Fitness Stuff (for normal people)

Today’s episode of Fitness Stuff for Normal People breaks down five of the most misunderstood topics in health and fitness and the myths that refuse to die. Sugar, inflammation, fat loss, cortisol, and seed oils are some of the most talked about topics in the space, yet they’re still widely misunderstood. Marianna and Tony walk through the research, clear up common confusion, and explain what’s re...

Welcome back to Fitness Stuff for Normal People. Today’s episode is a split. First, Marianna and Tony break down what actually separates training for strength from training for size, and how dialing in the right approach can change your progress entirely. Then we move into why “skinny” isn’t the goal, and what real health looks like when you zoom out past aesthetics. Consider this a reset for both...

Your mind can literally change your body just by believing something will work. In this episode Tony and Marianna break down the placebo and nocebo effects and how your thoughts alone can shape pain hormones recovery and performance. They dig into the science in a way that actually makes sense talk through real examples and share how to apply it to your own training and health. Join the Fitness St...

Everyone online’s talking about “gut health,” but no one seems to agree on what it actually means. Marianna and Tony break down the science in plain English, explaining what your microbiome does, how it connects to your brain, and what really impacts your digestion and mood. They cover everything from fiber and probiotics to processed foods and the truth about “leaky gut” and gut health tests. No...

Most people spend way too much time trying to find the perfect workout split, but the name of your split isn’t what builds muscle. The real progress comes from the inputs you put in each week. In this episode, Marianna and Tony break down how to choose the right training split for you based on your goals, schedule, and recovery. You’ll learn how to line up your volume, frequency, and intensity so...

Everyone says to eat clean, but what does that actually mean? No sugar, no bread, no processed food? Clean eating sounds healthy, but it’s one of the biggest reasons people fail their diets. In this episode, Marianna and Tony break down why that happens and what the research actually shows about long-term nutrition and real, sustainable progress. They unpack the five biggest problems with clean ea...

In this episode, Tony sits down with Michael Smoak (better known online as HigherUpWellness ) to unpack what it really means to communicate better . They talk about why most people struggle to express themselves clearly, how to get your point across without over-explaining, and what makes people actually listen . Michael shares the story behind his viral “HigherUp Speaking Challenge” and how it’s...

Nicotine without the smoke. Food addiction without the diagnosis. On this episode of Fitness Stuff for Normal People, Marianna and Tony unpack what the research really shows when you separate nicotine from cigarettes and vaping, from sharper focus to appetite changes. Then they take on the science of food addiction, a brain hijack that in some cases can be even more powerful than drugs, and open t...

Welcome back to Microdose Monday, the series where Tony and Marianna stack smaller topics into one jam-packed episode. Today’s lineup covers the truth about muscle memory and how fast you can really bounce back, a six-month sugar study that busts the cravings myth, the largest metabolism study ever showing no real slowdown from your 20s to 50s, and a candid look at kids’ health policy. Quick, shar...

On this episode of Fitness Stuff, hosts Tony and Marianna break down the top 5 best and worst supplements, separating what is backed by research from what is pure hype. They dig into whey protein, creatine, magnesium, vitamin D, fish oil, and more to show which supplements actually deliver results, while also exposing the ones that fall flat like fat burners, detoxes, and overpriced greens powders...

Working out is tough, but it’s even tougher when the things you’re doing in the gym are holding you back. In this episode of Fitness Stuff for Normal People, Marianna and Tony go through the top mistakes most people make when training. From rest times to tracking your lifts, these are the small details that can completely change your progress. Whether you’re brand new or years into lifting, catchi...

What if everything you thought you knew about skincare, acne, anti-aging, and hair loss was either outdated (or just plain wrong?) In today’s solo-hosted episode of The Fitness Stuff (for Normal People) , Tony sits down with Carter Gottlieb (aka Eviba Carter ): cosmetic chemist, MD/PhD candidate, Chief Product Officer at HelloSkin, and one of the most respected voices in the skincare science world...

This week on Fitness Stuff for Normal People, Marianna and Tony flip the script on progress in the gym by breaking down the one thing most people overlook: recovery. You don’t get stronger while you’re lifting, the real growth happens in the hours and days after when your body is given the chance to heal. From the second you rack the last rep to how you sleep two nights later, they walk through th...

This week on Fitness Stuff for Normal People, Marianna and Tony are switching things up with the very first SPLIT episode. First, they break down why the painkillers so many of us reach for after a tough workout—ibuprofen, Advil, Tylenol—might actually be stalling your progress and quietly adding long-term health risks. Then they move into the truth about THC and whether it’s really helping or hur...

It’s Micro-Dose Monday on Fitness Stuff for Normal People where instead of diving deep on just one topic we’re serving up four quick hits you’ve been asking for. Today Marianna and Tony are talking about why you can’t trust calorie trackers and the research that proves it, the truth about plant vs. animal protein quality and why Marianna’s opinion has shifted, the FDA’s new rules for what can lega...

If you're ready to make real, lasting changes in your life, it’s not about what you do once in a while. It’s about what you do every day. In this episode of Fitness Stuff for Normal People, Marianna and Tony share the top habits they’ve added into their routines that changed everything. No trends, no fluff. Just simple, sustainable shifts that actually made a difference. These are the habits t...

Half the world will experience a mental health disorder at some point, and what you eat could be making a bigger difference than you think. This week, we're diving deep into the science behind food and mood—how nutrients affect your brain, your stress response, and your overall mental state. We cover everything from neurotransmitters and inflammation to omega-3s, dietary patterns, and why dive...

In this episode of Fitness Stuff (For Normal People), Marianna and Tony dive into the wild world of peptides—what they are, what they’re supposed to do, and which ones are actually worth your time. They cover the big claims around fat loss, muscle growth, brain power, and faster recovery, breaking down the science in a way that actually makes sense. No gatekeeping, no BS—just straight talk on what...

Welcome back to Fitness Stuff for Normal People. It’s Micro-Dose Monday, where Marianna and Tony cover a few of the most popular topics you’ve been asking about—all in one episode. No deep dive this time, just quick hits of the stuff everyone’s curious about. This week, they’re breaking down how your metabolism adapts when you’re in a calorie deficit, a new study on omega-6 seed oils and inflammat...

If you care about living longer and better—this episode is for you. Today, we’re breaking down the 10 most important health metric s every person should be tracking for longevity, backed by research that ties each one to actual lifespan. No fluff—just the hard-hitting stuff that helps you live longer, move better, and feel more like yourself for years to come. Covering resting heart rate, grip str...

If it fits your macros, you’re tracking calories, protein, carbs, and fat. But what about everything else your body needs to feel good? In this episode of Fitness Stuff for Normal People, we’re diving deep into the other side of nutrition: Micronutrients. These are the vitamins, minerals, and lesser-known essentials that won’t directly change your weight, but absolutely impact your energy, digesti...

This week, we’re exposing ourselves by ranking the worst health and fitness trends we’ve ever fallen for. Some were popular, some were personal, and all of them were either misguided, unnecessary, or straight-up harmful. From raw vegan diets to daily HIIT classes to chewing gum instead of eating, we’re breaking down what we tried, what went wrong, and how cringe it really was. We’re giving each on...

Your heart beats over 100,000 times a day without a break. And somehow, heart disease is still the leading cause of death. In this episode, Marianna and Tony break down what your heart actually does, what messes it up, and how to take care of it without overcomplicating it. Turns out, about 80% of heart disease is preventable. So we’re getting into the stuff that actually matters—like food, workou...

Welcome back to Fitness Stuff for Normal People with Marianna and Tony—where we make the confusing parts of health and fitness make sense. In this episode, we’re digging into one of the most underrated parts of your body: your gut microbiome. Most people think it’s just about digestion, but this wild ecosystem of over 100 trillion bacteria is actually running the show behind the scenes—impacting e...

In this solo episode, Tony flies solo (with Mini Mariana silently judging from the background) and dives into the 5 most powerful skills he’s developed over the last decade—skills that have radically transformed his mindset, relationships, career, and health. From mastering communication and emotional regulation , to understanding the underrated power of personal branding , self-auditing , and sim...