Many fitness methods claim to "tone your arms" or "slim your thighs." This is false advertising, with the assumption that you can "spot treat fat." Shannon breaks down the science of spot-treating fat and the efficacy of using exercise to improve/reduce cellulite in this episode. Podcasts Referenced: Exercise and leanness Nutrition and leanness with Hope Brandt, RD Where is your calorie burn plateau? 0:00: Introduction 1:30: What is body recomposition? 3:42: Does HIIT reduce belly fat? 5:55: How...
Mar 07, 2024•14 min
Squats have been deemed the gold standard for building muscle in the legs while improving functional strength. But what if squats don't feel good on your body or aren't enjoyable? Do you have to do them to be functional in your day-to-day life? Shannon breaks it down in this episode. Studies referenced: #1 #2 #3 0:00: Evlo member story 3:37: Introduction to why you don’t have to squat to be functional 4:36: Benefits of squatting 8:11: Reasons why you may choose squats over another lower body exe...
Feb 29, 2024•27 min
What is PCOS, what are the symptoms, and how can you exercise to improve symptoms? You'll learn all these things in this interview with Dr. Payton Busker. Tools to measure recovery blog post referenced 0:00: Introduction 0:58: Payton’s personal story with PCOS 4:33: Defining PCOS 8:43: Symptoms of PCOS 14:34: Influence of diet in treating PCOS 17:30: Link between PCOS and insulin resistance 19:40: Long term risks of PCOS 24:08: Exercising with PCOS 28:30: Indications that you’re not recovering 3...
Feb 22, 2024•41 min
You may have heard that the more muscle mass you have, the more calories you burn at rest. Is this true? If so, what is the extent of this effect? How does muscle influence metabolism? Study on metabolism throughout lifespan 0:00: Evlo member story 2:58: Introduction to the relationship between muscle and metabolism 4:02: Defining metabolism 9:33: Which body systems require the most energy? 12:40: How adding muscle mass improves your metabolism in more ways than one 19:38: Conclusion Try Evlo 14...
Feb 15, 2024•21 min
0:00: Introduction 1:15: Working out less for better results 2:54: What is a hard set? 6:34: Optimal volume for muscle growth 11:05: Adding more volume does not have proportionate benefits on muscle growth 13:58: The importance of exercise selection on central nervous system fatigue 18:16: Study comparing low vs high volume workout 22:47: Why you may see better results doing Evlo 24:15: Can reducing volume produce higher quality workouts? 26:27: How to choose a track as an Evlo member for best r...
Feb 08, 2024•30 min
Your menstrual cycle has been considered a vital sign by some and can be an indication of your overall health. Shannon is joined by Dr. Payton, who shares the current research on exercising to improve menstrual health. They also discuss fertility, pregnancy loss, and more. Cycle syncing episode referenced 0:00: Introduction 1:20: Your menstrual cycle as a vital sign 3:20: Signs/symptoms that something might be off with your cycle 7:37: Can you still track your cycle while on hormonal birth contr...
Feb 01, 2024•49 min
How does high-intensity cardio affect longevity? Is HIIT the only way to receive longevity benefits? How does strength training compare to HIIT at improving VO2 max? All these topics and more are discussed today. 0:00: Brief summary of episodes 148 and 149 2:50: Hypertrophy training 5:30: The bottom line when it comes to HIIT 11:30: VO2 max as an indicator of overall health and longevity 16:13: Utilizing HIIT to improve VO2 max and metabolic flexibility 19:22: Downsides of Zone 4/Zone 5 training...
Jan 25, 2024•38 min
We recommend a cornerstone routine of walking and strength training. But is walking "enough" cardio? Shannon discusses that question in this episode. 0:00: Zones of cardio 2:18: Recap of benefits of Zone 2 cardio 4:27: Recap of benefits of strength training 6:45: Energy expenditure 9:45: Benefits of a walking + hypertrophy routine 10:20: Does walking “count” as zone 2 training? 11:48: Should you do zone 3 cardio? 15:27: How to add zone 2 training to your routine Try the new Evlo Follow Dr. Shann...
Jan 18, 2024•20 min
Zone two cardio has received a lot of attention lately. Doctors and researchers tout the benefits associated with mitochondrial efficiency and longevity. But zone two cardio is time-consuming and may be difficult to realistically keep up with. At the same time, others are claiming that women naturally have a better ability to use fat as fuel and a higher composition of type 1 muscle fibers, so zone two cardio is unnecessary. Where is the "truth?" What SHOULD we be doing for our health and longev...
Jan 11, 2024•34 min
If you consume any wellness content, you may have noticed increased attention on insulin and blood sugar. What does it mean to be "insulin resistant," and what are the symptoms to look for? How can insulin resistance affect fitness results? How can we improve our insulin sensitivity with diet, lifestyle, and exercise? Katherine Andrew, Registered Dietitian, and I discuss these topics and more. 0:00: Introduction 1:44: What is blood sugar and insulin? 4:42: When does the body tap into the liver f...
