What if one of the most overlooked parts of our diet is also one of the simplest?

In this episode, we’re taking a closer look at fiber and why it’s so easy to overlook. We’re not here to tell you to completely change the way you eat but we’re here to help you understand where fiber fits into the bigger picture and find practical ways to include more of it.

🎗️ Timestamps:
00:00 Are We in a Fiber Crisis?
05:03 Have We Completely Forgotten About Fiber?
09:06 Why Is Fiber So Hard to Sell?
10:48 Fibermaxxing vs. Fiber Layering
15:04 What Fiber Does & The Different Types
19:52 Fiber & The Gut Microbiome
26:23 Fiber, Heart Health, Cholesterol & Blood Sugar
29:44 Whole Foods vs. Fiber Supplements
37:08 How We Became a Low Fiber World
46:16 Fiber Fast Talk: How Much Is Too Much?
46:41 Does Fiber Make You Bloated?
47:16 Smoothies, Sourdough, Potatoes & Frozen Vegetables
49:20 Fruit Juice, Beans, Popcorn & High Fiber Foods
52:16 Final Words

📒 Resources Mentioned:
📃 Association between dietary fiber and lower risk of all-cause mortality: a meta-analysis of cohort studies
📃 NHS: How to get more fibre into your diet
🔗 Vietnamese beauty queen arrested for fraud over fibre gummies

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🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

In this episode, we looked into the research to ask: is all the fear around artificial sweeteners actually justified?

We dive into the history of non-nutritive sweeteners, the challenges of nutrition science, and how artificial sweeteners compare to sugar. We get into the claims around artificial sweeteners and cancer, gut health, weight changes, metabolic disruptions, and cardiovascular disease. If you've ever wondered whether you should be worried about that Diet Coke, this one's for you.

🎗️ Timestamps:
3:56 Why We’re Talking About Artificial Sweeteners
10:36 Different Types Of Sweeteners
16:31 Aspartame, Acceptable Intake & Natural Sweeteners
20:20 Why We Started Looking For “Natural” Alternatives
31:24 What Observational Studies Tell Us
38:26 Do Artificial Sweeteners Cause Cancer?
41:55 Do Artificial Sweeteners Ruin Gut Health?
43:45 Do Artificial Sweeteners Disrupt Your Metabolism?
45:11 Do Artificial Sweeteners “Trick” Your Brain?
48:19 Do Artificial Sweeteners Cause Cardiovascular Disease?
49:09 The Diet Culture of It All
53:08 Final Takeaways

📒 Resources Mentioned:
🔗 Episode 77 Resources

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🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

We’re answering some of your listener questions around supplements. We know there’s a lot of conflicting (and loud!) supplement information out there, and we hope this episode helps you come away feeling far more confident in what supplements you may benefit from and, more importantly, which ones aren’t worth the time or money.

🎗️ Timestamps:
2:07 Is Creatine Necessary for Perimenopause/Menopausal Women?
4:54 Supplementing for Increased Energy
8:14 Why Are Electrolytes Everywhere On Social Media?
10:06 How to Make Protein Powder Not Taste Disgusting?
13:33 What Is Colostrum and is it A Worthwhile Supplement?
15:40 Final Thoughts

📒 Resources Mentioned:
🎧 50 | Everything We’ve Learned About Creatine (So You Don’t Have To)
🎧 69 | Who Convinced Us We Need Electrolytes?
📃 Colostrum

💛 STAY CONNECTED 
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🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

AI isn't just changing how we work but it might be changing who we trust for our health & fitness.

We don't use AI to create our content and we don't use it to serve our clients but it's becoming impossible to ignore how quickly it's changing the wellness space. We are aware that AI-generated meal plans, workout programs, deepfakes and virtual influencers are rampant now and it's raising important questions about expertise, trust and where we get our health information.

AI can be genuinely helpful but at what aspect does it falls short and how can approach it more thoughtfully. If you've ever used ChatGPT or been curious about AI or wondered how much you should trust AI-generated health advice, we hope this conversation helps you become a more informed consumer.

🎗️ Timestamps:
04:07 Why AI Feels Like Such A Big Conversation Right Now
05:21 The Real Problem With AI Wellness Influencers
15:33 Deepfakes & The Future Of Trust Online
17:57 How AI Is Already Changing Coaching, Fitness & Wellness
33:35 The Supplement Industry, AI & Confirmation Bias
38:14 How To Think Critically In The Age Of AI & How To Use AI Without Falling For Misinformation
46:06 Our Final Thoughts On AI, Trust & Critical Thinking

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🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

There is a massive push for strength training right now in the fitness space - which we love! But not every hard workout is strength training and knowing the difference can help us better understand how our training is (or isn’t) supporting our specific goals.

If you've ever wondered whether Pilates, swimming, F45, Burn Boot Camp or walking with a weighted vest actually "count" as strength training, this episode is for you. Kate walks through what truly defines strength training, what doesn't, and why concepts like mechanical tension and progressive overload matter if your goal is getting stronger or building muscle.

If you're new to lifting or simply want to be more intentional with your workouts, we hope this episode helps you better understand what actually counts as strength training so you can spend less time guessing and more time moving with purpose.

🎗️ Timestamps:
05:54 Introduction To Strength & Resistance Training: Why It Matters For Everyone
20:18 Why Strength Training Is One Of The Best Things You Can Do For Your Health
22:50 What Actually Counts As Strength Training? Understanding Mechanical Tension
29:15 Does Feeling The Burn Mean It's Working? & Progressive Overload Explained
34:39 What The Research Says: How Many Days Should You Train & How Many Muscle Groups Matter?
42:35 Practical Tips To Maximize Strength & Muscle Growth
46:51 What Doesn't Count As Strength Training (Even If It Feels Hard)
49:25 Do Pilates, Swimming, F45, Burn Boot Camp & Weighted Vest Walking Count?
55:20 Do You Really Need A Smartwatch To Track Strength Progress?
56:44 Final Takeaways: Focus On What Actually Builds Strength

📒 Resources Mentioned:
📃 QuickStats: National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2020
📃 The Mechanisms of Muscle Hypertrophy and Their Application to Resistance Training
📃 Muscular adaptations in low- versus high-load resistance training: A meta-analysis
📃 American College of Sports Medicine Position Stand. Resistance Training Prescription for Muscle Function, Hypertrophy, and Physical Performance in Healthy Adults: An Overview of Reviews
📃 Is a weighted vest a sufficient substitute for resistance training while dieting?
🔗 ACSM Unveils Landmark 2026 Resistance Training Guidelines — First Update in 17 Years
🔗 Brad Schoenfeld’s 3 Evidence Based Guidelines of Hypertrophy Training

💛 STAY CONNECTED 
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🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

Can a collagen supplement actually improve your skin, joints, and recovery… or is it just another wellness trend?

Collagen is one of the most popular supplements on the market, and there is no lack of influencers telling us it’s a must have in our supplement regimen. In this episode, we look at what collagen is, why it declines with age and what the research actually says about its benefits. We also discuss collagen for hair and nails and whether industry-funded research changes how we should interpret the evidence.

This episode is for anyone who's wondered whether collagen is worth adding to their routine. Whether you're already taking it, thinking about trying it, or just curious about the science, we hope this conversation helps you make a more informed decision.

🎗️ Timestamps:
02:04 What Is Collagen & Why Is It So Important For The Body?
05:50 The Different Types Of Collagen & What They Actually Do
13:40 What Happens To Collagen As We Age & Why It Matters For Healthy Aging
19:54 How Collagen Supplements Actually Work Once You Consume Them
23:07 Can Collagen Really Improve Skin Health, Elasticity & Wrinkles?
28:42 Does Collagen Help Hair Growth & Nail Strength?
32:09 Collagen For Joint Health: What Does The Evidence Actually Show?
34:57 Can Collagen Build Muscle? Recovery, Protein Quality & Muscle Growth Explained
40:10 Is Bone Broth A Good Alternative To Collagen Supplements?
40:30 Collagen Research, Industry Funding & Final Takeaways

💛 STAY CONNECTED 
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🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

PMOS, formerly known as PCOS, recently underwent a landmark name change after a global consensus process involving patients, clinicians, researchers and health organizations. This episode is about much more than the recent rebrand. We explore what PMOS actually is, why the previous name created confusion, how insulin resistance and metabolic health fit into the picture, and what current evidence says about management options ranging from lifestyle interventions to medications, and what it all means for women’s health. This is perfect for anyone living with PMOS, supporting someone who is or simply interested in understanding one of the most common yet misunderstood endocrine conditions affecting women. 

🎗️ Timestamps:
03:37 PMOS: Why PCOS Was Renamed & Why This Historic Change Matters
07:55 PMOS Explained: What It Is, Why The Old Name Was Misleading & Why This Goes Beyond Ovaries
21:30 The Bigger Problem: Stigma, Women's Health Research & Why PMOS Is About More Than Reproduction
31:21 What Causes PMOS? Symptoms, Complications & Who It Affects
37:03 Is There A Cure For PMOS? Treatment, Management & What The Evidence Says
39:00 The Myth of “Slow Metabolism” for Those with PMOS
43:07 Insulin Resistance & PMOS + Inositol, GLP-1s & Current Treatment Options
56:05 Final Thoughts & Takeaways: Why The Name Change Is Just The Beginning

📒 Resources Mentioned:
🔗 Episode 72 Resources

💛 STAY CONNECTED 
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🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

A lot of us have questions around training, protein, cardio, strength work and getting the most of our workouts but online fitness advice can make everything feel way more complicated than it needs to be. Whether we’re trying to get back into training after years away, wondering how often we actually need to work out or figuring out if things like swimming or weighted vests “count,” this episode is all about giving clearer and more realistic context. We wanted this conversation to feel practical, approachable and grounded especially for beginners or anyone trying to get back into movement again.

🎗️ Timestamps:
01:22 Is Muscle Memory Real Even After Years Away From Training?
04:54 Does Protein Timing Actually Matter?
08:57 How Many Days A Week Should You Strength Train To See Results?
10:59 Can You Lift Weights & Train Core While Pregnant?
14:11 Tips For Beginner Runners
16:32 Thoughts On Walking With A Weighted Vest
18:57 Does Weekly Swimming Count As Strength Training?

📒 Resources Mentioned:
🔗 Is a weighted vest a sufficient substitute for resistance training while dieting?

💛 STAY CONNECTED 
Don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast so you never miss an episode.

🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

What if understanding macronutrients could make nutrition feel way less confusing?

A lot of us hear terms like calories, protein, carbs and fats and only consider macronutrients in the form of “tracking macros” all the time. Rarely do we learn what important roles all macronutrients play in our bodies. So instead, we end up fearing food groups, obsessing over numbers, or feeling like we’re constantly eating “wrong” without fully understanding why.

If you’ve ever felt guilty for eating carbs, scared of fats, confused by calories or overwhelmed by constantly tracking numbers, this episode is for you.

🎗️ Timestamps:
00:18 Introduction
06:19 What Calories Actually Are & How They Work
14:06 What Macronutrients Are (+ Is Water & Alcohol Included?)
16 Protein Explained: Why Your Body Needs It
24:13 Carbohydrates Explained & Signs You May Be Undereating
31:45 Dietary Fat, 90s Diet Culture & Signs You’re Not Eating Enough
39:31 The Risks Of Calorie Tracking & Becoming Too Fixated On Numbers
45:01 Final Thoughts & Takeaways

📒 Resources Mentioned:

📃 Calories
📃 International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: protein and exercise
📃 A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of the effect of protein supplementation on resistance training-induced gains
📃 Carbohydrates for training and competition
📃 Nutrition and Athletic Performance
📃 Calorie counting and fitness tracking technology
📃 My Fitness Pal calorie tracker usage in the eating disorders
📃 Effects of diet and fitness apps on eating disorder behaviours
📃 The Science Behind the Academy for Eating Disorders' Nine Truths About Eating Disorders
🔗 Fats & Cholesterol
🔗 Fat: the facts
🔗 General Public Nutrition Resources - British Dietetic Association (BDA)
🔗 The Eatwell Guide
🔗 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

💛 STAY CONNECTED 
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🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

Do we actually need electrolyte supplements… or are they just another sector of the wellness industry with a really strong marketing team?

In this episode, we zoom out and look at how brands like Liquid IV and LMNT are marketed and why electrolytes have suddenly become part of everyone’s routine. We talk through what the research says about hydration, the controversy around sodium, and why for the average person, food and water are often enough.

This deep dive is for anyone who’s seen electrolyte packets everywhere and wondered, “Wait… should I be taking this too?”

🎗️ Timestamps:
00:13 Introduction
05:15 What This Episode Is About & Why Electrolytes Are Trending
10:28 What Are Electrolytes & Do We Actually Need Supplements?
12:33 When We Lose Electrolytes & When Replacement Is Necessary
14:48 Do We Need Electrolytes Post-Workout? What Research Says
16:24 Liquid IV Ads: What Are We Being Sold?
19:58 Sodium Intake Recommendations & The J-Curve Controversy
25:24 Popular Brands (LMNT, Liquid IV) & Science vs Marketing
33:20 The Marketing Of Electrolytes & How Trends Influence Us
45:16 Final Takeaways: Do We Really Need Electrolytes?

