Why That Stubborn Belly Fat Won't Budge (It Might Be Your Gut Bacteria) | Ep. 86

Why That Stubborn Belly Fat Won't Budge (It Might Be Your Gut Bacteria) | Ep. 86

In this episode, Andrew and Kat break down one of the most overlooked reasons people can't shake belly fat, even when they're eating well and working out. Kat walks through what LPS (lipopolysaccharide) actually is, why it ends up in your bloodstream, and how it quietly drives the kind of chronic inflammation that makes fat around your midsection almost impossible to lose. She explains why this isn't just theory. There's real research showing that diet alone can spike LPS levels by 71% in four weeks, and that even a tiny dose of LPS dropped insulin sensitivity by 21% within hours. She also shares her own experience running a GI map on herself, finding three overgrown gram-negative bacteria, and what she did to clear them. If you've been doing everything "right" and still feel stuck, this one's for you. The problem might not be your effort. It might be a loop your body is stuck in that behavior alone can't break. 00:00 - Hot tubs, bacteria, and why you should probably skip the Airbnb hot tub 05:10 - What LPS is, where it comes from, and why it's normally not a problem 07:30 - The 2012 study that showed diet alone moved LPS levels 71% in four weeks 10:45 - How LPS drives insulin resistance and turns into stubborn belly fat 13:50 - Kat's own GI map results and the protocol that cleared three gram-negative bacteria 17:45 - The one thing to add to every meal this week Ready to make sense of your symptoms and hit your goals for life? Get more info on our Alta360 program here - https://altaforlife.com/alta360application [https://altaforlife.com/alta360application] Order a comprehensive functional lab here [https://app.altaforlife.com/labsoverview] - https://app.altaforlife.com/labsoverview (after checkout, you'll get a confirmation email and text. Mention this podcast in your reply and you'll get a free interpretation call with Kat) Get your free Gut Health Assessment [https://atosolutions.pro.typeform.com/to/Rd6BMH0q] - https://atosolutions.typeform.com/to/VhvLsjG2 to get a step by step plan to feel less stuck Follow Andrew https://www.instagram.com/andrewhayeslife/ [https://www.instagram.com/andrewhayeslife/] Follow Kat https://www.instagram.com/katbestwellness/ [https://www.instagram.com/katbestwellness/]

Why You Don't Need Rock Bottom to Change: Nick Ross on Health, Mindset, and Purpose | Ep. 85

In this powerful conversation, Andrew and Kat sit down with coach and entrepreneur Nick Ross to unpack the life-changing journey that took him from a farm in rural Pennsylvania, to a cancer diagnosis at age 32, to rebuilding every aspect of his life through health, mindset, and purpose. Nick shares the moment a doctor told him he had cancer, the brutal reality of chemotherapy, and the lesson that ultimately transformed his future: you don't have to wait for rock bottom to change your life. Along the way, he explains why certainty drives human behavior, how fitness became the catalyst for rebuilding his confidence, and why your lack of growth doesn't just affect you, it affects everyone you love. If you've been putting off the changes you know you need to make, this episode is a reminder that the future version of yourself is built by the decisions you make today. Inspired by Nick Ross's story and lessons shared throughout the episode.  00:00 — Growing up on a horse farm and the lessons that shaped Nick 08:50 — The cancer diagnosis that changed everything 14:30 — The doctor who gave Nick certainty when he needed it most 22:00 — Why most people wait for rock bottom before they change 35:00 — How hiring a coach transformed Nick's health, confidence, and future Ready to make sense of your symptoms and hit your goals for life? Get more info on our Alta360 program here - https://altaforlife.com/alta360application [https://altaforlife.com/alta360application] Order a comprehensive functional lab here [https://app.altaforlife.com/labsoverview] - https://app.altaforlife.com/labsoverview (after checkout, you'll get a confirmation email and text. Mention this podcast in your reply and you'll get a free interpretation call with Kat) Get your free Gut Health Assessment [https://atosolutions.pro.typeform.com/to/Rd6BMH0q] - https://atosolutions.typeform.com/to/VhvLsjG2 to get a step by step plan to feel less stuck Follow Andrew https://www.instagram.com/andrewhayeslife/ [https://www.instagram.com/andrewhayeslife/] Follow Kat https://www.instagram.com/katbestwellness/ [https://www.instagram.com/katbestwellness/]

Nobody Knows this Blood Sugar-Gut Connection, But it Stops Cravings and Makes Weight Loss Last | Ep. 84

