Fitness Confidential With Vinnie Tortorich

Episode 2690 - Vinnie Tortorich welcomes guest Tim Mallien for an update, discusses struggling with consistency, then having an epiphany, and more. https://vinnietortorich.com/2025/08/having-an-epiphany-tim-mallien-episode-2690 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS YOU CAN WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE - Having An Epiphany Tim shares the background of his health journey. (4:00) The mind can play tricks on you, and you don’t always realize how the weight creeps up. He tried several ways of losing weight, and had some success, but the weight would always return. He enjoyed running; however, he hit a point where he could no longer do it due to damage to his hip. Finally, he got a hip replacement, but was told he wouldn’t run again. (23:00) Tim went into a deep depression and felt like a shell of himself. Stress from work took a toll, and he started gaining weight again. (32:00) He made changes and described having an epiphany of how he could move forward. Tim has lost 115 pounds since starting again, and his

Episode 2689 - Vinnie Tortorich and Chris Shaffer discuss how things are moving in a better direction with Gen Z, animal protein, the reduction of alcohol use, and more. https://vinnietortorich.com/2025/08/moving-in-a-better-direction-episode-2689 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS   YOU CAN WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE - Moving In A Better Direction Gen Z appears to be the generation that is pushing back against fake meat. (4:00) Many vegan restaurants are adding back meat; the demand for meat is still there. The theories are widespread; however, it all boils down to wanting both real animal protein and fruits and veggies. (13:00) Vinnie has nothing against vegans; he is simply for better health, which includes various animal proteins. There is a “reverse-engineered” process to make cheese. A genetically modified strain of E. coli is used to produce casein from scratch, enabling the creation of vegan cheese. (27:00) Blue Zones are areas that predominantly eat fresh, whole foods—yes, even meat; however

Episode 2688 - Vinnie Tortorich and Anna Vocino motivate and challenge you to always be learning, ramp up your goals, and look at the long game. https://vinnietortorich.com/2025/08/always-be-learning-episode-2688 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS YOU CAN WATCH ALL THE PODCAST EPISODES ON YOUTUBE - Always Be Learning The history behind the phrase “Life into living and do it with enthusiasm.” (2:00) Vinnie shares how he got interested in cycling. (7:15) Goals are goals—set your mind to it. It doesn’t apply to just losing weight—always be learning and challenging yourself! (16:00) Nothing gets done without starting on Day 1. (16:45) You don’t know what you can do until you try! Things people say to you can often stick with you for life. (21:30) Anna shares some of her motivated moments with mentors. They discuss the importance of delayed gratification and the value of putting in the hours. (27:00) Eat Happy Kitchen is for everyone, and several of the sauces are vegan. (46:30) Anna’s sauces are in several

Episode 2687 - Vinnie Tortorich welcomes Dr. Laura Buchanan to discuss fears behind the Women's Health Initiative and the many benefits of hormone therapy. https://vinnietortorich.com/2025/08/benefits-hormone-therapy-episode-2687 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS YOU CAN WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE - The Benefits of Hormone Therapy Lifestyle changes can significantly reduce the number of medications a person needs to take. (2:30) The number of drugs that are being prescribed keeps increasing; however, how much and for how long can the body take multiple medications without further debilitating the body? (7:00) Vinnie has questions about hormones. (14:00) The Women’s Health Initiative announcement was based on incorrect information and a flawed study. The downside is that fear still surrounds it many decades later, so women have been denied treatment options. Dr. Buchanan explains how the study was done and the flaws within it. Hormone Therapy can be so impactful for a woman’s life. (28:30) There are

Episode 2686 - Vinnie Tortorich and Chris Shaffer discuss the NSNG® VIP group, electrolyte drinks, and a way to build character through fitness. https://vinnietortorich.com/2025/08/way-to-build-character-episode-2686 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS   YOU CAN WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE - A Way to Build Character The VIP group will reopen soon. (7:00) It’s another tool you can use to meet your goals. Workouts will be added soon! Vinnie holds group consultation calls twice a month, in which members can ask anything. If you are interested in the NSNG® VIP group, it will be reopening soon. But you can get on the wait list - You have to be able to guide yourself—it all comes down to you. (10:00) People still use COVID as an excuse for becoming overweight and out of shape. The time is over—take control of yourself! Honor the fact that you are alive by taking your health into your own hands. (20:00) They discuss the origin of Gatorade. (25:00) It’s morphed over the years and changed formulations, and