📒 Resources Mentioned:
🎧 #375: Salt, Sodium & Health
📀 You're Being Lied To About Electrolytes
📀 Take A Look | Liquid I.V. Game Day 2026 Commercial
🔗 Do You Really Need Electrolyte Supplements? What to Know Before You Buy
🔗 Overview of Electrolytes
🔗 About Sodium and Health
🔗 Issue No. 73: LMNT
📃 The INTERSALT study: an addition to the evidence on salt and blood pressure, and some implications
📃 Intersalt: an international study of electrolyte excretion and blood pressure.
📒 Complete list of resources here

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🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

Is soy really bad for your hormones or have we been getting it wrong this whole time?

In this episode, Michael shared what soy actually is, whether it’s a complete protein, how it compares to whey for muscle building and the biggest myths around soy like estrogen, testosterone and cancer. We also found out where the fear around soy came from and why it’s still so common today. This episode is for anyone who’s ever questioned soy, avoided it or just felt confused by all the mixed messages online.

🎗️ Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction: Why Soy Is One Of The Most Misunderstood Foods
05:10 What This Episode Covers & Why Soy Became So Controversial
08:35 What Is Soy? Understanding Where It Comes From & How It’s Used
11:45 Is Soy A Complete Protein And How It Compares To Whey For Muscle Building
16:43 Soy Myths Debunked: Estrogen, Testosterone, Hormones & Cancer Risks
24:31 The “Soy Boy” Narrative: Where It Came From & Why It Stuck
28:22 Are There Any Downsides To Soy? What To Be Aware Of
29:47 The Environmental Impact Of Soy Production Explained
34:26 Final Thoughts: Should You Eat Soy Or Not

📒Resources Mentioned:

📃 Effect of Soy Isoflavones on Measures of Estrogenicity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

📃 Neither soy nor isoflavone intake affects male reproductive hormones: An expanded and updated meta-analysis of clinical studies

📃 Soy and Isoflavone Consumption and Multiple Health Outcomes: Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Observational Studies and Randomized Trials in Humans

📃 Soya products and serum lipids: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

📃 An unusual case of gynecomastia associated with soy product consumption

💛 STAY CONNECTED 
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🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

Are GLP-1 medications something we’re meant to stay on forever or are we missing the bigger picture?

In this episode, Kate researched what actually happens when we take GLP-1 medications and what happens when we stop. We talked about the science behind weight regain, appetite changes, metabolism, and long-term health while also zooming out to look at the cultural, mental and societal impact these medications are having.

This episode is for anyone curious about GLP-1 medications whether you’re considering them, currently using them or simply trying to make sense of all the noise online. If you’ve ever felt confused, overwhelmed or unsure about what’s “right,” this conversation is here to offer clarity, context and a more compassionate way of thinking about health.

🎗️ Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction: Why GLP-1 Conversations Feel So Confusing Right Now
02:38 Do You Need To Be On GLP-1 Forever? Breaking Down The Biggest Question
07:18 What GLP-1 Actually Does & Why 1 In 8 Adults Are Now Taking It
11:37 The Bigger Picture: Consumerism, Culture & Our Complicated Relationship With Weight Loss
17:53 What Happens When You Stay On GLP-1 Long-Term (Weight Loss & Health Effects)
27:34 What Happens After You Stop GLP-1: Hunger, Digestion & Hormonal Changes
31:19 Metabolic Adaptation Explained: Why Your Body Fights To Regain Weight
36:04 Weight Maintenance Isn’t Simple: Access, Cost & Real-Life Challenges
48:10 Building Support Systems: Habits, Exercise & Nutrition During And After GLP-1
53:27 Mental Health Side Of GLP-1: Food Noise, Apathy & Emotional Changes
55:57 Final Takeaways: How To Think About GLP-1 Without Fear Or Judgment

📒Resources Mentioned:

🔗 FREE GLP-1 Question Kit
🎧 42 | GLP-1 Medications Explained: What You Need to Know in 2025 
📃 GLP-1 use in the UK & US
🔗 Report on GLP-1 impacts on businesses and marketing
🔗 Complete list of resources: Resources | 67

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🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

In this listener Q&A episode, we answer questions about yoga and strength, the push for higher protein intake, HRV tracking, supplements, 10K steps and the new US Dietary Guidelines. We break down (as always) what’s evidence-based, what’s being overhyped and where context actually matters.

This episode is for anyone feeling overwhelmed by health trends, wearables, supplement ads, or conflicting advice. If you’ve ever wondered, “Do I really need to care about this?”,  this conversation is for you!

🎗️ Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:20 Can Yoga Build Strength Alone?
03:35 Thoughts On The New US Dietary Guidelines
07:25 HRV: Useful Tool Or Overhyped Metric?
10:12 The Big Push For Protein: What’s Driving It?
13:35 How To Convince Your Doctor That Your Health Is More Than Just Your Weight?
19:07 Do 10K Steps Equal A 200–300 Calorie Deficit?
21:26 Final Takeaways

📒 Resources Mentioned:
🎧 59 | The Proteinification of Everything
🎧 43 | The Problematic Origins of BMI: Why This Health Metric Is Failing Us
🎧 50 | Everything We’ve Learned About Creatine (So You Don’t Have To)

💛 STAY CONNECTED 
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🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

Why does being “informed” about health feel more stressful than ever right now? Probably because we’re bombarded with a barrage of conflicting information and you don’t need any qualifications to have a following online.

In this episode, we sit down with Mallory DeMille, a marketing professional and content creator who sits at the intersection of wellness, fitness, social media, and misinformation. Using her background in marketing, she calls out misleading health narratives online and helps people understand how algorithms, influence, and fear-based messaging shape what we believe about our health. We talk about fear-based marketing, parasocial relationships, why extreme content gets rewarded, and how education can quietly turn into health anxiety.

This episode is for anyone who feels overwhelmed by wellness content, unsure who to trust, or anxious about “doing health wrong.” If you want to stay informed without constantly feeling behind, this conversation we have with Mallory is perfect for you!

🎗️ Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:00 Who Is Mallory & Her Path Into Wellness
06:22 How The Wellness Industry Has Shifted
14:09 Why People Feel More Confused Than Ever
21:33 Algorithms, Attention & What Gets Rewarded in the Online Wellness Space
26:18 Trends People Miss (Parasite Cleanses & Parasocial Dynamics)
33:15 Fear Mongering As A Marketing Tool
37:17 Setting Boundaries With Wellness Content
41:52 How Much Health Content Is Too Much?
46:01 Two (2) Questions We Should Ask Before Believing Health Influencers 

📒 Resources Mentioned:
📃 Communication of nutrition information by influencers on social media: A scoping review

💛 STAY CONNECTED 
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🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

What if the test you’re trusting is actually making things worse? Or is actually not legit at all? Food intolerance testing has exploded in popularity but clarity & accuracy isn’t always what these tests deliver.

In this episode, let’s talk about the booming food intolerance testing market, the difference between allergies, intolerances and sensitivities, and what proper testing actually looks like. Michael did a research about IGG food panels, home test kits, muscle testing, hair analysis and why many of these methods lack diagnostic value and can even cause harm.

This episode is for anyone confused about food reactions, considering a food test or already restricting foods because of one. If you want to be a more informed, empowered consumer (without fear-based nutrition), this conversation is for you.

📒 Resources Mentioned:
🔗 British Dietetic Association - Food Allergy and Food Intolerance Testing

🔗 British Dietetic Association - Home allergy testing kits – more harm than good?

🔗 NHS lactose intolerance advice 

📃Testing for IgG4 against foods is not recommended as a diagnostic tool: EAACI Task Force Report
📃 AAAAI support of the EAACI Position Paper on IgG4

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🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

What if menopause isn’t the problem but the misinformation around it is? So much of what we hear about menopause online is fear-based, oversimplified or just plain wrong and it leaves women feeling confused or helpless.

In this episode, we walk through common menopause myths and misunderstandings — what it is, what it isn’t, and why you can’t “out-test” your way through it. Kate discusses hormone therapy history, common myths around metabolism, belly fat, HIIT, supplements, and what actually matters for strength, health, and longevity through perimenopause and beyond.

This episode is for women navigating perimenopause or menopause, fitness professionals supporting clients through the menopause transition, and anyone who wants to feel more equipped to navigate the massive amount of misinformation out there.

🎗️Timestamps:
00:20 Introduction & Continuing Education
04:57 Menopause News, Lived Experience & Disclaimers
12:15 Menopause 101: What It Is (And Isn’t)
20:01 Why Menopause Is Still Taboo
23:10 Hormone Therapy & The Women’s Health Initiative
35:08 Menopause Misinformation: You Can’t “Out-Test” It
40:43 Menopause Belly, Metabolism & Body Changes
46:49 HIIT, Strength Training & Weighted Vests
53:35 Menopause Supplements & Creatine 
01:01:42 Final Takeaways & What Actually Helps

📒 Resources:
🔗 Review of over 70 years of menopause science highlights research gaps and calls for individualized treatment
🔗 Women’s Health Initiative (WHI)
🔗 There is no hormonal test that is perfectly reliable to diagnose peri/menopause
🔗 Dr Pauline Maki, PhD on hormone therapy and cognition
📃 Changes in body composition and weight during the menopause transition
📃 High-Intensity Resistance and Impact Training Improves Bone Mineral Density and Physical Function in Postmenopausal Women
📃 The 2023 nonhormone therapy position statement of The North American Menopause Society

📒 Complete list of resources here

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🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

Recovery is one of the most talked-about parts of fitness, yet also one of the most misunderstood. We hear about ice baths, boots, red lights, cryotherapy and gadgets everywhere but very little about how recovery actually works for real people.

In this episode, we break down what recovery really means, how to set realistic expectations and why the “boring” basics often matter more than the expensive tools. We explore popular recovery methods like compression boots, cryotherapy, red light therapy, infrared saunas and massage guns and explain who they may help, who they won’t and why context matters so much.

This episode is for anyone who trains, feels tired, sore, or stuck, and wants to recover better without falling for hype. Whether you’re a recreational lifter, endurance athlete, or just trying to feel better in your body, this conversation will help you rethink recovery in a way that actually fits your life.

🎗️ Timestamps:
00:20 Introduction
02:37 Why Recovery Expectations Matter
05:44 Setting Realistic Recovery Expectations
13:20 How We Actually Recover (The Basics)
13:20 Compression Boots & Cryotherapy
22:24 Red Light Therapy Explained
24:39 Why Pro Athletes Recover Differently
26:25 Infrared Sauna: Helpful or Hype?
30:52 Massage Guns: Is It Helpful At All?
35:00 When Recovery Becomes a Priority & How Michael Approaches Recovery
40:28 Practical Takeaways About Recovery

📒 Resources Mentioned:
🔗 Cold water immersion impact on muscle/strength gains:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33146851/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4594298/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11235606/

🔗 Cold water immersion impact on brown fat:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35837014/

🔗 Cold water immersion on mood:
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11778651/ 

🔗 A post-exercise infrared sauna session improves recovery of neuromuscular performance and muscle soreness after resistance exercise training
🔗 The Effects of Massage Guns on Performance and Recovery
🔗  Effects of lower-limb intermittent pneumatic compression on sports recovery
🔗  Whole-body cryotherapy or preventing and treating muscle soreness after exercise in adults

💛 STAY CONNECTED 
Don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast so you never miss an episode.

🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

Is there really such a thing as a “superfood,” or are they just another status symbol when it comes to the wellness world?

In this newest episode of Season 4, let's explore where superfoods came from, why science doesn’t actually recognize the term, and how food marketing came in and filled the gap. This episode is for anyone who feels overwhelmed by nutrition trends, confused by wellness marketing, or pressured to buy the newest “healthy” products. We talk through the history of superfoods, the reductionist trap of isolating nutrients, and why food doesn’t work like a drug. Oh, we also explore why some foods affect people differently through nutrigenomics and epigenetics.

🎗️ Timestamps:
00:00 Season 4 Introduction
02:53 Reintroducing The Hosts & What Season 4 Will Explore
08:23 What Are “Superfoods”, Who Coined The Term & Why It’s Not A Scientific Category
14:10 The History Of Superfoods
22:52 The Rise Of Superfood Eras & Trend Cycles (Including ORAC Scores)
35:14 Nutrigenomics: Why Food Affects People Differently & Popular Examples
42:18 What We Should Consider Superfoods Instead
47:05 Final Takeaways: How To Eat Well Without Superfood Hype

📒 Resources Mentioned:
Superfoods
🔗 Superfood 'ban' comes into effect
🔗 Superfoods or Superhype?
📃 Risk factors for lung cancer and for intervention effects in CARET, the Beta-Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial
📃 Antioxidant supplements for prevention of mortality in healthy participants and patients with various diseases
📃 Environmental and social consequences of the increase in the demand for ‘superfoods’ world-wide
📃 Priority Micronutrient Density in Foods
Epigenetics
📃 Epigenetic diet: impact on the epigenome and cancer
📃 Epigenetics in Adipose Tissue, Obesity, Weight Loss, and Diabetes
📃 Epigenetic linkage of aging, cancer and nutrition
📃 Epigenetic mechanisms in anti-cancer actions of bioactive food components – the implications in cancer prevention

💛 STAY CONNECTED 
Don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast so you never miss an episode.

🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

Why is everyone talking about fiber right now and is Fibermaxxing actually a new phenomenon or just another trendy word for something we should already be doing?

In this Walk n’ Talk series, we break down the rise of “fibermaxxing” and the real benefits (and risks) of dramatically increasing your fiber intake. Kate and Michael share the science, the nuance and the awkward gut truths that don’t make it into TikTok. From digestive health and disease prevention to bloating and balance, we explore what happens when fiber becomes the main event on your plate and how to do it right.

