut through the noise and build a strategy that lasts.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this compelling discussion, Discover Strength CEO Luke Carlson is joined by world-renowned exercise researcher Dr. James Fisher to unpack the growing global recognition of resistance training as medicine.
Fresh off the Health & Fitness Association European Congress in Amsterdam, Luke and Dr. Fisher explore the clinical power of strength training—from reversing chronic disease to transforming how healthcare systems could view fitness professionals.
You’ll learn:
- Why resistance training is the most potent tool for healthspan and longevity
- How myokines turn muscle into the body's largest endocrine organ
- The case for a minimal effective dose—and why less can be more
- What needs to change for healthcare and fitness to finally integrate
- Why the best program isn’t the most advanced—it’s the one you’ll stick with for life
This episode bridges science and practice, offering evidence-backed insights on how we can reshape exercise into a true medical intervention.
“If strength training were a pill, every doctor would prescribe it.” — Tune in to hear why.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson shares how putting simplicity at the center of your life—from your business to your workouts—can transform your results.
Drawing inspiration from Essentialism by Greg McKeown, Insanely Simple by Ken Segall, and The One Thing by Gary Keller, Luke explores how a minimalist mindset leads to greater clarity, deeper focus, and measurable outcomes.
You’ll learn:
- How Apple’s obsession with simplicity mirrors Discover Strength’s training model
- Why strength training twice per week for 30 minutes is the most effective, efficient form of exercise
- How to apply first-principles thinking to your work, workouts, and life
- Why “doing less, but better” is the key to long-term success in health and business
If you're overwhelmed by complexity or tired of overtraining, this episode will show you why simplifying is the ultimate strategy.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this powerful solo episode, Discover Strength CEO and Exercise Physiologist Luke Carlson unpacks a newly published review paper in the journal Physical Education and Sports, Studies and Research titled “A Critical Analysis of the Disconnection Between Science and Practice in Weight Training.”
Drawing from a systematic review of 47 studies, Luke reveals a troubling truth: most fitness professionals, physical therapists, and even coaches lack up-to-date knowledge on resistance training, perpetuating myths and misinformation.
You’ll learn:
- Why the life-changing benefits of resistance training—cardiometabolic health, reduced mortality, injury prevention, improved mental health—are still under-communicated.
- How social media and industry culture drive misinformation about what actually works.
- Why Discover Strength exists: to lead a movement in evidence-based resistance training.
Luke shares personal reflections on his early passion for science and the founding purpose of Discover Strength—to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world fitness practice.
This episode will challenge you to think more critically, become a smarter fitness consumer, and help spread the truth about what works—and what doesn’t—when it comes to exercise.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, CEO Luke Carlson breaks down the rise of popular fitness trends—like walking with a weighted vest, cold plunging, Zone 2 cardio, yoga, and Pilates—and asks the critical question every smart fitness consumer should start with: “What is your objective?”
Luke explores how trends gain momentum through podcast influencers, social media, and industry supply chains—often without evidence of efficacy. He explains the difference between mechanistic science (what should work) and real-world evidence (what does work), urging listeners to anchor their fitness decisions in outcomes, not hype.
You’ll learn: Why weighted vests probably won’t help bone density or fat loss The science (and limits) behind cold plunges and inflammation Whether Pilates or yoga truly deliver on toning, flexibility, or mindfulness How to filter trends through the lens of scientific efficacy and personal goals
If you're a time-conscious, evidence-seeking exerciser—or simply confused by the ever-changing fitness landscape—this episode will help you cut through the noise.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, CEO Luke Carlson is joined by Dr. James Fisher, a globally recognized exercise scientist, to explore what happens in our bodies from the very first weeks of resistance training through years of disciplined effort. They break down the neurological adaptations that drive early strength gains, the morphological changes that come later, and what advanced trainees can do to keep progressing. You'll learn about muscle architecture, sarcomere genesis, the myth of continuous muscle growth, and how to use advanced techniques like breakdown sets, eccentric overload, supersets, and lengthened partials to maximize hypertrophy and strength—no matter your training age. This is a masterclass in evidence-based resistance training you won’t want to miss.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
What do Steve Jobs and your next strength workout have in common? In this episode, Discover Strength CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson tells the surprising story of how a freshman-year paper on high-intensity training (HIT) led to an unforgettable analogy: HIT is the Apple of strength training.
Luke explores how HIT—rooted in evidence-based, efficient, and safe exercise—shares the same ethos of simplicity, sophistication, and innovation that defined Apple under Steve Jobs. He breaks down the foundational tenets of HIT, from training to failure and controlled eccentric movements, to training less frequently but with more focus—all backed by decades of scientific literature.
If you're a Discover Strength client, you're already training in this smarter, research-backed way. But as Luke reveals, most of the fitness world is still stuck in outdated thinking.
🔬 Whether you’re a trainer, leader, or someone looking to optimize your workouts, this episode reinforces why Discover Strength’s approach is not just different—it’s better.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson interviews Dr. Brendon Gurd of Queen's University to unpack one of the biggest fitness buzzwords of the last five years: Zone 2 training.
Dr. Gurd breaks down his recently published paper in Sports Medicine, titled “Much Ado About Zone 2”, and reveals what the current science says about the efficacy of Zone 2 training for improving mitochondrial function and cardiorespiratory fitness.
Listeners will gain clarity on:
- What Zone 2 actually means in exercise physiology
- Why the 80/20 training model may be misunderstood
- How Zone 2 compares to high-intensity training for mitochondrial adaptation
- The myth of the “fat-burning zone”
- Practical cardio recommendations for busy people who want maximum results in minimal time
Whether you're a biohacker, fitness enthusiast, or strength training purist, this episode will reshape how you think about cardio—and how to integrate it intelligently alongside resistance training.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
What separates a good strength training session from a great one? In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, CEO Luke Carlson is joined by three of the brand’s most experienced exercise physiologists—Rick Regnell, Kayla Ezuck, and Taylor Melvin—for a candid conversation rooted in over 100,000 training sessions.
They break down the habits and mindset traits that expert trainers notice—and deeply respect—in high-performing clients. From mastering form under fatigue to communicating clearly and showing up with consistency, this episode is packed with insight for anyone serious about getting more from their strength training.
Whether you're a Discover Strength client, a fitness professional, or simply someone committed to training smart, this conversation will elevate your understanding of what it means to truly be coachable.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this pivotal episode, Discover Strength CEO Luke Carlson dives deep into the core purpose and bold 10-year vision that will shape the future of the company—and potentially, the entire fitness industry. Luke unpacks the driving force behind Discover Strength’s mission: to lead a movement in evidence-based exercise, and outlines the newly defined BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal): to become the destination for resistance exercise as medicine by 2035, with 250 studios nationwide.
Learn how foundational principles from Jim Collins, Simon Sinek, and classic BHAG examples (like SpaceX, Disney, and Nike) have inspired the long-game strategy behind Discover Strength’s next chapter. Whether you're a fitness entrepreneur, exercise scientist, or simply a passionate advocate for smarter workouts, this episode offers a masterclass in purpose-driven leadership and brand alignment.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
Discover Strength CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson takes you behind the scenes of Project Discover—our ongoing effort to advance the science of strength training and lead the movement in evidence-based exercise.
In this episode, Luke shares:
- The history of Discover Strength’s published research and collaborations with Dr. James Fisher and Dr. James Steele.
- Why our supervised, high-quality training environment is ideal for groundbreaking studies.
- Highlights from past studies on pre-exhaustion, eccentric training, breakdown sets, virtual training, and lengthened partials.
- The myth-busting findings from our heavy vs. light weights for fat loss study.
- Details on our largest study to date—a deep dive into volume (one set vs. three sets) and its impact on muscle growth.
If you care about training that’s grounded in science—not fads—this episode shows why Discover Strength is the destination for resistance exercise as medicine.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this powerful solo episode, Luke Carlson—CEO of Discover Strength shares 20 hard-earned lessons from completing 30 marathons over the past two decades. Blending cutting-edge exercise science with personal experimentation, Luke explores the real factors that drive performance: running economy, durability, strength training, progressive overload, nutrition, body composition, mental fortitude, and more.
Listeners will learn:
- Why strength training is essential for runners—and how it improves late-race performance
- How durability (not VO2 max) may be the best predictor of marathon success
- The truth about running and fat loss (spoiler: it's not what you think)
- The critical role of mantras, mindset, and reference groups
- How tapering, fueling, and data tracking can make or break your race day
Whether you're an endurance athlete, a coach, or someone who loves geeking out on training science, this episode will challenge your assumptions and elevate your approach.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
Fitness content is everywhere—but how do you separate science from sound bites?
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson shares four expert-backed filters for determining whether fitness information is credible. Learn why flashy confidence is a red flag, why you shouldn’t blindly follow the fittest person in the room, and how real experts lean into scientific nuance—not oversimplified answers.
You’ll learn:
✅ Why conviction isn’t credibility
✅ Why “fit” doesn’t mean “right”
✅ How to recognize when an “expert” is speaking outside their domain
✅ What it really means to be science-based
If you're serious about evidence-based training, this is your filter.
Listen now—and share it with a friend who deserves better advice.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
For years, we've been told that losing weight is the key to better health. But what if everything you thought you knew about fitness and fatness is wrong? In this episode, Discover Strength CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson unpacks the science behind the Fit and Fat Paradox — revealing why being aerobically fit and strong matters far more than the number on the scale.
You’ll learn:
- Why fitness (VO2 Max and strength) trumps weight as a predictor of mortality
- How healthcare professionals and even fitness experts fall into anti-fat bias
- The surprising role strength training plays in improving both aerobic capacity and longevity
- Why resistance training should be the cornerstone of your exercise routine if you're serious about health
At Discover Strength, we believe busy people don’t have time to waste on exercise that doesn’t work. We deliver 30-minute strength workouts, twice per week, with an expert trainer to help you look and feel your best, in a fraction of the time.
Subscribe, share, and discover why evidence-based resistance training is the new medicine.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson breaks down three powerful "here and now" techniques to immediately improve the quality of your next strength training workout. From eliminating momentum at the start of each rep, to applying maximum effort with proper intent, and maintaining perfect form regardless of how many reps you did last time—these science-backed strategies will elevate every set. Whether you're an elite athlete or training for longevity, these principles apply to you.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
On this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, CEO Luke Carlson is joined by Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple, a leading researcher at McMaster University, to bust the top myths about strength training for women, especially during menopause. They unpack the truth about lifting heavy, the role of estrogen, cortisol misconceptions, and the science behind “cycle syncing.” Dr. Colenso-Semple also shares practical, research-backed guidelines for effective resistance training at any age—and why it doesn’t need to be complicated.
Follow Dr. Colenso-Semple on Instagram: @dr.lauren.cs1
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, CEO Luke Carlson is joined by esteemed strength training researcher Dr. James Fisher for a special “10 Questions” conversation. With over 130 scientific publications to his name, Dr. Fisher dives deep into some of the most pressing topics in resistance training today—from the science behind training at long muscle lengths and the most common myths about women and strength training, to the minimal effective dose for strength gains and the role of supervision in maximizing workout outcomes. They also explore Dr. Fisher’s thoughts on optimal training intensity, misconceptions around volume, strength training for older adults, and underappreciated cognitive benefits. This wide-ranging, research-backed discussion is packed with practical insights for fitness professionals and enthusiasts alike.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
n this episode, CEO Luke Carlson recaps six powerful insights from the 2025 Discover Strength Summit in Dallas. From expert perspectives on pain management and resistance training for older adults, to hospitality-driven leadership lessons and the fight against health misinformation—this episode is packed with actionable takeaways for fitness professionals and clients alike.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson dives into groundbreaking new research on how strength training enhances running economy and durability for long-distance runners. Fresh off the Boston Marathon, Luke shares key findings from a study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, explaining why strength training isn't just beneficial—it's essential for maintaining performance late in a race.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
On this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson is joined by Dr. Alyssa Larish, academic obstetrician, researcher at the Mayo Clinic, and competitive athlete. They dive into the latest evidence around exercise and pregnancy, the benefits of resistance training for maternal and fetal health, common myths, safe training guidelines, and how to optimize postpartum recovery. Dr. Larrish also shares her own training journey as she prepares for a speed climb on Everest.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson challenges one of the biggest myths in fitness — that more is better when it comes to strength training. Luke unpacks the history behind the popular "3 sets of 10" approach, shares insights from his time with the Minnesota Vikings, and breaks down decades of research supporting single-set training. Learn why doing less can actually help you achieve more strength, muscle growth, and health benefits — all while saving time.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson breaks down the latest research on protein and how it can amplify the benefits of your strength training. Luke shares a practical 5-point protein action plan, covering everything from how much protein you need, when to consume it, and why it's especially important as you age or aim to improve body composition.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson breaks down three essential strategies for effectively integrating strength training into your competition prep—no matter the sport.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
Live from Las Vegas, Discover Strength CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson is joined by a panel of experts—David Geschneidner, Rick Ricknell, and Taylor Melvin—to break down the six biggest insights from the Health & Fitness Association’s 2025 Convention.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode, Luke Carlson dives into groundbreaking new research on the effects of strength training for women across different stages of menopause. Published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, this study examines how hormonal changes impact strength gains, balance, and muscle adaptation.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode, Discover Strength CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson shares the ten books that have had the greatest impact on his leadership, business philosophy, and the foundation of Discover Strength. Dividing them into three categories—business, leadership, and biographies—Luke discusses why these books matter and how their insights can shape the way you think about work, leadership, and building a successful company. Whether you're an entrepreneur, leader, or just passionate about growth, this episode will give you a powerful reading list to elevate your thinking.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, Luke Carlson explores the growing popularity of strength training and the critical role that machines play in maximizing results. With the fitness industry shifting towards resistance training, Luke debunks common myths surrounding free weights and highlights seven key benefits of using strength training machines.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
Join Luke Carlson, CEO of Discover Strength, as he dives into the science behind improving body composition and the evolution of the Body Comp Challenge, a program that has helped clients build muscle and lose fat for over 16 years. Luke shares the origins of the challenge, the latest research on strength training, protein intake, and fat loss, and what Discover Strength has learned along the way.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
Join Luke Carlson, CEO of Discover Strength and exercise physiologist, as he shares five practical strategies for staying motivated when you don’t feel like working out.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson dives into the popular yet often misunderstood topic of core training. Luke explores the origins and evolution of core training, its widespread popularity in fitness culture, and its scientific validity. He clarifies what the "core" actually encompasses and addresses common misconceptions about its role in improving performance, preventing injuries, and achieving aesthetic goals.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson explores the impact of resistance training on body composition. Luke explains how strength training increases lean muscle tissue at any age, enhancing resting metabolic rate and long-term fat reduction. He dives into the benefits of training to muscle failure, which boosts calorie expenditure post-workout, and contrasts this with the limited calorie-burning effects of aerobic exercise. Luke emphasizes the importance of assessing body composition, not just weight loss, to focus on fat loss and retain muscle mass. This episode provides practical insights into improving body composition through evidence-based strength training strategies.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson dives into one of the most enduring myths in strength training: the belief that repetition ranges and weight loads exclusively determine muscle strength, endurance, size, and tone. Luke debunks these misconceptions with research-backed insights, emphasizing that reaching muscle failure—whether at 5 reps with heavy weight or 45 reps with light weight—is the critical factor in achieving strength and endurance improvements.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, Luke Carlson has three special guests on to discuss the Lengthened Partials Study that was conducted across 15 Discover Strength locations. James Fisher PhD, James Steele PhD, and David Gschneidner will discuss the importance of this study, the design, and the results! We want to thank all of the exercise physiologists who were involved in conducting these workouts and the clients who participated. This is the largest study of its kind, and we are driven and excited to continue adding to the body of resistance exercise research.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, Luke Carlson dives into the critical focus of injury prevention and safe strength training practices. Drawing from decades of experience in professional sports and fitness, Luke explores the philosophy of “first, do no harm” and offers actionable insights to ensure your workouts build strength without compromising your health.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson delves into a new study on single-set versus multiple-set strength training. Discover the evidence-based insights on training to failure, its impact on muscle growth, power, and endurance, and how this research challenges decades of conventional wisdom.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson delves into eccentric muscle contractions. Learn why the often-overlooked "lowering phase" of strength training exercises is more beneficial than lifting, and how focusing on eccentrics can lead to greater strength, hypertrophy, and even faster recovery. From practical workout tips to groundbreaking research, Luke explores the magic of eccentrics, their role in targeting fast-twitch muscle fibers, and their applications for athletes, aging populations, and rehabilitation.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson dives deep into the concept of progressive overload—a foundational principle of strength training.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, host Luke Carlson, CEO of Discover Strength and an exercise physiologist, dives into the fourth Workout Focus in this mini-series: momentary muscle failure. This concept shifts the emphasis from the number of reps or the weight lifted to the importance of training until you can no longer perform another repetition with perfect form.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode, Luke Carlson, CEO of Discover Strength and exercise physiologist, dives into the vital role of recovery in optimizing strength training results. Often overlooked, recovery is where the real magic happens—allowing your body to repair, rebuild, and reap the benefits of your hard work.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson dives into the second installment of the "Workout Focus" series. The topic? The power of one set. Luke unpacks the science behind why a single, intense set can produce the same—if not better—strength training results compared to the traditional 3 sets of 10 approach. He delves into the history of sets, the role of muscle fiber recruitment, and the surprising findings on calorie burn and time efficiency.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
We are launching a mini-series! Over the next 12 weeks, Luke will discuss one thing each week that you can obsess over before your workouts so you can get more out of them. These are foundational to any strength training workout, and you also have control over these 12 focuses.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, Luke Carlson discusses Steven Covey's concept of "Sharpen the Saw" from his 1989 best-seller, "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People." Covey challenges the reader to have mechanisms to "sharpen the saw" in 4 different components: Physical, social, emotional, spiritual, and emotional. Luke walks through what his "saw sharpening" mechanisms are to inspire you to create your own.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, Luke Carlson discusses the "Never Stop Improving" ethos.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode Luke discusses a new research article that gives a simple but comprehensive framework for how we can look at the benefits of what strength training stimulates.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode, Luke Carlson, CEO and Exercise Physiologist, details 5 approaches to measuring progress from your strength training workouts. Anything worth doing is worth measuring.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, Luke Carlson, CEO of Discover Strength and Exercise Physiologist, goes deep on the importance of form in your workouts.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the United States. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode, Luke is joined by Dr. Sarah Carlson, who is a family medicine physician, to discuss GLP-1 Drugs, what they are, how they are used, and how they affect our muscle mass.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, Luke discusses 10 evidence-based workout amplifiers that will optimize your results. These strategies can be implemented before, during, or after your workout. This is a must-listen!
