
Wits & Weights | Evidence-Based Fitness & Nutrition for Lifters Over 40 How Can We Trust Hypertrophy and Nutrition Science? (Eric Helms) | Ep 391
Build muscle and lose fat with evidence-based fitness. Free custom plan when you join Physique University (code: FREEPLAN): witsandweights.com/physique
—
How can you tell when science is solid and when it’s just being sold to you?
Dr. Eric Helms returns for his third appearance to unpack how we interpret fitness research, why “evidence-based” doesn’t always mean “accurate,” and what it really takes to think critically about the information you consume.
We break down the philosophy of knowledge and why understanding how we know things leads to better results. Eric and I unpack skepticism vs. cynicism, spotting red flags in “sciencey” claims, and balancing real-world experience with research. You’ll also learn a simple framework to stay curious without getting misled.
Today, you’ll learn all about:
2:25 – Setting the stage for scientific thinking
10:50 – Why critical thinking beats blind belief
15:07 – The meaning of epistemology
25:01 – How empiricism changed modern science
34:52 – What black swans teach us about truth
48:27 – Cynicism vs. healthy skepticism
59:50 – Making sense of the hierarchy of evidence
1:12:56 – Turning data into practical results
1:28:50 – Where to find credible fitness research
Episode resources:
- MASS Research Review
- On Google Scholar: Eric R Helms, h-index: 35, i10-index: 68, and cited by 6811
- On PubMed - PMID: 24092765, with 89 articles (including 20 preprints)
- Instagram: @helms3dmj
- YouTube: @Team3DMJ
💪 Join Eat More Lift Heavy - A 6-month coaching program for lifters over 40 who are done collecting information and ready to have real human coaches watch their data and know what to focus on each week.
📱 Get Fitness Lab (exclusive 20% off) - The #1 adaptive fitness and nutrition app. Daily coaching, workouts, and biofeedback-based guidance to help you build muscle and lose fat over 40.
👥 Join our Facebook community - For adults over 40 who want to build muscle, lose fat, and stop following bad advice. Weekly Q&A threads, coaching insights, and real chat with other lifters.
👋 Ask a question or find Philip Pape on Instagram
