Shows
Weights and Plates Podcast#96 - The Secret To Looking Like You LiftStarting Strength Coach Robert Santana talks about how everyone looks different when they train, why that is, why squatting, deadlifting, bench press will help you gain long-term strength, and how to evaluate coaches and trainers. https://weightsandplates.com/online-coaching/ Follow Weights & Plates YouTube: https://youtube.com/@weights_and_plates?si=ebAS8sRtzsPmFQf- Instagram: @the_robert_santana Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/weightsandplates Web: https://weightsandplates.com2025-04-2847 minWeights and Plates Podcast#95 - Getting Stronger Makes Everything BetterStarting Strength Coach Robert Santana talks about how getting stronger helps you achieve every fitness goal, bodybuilding vs powerlifting vs starting strength, novices, and more. https://weightsandplates.com/online-coaching/ Follow Weights & Plates YouTube: https://youtube.com/@weights_and_plates?si=ebAS8sRtzsPmFQf- Instagram: @the_robert_santana Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/weightsandplates Web: https://weightsandplates.com2025-03-2847 minWeights and Plates Podcast#94 - How To ACTUALLY Build Muscle | Hari Fafutis, SSCHari Fafutis, SSC joins the show to talk about doing the Starting Strength Linear Progression, gaining weight, building big arms, and more. https://weightsandplates.com/online-coaching/ Follow Weights & Plates YouTube: https://youtube.com/@weights_and_plates?si=ebAS8sRtzsPmFQf- Instagram: @the_robert_santana Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/weightsandplates Web: https://weightsandplates.com Hari's Instagram: @harifafutis2025-03-151h 04Weights and Plates Podcast#93 - Training Like An Athlete v.s. Recreational LiftersJesse Vezina joins the show to talk weightlifting, training like an athlete, the trade-offs of pushing your limits, coaching, and more. https://weightsandplates.com/online-coaching/ Follow Weights & Plates YouTube: https://youtube.com/@weights_and_plates?si=ebAS8sRtzsPmFQf- Instagram: @the_robert_santana Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/weightsandplates Web: https://weightsandplates.com 2025-02-281h 38Weights and Plates Podcast#92 - The Globo Gym To Starting StrengthCoach and RDN Juliette Gonzalez joins Robert Santana to discuss her fitness journey from Globo Gyms to Starting Strength, becoming a dietician, working as a coach, beauty standards, and more. https://weightsandplates.com/online-coaching/ Follow Weights & Plates YouTube: https://youtube.com/@weights_and_plates?si=ebAS8sRtzsPmFQf- Instagram: @the_robert_santana Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/weightsandplates Web: https://weightsandplates.com2025-02-141h 10Weights and Plates Podcast#91 - Truth About Upper Body TrainingIn this episode, Robert Santana talks about programming for your upper body and how it differs from lower body training. https://weightsandplates.com/online-coaching/ Follow Weights & Plates YouTube: https://youtube.com/@weights_and_plates?si=ebAS8sRtzsPmFQf- Instagram: @the_robert_santana Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/weightsandplates Web: https://weightsandplates.com 2025-01-3138 minWeights and Plates Podcast#90 - From Crossfit To Starting Strength Coach | Gretchen Geist SSCIn this episode, Robert Santana sits down with Gretchen Geist to talk about her fitness journey, how she went from doing Crossfit to Starting Strength, becoming a coach, and exaggerated expectations in the fitness industry. https://weightsandplates.com/online-coaching/ Follow Weights & Plates YouTube: https://youtube.com/@weights_and_plates?si=ebAS8sRtzsPmFQf- Instagram: @the_robert_santana Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/weightsandplates Web: https://weightsandplates.com Follow Gretchen on Instagram: @sofechsogretch 2025-01-1752 minWeights and Plates Podcast#89 - New Year, New Goals: Removing Your Limitations Online Diet Coaching and Strength Training with Dr. Robert Santana https://weightsandplates.com/online-coaching/ Follow Weights & Plates YouTube: https://youtube.com/@weights_and_plates?si=ebAS8sRtzsPmFQf- Instagram: @the_robert_santana Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/weightsandplates Web: https://weightsandplates.com Coach Trent Trent Jones: @marmalade_cream Email: jonesbarbellclub@gmail.com2025-01-0152 minWeights and Plates Podcast#88 - It's Time to Rethink Body FatMany people (most?) get into fitness because they want to look better. At least, that's a primary reason. It's a worthwhile goal -- looking better is a gateway drug to performing better after all, becuase your performance (i.e. your strength and conditioning) drives your body composition. There is a big breakdown in what many people perceive as the ideal or even just good body composition, however, and what is realistically achievable for the average person without PEDs. Social media and pop culture has warped people's idea of what a good physique looks like, and what healthy body fat...2024-12-181h 26Weights and Plates Podcast#87 - Thanksgiving: Time to Gain or Restrain?It's that time of the year again, the uniquely American feast that is Thanksgiving. It's a time of feasting and festivities, but for a lot of people the feasting doesn't end when the holiday is over... it extends over the next five weeks until the end of the year. As Dr. Santana points out, there is some research that shows people tend to gain a few pounds over the holidays, then go back to eating at maintenance in the new year. They end up a few pounds heavier, however, and don't lose it, then repeat the process again the...2024-11-2644 minWeights and Plates Podcast#86 - The Rep Before the Set: Don't Make The Biggest Setup MistakeIn today's episode, Dr. Santana and Coach Trent discuss a common mistake lifters make before they begin a set -- the unrack. As Coach Trent says, the set doesn't begin when you descend into your first rep, the set begins when you step on the platform. Getting your mindset right, visualizing a successful set, and unracking the bar with authority and controlled aggression is oftentimes the difference between a successful set and missed reps, especially when attempting a limit set or new PR. Online Diet Coaching and Strength Training with Dr. Robert Santana h...2024-11-061h 23Weights and Plates Podcast#85 - The Illusion of SafetyMany people who start barbell training say something to the effect of "I just don't want to get hurt" when asked about their fitness goals. It's understandable -- no one wants to get hurt -- but the statement displays some ignorance about the reality of aches, pains, and sometimes injuries that occur during hard physical training. When we train with barbells, we are pushing our bodies to the limit to grow muscle, get stronger, and become more resilient. Even if we aren't great athletes squatting and deadlifting several hundred pounds, improvement requires pushing the limit, and pushing the limit...2024-10-1856 minWeights and Plates Podcast#84 - Why You Need to Understand Advanced ProgrammingOne of the interesting consequences of the success of the Starting Strength methodology, and the growth in popularity of strength training in general, is that genetically average people are lifting weights and sticking with their program for multiple years. No longer are only gym rats and serious athletes dedicating themselves to years of sustained progress in the weight room -- now there are 55 year old moms with 5+ years of barbell training experience under their belts. Most of these people are advanced lifters, even though they aren't competitive athletes. And advanced lifters have different programming needs than novices and early i...2024-09-3055 minWeights and Plates Podcast#83 - The Risks of Weight Gain for Strength TrainingIt's almost a cliche now, that a novice trainee running the novice linear progression should "do GOMAD" (drink a gallon of milk a