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
On today's episode, we pivot to a topic related to business. In this episode, Luke Carlson, CEO of Discover Strength and exercise physiologist, walks through 6 frameworks for resilient thinking during tumultuous times.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode, Luke is joined by Dr. James Fisher where they discuss a new project involving Discover Strength Clients. The main focus of the project is the perception of supervision during strength training and how those perceptions are different between male and female participants.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, Luke discusses the lessons learned from legendary NFL strength and conditioning coaches Dan Riley and Steve Wetzel and how these lessons actually impact our workouts today.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode, Luke Carlson discusses a new research article that details the amount of exercise we should be doing and, more importantly, how we can make it more efficient.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, Luke Carlson discusses three pervasive fitness myths that will not die.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this Episode, Luke Carlson discusses 9 common factors of the best workouts he has ever had. This list serves as a guide for productive, safe, intense, evidence-based strength training.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, Luke is joined by a very special guest, Rick Rignell. Rick is a Partner Exercise Physiologist with Discover Strength, and his knowledge of strength training and the machines you are using is a reason this episode is a must-listen.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, Luke talks about all things Olympics, correlation, causation, and whether we should really be taking advice from Olympic athletes.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
Join Luke on this special episode where he pulls back the curtain on Discover Strength to really how we think about the business. Luke walks through the 5 questions that derive the vision of Discover Strength.
- Core Values
- Purpose
- Core Business
- Strategy
- Long Term Goal
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
Join Luke Carlson, CEO of Discover Strength, as he dives into the importance of "Strengthspan" with insights from Dr. Avery Faigenbaum's article in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. 💪🧬
Key Takeaways:
- Start Young: We have to start strong. The weaker we are when we are young, the less likely we are to be active.
- Adulthood: Regular strength training reduces the risk of major diseases and all-cause mortality.
- Stay Strong in Old Age: Maintaining muscle strength improves functional capacity, reduces fall risk, and extends active living.
Strength training isn’t just for athletes; it's essential for all ages!
Listen now and learn how to bridge the gap between "strengthspan" and lifespan.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode, Luke dives into the 5 New Studies and How They Impact Your Next Workout.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode, Luke is joined by David Gschneidner, Discover Strength's vice president of Operations and Exercise Physiologist, and Dr. James Fisher from Solent University to announce the new study being conducted at Discover Strength studios in collaboration with Solent University.
The purpose of the study is to compare the lean muscle adaptations of a Lengthened Partial Protocol vs. Full Range of Motion Resistance Training.
This will be the largest study of its kind.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, Luke discusses how maintaining strength and muscle is crucial to combating sarcopenia and dynapenia as we age. Contrary to popular belief, muscle loss doesn’t happen gradually over time but occurs rapidly due to injuries and inactivity. Dr. Sarah Oikawa’s research shows that after an injury, our strength plummets and stays low until the next injury.
Luke gives 10 points for building strength after injury.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode, Luke sits down with special guest Dr. Martin Gibala to discuss HIIT and Zone Two Training. Dr. Martin Gibala is the world leading researcher from McMaster University in Canada on High Intensity Interval Training and the author of The One-Minute Workout: Science Shows a Way to Get Fit That's Smarter, Faster, Shorter
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode Luke Carlson, CEO of Discover Strength, discusses 6 Strength training elements to double down on.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
This episode is special for two reasons: one, it is Discover Strenghth's 18-year anniversary, and two, Luke is interviewed by a great friend and colleague, Lawrence Neal.
Lawrence Neal is the 10-year host of the High Intensity Business podcast, which has over 460+ episodes.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, Luke debunks the prevalent myth of functional training.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode, Luke sits down with Dr. James Fisher of Solent University in the UK to ask 4 questions about his latest research on exercise. These 4 questions stem from his presentation from the Annual Discover Strength Summit.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode, Luke discusses 9 books to shape your exercise, personal development, and work!
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
Strength training is so much more than building strength. In this episode, Luke Carlson, CEO and Exercise Physiologist, discusses the most underappreciated benefits of strength training.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
What is your objective when it comes to strength training? Are you trying to demonstrate strength, or are you actually creating a meaningful stimulus to develop strength? In this episode, Luke talks about the differences and how we can let go of this old and popular mindset that demonstrating your strength is more important than building strength.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this week's episode, we are joined by James Fisher PhD from Solent University in the UK, to discuss why your workouts should be based on the latest research on exercise.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode, Dr. Chris Lundstrom and Olympian Dakotah Lindwurm discuss their marathon preparation, how they approach marathon training, and the Boston Marathon, which is coming up in just one week. Luke wraps up the episode with how to strength train for distance runners.
To learn more about MN Distance Elite, you can head here!
https://www.minnesotadistanceelite.com/
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
In this episode Luke Carlson discusses the brand new study that was published around supervision. In this study, they had three groups: one group that lifted alone, one that lifted with a training partner, and one that lifted with a personal trainer. Luke talks about the benefits received by each group and why supervision (and training with a personal trainer) is essential.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
Welcome back to the Discover Strength Podcast. After a short hiatus, we are back with a new host, CEO, and founder, Luke Carlson. In this short preview, he will share with you the new format for the podcast and what you can look forward to in the coming weeks!
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
**On this week's episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, we are joined by Dr. James McKendry from McMaster University in Canada. Dr. McKendry is a researcher and Ph.D. fellow at McMaster University and part of former guest Dr. Stuart Phillip's world-renowned lab on protein metabolism. Dr. McKendry joined me this week to discuss a recent paper he was a part of from that lab looking at the benefits of resistance training beyond hypertrophy and strength. The paper is a review that investigates the current literature to give recommendations for resistance training for things other than strength and hypertrophy benefits. We constantly talk about the "other" benefits of resistance training and this paper does a fantastic job of breaking down, in detail many of those other benefits and why they might be important to people.
While strength, muscle growth, and the physiological changes that accompany them are important. There is an abundance of physiological and psychological benefits to resistance training beyond hypertrophy that have almost nothing to do with the physical weights being moved.
The biggest areas of interest in the paper breakdown, in detail, with fantastic graphical displays some of the other major things to keep in mind when it comes to starting and maintaining a resistance training program. Things like mobility and function, cognition, cancer (recovery and possibly mitigation), metabolic health, and overall mortality improvements (meaning helping you live a longer and fuller life).
We recommend a lot of papers on this podcast and in general to our listeners. This is one paper I would suggest everyone reads in its entirety. It is extremely easy to understand and digest and is filled with wonderful visual representations on the importance and impact of resistance training. This is a great paper to share with friends or family who are also on the fence about strength training. Maybe they don't think they "need big muscles" or don't want to get "bulky". Aside from being highly unlikely to attain for the average person this paper examines some of the reasons why EVERYONE should participate in resistance training in at least some capacity. It also gives some recommendations on how to do so, recommendations very similar to what our listeners will be familiar with.
Link to paper HERE**.
If you or someone you know is interested in trying a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way! Send any inquiries HERE **to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.
Have you ever thought about owning a Discover Strength Franchise all your own? If so visit our website link HERE to learn more, and start your journey to owning and operating your very own Discover Strength!**
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
**In this weeks episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" Dr. Westcott and I discuss the research on the plethora of benefits that resistance training has to offer that go well beyond strength and added muscle mass.
Dr. Wayne Westcott, is a professor and chair of Exercise Science at Quincy College in Quincy, Massachusetts. He has authored 30 books, written strength training chapters for 4 National Strength and Conditioning Association textbooks and 5 American Council on Exercise textbooks, published 95 peer-reviewed research and academic papers, and served as the Health & Fitness columnist for ACSM’s Certified News from 2010 through 2017.**
**Wayne has been a featured speaker for numerous professional organizations, including national meetings of the American College of Sports Medicine, the American College of Nutrition, the Harvard Medical School International Conference on Obesity, and the Harvard Medical School Lifestyle Medicine Conference. He has also been a strength training consultant for many organizations, including the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Coast Guard, the YMCA of the USA, and 6 NFL football teams.
Below find a link to Dr. Wayne Westcott's Paper "Resistance Training is Medicine":**
https://journals.lww.com/acsm-csmr/Fulltext/2012/07000/Resistance_Training_is_Medicine___Effects_of.13.aspx
Schedule your FREE Introductory Workout Session in studio or online by following the link HERE.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
**In this week's episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, I continue my conversation with protein expert Dr. Stuart Phillips.
Dr. Phillips is a senior lecturer at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada. He is widely regarded as one of the preeminent researchers in the world on protein. While the topic of protein and how it affects our bodies can be very wide ranging, we tried to keep this episode down to the fundamentals.
In this second part of our 2-part episode Dr. Phillips and I discuss exactly how your body uses the protein you take in, and what is the ideal timing to take protein? What kind of protein recommendations should you use to support your resistance training routine. And what kind of progress is realistic for beginners and advanced trainees when it comes to a proper resistance training program.
Our clients constantly hear us harp on the importance of protein, and I think this weeks episode will be an excellent reminder on the actual purpose of protein and why it's so important to our bodies, and our health.
Please like and share this episode with anyone you know who struggles with understanding the importance of protein, and feel free to look more in depth into Dr. Phillips plethora of research by heading here. If you're interested in the idea of potentially owning your own Discover Strength Franchise, please visit our website HERE for more information and to take the next steps in the interview process.**
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
**In this week's episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, I had the pleasure of being joined by Dr. Stuart Phillips.
Dr. Phillips is a senior lecturer at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada. He is widely regarded as one of the preeminent researchers in the world on protein. While the topic of protein and how it affects our bodies can be very wide ranging, we tried to keep this episode down to the fundamentals.
- What is protein?
- Why do we need it?
- How do we use it?
- And finally can we use resistance exercise to help make the most of the protein we take in?
Our clients constantly hear us harp on the importance of protein, and I think this weeks episode will be an excellent reminder on the actual purpose of protein and why it's so important to our bodies, and our health.
Please like and share this episode with anyone you know who struggles with understanding the importance of protein, and feel free to look more in depth into Dr. Phillips plethora of research by heading here. If you're interested in the idea of potentially owning your own Discover Strength Franchise, please visit our website HERE for more information and to take the next steps in the interview process.**
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
**On this week's episode, I'm delighted to be joined by world-renowned exercise science researcher, and one of the most prolific authors in the resistance training field, Dr. Brad Schoenfeld.
Dr. Schoenfeld has been a previous guest on our podcast, discussing ways to maximize hypertrophy. You can find that episode HERE****. In this week's episode, we had Dr. Schoenfeld on to discuss the importance of training to momentary muscular failure.
While we are firm believers at Discover Strength that single-set training to momentary muscular failure is the most time-efficient, and effective strategy to maximize results in minimum time, there are many effective ways to train.
The research study we discuss in this episode looks at a recent meta-analysis, comparing different training styles. Some to failure, and some not to failure, to see if there's a benefit to either.
While there seems to be some benefit to training shy of failure, specifically for strength athletes, the majority of the training population will not see much if any difference between training to failure versus not training to failure.
The biggest difference is the time commitment involved. At Discover Strength, we know busy people don't have time to waste on exercise that doesn't work. And while multi-set, higher volume training, may be effective, it's certainly not time efficient.
We discuss how the results of training to failure versus not training to failure are essentially negligible. So for clients, listeners, and trainees, looking to maximize results in minimum time, single-set resistance training taken to momentary muscle failure, seems to be a great strategy, backed by the research, and proven to be effective!
If you or someone you know is interested in trying out a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way!Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.
Check out the paper HERE*.*
Link to Brad's Books HERE*.*
Link to Brad's Blog mentioned HERE**.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
**In this week's episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with a world-renowned expert on the benefits of resistance training for metabolic health. Dr. Giessing is a professor of Sports Science at the University of Koblenz-Landau. He's also a coauthor on a number of research papers we've discussed on this podcast in the past.
Dr. Giessing has worked closely with Dr. James Fisher and Dr. James Steele on a number of different projects. The paper we specifically discuss today is on the effects that resistance training has on metabolic health.
For this discussion, we focus specifically on a paper published in 2021, in which Dr.****Giessing's group investigated the effects of a resistance training intervention on patients receiving routine care for Type-2 diabetes (T2D). This minimum dose exercise approach was given as an intervention along with a normal standard of care to help patients understand and maximize their own metabolic health.
The results of this study, which last over 2 years, and is still having intermediate check-ups are fascinating. It appears that along with dietary interventions and education about T2D, minimum dose resistance training (very similar to what we practice at Discover Strength) was extremely effective in improving overall markers of metabolic health.
Dr. Giessing and I discuss important takeaways from this paper, as well as practical implications for those that may already be diabetic, or are on their way to becoming T2D, based on lifestyle and overall metabolic health.
I recommend listening and taking notes on this one, as well as sharing it with anyone you may know who is suffering from T2D, or has below-average metabolic health.
Check out the paper HERE****!
Dr. Giessing is also an author and has written one of the best books ever on High Intensity Training. I highly recommend checking it out and sharing it with anyone who you think might be interested in this style of training.
Purchase the book HERE****!
If you or someone you know is interested in trying out a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way!
Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.**
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
**In this week's episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, we are thrilled to be joined by NYT Best Selling Author Christie Aschwanden. Christie is a prolific writer for a variety of different media outlets, including but not limited to the New York Times, the New York Post, Runner's World, Men's Journal, and more. She is also the host of the "Emerging Form" podcast, available wherever you listen to podcasts.
Christie comes to us to share her experience and knowledge this week on the art, science, and sometimes B.S. involved in "recovery". Her NYT Best-Selling book "Good To Go", takes a deep dive into the recovery industry, in which "recovery" has gone from a noun to a verb. Something that happens, to something you must actively do and pursue.
As evidence based practitioners we are thrilled to have Christie share her research on the science of recovery and help us sort out for our clients and listeners, what works, and what may or may not be simply the placebo effect. From float tanks to wearable devices, Christie and I cover the gauntlet of recovery regimens, and hope that you can take away some actionable items to bring to your own personal recovery going forward.
