Welcome back to Build for Health, where we take your questions seriously—even when you’re not quite sure how to ask them. This week, Pete Wright and Coach Srdjan Injac tackle a full slate of listener-submitted questions covering everything from high-rep vs. low-rep training to the dangers of ego lifting and the long tail of physical therapy.
We kick things off with a deceptively simple question: what’s the difference between lifting light for many reps and lifting heavy for a few? Srdjan breaks it down by goals—endurance, hypertrophy, or raw strength—and explains why he programs a blend for most of his clients. Next up: can you just copy other people at the gym until you get the hang of things? Short answer: no. Long answer: also no, but with good reasons involving injury prevention, YouTube charlatans, and how to find credible online educators.
Things get personal with a question from Patrick, who’s been lifting for a year but still feels clumsy. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Srdjan validates the ups and downs of gym progress and offers tools for checking your form without living in front of a camera. We also hear from Olga, who wonders if those “boring” post-surgery rehab exercises need to stay in the mix (spoiler: some of them should). That leads naturally into a fantastic discussion on form and whether there really is a “right way” to do an exercise—especially when CrossFit, bodybuilding, and powerlifting each seem to do it a little differently.
And finally, we close on the subject of ego lifting. Is it really that bad? Don’t you need to push into risky territory to get real gains? Srdjan gets honest about his own early mistakes and lays out the line between productive stress and just trying to impress. As always, it’s about targeting the right muscles, listening to your body, and training smarter—because progress without pain is possible when you leave your ego at the door.
If you have a question, we want to hear it. Use the anonymous link in the show notes and let’s keep building, together.
Links & Notes
What is Build for Health with Srdjan Injac?
Build for Health is a show that flips the script on fitness. Hosted by longtime podcaster Pete Wright and strength coach Srdjan Injac of ELEV8 Fitness, this show isn’t about gym culture or getting shredded—it’s about why building muscle is the most important investment you can make in your long-term health.
Each week, Pete and Srdjan break down the science, bust the myths, and offer real-world insight into how resistance training supports not just strength, but brain function, metabolic health, emotional well-being, immune resilience, and aging with independence.
If you think lifting weights is just for looks, think again. It’s time to rethink strength—and build a body that’s built for life.
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Meet the Hosts
Srdjan Injac is a certified strength coach and the founder of ELEV8 Fitness in Portland, Oregon. With a background in kinesiology and a lifelong passion for movement, he’s trained everyone from elite athletes to everyday professionals to feel strong, live pain-free, and age with purpose. Srdjan’s coaching style is built on evidence-based training, long-term sustainability, and a deep belief in the power of muscle as medicine.
Pete Wright is a veteran podcaster, storyteller, and—most importantly—a guy who used to avoid the gym at all costs. Srdjan’s just so happens to be his trainer. As such, Pete tries to bring curiosity, candor, and a deeply personal perspective on what it really takes to change your relationship with strength... no matter how much it hurts. With a background in health communication and habit-building for adults with ADHD, Pete asks the questions we’re all wondering—and helps listeners stay curious while getting stronger.