Episode 2685 - Vinnie Tortorich and Anna Vocino discuss the abuse of weight loss drugs, understanding sugar in your body, and more. https://vinnietortorich.com/2025/08/understanding-sugar-episode-2685 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS YOU CAN WATCH ALL THE PODCAST EPISODES ON YOUTUBE - Abusing Weight Loss Drugs Vinnie has been travelling lately on a long road trip. (2:00) They discuss how they pack snacks for a road trip. There is some concerning behavior surrounding the use of Mounjaro. (9:30) Rather than eating healthy, people still want to eat poorly, but ramp up the usage of the drug. There is an emotional component behind overeating. (12:30) Understanding Sugar Why is sugar so bad? (21:45) They discuss macros and how much sugar your body needs at any one time. (23:00) If you don’t load your body with carbs, then your body will burn fat, which is a good thing. The amount of sugar you need varies depending on your activity. (25:00) For example, a boxer in the ring will burn through sugar very

Episode 2684- Vinnie Tortorich welcomes "rogue" dietitian Shannon Davis, and they discuss hitting the tipping point, PE in schools, and weight loss drugs. https://vinnietortorich.com/2025/08/the-tipping-point-with-Shannon-Davis-episode-2684 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS YOU CAN WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE - The Tipping Point Shannon Davis is a registered dietitian, but she describes herself as a “rogue” dietitian. (1:30) She has worked in organ transplant centers. Fatty liver disease is a carbohydrate or sugar problem, but patients were never taught that. Patients had always been told it was a problem with fat, protein, or fried foods. Dietitians need to be reflective and question the information they are recommending. (3:30) As a pharmaceutical rep, she realized she was peddling meds and not helping, and she hit her tipping point. (5:00) She discovered the low-carb and ketogenic health space, and now she feels she has found her purpose in teaching a healthy lifestyle. They discuss misinformation

Episode 2683 - Vinnie Tortorich and Chris Shaffer discuss advertising, the Beyond Meat rebranding, and how a better diet means better results, and more. https://vinnietortorich.com/2025/08/better-diet-means-better-results-episode-2683 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS   YOU CAN WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE - A Better Diet Means Better Results The Billy Joel documentary is super-engaging. (2:00) It’s on HBO Max, and you must have an HBO Max account if you want to view it on Amazon. The documentary is in two parts and is called “Billy Joel: And So It Goes.” Vinnie addresses the Sydney Sweeney American Eagle jeans ad. (10:45) The outcry on social media appears to be unfounded. Beyond Meat has made a branding change and has shortened its name to just “Beyond.” (29:00) Vinnie’s documentary “Beyond Impossible” addresses issues with fake meat. They discuss other fake foods and ingredients, including JUST “eggs.” (32:15) The FDA allows marketing on labels to include misinformation. Proteins from things

Episode 2682 - Vinnie Tortorich and Anna Vocino discuss generations and trends in aging, what to do in addressing a plateau, and more. https://vinnietortorich.com/2025/08/addressing-a-plateau-episode-2682 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS YOU CAN WATCH ALL THE PODCAST EPISODES ON YOUTUBE - Trends in Aging After reminiscing about awkward things from the 1970s, they discuss healthy aging. (10:00) An article from a British newspaper discusses the difference in the rate of aging between generations. (18:00) Cutting out sugar can help you age better. (22:00) The mindset is improving about the idea of healthy aging. There are always things you can do to improve your health span. (22:00) Addressing a Plateau One of the most frequently asked questions Vinnie gets is about weight loss plateaus. (33:00) People will often loosen the reins a bit, but then struggle to return fully to NSNG®. For example, go ahead and have a bit of “life into living” when you travel; however, you need to be able to get back to NSN

Episode 2681- Vinnie Tortorich welcomes dietitian Michelle Hurn, and they discuss disrupting Big Food, lobbying for truth, and the downsides of shortcuts. https://vinnietortorich.com/2025/08/downsides-of-shortcuts-michelle-hurn-episode-2681 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS YOU CAN WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE - Lobbying for Truth Michelle Hurn has been a Registered Dietitian for years, but she challenges the current nutrition guidelines. (2:00) Early nutrition guidelines were established by Seventh-day Adventists to eliminate the eating of meat. The facts are lined up and vetted in FAT: a documentary. (6:30) Vinnie curates knowledge of other experts on his show. (11:30) Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has caused some disruption to the messaging; however, as long as Big Pharma and Big Food are allowed to lobby, there won’t likely be much change. Lobbying affects both sides of the aisle, and changes have not been made. (18:00) It’s part of what has been driving the decrease in metabolic health of our society.

