Strength Changes Everything

• Listener Questions: Protein, BMI, and Bone Health Explained

  Are you sure you’re measuring your fitness the right way? If you had doubts about BMI, protein intake, or whether certain workouts are truly safe, this episode clears it all up. Today’s episode is a Q&A episode. Amy Hudson and Dr. James Fisher answer your questions across four different topics. They cover smarter ways to track progress, how much protein your body actually needs, the safety of strength training with osteoporosis, and why slow-motion training delivers powerful results. Tune in to learn how to track your success more effectively, fuel your body the right way, and train smarter for long-term strength and health. Question 1: What Metrics Should We Track for Exercising Success? Why BMI isn’t the best measure of success. Dr. Fisher explains that BMI is just height and weight—it doesn’t account for muscle mass. That’s why a “high” BMI might actually mean you’re stronger and healthier, not overweight. Dr. Fisher emphasizes that real progress comes from strength training, eating whole foods, and daily movement. When you focus on what you can control, the number on the scale becomes less important. Dr. Fisher reveals how bioelectrical impedance analysis goes beyond weight to measure fat mass and lean muscle. This gives a far clearer picture of your health than BMI or a simple scale ever could. Question 2: How Much Protein Do You Really Need? Why protein isn’t as risky as many think. Dr. Fisher explains that even at high intakes, there’s no solid evidence linking protein to kidney damage. The old warnings about bodybuilders “ruining their kidneys” simply don’t hold up. How protein works with strength training. Without resistance training, extra protein won’t build muscle. Dr. Fisher makes it clear that strength training is the real driver of growth—protein just fuels the process. Learn the smartest way to eat for strength. Amy and Dr. Fisher highlight the importance of whole proteins with essential amino acids.  When combined with consistent strength training, this creates the perfect formula for building strength and function. Question 3: Is the Exercise Coach Workout Safe for Osteoporosis? Dr. Fisher explains that whether it’s a dumbbell, a grocery bag, or a machine, your muscles only know they’re working. That means resistance is resistance—what matters is how it’s applied. How Exercise Coach makes workouts safer. Amy and Dr. Fisher describe how their exobotic machines control range of motion, eliminate the risk of dropped weights, and are supervised at all times. This creates one of the safest environments possible for anyone with osteopenia or osteoporosis. Learn the science behind the machines. Dr. Fisher reveals how isokinetic, computer-controlled movements keep every rep slow, consistent, and joint-friendly. That precision protects your bones while still pushing your muscles to adapt and grow. Question 4: What Is the Science of Slow-Motion Training? Why explosive movements fall short. Dr. Fisher explains that moving too quickly shifts the load to momentum instead of muscle. That not only reduces effectiveness but also increases the risk of injury. How slow motion maximizes muscle use. By removing momentum, every second of the movement keeps tension on the muscle. This creates a deeper, safer, and more effective workout. Amy shares the true benefit of slowing down. With slow-motion training, you don’t just get better results—you also reduce stress on your joints. That means you can build strength while protecting your long-term health.     Mentioned in This Episode: The Exercise Coach - Get 2 Free Sessions! Submit your questions at StrengthChangesEverything.com     This podcast and blog are provided to you for entertainment and informational purposes only. By accessing either, you agree that neither constitute medical advice nor should they be substituted for professional medical advice or care. Use of this podcast or blog to treat any medical condition is strictly prohibited. Consult your physician for any medical condition you may be having. In no event will any podcast or blog hosts, guests, or contributors, Exercise Coach USA, LLC, Gymbot LLC, any subsidiaries or affiliates of same, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, or agents, be responsible for any injury, loss, or damage to you or others due to any podcast or blog content.

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• Strength Training Can Lead to an Improvement in Quality of Life

  If you had to put a number on your happiness, energy, and overall well-being—what score would you give your life right now? In this episode, Amy Hudson and Dr. James Fisher dig into the science of quality of life—how researchers actually measure it, and why it’s about so much more than health stats or fitness levels. They reveal why building physical strength often leads to emotional freedom and how strength training improves mental health, social connection, and vitality. Tune in to learn how training your body can completely reshape the way you feel about your life. Amy shares her definition of quality of life. She looks beyond just physical health and considers energy, mood, and daily worries. The big question is: Am I happy—and could I be happier? Dr. Fisher explains how quality of life is measured. He breaks it down with short-form surveys like the SF-12 and SF-36 that ask people to rate their health on a simple scale from excellent to poor. The point is not the specific symptom—but your overall sense of well-being. Understand the broader meaning of quality of life. Dr. Fisher reveals it’s not only about physical health or ability to work—it’s also about mood, social connection, and everyday experiences.  Dr. Fisher shares: “How often during the past month have you felt so down in the dumps that nothing could cheer you up?” It’s a reminder that emotional health is central to quality of life. Amy and Dr. Fisher discuss how resistance training impacts your quality of life.  A 2019 systematic review of 16 studies showed that strength training consistently improved health-related quality of life in older adults. The benefits weren’t just physical metrics like cholesterol—they were about how people felt. Learn how resistance training changes perception. Participants filled out quality-of-life surveys before and after strength training interventions, and the results showed mental health, energy, and outlook improving. Dr. Fisher reveals how training affects mental and social well-being. Resistance training boosted emotional control, mental health, social function, and vitality scores.  According to Amy, people who engage in strength training don’t just get stronger—they become more energized, more social, and more alive. Understand the concept of emotional role function.  Amy and Dr. Fisher unpack how it reflects control over emotions and the ability to bounce back when life feels tough. Strength training plays a role in building this resilience. Dr. Fisher shares his personal perspective. When he strength trains, it’s a way to release stress, burn off anger, and reset emotionally. It’s not just exercise—it’s therapy for the mind. Amy explains how we experience the world depends on both our emotional and physical states. Strength training is a tool that improves both—leading to a richer, more positive quality of life. Amy and Dr. Fisher agree that resistance training can help us regulate emotions and reclaim a sense of freedom.  While we can’t control everything that happens to us, we can control how we respond.     Mentioned in This Episode: The Exercise Coach - Get 2 Free Sessions! Submit your questions at StrengthChangesEverything.com     This podcast and blog are provided to you for entertainment and informational purposes only. By accessing either, you agree that neither constitute medical advice nor should they be substituted for professional medical advice or care. Use of this podcast or blog to treat any medical condition is strictly prohibited. Consult your physician for any medical condition you may be having. In no event will any podcast or blog hosts, guests, or contributors, Exercise Coach USA, LLC, Gymbot LLC, any subsidiaries or affiliates of same, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, or agents, be responsible for any injury, loss, or damage to you or others due to any podcast or blog content.

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• Why Strength Training Is the Best Exercise For Your Arthritis

  What if you could keep your joints strong and pain-free for decades—without endless cardio or risky workouts? Amy Hudson and Dr. James Fisher continue their series on the benefits of strength training, breaking down the connection between osteoarthritis and strength training. They reveal how targeted strength work can reduce joint stress, slow degeneration, and even improve quality of life. Tune in to learn how strength training can protect your joints and keep you moving pain-free. Dr. Fisher starts by explaining what osteoarthritis really is--a degenerative joint disease where cartilage and bone break down over time.  That damage triggers pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility, often creating a vicious cycle where inactivity leads to weight gain, and extra weight adds even more stress to already struggling joints. Dr. Fisher highlights that every case is personal. No two people with osteoarthritis have the same symptoms, challenges, or lifestyle impact.  How to reduce your risk before it starts. Dr. Fisher points out that obesity is one of the strongest risk factors for knee osteoarthritis—and losing weight can dramatically lower that risk. Dr. Fisher explains how building muscle around the knee stabilizes it, making injuries less likely. Preventing that initial injury can mean delaying, or even avoiding, the onset of osteoarthritis. According to Dr. Fisher, strength training offloads the joints. By strengthening the muscles, you shift the workload from the skeletal system to the muscular system. This means less wear and tear on your joints and more support for pain-free movement. Amy and Dr. Fisher agree—our bodies aren’t meant to carry all the load on our skeletons. Skipping strength training leaves your joints taking on more stress than they should.  Dr. Fisher reveals research showing resistance exercise works. Studies confirm it can decrease pain, improve joint mechanics, and restore physical function. It’s a proven way to reclaim strength and confidence in movement, even with osteoarthritis. Learn why strength training beats repetitive cardio for joint safety. High-impact, repetitive movements—like running—can aggravate joint pain. Amy shares how people can stay active despite joint pain.  Many people write themselves off from activities of daily life, but working with an exercise coach using slow, controlled muscle loading can fortify joints without causing irritation.  Dr. Fisher breaks down a study showing long-term benefits of strength training.  Amy and Dr. Fisher explain how resistance training has been shown to improve strength while reducing self-reported pain levels in osteoarthritis patients. The physical improvements often lead to greater confidence and quality of life. Dr. Fisher warns that degenerative conditions won’t resolve on their own. Without action, osteoarthritis like prediabetes or prehypertension, often progresses. Taking steps to improve strength and joint health now can slow or even stop that downward spiral.     Mentioned in This Episode: The Exercise Coach - Get 2 Free Sessions! Submit your questions at StrengthChangesEverything.com     This podcast and blog are provided to you for entertainment and informational purposes only. By accessing either, you agree that neither constitute medical advice nor should they be substituted for professional medical advice or care. Use of this podcast or blog to treat any medical condition is strictly prohibited. Consult your physician for any medical condition you may be having. In no event will any podcast or blog hosts, guests, or contributors, Exercise Coach USA, LLC, Gymbot LLC, any subsidiaries or affiliates of same, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, or agents, be responsible for any injury, loss, or damage to you or others due to any podcast or blog content.

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• What the Science Says About How Strength Training Can Prevent and Reverse Diabetes

  Did you know strength training can do more for type 2 diabetes than medication ever could? Amy Hudson and Dr. James Fisher continue their series on the benefits of strength training and reveal how powerful it can be for managing—and even reversing—type 2 diabetes. They break down why excess sugar builds up in the bloodstream, how your muscles play a critical role in blood sugar control, and what kind of training yields real, measurable results—without needing extreme diets. If you—or someone you know—is dealing with type 2 diabetes, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Dr. Fisher defines type 2 diabetes: it’s a condition where the body becomes unresponsive to insulin, leaving glucose floating in the bloodstream instead of being stored and used properly. Dr. Fisher breaks down how insulin resistance begins. When your body stops reacting to insulin’s signal to store sugar, it starts a cascade of health issues that lead to type 2 diabetes. According to Dr. Fisher, over 422 million people worldwide have diabetes, and the disease causes at least 1.5 million deaths every year. Dr. Fisher highlights how diabetes is largely lifestyle-driven. That means many cases are preventable or reversible with the right habits—especially consistent exercise and dietary awareness. Amy poses the big question: Is sugar intake or lack of exercise the real issue? Dr. Fisher explains that both matter—but without regular movement, even a modest diet can lead to sugar overload and poor glucose control. If you're not actively burning glucose through movement, even a “normal” Western diet is likely giving you far more sugar than your body can handle. Strength training is a powerful tool against diabetes. Studies show it reduces waist size, body fat, blood pressure, cholesterol, and most importantly, HbA1C—the key marker of blood sugar control. Amy reminds us that it’s easy to believe you need drugs or extreme diets, but strength training alone can help manage your blood sugar levels. Dr. Fisher outlines the most effective approach to strength training. The best results came from lifting moderate to heavy weights (over 60% of one-rep max) with high effort, two to three times per week. Why intensity matters more than duration. You don’t need long workouts—you need focused, high-effort sessions that push your muscles to adapt and grow stronger. Amy makes an encouraging observation about habit stacking. When people begin exercising, they often naturally start eating better, sleeping more, and making other healthy choices. Dr. Fisher shares results from a large meta-analysis covering 1,100 people. The most impactful programs were progressive—meaning the weight and difficulty increased over time, keeping the body challenged. Why working with a personal trainer or a supervisor can accelerate your progress. Supervised sessions ensure your workouts are safe, structured, and progressively harder. The academic consensus is crystal clear. Strength training helps regulate blood sugar, reduce HbA1C, improve insulin sensitivity, and may even reverse type 2 diabetes in certain cases. Amy offers a compelling reason to start now. Even if you're healthy, strength training provides peace of mind that you’re protecting yourself against future metabolic diseases. Dr. Fisher shares his 80/20 approach to eating. He focuses on clean, whole foods 80% of the time and gives himself the freedom to enjoy things like cookies and chips without guilt the other 20%. Amy reminds us that healthy living isn’t about being flawless—it’s about staying consistent and doing your best most of the time, even if you stumble occasionally.     Mentioned in This Episode: The Exercise Coach - Get 2 Free Sessions! Submit your questions at StrengthChangesEverything.com     This podcast and blog are provided to you for entertainment and informational purposes only. By accessing either, you agree that neither constitute medical advice nor should they be substituted for professional medical advice or care. Use of this podcast or blog to treat any medical condition is strictly prohibited. Consult your physician for any medical condition you may be having. In no event will any podcast or blog hosts, guests, or contributors, Exercise Coach USA, LLC, Gymbot LLC, any subsidiaries or affiliates of same, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, or agents, be responsible for any injury, loss, or damage to you or others due to any podcast or blog content.

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• The Best Exercises to Lower Cholesterol – The Science Behind Strength Training

  We’ve been told to run, bike, and diet our way to lower cholesterol, but what if the real game changer is strength training? In this episode, Amy Hudson and Dr. James Fisher unpack the science behind resistance training and why it might be the best exercise to lower cholesterol. They explore what research actually says about lifting weights, LDL reduction, and long-term heart health — and why it might be time to rethink your approach to fitness. Dr. Fisher defines cholesterol--a waxy, hormone-like substance that your body produces and regulates on its own. While it often gets labeled as “bad,” it plays vital roles in hormone production and cell health. Dr. Fisher highlights that what we call “cholesterol” is actually carried in the blood by lipoproteins. LDL (low-density lipoproteins) can clog arteries, while HDL (high-density lipoproteins) helps remove excess cholesterol from the bloodstream. Amy breaks down how LDL is considered the “bad” cholesterol because it can harden and narrow artery walls. In contrast, HDL acts like a cleanup crew, carrying unused cholesterol back to the liver to be broken down or reused. Dr. Fisher discusses a meta-analysis of 69 studies involving over 2,000 people that showed consistent benefits from strength training. Participants saw reductions in total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides, along with increases in HDL and adiponectin levels. Amy points out that participants who strength trained saw an average drop in total cholesterol of about 8.5 mg/dL. That’s a significant improvement — and it didn’t require any changes to diet. Dr. Fisher emphasizes that these changes happened independently of calorie restriction or food tracking. Amy and Dr. Fisher explain that the cholesterol-lowering effects of strength training were consistent, whether people trained once, twice, or three times a week. Frequency mattered less than simply doing the work. Dr. Fisher breaks down one individual study in the meta-analysis that used six months of full-body strength training. The results showed reduced fat mass, decreased LDL, and increased HDL — all strong markers of better metabolic health. The cholesterol improvements were not just a side effect of losing weight or fat. The act of strength training alone led to these changes, regardless of body composition. Amy challenges the common belief that cholesterol is only affected by food or medication. The data shows strength training is a powerful, underused tool to shift your numbers naturally. Learn how strength training offers more than just physical benefits — it’s also a stress reliever. Pushing through a high-effort workout helps unload mental baggage, too. Amy and Dr. Fisher explore how dietary choices still matter — and discuss how eggs, red meat, and even wine influence cholesterol levels. They encourage variety and moderation over strict elimination. Dr. Fisher advises people to “eat the rainbow,” meaning to include colorful, nutrient-dense foods in your diet. He cautions that many Western diets are too dominated by fried and processed foods — and lack the diversity our bodies need. Amy and Dr. Fisher conclude that combining smart dietary choices with consistent strength training may be one of the most effective ways to lower cholesterol naturally.     Mentioned in This Episode: The Exercise Coach - Get 2 Free Sessions! Submit your questions at StrengthChangesEverything.com Previous episode - Why Most People Fail in the Gym (And How Supervision With a Personal Trainer Can Help)     This podcast and blog are provided to you for entertainment and informational purposes only. By accessing either, you agree that neither constitute medical advice nor should they be substituted for professional medical advice or care. Use of this podcast or blog to treat any medical condition is strictly prohibited. Consult your physician for any medical condition you may be having. In no event will any podcast or blog hosts, guests, or contributors, Exercise Coach USA, LLC, Gymbot LLC, any subsidiaries or affiliates of same, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, or agents, be responsible for any injury, loss, or damage to you or others due to any podcast or blog content.

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