Jan 04, 2024•58 min
Have you ever started a fitness challenge just to find yourself back at square one shortly after it ended? In this episode, we discuss why I'm not a fan of time-based, extreme fitness challenges and the metabolic adaptations that occur with extreme diets and exercise routines. 0:00: Introduction 3:00: Building muscle and time-bound challenges 5:00: Metabolic adaption 11:40: Do challenges help start new habits? 13:20: The benefits of following a gentle, strength-based program 16:06: How Evlo sets...
Dec 28, 2023•19 min
You can find anecdotes everywhere that heavy weights "bulk" and Pilates-type movements provide a long, lean, toned body. Is there any truth behind these anecdotes? And further, do you HAVE to lift heavy weights to build muscle? Does Pilates build muscle? These are all questions that Shannon discusses in today's episode. 0:00: Introduction 4:00: What research says about exercise and body composition 7:40: Does the “burn” cause muscle growth? 10:10: Challenge to the muscle 11:54: Does Pilates buil...
Dec 21, 2023•34 min
In this episode, Dr. Shannon interviews Becca Romero about all things nutrition and fertility. They touch on women's and men's fertility, micronutrients, exercise, and more. 0:00: Introduction 2:30: Importance of eating enough when trying to conceive 7:00: Blood sugar balancing and fertility 15:56: Other nutrition considerations for conceiving 17:17: Vegan/Vegetarian considerations and the effect on fertility 19:10: Importance of micronutrients 25:26: Fitness adaptations when trying to conceive ...
Dec 14, 2023•45 min
Deload weeks, or as we call them, "Reset Weeks," can help manage fatigue, avoid plateaus, and improve recovery. Dr. Shannon discusses some updates to her protocols around Reset Weeks based on current literature. 0:00: Introduction 5:00: How to “deload” 11:00: What happens after a Reset Week? 12:30: How often should you take these weeks? 17:25: FAQ: “Will I lose muscle if I take time off?” 20:32: FAQ: “How should I eat during Reset Weeks?” 22:30: The new Evlo membership Studies referenced: https:...
Dec 07, 2023•29 min
Do you HAVE to squat and deadlift to maintain your functional strength throughout your life? Dr. Payton and Dr. Shannon discuss misconceptions about choosing "functional" exercises. Study referenced 0:00: Introduction 1:10: What is “functional fitness”? 4:33: Are other exercises not helping with function? 9:50: How muscles are loaded 10:45: Sport-specific training 15:44: Summary 14-day free trial Follow Dr. Shannon on Instagram Follow Fit Body, Happy Joints on Instagram To take our free 35-minut...
Nov 30, 2023•17 min
Every year, Shannon releases a "Thanksgiving" episode centered around exercise and food. This year, she's speaking to something that is common around this time of year - using exercise as a tool to "burn off" your food. She discusses why this isn't possible and how to re-wire your relationship to exercise and food. She also discusses how to add gentle movement to manage a glucose spike and feel better after a large meal. 0:00: Introduction 6:00: Why we can’t “earn” our food 13:12: How can you fe...
Nov 23, 2023•23 min
In last week's episode, we talked about habits necessary for body recomposition. We discussed the importance of sleep and how fitness results are more difficult to attain without proper sleep. But what if you're in a season of life where sleep deprivation is unavoidable? Can you still see fitness results? Short answer: yes. Dr. Shannon and Registered Dietitian Hope Brandt speak on how to adjust nutrition and fitness when you're sleep-deprived to continue progressing towards body recomposition. 0...
Nov 16, 2023•31 min
Since body recomposition requires slow and steady changes, it requires lifestyle and habit changes. In this episode, Shannon discusses the habits necessary for body recomposition and discusses the basics of forming habits. 0:00: Introduction 5:45: Important factors for body recomposition 6:40: Sleep and body recomposition 9:50: Nutrition and body recomposition 14:00: Exercise and body recomposition 15:15: Habit forming 19:35: Stages of forming a new habit 14-day free trial Follow Dr. Shannon on ...
Nov 09, 2023•28 min
Enjoy this Q&A podcast episode with Shannon, where she addresses some common question from Evlo members! 0:23: What is the best time of day to work out? 1:30: Should I prioritize exercises where I can “feel” my glutes over other exercises? 8:09: How can I apply the principles from this podcast to any group exercise class? 12:14: Is the 4X per week Evlo track as effective as the other tracks? 14:22: Should I be doing kegels during core work? 15:36: Is standing ab work effective? 14-day free t...
Nov 02, 2023•18 min
Carb cycling is a nutrition method for body recomposition. In this episode, Shannon interviews Esosa Osagiede, a Registered Dietitian, to discuss what carb cycling is, how to do it, and when it is and isn't appropriate. 0:00: Introduction 2:50: What is carb cycling? 4:55: What if people are afraid of eating carbs? 6:00: Importance of including carbohydrates 8:15: An example week of carb cycling 13:55: Being in a moderate calorie deficit 16:40: Caloric needs and mass 18:45: Food before/after a wo...