Episode 2680 - Vinnie Tortorich and Chris Shaffer discuss Parkinson's disease, purpose, the marketing of sugar, and making the most of your time. https://vinnietortorich.com/2025/08/making-the-most-of-your-time-episode-2680 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS   YOU CAN WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE - Making the Most of Your Time Vinnie had a long-term relationship with a woman who struggled with Parkinson’s disease. (2:00) He also shares a story about Ozzy Osbourne, who was always very considerate. (5:00) Parkinson’s has its challenges that appear to be less influenced by lifestyle. It can be early-onset and be diagnosed as early as age 35. This launches a conversation about leaving a legacy. (15:20) Vinnie’s main interest has been to help people with their health. Coke made a big announcement that they are bringing “real sugar Coke” back into the U.S. (29:00) This is not a better option—it’s still filled with sugar! Fruit juices are nothing but sugar. (36:00) Chris shares some trivia about the marke

Episode 2679 - Vinnie Tortorich and Anna Vocino discuss goals while aging, working with what you have, NSNG® as a baseline, and fitness in schools. https://vinnietortorich.com/2025/08/working-with-what-you-have-episode-2679 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS YOU CAN WATCH ALL THE PODCAST EPISODES ON YOUTUBE - Working With What You Have Vinnie discusses his acquaintance Joe, who began following NSNG®. (6:00) Joe has lost approximately 100 lbs over the past year! Vinnie’s recent goal has been prioritizing strength training over aerobics. (12:00) If you’re older, it’s never too late; it’s even more important to get moving! Anna always works with her doctor on multiple regular blood tests. (27:00) She discusses getting an advanced lipid panel. She has discussed it before on the podcast, but she has recently gotten some prickly comments from followers. (31:00) She is genetically predisposed to some things, and NSNG® keeps her at a great baseline. (33:00) So many people want a magic pill that they forge

Episode 2678 - Vinnie Tortorich welcomes ultrarunner Laura Watts and discusses ordinary people trying extraordinary things, like running ultramarathons and Badwater. https://vinnietortorich.com/2025/08/trying-extraordinary-things-laura-watts-episode-2678 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS   YOU CAN WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE - Trying Extraordinary Things Laura is an Ultra athlete. (2:00) People think they can’t relate to Ultra athletes, but athletes such as Mike McKnight started out obese. Ultra athletes like Laura are ordinary people trying extraordinary things. (3:15) They swap stories of how they met their spouses. Vinnie describes how he eased into ultra-cycling. (13:00) Laura shares how she fits in her Ultra training and how she even got into marathons and Ultras. (21:30) Athletics have come a long way, especially with women’s advancement. (28:00) Badwater is one of the most grueling races on the planet. (32:00) Despite its difficulty, Laura loved the challenge and experience of it! She has par

Episode 2677- Vinnie Tortorich and Chris Shaffer discuss questioning the reasons behind slower weight loss for women, lab-grown meat, and fitness trackers. https://vinnietortorich.com/2025/07/questioning-the-reasons-episode-2677 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS   YOU CAN WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE - Questioning the Reasons Vinnie is learning a lot about making kombucha. (3:00) He has discovered that he can reduce the sugar in it and still maintain great flavor. Reasons for women losing weight slower than men, even on a ketogenic diet. (9:00) Frontiers in Nutrition gathered the metadata, and this is what they found. Testosterone makes it easier to mobilize fat. Variations in the hormonal biochemistry occur in most women, making losing weight a larger challenge. (15:00) Low-carb/keto still works for women, but can be at a different rate, so consistency is key. Lab-grown meat. (21:00) They discuss the difference between lab-grown and fake meat (like Impossible Burger). They discuss the marketin

Episode 2676 - Vinnie Tortorich and Anna Vocino discuss recent traveling adventures, the risk of side effects with some medications, and more. https://vinnietortorich.com/2025/07/the-risk-of-side-effects-episode-2676 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS YOU CAN WATCH ALL THE PODCAST EPISODES ON YOUTUBE - The Risk of Side Effects Several of Vinnie’s most recent expert guests want to discuss GLP-1s. Vinnie has said from the beginning that he didn’t trust the long-term effects of using GLP-1s. (6:45) Studies show that up to 50% of the weight lost from use of GLP-1 can be muscle loss! Your body needs muscle mass to thrive! (15:00) People need to move to stay strong and agile. (16:00) The Western world is spoiled because of modern-day conveniences. Anna has been traveling and has found it hard to find clean food. (22:30) She shares her experience and how she’s noticed that her taste buds have changed. Vinnie plays a commercial for Jardiance, and they deconstruct the side effects. (40:00) The drug doesn’t t

