Episode #371: Q/A- Optimal Fitness Standards, GLP-1s, "Race-Based" health metrics, and More!

Barbell Medicine Podcast

Barbell Medicine

Health & Fitness

4.8 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 21 October 2025

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This episode features the full Q&A from our first live seminar in over a year, recorded at Watchdog Strength in San Antonio. We field questions from the audience on a wide range of topics in health and fitness.

Listen in as we discuss the "optimal" metrics for strength, cardiorespiratory fitness, and body composition; whether osteoporosis can be reversed with exercise alone; and the physiological downsides of "grazing" (constant eating) on muscle protein synthesis and insulin resistance.

We also dive into how GLP-1 agonist medications interact with diet and exercise, practical strategies for learning motivational interviewing , how to navigate challenging clients who present with "learned helplessness", and the critical distinction between knowing enough to coach movement versus giving dangerous medical advice. Finally, we tackle the complex discussion around "race-based" medicine and how it applies to waist circumference and BMI cut-offs.

Become a Barbell Medicine Plus Member Today

Timestamps:

(00:40) Q1: Is there an optimum balance of strength, cardio capacity, and body composition?
(07:46) Q2: Can older adults reverse bone loss (osteoporosis) with exercise alone?
(13:05) Q3: Why is "grazing" (frequent eating) bad?
(22:31) Q5: How do you teach a coach motivational interviewing (MI)?
(30:59) Q6: How do you handle clients with "learned helplessness" or a "diagnosis identity"?
(35:42) Q7: When do I "know enough" to start coaching others?
(40:49) Q8: How long does someone need to be in the "maintenance phase" until their risk of relapse is eliminated?
(44:46) Q9: How should we view "race-based" differences in waist circumference cutoffs?

Resources

Resources Page: https://www.barbellmedicine.com/resources/

Template Quiz: https://www.barbellmedicine.com/template-quiz/

Got pain and need a professional who understands you lift? Or, do you need an experienced coach to help you get the most out of your training? Contact us at [email protected]

Our Sponsors:
* Check out FIGS and use my code FIGSRX for a great deal: https://wearfigs.com
* Check out Factor: https://factormeals.com/bbm50off
* Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com
* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/bbm

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/barbell-medicine-podcast/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	This is our first seminar in about a year and a half.
0:03.6	We held it at Sal's gym, watchdog strength here in San Antonio, Texas.
0:06.4	Thank you guys so much for joining us.
0:08.4	This is our Q&A.
0:09.7	Obviously, you guys submitted the questions.
0:12.6	Austin picked out his personal favorites, so if yours wasn't picked, it's his fault.
0:18.6	DM him.
0:19.5	I could also give his address.
0:20.7	You can send him personal mail for that.
0:22.6	Some of them will actually receive direct responses because they might have needed more information or they might be something that you just need a consult for, not something that would be appropriate to discuss here, depending on the depth of medical aspects.
0:35.6	All right, so you'll read the questions. I'll read the question. And I will just sit here like a warp. Okay, good. Number one, is there any evidence that looks at the optimal balance of strength, cardiovascular capacity, and body composition? For example, squat one and a half times body weight or deadlift double body weight, V-O2 max over 50, body fat 13 to 15%, etc. I'm interested in what metrics you guys would use as measures in each of these as goals for
0:58.1	quote unquote all around or optimal fitness.
1:01.4	Woof.
1:02.9	You've looked into this a bit.
1:04.5	Yeah.
1:05.7	If I'm understanding the question, it'd be like what sort of metrics for each individual
1:10.4	parameter? And I think that's more, I mean, this is an answerable question, it'd be like what sort of metrics for each individual parameter?
1:11.2	And I think that's more, I mean, this is an answerable question, just whether or not we
1:15.3	actually have the technology and have the data to answer it as desired.
1:19.0	So if we break all those things apart, like what's optimal for strength and how do I think
1:23.9	about either measuring and then categorizing somebody who's, oh, you're strong enough, you need to gain more strength,
1:29.1	or you need to gain a lot more strength.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Barbell Medicine, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Barbell Medicine and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.