Show Notes
In Episode 58 of Front Page Fitness, Eric Trexler and Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple break down the latest health and fitness headlines and answer listener questions. They unpack why "build muscle in a month" marketing sets beginners up for disappointment, why the fear of yo-yo dieting wrecking your metabolism is overstated (the real harms are more psychological than physiological), and where the truth lies in the ongoing "protein wars" over how much you actually need (with the reminder that training, not protein, drives muscle growth). They also dig into the surprising power of the placebo effect through the lens of peptides and steroid research, then close with practical advice on training around 24-hour shift work and prepping for a 161-mile trail hike.
Join us for a future episode on Mondays at 5:30 pm eastern time!
Front Page Fitness is proudly presented by the MASS Research Review. Mostly because Lauren and Eric co-own it.
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Chapters 0:00 Intro 2:59 This month in the MASS Research Review 4:47 Headline: "How to build muscle in a month" and the quick-fix problem 11:13 Headline: does yo-yo dieting really wreck your metabolism? 20:53 The Protein Wars: how much do you actually need? 36:21 Placebo effects & peptides 52:06 Listener Q: training around shift work 57:19 Listener Q: prepping for a 161-mile trail hike 1:03:47 Wrapping up
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Trexler and Lauren open with the White Monster Americano and a riff on navigating international coffee vocabulary. From there into the headlines: Shane Gillis’s SNL gym joke and a discussion of gym attire and etiquette; the “ZYN-ification of wellness” and the wave of caffeine, melatonin, vitamin, and even teeth-whitening pouches, and whether the delivery format does anything; a New York Post “30-second arm curl test” said to predict how well you’ll age; and a longer segment on whether Smith machine squats are dangerous, prompted by a viral post about an IFBB pro’s spinal cord injury, which rolls into a listener question about buttwink — what it is and when it actually matters — before they wrap up.
Welcome to a (rare) pre-recorded episode of FPF! We'll be back to live episodes starting next week - Wednesday, Oct 14 at 5:30 pm eastern time.
In today’s episode, Drs Eric Trexler and Lauren Colenso-Semple tackle a mix of fitness and wellness claims. They start with a myth-busting look at “runner’s waist” and why running won’t accidentally build bulky obliques. They then unpack misleading muscle-versus-fat health messaging, explain why smartwatch calorie-burn estimates aren’t useful for guiding diet decisions, and take a nuanced look at ashwagandha, covering the evidence, supplement quality, possible interactions, and liver-safety concerns.
Today's episode outline was generated (almost) entirely by listeners. Topics include the first new cat species in over a century, new words added to the dictionary, a particularly gross controversy in Hyrox, more drivel about micromanaging blood glucose, updated testosterone screening guidelines in the US Military, a question about weight gain during vacation, and much more.Join us for a live recording of Front Page Fitness at 5:30 pm eastern time!Front Page Fitness is proudly presented by the MASS Research Reviewmassresearchreview.comChapters00:00 Intro02:02 New words in the dictionary06:57 Discovery of a new wild cat species in Bolivia14:16 Fecal controversy in Hyrox30:18 Reversing pre-diabetes during menopause44:37 Pentagon's new guidelines on testosterone screening55:07 Listener question about vacation weight gain
Today's opening chatter is all about lobster rolls. After that, Lauren and Eric get into this week's headlines. They start with a National Geographic piece on seven science-backed ways to curb appetite without weight-loss drugs, working through the individual tips and the "glucose goddess" framing of natural GLP-1 claims, fiber, and ultra-processed foods. That leads into a broader conversation about the longevity and "optimization" content culture. Two walking headlines follow: one on a walking habit said to boost longevity, and one on the "lymphatic walking" trend and claims about flushing toxins. A listener question from CJ covers the U.S. Army's switch from height-to-weight tables to a waist-to-height ratio for body composition, and its new Army Fitness Test (deadlift, hand-release push-ups, sprint-drag-carry, plank, two-mile run). They close with a listener question from Nicole on the minimum weekly cardio and strength needed to stay healthy on a tight schedule.