This episode is a MUST listen! If you've ever tried any sort of recovery modalities, you don't want to miss this conversation with Christie Aschwanden.**
Buy the book HERE.
Follow Christie and all her social HERE.
If you or anyone you know has been training on their own and is looking to take their workouts to the next level, send them HERE**, to sign up for a complimentary Discover Strength Introductory workout, in studio, or virtually!
If you or someone you know struggles with Low Back Pain, make sure to schedule your free MedX Medical Low Back Session today at our Chanhassen Location!
To schedule your free introductory MedX Medical Session click HERE.**
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
n this Episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" Dr. Thomas Dreisinger and I discuss the importance of direct strengthening for the spinal muscles with technologies like the MedX Lumbar Extension Machine.
Dr. Thomas Dreisinger has over 40 years of clinical and consulting experience on the treatment and management of back and neck pain.
Dr. Dreisinger is an educator and researcher. He has written articles published in peer-reviewed medical journals, such as Orthopedics, Spine, and The Spine Journal, and has taught physiology courses in the Department of Biology at Pima Community College.
He is a Managing Partner of Therapy Advisors, a consulting firm with expertise in spine pain. He has led injury prevention programs for several Fortune 500 companies and has owned and operated multiple spine rehabilitation clinics.
Schedule your FREE Introductory Workout Session in studio or online by following the link HERE.
Discover Strength offers free Introductory Workouts at any location across the united states. You can schedule your free Introductory Workout HERE !
**In this week's episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, I had the pleasure to sit down with Dr. Jose Antonio, Ph.D. to talk this week about creatine.
Dr. Antonio is an Associate Professor at Nova Southeastern University. He's also a founding member of the ISSN (the International Society of Sports Nutrition), along with the Editor in Chief of the Journal of the ISSN and a former Vice President of the NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association).
Dr. Antonio is one of the leading researchers on sports supplementation in the world.
If you've listened to the Discover Strength Podcast you've probably heard us discuss creatine as one of the few supplements on the market that actually shows real clinical, scientific proof of effectiveness. Probably second only to protein supplementation, creatine (specifically creatine monohydrate) is a supplement that can be taken by almost any individual who is partaking in resistance training that shows positive benefits to almost all training metrics, with little to no side effects.
Despite its safety and effectiveness, creatine is still widely misunderstood by the non-educated physically active community at large. So in 2021 Dr. Antonio and his research group published a paper discussing some of the most commonly asked questions surrounding creatine. Their hope is to shed some light on creatine's safety and efficacy and to dispel common myths and misconceptions surrounding the anabolic (muscle-building) supplement, of which there are many.
If you have ever thought about taking creatine, this is a wonderful episode to quell any doubts you may have. If you've never thought about adding creatine to your supplement regimen, hopefully, this conversation will offer some insight into all the value that creatine has to offer.
Check out the paper HERE****!
If you or someone you know is interested in trying out a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way!
Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.**
Schedule your FREE Introductory Workout Session in studio or online by following the link HERE.
On this week's episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" we discuss a new article on the impact of resistance training on test scores and academic outcomes in American Youth populations (HERE**).
I'm joined this week by Discover Strength Founder and CEO Luke Carlson. Luke has a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Exercise Science from the University of Minnesota. He also received an Honorary Doctorate from South Hampton Solent University in the U.K.
We would love to work with you (or in this case, your kids)! Schedule a Free Introductory Workout at Discover Strength in studio or virtually HERE**.
Schedule your FREE Introductory Workout Session in studio or online by following the link HERE.
Schedule your FREE Introductory Workout Session in studio or online by following the link HERE.
**In this week's episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" we are thrilled to be joined by Dr. Martin Gibala, PhD. from McMaster University in Canada.
Dr. Gibala is a Senior Professor of Kinesiology at McMaster, and one of the world's foremost experts on High Intensity Interval Training (H.I.I.T.). His research starting in the early 2000's has helped inspire and lead the way for numerous other authors to publish thousands of papers on the topic of Interval Training.
In this episode Dr. Gibala and I talk about just want constitutes Interval Training, why it's so effective and efficient, and reasons why busy people who are interested in improving their health may look to incorporate its principles into their exercise routine.
For more information on Dr. Gibala's work, you can see a list of his peer reviewed publications on Research Gate, here. I would also highly recommend his best selling book "The One-Minute Workout", which details his history with Interval Training, and some of his own preferred methods for training. Purchase the book here**.
Schedule your FREE Introductory Workout Session in studio or online by following the link HERE.
**In this week's episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" I sat down with Exercise Physiologist Logan Morrison (Saint Louis Park) to discuss the truth about fat loss. More specifically, how to maximize fat loss through exercise, and what the research has to say about the best ways to do so.
We discuss a massive study from 2015 in the Journal Obesity about the differences in fat loss over a 12 year period between traditional "cardio" exercise and resistance training. This longitudinal study included over 50,000 participants and had some extremely interesting findings.
The see more on the study find the link to read it in its entirety HERE****. To find out more about the best ways to lose body fat according to the research listen to this week's episode!
One of the best ways to get started on your fat loss journey is to know where you stand. You can use the gold standard of body composition testing equipment, the BodPod© at our Chanhassen location. Setup an appointment HERE****.
And while you're there, be sure to also check out our MedX Medical Low Back Training System.
To schedule your free introductory MedX Medical Session click HERE.**
Schedule your FREE Introductory Workout Session in studio or online by following the link HERE.
**This week on the "Discover Strength Podcast" I had the privilege of sitting down with world renowned exercise scientist Dr. Brad Schoenfeld.
Dr. Schoenfeld is widely regarded as the world's leading expert on strength and hypertrophy. He's published well over 300 papers and multiple best selling fitness books. His work has been cited over 1,000,000 times on Researchgate, and he's been a highly sought after keynote speaker at exercise conferences around the world.
Dr. Schoenfeld joined me this week to discuss his recently published position stand for the IUSCA (International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association) "Resistance Training Recommendations to Maximize Muscle Hypertrophy in an Athletic Population: Position Stand of the IUSCA". The paper outlines the six most important factors to maximize muscular growth and what the research has to say about how to optimize this change in an athletic population. With little regard for time investment, this paper is still a fascinating look at how to get the absolute most out of your human potential.
Though very impractical from a time investment standpoint, this position stand still offers many fascinating insights on optimizing muscle growth. What's of more interest to our listeners in the second paper we discuss, also published this year, entitled "No Time to Lift? Designing Time-Efficient Training Programs for Strength and Hypertrophy: A Narrative Review". This paper has many more practical applications to our listeners as it targets the general population as opposed to athletes. It also focuses on what will give trainees the most "bang for their buck" from a strength and hypertrophy perspective in regards to abbreviated training.
For long time clients, you may not be surprised to hear that many of the recommendations in this paper sound eerily similar to what you already do on a regular basis in your own Discover Strength workouts. Workout hard, brief, and infrequent, and you'll get the vast majority of the hypertrophy and strength benefits that resistance training has to offer.
Please like and subscribe to the "Discover Strength Podcast", and help us spread the word of smart, efficient, evidence based exercise.
Are you or someone you know an exercise professional? Have you thought about finding an extremely rewarding career as a part of the preventative health community. We encourage you to apply today at Discover Strength HERE**, and start the path to becoming a well respected expert.
Position Stand on HypertrophyNo Time to Lift If you or someone you know is interested in trying a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way! Send any inquiries HERE **to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.
Have you ever thought about owning a Discover Strength Franchise all your own? If so visit our website link HERE to learn more, and start your journey to owning and operating your very own Discover Strength!**
Schedule your FREE Introductory Workout Session in studio or online by following the link HERE.
**In this weeks episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" we are thrilled to have Dr. Doug McGuff join us on the show. Dr. McGuff is widely regarded as one of the brightest minds in the field of evidence based exercise. His book "Body By Science" with Co-Author John Little, has served as an inspiration, and a manual of sorts for High Intensity enthusiasts and practitioners since it's publication in 2009.
Dr. McGuff is an E.R. Physician in South Carolina, as well as owner/operator of Ultimate Exercise, a High Intensity Training studio which has been in operation for more than two decades.
Dr. McGuff and I chat this week about his Keynote Presentation at the 2019 Resistance Exercise Conference in Minneapolis, MN. Where he spoke on the current state of the health care industry, and how it was on the brink of collapse (before the introduction of COVID-19). He shares his experiences over the last year working in the Emergency Room, and how his view on the importance of smart, efficient exercise, has been even more validated by the recent state of events over the last 12 + months.
Doug's insights are incredibly poignant and his view on the power and purpose behind your workouts will motivate you to keep giving 100% every single session.
To learn more about Dr. Doug McGuff visit his website: http://www.drmcguff.com/
Books by Dr. Doug McGuff:
"Body By Science"
"The Body By Science Question & Answer Book"
"The Primal Prescription"
If you or someone you know is interested in trying a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way! Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.
Have you ever thought about owning a Discover Strength Franchise all your own? If so visit our website link HERE to learn more, and start your journey to owning and operating your very own Discover Strength!**
Schedule your FREE Introductory Workout Session in studio or online by following the link HERE.
**On this week's episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Sara Oikawa from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI). Dr. Oikawa earned her Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD. from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. At McMaster she had the distinction of studying under Dr. Stuart Phillips, widely regarded as the preeminent researcher on Protein Metabolism in the entire world.
Dr. Oikawa and I spoke about a paper she published in 2019 "The Impact of Step Reduction on Muscle Health in Aging: Protein and Exercise as Countermeasures." Which you can find a link to here. Our main focus of discussion was the negative impacts even small periods of step reduction or decreases in activity levels can have on aging and even younger populations. We discussed strategies to mitigate these negative consequences, and best practices through exercise and supplementation to fight of age related Sarcopenia (muscle and strength loss).
Please enjoy this episode with the brilliant Dr. Sara Oikawa, and make sure to like and subscribe to the podcast.
If you or someone you know is interested in trying a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way! Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.
Have you ever thought about owning a Discover Strength Franchise all your own? If so visit our website link HERE to learn more, and start your journey to owning and operating your very own Discover Strength!**
Schedule your FREE Introductory Workout Session in studio or online by following the link HERE.
**In this episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" Dr. James Fisher and I discuss some of the most pervasive myths still prevalent in the Exercise & Fitness Industry.
Dr. James Fisher is a senior lecturer and researcher at Solent University in the UK. He has extensive experience with elite athletes, including coaching at the London 2012 Olympic games. He also has published a comprehensive range of peer-reviewed research publications with both clinical, asymptomatic, and elite populations.
Dr. Fisher has authored several funding bids and is an editor and reviewer for numerous high-impact journals. He has been a key-note speaker at an array of academic and industry conferences, most notably a repeat keynote presenter at the Resistance Exercise Conference for 9 straight years!
He is on the board of directors for the Strength and Conditioning Society, and has been a featured expert on television programs, podcasts and webinars discussing his own research and other similar themes. At present, his ambitions surround the progression and delivery of theoretical and practical knowledge for health, fitness and sporting success, as well as enjoying time with his son, and trying to keep up with his wife on a bike.
If you or someone you know is interested in trying a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way! Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.
Have you ever thought about owning a Discover Strength Franchise all your own? If so visit our website link HERE to learn more, and start your journey to owning and operating your very own Discover Strength!**
Schedule your FREE Introductory Workout Session in studio or online by following the link HERE.
**We're thrilled to share that "The Discover Strength Podcast" will be undergoing some reformatting. Starting this Fall, we'll be changing the structure of the show, and we couldn't be more excited to share that with YOU, our listeners.
In the meantime, we'll be taking a brief hiatus. While we do, we'll be re-releasing some of our most popular, most informative episodes of all time. We look forward to helping you get caught up on some of these awesome episodes!
Thank you all for your support these last three seasons! We look forward to coming back stronger and better than ever!**
Schedule your FREE Introductory Workout Session in studio or online by following the link HERE.
**In this week's episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, I had the distinct pleasure of being joined by a young Ph.D. candidate from McMaster University in Canada, Derrick Van Every. Derrick is one of the brightest minds in the field of exercise science research, so it's no surprise he completed his Master's Degree from Lehman College in New York, under the advisement of Dr. Brad Schoenfeld. He's currently pursuing his Doctorate under the great tutelage of former podcast guest and head of the McMaster University Protein Research Lab, Dr. Stuart Phillips.
Derrick joined us today to discuss a recently published paper on the efficacy of inter-set stretching on measures of hypertrophy (*HERE*). The paper, part of his thesis while at Lehman College, looked at the potential benefits of loaded inter-set stretching (stretching in between sets of an exercise) and the potential for increasing muscle size and strength in the calf muscles (of the leg in particular).
We talk about the study design and the interesting application to current strength and conditioning recommendations for muscle growth. While loaded inter-set stretching is a relatively new area of research, there has long been anecdotal and even some clinical research supporting stretching between sets or post-set in the targeted muscle group of the exercise for increases in hypertrophy.
An example of this would be stretching your pecs (chest) after performing a set of chest flys. What made this study unique is they kept the participants under load in the stretched position, instead of having them self-administer the stretch. In the chest fly example, this would mean keeping your arms loaded in the stretch in the machine with weight in between sets, as opposed to stretching your chest with your hand against the wall.
While it's too early to make definitive recommendations, this is certainly something worth at least trying in your own workouts. There seems to be no negatives (at least to hypertrophy) and potentially some small to moderate upside. Keep an eye out for more great research from Derrick and the labs at both Lehman and McMaster.
If you or someone you know is interested in trying a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way! Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.
Have you ever thought about owning a Discover Strength Franchise all your own? If so visit our website link HERE to learn more, and start your journey to owning and operating your very own Discover Strength!**
Schedule your FREE Introductory Workout Session in studio or online by following the link HERE.
**In this week's episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, I had the chance to sit down with Ph.D. candidate Daniel Plotkin. Daniel received his Master's from the world-renowned exercise science lab at Lehman College in New York, under the instruction of Dr. Brad Schoenfeld. Daniel is currently pursuing his Ph.D. at one of the premier physiology labs in the world at Auburn University under Dr. Michael Roberts.
We were lucky enough to have Daniel join us this week to discuss a paper he spearheaded for his Master's thesis on progressive overload. Our listeners will be familiar with this term which typically means incremental increases in weight, reps, or both from workout to workout. Daniel's thesis focused on another less common means of overloading the musculature: simply increasing reps, each and every workout.
Subjects in his study completed lower body training either progressing in a traditional fashion (keeping the rep range the same, or increasing load after completing beyond that range) or keeping the weight the same the entire study period and simply trying to perform more reps each time they exercised.
This program of progressive overload without progressing the load is another great reminder that rep range and weight are not nearly as important for increases in strength and hypertrophy, as simply working with a high level of intensity. Daniel and I discuss the takeaways from this paper, its implications for your own training, and what else we can expect from him in the future.
We know you'll enjoy this episode on progressive overload without progressing the load, and we look forward to having Daniel back on the podcast in the future.
Paper HERE Check out Daniel's other published work HERE**
If you or someone you know is interested in trying a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way! Send any inquiries HERE **to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.
Have you ever thought about owning a Discover Strength Franchise all your own? If so visit our website link HERE to learn more, and start your journey to owning and operating your very own Discover Strength!**
Schedule your FREE Introductory Workout Session in studio or online by following the link HERE.
**On this week's episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, we are joined by Dr. James McKendry from McMaster University in Canada. Dr. McKendry is a researcher and Ph.D. fellow at McMaster University and part of former guest Dr. Stuart Phillip's world-renowned lab on protein metabolism. Dr. McKendry joined me this week to discuss a recent paper he was a part of from that lab looking at the benefits of resistance training beyond hypertrophy and strength. The paper is a review that investigates the current literature to give recommendations for resistance training for things other than strength and hypertrophy benefits. We constantly talk about the "other" benefits of resistance training and this paper does a fantastic job of breaking down, in detail many of those other benefits and why they might be important to people.
While strength, muscle growth, and the physiological changes that accompany them are important. There is an abundance of physiological and psychological benefits to resistance training beyond hypertrophy that have almost nothing to do with the physical weights being moved.
The biggest areas of interest in the paper breakdown, in detail, with fantastic graphical displays some of the other major things to keep in mind when it comes to starting and maintaining a resistance training program. Things like mobility and function, cognition, cancer (recovery and possibly mitigation), metabolic health, and overall mortality improvements (meaning helping you live a longer and fuller life).