Episode 2675 - Vinnie Tortorich welcomes Dr. Tro Kalayjian and they discuss metabolic matters related to GLP-1s, hormones, the keto lifestyle, and more. https://vinnietortorich.com/2025/07/metabolic-matters-dr-tro-kalayjian-episode-2675 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS   YOU CAN WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE - Metabolic Matters Dr. Tro is an early contributor and guest on the show. (3:00) Dr. Eric Westman’s work influenced him, and he has since collaborated with Dr. Westman. Vinnie refers people to Dr. Tro all the time. Dr. Tro is licensed in almost all states for telehealth services. More than one-third of Americans are on a medication; the average for people over age 50 is on at least 4 medications. (10:30) Many medications are helpful, but other ones are overprescribed. (12:00) GLP-1s are an example of being overly prescribed. People are often not counseled properly about lifestyle and just handed out the drug. Most people can’t tolerate the side effects and are off of the drug within a year. (18:

Episode 2674: Vinnie Tortorich and Chris Shaffer discuss a study about metabolism and the relationship between caloric intake and exercise. https://vinnietortorich.com/caloric-intake-and-exercise-episode-2674 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS YOU CAN WATCH ALL THE PODCAST EPISODES ON YOUTUBE -  Clearing Up Business The origin of the NSNG VIP Accountability Group. (2:00) It’s a cost-effective way to get regular check-ins. For those unfamiliar, Vinnie shares some backstory of how Fitness Confidential came to be. (9:00) NSNG® Foods is being put on pause until shipping issues are ironed out. (19:30) Production of UltraFat will stop for a time until issues with USPS have been remedied. The company is *not* closing, only pausing production for a time. Orders made up to July 1 will still be fulfilled. (32:00) Caloric Intake and Exercise Vinnie has always said that exercise is a poor way to lose weight. (33:00) A huge study that was just released used DLW (Doubly Labeled Water) methods to measure metabolis

Episode 2673 - Vinnie Tortorich and Anna Vocino discuss recent traveling adventures and the importance of continuing fitness for life. https://vinnietortorich.com/2025/07/fitness-for-life-episode-2673 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS YOU CAN WATCH ALL THE PODCAST EPISODES ON YOUTUBE - Fitness For Life The reality is that you need to be consistent. (3:00) You don’t eat right until you hit your goal, then think you can stop. Even people known for their great bodies need to stay consistent. Vinnie has a VIP accountability group where members can be a part of group consultations with Vinnie twice a month, sometimes more. Vinnie says he will pause production on UltraFat at NSNG Foods until he resolves shipping issues with USPS. (12:00) Vinnie and two friends just got back from their Mt. Whitney climb. (12:30) He took Anna’s cheese bites with them, and they were the perfect snack! Vinnie shares some of what he eats while on the mountain and during his stay in Lone Pine. (19:00) He sometimes uses a sugar

Episode 2672 - BEST OF: Vinnie Tortorich welcomes Dr. Thomas Seyfried and they discuss metabolic dysfunction, glucose, glutamine, and cancer therapies. https://vinnietortorich.com/2025/07/glucose-glutamine-cancer-dr-thomas-seyfried-episode-2672 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS   YOU CAN WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE - Glucose, Glutamine, and Cancer Vinnie explains why he recommends listening to Dr. Thomas Seyfried. (2:00) Vinnie has been in remission and avoided chemo for 17 years by leading a ketogenic lifestyle. There are all kinds of side effects from chemotherapy, even though it can save people. There have been several theories of disease. (8:00) NCI states that cancer is a genetic disease of dysregulated cell growth, called the somatic mutation theory. Another theory suggests that damage to organelles can cause mutations in cells, or that mutations may have a mitochondrial metabolic origin. The treatment of cancer as a metabolic disease also allows people to participate in the management of thei

Episode 2671: Vinnie Tortorich and Chris Shaffer discuss the need to put up and show up for your goals and see them through to success, and more. https://vinnietortorich.com/2025/07/put-up-and-show-up-episode-2671 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS YOU CAN WATCH ALL THE PODCAST EPISODES ON YOUTUBE -  Put Up and Show Up Vinnie shares his near-drink experience with a Pina Colada. (2:00) They discuss beverages and a plan to visit Barbados. Vinnie plans to age backwards (in a way). (17:00) Elaine LaLanne is still active in her 90s, and Vinnie plans to do the same. He wants to try rollerblading again! When Vinnie decides to try something, he goes all in. Commit, put up, and show up. He shares a story about a Porsche and building his kayak. The example is a message that can be applied to losing weight: decide what you want and commit to the steps! Decision fatigue can be real, and finding your “why,” or motivation, is helpful. (37:50) Going back to bad eating habits is like going back to a bad, toxic