The Exercise Engineer

Today, Lou shares her exhilarating journey as she prepares for the Hyrox Women's Single Pro competition, transitioning from doubles open to tackling the full challenge solo. With just 14 weeks to go, she outlines her comprehensive training plan, which includes cycling, running, strength sessions, and Hyrox-specific workouts. The episode also features a Q&A segment where Lou addresses various l...

In this episode, Lou joins The Rogue Treatment Podcast as she explores the topic of calorie counting and its effectiveness in weight loss. Together, they discuss the origins of calorie counting and its relevance in today's society. Lou explores the idea of calorie counting as a tool to counteract the impact of processed foods and chemicals in modern diets. She emphasizes the importance of focusing...

In today's episode, Lou discusses the power of streaks and the challenges of maintaining them. Drawing from personal experiences with swimming, podcasting, and step goals, Lou discusses the impact of breaking a streak and the difficulty of getting back on track. She explores practical strategies for creating and sustaining streaks, such as setting non-negotiables, establishing optimal targets, and...

In this episode, Lou chat to Olivia King, a former professional athlete in swimming and rowing, as the guest. Olivia shares her journey from starting competitive swimming at a young age to transitioning to rowing and making the Canadian national team. She discusses her intense training regimen, including swimming 10k in a pool after a planned open water swim got canceled. Olivia provides insights...

Today, Lou dives into another Q&A session, addressing various questions from clients and Instagram followers. The episode covers topics such as the challenges of losing belly fat, strategies for staying motivated to exercise in cold weather, tips for improving mind-to-muscle connection during workouts, and the importance of habits in achieving fitness goals. Lou provides practical advice on ma...

In today's episode, Lou speaks to Heather Masterson, a performance nutritionist who shares her insights on nutrition for athletes, particularly focusing on the importance of fueling correctly for training and performance. Heather discusses her journey into nutrition, emphasizing the significance of understanding individual nutrition needs and developing personalized strategies. Lou and Heather con...

The latest episode of The Exercise Engineer podcast features a Q&A session where the host answers various questions from listeners and clients. The episode begins with a reflection on personal growth over the past year, highlighting achievements and areas for improvement. Lou delves into topics such as preventing burnout, the benefits of commitment, and tips for beginner runners. Practical adv...

In this episode, Lou shares her insights on growing social media and creating engaging content. She discusses her journey from being an engineer to a fitness coach, and how she has grown her social media following to over 21,500 followers. Lou emphasizes the importance of consistency, value, and variety in content creation, sharing practical tips for coaches and individuals looking to improve thei...

In this episode, Lou covers a range of topics, from struggling with hitting protein goals for breakfast to tips on not overthinking before a long run. She also addresses the use of creatine in a fat loss phase, the impact of menopause on fitness and health, and the common feeling of guilt when missing a workout. With practical advice and personal insights, the host encourages listeners to prioriti...

In today's episode, Lou cats to world record holder and entrepreneur, Sophie Bennett. Sophie shares insights into her journey of achieving world records, including completing a 100-kilometer ski erg challenge. She delves into the concept of building resilience through incremental progress and the importance of setting achievable goals. Sophie also emphasizes the significance of surrounding oneself...

Today, Lou explores the possibility of using ChatGPT to generate a training and meal plan for her next marathon. She examines the details of the plans being generated, analyzing the training schedule, meal plans, and the rationale behind them. Lou considers the adequacy of the plans, highlighting the emphasis on whole foods, macronutrient balance, meal timing, and the importance of recovery strate...

In this episode, Lou hosts a Q&A where she discusses various topics related to maintaining a healthy lifestyle during special occasions such as birthdays, holidays, and race taper weeks. She shared tips on how to navigate celebrations without feeling overwhelmed, including focusing on high-protein foods, making conscious decisions, and enjoying indulgences in moderation. Additionally, Lou give...