We recommend a lot of papers on this podcast and in general to our listeners. This is one paper I would suggest everyone reads in its entirety. It is extremely easy to understand and digest and is filled with wonderful visual representations on the importance and impact of resistance training. This is a great paper to share with friends or family who are also on the fence about strength training. Maybe they don't think they "need big muscles" or don't want to get "bulky". Aside from being highly unlikely to attain for the average person this paper examines some of the reasons why EVERYONE should participate in resistance training in at least some capacity. It also gives some recommendations on how to do so, recommendations very similar to what our listeners will be familiar with.
Link to paper HERE**.
If you or someone you know is interested in trying a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way! Send any inquiries HERE **to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.
Have you ever thought about owning a Discover Strength Franchise all your own? If so visit our website link HERE to learn more, and start your journey to owning and operating your very own Discover Strength!**
Schedule your FREE Introductory Workout Session in studio or online by following the link HERE.
**In this week's episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, I'm thrilled to be joined by a friend of the program and "Minimum Dose"™ expert Dr. PAK.
Dr. Pak has been on the show multiple times before, discussing things like the minimum effective training dose for powerlifters, and if training to failure is really necessary. This week Dr. Pak joins us to discuss a brand new paper that is currently in pre-print with some of the leading strength and conditioning minds in the world. This paper looks at an interesting topic we've never discussed before on this podcast: Deloads.
A "deload" can be defined as a planned period of reduced training or non-training, different than a typical "taper". Essentially a deload is something a strength or power athlete would plan into their periodized training program to make sure they are avoiding overreaching or overtraining over the long term in their program.
While the particulars of the paper are not of huge importance to our listeners (most of which are not strength and physique athletes), the takeaways and the implications of this new area of research are of great importance. Many times people feel they must have a "use it or lose it" mentality with their exercise routines. This developing area of deloading research is just the first in what will surely be much more that shows that taking some time off or decreasing intensity for a short time (within reason) will not derail all the progress you've made in your training.
If you've ever thought that going on vacation would "destroy your gains", this is a valuable episode to listen to and take notes on. The fundamental principle is this: structured (and sometimes unstructured) rest periods, even for extended periods of time, will not deter long-term strength gains and adaptations. In fact, occasional periods of extended rest and recovery can actually serve to improve performance, as well as serve as time to recover both physically and mentally from an otherwise conditioned and regimented training schedule.
Don't be afraid to take a little time off, assuming you plan to get back to your normal training schedule and look forward to adding some "deloads" to your next training block.
Check out the Study HERE****.
If you or someone you know is interested in trying a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way! Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.
Have you ever thought about owning a Discover Strength Franchise all your own? If so visit our website link HERE to learn more, and start your journey to owning and operating your very own Discover Strength!**
Schedule your FREE Introductory Workout Session in studio or online by following the link HERE.
**In this week's episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with a young up-and-comer in the field of exercise science to discuss drop set training.
Max Coleman is a Master's student at Lehman College in New York, under the tutelage of Dr. Brad Schoenfeld. He's already starting to make a name for himself in the strength and conditioning space and we were lucky to have him join us today. We discussed a recent meta-analysis that Max spearheaded comparing traditional multi-set training versus what's referred to as "drop set" training.
While the term "drop set" is not properly defined in the exercise science literature, Max's paper does a good job of defining a working definition: "... the strategy is typically performed by taking an exercise to (or close to) momentary failure followed by immediate reductions in load (i.e., minimal to no rest between the drops in weight) and then performing as many additional repetitions as possible (29). Depending on the protocol, a single, or multiple “drops” (i.e., reductions) in the load can be performed either on some or all sets." It's something our listeners or clients may have done in their own workouts. Typically designated with a total number of repetitions as a "breakdown set" (i.e. 20-rep breakdown, 30-rep breakdown, etc.). There are many ways to do a drop set, but this analysis looked to compare the effectiveness or this advanced technique versus a more traditional multi-set training approach.
Max and I discuss the types of papers included, why a study like this is important, and what this type of training design can tell us about the intensity of effort in a set. (Working harder for a shorter time, versus doing a traditional multi-set training approach.)
This episode is filled with great information comparing single versus multi-set training and why something like drop sets, might be a great addition to your current routine.Keep an eye out for more coming from Max in the future. He's currently in the process of putting together a first-of-it's-kind study on "Deloads" in conjunction with Dr. Brad Schoenfeld and Dr. PAK, both former guests of the Discover Strength Podcast.
Check out the meta-analysis that Max led HERE****.
If you or someone you know is interested in trying a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way! Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.
Have you ever thought about owning a Discover Strength Franchise all your own? If so visit our website link HERE to learn more, and start your journey to owning and operating your very own Discover Strength!**
Schedule your FREE Introductory Workout Session in studio or online by following the link HERE.
**In this week's episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, we are excited to continue with our Exercise Myths and Misconceptions Mini-Series with Dr. James Fisher and Discover Strength CEO, Luke Carlson. We'll discuss another prevalent myth in the fitness industry: the idea that "more is better" when it comes to exercise and results.
These two friends and colleagues were kind enough to sit down and discuss, in their own words, some of the most pervasive myths still running rampant in our industry. While there are plenty to choose from, we decided to focus on the myths and misconceptions from our very first podcast ever with Dr. Fisher (*HERE*).
This five-part mini-series will cover some of the most widespread myths and misconceptions and hopefully set the record straight on some of these topics once and for all.
Our fifth and final episode focuses on the ideal training frequency for resistance training. We hope to once and for all breakdown and dispel the common notion that "more is better". We'll look at what the research actually has to say regarding frequency. We'll also look at how recovery should factor into your workout frequency, and finally, we'll discuss why the "more is better" archetype simply doesn't apply to proper resistance training.
Dr. Fisher has conducted some of the definitive work on ideal exercise frequency. Along with his colleagues, Dr. James Steele, Dr. PAK, and Dr. Brad Schoenfeld (all previous podcast guests), they have collectively or individually published numerous papers on this exact topic of the ideal exercise frequency.
Like many things in the fitness industry, we are often led to believe that more is better because it allows fitness influencers and charlatans to sell complicated programs for what need naught be that complicated. The ideal exercise frequency is typically anywhere from 1-3x/week. The key factor is all about the intensity of effort in the individual workout, and how you recover outside of your workouts.
We need to consider things like stress, not just from exercise, but from life, and how those things influence your recovery ability. If you want to learn more about proper recovery and how to maximize it, check out our previous episode with NYT-Best Selling Author Christie Aschwanden (*HERE*).
The reality is one to three full-body workouts per week, with a high level of intensity of effort, is more than enough for MOST people. We don't need MORE exercise, we need smarter, harder, more efficient exercise.
If you or someone you know is interested in trying a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way! Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.
Have you ever thought about owning a Discover Strength Franchise all your own? If so visit our website link HERE to learn more, and start your journey to owning and operating your very own Discover Strength!
Papers Referenced:
- Resistance Training Recommendations Paper HERE - No Time to Lift Paper HERE**
Schedule your FREE Introductory Workout Session in studio or online by following the link HERE.
**In this week's episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, we are excited to continue with our Exercise Myths and Misconceptions Mini-Series with Dr. James Fisher and Discover Strength CEO, Luke Carlson. We'll discuss another prevalent myth in the fitness industry: that exercise comes with inherent risks. We're excited to be talking about exercising safely, and what that means for you.
These two friends and colleagues were kind enough to sit down and discuss, in their own words, some of the most pervasive myths still running rampant in our industry. While there are plenty to choose from, we decided to focus on the myths and misconceptions from our very first podcast ever with Dr. Fisher (*HERE*).
This five-part mini-series will cover some of the most widespread myths and misconceptions and hopefully set the record straight on some of these topics once and for all.
Our fourth episode focuses on something that is especially pervasive in the world of strength and conditioning and social media: the idea that in order to improve speed and power, you must train (i.e. lift weights) explosively and with a high level of speed and power, potentially opening you up to higher injury risk while training. Thankfully we've got two leaders in the industry to set the record straight.
Dr. Fisher explains in depth what the research actually has to say about speed and power development. Luke Carlson, formerly an assistant strength and conditioning coach with the Minnesota Vikings, talks about the actual application of the data in high-level athletes.
Like many things in the fitness industry, this idea that you must train fast to be fast is muddied by experts, pseudo-experts and high-level athletes, who are at best simply misinformed or disingenuous and at worst are charlatans who are simply telling people what they think they want to hear. The research is clear that speed and power can be improved through strength training, but you don't have to train fast to actually be fast, and in fact, this can lead to potential injury.
Instead, as we discuss in detail, it's the intention to move fast which translates to actual improvements on the field. Most importantly, we discuss that exercise, specifically resistance training, should never lead to injury if done correctly. Higher speeds mean higher forces and a higher likelihood of potential injury, so if you get injured training, you are by definition not exercising.
The best way to become a better, faster, more adept athlete at your particular sport or endeavor is to simply practice that sport in an environment that is as close as possible to the actual competition. The idea that you must train fast in order to be fast is not supported by the literature at all, and can again potentially lead to deleterious results.
If you want to get better at your sport, then take notes and make sure you listen to this episode twice!
If you or someone you know is interested in trying a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way! Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.
Have you ever thought about owning a Discover Strength Franchise all your own? If so visit our website link HERE to learn more, and start your journey to owning and operating your very own Discover Strength!**
Schedule your FREE Introductory Workout Session in studio or online by following the link HERE.
**In this week's episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, we take a short break from our Mini-Series to share some exciting news and potential opportunities for our listeners.
Have you ever thought about what it would be like to own and operate your own Discover Strength Franchise? If so this is the episode for you.
I sat down with Discover Strength CEO Luke Carlson for an in depth conversation on everything you would need to get started with owning a Discover Strength Franchise of your own.
We discuss who is a good fit, what the process looks like from start to finish and what you can expect from a cost perspective.
If you've ever thought about owning your own fitness business, and specifically a Discover Strength Franchise, set up your no obligation call to start the process TODAY!
Click the link HERE to set up your call. Or call (612)268-6059 TODAY!**
Schedule your FREE Introductory Workout Session in studio or online by following the link HERE.
**In this week's episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, we are excited to continue on with our Exercise Myths and Misconceptions Mini-Series with Dr. James Fisher and Discover Strength CEO, Luke Carlson. We'll be discussing another prevalent myth in the fitness industry: single-set vs. multi-set training.
These two friends and colleagues were kind enough to sit down and discuss, in their own words, some of the most pervasive myths still running rampant in our industry. While there are plenty to choose from, we decided to focus on the myths and misconceptions from our very first podcast ever with Dr. Fisher (*HERE*).
This five-part mini-series will cover some of the most widespread myths and misconceptions and hopefully set the record straight on some of these topics once and for all.
For our third episode, we decided to focus on a question we get all the time from new clients (as well as some veteran clients). "Why do we only do one set of each exercise at Discover Strength?". The single-set vs. multi-set training debate is alive and well in the fitness industry. We wanted these two distinguished fitness experts to discuss what the research has to say about single-set training versus training with multiple sets.
The long-standing belief in the fitness industry, especially for the lay newcomer, is that you need something like three sets of ten reps of each exercise in order to insure enough volume and stimulus for muscular growth. James and Luke discuss where this long-standing belief actually originated, and how even the people who propagated it originally eventually changed their tune.
You'll also hear some nuanced discussion about why a single set, taken to true momentary muscular failure is more than likely just as effective, and sometimes possibly even more effective than multiple set training stopped well shy of failure. As with most things we've investigated in resistance training research, the intensity of effort is key, and you simply can't give 100% effort on every set if you're training with too high of a volume.
Whether single or multi-set training is conclusively superior, we may never know. But what we know for sure, is that single-set training to failure is proven to be just as effective as multi-set training, and has the added benefit of taking significantly less time. So if results are what you're looking for, and time is a barrier to exercise (which it is for most people), then take notes and make sure you listen to this episode twice!
If you or someone you know is interested in trying a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way! Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.
Have you ever thought about owning a Discover Strength Franchise all your own? If so visit our website link HERE to learn more, and start your journey to owning and operating your very own Discover Strength!**
Schedule your FREE Introductory Workout Session in studio or online by following the link HERE.
**In this week's episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, we are excited to continue on with our Exercise Myths and Misconceptions Mini-Series with Dr. James Fisher and Discover Strength CEO, Luke Carlson. We'll be discussing another prevalent myth in the fitness industry: cardio versus resistance training for weight loss.
These two friends and colleagues were kind enough to sit down and discuss, in their own words, some of the most pervasive myths still running rampant in our industry. While there are plenty to choose from, we decided to focus on the myths and misconceptions from our very first podcast ever with Dr. Fisher (*HERE*).
This five-part mini-series will cover some of the most widespread myths and misconceptions and hopefully set the record straight on some of these topics once and for all.
For our second episode we decided to discuss something that's still extremely misunderstood in the fitness industry. This idea that "cardio" exercise is necessary for effective weight loss in an exercise program.
This myth is propagated widely and one of the hardest to break from people's belief structure. We are ingrained from our fitness watches, to our treadmills, to everything we see on social media to believe that in order to effectively lose weight, we must do some form of cardio, and probably a lot of it.
The reality however, is that cardio, in and of itself is not a very good tool for weight loss. In fact, a high volume of cardio can sometimes even be counter productive to our weight loss goals. Proper diet, caloric restriction, and resistance training, are much more efficacious tools to get weight off, and keep it off.
Luke and Dr. Fisher, discuss the background and history of this myth in the fitness industry, why it's so pervasive, and what the research actually says when it comes to cardio versus resistance training for weight loss.
If body recomposition is one of your goals, this is a MUST LISTEN episode. The internet is full of misinformation on this topic, and these two experts explain the how and the why behind what the research actually says. The importance of cardio, has very little to do with its effectiveness as a weight loss modality. If you've ever thought of counting calories on the treadmill, bike or elliptical, this is the podcast for you!
If you or someone you know is interested in trying a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way! Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.
Have you ever thought about owning a Discover Strength Franchise all your own! If so visit our website link HERE to learn more, and start your journey to owning and operating your very own Discover Strength!**
Schedule your FREE Introductory Workout Session in studio or online by following the link HERE.
**In this week's episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, we are excited to kick off our Exercise Myths and Misconceptions Mini-Series with Dr. James Fisher and Discover Strength CEO, Luke Carlson by discussing heavy vs. light weights.
These two friends and colleagues were kind enough to sit down with me and discuss in their own words, some of the most pervasive myths still running rampant in our industry. While there are plenty to choose from, we decided to focus on the myths and misconceptions from our very first podcast ever with Dr. Fisher (*HERE*).
This five-part mini-series will cover some of the most widespread myths and misconceptions and hopefully set the record straight on some of these topics once and for all.
For our first part, we decided to focus on something near and dear to our hearts, heavy versus light weights. There is a common myth and misconception that heavy weights, must be used to build strength, and that lighter weights with higher reps must be used to build tone and endurance. The research simply does not back this up.
In fact, Discover Strength recently published a paper, in conjunction with Dr. Fisher's University, Solent University in South Hampton on this exact topic. Some of our listeners may remember and may have even participated in this study which looked at sets of 6 reps versus 15 reps (see study HERE****).
We're excited to share this first of five episodes with two of the most respected and cited leaders in the exercise science field, and to start destroying some of these major myths and misconceptions once and for all!
If you or someone you know is interested in trying a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way! Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.**
Schedule your FREE Introductory Workout Session in studio or online by following the link HERE.
**Welcome back to another season of The Discover Strength Podcast!
On this week's episode, I'm delighted to be joined by world-renowned exercise science researcher, and one of the most prolific authors in the resistance training field, Dr. Brad Schoenfeld.
Dr. Schoenfeld has been a previous guest on our podcast, discussing ways to maximize hypertrophy. You can find that episode HERE****. In this week's episode, we had Dr. Schoenfeld on to discuss the importance of training to momentary muscular failure.
While we are firm believers at Discover Strength that single-set training to momentary muscular failure is the most time-efficient, and effective strategy to maximize results in minimum time, there are many effective ways to train.
The research study we discuss in this episode looks at a recent meta-analysis, comparing different training styles. Some to failure, and some not to failure, to see if there's a benefit to either.
While there seems to be some benefit to training shy of failure, specifically for strength athletes, the majority of the training population will not see much if any difference between training to failure versus not training to failure.
