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THIRST For More PodcastStrength coach Brandon Smitley sits down and talks with industry respected professionals in the strength and conditioning, sports performance, personal training, online training, health and fitness, and gym ownership community to discuss how you can... Author: Brandon Smitley Terre Haute Intensity Resistance and Sports Training
The THIRST For More Podcast is designed to help provide insight and knowledge for the strength and conditioning, sports performance, personal training, online training, gym ownership, and health and fitness professionals. Host, Brandon Smitley, reaches out to various professionals in the industry and sits down with them to chat about becoming a better coach, how to improve athletic performance, improving communication, ideas for marketing and brand recognition, and general information on just accelerating your career and life. Brandon is the co-owner of Terre Haute Intensity Resistance and Sports Training (THIRST), a locally owned gym in Terre Haute, Indiana. He trains and works with youth athletes, personal training clients, and strength sport athletes. Brandon's goal is to "Build Better People Through Strength". Connect with Brandon and the THIRST For More Podcast below. Instagram: @team.thirst Instagram: @bsmitley Website: http://thirstgym.com Language: en Genres: Health & Fitness, Sports Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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E 61 | Fitness Industry Trends: What's Actually Science vs. What's Just Marketing
Episode 61
Monday, 2 February, 2026
Episode SummaryEvery year brings new fitness trends that promise to revolutionize training, optimize performance, and deliver better results. But which trends are backed by solid research and which are just clever marketing designed to sell courses and supplements?In this episode, I break down the biggest trends in the fitness industry right now using a simple three-question framework: Is there peer-reviewed research? Is the effect size meaningful? Does the cost-benefit analysis make sense?WHAT'S HERE TO STAY (Backed by Strong Evidence):Velocity-Based Training (VBT) - 47 studies showing 8-15% improvements in power output with precise autoregulation and increasingly affordable technologyIndividualized Protein Targets - ISSN 2023 position stand confirms 1.6-2.2g per kg of lean body mass beats generic "1g per pound" recommendationsZone 2 Cardio - European Heart Journal 15-year study of 10,000 adults shows this is the strongest predictor of longevity and cardiovascular healthBlood Flow Restriction Training - Meta-analysis of 75 studies proves comparable hypertrophy at 20-30% loads vs. traditional 70-80% trainingOVERHYPED BUT HAS MERIT (Nuanced Reality):Menstrual Cycle-Based Training - Small effect sizes (0.2-0.4) with huge inter-individual variation; useful as autoregulation tool, not prescriptive mandateWearable Technology & HRV - Good data collection, improving algorithms, but most people lack interpretation skills; valuable for long-term trends, not daily micromanagementMovement Quality Assessments - Generic screens like FMS show near-zero injury prediction, but watching loaded movement patterns absolutely mattersSTRAIGHT-UP HYPE (Avoid or Question Heavily):Spot Reduction - Definitively debunked in systematic reviews; fat loss is systemic, not localizedExtreme Biohacking - Ice baths can blunt muscle growth post-workout; most protocols have absurd cost-benefit ratios compared to sleep and nutrition fundamentalsMuscle Confusion - Muscles respond to progressive overload, not constant variation; consistency beats random program changes"Optimal" Training Frequency - When volume is equated, frequency explains less than 5% of outcome variance; individualization trumps one-size-fits-all splitsCOMING SOON:Affordable genetic testing for individualized programmingAI-assisted program design for real-time adjustmentsMuscle protein synthesis biomarkers for precision nutritionKEY FRAMEWORK FOR EVALUATING TRENDS:
