In this video, I dive into one of the most debated topics in fitness: cardio vs. resistance training for fat loss and overall health.

I break down how both training methods impact caloric deficit, muscle gain, and total daily energy expenditure, and why understanding these concepts is crucial if you're trying to lose fat without sacrificing strength or energy.

We’ll look at the unique exercise benefits of each: how strength training helps preserve muscle and reshape your physique, while cardio boosts your mental health, endurance, and calorie burn. I also get into the real-world factors like time efficiency, safety, and which method may be more accessible depending on your situation.

By the end, I share where I land personally and why I believe the best results come from using both strategically to improve your fitness, weight loss, and overall health long term.

Timestamps are below if you want to jump to specific sections. Let’s settle this once and for all.

Free Cardio Workout Program (Includes a strength training program as well!): http://eepurl.com/h1vzjr

I just need your email :)

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Cardio vs. Resistance Training
00:38 Understanding Caloric Deficit and Energy Exchange
03:30 Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) Explained
04:57 The 5 Categories of Comparison for Both
05:20 Muscle Preservation
09:05 Calorie Burn Amount and Type
11:40 Mental Health Effects
14:03 Time, Safety, and Accessibility
15:20 Overall Health Impacts
18:22 Final Tally and Conclusion

Coaching inquiries email me at randall@alwaysadaptive.com or visit alwaysadaptive.com

In this episode of Always Adaptive, I tear into the wild world of detoxes and cleanses.

From juice cleanses that promise to fix your life in 3 days to colon cleanses that sound like a bad dare, we dig into the actual science behind these popular wellness trends and ask the big question: do they really help, or are we all just falling for clever marketing? Spoiler alert: your liver doesn’t need a reboot like it’s running Windows 95.

If you care about your health, nutrition, and not getting scammed, you’ll want to stick around.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
01:05 Why Are Detoxes Appealing
03:50 Juice Cleanses
07:40 Fasting
10:35 Liver Cleanses
15:40 Colon Cleanses
18:35 What Actually Works?

Coaching inquiries email me at randall@alwaysadaptive.com or visit alwaysadaptive.com

In this video, I go head-to-head defending the calories in vs. calories out (CICO) model against Jay Feldman and the Energy Balance Podcast. While Jay claims the CICO model is a myth, I break down why energy balance still matters and why calories, despite their flaws, remain the backbone of weight management. I dive into how calories are measured, the real story behind bioavailability, and the tricky reality of tracking intake and expenditure.

We also cover metabolic efficiency and why popular claims about constrained energy expenditure often miss the point. I tackle the myths around hypothyroidism and metabolism to show why blaming your thyroid is not the get-out-of-jail-free card people think it is. If you are ready for a no-nonsense, evidence-backed defense of why calories still count, this video pulls no punches.

00:00 Introduction

00:57 Food Intake Has Gone Up and Movement Has Gone Down

03:40 Beginning of Response to Jay

05:20 Understanding Calories: Measurement and Misconceptions

07:25 The Role of Bioavailability in Caloric Intake

11:50 Water Has Zero Calories Yet Adds Weight

14:00 Examining Jays Citations

26:00 My Citations In Support of CICO

34:46 Hypothyroidism and Energy Expenditure

38:40 Closing Thoughts

Coaching inquiries email me at randall@alwaysadaptive.com or visit alwaysadaptive.com

In this video, I break down why I believe probiotics are overrated and in some cases, even risky. We've been sold the idea that popping a capsule is the key to better gut health, but the science isn’t as convincing as the supplement industry wants you to believe. I dive into the gut microbiome, probiotic side effects, and the real role of dietary fiber in building a resilient digestive system.

I also cover what most probiotic ads conveniently leave out: the strain specificity problem, inflated claims, and how natural recovery through food often outperforms expensive digestive supplements.

It’s not that all probiotics are useless but treating them like a miracle pill is about as misguided as thinking your favorite political party has all the answers. Let’s stop swallowing what we’re told and actually look at the data.