This episode is for anyone who’s curious about fiber, trying to eat better or confused by the latest wellness advice online. Come take a walk with us.

🎗️ Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:26 What Is Fibermaxxing?
03:24 What Is Fiber & Are We Meeting Our Needs?
05:55 Why You Can’t Overdo Fiber Overnight
07:45 Fiber vs Protein: Why Both Matter
09:33 What To Do If You Increase Fiber Intake

📒  Resources Mentioned:
📄  Dietary Guidelines For Americans

💛 STAY CONNECTED 
Don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast so you never miss an episode.

🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

Do you think your protein powder is secretly harming you? In this quick Walk n’ Talk Bonus episode, we talked about the recent headlines about lead in supplements and separate the fear-mongering from the facts.

We broke down what the Consumer Report article got right, what it exaggerated, and how to be a safe and intentional consumer of both supplements…and information. This episode is perfect if you're a fan of protein powders or other supplements and you want clarity on safety without falling for scare tactics.

🎗️ Timestamps:
0:00 Intro & Welcome to Walk and Talk Series
1:10 Topic Overview: Lead in Supplements & Consumer Report
3:40 What the Report Got Right vs. Overblown Claims
6:56 Tips for Safe, Moderate & Conscious Supplement Use
9:52 Key Takeaways & Outro

📒  Resources Mentioned:
📄  Lead toxicity from Ayurvedic medicines
📄   Heavy metal contamination of prenatal vitamins
🔗   Supplement Roulette by Dr. Jen Gunter
🔗  Toxic chemicals and environmental contaminants in prenatal vitamins

💛 STAY CONNECTED 
Don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast so you never miss an episode.

🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

Do cold plunges really work or are they just another wellness trend? This trend has taken the internet by storm but what does science actually say?

In this episode, Michael dives deep into the research on cold plunges. We explore their history, the benefits (and myths) around recovery, inflammation, mood, sleep, and fat loss and where the evidence is still shaky. You will learn what cold plunges actually do for your body and what’s just clever marketing.

So if you are curious about trying cold plunges or if you are an athlete wondering if ice baths really help, this science-backed episode about cold water immersion is for you.

🎗️ Timestamps:
05:52 Introduction to Cold Plunges
09:53 History of Cold Water Therapy
13:13 Cold Plunge Claims Vs. Research and Lack of Research Diversity
16:36 Do Cold Plunges Help Muscle Recovery?
20:22 Cold Plunges And Athletic Performance
23:30 Cold Plunges For Inflammation & Immunity
25:54 Can Cold Plunges Support Fat Loss?
29:35 Cold Plunges For Mental Health & Mood
30:36 Do Cold Plunges Improve Sleep?
36:00 Do Men And Women Respond Differently To Cold Plunges?
37:24 Final Thoughts & Takeaways

📒 Resources Mentioned:
📄 Sex difference in cold perception and shivering onset upon gradual cold exposure
📄 Cold water immersion impact on muscle and strength gains:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33146851/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4594298/?utm
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11235606/?utm
📄 Cold water immersion impact on brown fat:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35837014/
📄 Cold water immersion on mood:
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11778651/

💛 STAY CONNECTED 
Don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast so you never miss an episode.

🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

Protein bars, protein cereal, even protein popcorn. Protein-enriched products are everywhere, but do we actually need all this extra protein… or is it just another diet trend in disguise?

In this episode, we discussed the science behind our protein needs, from how much you really need to thrive to what the RDA actually means (and why it may not be enough). We talked through myths like the “30g per meal” rule, the obsession with protein snacks, and the cultural moment protein is having right now. Plus, we broke down practical ways to meet your protein needs without falling into the trap of expensive products or unnecessary gimmicks.

🎗️ Timestamps:
4:30 Episode Introduction and Expectations
8:23 The Cultural Shift and Rise of Protein Marketing
15:20 Is Protein Obsession Just Another Diet Fad?
19:20 RDA vs. Optimal Protein Intake Explained
28:46 What Protein Is Made Of and How the Body Uses It
30:49 The Hierarchy of Protein Intake (Total, Distribution, Timing)
32:46 Busting Common Protein Myths
37:58 Protein, Masculinity and Brand Narratives
49:06 Meeting Protein Needs Sustainably and
55:28 Final Thoughts & Key Takeaways

📒 Resources Mentioned:
🔗  Consumers are Seeking More Protein for Health and Taste in 2025
📄  International society of sports nutrition position stand: diets and body composition
🔗 Updated protein findings & FFM calculations
📄 How much protein can the body use in a single meal for muscle-building? Implications for daily protein distribution
📄 Protein “requirements” beyond the RDA: implications for optimizing health
📄 Protein Intake Greater than the RDA Differentially Influences Whole-Body Lean Mass Responses to Purposeful Catabolic and Anabolic Stressors: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
📄 Effects of Oral Collagen for Skin Anti-Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

💛 STAY CONNECTED 
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🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

We’ve all felt the pull of chocolate after a stressful day or the urge to snack late at night, but what’s really happening in the brain when cravings hit?

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Raphael Cuomo to break down the hidden biology of cravings. From dopamine and stress hormones to the role of childhood exposure and even the surprising link to cancer risk, we talked about how cravings shape our health. We also talk about neuroplasticity and the hopeful truth that our biology is adaptive and we can rewire the way we respond to cravings.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt frustrated with “willpower” advice, struggled with emotional eating, or wondered if cravings mean something deeper. If you want science-backed insights with practical takeaways, this one’s for you.

🎗️ Timestamps:
00:48 Intro & Guest’s Journey into Research
04:39 What Cravings Really Are and What Shapes Them
08:59 The Role of Anticipation in Cravings
10:50 How Cravings Connect to Cancer Risk
16:55 Why Resisting Cravings Can Backfire
22:17 Sugar, Food & Drug Addiction: The Biological Comparisons
25:23 How Childhood Exposure Shapes Lifelong Cravings
29:09 Stress, Screens & the Modern Craving Loop
37:27 Neuroplasticity: How Our Brains Adapt to Cravings
46:54 Turning Craving Science Into Everyday Change

📒 Resources Mentioned:
👨🏻‍🔬 Get to know Dr. Raphael Cuomo
📖 Get a copy of his book: Crave: The Hidden Biology of Addiction and Cancer

💛 STAY CONNECTED 
Don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast so you never miss an episode.

🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

Is cortisol really the villain it’s made out to be?

We’ve all seen the headlines, TikToks, and wellness trends blaming cortisol for everything from weight gain to “cortisol face.” But the truth is, cortisol isn’t just a stress hormone but an essential element for energy, metabolism, and survival.

In this episode, we dig into what cortisol actually does, what really causes high levels, and why detoxes and “cortisol blockers” are NOT the answer. We’ll break down myths around adrenal fatigue, explore the link between exercise and cortisol and share what the research really says about supplements, stress, and lifestyle.

🎗️ Timestamps:

00:14 Quick Catch-Up & Why Cortisol Matters
07:18 What Cortisol Actually Is (beyond “stress hormone”)
09:38 Why Cortisol Isn’t Just A Stress Hormone 
14:14  What Really Drives High Cortisol Levels
24:23 The Truth Behind “Cortisol Face”
29:43 Why Cortisol Detoxes Are A Scam
31:15  How Exercise Impacts Cortisol Response
36:15 Do Cortisol-Blocking Supplements Actually Work?
37:49 The Myth Of Adrenal Fatigue Explained
41:45 Final Takeaways: What Really Helps Regulate Cortisol

📒 Resources Mentioned:

🎧 34 | Q&A: Optimizing Hormones, Supplement Safety, and Set Point Weight Theory

📄  Sleep loss results in an elevation of cortisol levels the next evening📄  Exercise and circulating cortisol levels: the intensity threshold effect 

📄  Low Calorie Dieting Increases Cortisol

📄  An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

💛 STAY CONNECTED 
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🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

In this Q&A episode “Fasted Workouts, Appetite Management, and the Protein vs Fiber Debate” of the How to Fitness Podcast, we’re diving into a truly mixed bag of topics. Everything from whether you should work out fasted, to the new wave of "protein bashing," to the surprising rise of mouth taping in the wellness world.

We answer your real (and sometimes hilarious) questions, tackling the science, the nonsense, and the nuance. We break down whether exercise needs to be 45+ minutes to be effective, how to handle constant hunger even when eating “healthy,” and why breastfeeding and fasting do not mix no matter what TikTok says.

Mouth tape, fasted workouts, protein hate, we’re clearing up the confusion in this honest, unfiltered Q&A.

🎗️ Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:16 Fasted vs. Fueled Workouts: The Science
04:38 Fasting While Breastfeeding: Is It Safe?
06:45 Mouth Taping for Better Sleep: Fact or Fiction?
10:14 Protein vs. Fiber: The Latest Debate
13:06 Constant Hunger Despite Eating Healthy?
15:50 Effective Exercise Duration: Myth Busting
17:50 Final Thoughts

📒 Resources:
🎧 45 | Intermittent Fasting Explained: The Benefits & Risks (2025)

💛 STAY CONNECTED 
Don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast so you never miss an episode.

🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

Have influencers convinced you that modern food is toxic, and that the only way to be healthy is to eat like your ancestors?
In this episode, we will talk about ancestral eating and ask where these ideas really come from. We’ll explore the myths behind these trends, what actual science says about early human diets, and why “natural” doesn’t always mean better. Plus, we break down food fears, additives, and the realities of our modern food environment.
This episode is for anyone feeling confused by food rules online, overwhelmed by wellness advice, or stuck between wanting to eat better and not knowing what to believe. If you’ve ever wondered whether you really need to give up bread or buy bone broth to be healthy, we’ve got you here!

🎗️ Timestamps:
00:40 Kate & Michael catch‑up (New member of the Ulloa Family!)
05:24 What Is “Ancestral Eating” Anyway?
07:15 Ancestral Eating on TikTok (ft. viral sourdough‑pancake clip)
12:50 Considerations on Ancestral Diets
14:30 Kate’s Experience During Her Paleo Years
16:20 Evolution of Eating
21:00 Weston A. Price Foundation deep‑dive
26:45 Paul Saladino & The Carnivore‑to‑Animal‑Based Pivot
30:23 Truth About Modern Food & Marketing
36: 55 What People Should Know About Additives & Preservatives
42:31 Why Talk About Food Environment
48:05 Diet Nostalgia, MAHA Movement & Final Takeaways

📒 Resources:
🎧 12 | Is Food Addiction Real? Exploring Hyperpalatable Foods & Their Impact
🎧 46 | How Food Marketing Controls Your Eating Habits
🔗 Reddit: Why do we aspire to eat like our ancestors?
🔗 To Follow the Real Early Human Diet, Eat Everything by Kate Wong
🔗 The Evolution of Diet by Ann Gibbons
🔗 The Ethics of Ancestral Eating by Caroline Stewart
🔗 Neandertals ate their veggies, their feces reveal by Ann Gibbons
📄 Hunter-gatherers as models in public health
📄  Natural environments, ancestral diets, and microbial ecology: is there a modern “paleo-deficit disorder”?

💛 STAY CONNECTED 
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🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

Is Vitamin D really as essential as everyone says or are we just overhyping another supplement?

After getting tons of questions following our popular creatine episode, we realized people are equally confused about Vitamin D. So in this one, we’re breaking it all down: what Vitamin D actually is, where it comes from, who’s most at risk for deficiency, and how it’s connected to things like bone health, mood, immune function, and even PCOS.

By the end of this episode, you’ll know if Vitamin D matters for you, what dose is right, and why sunlight might not be enough based on your lifestyle.

🎗️Timestamps:

00:30 Hosts Catching Up: Yawning & Sleep Deprivation
02:27 Revisiting the Creatine Episode
05:00 What to Expect in This Episode (Overview of Key Points)
05:53 What Is Vitamin D & the Difference Between D2 and D3
07:03 How Vitamin D Impacts Bone Health
09:45 Pros, Cons & Where to Actually Get Vitamin D
11:00 Common Misconceptions About Sunlight & Vitamin D
12:37 Dietary Sources & Fortified Foods with Vitamin D
17:28 How Obesity, Breastfeeding & Digestive Disorders Affect Vitamin D
19:57 Navigating Conflicting Research on Vitamin D
24:58 Immunity, Respiratory Illness & the COVID Controversy
30:50 Mental Health, Seasonal Affective Disorder & Vitamin D
36:50 New 2025 Research: Vitamin D’s Role in Managing PCOS
39:46 Final Takeaways

📒 Resources:

🎧 50 | Everything We’ve Learned About Creatine (So You Don’t Have To)
🎧 40 | Scandals in the Supplement Space
📱 @pcosnutrition on Instagram
📄 Center for Health Research — Vitamin D Potency Varies Widely in Dietary Supplements
📄 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence — Vitamin D: supplement use in specific population groups
📄 Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition — Vitamin D and Health Report
📄 Martineau et al., BMJ 2017 — Vitamin D supplementation to prevent acute respiratory tract infections
📄 Callegari et al., JAMA Psychiatry 2024 — Vitamin D supplementation and depression meta-analysis
📄 Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology 2021 — Vitamin D and COVID-19
📄 National Library of Medicine — Effects of Vitamin D3 Treatment on PCOS

💛 STAY CONNECTED 
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🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

In today’s Q&A episode "Is Your Metabolism Really Broken? What Science Actually Says", we dive into one of the most misunderstood topics in health and fitness: metabolism. From what metabolism actually is, to how much control you really have, we’re here to squash the confusion and offer straightforward, science-backed insights.

