Barbell Shrugged

Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple on Instagram

[Female Strength Training] New Science on Strength Training Around Your Menstrual Cycle w/ Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple, Anders Varner, and Doug Larson #709 Aug 23, 2023

Show notes

[Female Strength Training] New Science on Strength Training Around Your Menstrual Cycle w/ Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple, Anders Varner, and Doug Larson #709

Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple is a Ph.D. candidate at McMaster University with a research focus on exercise physiology and endocrinology, sex-based differences and mechanisms of muscle growth.

She is also a seasoned fitness professional with years of practical experience and certifications in strength & conditioning, sports nutrition, group fitness, and personal training.

Dr. Greg Potter on Instagram

[Circadian Rhythm] How to Optimize Your Internal Sleep Clock w/ Dr. Greg Potter, Anders Varner, and Doug Larson #708 Aug 16, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Potter values helping people feel great and do good.

He knows how hard it can be to thrive nowadays, and lots of us try our best to understand what we should be doing to look better, perform at a high level, and be happy and well.

But, achieving this is often elusive, for many aspects of modern life — grueling work schedules, fast food, physical inactivity, social isolation, pollution and so on — are at odds with the behaviors and conditions our bodies need to function optimally.

Let's be honest: There's a lot of nonsense about health out there too!

Dr. Potter helps empower people to make simple and sustainable lifestyle changes that add years to their lives and life to their years.

To this end, here are some of his qualifications:

He did my undergraduate and master's degrees in exercise science at Loughborough University

His PhD research at the University of Leeds focused on sleep, circadian rhythms, nutrition, and metabolism.

He is qualified as a personal trainer and sports massage therapist and have worked as a coach for over a decade..

Andrew Triana on Instagram

[Super Brain] How to Understand Your Brain Better w/ Andy Triana, Dan Garner, Anders Varner, and Doug Larson #707 Aug 09, 2023

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Andrew Triana content provider for Muscle & Fitness, Rebel Performance, founder of TPV, Allostatic Labs, and most notably, an extremist.

"Coach Andy" and "Athlete Andy" reside on polar opposite personality spectrums.

"Athlete Andy" has competed from 175lbs to heavyweight with standout performances in multiple weight classes, known for intensity and his ability to perform.

"Coach Andy" is a frighteningly well studied specific preparation specialist who prides himself on logic and long term development. Encompassing a unique lens and authentic passion, Andy hope to share his concepts with the performance community over time.

To learn more, please visit rapidhealthreport.com to see Dr. Andy Galpin and Dan Garner do a free lab, lifestyle, and performance analysis.

Download Andy Triana's Nootropics eBook

[Ketones] How to Use Exogenous Ketones to Improve Cognitive and Athletic Performance w/ Dr. Latt Mansor, Dan Garner, Anders Varner, and Doug Larson #706 Aug 02, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Latt Mansor holds a PhD in Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics from the University of Oxford, where his research focused on the metabolism of the type 2 diabetic heart in hypoxia.

He also holds an M.A. (Columbia University) and B.Sc. (Hons) (University of Nottingham) in Biotechnology. He is a world expert in physiology and metabolism, and consults with elite sport, military, clinical and research organizations.

His interest in diabetes and cardiovascular disease stemmed from the high prevalence of those diseases in both his parents' families.

He then developed interests in metabolism and exercise during his undergraduate years as he created a mathematical model of adipose tissue (fat) metabolism for his final year project. He then researched using exercise as an intervention for sarcopenia, muscle loss due to aging, for his Master's thesis.

Along his journey of acquiring more knowledge on metabolic health and physiology, he started applying his findings in his daily life to strive for better health and to prove that genetic disposition to chronic diseases is not the entire equation. Epigenetics and lifestyle choices have been proven to change the trajectory of disease progression or in some cases, even reverse it!

To learn more, please visit rapidhealthreport.com to see Dr. Andy Galpin and Dan Garner do a free lab, lifestyle, and performance analysis.

Latt Mansor on Instagram

[Blood Work] High Performance Blood Chemistry w/ Dan Garner, Anders Varner, and Doug Larson #705 Jul 26, 2023

Show notes

In today's episode of Barbell Shrugged Dan Garner dives into how you can start to analyze your yearly bloodwork for performance.

Standard blood tests can be ordered around the globe, in every country, and are the gold standard for understanding basic health.

The normal reference ranges, however, are not giving you the answers you are looking for when it come to optimizing your health and performance.

In this episode you will learn:

What's the mindset/philosophy of looking at bloodwork for performance if it's classically a health screen?

Generally speaking, energy is what every performer needs regardless of their pursuit. How can one look at bloodwork to improve their energy levels?

Electrolytes come on every panel, can these be used to look at hydration and performance?

You've talked a bunch about the immune system in past podcasts so I'm wondering what a basic blood panel can tell us about the current state of our immunity?

What general recommendations do you have in terms of preparation so when someone gets their blood draw they can ensure it's accurate?

To learn more, please visit rapidhealthreport.com to see Dr. Andy Galpin and Dan Garner do a free lab, lifestyle, and performance analysis.

Louisa Nicola on Instagram

Neuro Athletics: The Intersection of Neuroscience and Performance w/ Louisa Nicola, Anders Varner, and Doug Larson #704 Jul 19, 2023

Show notes

Louisa leverages her experience as a neurophysiologist and professional triathlete to not only teach but inspire your audience to perform like an athlete.

By using science-driven data from EEG scans, labs tests and cognitive assessments, Louisa has a first class ticket inside the brain of elite NBA, MLB and NFL stars as well as Wall Street's biggest Hedge funds and portfolio managers.

9 years ago, Louisa was training to go to the Olympics (representing Australia in the triathlon), when she was hit by a car and suffered seemingly insurmountable injuries.

Desperate to accelerate her recovery, Louisa integrated brain training into her physiology regime and was able to make a near-miraculous recovery to not only go to the Auckland World Championship series, but place 13th in the triathlon.

Louisa has since helped so many elite performers become the top 1% in their field by leveraging neuroscience, exercise physiology, and biomedical services. Louisa has successfully given her signature talk "Perform like an athlete" to the head of sales at IBM, Salesforce and Google, etc.

Louisa graduated from the University of Sydney medical school with a master of medicine in neurophysiology and is currently completing her doctorate under the guidance of Dr Tommy Wood at UW, studying the effects of resistance exercise on the brain. She is on the scientific advisory board of Tonal, Klora and Momentous.

Work with Louisa Nicola

Allison Brager on Instagram

The Science of Sleep and Recovery w/ Dr. Allison Brager, Anders Varner, and Doug Larson #703 Jul 12, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Brager is a subject matter expert in behavioral genetics, sleep, and biological rhythms research.

She is passionate about discovering new factors that promote resilience in extreme environments, particularly for military personnel. She also serves on the NCAA task force for mental health and sleep, contributing to the first edition of the NCAA student-athlete mental health handbook.

She is author of Meathead: Unraveling the Athletic Brain, which debunks the myth of the 'dumb jock' and serves as a performance manual for functional athletes.

Outside of the laboratory, Allison was a two-time CrossFit Games (team) athlete, a two-time CrossFit Regionals (individual) athlete, and a four-year varsity NCAA Division I athlete in track and field. Dr. Brager has an Sc.B. in Psychology from Brown University and a Ph.D. in Physiology from Kent State University.

Coach PJ Nestler on Instagram

Optimizing Performance Using the Power of Heat, Cold, and Breath Work w/ Coach PJ Nestler Anders Varner, and Doug Larson #702 Jul 05, 2023

Show notes

Coach PJ Nestler, the Director of Performance at XPT and Fitlab.

Is a human performance specialist with over a decade of experience preparing top athletes for competition. His life mission is to help athletes and coaches realize their true potential.

With a passion for sports and a commitment to excellence, PJ has become a leader in sports performance training.

He has trained dozens of athletes from the NFL, NHL and MLB and has worked extensively with over 100 fighters, including multiple Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champions and Top 10 ranked UFC fighters.

Through the application of his progressive training philosophy and unique approach to every situation, Coach PJ continues to raise the bar for fitness professionals.

He has emerged as a sought-after expert in human performance and trainer education. We couldn't be more thrilled to have him on the XPT team, as the new Director of Performance!

[L-Carnitine] Protocols to Improve Heart Health, Performance, and Turn Fat into Energy w/ Anders Varner, Doug Larson, and Dan Garner #701 Jun 28, 2023

Show notes

L-Carnitine is a naturally occurring amino acid derivative that plays a crucial role in energy metabolism within the human body.

It is synthesized in the liver and kidneys from the amino acids lysine and methionine. L-Carnitine is primarily involved in the transport of long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria, the energy-producing organelles within cells, where they can be oxidized to generate ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the body's main energy currency.

Here are some key aspects and functions of L-Carnitine:

Energy production: L-Carnitine facilitates the transport of fatty acids into the mitochondria, enabling their breakdown and subsequent conversion into ATP. This process is essential for maintaining energy levels throughout the body.
Fat metabolism: By aiding in the utilization of fatty acids as an energy source, L-Carnitine contributes to fat metabolism and can potentially support weight management and fat loss efforts.
Exercise performance: L-Carnitine has been studied for its potential benefits in enhancing exercise performance. It may help improve endurance, reduce muscle damage, and enhance recovery by optimizing energy utilization during physical activity.
Heart health: L-Carnitine plays a crucial role in maintaining cardiovascular health. It assists in the transport of fatty acids to the heart muscle, providing a valuable energy source. L-Carnitine supplementation has been studied for its potential benefits in various cardiac conditions, including heart failure and angina.
Brain function: L-Carnitine is involved in maintaining healthy brain function. It can cross the blood-brain barrier and acts as a neuroprotective agent, potentially supporting cognitive health and neurological well-being.