The biggest difference is the time commitment involved. At Discover Strength, we know busy people don't have time to waste on exercise that doesn't work. And while multi-set, higher volume training, may be effective, it's certainly not time efficient.
We discuss how the results of training to failure versus not training to failure are essentially negligible. So for clients, listeners, and trainees, looking to maximize results in minimum time, single-set resistance training taken to momentary muscle failure, seems to be a great strategy, backed by the research, and proven to be effective!
If you or someone you know is interested in trying out a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way!Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.
Check out the paper HERE*.*
Link to Brad's Books HERE*.*
Link to Brad's Blog mentioned HERE**.
Schedule your FREE Introductory Workout Session in studio or online by following the link HERE.
**As we close out 2022, at the Discover Strength Podcast, we wanted to first and foremost thank all of our listeners for another great year. As an end to this season, we thought it would be appropriate to have a recap of some of our favorite episodes from this past season.
If there's anything on this list that you missed, make sure to check it out and share it with your friends, family, and anyone else you think might benefit from some evidence-based exercise information.
We hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and we look forward to seeing you again in 2023!If you or someone you know is interested in trying out a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way!
Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.**
Schedule your FREE Introductory Workout Session in studio or online by following the link HERE.
**In this week's episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with a world-renowned expert on the benefits of resistance training for metabolic health. Dr. Giessing is a professor of Sports Science at the University of Koblenz-Landau. He's also a coauthor on a number of research papers we've discussed on this podcast in the past.
Dr. Giessing has worked closely with Dr. James Fisher and Dr. James Steele on a number of different projects. The paper we specifically discuss today is on the effects that resistance training has on metabolic health.
For this discussion, we focus specifically on a paper published in 2021, in which Dr.****Giessing's group investigated the effects of a resistance training intervention on patients receiving routine care for Type-2 diabetes (T2D). This minimum dose exercise approach was given as an intervention along with a normal standard of care to help patients understand and maximize their own metabolic health.
The results of this study, which last over 2 years, and is still having intermediate check-ups are fascinating. It appears that along with dietary interventions and education about T2D, minimum dose resistance training (very similar to what we practice at Discover Strength) was extremely effective in improving overall markers of metabolic health.
Dr. Giessing and I discuss important takeaways from this paper, as well as practical implications for those that may already be diabetic, or are on their way to becoming T2D, based on lifestyle and overall metabolic health.
I recommend listening and taking notes on this one, as well as sharing it with anyone you may know who is suffering from T2D, or has below-average metabolic health.
Check out the paper HERE****!
Dr. Giessing is also an author and has written one of the best books ever on High Intensity Training. I highly recommend checking it out and sharing it with anyone who you think might be interested in this style of training.
Purchase the book HERE****!
If you or someone you know is interested in trying out a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way!
Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.**
Schedule your FREE Introductory Workout Session in studio or online by following the link HERE.
**In this week's episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, I had the pleasure to sit down with Dr. Jose Antonio, Ph.D. to talk this week about creatine.
Dr. Antonio is an Associate Professor at Nova Southeastern University. He's also a founding member of the ISSN (the International Society of Sports Nutrition), along with the Editor in Chief of the Journal of the ISSN and a former Vice President of the NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association).
Dr. Antonio is one of the leading researchers on sports supplementation in the world.
If you've listened to the Discover Strength Podcast you've probably heard us discuss creatine as one of the few supplements on the market that actually shows real clinical, scientific proof of effectiveness. Probably second only to protein supplementation, creatine (specifically creatine monohydrate) is a supplement that can be taken by almost any individual who is partaking in resistance training that shows positive benefits to almost all training metrics, with little to no side effects.
Despite its safety and effectiveness, creatine is still widely misunderstood by the non-educated physically active community at large. So in 2021 Dr. Antonio and his research group published a paper discussing some of the most commonly asked questions surrounding creatine. Their hope is to shed some light on creatine's safety and efficacy and to dispel common myths and misconceptions surrounding the anabolic (muscle-building) supplement, of which there are many.
If you have ever thought about taking creatine, this is a wonderful episode to quell any doubts you may have. If you've never thought about adding creatine to your supplement regimen, hopefully, this conversation will offer some insight into all the value that creatine has to offer.
Check out the paper HERE****!
If you or someone you know is interested in trying out a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way!
Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.**
Schedule your FREE Introductory Workout Session in studio or online by following the link HERE.
**Welcome to the newest Discover Strength Podcast Mini-Series where we will focus on 12 things we think are essential to getting better results from your workouts in less time. Join us as we go deeper on each topic in a format that's perfect for sharing and broadening your own knowledge. Thanks for joining us, and please enjoy this week’s episode on progressive overload.
When strength training, we should always be aiming for one of two things in each session: more weight than last time, or more reps than last time.
If you did nine reps on leg press last session at 144 pounds, aim to stay at 144 pounds, but go for 10, 11, even 12 reps.
Conversely, if you were at 144 pounds on leg press last time and pounded out 13 reps, adjust the weight slightly higher (say, 148 pounds) and aim for 8-12 reps.
This is called progressive overload. It’s the idea that we constantly want to be improving, striving for more– progression. We always want to be giving our muscles a stimulus for adaptation. If we always use the same weight and do the same number of reps, our body doesn’t have a reason to change.
This is the last episode in our Mini-Series of 12 things we think are essential to getting better results from your workouts in less time. Take a listen to this week’s podcast on progressive overload, and then share it (or any other episode from this mini-series) with a friend or colleague who could benefit from the information.
If you want to get the most out of your strength training workouts, train slowly and safely to momentary muscle failure.
If you or someone you know is interested in trying out a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way!
Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.
The Discover Strength Podcast is proud to be sponsored by Let's Get Checked. Let's Get Checked is a world leader in at home medical testing with over 2.5 million completed tests worldwide.
We've teamed up to offer our listeners an exclusive 25% off code on any new purchases from Let's Get Checked*. Just use coupon code "Discover25***" at checkout to receive 25% off your entire purchase.
Follow our link HERE to see some of the most popular tests available. Remember to use code "*Discover25" at checkout to receive an exclusive 25% off your entire purchase from* Let's Get Checked**!
The Discover Strength Podcast is proud to be sponsored by Let's Get Checked. We've teamed up to offer our listeners an exclusive 25% off code on any new purchases from Let's Get Checked. Just use coupon code "Discover25" at checkout to receive 25% off your entire purchase.
**Welcome to the newest Discover Strength Podcast Mini-Series where we will focus on 12 things we think are essential to getting better results from your workouts in less time. Join us as we go deeper on each topic in a format that's perfect for sharing and broadening your own knowledge. Thanks for joining us, and please enjoy this week’s episode on momentary muscle failure.
We burn more calories going to failure when compared to not-to-failure, both during the workout and following the workout. Muscle failure ensures that we maximize motor unit and muscle fiber recruitment. Training to failure is the most effective lever we can pull to increase caloric expenditure from exercise.
But what is momentary muscle failure, what does it look like? Vice President of Operations David Gschneidner talks with Senior Exercise Physiologist Logan Emmett Herlihy about just that in our latest installment of the Discover Strength Podcast.
Calling it the “most important controllable factor” in your strength training workouts, David goes on to talk about how muscle failure is most simply defined as the point at which you can no longer complete a repetition of a given exercise with perfect form. Other indicators we see of momentary muscle failure are when the lowering of the weight starts to become faster than at the beginning of a set, or when a client “bounces” the weight off of the bottom of the range of motion, indicating that they are recruiting momentum to lift the weight instead of muscle.
If you want to get the most out of your strength training workouts, train slowly and safely to momentary muscle failure.
If you or someone you know is interested in trying out a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way!
Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.
The Discover Strength Podcast is proud to be sponsored by Let's Get Checked. Let's Get Checked is a world leader in at home medical testing with over 2.5 million completed tests worldwide.
We've teamed up to offer our listeners an exclusive 25% off code on any new purchases from Let's Get Checked*. Just use coupon code "Discover25***" at checkout to receive 25% off your entire purchase.
Follow our link HERE to see some of the most popular tests available. Remember to use code "*Discover25" at checkout to receive an exclusive 25% off your entire purchase from* Let's Get Checked**!
The Discover Strength Podcast is proud to be sponsored by Let's Get Checked. We've teamed up to offer our listeners an exclusive 25% off code on any new purchases from Let's Get Checked. Just use coupon code "Discover25" at checkout to receive 25% off your entire purchase.
**Welcome to the newest Discover Strength Podcast Mini-Series where we will focus on 12 things we think are essential to getting better results from your workouts in less time. Join us as we go deeper on each topic in a format that's perfect for sharing and broadening your own knowledge. Thanks for joining us, and please enjoy this week’s episode on recovery.
Is more really better when it comes to exercise? Not necessarily. Recovery is key to building muscle and seeing benefits from strength training.
The scientific research is clear: the key ingredient in gaining the most benefits from resistance training is not the workout itself, but the recovery that follows. You don’t build any muscle during your workouts, you build muscle during the time in between your workouts.
Award-winning writer Christie Aschwanden spoke on this topic at the most recent Resistance Exercise Conference. Her book, “Good to Go”, is an extensive exploration of recovery modalities, and Christie talks with readers about what works and what doesn’t. (We’ll give you a hint: make sure you’re getting lots of good sleep.)
Senior Exercise Physiologist Logan Emmett Herlihy and VP of Operations David Gschneidner talk all about recovery and its importance in regard to strength training in this week’s installment of the Discover Strength podcast.
After listening to the podcast, hear Discover Strength CEO Luke Carlson speak with us in THIS VIDEO about recovery and rest regarding strength training. Make sure you are paying attention to not only the workouts but also the time in between.
If you or someone you know is interested in trying out a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way!
Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.**
**Welcome to the newest Discover Strength Podcast Mini-Series where we will focus on 12 things we think are essential to getting better results from your workouts in less time. Join us as we go deeper on each topic in a format that's perfect for sharing and broadening your own knowledge. Thanks for joining us, and please enjoy this week’s episode on one set versus multiple sets.
Since the end of World War II, we have been taught to do three sets of 10 repetitions, based on how two trainers, Dr. Thomas DeLorme and Dr. Arthur Watkins, worked to rehabilitate veterans with strength training programs.
The truth is, you don’t need multiple sets.
If we are going to momentary muscle failure on the first set, additional sets add no benefit. A second or third set simply recruits the same muscle fibers. We aren’t tapping into new or higher-threshold fibers with more sets. If we are going to momentary muscle failure on the first set, additional sets add no benefit.
One set, with great form, and a high level of intensity, produces the same benefit in a fraction of the time.
Listen to Logan and David go deep on this topic today in this podcast episode on one set versus multiple sets. If you are enjoying the Discover Strength podcast, make sure to leave a review, and share it with your friends!
If you or someone you know is interested in trying out a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way!
Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.
In addition to the podcast episode on one set, we also have a Youtube Video of our CEO Luke Carlson speaking on One Set. Watch it HERE**.
**Welcome to the newest Discover Strength Podcast Mini-Series where we will focus on 12 things we think are essential to getting better results from your workouts in less time. Join us as we go deeper on each topic in a format that's perfect for sharing and broadening your own knowledge. Thanks for joining us, and please enjoy this week’s episode on the importance of slow movement speed in strength training.
Strength training slowly is better for two main reasons:**
- Better Results
- Reduce Injuries
**Slow movement speed in strength training is integral because it forces our muscles to recruit more muscle fibers (because momentum is not helping). The more muscle fibers that are recruited, the more muscle increase there will be.
Additionally, Slow movement speed is safer as it reduces the forces imposed on the joints and connective tissue. Even a light weight, lifted fast, can impose high force on our joints. By keeping force low, and speed slow, we significantly reduce the risk of injury.
Note: there is a difference between exercise and sport. Sport includes inherent fast movements that may lead to injury. A baseball pitcher would not be surprised if they suffered from a shoulder injury, because of the nature of movement in sports. David talks more about this in the episode:*“Everything we’re doing in the weight room, everything you’re doing for exercise (we’ve talked about this before), I to improve your physical function, and so you should never get hurt. We should avoid those rapid movements that you might see in sports that are inherently more dangerous and you’re more likely to get injured with.” *Going slow generally means we can’t lift as much weight and “demonstrate” our strength. This means we may need to sacrifice our ego and focus more on developing or stimulating rather than demonstrating.
Listen to our newest podcast episode today, and send it to a friend you think would benefit from this information as well!
If you or someone you know is interested in trying out a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way!
Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.**
**Welcome to the newest Discover Strength Podcast Mini-Series where we will focus on 12 things we think are essential to getting better results from your workouts in less time. Join us as we go deeper on each topic in a format that's perfect for sharing and broadening your own knowledge. Thanks for joining us, and please enjoy this week’s episode on the Valsalva maneuver.
Picture this: you’re working out, the exercise is getting harder, so you get ready to push and hold your breath. That, right there, is the Valsalva maneuver. When you perform the Valsalva maneuver, a couple of things are happening, mainly involving internal pressure build-up. When you hold your breath while exerting force in an exercise, you build pressure in your lungs (intrathoracic pressure) and head (intracranial pressure), as well as a spike in blood pressure. You are, in fact, able to produce slightly more effort and force while performing the Valsalva maneuver. However, the problems associated with that extra force (increased lung, head, and blood pressure) lead us to recommend avoiding holding your breath during a workout.
Throughout a workout, your respiratory needs will change. At the beginning of a set, you may not need to breathe very hard or frequently. As you continue through the workout, you will most likely feel the urge to hold your breath, to perform a Valsalva maneuver. This is precisely when you should incorporate short, frequent breaths (instead of holding your breath). This will avoid all of the pressure increases that come from the Valsalva maneuver, and will leave you performing and feeling better.
Hear Logan and David go deep on this topic by listening to this week’s podcast mini-series episode today.
If you or someone you know is interested in trying out a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way!
Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.**
**Welcome to the newest Discover Strength Podcast Mini-Series where we will focus on 12 things we think are essential to getting better results from your workouts in less time. Join us as we go deeper on each topic in a format that's perfect for sharing and broadening your own knowledge. Thanks for joining us, and please enjoy this week’s episode on core training.
Let's set the record straight: humans don’t have a “core”. When someone refers to the “core”, they are simply referring to the musculature of the torso - the obliques, abs, and low back.
Core training does not reduce abdominal fat, produce toned abs, or get you a 6-pack. Abdominal training improves strength and endurance, but not abdominal appearance. The way to toned abs is by improving your overall body composition, and strength training the entire body.
Hear Logan and David go deep on this topic by listening to this week’s podcast mini-series episode today.
If you or someone you know is interested in trying out a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way!
Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.
In addition to our podcast episode on this topic, our CEO Luke Carlson has also spoken about core training in our Youtube Fit Tip video series. Hear from Luke directly on the one thing you don’t need to do to get ripped, 6-pack abs (spoiler alert: it’s core training). Listen to the podcast mini-series episode with David and Logan, and then head over to our YoutTube page to hear Luke speak on core training. WATCH HERE**!
**Welcome to the newest Discover Strength Podcast Mini-Series where we will focus on 12 things we think are essential to getting better results from your workouts in less time. Join us as we go deeper on each topic in a format that's perfect for sharing and broadening your own knowledge. Thanks for joining us, and please enjoy this week’s episode on body composition.
How does resistance exercise affect body composition compared to other modalities of exercise? Our Discover Strength Podcast Mini-Series episode this week is an in-depth discussion on how we can change our body composition and the best modalities of exercise to do so.
Generally, people think they are able to improve their body composition through aerobic exercise and diet. With this line of thinking, they are missing one key element, and that is resistance training. Resistance training is a vital component of improving body composition. By engaging your body in strength training, you are participating in the most effective exercise modality for improving body composition. The reason it is so effective is the effects strength training has on your resting metabolic rate. After a strength training workout, your body has to work harder to build back the muscle tissue, which elevates your resting metabolic rate for a few days following the workout.
Hear Logan and David go deep on this topic by listening to this week’s podcast mini-series episode today.
If you or someone you know is interested in trying out a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way!
Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.**
**Welcome to the newest Discover Strength Podcast Mini-Series where we will focus on 12 things we think are essential to getting better results from your workouts in less time. Join us as we go deeper on each topic in a format that's perfect for sharing and broadening your own knowledge. Thanks for joining us, and please enjoy this week’s episode about rep range and weight.