Whether you think your metabolism has slowed down with age, been damaged by dieting, or needs boosting with supplements, this episode will help you focus on what actually matters for your health and results.


TIMESTAMP:
00:00 Introduction on Metabolism
00:54 Understanding Metabolism Basics
01:20 Personal Story on Metabolism Misconceptions
02:58 Breaking Down Metabolism Components
06:40 Impact of Muscle Mass on Metabolism
09:04 Metabolism and Aging
12:15 Effects of Dieting on Metabolism
14:54 Foods and Supplements: Do They Boost Metabolism?
17:24 Steps to Take for a Slow Metabolism
18:37 Calculating Total Daily Energy Expenditure


📌 Resources Mentioned:
- Michael’s Instagram post on metabolism visual
- The “Biggest Loser” metabolism study
- Harris-Benedict Equation calculator (for estimating TDEE)
- #34 | Q&A: Optimizing Hormones, Supplement Safety, and Set Point Weight Theory

💛 STAY CONNECTED 
Don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast so you never miss an episode.

🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

Is your diet helping or hurting the planet?

In this episode “Lowering the Environmental Impact of Your Diet (Without Going Vegan)” of How to Fitness Podcast, Kate takes the hot seat to explore the environmental footprint of what’s on our plate. From beef vs. bananas to oat milk vs. dairy, we break down the myths, the nuance, and the science behind food choices and what actually makes a difference.

This episode isn’t about shame. It’s about awareness, practical swaps, and making sustainable habits easier to stick with.

Resources Mentioned:
- Not the End of the World – Hannah Ritchie
- Ep 36: Does Milk Cause Inflammation?
- Ep 9: Organic Foods – Myths & Truths
- Water Footprint of Food Guide
- Carbon Footprint of Meat Substitutes
- Plant-Based vs. Cow’s Milk
- Food Loss and Waste Overview
- Environmental Impact of Food Waste
- Global Emissions & Food Waste
- Global Food Waste Emissions Report
- Key Food Waste Facts
- Food Production 2024
- Food Waste and the Planet
- 11 Food Waste Facts
- The False Dichotomy of Systemic and Individual Action 

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🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

Is the fitness industry helping men get healthier or just teaching them to suffer in silence?

In this episode “Toxic Masculinity: The Dark Side of Fitness Culture” of The How to Fitness Podcast, Kate Lyman and Michael Ulloa confront the damaging influence of toxic masculinity in the fitness industry. They explore how modern fitness culture has become more about proving dominance than promoting true health and well-being and the real-life consequences are staggering.

From the rise of steroid use among young men and the glorification of shredded, emotionally numb "alpha males" to the mental health crisis among male gym-goers, this conversation goes deep. Michael shares the personal toll of calling out toxic culture online, while Kate reveals why she left the CrossFit world after years of enduring misogyny.

This episode isn’t just a takedown of “gym bro” culture, it’s a wake-up call. If you're a fitness professional, health coach, or simply someone navigating your wellness journey, this conversation will change how you see the industry.

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Introduction to Unrealistic Fitness Ideals
00:17 Hosts Catch Up After a Break
00:56 Kate's Offline Week Adventures
03:35 Michael's Excitement for Today's Topic 
04:49 The Impact of Toxic Masculinity in Fitness 
05:55 Reading from 'Men Who Hate Women' 
10:59 Defining Toxic Masculinity 
15:43 Personal Experiences with Toxic Masculinity 
19:10 Social Media's Role in Perpetuating Toxic Ideals 
20:57 The Power of Self-Talk in Fitness 
21:04 Toxic Masculinity in the Fitness Industry 
21:34 Social Media's Role in Promoting Toxic Fitness Culture 
22:40 Masculinity Marketing in Wellness Trends 
23:15 Viral Fitness Influencers and Performative Masculinity 
25:02 The Harmful Impact of Toxic Fitness Culture 
25:41 Mental Health and Body Image Issues in Men 
28:30 Steroid Use in the Fitness Industry 
34:32 The Normalization and Risks of Steroid Use 
37:12 Creating Inclusive Fitness Spaces 
41:26 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

📚 Resources Mentioned:

Book: Men Who Hate Women by Laura Bates
TV Show: Adolescence – A must-watch on toxic masculinity and youth culture
Mental Health Stats: Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), Mental Health Foundation
Influencer Analysis: Liver King, Brian Johnson, and the problem with performative health
- 48 | How to Fix Your Feed and Feel Better About Your Body with Natasha Devon
- UK Anti-Doping Report 
- The global epidemiology of anabolic-androgenic steroid use: a meta-analysis and meta-regression analysis 
- Current use and abuse of anabolic steroids Uso y abuso de agentes anabolizantes en la actualidad 

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🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

In this episode “ Everything We’ve Learned About Creatine (So You Don’t Have To)” of the How to Fitness Podcast, we take a research-backed deep dive into creatine. One of the most talked about and misunderstood supplements in the fitness world.

We’re unpacking everything you think you know:

• Does creatine actually help with muscle growth?
• Are there cognitive benefits?
• What about the fear of bloating, weight gain, or hair loss?
• Should teens, women, vegetarians, or older adults consider it?
• How do you really take creatine for best results?

This isn’t a hype-filled supplement ad. Just evidence-based discussion with nuance, real-life experience, and a touch of humor.

Whether you’re a gym regular, curious coach, tired parent, or just supplement-curious, this one’s for you.

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome & Creatine Basics

05:00 What Does Creatine Actually Do?

10:00 Muscle Growth or Just Water Weight?

14:00 Brain Health & Cognitive Benefits

17:00 Creatine Myths Busted

22:00 Creatine for Athletes, Parents & Beyond

28:00 Creatine in Different Populations

35:00 How to Take Creatine Safely

42:00 Gummies, Timing & Dosing Tips

45:00 Final Thoughts & Takeaways

📚 Resources Mentioned:

• Examine.com – Creatine Research Overview
• Creatine Supplementation and Muscle Growth – Greg Nuckols (Stronger by Science)
• JA et al. 2020 – Creatine Use in Adolescents
• Creatine Supplementation in Women’s Health
• International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand on Creatine

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🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

In this Q&A episode of How to Fitness Podcast, we tackle the most common struggles beginner clients face from staying consistent at the gym to eating healthy without tracking every bite. 

Whether you’re trying to balance social events with your goals or wondering if you really have to weigh yourself, this episode breaks down the mindset shifts and strategies that actually create sustainable change. 

We explore why your weight isn’t the best measure of progress, what to prioritize when life gets busy (hint: it’s not your macros), and how to stop relying on motivation and build habits that last. Plus, Kate shares her personal three health non-negotiables and you might be surprised what tops the list. 

If you’ve ever asked yourself: 

“Do I have to count calories to see results?” 

“Why can’t I stay consistent with working out?” 

“How can I enjoy food and still stay on track?” 

This episode is for you. 

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🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

Body image isn’t about loving your body — it’s about respecting it. In this episode of the How to Fitness Podcast, we’re joined by mental health advocate, writer, and broadcaster Natasha Devon, MBE to explore what healthy body image really means and how social media, culture, and our personal habits shape the way we see ourselves.

We talk about how to navigate body image challenges, especially on the tough days, and why “fixing” your body isn’t the answer. Natasha shares her unique insights from working with young people and dives into the deeper conversations we all should be having — from the way fitness is marketed to men and women, to how parents can set healthier digital boundaries for their kids.

We also cover how to game the algorithm for a healthier social media experience, the underrated power of seeing diverse bodies online, and why bad body image days are completely normal (and manageable).

If you’ve ever struggled with how you feel about your body, felt overwhelmed by social media, or wondered how to help the next generation build real self-esteem, this episode is a must-listen.

📚 Resources & Mentions

• Natasha Devon’s Book: Clicks: How to Be Your Best Self Online – Ideal for teens and adults who want to rethink their digital habits
• The Kindness Method by Shahroo Izadi – A compassionate approach to habit change
• Smartphone Free Childhood – A parent-led movement advocating for later social media use
• LBC Radio Show with Natasha Devon – Saturdays, 6–9 PM GMT
• Naked Beach (Channel 4 documentary) – Experiment on body positivity through diverse body exposure
• Follow Natasha on Instagram: @natashadevon

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🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

We’ve all been told that stretching is a must, but is it really? In this episode of How to Fitness Podcast, we are breaking down the real science behind stretching and whether skipping it is something you should actually feel guilty about.

We dive into the different types of stretching, including static, dynamic, ballistic, and PNF, and reveal what research says about their effects on injury prevention, performance, and recovery. Spoiler alert: Static stretching before a workout might not be as beneficial as you think, and in some cases, it can actually hurt your performance.

So what should you do instead? We will talk about why dynamic stretching is a game-changer and how to warm up effectively without wasting time on unnecessary stretches.

If you have ever wondered, "Are we doing stretching all wrong? Do we really need to stretch before every workout?" this episode is for you. We are here to clear up the confusion and help you create a fitness routine that actually works.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: Should You Feel Guilty for Skipping Stretching?

00:42 – The Science of Stretching: What Research Actually Says

05:53 – Breaking Down the Different Types of Stretching

12:13 – Does Stretching Really Prevent Injuries?

17:31 – The Obscure Relationship Between Stretching & Injury Prevention

18:59 – Dynamic vs. Static Stretching: Which One Is Better?

25:14 – Can Stretching Reduce Soreness & Speed Up Recovery?

28:16 – Answering Common Stretching Questions

31:39 – Final Thoughts & How to Stretch Smarter

Resources Mentioned:

• Stretching and Joint Range of Motion: PubMed Study
• Survey on Stretching Benefits Among Austrian Health Practitioners: PMC Article
• Stretching in Military Recruits – A Study on Effectiveness: PubMed Study
• Stretching and Injury Prevention – An Obscure Relationship: PubMed Study
• Static Stretching and Its Effects on Force & Jumping Performance: PubMed Study
• Does Pre-Exercise Static Stretching Inhibit Maximal Muscular Performance? A Meta-Analytical Review: Wiley Online Library
• Acute Effects of Dynamic Stretching on Muscle Flexibility and Performance: PubMed Study
• Post-Exercise Stretching and Its Effectiveness in Short-Term & Delayed Recovery: PubMed Study
• Effects of Stretching Before and After Exercise on Muscle Soreness – A Systematic Review: PMC Article

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🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

How much of our food choices are truly ours, and how much is shaped by powerful marketing strategies?

In this episode of the How to Fitness Podcast, we dive deep into how food marketing influences our eating habits, from grocery store purchases to social media trends. We uncover the subtle but powerful ways companies use colors, buzzwords, and advertising to manipulate our perceptions of health and nutrition.

From misleading labels to childhood-targeted marketing, we discuss why it's so easy to fall for food industry tricks and how you can take back control of your food choices.

Join us as we break down the psychology behind food packaging, the impact of marketing on our hunger cues, and what we can do to make informed, intentional eating decisions.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction
02:06 How Food Marketing Shapes Our Eating Habits
07:45 The Power of Packaging & Labeling Tricks
13:15 The Psychology Behind "Healthy" Buzzwords 
18:00 Why Kids Are the Most Vulnerable to Food Ads 
24:10 Social Media's Role in Shaping Eating Habits 
30:20 How Companies Influence Portion Sizes 
38:55 What Can We Do? Practical Tips for Smarter Food Choices

Resources Mentioned:

WHO Guidelines on Food Marketing & Public Health: { https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/07/1138322#:~:text=The new WHO guidance recommends,known by its acronym HFSS }

Bite Back 2030 - Youth-Led Nutrition Advocacy: { https://www.biteback2030.com/ }

The Influence of Food Marketing on Childhood Obesity

Emma Boyland’s Research on Food Advertising & Children

Ethan Pancer’s Study on Food Branding & Consumer Choices

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🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

Is intermittent fasting the ultimate health hack or just another overhyped trend?

In this episode of the How to Fitness Podcast, we take a deep dive into intermittent fasting—breaking down its history, different fasting methods, and the science behind the claimed benefits. Does it truly improve weight loss, mental clarity, and longevity, or are these just exaggerated health claims?

We also discuss who might benefit from intermittent fasting and why it may not be the right choice for everyone. By the end of this episode, you’ll have the evidence-based insights you need to decide if intermittent fasting aligns with your goals and lifestyle.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction & Personal Experiences with Fasting
04:00 – The History of Intermittent Fasting & Its Popularity
07:30 – Different Types of Intermittent Fasting Explained
12:00 – Does Fasting Improve Weight Loss? What the Research Says
18:00 – Hunger, Energy, & Mood: What to Expect on IF
22:00 – The Gut-Brain Connection & Fasting’s Impact on Metabolism
26:00 – Intermittent Fasting & Muscle Loss: What You Need to Know
30:00 – Is IF Safe for Women? What Experts Say
35:00 – Fasting for Longevity: Truth or Overblown Hype?
40:00 – Final Thoughts: Who Should & Shouldn’t Try Intermittent Fasting

Resources Mentioned:

📚 Studies & Reports

• Meta-analysis on intermittent fasting & weight loss (2024)
• Study on fasting & muscle loss risks
• International Menopause Society statement on fasting for women

🔗 Further Reading & Research

• Science Behind Intermittent Fasting
• How Fasting Affects Metabolism

Listen to our How to Fitness podcast on your favorite platform! https://howtofitness.buzzsprout.com/2171581/episodes

We’d love to hear your thoughts!
Share your feedback or questions in the comments below! And while you’re here, don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast and hit that notification bell so you never miss an episode.