In this episode, Andrew and Kat break down the hidden gut-health connection behind insulin resistance, stubborn weight gain, sugar cravings, and energy crashes. They explain why so many people are told to simply “eat less sugar” without ever addressing the deeper metabolic dysfunction happening underneath the surface. You’ll learn how inflammation, gut dysbiosis, fatty liver, bile flow, and stress can all impact blood sugar regulation, why some people stay insulin resistant despite eating “healthy,” and the real reason low-calorie dieting often backfires. They also unpack the connection between gut health and cravings, plus practical ways to support your metabolism without spiraling into restriction or food fear. 06:10 — What insulin resistance actually is (and why it’s not just about sugar) 10:20 — The gut inflammation connection most people miss 16:45 — Fatty liver, digestion, and why metabolism slows down 24:30 — Practical ways to improve blood sugar without extreme dieting Ready to make sense of your symptoms and hit your goals for life? Get more info on our Alta360 program here - https://altaforlife.com/alta360application [https://altaforlife.com/alta360application] Order a comprehensive functional lab here [https://app.altaforlife.com/labsoverview] - https://app.altaforlife.com/labsoverview (after checkout, you'll get a confirmation email and text. Mention this podcast in your reply and you'll get a free interpretation call with Kat) Get your free Gut Health Assessment [https://atosolutions.pro.typeform.com/to/Rd6BMH0q] - https://atosolutions.typeform.com/to/VhvLsjG2 to get a step by step plan to feel less stuck Follow Andrew https://www.instagram.com/andrewhayeslife/ [https://www.instagram.com/andrewhayeslife/] Follow Kat https://www.instagram.com/katbestwellness/ [https://www.instagram.com/katbestwellness/]

Body Recomp: How to Build Muscle and Lose Fat at the Same Time | Ep. 83

In this episode, Andrew and Kat break down one of the most misunderstood concepts in fitness: body recomposition. Can you really build muscle and lose fat at the same time? The answer is yes, but only if the right pieces are in place. They explain why chronic dieting can slow progress, how gut health impacts nutrient absorption and recovery, and why stress, sleep, and training quality matter just as much as protein intake. You'll learn who is most likely to succeed with body recomposition, the biggest mistakes keeping people stuck, and how to know whether your body is actually ready to recomp in the first place. If you're training consistently, trying to eat healthier, and wondering why your body still isn't changing, this episode will help you connect the dots. (03:30) What body recomposition actually means (08:45) Why eating less can backfire (14:20) The gut health connection to muscle growth and fat loss (20:10) Stress, recovery, and the hidden reason progress stalls (29:00) Creatine, protein, and common body recomp mistakes Ready to make sense of your symptoms and hit your goals for life? Get more info on our Alta360 program here - https://altaforlife.com/alta360application [https://altaforlife.com/alta360application] Order a comprehensive functional lab here [https://app.altaforlife.com/labsoverview] - https://app.altaforlife.com/labsoverview (after checkout, you'll get a confirmation email and text. Mention this podcast in your reply and you'll get a free interpretation call with Kat) Get your free Gut Health Assessment [https://atosolutions.pro.typeform.com/to/Rd6BMH0q] - https://atosolutions.typeform.com/to/VhvLsjG2 to get a step by step plan to feel less stuck Follow Andrew https://www.instagram.com/andrewhayeslife/ [https://www.instagram.com/andrewhayeslife/] Follow Kat https://www.instagram.com/katbestwellness/ [https://www.instagram.com/katbestwellness/]

How to Build Your Body and Mind (Alexa’s Playbook) | Ep. 82

In this episode, Andrew and Kat sit down with ALTA's lead functional nutritionist Alexa to unpack what it actually takes to build a body and a mind that lasts.  Alexa shares her journey from a kid growing up overweight in an Italian household, to bodybuilding competitor, to coaching clients through their own physical and mental transformations. You'll hear why she calls nutrition and fitness "the gateway drug" to deeper mindset work, what her SIBO diagnosis taught her about the limits of dialing in macros, and the practical playbook she uses with clients: train hard, eat your food, trust yourself, and stop trying to do it alone.  If you've ever felt like you're doing everything "right" and still spinning your wheels, this one's for you. 04:30 — Alexa's journey: Staten Island kid to bodybuilding stage 10:00 — How a SIBO diagnosis rewrote her relationship with food and fitness 17:00 — Why mindset beats macros (and the pyramid that explains it) 25:30 — Alexa's playbook: train hard, eat your food, trust the process Ready to make sense of your symptoms and hit your goals for life? Get more info on our Alta360 program here - https://altaforlife.com/alta360application [https://altaforlife.com/alta360application] Order a comprehensive functional lab here [https://app.altaforlife.com/labsoverview] - https://app.altaforlife.com/labsoverview (after checkout, you'll get a confirmation email and text. Mention this podcast in your reply and you'll get a free interpretation call with Kat) Get your free Gut Health Assessment [https://atosolutions.pro.typeform.com/to/Rd6BMH0q] - https://atosolutions.typeform.com/to/VhvLsjG2 to get a step by step plan to feel less stuck Follow Andrew https://www.instagram.com/andrewhayeslife/ [https://www.instagram.com/andrewhayeslife/] Follow Kat https://www.instagram.com/katbestwellness/ [https://www.instagram.com/katbestwellness/]