What are the effects of rep range and weight on toning and bulking? Find out more by listening to this week’s Discover Strength Podcast Mini-Series episode.*“This myth has been around for years, right, it’s been around for decades, that if you use a really heavy weight and don’t do many repetitions you’re going to get more bulky. And if you use light weights and do a lot of repetitions it’s gonna lead to more of a toned appearance. As we’ve talked about before we’ve had clients come in that say ‘well I don’t wanna used too heavy of a weight because I don’t want to get really bulky,’ when we know that there’s no way that that person is going to get a very bulky appearance using a heavy weight. There’s just no correlation between weight that is used and then the morphological changes that person actually makes.” *-David G.
If you or someone you know is interested in trying out a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way!
Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.**
**Welcome to the newest Discover Strength Podcast Mini-Series where we will focus on 12 things we think are essential to getting better results from your workouts in less time. Join us as we go deeper on each topic in a format that's perfect for sharing and broadening your own knowledge. Thanks for joining us, and please enjoy this week’s episode on injuries.
How does strength training help rehabilitate previous injuries and protect you from future injuries? Strength training improves tendon stiffness which gives a more efficient return as we land and push off again in running and jumping. Note, this is not to say it reduces the range of motion/flexibility (that is when the muscle is relaxed). This also strengthens the tendon and prevents injury.
Listen to the new episode in the Mini Series today on Injuries with Exercise Physiologists, David Gschneidner and Logan Emmett Herlihy.
If you or someone you know is interested in trying out a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way!**
Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today to take the first step towards getting your life back.
**Welcome to the newest Discover Strength Podcast Mini-Series where we will focus on 12 things we think are essential to getting better results from your workouts in less time. Join us as we go deeper on each topic in a format that's perfect for sharing and broadening your own knowledge. Thanks for joining us, and please enjoy this week’s episode on eccentrics.
In strength training, eccentrics (negatives) are the closest thing we have to magic. It is primarily where our strength and hypertrophy gains come from.
We produce more force lowing the weight than lifting it.
If you want to build bigger and stronger muscles focus on longer, controlled eccentrics during your workouts.
If you or someone you know is interested in trying out a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way!
Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today!**
**Is supervision really that important? What does the research say about the value of supervision? Does the ratio matter? How about the quality? What really qualifies as an unsupervised workout?
In this week's episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast," I sat down with Solent University Senior Lecturer, James Fisher, Ph.D. Dr. Fisher is a leading researcher in the field of exercise science and his lab recently published an exploratory review and meta-analysis on the value of supervision.
There is a BROAD spectrum of what could be considered "supervision," and it's not very well defined in the research. However, as we parse through the evidence, it seems clear that supervision is more than likely an intricate part of any effective strength training program.
Something as simple as having someone explain an exercise to you adds significant value to your strength training experience and likely results in greater "gains," both in the short and long term. The issue, as with many things in the exercise science field, is that supervision is very poorly defined. Because of this, and without a deeper analysis with an expert like Dr. Fisher, it might be easy to dismiss supervision as unimportant.
It seems clear that when left entirely unattended and with no direct explanation of what to do (or how to do it), the effectiveness of any training program decreases drastically. With the meta-analysis now available, we are hopeful to see researchers take up the challenge of truly and effectively analyzing supervised versus unsupervised workouts.
The real value of supervision is multifaceted and extends well beyond simply "gains" in the gym. It includes aspects of accountability, motivation, and habit-building. We're excited to see how this research expands in the future, and we're confident that the value of supervision (when properly defined) will continue to be proven substantial within the research.
If you or someone you know is interested in trying out a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way!
Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today!
The meta analysis HERE Study James Referenced HERE**
**At Discover Strength, we talk a LOT about the benefits of exercise for health and longevity. Our exercise physiologists all have a degree in an Exercise Science-related field and have attained some of the highest certifications in the industry. We bring in scientists and researchers to discuss the importance of strength training. But what do medical experts, doctors in the field, have to say about the benefits of resistance training as we age?
In this week's episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast," we explore just that. We were privileged enough to have the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Michael Joyner, an exercise physiologist, anesthesiologist, and M.D. at one of the world's most premier medical institutions, The Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Joyner has long been an advocate of all types of exercise. An endurance athlete in college, Dr. Joyner found his passion for exercise originally at Arizona State University. He went on to become an anesthesiologist and researcher to continue to pursue his love of all things exercise science. It was his mission to be on the front lines of where the science meets the real-world application.
In his recent work, Dr. Joyner has also come to understand the vast importance of regular resistance training. In this episode we discuss all things exercise and physiology and how he puts his many years of experience to work in his own life, and in helping others.
I know you will truly enjoy this conversation with a frontline expert exercise physiologist in the truest sense of the word.
Find more information about Dr. Joyner HERE. Listen to hear all of Dr. Joyner's wonderful takeaways, but below are a couple of my favorites:*"Train more, workout less, and be resilient."
"Don't permit what you cannot do to interfere with what you can do!"* If you or someone you know is interested in trying out a FREE Discover Strength Introductory workout, please send them our way!
Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today!**
Menders: Love & Leadership in Health Systems
Menders reimagine what is possible in healthcare to creatively address structural...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
**Have you ever wondered what your strength training progress might look like? When do you start building muscle? How much muscle can you build, and will you just get stronger forever? Who should you look to for an evidence-based approach to strength training progress? What does the scientific literature have to say about strength training progress over the course of a few months, a few years, or a lifetime?
On this week's episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast," I sat down with Senior Exercise Physiologist Rick Rignell to discuss all things strength training progression. We look over what the relevant literature has to say in regards to how we adapt to exercise, and what we can expect in the short and long-term of our strength training careers.
Rick and I describe in detail based on personal, anecdotal, and most importantly research-backed experience on what you can expect your own strength training progress to look like. This means from the day you step into the gym for the first time and start lifting weights, to your last workout ever at 100 years old before you finally kick the bucket. How can we expect our strength training progress to shift over the course of time, and how can we set realistic expectations of strength training progress outcomes.
This is a great episode for new and long-time trainees, and anyone who's interested in what the journey might be like in their own strength training progress. I encourage you to like and share with any friends that may be interested in trying a Discover Strength workout, in person or virtually.
Send any inquiries HERE to get scheduled for a FREE Introductory Session today!
Research from the episode HERE**.
The Orthopreneurs Podcast with Dr. Glenn Krieger
Whether you're an orthodontist, dentist or entrepreneur, this is a GREAT starting point.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts
**In this week's episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast," I'm joined by Senior Exercise Physiologist Taylor Melvin.
Taylor and I are discussing an article from 2020 in the Journal "Sports Medicine" on the benefits of strength training for what they termed the "very elderly", essentially clients aged 75 years and older. The applications of this article though targeted at older individuals have practical applications for younger individuals as well.
We discuss some of the biggest questions surrounding strength training for older individuals. This includes questions like: Can older trainees still see increases and strength and hypertrophy? As well one of the most important things to consider for older trainees: Is resistance training safe?
If you or someone you know is aged 50 or above, where sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss) becomes an important lifestyle consideration, then this episode is a must-listen. We encourage you to like, subscribe and share.If you or anyone you know has been training on their own and is looking to take their workouts to the next level, send them HERE****, to sign up for a complimentary Discover Strength Introductory workout, in studio, or virtually!
If you or someone you know struggles with Low Back Pain, make sure to schedule your free MedX Medical Low Back Session today at our Chanhassen Location!
To schedule your free introductory MedX Medical Session click HERE. Article available Here**.
**In this week's episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, we are thrilled to be joined by NYT Best Selling Author Christie Aschwanden. Christie is a prolific writer for a variety of different media outlets, including but not limited to the New York Times, the New York Post, Runner's World, Men's Journal, and more. She is also the host of the "Emerging Form" podcast, available wherever you listen to podcasts.
Christie comes to us to share her experience and knowledge this week on the art, science, and sometimes B.S. involved in "recovery". Her NYT Best-Selling book "Good To Go", takes a deep dive into the recovery industry, in which "recovery" has gone from a noun to a verb. Something that happens, to something you must actively do and pursue.
As evidence based practitioners we are thrilled to have Christie share her research on the science of recovery and help us sort out for our clients and listeners, what works, and what may or may not be simply the placebo effect. From float tanks to wearable devices, Christie and I cover the gauntlet of recovery regimens, and hope that you can take away some actionable items to bring to your own personal recovery going forward.
This episode is a MUST listen! If you've ever tried any sort of recovery modalities, you don't want to miss this conversation with Christie Aschwanden.**
Buy the book HERE.
Follow Christie and all her social HERE.
If you or anyone you know has been training on their own and is looking to take their workouts to the next level, send them HERE**, to sign up for a complimentary Discover Strength Introductory workout, in studio, or virtually!
If you or someone you know struggles with Low Back Pain, make sure to schedule your free MedX Medical Low Back Session today at our Chanhassen Location!
To schedule your free introductory MedX Medical Session click HERE.**
**In this week's episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, I had the pleasure of being joined once again by Dr. Stuart Phillips.
Dr. Phillips is a senior lecturer at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada. He is widely regarded as one of the preeminent researchers in the world on protein. In this week's episode we focus specifically on supplements. What works, what doesn't and what does the research say is worth spending your money on.
The supplement industry is fraught with misinformation, disinformation and unfortunately outright lies. There are however, a few supplements backed by research and proven time and time again to be effective in muscle building. That list however, is very short, and because the industry is widely unregulated, it's important to know what is worth using and what can potentially hinder you, harm you, or will simply be a waste of time and money.
In this episode Dr. Phillips in I discuss that short list of supplements we know work for sure. We also talk about some other supplements that may or may not have potential, and the rest unfortunately are for the most part, just fancy marketing. If you're interested in hearing our other episodes with Dr. Phillips, check out Season 2, Episode 9 (*Here*) and see links below for Dr. Phillips on previous seasons.
Stu Phillips Podcast Season 1 (episode 1) HERE Stu Phillips Podcast Season 1 (episode 2) HERE If you or anyone you know has been training on their own and is looking to take their workouts to the next level, send them HERE****, to sign up for a complimentary Discover Strength Introductory workout, in studio, or virtually!
If you or someone you know struggles with Low Back Pain, make sure to schedule your free MedX Medical Low Back Session today at our Chanhassen Location!
To schedule your free introductory MedX Medical Session click HERE.**
**In this week's episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, I had the pleasure of being joined once again by Dr. Stuart Phillips.
Dr. Phillips is a senior lecturer at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada. He is widely regarded as one of the preeminent researchers in the world on protein. In this week's episode we talk about the biggest differences in protein types. This means jumping into the debate on "Animal vs. Plant" protein.
We discuss things such as bioavailability and contribution to muscle protein synthesis (MPS), and what are the best non-animal protein sources to optimize muscle and strength gain in conjunction with proper resistance training.
We also discuss the realities of what protein can and cannot do. If you've ever had any questions on protein quality and consumption, this episode is a must. I'd also highly recommend you check out Dr. Phillips previous episode on the podcast.
Stu Phillips Podcast Season 1 (episode 1) HERE Stu Phillips Podcast Season 1 (episode 2) HERE If you or anyone you know has been training on their own and is looking to take their workouts to the next level, send them HERE****, to sign up for a complimentary Discover Strength Introductory workout, in studio, or virtually!
If you or someone you know struggles with Low Back Pain, make sure to schedule your free MedX Medical Low Back Session today at our Chanhassen Location!
To schedule your free introductory MedX Medical Session click HERE.**
**On this week's episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" we are joined by one of the premier researchers in the field of Exercise Science, Dr. James Steele, PhD.
Dr. Steele is a professor at Solent University in the UK and one of the leading authorities on Exercise Science research in the world. He's collaborated with a number of our other guests including Dr. Brad Schoenfeld, Dr. James Fisher, Dr. Stuart Phillips, and more.
This week Dr. Steele and I discuss a recent study that looked at the effectiveness of steady state cardio vs. interval training for fat loss and improvements in body composition. The Meta analysis examined what if any differences there are in improving measures of fat loss with short interval bouts versus longer lower intensity sessions.
Listen to hear what, if any differences there are between the two training types, and how to incorporate these findings into your own exercise routine.
Full Study HERE****.
If you or anyone you know has been training on their own and is looking to take their workouts to the next level, send them HERE****, to sign up for a complimentary Discover Strength Introductory workout, in studio, or virtually!
If you or someone you know struggles with Low Back Pain, make sure to schedule your free MedX Medical Low Back Session today at our Chanhassen Location!
To schedule your free introductory MedX Medical Session click HERE.**
**In this week's episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" I sat down with Senior Exercise Physiologist Maria Hauger, from our North East Minneapolis location.
Maria and I discuss a topic that everyone seems to be interested in. How to burn more calories! Specifically we look at metabolism, energy expenditure and exercise. We dive in to what the research has to say about using resistance training as an effective modality for fat loss. We also dismiss some of the common myths, primarily that traditional "cardio" is a good way to lose fat.
Research Below:*Exercise on RMRResting Energy Expenditure Training to MF vs. 3-set *This episode comes just in time for our April Body Comp Challenge! If you're looking for ways to jump start you body composition goals for 2022, Discover Strength's BCC is a fantastic way to kick start your program.
Anyone interested can sign up HERE****, and be sure to ask your trainer about getting started if you haven't already.
I encourage you to share this episode with friends or loved ones who train on their own, and might be interested in trying a Discover Strength Workout. Send them HERE****, to sign up for a complimentary Discover Strength Introductory workout, in studio, or virtually!
If you or someone you know struggles with Low Back Pain, make sure to schedule your free MedX Medical Low Back Session today at our Chanhassen Location!
To schedule your free introductory MedX Medical Session click HERE.**
**In this week's episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" I sat down with Senior Exercise Physiologist and General Manager of Discover Strength Woodbury, Jake Picht.
Jake and I discuss a concept known as "Reps In Reserve" and the idea that most trainees (even those with a lot of experience) are not great at predicting when they are approaching failure in their workouts. As we know, reaching or getting close to momentary muscle failure is extremely important to maximize the benefits of efficient, effective resistance training like clients participate in at Discover Strength.
Jake and I also discuss why this makes supervision in your workouts so important. Not only does the research support that supervision improves your strength training outcomes, it's also one of the best ways to make sure you're working as hard as possible.
I encourage you to share this episode with friends or loved ones who train on their own, and if they're interested in seeing the value of supervision, send them HERE****, to sign up for a complimentary Discover Strength Introductory workout, in studio, or virtually!
Find the links to the research discussed here:*Reps In ReserveSupervision Study 1Supervision Study 2Supervision Study 3Supervision Study 4* If you or someone you know struggles with Low Back Pain, make sure to schedule your free MedX Medical Low Back Session today at our Chanhassen Location!
To schedule your free introductory MedX Medical Session click HERE.**
**In this week's episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" I sat down with Dr. Patroklos Androulakis-Korakakis... aka Dr. PAK.
Dr. PAK was a featured guest on the podcast back in Season 1 when we discussed his doctoral dissertation on Minimum Effective Dose Training in Powerlifters (you can check out that episode HERE****). His paper has since been published and featured in newspapers, magazine and articles around the world.
Dr. PAK joins us today to discuss a Meta-Analysis (a study of multiple studies) on training to momentary muscle failure to maximize strength and hypertrophy.
Find the links to the research discussed here:*Study 1Study 2Study 3Study 4 *If you or someone you know struggles with Low Back Pain, make sure to schedule your free MedX Medical Low Back Session today at our Chanhassen Location!
To schedule your free introductory MedX Medical Session click HERE.**
**In this week's episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" I sat down with Exercise Physiologist Logan Morrison (Saint Louis Park) to discuss the truth about fat loss. More specifically, how to maximize fat loss through exercise, and what the research has to say about the best ways to do so.
We discuss a massive study from 2015 in the Journal Obesity about the differences in fat loss over a 12 year period between traditional "cardio" exercise and resistance training. This longitudinal study included over 50,000 participants and had some extremely interesting findings.
The see more on the study find the link to read it in its entirety HERE*. To find out more about the best ways to lose body fat according to the research listen to this week's episode!* One of the best ways to get started on your fat loss journey is to know where you stand. You can use the gold standard of body composition testing equipment, the BodPod© at our Chanhassen location. Setup an appointment HERE****.
And while you're there, be sure to also check out our MedX Medical Low Back Training System.