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🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

How much do you really know about the hosts of How to Fitness Podcast?

In this episode 44, "Q&A: Fitness, Parenthood & Business (2025)," we take a step back from our usual discussions on health and fitness to answer some of your most asked questions. From our personal milestones to the biggest lessons we’ve learned in business and life, this episode is all about getting to know us on a deeper level.

We talk about the changes we’ve experienced since our last Q&A episode, what we’re looking forward to in 2025, and how our perspectives on fitness, nutrition, and work-life balance have evolved.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction: Why we’re revisiting this episode
03:00 – What we’re most excited about in 2025 (personally & professionally)
07:30 – The reality of starting a business & lessons learned
10:45 – How parenthood changed our approach to fitness & nutrition
15:30 – The challenges of learning a new language
18:50 – Finding time for hobbies & socializing outside of work
23:30 – Final thoughts & listener questions

RESOURCES MENTIONED:
🎧 Ep. 01: Meet Your Hosts: Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2171581/episodes/12952683

Listen to our How to Fitness podcast on your favorite platform! https://howtofitness.buzzsprout.com/2171581/episodes

We’d love to hear your thoughts!
Share your feedback or questions in the comments below! And while you’re here, don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast and hit that notification bell so you never miss an episode.

💛 STAY CONNECTED 
Don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast so you never miss an episode.

🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

Is BMI really an accurate measure of health, or is it an outdated tool rooted in inequality that is causing more harm than good?

In this episode 43 “The Problematic Origins of BMI: Why This Health Metric Is Failing Us” of the How to Fitness Podcast, we take a deep dive into the origins of the Body Mass Index (BMI), uncovering its surprising (and upsetting) history and the flawed way it’s used today. BMI was never meant to be a measure of individual health, yet it continues to impact medical care, insurance coverage, and even personal perceptions of health and self-worth.

BMI isn’t the full story when it comes to health. Tune in as we break down why it’s time to rethink how we define health and move toward more accurate, inclusive measures.

🟡TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction and Initial Reactions
00:47 Welcome to the How To Fitness Podcast
01:08 Diving into the Topic: BMI
02:06 The Racial Origins and History of BMI
07:52 The Insurance Industry's Influence
10:12 Modern Use and Misuse of BMI
13:42 BMI and Its Limitations
15:00 Personal Stories Highlighting BMI Issues
17:19 The Impact of BMI on Health and Insurance
19:05 Research and Criticisms of BMI
25:01 Alternative Metrics and Recommendations
26:17 Concluding Thoughts on BMI

🟡RESOURCES MENTIONED
📚 Books & Authors
*Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia* – Sabrina Strings
*All in Her Head* – Elizabeth Comen, MD

📊 Studies & Institutional Reports
- Research by Dr. Sabrina Strings – Examining BMI, race, and chronic illness.
- American Medical Association (AMA) Statement (2023) – Recognized BMI as a flawed and racially biased metric.
- National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) – Analyzed BMI and metabolic health across different racial groups.
- World Health Organization (WHO) & National Institutes of Health (NIH) – Recommendations for BMI cutoffs based on ethnicity.

🏛 Historical Figures & Influence on BMI
- Adolphe Quetelet – Belgian mathematician who created the original BMI formula.
- Charles Davenport – Eugenicist who used weight tables to make racialized claims about obesity.
- Donald Armstrong & Lewis Dublin (Metropolitan Life Insurance, 1951) – Published influential research linking weight and health risks.
- Ancel Keys (1972 Paper) – Popularized BMI as a screening tool for obesity.

🔗 For Further Reading
↗ https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/how-use-bmi-fetishizes-white-embodiment-and-racializes-fat-phobia/2023-07
↗ https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/03/27/will-the-ozempic-era-change-how-we-think-about-being-fat-and-being-thin

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🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

Are GLP-1 weight loss drugs the solution we've been waiting for—or just another manifestation of diet culture in disguise?

In this episode 42, "GLP-1 Medications Explained: What You Need to Know in 2025," of the How to Fitness Podcast, we dive into the hype, hope, and hard truths surrounding medications like Ozempic and Wegovy.

Join us as we break down the science behind GLP-1 drugs, discuss their benefits for obesity and metabolic health, and explore the potential risks and ethical dilemmas tied to their use. From celebrity endorsements to compounding pharmacies and societal pressures, this episode uncovers the complexities of these groundbreaking yet polarizing treatments.

Tune in to get the facts, hear real-world insights, and learn how to navigate this evolving topic with clarity.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction and Personal Opinions on Weight Loss Medications 
00:23 Welcome to the How to Fitness Podcast 
01:07 Revisiting the Ozempic Revolution 
03:04 Understanding GLP-1 Medications 
04:19 Mechanisms and Effects of Semaglutide 
07:00 Personal Experiences and Observations 
10:22 The Broader Impact and Misconceptions 
20:34 Celebrity Influence and Public Perception 
23:16 Exploring Telehealth and Accessibility 
23:57 Exploring Telehealth Weight Loss Options 
28:15 Compounding Pharmacies: Pros and Cons 
29:58 The Risks of Compounded Medications 
34:22 The Social Implications of Weight Loss Drugs 
39:33 Long-Term Use and Ethical Considerations

RESOURCES MENTIONED:
🟡 The Ozempic Revolution: Exploring the Soaring Popularity of GLP-1 Drugs https://www.buzzsprout.com/2171581/episodes/12924933 
🟡 Due to character limits, all resources mentioned can be found on our YouTube Channel @HowToFitnessPodcast

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🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

Are you tired of detox fads that promise the world but deliver disappointment?

In this episode 41 " The Detox Myth: Exploring the truth behind toxins and wellness trends " of the How to Fitness Podcast, we dive deep into the murky waters of detox diets, cleanses, and the buzzwords that often mislead us.

Tune in to learn how to spot misinformation and protect yourself from false promises circulating on social media. This is a critical episode to help you understand why you don't need those expensive detox teas or cleanses and what genuine steps you can take to maintain your health.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction to Toxins
04:17 The Myth of Detoxing
13:02 How Our Bodies Detox Naturally
20:33 Debunking Juice Cleanses
22:42 The Myth of Detox Diets for Weight Loss
26:34 The Truth About Detox Teas and Supplements
27:54 The Dangers of Colon Cleanses and Enemas
31:19 Activated Charcoal: Risks and Realities
32:44 Natural Ways to Support Detoxification
36:39 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

🟡 2020 Systematic Review on Coffee Enemas
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32899046/

🟡 Do detoxes work?
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25522674/

🟡 Ep. 20 - Why Sleep Isn’t Boring: What We Don’t Know About Sleep
https://howtofitness.buzzsprout.com/2171581/episodes/13654757-20-why-sleep-isn-t-boring-what-we-don-t-know-about-sleep

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🟡 Questions & Suggestions
We love hearing from you, if you have a question, a topic idea, or feedback on an episode, just click here

🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

In this episode of the How To Fitness podcast, Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman take a deep dive into the largely under-regulated supplement industry. We draw attention to the history, legislation, and current state of dietary supplements in the U.S. and explore the critical role of influencer marketing, and the various risks and health implications associated with mislabeled and contaminated supplements.

This episode shares some surprising background about the controversial history of some well-known supplements and helps you navigate a market saturated with potentially unsafe products.

01:59 The passing of the DSHEA in 1994 allowed manufacturers of supplements to make general health claims about their products without going through the FDA to prove safety or efficacy. This “free market” approach has led to a boom in supplements both manufactured and consumed. 05:11 Have you heard of Chris Ashenden? Probably not. But have you heard of AG1/Athletic Greens? Probably! We do a mini deep dive into his shady past as a grifter.

9:50 Dietary supplements are considered food, not drugs or medicine. This opens up supplements to more possibilities and fewer regulations than medications. Supplement companies cannot make medical claims, and that’s where broad disclaimers come in. Resource Michael referenced: Aragon AA. I was just approached (again) by an Herbalife distributor – is it safe?  from AARR May 2016 

12:22 An example of the underregulated nature of the supplement industry and power of disclaimers shared with a Shilajit supplement, something trending heavily on Tik Tok right now.

16:26 Supplements are linked with rising accounts of kidney and liver issues, especially due to herbal supplementation. We discuss a recent contamination of an herbal supplement and how it’s been handled by the FDA.

20:48 Proprietary blends are used to protect trade secrets, but can lead to some confusing and misleading information about the dosage and efficacy of ingredients in a supplement.

26:20 To get the safest supplements possible, seeking out supplements that are third party tested helps ensure that the ingredients listed are actually what the supplement contains. Resource on contamination in supplements: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1060028019900504#:~:text=Microbial Contamination,-Many dietary supplements&text=According to the US Pharmacopeia,Staphylococcus aureus%2C or Clostridium species

32:50 As consumers, we carry the risk from consuming supplements without the information and research we need. Often, studies of supplements are funded by the company producing the product.

33:42 Influencer marketing plays a huge role in the supplement industry and makes it hard for the FTC to regulate this type of marketing. We talk through affiliate payouts and how easy it is to gain monetary kickback from sharing supplements. Dr. Gunter’s fake supplement: https://vajenda.substack.com/p/the-money-in-menopause-supplements

45:50 When someone is selling both the problem and a miraculous supplement that holds the solution, it’s time to put our critical thinking caps on and approach the product with skepticism. All supplements are not bad! But the industry is under-regulated and it allows for a lot of opportunity for misleading claims, contaminated products, and expensive placebos.

Due to limited space in show notes, email for references: kate@katelymannutrition.com

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Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

We are often asked questions about navigating fitness, health, and overall wellness as a new parent who is sleep deprived and short on time. Today we’re talking through five tips we rely on as new(ish) parents. These tips are applicable for anyone short on time!

3:00 Kate and Michael talk through the difference in their workouts before and after children and how much has changed around time, capacity, and the guilt that can accompany taking time for oneself.

8:15 Tip #1: Cut the waste from your workouts. When we are time poor, we can structure our workouts differently to maximize our limited time by streamlining the important things.

11:20 Tip #2: Make movement part of your routine rather than a luxury. Adjusting our expectations around movement can help us feel more confident in the new approach we’re taking giving limited capacity. Something is always better than nothing.

13:18 Tip #3: Opt for circuit-style workouts. 15 minutes a day of moderate intensity workout is enough to positively impact our health, so every little bit counts.

15:30 Tip #4: Don’t rely on motivation alone. Motivation is probably low when we’re exhausted and overwhelmed. Instead, creating a habit of movement helps us build momentum to keep that habit going even on the most challenging days.

18:44 Tip #5: In the grand scheme of things, your training not that important. This doesn’t mean movement isn’t important; it is something very influential on our overall health. But structured training or the “ideal” workout may not be feasible or important in this season of life. We have permission to reprioritize our goals when needed.

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Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

In this episode of the 'How to Fitness Podcast,' hosts Kate Lyman and Michael Ulloa discuss the importance of hydration and its impact on overall health and exercise performance. They share personal weekend experiences, then dive into in-depth guidelines for daily water intake, the benefits of proper hydration, the risks of dehydration, and how to effectively hydrate before, during, and after exercise. The episode also explores the role of electrolytes, tips for maintaining hydration habits, and the potential dangers of overhydration. Both hosts emphasize the importance of staying hydrated not only for peak physical performance but also for long-term health.

9:08 Standard water recommendations can be confusing and vague. We talk through more specific recommendations, as well as the fact that food and other fluid intake (coffee, tea, seltzer) contributes to our overall water target.

14:26 We can gauge our hydration level by our urine color and thirst level (thirst is a sign you’re already dehydrated!). A formula we can use to calculate water needs: 0.033 x bodyweight in KG = liters of water.

19:30 The importance of staying hydrated increases as we age. With age, the amount of fluid in our bodies decreases, as does our thirst response.

24:17 Hydration needs change with activity levels, and a pre- and post-workout weigh in can be the most accurate way for us to understand our hydration needs with exercise.

30:38 Considering our electrolyte needs is an important part of attention to our hydration as a whole. Exercise longer than an hour should be paired with an electrolyte supplement.

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🟡 Michael Ulloa
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🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

In this episode of the How To Fitness podcast, hosts Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman delve into the controversial topic of cortisol. They discuss the internet's obsession with cortisol and its impact on health, rooted in sensationalized online content. They tackle questions about what cortisol is, its functions, and whether certain conditions like adrenal fatigue are legitimate. They also examine myths about cortisol-related weight gain and the impact of caffeine and diet on cortisol levels. Kate and Michael emphasize the importance of managing stress through basic health practices and address the need for medical intervention in serious hormonal imbalances.

1:51 Cortisol is on the rise as a search term on Google and hashtag on Tik Tok. The rise in concern around Cortisol levels can cause individuals to overstimate how much time they need to spend thinking about coritsol. It can also be dismissive of legitimate medical disorders related to abnormal cortisol levels.

4:40 Question 1: What even is cortisol?

8:55 Question 2: Is elevated cortisol a bad thing?

10:31 Question 3: What is adrenal fatigue? What do I need to know about it?

• Cadegiani, F.A., Kater, C.E. Adrenal fatigue does not exist: a systematic review. BMC Endocr Disord 16, 48 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12902-016-0128-4

15:01 Question 4: Are cortisol face and cortisol belly real? What do I do about them?

19:10 Question 5: Does the timing of my coffee and food really impact my cortisol levels?

• Gavrieli, A., Yannakoulia, M., Fragopoulou, E., Margaritopoulos, D., Chamberland, J., Kaisari, P., Kavouras, S., & Mantzoros, C. (2011). Caffeinated coffee does not acutely affect energy intake, appetite, or inflammation but prevents serum cortisol concentrations from falling in healthy men.. The Journal of nutrition, 141 4, 703-7 . https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.110.137323.

22:30 Cortisol plays roles beyond just navigating stress in our bodies, and we can think about stress management and how we treat our bodies in general more than worrying about specific aspects of our hormonal health.

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🟡 Michael Ulloa
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🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
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Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

It’s 2024 so of course milk is a controversial topic! In this deep dive we discuss the recent trends in social media concerning milk's nutritional value and potential health risks, such as inflammation and cancer. The episode also explores the environmental impact of dairy versus plant-based milks, and addresses the rise in questionable practices like drinking raw milk.

5:04 In this episode, we’re solely discussing the nutritional implications of dairy rather than environmental impact and animal welfare due to limited time and wanting to stay in our scope.

6:22 Explaining lactose intolerance, what causes it, and how it differs from a dairy sensitivity

10:33 How the Got Milk campaign of the 90s-2000s made us all drink milk: ‣https://www.fastcompany.com/40556502/got-milk-how-the-iconic-campaign-came-to-be-25-years-ago

13:30 Milk is a fantastic post-workout/recovery drink due to hydration, cost, and macro and micronutrient breakdown.

16:15 We talk through the scaremongering surrounding inflammation from drinking milk and the hormones in milk and whether they are linked to disease (specifically cancer). The literature does not show any main markers of inflammation from dairy. This doesn’t minimize individual experiences around how individuals feel when drinking dairy.

23:00 Learning more about dairy and what the literature shows helps us make food decisions that support us individually as opposed to what the internet or current fads are telling us. 25:51 There are some significant differences in milk production between the UK and US, especially regarding the US’s use of BST growth hormone though the impact of use of BST is not conclusive. The pasteurization processes are also different between the UK and US.

31:28 The recent rise in Trad Wife content has also led to popularity of raw milk (amongst other fads such as carnivore diet, etc.). Pasteurization does not lead to loss of nutrients in milk, and there are some major risks to drinking raw milk — from food poisoning to Guillian Barre syndrome. The risk of contracting disease from raw milk is much higher than from pasteurized milk.

39:12 Plant milks are becoming far more popular, especially with younger generations. They tend to have a smaller environmental footprint but are also typically nutritionally inferior to dairy milk (though more comparable when fortified). You can find a breakdown of the environmental impact of plant milks here: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46654042

For a list of resources cited in this episode, please email michaelulloapt@gmail.com

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🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
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Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

In this episode of the 'How To Fitness' podcast, hosts Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman explore the idea of cult-like tendencies within the wellness industry, covering fitness, nutrition, and overall wellness. They analyze the psychological reasons why people might become deeply involved in fitness programs and strict diets, likening them to modern-day cults. They also discuss the cultish aspects of boutique fitness establishments, influential nutrition leaders, and wellness gurus, emphasizing both the positive community benefits and potential dangers of extreme practices. The episode touches on societal factors driving people toward these groups, the role of charismatic leaders, and how commercialization within wellness capitalizes on consumer vulnerabilities.

05:16 When defining a “cult,” it typically has a negative connotation. The parameters used to describe a cult can also be applicable outside of religious or fanatical groups that we typically think of when referencing a cult. Encyclopedia Britannica defines a cult as a usually small group of people devoted to a person, idea, or philosophy that falls outside the mainstream. Cult Education Institute: https://culteducation.com/

9:35 Current internet culture is very focused on going against the “mainstream,” and we see this pattern in the fitness and nutrition worlds frequently. Extremism in social media is very prevalent, and this can lead to very cult-like aspects of certain diets or fitness protocols as well as self-improvement groups.

12:21 People buy into extremism when desiring a better life, wanting a source of identity, feeling desperation, and experiencing traumatic events. Certain gyms and diets can give people hope and identity when they’re looking for it most.

15:14 Fitness cults: Boutique fitness gyms often have several characteristics common in cult-like groups, from charismatic leaders to a lifestyle focus beyond just workouts. These groups can give their members a sense of importance and acceptance that offsets the vulnerability of working out.

18:00 With more and more individuals moving away from religion, we can see patterns of fitness replacing spiritual practice. We discuss whether we think this is a negative thing or if there are positive aspects of this culty feel to fitness?

23:36 Nutrition cults: When individuals feel vulnerable, they’re more likely to seek out quick fixes and many aspects of diet culture have aspects of cults in a very negative way by promoting their “One True Way.” As groupthink increases, critical thinking decreases. Netflix documentary: Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives.

29:13 Kate Bowler teaches on the Prosperity Gospel and draws parallels between the PG and current wellness worlds. Both promise health, wealth, and happiness if you work hard enough. This messaging leaves no room for personal error and places the blame on consumers.

33:26 Wellness cults: We dive into how some wellness influencers use similar tactics as cult leaders in promising an idealized version of reality. Exclusivity within the wellness world creates the “us vs. them” mentality that pushes this cult-like aspect even further.

41:07 We can be into fitness and nutrition without being stuck in it. We can buy into group fitness or follow a specific protocol while not being consumed by it. Understanding these culty aspects of the wellness world helps us be more educated consumers.

Due to limited space in show notes, email for references: kate@katelymannutrition.com

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🟡 Michael Ulloa
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🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

Is your body really “stuck” at a certain weight or are you just underfed, over-restricting, and overwhelmed by fitness myths?

In this Q&A episode "Optimizing Hormones, Supplement Safety, and Set Point Weight Theory" of the How to Fitness Podcast, we’re digging into some of the most misunderstood concepts in health and fitness from hormones to hunger to the truth behind your “set point” weight.

We answer real listener questions, offering clear, no-nonsense insights into topics often overcomplicated by diet culture and influencer hype. Whether you’ve been told to “optimize your hormones,” questioned if your supplements are safe, or wondered why you feel hungry *all the time*, this episode brings science-backed clarity to the table.

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🟡 Michael Ulloa
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🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

In this episode of the How to: Fitness podcast, we had the privilege of speaking with Shana Minei Spence, who you may know as The Nutrition Tea on social media.

Shana is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist based in Brooklyn, New York. She currently works in public health for the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, doing community nutrition lessons, and also owns her own company, The Nutrition Tea ®. She describes herself as an "all foods fit" dietitian. and creates a platform for open discussion on nutrition and wellness topics that are inclusive, non-diet, and weight-neutral, all with an intersectionality of social justice. Her debut book comes out in August 2024, titled Live Nourished: Make Peace with Food, Banish Body Shame, and Reclaim Joy.

2:05 Shana started in fashion, but shifted to working in nutrition to help address disparities in food access and work in food policy.

5:10 The narrative around food being “good” and “bad” is ingrained in kids from such a young age, and changing that narrative needs to be approached in a shame-free way.

8:51 We explore intuitive eating and some of the common misconceptions around this approach to nutrition. Because we’re so used to following rules, we can grasp onto IE as just another “diet,” when that’s not the case at all.

21:41 Shana’s entrance into the Health At Every Size came once she started questioning the approach to food and bodies she learned when becoming a Registered Dietitian. The HAES approach focused on our behaviors and our health, not our size.

27:10 Promoting intuitive eating or a health at every size philosophy provokes a lot of criticism. In the world of dietetics, there is so much money in weight loss that it feels unlikely that nutrition can ever be fully focused on health alone.

31:46 Shana’s book, Live Nourished, comes out August 13 and goes deeper into a non-diet approach to food while also educating on socioeconomic factors and social determinants of health.

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🟡 Kate Lyman
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Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

In this episode of the How To Fitness Podcast, we delve into smartwatch reliability and usage, with a special focus on whether these popular devices can be trusted for fitness tracking.

We cover smartwatch features like step counts, sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring, and calorie burn estimations, dispelling myths and setting realistic expectations for users. We offer insights into the varied accuracy of different brands and stresses the importance of using smartwatches as a guide rather than an absolute measure for health and fitness.

5:25 We explore the world of smartwatches, from different brands and preferences to current market trends. You may be surprised by which country has the most smartwatch users in the world!

https://www.demandsage.com/smartwatch-statistics/

10:56 The accuracy of step counts from smartwatches varies greatly between brands and how we wear our watches. A fun fact: a smartphone in our pocket is more accurate at counting steps than a watch on your wrist!

17:11 We can’t substitute data for critical thinking. It’s best to use our watches as a barometer to measure general movement, rather than as an accurate measure of step count.

17:52 How reliable is sleep tracking on smart watches? There is extreme variability between brands and most overestimate sleep by misrepresenting periods of wakefulness. Typically, smartwatches are better at recording deep sleep.

22:02 There is a psychological impact of sleep tracking, and it could be more hurtful than helpful at times. We talk through how we can make the most of the data these various smartwatches provide.

26:58 Smartwatches are getting much better at monitoring heart rate, with new abilities to even monitor heart rate irregularities. Fitness trackers become less accurate as the intensity of our exercise increases.

35:00 Where smartwatches tend to let us down: in estimating accurate calorie burn. Smartwatches typically don’t have enough data to provide calorie burn information that reflects our true caloric needs, though we can utilize that information as a barometer.

38:38 Smartwatch usage can be a part of a healthy relationship with food and movement, as long as we navigate the data in a way that includes nuance and doesn’t leave us hyper-fixated on the numbers. Our watches can inform our movement, but shouldn’t dictate how we

Due to limited space in show notes, email for references: kate@katelymannutrition.com

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🟡 Michael Ulloa
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🟡 Kate Lyman
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Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

Emotional eating isn’t about weakness, it’s about wiring.

In this episode “The Physiology & Psychology of Emotional Eating” of the How to Fitness Podcast, we’re unpacking why stress makes some people overeat, while others lose their appetite completely, and why neither response means something is “wrong” with you.

We explore what’s really going on in your brain and body during moments of emotional eating. We break down the science behind cortisol, dopamine, and cravings, how childhood conditioning and diet culture shape your food habits, and what it means to have a “normal” stress response.

We also get into practical, shame-free tools to help you recognise emotional hunger, create buffers between feelings and food, and rebuild a healthier relationship with eating even on the most chaotic days.

If you’ve ever felt out of control around food, judged yourself for eating (or not eating) when stressed, or just want to understand why this keeps happening, this episode will help you feel more in control, less alone, and better equipped.



Resources Mentioned:

Episode 12: Exploring Hyperpalatable Foods & Their Impact [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2171581/episodes/13308774]

Eating Mindfully by Susan Albers [https://amzn.to/4bDUsU8]

Kummerspeck [https://germanyinusa.com/2021/10/19/word-of-the-week-kummerspeck/]

Emotional Eating [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7663318/]

Negative Social Comparisons [[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10525161/#:~:text=Additionally%2C a significant positive correlation,frequent episodes of emotional eating](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10525161/#:~:text=Additionally%2C%20a%20significant%20positive%20correlation,frequent%20episodes%20of%20emotional%20eating)]

Emotional Eating [[https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/weight-loss/art-20047342#:~:text=You may turn to food,calorie%2C sweet and fatty foods](https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/weight-loss/art-20047342#:~:text=You%20may%20turn%20to%20food,calorie%2C%20sweet%20and%20fatty%20foods)]

Stress and Eating [[https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2013/eating#:~:text=Thirty-three percent of adults,helps distract them from stress](https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2013/eating#:~:text=Thirty%2Dthree%20percent%20of%20adults,helps%20distract%20them%20from%20stress).]

Dopamine in Binge Eating [https://jeatdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40337-022-00531-y]

Why Stress Causes People to Overeat [https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/why-stress-causes-people-to-overeat]

Managing Stress Eating [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J1DpU3JrJY]

Physical vs. Emotional Hunger [https://www.katelymannutrition.com/blog/physical-emotional-hunger]

Allostatic Load [https://karger.com/pps/article-abstract/90/1/11/294736/Allostatic-Load-and-Its-Impact-on-Health-A?redirectedFrom=fulltext]

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🟡 Michael Ulloa
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Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

In this episode of 'How to Fitness Podcast,' Michael and I share a rare in-person discussion from Valencia, Spain. We delve into our current travels, touch on Michael’s missed Ironman event, and discuss the significance of adjusting fitness goals and business strategies based on personal life changes.

The episode transitions into a Q&A, tackling questions on fitness journeys, macro tracking, online business presence, and social media's role in coaching. We both share personal anecdotes, our evolutions in fitness and nutrition coaching, and advice for others in the fitness industry, emphasizing the importance of adaptability, self-awareness, and consistency for online success.

This episode not only offers insight into the our lives but also provides valuable lessons on navigating your personal and professional goals in nutrition, fitness, and your overall health.

• 3:08: What’s one mistake you’ve made in your own personal fitness journey?
• 8:31: What’s one mistake you’ve made in your fitness/nutrition coaching business?
• 18:42: What's one piece of advice you have for someone who is just getting started on their own fitness journey?
• 24:18: What's one piece of advice you have for anyone working on their nutrition or fitness business?

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🟡 Michael Ulloa
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Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

In today’s episode we explore the question of ‘do we need to exercise?’. We take a deep dive into the extent to which we can control our own health outcomes. Does exercise really benefit health? What is the minimal effective dose? Can we hack our genetics to improve our health markers? Also within this episode we take a look at the 10,000 step goal and find out why we are all so obsessed with hitting this cemented goal. We finish up the episode with some takeaway points for you to improve your health without focussing on exercise.

