For many of us, January starts with a new membership to the gym. Whether it’s your first time, or a glorious come back, chances are you’re thinking about a new routine. So where’s the best place to start? And maybe more importantly, what are we actually doing it for? What is resistance training, and why does it matter to be healthy?
In this episode of The Method, Greg and Charlie sit down with natural bodybuilder and Strength and Conditioning researcher Eric Helms, to demystify resistance training: what counts, what doesn’t, and what benefits building strength holds beyond building muscle or looking “toned”.
We start with the science, exploring why muscle growth, strength, and power are foundational to a long-term quality of life. Eric breaks down why resistance training isn’t just for athletes or bodybuilders, and why women in particular should feel confident picking up weights.
From there, we move into the practice. With Eric, Greg and Charlie dive into routine advise you can adopt right now. We cover:
- “Training splits” or how to fit effective workouts into a tight schedule (16:28)
- How to achieve progress over time (20:11)
- Why resistance training can enhance endurance (23:36)
- The role played by hormonal cycles in training routines (25:41)
Spoiler alert: you don’t need huge volumes or perfect programming to start seeing results, especially in the beginning.
Finally, in the experience section, we talk about how to train when we don’t have a solid sleep routine, how yoga or mobility work can fit into resistance training, and how to interpret pain during sessions. Eric helps us figure out what can help us reach our goals.
If you’re trying to train smarter, check out this conversation that will show you the ropes to make resistance training a part of your life.
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If you’d like to send us your health questions for future episodes, you can email us a voice note, or simply write in with your question at themethod@thriva.co
About Thriva:
Thriva is a proactive health platform built for the modern age. The promise of longevity often comes with years spent in poor health. We want to bridge the gap between
lifespan – how long we're living – and
healthspan – how well we're living. We combine powerful at-home blood testing with wearable insights and expert guidance. So you can know exactly what’s going on inside your body - and what to do about it -
before issues arise. With this podcast, we hope to bring listeners confidence in everyday health decisions.
What is The Method - Health in the Real World?
Health advice is everywhere. Cold plunges, macro tracking, strength training, microplastics. Everyone's got an opinion. So what's actually worth your time? That's what this show is for.
Dr Greg Potter is an expert in sleep, nutrition & metabolism. Charlie Edmondson isn’t. She's someone trying to feel better, get better sleep and not get fooled by wellness trends. They work through health topics together, with Charlie asking the questions you’re probably already asking yourself, and Greg cutting through the noise with what the science really says.
This isn't about chasing the next biohack. It's about the long game of building a healthier, longer life without losing your mind trying to optimise every minute of it.
Whether you're just getting curious about your health or you've been deep in it for years, The Method is here to give you advice you can actually trust. Explained by someone who knows, questioned by someone who wants to know too.
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About Thriva
The Method is brought to you by Thriva, a proactive health platform built for the modern age. The promise of longevity often comes with years spent in poor health. We want to bridge the gap between lifespan - how long we're living - and healthspan - how well we're living.
We combine powerful at-home blood testing with wearable insights and expert guidance. So you can know exactly what’s going on inside your body - and what to do about it - before issues arise. With this podcast, we hope to bring listeners confidence in everyday health decisions.
To learn more about Thriva’s values and services, visit https://thriva.co/.