To schedule your free introductory MedX Medical Session click HERE.**
**On this week's episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" we are joined by one of the premier researchers in the field of Exercise Science, Dr. James Fisher, PhD.
Dr. Fisher is a Senior Lecturer at Solent University in the UK and one of the leading authorities on Exercise Science research in the world. He's collaborated with a number of our other guests including Dr. Brad Schoenfeld, Dr. James Steele, Dr. Stuart Phillips, and more.
This week Dr. Fisher and I discuss the extremely interesting area of research on Dynapenia vs. Sarcopenia.
Dynapenia as defined by "PubMed":Dynapenia (pronounced dahy-nuh-pē-nē-a, Greek translation for poverty of strength, power, or force**) is the age-associated loss of muscle strength that is not caused by neurologic or muscular diseases. Dynapenia predisposes older adults to an increased risk for functional limitations and mortality.
Sarcopenia as defined by "PubMed":Sarcopenia is a syndrome characterized by progressive and generalized loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength and it is strictly correlated with physical disability, poor quality of life and death. Risk factors for sarcopenia include age, gender and level of physical activity.
**While our listeners are probably familiar with discussions with their own trainer around Sarcopenia (age related muscle loss). There's reason to think that Dynapenia (age related strength loss), could be a more important indicator of overall health and functionality as we age.
If you've ever wondered about the importance of strength training as you age, DON'T miss this episode!
Back Pain?
To schedule your free introductory MedX Medical Session click HERE.**
**In this week's episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" I sat down with Exercise Physiologist and trainer Logan Morrison (Saint Louis Park) to discuss some exciting findings wrapped around short workouts.
Firstly, we discuss some information in more detail from one of our previous episodes with Dr. Martin Gibala based on his book "The One-Minute Workout". A study that showed one bout of interval training per week was enough to greatly mitigate cardiovascular disease risk over the course of a 16-year study. More importantly, MORE exercise, didn't improve your decreases in risk, one workout was all that was needed. To brush up on our previous episode with Dr. Gibala click HERE****.
In the second half of the episode Logan and I discuss the importance of VO2 max and decreases in all cause mortality. Essentially the higher your VO2 max, the less likely you are to die from all causes. This becomes especially important because research indicates that the main driver of improvements in VO2 max is intensity of exercise, not the length. So shorter, higher intensity efforts are correlated with marked improvements in VO2 max, and a higher VO2 max is correlated with lower incidence of death from all causes.
Just another reason to train harder, not longer. If you're interested in checking out this article in its entirety, please follow the link HERE to read more.
To schedule your free introductory MedX Medical Session click HERE.**
**Welcome back everyone for Season 2 of "The Discover Strength Podcast".
To kick off this season we brought on veteran trainer, and part of the new "Discover Strength MedX Medical" Team Tyler Zolcynski. On this week's episode we talk about the MedX Core Lumbar System Machine (The Low Back), and why it's such a unique piece of equipment thanks to it's patented hip restraint system.
Then, Tyler and I have the opportunity to discuss in detail the newest addition to Discover Strength, the MedX Medical Low Back Machine, exclusively at our Chanhassen location. This machine is a huge step up from the already powerful exercise version you see in all Discover Strength Studios. We've recently launched a whole program around this particular piece of equipment and have a staff of veteran Discover Strength exercise physiologists to take you through a world class back strengthening workout, like nothing you've ever experienced before.
If you've ever suffered low back pain before, this is an episode you DON'T want to miss!
To schedule your free introductory MedX Medical Session click HERE.**
**On this week's episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" I was joined by six senior trainers at Discover Strength. We discussed the biggest takeaways from the first full year of the podcast. Things we didn't know before listening, things we've shared most with our clients this year, and things we hope to learn more about in the future.
If you haven't listened to these episodes we discussed, this is a great opportunity to go back and learn more.
I wanted to say thank you to all of our listeners to supporting this show in its first full year. Thank you for all the wonderful feedback, comments and questions... please keep them coming in 2022.
Thank you as well to all of our guests, we literally could not do this without you, and I've been humbled to talk with many of the leaders in the field of Exercise Science.
If you haven't had the chance already, it would mean the world to us if you could like, review, subscribe and share "The Discover Strength Podcast" on your favorite podcasting platforms and social media. Help us spread the word of smart, efficient, evidence based exercise this year and beyond.
Happy New Year everyone! We'll see you in 2022 for Season 2!**
This week on the "Discover Strength Podcast" I had the privilege of sitting down with world renowned exercise scientist Dr. Brad Schoenfeld.
Dr. Schoenfeld is widely regarded as the world's leading expert on strength and hypertrophy. He's published well over 300 papers and multiple best selling fitness books. His work has been cited over 1,000,000 times on Researchgate, and he's been a highly sought after keynote speaker at exercise conferences around the world.
Dr. Schoenfeld joined me this week to discuss his recently published position stand for the IUSCA (International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association) "Resistance Training Recommendations to Maximize Muscle Hypertrophy in an Athletic Population: Position Stand of the IUSCA". The paper outlines the six most important factors to maximize muscular growth and what the research has to say about how to optimize this change in an athletic population. With little regard for time investment, this paper is still a fascinating look at how to get the absolute most out of your human potential.
Though very impractical from a time investment standpoint, this position stand still offers many fascinating insights on optimizing muscle growth. What's of more interest to our listeners in the second paper we discuss, also published this year, entitled "No Time to Lift? Designing Time-Efficient Training Programs for Strength and Hypertrophy: A Narrative Review". This paper has many more practical applications to our listeners as it targets the general population as opposed to athletes. It also focuses on what will give trainees the most "bang for their buck" from a strength and hypertrophy perspective in regards to abbreviated training.
For long time clients, you may not be surprised to hear that many of the recommendations in this paper sound eerily similar to what you already do on a regular basis in your own Discover Strength workouts. Workout hard, brief, and infrequent, and you'll get the vast majority of the hypertrophy and strength benefits that resistance training has to offer.
Please like and subscribe to the "Discover Strength Podcast", and help us spread the word of smart, efficient, evidence based exercise.
Are you or someone you know an exercise professional? Have you thought about finding an extremely rewarding career as a part of the preventative health community. We encourage you to apply today at Discover Strength HERE, and start the path to becoming a well respected expert.
Position Stand on Hypertrophy
No Time to Lift
**In this week's episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" we continue our multi-part series featuring trainers from all the Discover Strength locations. In this series, which will air over the next few months, we talk about some of the most important things all of our new clients should know. These topics are also a great reminder for clients who've trained with Discover Strength for years, and serve as the foundation of the "Why" behind the "How" of what we do.
This week, Tyler Zolczynski (Saint Louis Park) and I discuss meeting clients wherever they are along the intensity spectrum.
We discuss what the research says about intensity. Arguably the most important controllable variable in your resistance training workouts. However, this important factor can vary depending on where you are in your training career and where you are personally, emotionally and physically on any given day. At Discover Strength we want to always tailor the intensity to the client in front of us. It's about providing the most effort you can possibly muster, not what any other client is capable of. It's a genuinely customized workout, specific to the client at hand. One Set, One Rep, and One Client at a time.
I encourage you to share this episode with friends who may be interested in what your workouts at Discover Strength look like. We know everyone is different and we pride ourselves on meeting every client exactly where they're at with a customized routine to help them make the most out of their workouts.
Let's show everyone that you can work harder and smarter just 2x/week for 30 minutes and get the same or even better results with a "Discover Strength Style" approach to your resistance training routine.**
If you've ever thought of owning your own Discover Strength Studio, please visit www.discoverstrengthfranschise.com and start the next steps towards your dream job today!
If you or someone you know needs some high quality equipment to take their virtual training to the next level. Send them HERE. Use code "Discover" and save 10% of all of your virtual workout needs.
**In this week's episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" we continue our multi-part series featuring trainers from all the Discover Strength locations. In this series, which will air over the next few months, we talk about some of the most important things all of our new clients should know. These topics are also a great reminder for clients who've trained with Discover Strength for years, and serve as the foundation of the "Why" behind the "How" of what we do.
This week, Tyler Zolczynski (Saint Louis Park) and I discuss how and why we track your progression at Discover Strength.
The principle of "Progressive Overload" is foundational in all forms of resistance training and really all exercise. This principle simply states that over the course of your training career you must incrementally increase the intensity of the exercise being performed in order to continue to see improvements. Essentially you can't lift the same weight for the same reps every time you workout and expect to keep getting stronger. Tyler and I discuss the finer points of what we call "double progression" at Discover Strength to insure that we are always steadily and incrementally working harder every session.
I encourage you to share this episode with friends who may be interested in what your workouts at Discover Strength look like. We know everyone is different and we pride ourselves on meeting every client exactly where they're at with a customized routine to help them make the most out of their workouts.
Let's show everyone that you can work harder and smarter just 2x/week for 30 minutes and get the same or even better results with a "Discover Strength Style" approach to your resistance training routine.**
If you've ever thought of owning your own Discover Strength Studio, please visit www.discoverstrengthfranschise.com and start the next steps towards your dream job today!
If you or someone you know needs some high quality equipment to take their virtual training to the next level. Send them HERE. Use code "Discover" and save 10% of all of your virtual workout needs.
**In this week's episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, I continue my conversation with protein expert Dr. Stuart Phillips.
Dr. Phillips is a senior lecturer at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada. He is widely regarded as one of the preeminent researchers in the world on protein. While the topic of protein and how it affects our bodies can be very wide ranging, we tried to keep this episode down to the fundamentals.
In this second part of our 2-part episode Dr. Phillips and I discuss exactly how your body uses the protein you take in, and what is the ideal timing to take protein? What kind of protein recommendations should you use to support your resistance training routine. And what kind of progress is realistic for beginners and advanced trainees when it comes to a proper resistance training program.
Our clients constantly hear us harp on the importance of protein, and I think this weeks episode will be an excellent reminder on the actual purpose of protein and why it's so important to our bodies, and our health.
Please like and share this episode with anyone you know who struggles with understanding the importance of protein, and feel free to look more in depth into Dr. Phillips plethora of research by heading here. If you're interested in the idea of potentially owning your own Discover Strength Franchise, please visit our website HERE for more information and to take the next steps in the interview process.**
If you or someone you know needs some high quality equipment to take their virtual training to the next level. Send them HERE. Use code "Discover" and save 10% of all of your virtual workout needs.
**In this week's episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, I had the pleasure of being joined by Dr. Stuart Phillips.
Dr. Phillips is a senior lecturer at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada. He is widely regarded as one of the preeminent researchers in the world on protein. While the topic of protein and how it affects our bodies can be very wide ranging, we tried to keep this episode down to the fundamentals.
- What is protein?
- Why do we need it?
- How do we use it?
- And finally can we use resistance exercise to help make the most of the protein we take in?
Our clients constantly hear us harp on the importance of protein, and I think this weeks episode will be an excellent reminder on the actual purpose of protein and why it's so important to our bodies, and our health.
Please like and share this episode with anyone you know who struggles with understanding the importance of protein, and feel free to look more in depth into Dr. Phillips plethora of research by heading here. If you're interested in the idea of potentially owning your own Discover Strength Franchise, please visit our website HERE for more information and to take the next steps in the interview process.**
If you or someone you know needs some high quality equipment to take their virtual training to the next level. Send them HERE. Use code "Discover" and save 10% of all of your virtual workout needs.
**In this week's episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" we continue our multi-part series featuring trainers from all the Discover Strength locations. In this series, which will air over the next few months, we talk about some of the most important things all of our new clients should know. These topics are also a great reminder for clients who've trained with Discover Strength for years, and serve as the foundation of the "Why" behind the "How" of what we do.
This week, we're joined by Discover Strength Founder and CEO, Luke Carlson. Luke and I discuss a new and exciting field of research in the exercise science community, Myokines. These endocrine signaling hormones are released during all activity of muscular contraction. And while we're just starting to scratch the surface on what they do, they could potentially be the key to the many benefits that come from resistance training.**
This is also a wonderful episode to explain the larger benefits of exercise, besides just the aesthetics. Resistance training is a powerful tool for personal wellbeing, and Myokines may be the first step in the understanding of how powerful exercise can really be.
Let's show everyone that you can work harder and smarter just 2x/week for 30 minutes and get the same or even better results with a "Discover Strength Style" approach to your resistance training routine.
Register here for the October Body Comp Challenge!
Register here if you're interested in attending the Resistance Exercise Conference 2021 in Las Vegas!
**In this week's episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" we continue our multi-part series featuring trainers from all the Discover Strength locations. In this series, which will air over the next few months, we talk about some of the most important things all of our new clients should know. These topics are also a great reminder for clients who've trained with Discover Strength for years, and serve as the foundation of the "Why" behind the "How" of what we do.
This week, we're joined by Discover Strength Founder and CEO, Luke Carlson. Luke and I take some time to discuss the importance of the Leg Extension (or Knee Extension exercise). We'll chat about what makes this exercise so valuable and why a specific type of Leg Extension stands above the rest of the industry with its superior design specifications.
I encourage you to share this episode with anyone you know who has ever suffered from knee pain or had a knee surgery or injury in the past.
Let's show everyone that you can work harder and smarter just 2x/week for 30 minutes and get the same or even better results with a "Discover Strength Style" approach to your resistance training routine.**
Register here for the October Body Comp Challenge!
Register here if you're interested in attending the Resistance Exercise Conference 2021 in Las Vegas!
**In this week's episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" we continue our multi-part series featuring trainers from all the Discover Strength locations. In this series, which will air over the next few months, we talk about some of the most important things all of our new clients should know. These topics are also a great reminder for clients who've trained with Discover Strength for years, and serve as the foundation of the "Why" behind the "How" of what we do.
This week, Maria Hauger (North East) and I discuss what are the causes of DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness), why we don't always get sore from our workouts, and if soreness is even an important indicator for an effective workout. We'll also be exploring what the literature has to say about rest days in between workouts. Finally we'll chat about arguably the most important part of any set of exercise, the lowering of the weight, or the "eccentric" portion of the rep.
These topics are all hotly debated in the fitness industry, and this episode is filled with a plethora of evidenced based takeaways that you can start using immediately in your own workouts. You'll learn what causes soreness, and what it actually means. How many days your body needs to fully recover from a High Intensity Discover Strength workout. And how to take advantage of the eccentric portion of repetitions in things like injury recovery to maintain and even increase strength/hypertrophy.
I encourage you to share this episode with friends who may be interested in what your workouts at Discover Strength look like. We know everyone is different and we pride ourselves on meeting every client exactly where they're at with a customized routine to help them make the most out of their workouts.
Let's show everyone that you can work harder and smarter just 2x/week for 30 minutes and get the same or even better results with a "Discover Strength Style" approach to your resistance training routine.
Brad Schoenfeld "No Time to Lift" Omar Valdes Study Omar Valdes Podcast**
If you've ever thought of owning your own Discover Strength Studio, please visit www.discoverstrengthfranschise.com and start the next steps towards your dream job today!
If you or someone you know needs some high quality equipment to take their virtual training to the next level. Send them HERE. Use code "Discover" and save 10% of all of your virtual workout needs.
**In this week's episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" we continue our multi-part series featuring trainers from all the Discover Strength locations. In this series, which will air over the next few months, we talk about some of the most important things all of our new clients should know. These topics are also a great reminder for clients who've trained with Discover Strength for years, and serve as the foundation of the "Why" behind the "How" of what we do.
This week, Tyler Zolczynski (Saint Louis Park) and I discuss how resistance training can impact your cardiovascular health and positively impact bone density.
It's long been assumed that the only way to improve cardiovascular health is through traditional steady state "cardio". However, research has continued to mount in the recent decades which shows all the benefits attributed to traditional steady state cardio exercise, can be elucidated through resistance training. With the added benefit of adding additional lean muscle mass, which brings with it a whole host of other positive physiological changes. Tyler and I discuss some of these benefits resistance training has to offer.
We also discuss the common dogma that older individuals and those who are prone to, or are currently undergoing the effects of osteoporosis should avoid lifting heavy things, and instead focus on light weights and water exercises. We discuss why this idea is simply not supported by the evidence and in fact may be highly counter productive. Instead we offer evidence based resistance training recommendations for individuals struggling with bone density. Scientific interventions that have been shown too slow, stop, and even reverse bone loss.
I encourage you to take notes, and share this episode with all your friends who think cardio is the only way to keep heart healthy, or those who worry that their bones are too fragile to lift weights anymore.
Let's show everyone that you can work harder and smarter just 2x/week for 30 minutes and get the same or even better results with a "Discover Strength Style" approach to your resistance training routine.**
Bone Health
Cardio Health
Blood Pressure
If you've ever thought of owning your own Discover Strength Studio, please visit www.discoverstrengthfranschise.com and start the next steps towards your dream job today!
If you or someone you know needs some high quality equipment to take their virtual training to the next level. Send them HERE. Use code "Discover" and save 10% of all of your virtual workout needs.
**In this week's episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" we continue our multi-part series featuring trainers from all the Discover Strength locations. In this series, which will air over the next few months, we talk about some of the most important things all of our new clients should know. These topics are also a great reminder for clients who've trained with Discover Strength for years, and serve as the foundation of the "Why" behind the "How" of what we do.
This week, Taylor Melvin (Plymouth) and I discuss one on the foundations of your workouts at Discover Strength. "What is MMF (Momentary Muscle Failure) and why is it important?" and "Why do we only do one set of each exercise?" These two topics are of great interest to new clients who've never been exposed to the principles of High Intensity Training before.
While the common theme in most exercise routines is multi-set training, the research (specifically in the last few decades) has come to point to single set training as an extremely efficacious and time efficient way to resistance train. The key ingredient to get the most out of a single set style of training however, is intensity, and the best way to ensure a high level of intensity is going to momentary muscular failure.
I encourage you to take notes, and share this episode with all your friends who think 3 sets of 10 reps is the only way to strength train. Let's show everyone that you can work harder and smarter just 2x/week for 30 minutes and get the same or even better results with a "Discover Strength Style" approach to your resistance training routine.
Links to articles:*"No Time to Lift"* - Schoenfeld*"1-RM Strength in Powerlifters"* - PAK*"Fit 20 Paper"* - Steele
If you or someone you know needs some high quality equipment to take their virtual training to the next level. Send them HERE**. Use code "Discover" and save 10% of all of your virtual workout needs.
**In this week's episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" we continue our multi-part series featuring trainers from all the Discover Strength locations. In this series, which will air over the next few months, we talk about some of the most important things all of our new clients should know. These topics are also a great reminder for clients who've trained with Discover Strength for years, and serve as the foundation of the "Why" behind the "How" of what we do.
This week, Colton Haight (Chanhassen) and I discuss one of the most common questions we get from new clients at Discover Strength, "Should I be doing cardio to assist in my weight loss?".
While the standard answer within the exercise industry is that cardio is vital for weight loss, Colton and I discuss what the science actually has to say on the topic. We also take a deep dive into how improving your body composition through resistance training, can help make you a more efficient calorie burner acutely (short-term), and chronically (long-term).
I encourage you to take notes, and share this episode with all your friends who say cardio is the only way to burn extra calories, they may be in for a surprise.
If you or someone you know needs some high quality equipment to take their virtual training to the next level. Send them HERE**. Use code "Discover" and save 10% of all of your virtual workout needs.
**In this week's episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" I sat down for the first part of our multi-part series featuring trainers from all the Discover Strength locations. In this series, which will air over the next few months, we talk about some of the most important things all of our new clients should know. These topics are also a great reminder for clients who've trained with Discover Strength for years, and serve as the foundation of the "Why" behind the "How" of what we do.
This week, Rick Rignell (Plymouth Location) and I discuss a few topics of interest. Firstly, we chat about the efficacy of Bodyweight training. Specifically in regards to how effective it was and still is for many of our clients who participate in our virtual training offering (book virtual training here****).
We also discuss a long held myth in the fitness industry that Free Weights (Barbells and Dumbbells) are somehow superior to training on machines. We look at some studies that debunk this myth, and why machines might even maintain a small advantage, simply from a safety perspective.
Lastly, Rick and I spend some time discussing the heritage and history of many of the machines that clients will have the privilege of using at any of our Discover Strength locations (Nautilus, MedX, HammerStrength, etc.). What makes these machines so unique, and why we are so fortunate to have the opportunity to use them.
We're so excited to share this with you, and to continue to bring you more education from all of our Discover Strength Trainers.**
**On this week's episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Sara Oikawa from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI). Dr. Oikawa earned her Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD. from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. At McMaster she had the distinction of studying under Dr. Stuart Phillips, widely regarded as the preeminent researcher on Protein Metabolism in the entire world.
Dr. Oikawa and I spoke about a paper she published in 2019 "The Impact of Step Reduction on Muscle Health in Aging: Protein and Exercise as Countermeasures." Which you can find a link to here****. Our main focus of discussion was the negative impacts even small periods of step reduction or decreases in activity levels can have on aging and even younger populations. We discussed strategies to mitigate these negative consequences, and best practices through exercise and supplementation to fight of age related Sarcopenia (muscle and strength loss).
Please enjoy this episode with the brilliant Dr. Sara Oikawa, and make sure to like and subscribe to the podcast.**
**In this week's episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" I sat down with Dr. James Steele, & Luke Carlson, the Founder and CEO of Discover Strength to discuss a recently published paper in collaboration with over a dozen other Exercise Physiologists from around the world. The paper was the collective brainchild of Dr's Fisher and Steele from Solent University in the UK, and the survey was used last year to see how the pandemic was affecting people's training habits and experience.
Along the way, 20 other researchers from across the globe became involved, and hundreds of Discover Strength clients participated to share their experience training during the lockdown. We're so excited to share the findings with you, and have these two discuss what the implications are of this study.
Find the study Here**
**In this week's episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" I had the pleasure of sitting down with a Research Assistant at Solent University in the UK. Patroklos Androulakis-Korakakis (PAK) is mere weeks away from becoming Dr. Androulakis-Korakakis, and was kind enough to share some of the research he's using for his Doctoral Thesis.
PAK's main focus for his research work has been on "Minimum Effective Dose" training for powerlifters. In this episode we talk about some of his research and other similar projects that investigate this idea of what is the least one can do to still effectively gain or maintain strength.
His research is extremely applicable to clients and listeners who feel that if they ever miss a workout, it's the end of the world. PAK and I discuss what you can actually expect to achieve training as little as once a week, and just six exercises. Though it may not be "optimal", there is evidence to suggest at the very least you can maintain all your hard work during those times when life gets the busiest.
For anyone who is interested, please reach out to myself (logan@discoverstrength.com) or to PAK (pak.androulakis@solent.ac.uk) and we'd love to chat more about this topic with you.
Check out the articles mentioned in this episode below:*PowerliftersSystematic Review (Resistance Trained Men)Powerlifter Pilot Study*
Fit 20 Study**
**In this week's episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" we are thrilled to be joined by Dr. Martin Gibala, PhD. from McMaster University in Canada.
Dr. Gibala is a Senior Professor of Kinesiology at McMaster, and one of the world's foremost experts on High Intensity Interval Training (H.I.I.T.). His research starting in the early 2000's has helped inspire and lead the way for numerous other authors to publish thousands of papers on the topic of Interval Training.
In this episode Dr. Gibala and I talk about just want constitutes Interval Training, why it's so effective and efficient, and reasons why busy people who are interested in improving their health may look to incorporate its principles into their exercise routine.
For more information on Dr. Gibala's work, you can see a list of his peer reviewed publications on Research Gate, here. I would also highly recommend his best selling book "The One-Minute Workout", which details his history with Interval Training, and some of his own preferred methods for training. Purchase the book here**.
**On this week's episode of the "Discover Strength Podcast" I had the pleasure of sitting down with some colleagues and researchers from Chile.
Omar Valdes is a student and research assistant at Universidad Finis Terrae in Chile. With the help of his professor Luis Penailillo for his graduate thesis he wrote a wonderful paper that has huge implications for recovery on an injured limb. We've long known that performing exercise on the "non-injured" side of the body, has cross transfer (contralateral) benefits on the opposing immobilized limb. However, in his paper Valdes showed that performing Eccentric only (negative) work with the uninjured limb provided significantly greater cross transfer benefits to the injured side. Decreasing atrophy (and in fact adding some size), as well as maintaining proprioception, and maximum strength output.
The implications of this work are tremendous for any of our clients/listeners who have or will ever suffer an injury that might otherwise keep them from exercising. Not only should you exercise your non-injured limb, you can actually maintain and even see increases in strength in the injured side, following your recovery.
The big takeaway, never let an injury be an excuse to miss your training. Exercising during an injury is just an important, if not more, than exercising when you're totally healthy.
If you're interested in contacting Omar or Luis, they would love to hear from you and you can find their emails below.
Omar Valdes:
ovaldest@uft.edu
Luis Penailillo:**lpenailillo@uft.cl
**In this weeks episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" we are thrilled to have Dr. Doug McGuff join us on the show. Dr. McGuff is widely regarded as one of the brightest minds in the field of evidence based exercise. His book "Body By Science" with Co-Author John Little, has served as an inspiration, and a manual of sorts for High Intensity enthusiasts and practitioners since it's publication in 2009.
Dr. McGuff is an E.R. Physician in South Carolina, as well as owner/operator of Ultimate Exercise, a High Intensity Training studio which has been in operation for more than two decades.
Dr. McGuff and I chat this week about his Keynote Presentation at the 2019 Resistance Exercise Conference in Minneapolis, MN. Where he spoke on the current state of the health care industry, and how it was on the brink of collapse (before the introduction of COVID-19). He shares his experiences over the last year working in the Emergency Room, and how his view on the importance of smart, efficient exercise, has been even more validated by the recent state of events over the last 12 + months.
Doug's insights are incredibly poignant and his view on the power and purpose behind your workouts will motivate you to keep giving 100% every single session.
To learn more about Dr. Doug McGuff visit his website:** http://www.drmcguff.com/
Books by Dr. Doug McGuff:"Body By Science" "The Body By Science Question & Answer Book""The Primal Prescription"
**In this episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" I sit down with researchers Dr. James Fisher and Dr. James Steele. We're also joined by Discover Strength CEO, Luke Carlson, to discuss an exciting new study launching with our clients at Discover Strength in April of 2021.
We discuss the history of "Project Discover", the research branch of the Discover Strength brand, that has focused on publishing peer-reviewed literature in a variety of scientific journals for the better part of the last decade. Dr. Steele and Fisher, discuss the impetuous of this most recent research undertaking, and why working with Luke and Discover Strength makes such wonderful contributions to the scientific literature.
Finally we discuss the design of this new study investigating the metabolic adaptations of "Low-weight/High-rep" protocols, versus "High-weight/Low-rep" protocols. We also discuss how the listener and current Discover Strength client can become part of this research study, and receive a hugely discounted training rate in doing so.
If you live in the greater Minneapolis area and are not currently a Discover Strength client, but are interested in participating, or if you are currently a client and have any questions regarding the study as a whole, please feel free to reach out. Let us help you become part of the most important research in the field of evidence-based exercise.
If you are interested in signing up for the study please click the link below or reach out to concierge@discoverstrength.com.**https://info.discoverstrength.com/en/pdandbcc2021
In this episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" legendary HIT practitioner Roger Schwab and I discuss his career and history in bodybuilding, and safe, evidence-based exercise.
Roger Schwab is a Legend in the field of High intensity Training. The Founder of Mainline Health and Fitness, and most recently X-Force Philadelphia, and is often regarded as one of the finest fitness experts in the US. Roger is a best-selling author, the first strength and conditioning coach at Penn State University, and was the former IFBB head judge between 1977-82, judging 5 Mr. & Ms. Olympia contests.
Schwab’s quest for sensible physical fitness began at Penn State University, where his interest in Olympic power lifting quickly led him to championship status. Early injuries taught Schwab to seek out the common sense truth about training the human body. Schwab developed his philosophy of improving functional ability, through a basic, twice-a-week regimen that delivers optimum results with a minimum of time spent in the gym. He still carries that same mentality and enthusiasm into his own workouts today, for himself and his clients.
Roger had a very close relationship with Nautilus and MedX Founder Arthur Jones. We talk a lot about Roger’s vast experience in the fitness industry, things he’s learned over the decades, and some things that he learned early on that he’s still committed to to this day.
In this Episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" Dr. Thomas Dreisinger and I discuss the importance of direct strengthening for the spinal muscles with technologies like the MedX Lumbar Extension Machine.
Dr. Thomas Dreisinger has over 40 years of clinical and consulting experience on the treatment and management of back and neck pain.
Dr. Dreisinger is an educator and researcher. He has written articles published in peer-reviewed medical journals, such as Orthopedics, Spine, and The Spine Journal, and has taught physiology courses in the Department of Biology at Pima Community College.
He is a Managing Partner of Therapy Advisors, a consulting firm with expertise in spine pain. He has led injury prevention programs for several Fortune 500 companies and has owned and operated multiple spine rehabilitation clinics.
In this episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" Dr. James Steele and I discuss trainees ability to predict their own proximity to Momentary Muscular Failure.
Dr. James Steele is Associate Professor of Sport and Exercise Science at Solent University and the Principal Investigator at the UKactive Research Institute. He has extensive research and consultancy experience in physical activity, exercise, and sport; working with elite athletes across a range of sports, the general population across the lifespan, and both those who are healthy and diseased.
His experiences are varied and interdisciplinary with a focus on problem solving across domains; as such he has expertise in a wide range of research methodologies, study designs, and both quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method approaches to data analysis and synthesis.
*James has led across numerous large research projects, published and provided invited talks across a range of areas relating to physical activity, exercise, and sport, he’s served on a number of national expert panels and working groups, is an editor and reviewer for several journals, and has been involved in the founding of several societies within the field.
If you're interested in reading the article we discussed here, please use the link below to read the article in its entirety:*https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.565416/full
In this weeks episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" Dr. Westcott and I discuss the research on the plethora of benefits that resistance training has to offer that go well beyond strength and added muscle mass.
Dr. Wayne Westcott, is a professor and chair of Exercise Science at Quincy College in Quincy, Massachusetts. He has authored 30 books, written strength training chapters for 4 National Strength and Conditioning Association textbooks and 5 American Council on Exercise textbooks, published 95 peer-reviewed research and academic papers, and served as the Health & Fitness columnist for ACSM’s Certified News from 2010 through 2017.
Wayne has been a featured speaker for numerous professional organizations, including national meetings of the American College of Sports Medicine, the American College of Nutrition, the Harvard Medical School International Conference on Obesity, and the Harvard Medical School Lifestyle Medicine Conference. He has also been a strength training consultant for many organizations, including the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Coast Guard, the YMCA of the USA, and 6 NFL football teams.
Below find a link to Dr. Wayne Westcott's Paper "Resistance Training is Medicine":
https://journals.lww.com/acsm-csmr/Fulltext/2012/07000/Resistance_Training_is_Medicine___Effects_of.13.aspx
In this episode of "The Discover Strength Podcast" Dr. James Fisher and I discuss some of the most pervasive myths still prevalent in the Exercise & Fitness Industry.
Dr. James Fisher is a senior lecturer and researcher at Solent University in the UK.
He has extensive experience with elite athletes, including coaching at the London 2012 Olympic games. He also has published a comprehensive range of peer-reviewed research publications with both clinical, asymptomatic, and elite populations.
Dr. Fisher has authored several funding bids and is an editor and reviewer for numerous high-impact journals.
He has been a key-note speaker at an array of academic and industry conferences, most notably a repeat keynote presenter at the Resistance Exercise Conference for 8 straight years!
He is on the board of directors for the Strength and Conditioning Society, and has been a featured expert on television programs, podcasts and webinars discussing his own research and other similar themes.
At present, his ambitions surround the progression and delivery of theoretical and practical knowledge for health, fitness and sporting success, as well as enjoying time with his son, and trying to keep up with his wife on a bike.
The trends in the fitness industry can be confusing, counterproductive, and sometimes downright overwhelming. What really works? What is just a fad, and what will actually get you the results you're looking for?
Have you ever considered turning to experts, instead of influencers? Researchers instead of your instagram feed?
The Discover Strength Podcast aims to do just that. A real American College of Sports Medicine Personal Trainer, with thousands of hours of hands on client experience will be interviewing exercise researchers from around the world. The best and brightest in their field, who follow the science, not the trends.
My name is Logan Emmett Herlihy. I’m an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer at Discover Strength, and I’ll be your host as we bring you the truth about exercise, and how it can help you look and feel your best, in a fraction of the time.