4:30 Our health is controlled by so many factors, but how much does exercise play a role. Here we list the benefits of regularly doing exercise.

9:25 What is the minimal effective dose of exercise? For those who are busy, how can we get the most ‘bang for buck’ with our exercise schedule?

14:20 Is more exercise always better? Is there a maximum amount of exercise that is good for the human body?

17:23 Can we ‘hack’ our health and bypass genetic and environmental factors?

22:35 How much does genetics play a role in the way our body looks? Will working out and eating exactly like your favourite influencer give you a body just like theirs?

27:35 Muscle building and genetics. How much does our ability to grow muscle come down to genetic factors?

30:30 Here we explore the social determinants of health - these are the economic and social conditions that influence differences in health status.

34:40 What is the deal with 10,000 steps. Is this the benchmark of ‘good health’ and why are we all so obsessed with achieving this goal?

39:40 We discuss the strong correlation between grip strength and mortality risk.

42:00 How can we improve our health without exercising? Here we list some top tips to get started with!

Due to limited space in the show notes, email michaelulloapt@gmail.com for references.

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🟡 Kate Lyman
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Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

In this deep dive episode “Are Nutrition and Food Labels Helpful or Harmful?“ of the How to Fitness Podcast, we explore whether nutrition labels actually help us make better choices or just leave us more confused. From the surprising (and sometimes sketchy) history of food labeling, to the science behind how these labels shape behavior, we break down what really matters when it comes to the numbers printed on our food.

We unpack how different countries approach food labeling, why calorie counts may not be as accurate as we think, and what the research says about how labels influence our eating habits. Plus, we share our personal perspectives and client stories on how nutrition labels can either support or harm a healthy relationship with food.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed at the grocery store or guilty ordering off a menu, this one’s for you.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and Podcast Banter
02:07 Diving into Nutrition Labels
03:59 Personal Experiences with Nutrition Labels
10:03 History of Food Labeling
17:54 Global Perspectives on Food Labeling
21:56 Debating the Effectiveness of Nutrition Labels
25:26 The Absurdity of Serving Sizes
26:36 Accuracy of Nutrition Labels
28:18 Restaurant vs Packaged Food Labels
31:22 Impact of Food Preparation on Caloric Content
33:06 The Role of Nutrition Labels in Dieting
42:09 Calorie Information on Menus
45:18 Government Policies and Food Labeling
49:24 Final Thoughts on Nutrition Labels

You can check out the resources & references in our youtube video or you can email me at kate@katelymannutrition.com.

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🟡 Kate Lyman
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Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

In this episode of the 'How to Fitness Podcast', we bust common myths about food and products. We tackle misinformation about aspartame, oatmeal, Himalayan sea salt, seed oils, and sunscreen (not a food, we know!). From debunking aspartame's carcinogenic risks to clarifying the benefits of Himalayan sea salt, we advocate for knowledge and critical thinking around our food choices rather than giving in to fear mongering from the internet. Join us for a fact-based discussion that promotes critical thinking and reliance on scientific evidence.

01:28 Aspartame: We talk about the carcinogenic properties of aspartame, how aspartame is qualified as a Group 2B carcinogen (possibly carcinogenic to humans), and the actual dosage of aspartame needed to warrant concern (it’s a lot!).

06:04 Oatmeal: Oatmeal is having a moment on social media being demonized for countless reasons. Claims demonizing oatmeal are unfounded, especially around claims of inflammatory effects of oats or oats having negative impact on GI health. We talk through specific research that promotes the health of oatmeal and how we can consume oatmeal in a way that promotes more satiety.

10:14 Himalayan Salt: We’re not just talking about the baseless claims promoting Himalayan salt as superior, but also dispelling hate for typical table salt. Himalayan salt is touted as a better option due to containing trace minerals, of which amounts are very little. Himalayan salt, however, does contain fewer microplastics.

16:02 Seed Oils: Few foods are talked about with as much fear mongering as seed oils, with a lot of the internet demonizing seed oils for being inflammatory, because they’re refined, due to low smoke point, and more. Seed oils are aren’t our nutritional downfall, but foods high in seed oils are often also less healthful foods like ultra processed foods. We talk through studies that discuss the impact of seed oils on inflammatory markers and also discuss nuance around the topic of smoke point.

Video from Food Science Babe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJzJVHhKV28

25:05 Sunscreen: While this isn’t a food, sunscreen made it into this episode because of the similar fear mongering around the topic of sunscreen. A lot of potential harm around sunscreen is exclusive to animal studies, and statements around the danger of sunscreen due to ingredients are often unfounded. We talk through the different types of sunscreen (physical blockers and chemical blockers). Some ingredients in chemical blockers (commonly oxybenzone) have raised concerns as being hormone disrupters, but this has only been seen in rats eating oxybenzone.

30:35 We receive a lot of fear mongering messaging on a daily basis, and it’s incredibly easy to get caught up in all we read and hear. We can all utilize a bit more critical thinking in the way we approach fear around food (and products) in a way taht supports our health rather than leaving us constantly scared.

Due to limited space in show notes, email for references: kate@katelymannutrition.com

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🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

Does what we eat really impact our mental health? The answer isn’t as simple as social media might suggest.

In this episode of the How to Fitness Podcast, we explore the connection between nutrition and mental well-being. We break down the science behind how food influences brain function, mood, and cognitive performance—covering topics like the gut-brain connection, the role of omega-3s, and the impact of ultra-processed foods.

Tune in as we discuss how simple dietary changes could support better mental health while also debunking the myths surrounding “food as medicine.”

Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction to Nutrition & Mental Health
02:06 – How Food Fuels the Brain
07:52 – The Gut-Brain Connection Explained
10:12 – The Role of Omega-3s in Mental Health
15:00 – Processed Foods & Psychological Well-Being
20:34 – Can Diet Help With Depression & Anxiety?
25:01 – The Mediterranean Diet & Mental Health Benefits
29:58 – The Dangers of Overpromising Diet Trends
34:22 – Practical Ways to Eat for Brain Health
39:33 – Final Thoughts & Takeaways

Resources Mentioned:
📚 Books & Studies
- Fearing the Black Body – Dr. Sabrina Strings
- The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition study on fruit & vegetable intake and psychological well-being
- The Mediterranean Diet & Depression Study

🔗 Further Reading & Research
- How the Gut Impacts Mental Health (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5641835/)
- The Science Behind Omega-3s & Brain Function (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6267176/)

Listen to our How to Fitness podcast on your favorite platform! https://howtofitness.buzzsprout.com/2171581/episodes

We’d love to hear your thoughts!
Share your feedback or questions in the comments below! And while you’re here, don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast and hit that notification bell so you never miss an episode.

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🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

In this episode of How To: Fitness we are discussing the impact of diet talk and “Fat Talk” received by our families and how that may have shaped our eating behaviors and relationships with foods. We discuss the role parents and siblings play in self-image, body dissatisfaction, and unsupportive dietary habits. We talk about how to foster a better relationship with food as we work to interrupt old cycles and disrupt negative diet messaging.

Note: In this episode there is talk of eating disorders and weight. If those subjects are triggering to you, it may be best to skip this episode and tune in to the next episode.

01:00 Today we’re talking about “Fat Talk” in reference to communication characterized by comments or conversations that focus on body weight, size, shape, or appearance in a critical manner. "Fat talk" can contribute to the perpetuation of societal body ideals, body shaming, and the reinforcement of harmful stereotypes related to weight and appearance. This term comes from the “Family Fat Talk Questionnaire.”
5:19 This type of talk often involves expressing dissatisfaction with one's own body or making negative comments about the bodies of oneself or others. "Fat talk" can contribute to the perpetuation of societal body ideals, body shaming, and the reinforcement of harmful stereotypes related to weight and appearance.
8:30 When looking at the literature, there is a correlation between family criticism and body dissatisfaction and disordered eating.

12:49 Although both parents are influential in the development of a kid’s self-esteem, mothers are particularly impactful on their daughters body image.
16:50 If we think about how children learn — through observation, modeling, and imitation — we can recognize our responsibility to model positive behaviors and a positive relationship with food.

21:27 Sibling relationships are unique in the family structure because siblings are both family and peers.Since siblings are raised with the same family values, a sister can be a vehicle to reinforce negative attitudes towards body image. Fathers also play a large role — in both their comments and their engagement in the family.24:09 The 'Almond Mom' is a stereotypical caricature of thin ideals that is often representative of the message we grew up with. We can acknowledge that these messages may have been made with good intentions, and are also learned behaviors and messages from previous generations.

30:00 Family is not the only place we receive negative messaging about our bodies. Dieting talk through TV, social media, and celebrities impacts youth of all ages.

32:00 With a greater awareness of the “fat talk” issue comes a greater opportunity to reject diet culture. Are boundaries worth it? Is the goal to change our family talk, or just protect ourselves from it? Our priority is breaking this cycle of family fat talk, and the way we go about it can start with removing labels of “good” or “bad” from food and not making body comments of any kind.

37:10 We cannot model new behaviors if we haven’t focused on our own relationship with food first. The way our body looks is a poor barometer of our health and wellbeing, and if we can shift our focused from appearance to habits and enjoyment, we can start shifting the old narrative.

42:50 It’s impossible to not want our family and friends to have peace in their bodies, and that starts with changing the messaging for ourselves and working past the old, harmful messaging and diet talk we have been taught in the past.

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🟡 Michael Ulloa
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Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

Today’s episode is a quick-fire Q&A answering questions from listeners. We discuss carb cycling, whether you should workout when tired, calorie tracking, and more.

0:45 Is carb cycling necessary?

2:07 Is it okay to still do a workout if I am tired? (i.e. didn’t sleep well/enough)

4:07 If I burn off 250 calories exercising, can I eat back 250 calories?

• Note: This was the article I was thinking about in terms of measuring inaccuracy of smart watches: https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2017/05/fitness-trackers-accurately-measure-heart-rate-but-not-calories-burned.html?microsite=news&tab=news. It is quite outdated now and I could find various more recent studies with a wide range of reported error for several different common smart watches.
• Here is an article you may find helpful on this topic: https://physiqonomics.com/please-stop-eating-back-exercise-calories/

7:06 Do you need to modify workout styles/choices as you age?

9:28 How to start weight training? I do and then stop every time.

Have more questions about any other topic related to your nutrition and fitness? Send them our way!

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🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

In this week's episode, we are joined by Dr. Alyssa Olenick, an expert in exercise physiology. Dr. Alyssa delves into her research on sex differences and metabolic response to exercise and shares her knowledge on menstrual cycle importance and its impact on training and nutrition. Alyssa also addresses misconceptions about 'cycle syncing' and offers practical advice for fitness and nutrition based on individual needs, urging against a 'one size fits all' approach.

2:10 Dr. Alyssa Olenick shares her background, research experience, and her history as an athlete. She has incredible experience as a research scientist as well as in her training as a hybrid athlete.

5:40 There are major gaps in sex differences in the world of exercise physiology and Alyssa’s research focuses on those differences and improving health outcomes of females across the entire lifespan.

10:45 Alyssa gives a rundown of the menstrual cycle — how our hormones change across various phases of a cycle and what the implications are. There is a lot of variability in every individual’s cycle and these phases are never one size fits all.

16:24 We discuss the confusion, controversy, and misinformation around cycle-specific workouts and cycle syncing. Not only does the idea of cycle syncing not have support from the research, but it doesn’t help us listen in to our own bodies or own needs.

19:56 What we can watch out for when trying to identify misinformation: absolutisms, assumptions that we all have a 28-day cycle, suggestions to avoid any high intensity exercise, or messaging talking only about cortisol. None of these suggestions are evidence based and the idea of a one size fits all blanket solution doesn’t teach us how to manage our own intensity, volume, or exertion.

24:05 Our education should feel empowering. We are not frail, and it’s not helpful to create unnecessary barriers to movement. We talk about the problematic fitness industry messaging and how it overlooks our need for rest or doesn’t factor in individual needs.

30:00 What can we actually do to support ourselves, our hormones, and our training across our cycle? Alyssa talks about the impacts of our cycle on our performance across different phases and how it may be related to our motivation, performance, and mood. We talk about rest, carbohydrates, caffeine, and sleep alongside changing hormones.

38:18 Our energy needs may be higher during our luteal phase and the need to be accurately fed at all times can have a huge impact on our energy, performance, recovery, and how we feel in general. Alyssa dives into our nutritional needs across the menstrual cycle and even touches oncertain supplements.

44:41 The “solutions” that help us feel better and more supported through our menstrual cycles are often simpler than we want them to be: adequate energy availability, rest days, hydration, prioritizing sleep, etc. The skills and tools we can gain around our cycle gives us permission to be more in tune with our bodies.

48:19 How can male trainers and coaches support their clients who menstruate? Alyssa gives us her opinions on this topic.

Where to find Dr. Alyssa Olenick: Instagram @doclyssfitness

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LittleLyssFitness
• Training programs: https://doclyssfitness.com/the-lyss-method/
• Invisible Sports Women: https://doclyssfitness.com/invisible-sports-women/

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🟡 Michael Ulloa
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🟡 Kate Lyman
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Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

This episode has been a long time coming for us. Today we not only want to talk about problematic wellness brands and the treatments and products they promote, but the barriers they create around wellness and how that negatively impacts our personal pursuit of health.

2:00 We talk through our thoughts on Goop as a wellness brand and how it has made “wellness” feel like something different than what it actually is — the pursuit of health and wellbeing. There is a massive responsibility that comes with advising or influencing people on their health, and that responsibility can be used incorrectly when focusing on money over health or if promoting harmful practices.

