We have learned over time that high reps + low weight = hypertrophy and low reps + heavy weight = strength This study challenges that A 2025 study followed 17 active men for 9 weeks. One group lifted heavy weights, and the other lifted much lighter weights. Both groups worked out their whole body three times a week during the study. What happened: • Muscle thickness increased across nearly all measured muscles in both groups • No meaningful differences in hypertrophy between high- and low-load training • Triceps hypertrophy occurred earlier and more consistently with high loads • 1-RM strength increased more in the high-load group While heavier weights may lead to improvements in strength performance, it looks like hypertrophy can be achieved through multiple rep ranges as long as the final set is taken close to failure. Recommendation: When resistance training, take final sets within 2 reps of failure. Use heavier loads if strength performance is the primary goal. Read the study here: Muscle Hypertrophy

and we covered how BDNF is so good for your brain! Its amazing to see how effective exercise can be and the benefits one receives. So if you ever "feel" slugggish or "not in the mood" keep reading, ingoring those thought can go away after just an exercise. The main topics we covered was BDNF. BDNF stands for Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor. The easiest way to think about it: BDNF helps your brain grow, adapt, and stay healthy. Exercise—especially aerobic movement like running, cycling, or fast walking—has been shown to increase BDNF in the brain. When you move your body: - Blood flow increases - Brain activity increases - BDNF gets released This is one reason exercise improves how you feel and how you think. BDNF plays a major role in neuroplasticity, which means: - Your brain can change - Your brain can adapt - Your brain can build new connections BDNF helps: - Strengthen existing connections - Keep neurons alive and healthy Higher BDNF levels are linked to: - Better memory - Faster learning - Improved focus BDNF also helps regulate: - Mood - Stress response - Emotional resilience 🧠 Simple Takeaway Exercise doesn’t just change your body. It changes your brain chemistry. When you move, your brain releases BDNF—and that helps you think clearer, feel better, and stay mentally resilient.

A well-known 2013 study by Bente Klarlund Pedersen changed how we understand exercise. (long post, worth reading) The big idea: Your muscles are not just for movement. They act like an organ that talks to the rest of your body. 🦵 Your Muscles Are an Organ (The Largest One) - Skeletal muscle is the largest organ in your body - We usually think of muscles only: - But that’s only part of the story. 🧪 Muscles Release Chemical Messengers When muscles contract, they release special proteins called myokines. Think of myokines as text messages sent from your muscles to other organs. These messages can travel to: - 🧠 Brain - 🍔 Fat tissue - 🍬 Pancreas - 🧬 Liver - 🦴 Bones 📡 What Are Myokines? Myokines = proteins released by working muscles They can: - Act locally in the muscle - Affect nearby tissues - Travel through the bloodstream to distant organs 🔁 Why Movement Matters (Not Just Motivation) Here’s the key point from the study: 👉 Many myokines are only released when muscles contract That means: - No contraction = no signal - No signal = fewer health benefits This is why exercise improves: - Energy levels - Blood sugar control - Fat metabolism - Brain health - Inflammation balance 🧠 The Takeaway Exercise works because: - Muscles communicate with your body - Movement triggers biological signals, not just willpower - Your workout is literally medicine created by muscle contraction 💬 Bottom line: Exercise isn’t about being motivated. It's about understanding what movement does inside your body. Here is the study

Most people are told: “Take a multivitamin.” “Load up on vitamin D.” “Try magnesium.” But no one ever tells you how much you actually need — or if you even need it at all. That’s why supplementation gets confusing, expensive, and random. One person feels amazing on vitamin D. Another gets no response. One person thrives on magnesium another feels off. Same supplement… different bodies. That’s where bloodwork changes everything. Your labs show: - What you’re low in - What you’re already getting enough of - What’s affecting your energy, sleep, focus, and recovery Without that data, you’re just guessing. And guessing leads to: - Buying things you don’t need - Taking the wrong doses - Never knowing what actually worked Now imagine this… In 8 weeks: - You have more energy - You sleep better - Brain fog is lower - Workouts feel easier Not because you tried everything —but because you took exactly what your body needed. That’s the power of testing instead of guessing. Curious to hear from you 👇🏽 Are you currently taking any supplements right now?

The mechanism is multifactorial. A sudden, disruptive cramp can be due to an electrolyte imbalance, neuromuscular signaling, or metabolic stress. Magnesium and taurine deficiencies play a significant role. Magnesium: regulates neuromuscular transmission, maintains electrolyte balance. Taurine: stabilizes electrolytes, reduces inflammation, and metabolic stress. Once you know how much Magnesium and taurine to take, this should help you address any gaps and performance limits. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32956536/