day). This advice is one of the most misunderstood bits of nutrition in the Starting Strength method, but it highlights an important fact -- to gain muscle, most people will need to put on bodyweight while increasing their lifts (a small percentage of very overweight or obese people already have enough excess energy on hand in the form of fat stores to run the program without gaining weight). Muscle doesn't just grow from nothing, their needs...2024-09-131h 06Weights and Plates Podcast#82 - Testosterone, TRT, and YouTestosterone is one of the hottest topics in the health and fitness world these, specifically testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). While there are legitimate medical reasons for TRT, it is also abused by those looking for an edge in improving their strength and physique, and some low T clinics are happy to oblige. Dr. Robert Santana and Coach Trent Jones share their thoughts on the recent popularity surge of TRT, and when it's appropriate for trainees. Online Diet Coaching and Strength Training with Dr. Robert Santana https://weightsandplates.com/online-coaching/ ...2024-08-301h 07Weights and Plates PodcastStrength Training for the Obese TraineeWe've talked about how an overweight trainee should approach strength training with an eye toward "recomping," that is, changing their body composition with more muscle and less fat. But what about very overweight or obese trainees? Dr. Santana and Coach Trent discuss their experiences training obese people wanting to lose weight and get strong in their novice phase of training. Online Diet Coaching and Strength Training with Dr. Robert Santana https://weightsandplates.com/online-coaching/ Weights & Plates on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@weights_and_plates?si=ebA...2024-08-1656 minWeights and Plates Podcast#80 - Does Upper Body Really Need More Volume?When the upper body lifts stall, the typical programming answer is "add volume." Some do this by increasing frequency -- the number of times you perform the lift each week -- and some do it by adding more sets during each upper body session. Others do both! It's not bad advice for a lot of people coming off of novice upper body programming. Many of these lifters have low press and bench press numbers relative to thier squat and deadlift, so adding a few extra sets during the week, whether it's via introducing a fourth pressing slot or by...2024-07-291h 01Weights and Plates Podcast#79 - Barbell Burnout: Remembering Why We Do ThisBurnout is a common complaint, whether it's from work, family, extracurricular activities, or all of the above. It happens in training too. Train long enough and you'll notice people in the community who were once avid lifters fall off the map. Some quit for good, or only sporadically train, others find different sports and activities to pursue, and those who remain tend to be lifers. Some people who quit barbell training cite burnout as the cause. For whatever reason, training no longer served their needs or fit into their life. Usually, burnout happens because there is a misalignment between...2024-07-1259 minWeights and Plates Podcast#78 - Are Your Goals Compatible With Your Lifestyle? Abs Don't Come EasyWhile there are many good reasons to lift barbells and get strong, many people are motivated at least initially by the prospect of looking better. Improving their body composition, which means building muscle mass and losing body fat. For the average person, getting strong requires a lot of hard work and dedication, more than most people expect. Achieving above average body composition requires even more work, and ultimately begs the question: are your goals compatible with your lifestyle? Weights & Plates is now on YouTube! https://youtube.com/@weights_and_plates?si=ebAS8sRtzsPmFQf-2024-06-211h 04Weights and Plates Podcast#77 - YMMV: We're Not Powerlifters, And That's OKIn the gym coaching real people, the knowledge and experience gained from years of hard work under the barbell pays off -- a person who has put themself under the yoke and actively learned to troubleshoot problems and adjust training variables is well prepared to help other people do the same. On the internet, however, the biggest total (or the biggest bicesps) wins. Dr. Robert Santana and Coach Trent Jones discuss the storm of comments around Dr. Santana's recent instagram post citing various problems with RPE, and note that all of the comments come from pow...2024-06-0755 minWeights and Plates Podcast#76 - Leaving Behind the Quitter's MindsetStrength training demands a lot from a trainee, especially after the honeymoon wears off (i.e. the novice linear progression starts to get hard). It's hard work, short but intense, and involves facing fear on a regular basis. As you advance into intermediate territory, the time between PR's increases, and requires patience and persistance. The stronger you get, the more you have to pay attention to your recovery factors -- food, sleep, and stress -- to properly recover from workout to workout. Strength training is a weed out process, you might say, for those looking for the easy way...2024-05-1750 minWeights and Plates Podcast#75 - Science Is Fake with Stef Bradford, PhDThere's seemingly no end to the "evidence based" coaches out there nowadays making all sorts of claims about you should train, backed up by scientific data. Have you actually read any of the papers they cite to back up their claims? It turns out, there are numerous problems with the field of scientific research, from the actual design of the experiments to the reporting of data, the publishing process and peer review, and, last but not least, skewed incentives for the people carrying out research at every level. Dr. Bradford, who earned a PhD in Pharmacology and Molecular Cancer...2024-05-031h 59Weights and Plates Podcast#74 - Training and Diet for WomenTo quote Mark Rippetoe, "women are not a special population, they are half the population." In other words, women fundamentally train for strength the same way that men do -- the same principles of progressive overload, using compound barbell lifts that target the whole body, and nutritional principles apply. There are a few exceptions, however, and that's what Dr. Santana and Coach Trent address in today's episode. How Birth Control Can Inhibit Strength and Performance by Lea Genders: https://www.leagendersfitness.com/news/how-hormonal-birth-control-can-inhibit-strength-and-muscle-development Weights & Plates is now on Yo...2024-04-151h 17Weights and Plates Podcast#73 - Why You Missed a Rep: Four Questions to AskDr. Santana and Coach Trent wrap up their mini series on post-novice programming with an important discussion on understanding why you missed reps. The novice linear progression cannot last forevever (or else we'd all be squatting 1,000lbs!), and as the saying goes, all good things come to an end. This means that at some point, you'll miss reps. What do you do then? Some people have the impression that missing reps means it's time to change the program, and that's not necessarily true. Often there are recovery issues at play that can be addressed, allowing the lifter to extend...2024-03-2942 minWeights and Plates Podcast#72 - The SRA Cycle and Intermediate ProgrammingDr. Robert Santana and Coach Trent explore the Stress/Recovery/Adapation cycle (adapted from Hans Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome) and how it serves as a guiding model for programming decisions in the intermediate phase of training. Weights & Plates is now on YouTube! https://youtube.com/@weights_and_plates?si=ebAS8sRtzsPmFQf- Weights & Plates: https://weightsandplates.com Robert Santana on Instagram: @the_robert_santana Trent Jones: @marmalade_cream Email: jonesbarbellclub@gmail.com 2024-03-081h 19Weights and Plates Podcast#71 - Programming After Novice: Making the Weight, and Your Technique, Go UpThe novice linear progression (NLP, or LP for short) is a fun time in the training career of a lifter. Never will you make as much progress -- and as fast! -- as you will during LP. It's also brutally hard, especially toward the end. Nevertheless, it comes to an end for every lifter, and people often spin their wheels trying to figure out what to do once the simple A/B program stops working. In today's episode, Dr. Santana and Coach Trent discuss some basic principles of post-novice programming, and point out that at all stages of the...2024-02-2356 minWeights and Plates Podcast#70 - No Fear, No GainFor a variety of reasons, the predominant form of exercise in popular culture is endurance training. Endurance is valorized in the media, with sports like swimming and running receiving prime position in Olympic broadcasts. Military films often depict the hero enduring through miles and miles of trackless jungle and urban wastelands. The overarching experience of endurance training is pain, and pain is relatable. Everyone suffers, or will suffer, from pain in their life. It's even in the popular saying: "no pain, no gain." Strength training, however, does not elicit the same pain response that endurance t...2024-02-121h 08Weights and Plates Podcast#69 - We Command You to Grow! (With the Barbell)You've tried the templates in the bodybuilding magazines, from the bodybuilding sites. You've tried lifting like the big jacked, ripped dudes on social media... and it hasn't worked. You don't look like them, and your growth has stalled out. For some reason we accept that in sports, we shouldn't expect to perform like pro athletes without elite genetics and many years of training, but in fitness, we expect to acheive the look of people with outlier genetics, years of training, and, often, performance enhancing drugs as well. In today's episode, Dr. Santana and Coach Trent explain why basic barbell...2024-02-111h 17Weights and Plates Podcast#68 - The One Thing Your Training Is Missing: ConsistencyHappy New Year! To kick off 2024, Dr. Santana and Coach Trent discuss the biggest ingredient to success in achieiving your fitness goals -- consistency. All the talk about programming and training splits and macros is futile if you aren't taking action consistently to meet your goals. Many people struggle with consistency, however, so they dive deep into the factors that influence consistent action: environment, motivation, and discipline. Dr. Santana points out that every trainee has modifiable and non-modifiable factors in their life, and optimizing the things you can modify, while setting expectations around what you cannot, is important to...2024-02-101h 11Weights and Plates Podcast#67 - Lessons Learned in 2023: Hypertrophy BS, Arm Training, Food Quality, & MoreDr. Santana and Coach Trent share some of the lessons they've learend about training, health, nutrition, and human behavior in 2023. Happy New Year! Weights & Plates: https://weightsandplates.com Robert Santana on Instagram: @the_robert_santana Trent Jones: @marmalade_cream https://www.jonesbarbellclub.com 2024-02-1054 minWeights and Plates Podcast#66 - What Dogs Can Teach Us About Strength TrainingA meandering chat about dog training turned into an interesting idea for strength training. Trainees are not so different from dogs -- they have different personalities, different motivations, and different "drives" -- and therefore they will respond best to a program that most closely matches their individual traits. An enthusiastic endurance athlete who regularly runs marathons or cycles long distances, for instance, would likely struggle mightilty on a program that calls for them to frequently hit singles or doubles on the big compound lifts. Likewise, an amateur powerlifter probably wouldn't enjoy the burn and sweating of a bodybuilding workout...2024-02-101h 00Weights and Plates Podcast#65 - Do You Need to Do High Rep Sets for Growth? Gross vs Fine Muscular DevelopmentOne idea in the fitness community that just won't die is that you need to do high rep sets (10's, 15's, 20's) when the goal is to build muscle. What so many people miss in this conversation, however, is that the context matters. To start with, the lift matters! Squats for sets of 10 or 15 are probably not a productive use or your time, because the fatigue generated from heavy compound lifts usually causes technique breakdown as you approach failure. Lying triceps extensions, on the other hand, can and should be pushed for sets of 10 or more. 2023-11-171h 18Weights and Plates Podcast#64 - Reading vs Doing: Why You Can't Read Your Way to Strength and Good Training Habits Mark Rippetoe and Marty Gallagher Interview (3 Parts): Part 1: https://youtu.be/siaDQdpQPRQ?si=jBBEqMFP6drd1mKm Part 2: https://youtu.be/TxjibbKJ8UE?si=YilgpD6MG6bxAGZG Part 3: https://youtu.be/RIe_7ODKycQ?si=6t5M2L88a0J7DvGV Weights & Plates: https://weightsandplates.com Robert Santana on Instagram: @the_robert_santana Trent Jones: @marmalade_cream https://www.jonesbarbellclub.com2023-11-0559 minWeights and Plates Podcast#63 - Diet Deloads: Stop the Non-Stop DietingWhen people hire Dr. Santana looking to lose a significant amount of weight, it's almost certain this isn't their first attempt at dieting. In fact, what Dr. Santana typically finds with overweight and obese weight loss clients is that they have been dieting for years. They are essentially always in weight loss mode. The problem is, they haven't lost the weight, which indicates that their compliance is spotty at best. Dr. Santana also points out that even if compliance is low and they haven't lost weight, there is a psychological toll from constantly dieting. The s...2023-10-2053 minWeights and Plates Podcast#62 - Pain, Tweaks, and Injuries: How to Overcome Training RoadblocksPain and "tweaks" are an inevitable part of training. If you live an active life, both in and out of the gym, then you will eventually tweak something and experience pain. You might even (heaven forbid!) get injured, and require rehab. So learning how to deal with pain while continuing to train and get strong is a very important part of the training process. Pain is a complex experience, as much psychological and emotional as it is physical. Through their combined nearly four decades in the gym, Dr. Santana and Coach Trent have learned how t...2023-09-291h 15Weights and Plates Podcast#61 - Lessons from the Old School GymThere's something about the vibe of the old school, black iron gym. Whether it's a powerlifting dungeon straight out of the 80's, a bodybuilding gym packed full of machines and dumbbells, or a weightlifting hall with rows and rows of platforms, the single-purpose gym dedicated to training (not merely exercise) is a special place. A place where shit gets done, where hard effort and consistency are the primary currency. These gyms are hard to find, but you know them when you walk in the door. The energy is palpable. In today's world of online coaching a...2023-09-1636 minWeights and Plates Podcast#60 - The Non-Linear ProgressionA common frustration for intermediate lifters in their first couple years of training is an inability to maintain their peak strength. Whether it's a 1RM, a 5RM, or even a PR for sets across, for the vast majority of people something will interrupt their strength training progression and knock them off track, and they'll miss lifts they have previously hit. On top of that, attempting new PR's will become more unpredictable, and even if they did everything right, the weight sometimes just won't move. Did they get weaker? Is all their previous work in vain? O...2023-09-041h 04Weights and Plates Podcast#59 - Women and Eating to Build Muscle MassDr. Robert Santana and Trent Jones address the topic of eating to gain muscle mass for women. While the physiology of bulking, as described in episodes 57-58, is no different for women than it is for men, the degree to which women need to eat for muscle mass and the total amount of muscle gain possible is different. In general, women are not able to convert surplus calories into muscle mass as efficiently as men, so Robert and Trent advocate for a slower rate of gain for women trying to build muscle and get stronger. Additionally, women are not...2023-08-211h 08Weights and Plates Podcast#58 - Bulking, Part DeuxDr. Robert Santana and Starting Strength Coach Trent Jones continue their discussion on bulking, including favorite foods for amassing calories, how fast you should gain weight, and why the weight on the bar should be the main metric of progress. Weights & Plates: https://weightsandplates.com Robert Santana on Instagram: @the_robert_santana Trent Jones: @marmalade_cream https://www.jonesbarbellclub.com2023-08-041h 13Weights and Plates Podcast#57 - Why You Should Probably Be BulkingIt's a common debate in the Starting Strength world and the world of lifting and aesthetics in general -- do you have to get fat to build muscle? Dr. Robert Santana and his co-host Trent Jones, SSC tackle this question and explain why, if you're a male looking to improve your physique, you probably need to bulk to gain muscle, drive your barbell lifts up, and later, cut body weight to lose the fat. So, to answer the question more directly: do you have to get fat? No, but you're gonna gain more fat than you want to, and...2023-07-231h 08Weights and Plates Podcast#56 - Summer PSA: Change Your EnvironmentWe know it's summer, and your busy. Kids are home from school, you're going on vacation, having cookouts... and we hope you enjoy these things! However, as a diet coach, Dr. Santana has observed a few common problems people have when trying to lose weight. One of those is snacking. Inevitably, people who keep a lot of snacks in their pantry end up overeating them and gaining weight when they're trying to lose. There's an easy solution to this, however. Throw them out! If you want to change your food habits for the better, you h...2023-07-1043 minWeights and Plates Podcast#55 - Does Technique Really Matter?It has become popular in the last few years for coaches in the strength and fitness world to question the concept of "technique," that is, that technique matters when it comes to getting stronger, building muscle, and injury risk reduction. One claim is that certain standardized technique hallmarks such as squat depth definied as the "hip crease below top of patella" are arbitrary, and that one could strong squatting deeper or higher than that. Others claim that certain techniques such as lifting with a rounded back, while inefficient, do not increase the risk of injury during training. 2023-06-201h 19Weights and Plates Podcast#54 - All About Abs, and Why You Don't Have ThemThere's nothing more elusive and coveted in modern fitness and aesthetics than visible abs, the "six pack." For many, it's the holy grail of aesthetics. Many people, however, fail to achieve a six pack even after shedding a lot of body fat. How do you get them, then? Is it even possible for most people? Dr. Robert Santana and Coach Trent break down the mystery of "abs," discuss the relevant anatomy, anatomical variation in the population, and why most people need to worry about building muscle mass, not losing body fat. Te...2023-06-021h 05Weights and Plates Podcast#53 - A Chat with Uncle Rip on Food, The Great Fat Lie, and The Obsession with LeannessDr. Robert and Coach Trent recently met up in Wichita Falls, TX, the home of the Starting Strength organization, for a strengthlifting meet at Wichita Falls Athletic Club. While they were there they sat down with the man himself, Mark Rippetoe, author of Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training 3rd Edition and many other books and articles, to chat about how much the food landscape has changed in his liftetime. They also touch on the obsession with leanness in modern popular media, and how the average individual can look much better in a t-shirt with proper s...2023-05-191h 10Weights and Plates Podcast#52 - Intro to Strength Sports, and Why Training Isn't CompetitionFor people new to barbell training, it's not uncommon to hear the process of strength training referred to as "powerlifting," or even "weightlifting." And while yes, we are lifting weights, that is not the same thing as weightlifting -- which is the sport of Olympic weightlifting, a barbell sport involving the snatch and clean and jerk. Likewise, while strength training involves the squat, bench press, and deadlift (and press), powerlifting is actually a sport in which the squat, bench, and deadlift are performed for a single rep under the rules and judgment of a federation. S...2023-05-061h 01Weights and Plates Podcast#51 - Supplements: Are There Any Worth Taking?Supplements are a huge industry, and showing no signs of slowing down. The idea that a pill, or a powder, or a drink can transform your fitness and body composition is irresistible, it seems, as people continue to pour billions of dollars into the supplement industry. Do any of them actually work though? And if so, which ones? Dr. Robert Santana and Coach Trent Jones wade through the most popular performance enhancing supplements, and offer an opinion which runs counter to what most will tell you: most of them DON'T work, and if you aren't t...2023-04-2156 minWeights and Plates PodcastStress, Fatigue, and the SRA CycleCoach Robert and Coach Trent discuss some recent developments in their own training, which prompts a discussion on how stressors affect the SRA cycle, and why advanced barbell training can be deceptively simple. Weights & Plates: https://weightsandplates.com Robert Santana on Instagram: @the_robert_santana Trent Jones: @marmalade_cream https://www.jonesbarbellclub.com2023-04-101h 06Weights and Plates Podcast#49 - RPE and AutoregulationRPE is a commonly used tool for programming, and has continued to grow in popularity with the rise of barbell training, barbell sports such as powerlifting, and the online coaching industry. It's a novel tool which uses the lifters' perception of their effort (RPE stands for rate of perceived exertion) on a given set, on any given day, to influence programming decisions. It's an innovative way to approach programming, and certainly convenient for online coaches that don't have the benefit of watching lifters perform in real time, but is it actually useful? Coach Robert and Coach Trent debate the...2023-03-2458 minWeights and Plates Podcast#48 - Does Getting Stronger Make You a Better Runner? Client Interview with Liv MillerRobert invites one of his clients, Olivia Miller, onto the show to discuss her training program for a 50k race she ran in February. Liv is a former D1 soccer player now working in the healthcare field. She turned to running after graduation as a way to keep herself physically challenged, and to stave off some of the boredom and stress of the COVID lockdowns in 2020. A natural competitor, Liv excelled in running and began training for longer and longer races, with her recent 50k being the longest. Several months ago she sought out a c...2023-03-071h 02Weights and Plates PodcastStruggling to Get Bigger/Leaner? Strength Is Your Limiting FactorAn impromptu training discussion leads to a whole episode about why strength is limiting factor for the vast majority of people trying to get bigger and look more muscular. Weights & Plates: https://weightsandplates.com Robert Santana on Instagram: @the_robert_santana Trent Jones: @marmalade_cream https://www.jonesbarbellclub.com2023-02-1759 minWeights and Plates Podcast#46 - What Now? Getting Lean After Novice LP (Skinny Fat Lifters)Rounding out the January series on improving strength, muscle mass, and physique for the skinny fat novice, Coach Robert and Trent lay out what the early intermediate phase tends to look like in terms of programming and body composition. After building a solid base of strength in a well-executed novice LP, the formerly skinny fat lifter has most likely gained an appreciable amount of muscle mass. An average sized male, 5'7" to 5'10", will weigh roughly 200lbs at this point, and should be squatting in the high 200's to mid 300's for a top set (perhaps even sets across...2023-02-0348 min