4:10 Is it Goop or utter poop? Tune in for a game of distinguishing a true Goop recommendation or a made up scenario from Michael.

9:14 We talk through Goop’s conception — from the name to the launch in 2008 as a health and wellness blog. Goop is now a lifestyle site with the intention of sharing information from experts. This has taken Goop from home-style recipes shared to lawsuits around false health claims, harmful treatments branded as natural remedies, and unfounded products.

15:45 Ethical and evidence-based practices and recommendations are often at odds with anecdotal experience or personal belief, and that is where wellness companies can lead us astray at times.

19:30 Our goal with this episode is not to invalidate or talk down on alternative methods of care. We understand the draw to alternative practices while also recognizing that major platforms have a responsibility to provide accurate and safe information.

20:10 Annual Goop health summits have been the host platform for many problematic practitioners who now have a larger audience to whom they can spread more misinformation. This further fuels criticism of experts and leaves space for more rampant misinformation and overwhelm.

24:00 As consumers, the draw to new, shiny, interesting information is very alluring.

26:49 This is a bigger issue than just Goop; Goop has paved the way for the success of many other problematic brands who are marketing and selling wellness in a way that may not be in our best interest. Rampant pseudoscience only adds to information overwhelm and an image of wellness and health that is not accurate, attainable, or inclusive. 29:00 Problematic wellness brands spread a message that we can have long lasting health if we are white, slim, and have the money to purchase expensive products and services required to be “well.” Wellness should be accessible to anyone and should be a right rather than a luxury.

31:00 Problematic wellness brands can be a distraction from what can truly benefit us, our health, and our habits. What can be empowering to us on our pursuit of health is understanding what truly moves the needle on our health goals rather than what has minimal impact but appears shiny and exciting.

36:55 We believe that our pursuit of health is not black or white. Brands like Goop can have some helpful recommendations and resources AND still be problematic. What is problematic, however, is creating barriers to health when health should be achievable for everybody and doesn’t have a specific cost or look.

Due to limited space in show notes, email for references: kate@katelymannutrition.com

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🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

Today we’re talking about the overwhelming amount of anti-aging messaging we receive and what actually contributes to our health and longevity. We’re talking about “anti-aging” products and treatments, the lengths we go to to look younger, and the frequency with which we overlook factors that actually contribute to aging healthfully.

3:55 We’re constantly facing a societal obsession with aging, and we’re talking about this topic with the lens of helping our listeners become more informed consumers.

8:44 We’re faced with pressure surrounding the need to slow down aging from a early on in life, and much of that pressure is placed on women. Part of this messaging demonizes aging or any physical changes to the typical “beauty” standard we’re often faced with.

• NYT article and quote: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/12/magazine/the-ever-changing-business-of-anti-aging.html

16:04 We share how anti-aging marketing and products has impacted us individually and our perception of our aging.

19:30 We talk through some of the more outrageous “solutions” out there for combatting age, including some of the lengths that billionaires go to for “youth restoring” protocols. In this category is also anti-aging clinics, and how this type of medicine is not actually recognized by board certifications. Often times, the treatments offered in this setting are concerning, especially when it comes to off label usage of medications for anti-aging purposes.

25:00 One risky area where age prevention medications are offered is in the prevelance of HRT offered outside of secure medical setting.

27:00 The global anti-aging market accounted for 66 billion USD in 2022, and is only expected to grow exponentially. 

28:30 A question for listeners:What do we actually want when we think about preventing aging? What is our actual goal?

30:15 We can shift from thinking about “anti-aging” methods and think, instead, about healthy aging and longevity. How long we live doesn’t matter as much as whether or not we’re living well.

34:19  can promote health and lifespan through our nutrition by avoiding weight cycling, monitoring alcohol intake, and prioritizing balance and micronutrient intake in our food choices.

40:17 There are some supplements that can help optimize our healthful againg. There is preliminary research showing the benefit of cocoa extract on longevity. Protein powder can help prevent sarcopenia, the loss of muscle mass and strength. Certain B vitamins have also been found to reduce some cognitive decline.

https://examine.com/categories/healthy-aging-longevity/

43:57 Exercise is truly the closest we get to an “anti aging” miracle. It benefits us in many ways related to our health and makes our bodies more adaptable to the physiological stress of aging itself. Benefits in cognitive changes, heart function, strength, and mobility come from regular exercise. These positive effects happen on a cellular level!

46:00 There is so much we don’t know about efficacy of different treatments and products, but then there are things we DO know!

50:22 Aging is natural, and to age is a privilege. Focusing more on proven self care methods and less about the “anti aging” hype sets us up for better years ahead.

Due to limited space in show notes, email for references: kate@katelymannutrition.com

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🟡 Michael Ulloa
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Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

In this episode of How to: Fitness, we’re talking about sleep - a topic that can seem really boring but is truly a missing key in our overall health and wellness. Today we’re talking about what we do and don’t know about sleep, its impact on every aspect of our health, and how sleep hygiene is often overlooked in the fitness space.

6:36 We spend one third of our lives asleep, so it’s very surprising that there is so much we don’t know about sleep - including why we need to sleep.

7:52 As we sleep our brains will cycle repeatedly through two different types of sleep - REM (otherwise known as rapid-eye movement) sleep and non-REM sleep. Michael talks through these stages and cycles with more detail, focusing on the complexity of non-REM stage three sleep and how important it is for our fitness and recovery.

11:14 In REM sleep, the eyes move rapidly behind closed lids, and brain waves are similar to those during wakefulness. This isn’t considered a restful stage; the brain is highly active throughout REM sleep, increasing brain metabolism by up to 20%. It is believed to be important for mood, memories and learning.

14:38 Recent findings suggest that sleep plays a housekeeping role that helps to removes toxins in your brain that build up while you are awake, essentially functioning like an overnight cleaning team providing essential and restorative services to the brain as we sleep.

17:20 Sleep affects almost every type of tissue and system in the body, and research shows that a chronic lack of sleep, or getting poor quality sleep, is correlated with mortality. There is so much unknown around sleep, leaving us feeling wary of “sleep experts” who have all the answers.

22:57 Our sleep need is individualized to an extent, and there is a lot unknown around how sleep needs change as we age. The general recommendation for adults is 7 hours of sleep per night, and there are negative consequences for lower amounts of sleep even though some individuals feel they function well on less sleep.

29:30 There’s a lot of uncertainty around the impact of naps on brain development and overall health, as well as if we can catch up on “sleep debt.”

32:49 There are a lot of obvious or “boring” tips around sleep hygiene, but there are also suggestions we often overlook when addressing our sleep patterns. We talk through some of these overlooked tips around improving our sleep.

47:00 We want sexy, quick fixes and often ignore “easier” fixes. Sleep definitely falls into that category as a puzzle piece that impacts our mental, physical, and emotional health in all ways.

This is our last episode for this season of How to: Fitness. We have some really exciting interviews and topics lined up for our next season coming in January 2024!

Due to limited space in show notes, email for references: kate@katelymannutrition.com

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🟡 Michael Ulloa
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🟡 Kate Lyman
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Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

Today we're taking a (mostly) objective approach to alcohol consumption - the risks, the benefits, and the drinking culture we are up against, and how it all impacts our nutrition, our fitness, and our overall health. We talk through taking a "risk analysis" approach to how we drink and share a bit of our own experiences as well.

1:30 How can learning more about alcohol help us become more knowledgable and educated consumers? Today we want to take the morality out of this topic and go into the topic of alcohol and drinking patterns with an open mind. We talk objective vs. subjective and how both of these fit into this topic.

7:30 Alcohol is a fourth, “nonessential,” macronutrient with 7 calories per gram. The caloric value of alcohol disproportionately high for the minimal nutrients provided. This knowledge can help us make more informed food choices.

9:58 As a neurotoxin, alcohol receives metabolic priority. It doesn’t trigger fullness signals like typical food does. When we pair this with impaired decision making and lower inhibitions, we see a tendency towards overconsumption.

15:35 There are many physiological impacts of alcohol intake, both short and long term. One of them that really impacts how we feel is disturbed sleep after drinking. There is a dose-toxicity response, so moderate drinking is very different than binge drinking.

17:50 We talk through the benefits of drinking: both health and social oriented. Moderate alcohol intake can increase HDL and lower risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney stones, and more.

21:57 We must take a “risk assessment” approach to our alcohol intake. Overall health benefits pale in comparison to risks, so it feels like the benefits we can weigh are social benefits - community, celebration, and enjoyment.

27:00 Drinking habits are very personal and very sensitive and a lot of trust and respect is required before opening up a conversation around this topic.

29:50 We talk about drinking culture in the US vs UK, drinking age limits, and the downfall of abstinence-based approaches around alcohol consumption. Rates of binge drinking are increasing across certain populations: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/29/opinion/sunday/alcohol-binge-drinking.html

36:20  Kate and Michael each share some of their personal experiences - from growing up in a more conservative community where alcohol was attached to morality to family history and days of heavy drinking through university.

46:30 The term “sober curious” means “to choose to question, or get curious about, every impulse, invitation, and expectation to drink, versus mindlessly going along with the dominant drinking culture.” It is about assessing your relationship with alcohol and paying attention to your consumption.

49:00 Having a drink can be the correct choice when weighing pros and cons, but being in tune with our choices and behaviors can help us consume in a way that is aligned with our goals, how we want to feel, and what we want out of our lives. This episode does not come with any recommendation beyond being more aware.

Support and resources: https://www.rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/help-links/default.aspx


Due to limited space in show notes, email for references: kate@katelymannutrition.com

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🟡 Michael Ulloa
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🟡 Kate Lyman
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Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

We believe in taking a holistic approach to our health and fitness, and we know that our sexual health is part of that. We speak with sexologist Dr. Celeste Holbrook on growing up in a conservative community, body ideals, how to open more conversations around sex, and how we can approach sex as a learned skill.

1:38 Dr. Celeste Holbrook is a sex educator using behavior change theory to enlighten individuals and partnerships on the topic of sex. Being a sexologist was not her goal career in her youth, but sex education became important to her after growing up in a conservative community and her own personal experiences.

8:40 We discuss how we can start becoming more open about sex by taking sex off of a “weird pedestal” and making it more approachable. It is a part of life, not the pinnacle, but modern messaging around sex suggests otherwise.

10:30 Sex is a learned skill that doesn’t always come naturally. Approaching it as such provides a more healthful dialogue around sex and open up conversation with partners, friends, and those near us.

13:00 Sometimes when working with a client we can utilize sex drive as a metric of our health, but sex is too contextual to use only as a metric of being fed, fueled, and rested. Libido can be a marker for health, but not always due to the context of what is going on in our lives. Libido also lives in a range, not only “high” or “low.”

17:01 There is no gauge for our libido, it is all in relation to what feels comfortable for us. Dr. Holbrook talks about the negotiation that is sex with a partner and how that is the best metric of a healthful sex life. Like everything else about our health, it is highly individualized.

19:14 Dr. Holbrook shares her strong views around the beauty industry and how our perception of beauty has been created by individuals around marketing table. While this idea is not unique to women only, it is experienced far more by those passing as women. We can take a harm reduction approach to feel best in our bodies and, as a byproduct, find a lot of compassion for others as well.

24:07 Regarding sex, we can take the approach that feels best and most comfortable for us and can also push back harder against ideals that have been sold to us. We can also take an approach to our bodies and body image that feels safe and gives us permission to live our lives best.

28:15 The body and beauty ideals that permeate “ideal sexuality” are the same that are pushed in the fitness industry. Dr. Holbrook gives some tips around changing the way we speak to ourselves and shifting the responsibility around beauty ideals.

31:18 We can foster more confidence in our sexuality by understanding what we want out of sex and then building behaviors that support those desires. Until we know what we truly want, we are just grasping at straws.

35:08 We share some perceived cultural differences between the US and the UK. Dr. Holbrook shares some of the messages that men receive around sex. There is a pervasive idea that we only allow a small amount of emotion from men, and this drastically impacts sexual experiences. Dr. Holbrook speaks about how a higher libido in men could be related to emotional regulation.

42:00 Responsibility is the biggest killer of arousal. We discuss how that challenges intimacy after having children and how shifting our idea of what connection and intimacy look like can do wonders.

CONNECT WITH CELESTE:
IG: @drcelesteholbrook
drcelesteholbrook.com

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🟡 Michael Ulloa
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🟡 Kate Lyman
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Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

Americans spend over $78 BILLION dollars on weight reduction services and goods annually, and it’s estimated that the average UK adult will spend more than £20000 trying to lose weight and get healthy over a lifetime.

That is…a lot.

In today’s episode were diving into the history of dieting and the cultural obsession that is the constant invention of new ways to restrict and manipulate our diets.

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🟡 Michael Ulloa
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Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram:  @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!

Today’s episode is a quick-fire Q&A where we bust some common nutrition and fitness myths. We referenced a few sources throughout the episode and you can find these below in the show notes:

00:32 Does exercising on an empty stomach burn more fat?

• https://examine.com/deep-dives/the-surprisingly-satiating-effects-of-fasted-cardio/#Pl97aQd-who-and-what-was-studied

03:29 Do superfoods really have no nutritional benefit?

04:48 Do we need to stay in the fat burning heart rate zone if I am trying to lose weight?

06:35 Are BCAAs and creatine worth the cost?

• https://examine.com/supplements/branched-chain-amino-acids/

11:08 Do I get the same benefit of a workout whether I am sore or not?

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🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt