Strong & Simple Podcast

In this episode of Strong and Simple Podcast, Michelle and Marissa have the great pleasure to chat with Casey Westbrook (she/her) a strength and conditioning coach for women who love the outdoors, adventure, and recreational sports!  During the episode they dig into many topics including: Finding a fresh start with a new sport after an injury What is mountain biking and how to get started in...

A very common question Michelle receives from folks is "how do I know when it's time to increase the weight I'm using for an exercise?" In this mini-side, she answers this question and chats about: What is progressive overload? What is RPE? What does "reps in reserve mean? Other ways to measure progress than an increase in weight Want more information about some of the other topics discussed in th...

Collagen has had a huge rise in popularity over the past few years: is it really all that?  Should you be supplementing with collagen? In this episode we discuss: What is collagen? What collagen does for our bodies. Different forms of collagen. If bone broth is really the bees knees or overrated How to find a quality supplement if you choose to supplement with collagen.

What is a calorie? How do we use them? What are the biggest calorie-burners we do as humans? What is a calorie deficit and how long is it OK to be in one? Marissa answers your burning questions about calories in this week's minisode!

Michelle and Marissa dive into this controversy-riddled MLM covering their products, business models, and multitudinous lawsuits. They cover the questionable ingredients of Herbalife products, the health issues they've been linked to, the accusations the company has faced of being an illegal pyramid scheme, and how they have evolved over the years. This is a truly a what-you-need-to-know episode!

If you are looking to start strength training but are overwhelmed by all the options and suggestions and advice out there, tune into to today's episode where Michelle walks us through 10 tips to get started!  If you are seeking a structured program designed specifically for beginners facilitated by 2 highly qualified coaches, then you are in double luck because Fitness Academy for Beginners w...

Michelle and Marissa chat about trends they have been finding on Tik Tok and other social media apps and discuss if they "smash or pass" on them and why.  Some of these trends are relatively newish and others are remakes of the same old diet culture that's been floating around for years! In this episode we discuss: Is cottage cheese having a cauliflower moment or are we trying to make fetch h...

Happy Valentine's Day!  Is there really anything better to chat about today than heart health? 💜 In this episode, Michelle discusses: Signs of a Heart Attack Signs of a Stroke Ways to decrease your risk of a heart attack or stroke  Recommended weekly amounts for physical activity What is RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion) for Aerobic Activity and how to use it Always be sure to consult wi...

You've probably heard the ads for Noom, a weight loss app that proclaims to be not a diet.  An app that uses "science and personalization to help you lose weight and keep it off for good."  Maybe you've wondered what makes them different but you go to the website and can't actually find much out - unless you take their "get started quiz." Well, Michelle did the work for you.  She to...

Diet culture has gone wild this week...again. Marissa talks about the disgusting TikTok she saw this week and shares some better, more delicious ways to get some solid protein in at breakfast. 

While we work on a really episode detailing Michelle's experience "undercover" using a popular diet app! In the meantime, we suggest you listen to some of our earlier episodes you may have missed!

If your workouts are feeling too easy or if you stop feeling and seeing progress, you might not be challenging your muscles enough any more to get stronger and build muscle.  Your first impulse is to increase the amount of weight you are using.  If you are working out at home or if the gym is busier than usual, you might not have access to weights that are challenging enough to meet your...

In a fitness world that aims to make movement more complicated than it needs to be, Coach Marjorie Francis strives to simplify it while making it more accessible for her 9 to 5 crew!  In this episode we chat: Simple ways for folks who are short on time to incorporate more movement into their lives MJ's love for kettlebells  The joy of learning new things How getting back to basics with m...

In this week's minisode, Marissa dissects a video trend making its way around social media where trainers claim training your obliques will make you "wider." Is this really true? Why is advice like this problematic and counterproductive? What are some red flags to look out for from social media trainers?

Hey friends! It's January and the diet ads and mlm huns are hitting the ground HARD this season!  One diet/mulit-level marketing company that is creeping out and about on social media right now is Optavia - you may have seen folks you know posting about this or even sliding into your DMs with promises of fast weight loss! Because of this, we felt like this episode (previously 5 from August 20...

Content warning: Discussion of calories and calorie manipulation in this episode as well as weight loss Over the past few years, there’s been quite a bit of buzz around counting macros and how this is a non-diet, non-restrictive solution for weight loss.  So you might be asking yourself, is this method of tracking something I should do and try? To help you answer this for yourself, Michelle a...

This episode was originally recorded as a YouTube video which can be found on the Straight Up Strong YouTube channel as of 1/17/2023.  Some parts of this episode might be better illustrated in the video format so tune in over there if it's most helpful or for a double dipping of knowledge!  ---------- What is RPE? What is RPE in relation to strength training? Why might we want to know ab...

We've all heard it - from the media, from our parents, even from health practitioners. But is breakfast really the most important meal of the day? Where did this idea even come from? Marissa breaks down where we got this notion from and whether or not it's actually true. Does eating breakfast really ensure lower body weight or better health outcomes? Could skipping breakfast be bad for your health...

In this episode, Michelle and Marissa break down what they think will be trends in the wellness and diet industries in the new year. From weight loss drugs to sneaky marketing to new diets, they break down what you need to know about them. Not to be Negative Nancy's, they also share what they are excited for in the new year and catch up a bit on the shenanigans that have been going on since the ho...

Happy New Year, Strong and Simple fam!  Are you someone who is pro new year' resolutions or do you think they are waste a time?  Maybe your opinion falls somewhere in the middle?  Where ever you fall, there might be a better way to frame resolution making - and it's not necessarily a do it or don't do it conversation! In this mini-side, Michelle discusses her method for creating goa...

Well, we had different content planned for this episode but we digressed...a lot... and kept it as our episode this week. But hey! It's fun! This is our last episode for 2022 and we are recounting some of our favorite moments and episodes. 

In Michelle's weekly email Strong Sunday Newsletter that she sends with her co-coach and partner for Straight Up Strong , Tina Tang (check Tina out in Episode 7!) Tina sent out an email titled "you must do this to age healthy" that really resonated with folks. In this episode, Michelle chats about how fitness and nutrition and health messaging, especially on social media, can feel overwhelming and...

Are you feeling overwhelmed and unmotivated to do the things that you love doing?  These might be signs of burnout.  While the symptoms and signs of burn out can vary from individual to individual and even in various instances for the same person, there are some common signs and also some simple ways to nourish ourselves, mind, body and spirit to help us come back from burn out and preve...

Have you ever been to a gym and seen folks lifting  barefoot or watched a YouTube video or instagram video and someone was training with bare feet and wondered why someone would decide to go without shoes for strength training?   In this mini-side, Michelle highlights the ways training barefoot is amazing - why you should consider taking off your shoes to strength train and tips to get s...

Not sure what to give a friend or family member who loves fitness this holiday season?  Be sure to tune into this episode for Michelle and Marissa's top 10 (and some bonus ideas!) non-diet fitness, wellness, and nutrition to give this year! Hear something you'd love to receive? Send this episode to your loved ones as a gentle hint for ideas for your wishlist! Happy gift giving!  ------ W...