Baker Barbell PodcastDr. Robert Santana, Pt. 1: How Much Protein Do You Really Need, Nutrient Timing, Pre-Workouts, and MoreThis week we're flipping things around and inviting Dr. Robert Santana, Starting Strength Coach and PhD Nutrition, onto the show to talk about all things nutrition, diet, and macros as they relate to training for strength and physique. In addition to his extensive academic training, Dr. Santana has spent over twenty years in the weight room and over a decade as a strength coach. Thousands of hours of practical experience getting people strong, muscular, and lean have given him a unique perspective on the things that actually work for average, natural (no steroids or other PEDs) lifters as well a...2023-01-261h 04Weights and Plates Podcast#45 - The Muscle Masterclass: Andy Baker on Hypertrophy, Common Upper Body Mistakes, and the Best Lifts for GrowthOn today's show Robert and Trent welcome guest coach Andy Baker, Starting Strength Coach and co-author of Practical Programming for Strength Training, 3rd Edition and The Barbell Prescription: Strength Training for Life After 40. Andy is a master coach with a wide range of expertise and interests. He coaches high level competitive powerlifters, bodybuilders, high school and collegiate sport athletes, and regular folks just looking to become generally fit and strong. Along the way he's learned a lot about packing on muscle, and has identified common mistakes guys make when struggling to add mass, especially to their upper body. 2023-01-201h 38Weights and Plates PodcastGet Rid of "Man Boobs" Forever: Advice for the Skinny Fat MaleIt's the new year, and a time when many people resolve to work eat, eat better, and improve their body composition. Some guys aim to lose weight, others to gain it, but what about the in-betweener, the guy who is of normal bodyweight, normal BMI, but still appears unathletic -- low muscle tone, no visible definition, and maybe even excess fat around the pectorals (man boobs) and waist line. This condition is often referred to as "skinny-fat," and skinny fat people often mistakenly think that they need to lose fat to look leaner and more muscular 2023-01-061h 11Weights and Plates PodcastSetting Goals for Next Year: Process Over ResultsCoach Santana (now officially Dr. Santana!) and Coach Trent discuss their approach to setting goals for training, health, and life. It's easy to buy into the idea of resolutions and setting lofty results-oriented goals, and it feels good to do it! I'm going to squat 500 next year! I'm going to get down to 15% body fat next year! I'm going to lose 30lbs! These results or number oriented goals sound good, and setting them gets you thinking about what kind of person you'll be in the future, having achieved the goal. In fact, you often get a little dopamine hit...2022-12-2348 minWeights and Plates PodcastLiver King, The Limits of Research, and What Actually WorksIf you are into lifting and spend any time on social media at all, you've probably heard of, or at least seen, the Liver King. Coach Trent and Coach Santana discuss the recent "controversy" around the Liver King's steroid use, why nearly everything you see on the internet is fake, and what we actually know works when it comes to getting strong and building muscle. Weights & Plates: https://weightsandplates.com Robert Santana on Instagram: @the_robert_santana Trent Jones: @marmalade_cream https://www.jonesbarbellclub.com2022-12-091h 22Weights and Plates PodcastThanksgiving PSA: It's a Holiday, Not a SeasonTo all the folks in the United States, Happy Thanksgiving! Once again we have entered into the holiday season, which for many people involves eating...a LOT of eating! Some amount of overindulgence is kinda the point of feast days like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years, as part of the celebration of things for which we are thankful. However, for too many people these holidays turn into multiple days or weeks of overindulgence that inevitably lead to weight gain. In fact, as Santana points out, there is scientific literature documenting the phenomenon that people tend to gain several pounds...2022-11-2439 minWeights and Plates PodcastCoaching Is More Than Just InformationCoach Robert and Coach Trent discuss a misunderstanding that sometimes comes up in a coaching relationship -- the idea that coaching is just a program, or a template, or a set of information that will get you to your fitness goals. The reality is that information is cheap, often free, and there's not a whole lot of information that a good coach can provide that you can't find on the internet these days. Information is rarely the road block for trainees struggling to make progress, however. What trainees often lack is a proper evaluation of where they are: how...2022-11-1455 minWeights and Plates PodcastEating In a Time CrunchIt's that time of year again. The holiday season looms with Thanksgiving and Christmas on the horizon, and the inevitable work deadlines and travel stresses that go along with that. When time is short and stress is high, it's easy to make bad food decisions because -- let's face it -- most of the food available to us in the world is high in calories and low in nutrients. With a few basic strategies, however, you can avoid hitting the fried chicken sandwich for lunch and instead eat (mostly) fresh, nutritious, and unprocessed food. Robert e...2022-10-2947 minWeights and Plates PodcastGetting Fat to Get Strong? What to Do If You're a Skinny Fat NoviceThe so-called "skinny fat" novice may have the toughest road to body recomposition of all trainees beginning their strength training journey. A skinny-fat person is a person of normal BMI and "normal" bodyweight for their height, but a high body fat percentage. This person usually looks normal in a t-shirt, but with their shirt off appears soft and undefined. Male skinny fat novices may complain of having man boobs, or a smooth stomach, with no visibl separation in the arm muscles. The skinny fat novice often believes that they need to lose body fat to a...2022-10-151h 06
This is My SonThe Trinity Problem?Welcome to This is My Son podcast. I'm your host, Robert Santana, and I'm excited that you've decided to join in and search the scriptures with me. I'm not sure where you're listening from or who shared this with you, but I'm happy you're here. I want to invite you on a journey to a great controversy happening between good and evil. Between our creator, His divine son, and the fallen angel who was known as Lucifer. Ever since the fall the devil has employed multiple deceptions to attack the sunship of Jesus, to make God a liar, to destroy...2022-10-1300 minWeights and Plates PodcastA to Z Accessories for Putting on More MuscleYoked, stacked, swole, diced... who doesn't want to get jacked? While the basic barbell compound movements -- the Squat, press, bench press, and deadlift -- are the backbone of any good muscle building program, sometimes certain body parts need more help to grow. Coach Santana and Coach Trent offer up their favorite accessory lifts for hard-to-grow muscles after a lifter has exhausted their novice gains on a quality barbell program. They also dispel some myths about "hypertrophy," particularly the idea that you need tons of sets and reps to grow muscles. Just like any good s...2022-10-022h 04Weights and Plates PodcastAlcohol, Body Fat, and Breaking the Bad HabitsAlcohol is fun. We don't need to tell you that. It also tastes good! We all know the reasons for drinking it, but what about not drinking it? Is it possible to drink alcohol and be strong