Oct 26, 2023•35 min
You may have heard that exercising too much can affect your hormones. But how exactly does this happen? Listen to today's episode to learn. 0:00: Introduction 3:35: Hormones affect our behaviors 6:30: What is overtraining? 9:29: Hormones affected by overtraining 14:10: Listening to the signs of overtraining Previous episode: Where is your calorie burn plateau? Free workshop link Free Evlo 101 class 14 day free trial Follow Dr. Shannon on Instagram Follow Fit Body, Happy Joints on Instagram To ta...
Oct 19, 2023•18 min
What are the physiological differences between men and women, and how does that influence how they should train? 0:00: Introduction 0:45: Differences in muscle recruitment 4:37: Muscle fiber composition 9:44: Hormonal cycles in men and women 17:50: How are men and women similar? Free workshop link Free Evlo 101 class 14 day free trial Follow Dr. Shannon on Instagram Follow Fit Body, Happy Joints on Instagram To take our free 35-minute Upper Body Build class taught by Dr. Shannon, visit portal.ev...
Oct 12, 2023•21 min
Is building muscle during pregnancy possible? Or should it even be a goal? Dr. Shannon discusses this in today's episode. 0:00: Introduction 0:43: Evlo Prenatal Program 4:14: Benefits of exercise during pregnancy 6:01: Changes during the 1st trimester 12:15: Changes during 2nd trimester 13:25: Changes during 3rd trimester 14:50: Is it possible to build muscle during pregnancy? 17:17: Should muscle growth be the goal during pregnancy? 19:40: Should you start strength training while you’re pregnan...
Oct 05, 2023•26 min
Stress is an issue many of us can relate to. But stress isn't always bad. In fact, stressing your body in the right ways and amounts can be productive. In today's episode, Dr. Shannon and Dr. Payton will help you learn when exercise stress is productive and unproductive. 0:00: Introduction 1:35: Emotional vs. physical stress response 3:22: Stress as it relates to cardio 7:22: The importance of cool downs 14:55: “Productive stress” with biomechanics 22:12: “Unproductive stress” with group fitness...
Sep 28, 2023•29 min
You may have heard testimonials about low-impact workouts being more effective than high-intensity workouts. Is there validity to this? Can you workout in a way that is less stressful on your body but still effective? 0:00: Introduction 2:50: What makes a workout “effective”? 6:40: Excessively high rep ranges 8:50: The transition to low-impact workouts 10:30: High-impact workouts 11:42: How to program an effective exercise plan Free workshop link Free Evlo 101 class 14 day free trial Follow Dr. ...
Sep 21, 2023•15 min
The way we burn calories is constrained, not additive. This means that at a certain level of activity, our overall energy expenditure starts to plateau. What is the amount of activity in which doing more doesn't contribute to an increase in calorie expenditure? Shannon breaks that down in this episode. 0:00: Introduction 1:30: How we burn calories 5:10: A plateau of energy expenditure 6:18: Shannon’s energy expenditure examples 9:00: Sign that you’ve reached the energy plateau 9:55: Payton’s ene...
Sep 14, 2023•21 min
Body recomposition means losing fat and gaining muscle at the same time. This is a slower process than weight loss or building muscle alone, but we like this as a goal because it makes you slow down and create sustainable habits and lifestyle changes. In this episode, Dr. Shannon and Dr. Payton discuss what to expect in the first 0-3 months, 4-6 months, 7 months-1 year, and beyond one year. They discuss common challenges within those benchmarks and how to overcome them. 0:00: Introduction 2:18: ...
Sep 07, 2023•29 min
The "afterburn effect," or excess post-exercise oxygen consumption, is the temporary increase in metabolism that occurs after exercise. What is the validity of this phenomenon, and how much does it actually affect metabolism? Shannon breaks it all down with research in this episode. 0:00: Introduction 1:00: Excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) 1:58: EPOC following HIIT vs. strength training on active, menstruating women 5:23: Recent meta-analysis of EPOC 5:53: Trained vs. non-trained i...
Aug 31, 2023•17 min
If you feel bigger after embarking on a muscle-building routine, there are two primary reasons. Shannon discusses this and how to lose fat while gaining muscle. 0:00: Introduction 2:00: What contributes to leanness? 4:10: What happens in a caloric surplus 6:45: Muscle building without nutritional considerations 9:15: Impact of being in a slight caloric deficit while prioritizing protein 10:55: The impact of temporary cell swelling 12:14: What about cardio? 13:15: Body recomposition Free workshop...
Aug 24, 2023•17 min
Strength training has endless benefits: stronger muscles, better body composition, stronger bones, better mental health... but did you know it can also improve your skin? Tune in to learn how. 0:00: Introduction 3:00: Anatomy of the skin 5:07: Why does our skin change? 8:03: How overexercise plays a role in skin aging 11:55: How cardio and strength training affect your skin differently 14:20: Genealogical reason why strength training might affect more aspects of skin health as compared to cardio...
Aug 17, 2023•18 min