Chapters
00:00 The Overrated Nature of Probiotics
01:14 Understanding the Gut Microbiome
03:42 People That Should Be Cautious
05:30 Scientific Evidence Against Probiotics
14:52 Final Thoughts on Gut Health

Coaching inquiries email me at randall@alwaysadaptive.com or visit alwaysadaptive.com

In this episode, I break down the ongoing debate between kettlebell and barbell training. Popular fitness influencer TNF⁩ has been under attack lately. There’s a war brewing between kettlebell purists and science-based lifters, and I wanted to take a step back to look at what each tool actually brings to the table.

I walk through the differences between power movements, traditional strength lifts, and what I call “pillar movements,” and explain where kettlebells shine and where they fall short. While I use kettlebells with clients and respect their value, I also think it’s important to recognize their limitations. This isn’t about identity or dogma. It’s about using the right tool for the right job. If you're a coach, lifter, or just someone trying to train smarter, this one's for you.

00:00 Introduction
00:43 The Internet Beef Video
04:20 List of Exercises to Review
05:40 Power Movements
08:00 Strength Movements
10:55 Pillar Movements
13:08 Body Building
15:15 Where Kettlebells Shine

Coaching inquiries email me at randall@alwaysadaptive.com or visit alwaysadaptive.com

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Sean Pastuch to explore what it really takes to be an effective coach in today’s fitness landscape. Sean breaks down why most trainers aren’t equipped to truly help people, especially when pain and movement limitations are involved. We talk about the importance of thinking like a problem solver instead of just counting reps and why understanding pain as a threat to someone’s way of life, not just a physical symptom, matters more than most coaches realize.

Sean also explains the in-depth intake system he uses at Active Life and how it helps coaches understand the full picture. We touch on why effective communication is one of the most underrated skills in coaching, how chasing perfection can do more harm than good, and why the fitness industry needs to set its own standards instead of waiting on outdated systems like insurance to catch up.

If you're a coach, trainer, or anyone trying to help people move better and feel better, this episode is about raising the standard and owning the responsibility that comes with being a true coach.

Coaching inquiries email me at randall@alwaysadaptive.com or visit alwaysadaptive.com

00:00 Introduction
01:07 The Gut-Brain Axis
04:30 Serotonin and the Gut
07:05 Blood Sugar Roller Coaster
13:20 Nutritional Deficiencies
17:20 Tips for Food to Improve Mood

Can food really change how you feel?

In this episode, I dive deep into the science behind how nutrition affects your mood, and I’m not just talking about sugar crashes. From the gut-brain axis to blood sugar swings, inflammation, and nutrient deficiencies, I walk you through exactly how what you eat can shape your mental health. I also share personal stories and give you practical tips you can start using today to stabilize your mood through diet.

You’ll learn why your gut is called the "second brain," how neurotransmitters like serotonin are mostly made in your digestive system, and why even people without diabetes are seeing higher depression rates due to blood sugar instability. Plus, I cover the nutrients most commonly linked to mood disorders and what the science says about supplementation.

If you’ve ever felt anxious, foggy, or irritable after a meal and thought, “is it just me?”

It’s not. Your food is talking to your brain, whether you notice it or not.

Coaching inquiries email me at randall@alwaysadaptive.com or visit alwaysadaptive.com

In this video, I break down the ongoing debate between functional movement and traditional resistance training. The fitness industry loves to polarize everything, and this is one of the clearest examples. I talk about how that false certainty holds people back and why it’s more important to understand the principles behind each training method.

We dive into the SAID principle, general physical preparedness, and specific physical preparedness to explain how each style contributes to different adaptations. I compare both approaches when it comes to building muscle, gaining strength, and preventing injury.

By the end of this, my goal is to show why the smartest path isn’t choosing one or the other but knowing how to blend them both to get the most out of your training.

Chapters
00:00 Polarization in Fitness
04:51 Steelman for Functional Training
09:17 Steelman for Traditional Training
10:07 SAID Principle
11:55 GPP vs SPP
13:15 Hennemans Size Principle
14:24 How That All Applies to the Arguments
17:30 Comparing Functional and Traditional Training Outcomes
22:36 Application Scenarios for Each
25:13 Integration Into Your Life

Coaching inquiries email me at randall@alwaysadaptive.com or visit alwaysadaptive.com