and lean? Coach Santana and Coach Trent tackle this question in today's show. The biggest takeaway is planning. Just like you should plan the rest of your day of eating around going out to eat, you should plan your eating (and training) around your alcohol consumption. If you know you're going to the bar with some friends to k...2022-09-0950 minWeights and Plates PodcastHydration, Halting Deadlifts, and... BoozeAfter a detour to discuss the merits of halting deadlifts, Coach Robert and Trent explain the basics of hydration and fluid intake and why it matters for lifters in the gym specifically. If you're an early morning trainee, there's a good chance you are rolling into the gym not hydrated as well as you could be, and possibly with low blood sugar too. If this is you, it's important to understand that hydration isn't just a function of water intake, it's also dependent on sufficient electrolytes and sufficent glucose, which both help with water intake i...2022-08-2651 minWeights and Plates PodcastEasy Doesn't Work: An Interview with Stef Bradford (Starting Strength)Coach Robert and Coach Trent interview the woman behind the curtain at the Aasgaard Company, publisher of Stating Strength: Basic Barbell Training 3rd Edition (and the popular training method by the same name), Practical Programming, several other books, and thousands of articles about barbell training, programming, nutrition, the sport of weightlifting and powerlifting, and much more. Stef Bradford holds a PhD in Pharmacology and decades of strength training and competitive weightlifting experience under her belt. Stef joins the podcast today to discuss the mental and philosophical side of training and why the term “easy doesn’t work...2022-08-131h 22Weights and Plates PodcastHow Much Training Do YOU Need?A lot of templates and programming talk for the advanced lifter out there focuses on competitive lifters, or lifters seeking to become competitive, and competition comes with a few assumptions. One, that getting as strong as possible, and pushing for new 1RM's, is the most important thing in training. Having one clear goal (getting stronger on 1RM's) certainly makes programming easier to talk about, but is that really what the average lifter is concered about? If you're not a competitor, you probably don't need to use the same approach that competitors do to reach your s...2022-07-3146 minWeights and Plates Podcast3 Ways to Condition, Improve Your Work Capacity, and Burn More FatCoach Robert and Coach Trent discuss the value of conditioning in a strength program, and three ways to implement it based on your goals. While the idea that you can "condition" or exercise off excess calories persists (unfortuantely), though we know fat and weight loss are primarily driven by your diet, there is a role for conditioning in the life of a lifter and general purpose athlete. Regular exercise, such as walking, hiking, or riding a bike, increases metabolic rate and improves tissue quality, keeping your joints lubricated and your connective tissue pliable. Luckily, for t...2022-07-1541 minWeights and Plates PodcastThe Emotions Behind Eating Disorders, Body Dysmorphia with Dr. David PuderDr. David Puder, a psychiatrist, psychotherapist, athlete, lifter, and fan of the Starting Strength model, joins the podcast to discuss the emotions and drives that underly eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and the subclinical dissatisfaction with food and body composition that we often encounter in the gym. In addition to seeing patients and doing therapy, Dr. Puder hosts a highly successful podcast about psychiatry, psychotherapy, and the broader world of mental health called Psychiatry and Psychotherapy: https://www.psychiatrypodcast.com https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/psychiatry-psychotherapy-podcast/id1335892956 ...2022-07-0149 minWeights and Plates PodcastHow to Program after Novice LP: Intensity, Periodization, and NutritionThe novice linear progression as detailed in Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training 3rd Edition is attractive to novice lifters for a lot of reasons. It's simple, it's easy to track progress, and most importantly it works extremely well -- every novice has the capacity to add a lot of weight to their lifts in just a few months. Alas, all goods things come to an end, and novice LP is no exception. Many lifters struggle to determine what to do when their novice gains run out, so Coach Santana and Trent discuss the basic concepts of periodization and programming...2022-06-1757 minWeights and Plates PodcastPreparing for Success: How to Meal Prep Healthy & Delicious FoodIt's been said many times on the show, compliance and actually executing your eating plan is the biggest factor in meeting your body composition goals. Many people fall short on meal prep, and tired and exhausted from a long day of work, parenting, and other obligations, end up hitting a restaurant instead of cooking healthy food at home. Some basic meal prep strategies can help you avoid the fast food and restaurants, however. To that end, Coach Trent's wife Jordan joins the show to discuss her tips for building a well-stocked pantry, planning simple and e...2022-06-031h 02Weights and Plates PodcastStop Weighing Yourself, and Embrace the Tape (and the Iron)Coach Santana and Trent discuss the many reasons the scale is a poor tool for measuring and tracking body composition changes, and can even lead to psychological issues: obsessing over a target body weight number, minor fluctuations in weight day to day. The better tools are measuring tapes, skinfold calipers if you have them, and, most importantly, the weight on the bar! So stop weighing yourself every day, and put your energy and focus into improving your performance in the gym. Weights & Plates: https://weightsandplates.com Robert Santana on Instagram: @the_robert_santana2022-05-2059 minWeights and Plates PodcastNovice Linear Progression: The Big PictureCoach Robert and Trent discuss the essence of the novice linear progression, and how this simple model of progressive overload can help a wide variety people with different goals. Whether you are looking to lose weight, gain weight, get leaner, improve your joint function, or become a powerlifter -- the novice linear progression is the best first step you can make and NEED to make in your fitness journey. Weights & Plates: https://weightsandplates.com Robert Santana on Instagram: @the_robert_santana Trent Jones: @marmalade_cream https://www.jo...2022-05-061h 20Weights and Plates PodcastHow to Get the Most Out of Online CoachingOnline coaching is a very popular choice these days, for good reason -- the internet allows people who otherwise would not have access to a qualified coach to get regular feedback on their technique, custom programming, and a sounding board for discussing their health and fitness. That said, there are a number of limitations to online coaching that you need to be aware of if you're going to do it. Robert and Trent break down what you need to know to find a competent online coach and how to get the most out of your t...2022-04-2250 minWeights and Plates PodcastThe Restaurant Trap: Secrets from the Commercial Kitchen with Chef Drea WildToday Robert and Trent welcome the first guest to Weights & Plates -- Chef Andrea Wild. Drea is a professional chef with a passion for bridging the knowledge gap between professional cooking and good nutrition. She explains the difference between how chefs in a commercial kitchen approach preparing and seasoning food and how the average person at home prepares meals. Turns out, the restaurant is a great place for having an incredibly flavorful experience but a terrible place to get good nutrition! Weights & Plates: https://weightsandplates.com Robert Santana on In...2022-04-081h 02Weights and Plates PodcastBro'ing Out: Accessory Lifts for the Strength Focused LifterAdmit it, you like to bro out! You know, catch a pump doing fifteen different types of curls, tricep pushdowns, face pulls... it's ok, we all love to do some curls for the girls. But, it's important we don't confuse fun exercises for productive strength training, which occurs with the big compound lifts: squats, presses, bench press, and deadlifts. That said, is there ever a time for accessory lifts in a strength training program? It turns out... yes! Accessory lifts can be used for a variety of reasons: targeted warmups, rehab, building proprioception and motor s...2022-03-2451 minWeights and Plates PodcastFood & Macros in Times of ScarcityTime are... interesting these days, and food is getting more expensive and scarce every day. We all want to stay strong and healthy, but protein and supplements are becoming budget killers for many. So, how much do we really need to eat to sustain a reasonably high performance training program? Robert and Trent offer some ideas about macros, inexpensive foods, and important tools and cookware that can save you money in the long run. Items mentioned in this episode: Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy rice cooker: https://www.zojirushi.com/app/product/nszcc Berkey water filter: ht...2022-03-111h 02Weights and Plates PodcastPeaking for Performance, and Debunking the "Forever Volume" CrowdRobert and Trent discuss the concept of peaking, that is, preparing yourself for a maximum performance or athletic event on a given day, such as a meet or competition. Training involves periods of carefully dosed stress (workouts) followed by periods of recovery (sleep and food), which together create an adaptation (you get stronger, and/or more conditioned). Through this SRA cycle, your fitness and fatigue will oscillate. Peaking for an athletic performance requires you to dissipate as much fatigue as possible so that you feel fresh during the day of the event, while also maximizing your adaptation. It's a...2022-02-251h 10Weights and Plates PodcastMacro Tracking: Going from Training Wheels to Intuitive EatingIf you want to make a positive change in your bodyweight or body composition, it's hard to avoid tracking your macro intake. At some point you've got to understand what you are taking in day to day, to establish a baseline of nutrients from which you can then make changes. It's kinda like a budget -- before you start making changes to your spending habits, it really helps to know where your dollars are already going. That said, macro tracking has its pitfalls, too. The data you need to track macros is notoriously inaccurate and/o...2022-02-1257 minWeights and Plates PodcastEverything You Need to Build a Killer Home GymRobert and Trent nerd out about every lifter's favorite topic -- gym equipment! Bars, racks, plates, accessories... they discuss everything you need to build a simple but extremely flexible and useful home gym where you can make gains for years. As with any of this equipment of this nature, there are certain tips and tricks you learn over years of experience, and Robert and Trent share their thoughts on the best equipment configurations on the market today. Weights & Plates: https://weightsandplates.com Robert Santana on Instagram: @the_robert_santana Tr...2022-01-281h 38Weights and Plates PodcastPart-Time Dieting Is Killing Your Progress (and Your Waistline)It's another New Year, and another chance for millions of resolutioners to finally get fit and lose the weight. Many are destined to fail, as we all know (or may have experienced ourselves), and one of the biggest reasons for failure is part-time dieting. Changing habits to eat less food is difficult, and people often succeed during the week only to come undone on the weekends with restaurant food, alcohol, and various social engagements. Santana offers some strategies to avoid the pitfall of part-time dieting. Weights & Plates: https://weightsandplates.com Robert Santana on I...2022-01-1457 minWeights and Plates PodcastSet Points: Weight Loss, Bodyfat, and Managing ExpectationsAnyone who has attempted to lose a significant amount of weight and/or body fat knows that the process is not linear. The first few pounds tend to come off easy, the next few require a little effort and attention to detail... and the last few can be very difficult to lose, depending on how lean you are trying to get. This phenomenon is known as the set point, and everyone has one -- a point at which further progress becomes exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, without chemical assistance. Understanding your set points is important to managing your expectations du...2021-12-271h 06Weights and Plates PodcastThe Importance of GPP and More Thoughts on MaintenanceIt's a busy time of the year. Thanksgiving just happened, and Christmas is upon us. While we are rushing to meet deadlines, wrap up projects for the year, buy gifts, and finalize travel plans, training often falls to the wayside. Sometimes all you can do is turn training into exercise, where the goal is simply to do some work and try to "maintain" (insofar as that is possible) what you have built during the year. By simplifying your lifting routine and some attention to your general fitness work, or General Physical Preparedness (GPP) as we sometimes call...2021-12-1147 minWeights and Plates PodcastThe Snacking ProblemIt's a modern phenomenon, perhaps the consequence of having an over-abundance of food in the Western world. We like to snack. And snacking often is the difference between gaining weight and losing weight, or maintaining weight. With a little attention and intention, however, you can stop snacking from killing your gains. Weights & Plates: https://weightsandplates.com Robert Santana on Instagram: @the_robert_santana Trent Jones: @marmalade_cream https://www.marmaladecream.com2021-11-291h 08Weights and Plates PodcastEating Out Without Busting Your DietIt's a fact of life in first-world countries: we eat out at restaurants, a lot. And we do it for a lot of reasons, besides the delicious food. Restaurants are social gathering places, places to blow off steam with friends after a busy week, to watch the game, or an experience to share with a significant other. Whatever the reason, eating out is a frequent experience for people. Weights & Plates: https://weightsandplates.com Robert Santana on Instagram: @the_robert_santana Trent Jones: @marmalade_cream https://www.marmaladecream.co...2021-11-121h 10Weights and Plates PodcastManaging Your Resources and Expectations: Intermediate/Advanced ProgrammingStarting Strength Coaches Robert Santana and Trent Jones introduce the concept of intermediate and advanced training, and what to expect as you navigate the vast waters of programming therein. Most importantly, as you move further down the road of training advancement, the more carefully you must manage your training time, recovery, and outside-the-gym factors to continue making progress. PR's no longer occur in a linear fashion, and training results become unpredictable. Welcome to intermediate and advanced programming! 2021-11-011h 14Weights and Plates PodcastWhen It Ends: What to Expect as a Post-Novice LifterMany people love the novice linear progression because of it's simplicity and the fast results it achieves for those who actually run it as written and do the things necessary for growth outside the gym (i.e. eating and sleeping). But all things must come to an end, including the novice phase of training. The world of intermediate and advanced training is a confusing and complex one, where many lifters spin their wheels without making much progress. To understand how to navigate this new phase of training, you'll need to know some basic principles of p...2021-10-151h 08Weights and Plates PodcastSugar: A Dietary Evil, or Just Misunderstood?Sugar has gotten a bad rap the over the last decade and counting, and it's still common to hear diet gurus excoriate the evils of sugar, particularly refined sugars found in processed food in the Western world. As Robert and Trent discuss, the role that sugar, and carbohydrates in general, play in the diet is often misunderstood. While it's common sense that one shouldn't drink a bunch of Cokes every day, many people laser focus on eliminating sugar from their diet, at the expense of missing the bigger macronutrient picture and the very important role that carbs play in...2021-10-011h 08Weights and Plates PodcastEverything You Need to Know about PROTEINIt's probably the most talked about macronutrient, and almost anyone you ask in health and fitness would say you need a lot of it -- protein. Nevertheless, many myths around protein consumption, timing, amino acid profile, and more still abound. Robert and Trent break down what you need to know about protein, how much you should be eating, and, perhaps most importantly, what you don't need to worry about! Weights & Plates: https://weightsandplates.com Robert Santana on Instagram: @the_robert_santana Trent Jones: @marmalade_cream https://www.mar...2021-09-0455 minWeights and Plates PodcastWhy "Maintenance" Is a MythThere's a notion among gym goers that one can simply train themselves to a certain level and then simply keep doing the same thing, workout after workout, to maintain what they have. This flies in the face of the principles of progressive overload, the Stress/Recovery/Adaptation cycle, and training in general, and has caused some confusion among people trying to achieve fitter, leaner bodies. In today's episode, Robert and Trent clear the air about the myth of "maintenance" and discuss why it's going to take hard effort and dedicated training -- not exercise -- for most people to a...2021-08-241h 02Weights and Plates PodcastHow to Program During a CutStarting Strength Coaches Robert Santana and Trent Jones discuss how to modify your programming during a cut. A cut implies that an athlete is in a caloric deficit to produce weight loss, and specifically body fat loss. Whenever you put yourself in a caloric deficit, you are essentially under-recovered, meaning that you have less ability to recover and adapt to intense training sessions in the gym. However, we still want to preserve muscle mass during the cut as much as possible. Consequently, most athletes will have to modify their programming to lower the intensity of t...2021-08-071h 02Weights and Plates PodcastStrength Training Is Not Fat Loss TrainingLet's be real. Most people come to the gym so they can look better naked. For many people -- the so-called "skinny fat" demographic -- that's going to mean gaining muscle mass to improve their figure and lower their body fat percentage. For others that are legitimately overweight or obese, a BMI over 30, they need to also lose bodyweight to reduce their adipose tissue. Strength training is a great start for those folks, but it's not the end, and they need to make dietary changes as well. Weights & Plates: https://weightsandplates.com Robert S...2021-07-2449 minWeights and Plates PodcastThe Danger in DIY: Why You Hire a Coach for Your FitnessRobert Santana and Trent Jones are no strangers to the DIY concept, and embrace the idea of learning and trying things for yourself. With any do-it-yourself endeavor, however, you're going to encounter a fair amount of mistakes and setbacks in the process of learning a new skill. Fitness is no exception, and while a few have successfully DIY'd themselves to a high level of fitness, most people fail to achieve their fitness goals, especially over a long period of time (how many people do you know that have lost a significant amount of weight, only to gain it back...2021-07-101h 10Weights and Plates PodcastYour Back Is Never Off the ClockRobert and Trent discuss the role of the back and the trunk musculature in lifting weights and in developing a good physique. As Robert says to all his clients, "your back is never off the clock!" The back and trunk (or core as many people are fond of calling it nowadays) comprise a large part of the body's muscle mass, and are perhaps the most important and least understood of the body's levers. Weights & Plates: https://weightsandplates.com Robert Santana on Instagram: @the_robert_santana Trent Jones: @marmalade_cream...2021-06-261h 16Weights and Plates Podcast#4 - Nutrition 101 for Training and Fat LossToday Robert and Trent demystify the nuts and bolts of nutrition for productive training, fat loss, and health. Weights & Plates: https://weightsandplates.com Robert Santana on Instagram: @the_robert_santana Trent Jones: @marmalade_cream https://www.marmaladecream.com2021-06-121h 05Weights and Plates PodcastWhy You Need to Lift Heavy: The Physiology of MuscleToday Robert and Trent discuss why you need to train for strength, and why your lifts MUST be heavy to build muscle mass. It's popular these days to train for "hypertrophy" -- the fancy term for increasing muscular size -- utilizing sets of 10-12 reps on a large variety of exercises, many of them single joint lifts such as curls, tricep extensions, and hamstring curls. The problem with this approach is that, for the vast majority of people, they do not do these exercises heavy enough to drive muscle growth, and they lack the strength to do them heavy...2021-05-281h 07Weights and Plates PodcastWhere Does Your Diet Information Come From? Context Is EverythingStarting Strength Coach and Registered Dietitian Robert Santana continues the introduction to Weights & Plates with a "plates" episode, this time about the source of your nutrition information. Where does it come from, and have you considered the source of your information? These days we are inundated with information about what we should eat and how we should train, from trainers, from celebrity actors and fitness models, from doctors, and doubly so on the internet! Often the information is conflicting, even though it's littered with verifiable facts. It's no surprise, then, that many people feel lost when it...2021-05-1440 minWeights and Plates PodcastBodybuilding Idols, Lifting Gurus, and Misinformation: Robert Santana Cuts Through the Fitness JungleStarting Strength Coach and Registered Dietitian Robert Santana kicks off the Weights and Plates Podcast with an episode charting his journey through the jungle of fitness and nutrition information. Though he's taken a number of wrong turns along the way, Robert's journey has taught him the value of some basic principles for fitness and body composition. Robert is joined on the podcast by Starting Strength Coach Trent Jones. First, those guys and girls on the fitness magazine covers that look "ripped" and "toned" have more muscle mass than you do, and they're probably stronger too. S...2021-04-221h 11Weights and Plates PodcastWelcome to Weights and Plates!Welcome to the Weights and Plates podcast! Starting Strength Coach and Registered Dietitian Robert Santana aims to bring you practical advice about dieting, nutrition, barbell training, and more based on his 17 years of experience. Life isn't a science experiment. Training and eating well doesn't have to be either! https://weightsandplates.com 2021-02-1901 min
Cornerstone of America#7 - Robert SantanaROBERT SANTANASPORT NUTRITION COACHRobert Santana is a Registered Dietitian and Starting Strength Coach who coaches clients in the greater Phoenix area. For the past 17 years Robert has developed and refined his knowledge, skills, and experiences through both higher education and practical experience. Robert holds both a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics and Master of Science in Kinesiology. He has extensive experiences as a teacher, nutrition coach, strength coach, and competitive lifter. He built upon his foundational knowledge by providing effective nutrition coaching in conjunction with teaching and coaching the barbell...2019-10-081h 18