In this Q&A episode, Lou delves into common struggles faced by clients, including post-holiday blues, comparison to others, and celebrating wins. She shares insights on topics like starting morning workouts, healthy snack ideas, and the debate between fasted and fueled workouts. Lou gives practical advice on gradually waking up earlier, preparing for morning workouts, and finding intrinsic mot...

In this Q&A episode, Lou welcomes new participants to the six-week challenge while also addressing returning challengers and listeners. The focus of the episode is on starting or resetting goals, whether it be related to fat loss, running training, strength training, or conditioning. Lou delves into the importance of self-reflection, setting non-negotiable goals, and planning for potential obs...

It's quiz time! Today, Lou is bringing you a fun and interactive episode: a quiz designed to test your knowledge on key concepts related to fat loss. Lou covers topics such as calorie deficit, macronutrients, exercise thermogenesis, and the importance of accountability in achieving fat loss goals.  Listeners are encouraged to participate and submit their scores for a chance to win a free place in...

In this episode, Lou interviews Shane Byrne, a strongman athlete from Australia. Shane shares his journey from playing rugby to transitioning into the world of strongman competitions. He discusses the importance of individualized training, periodization, and skill acquisition in strength training. Shane emphasizes the value of sustainable training and the need for clients to understand the reasoni...

In this episode, Lou interviews Olivia Bell MacDonald, a nutritionist who helps women break free from yo-yo dieting. Olivia emphasizes the importance of habit development, behavior change, self-compassion, and life after the diet in her coaching approach. She focuses on educating women to understand their nutritional needs and improve their relationship with food and body image. Olivia discourages...

In this episode, Lou provides a detailed insight into her rigorous training schedule and upcoming challenges. She discusses her preparation for the Gold Coast Marathon in July, aiming for a personal best time. Lou also shares her training regimen for High Rocks and Turf Games in August and September, highlighting the importance of strength and conditioning. Additionally, she delves into her unexpe...

In this episode, Lou takes a candid look at her current state of mind. She shares her struggles with maintaining routine, upholding productivity, and straying from self-sabotage. Lou also explains the concept of the "be-do-have" mindset, emphasizing the importance of being the person you want to become, rather than waiting for external factors to align.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Lou reflects on the importanc...

Today, Lou breaks down the crucial concept of 'input' versus 'output' in the realm of health and fitness. Lou emphasizes the importance of prioritizing nutrition, sleep, strength training, and cardio over supplements and extra gadgets. Offering practical advice, Lou encourages listeners to improve their "bad days" rather than obsessing over minor enhancements to their "good days", as she guides th...

This week, Lou dives into the exciting world of HYROX, a global competition that combines running and functional workout stations. Lou offers practical advice on training strategies, emphasising the importance of preparation and technique.  Join Lou in this energetic and informative exploration of HYROX and get ready to be inspired to take on the challenge yourself! KEY TAKEAWAYS  HYROX is a globa...

In this episode, Lou addresses the common fear and anxiety many people experience when it comes to going to the gym. She acknowledges that even she, as an experienced fitness professional, still feels anxious when entering a new gym. Lou reassures listeners that they have every right to be in the gym and should not feel like they are taking up space. She emphasizes the importance of reframing the...

In this episode, Lou addresses the growing interest in running and the desire to simultaneously lose fat, build muscle, and become stronger. She shares her personal experience of feeling fit, strong, and healthy while also being quick and lean. Lou emphasizes the importance of finding a balance between building muscle and losing fat, debunking the fear of becoming bulky. The episode provides tips...

In this episode, Lou explores the concept of competition and its impact on our lives. She delves into the definition of competition and how it can be both beneficial and detrimental. Lou discusses the role of healthy competition in pushing individuals to achieve more and the importance of accountability in reaching goals. She also touches on the mindset required to perform well under pressure and...

In this episode, Lou conducts a live Q&A session with participants of the MyFoundation 42 six-week challenges. The episode begins with a celebration of the participants' weekly wins, highlighting their achievements and newfound confidence. Lou offers advice and guidance on topics such as: communication styles, maintaining fitness routines while traveling, managing fasting and protein intake, c...