In this blog post, we’re breaking down the latest episode of Black Iron Radio, where coaches Brooke, Kelsey, and Jess tackle the age-old debate: cardio vs. lifting. Should you prioritize one over the other? Do you actually need both? And how do you make it all work without burning out? Whether you’re training for fat loss, performance, or just trying to move and feel better, this conversation unpacks the benefits of each—and how to blend them to match your goals, lifestyle, and preferences. If you’ve ever wondered which training style is “best,” this episode is for you.

In this blog post, we’re breaking down key takeaways from our recent Black Iron Radio episode, where coaches Amanda, Lauren, and Ryann dive into one of the most common—and misunderstood—goals we hear from clients: improving body composition. Whether your goal is fat loss, muscle gain, or something in between, this conversation unpacks what body composition actually means, how to pursue it in a sustainable way, and why it’s about so much more than scale weight. They cover everything from protein targets and progressive training to recovery, stress, and the long game of physique change. If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and start making real, lasting progress, this one’s for you.

3 things will optimize your muscle gain: Resistance training, A calorie surplus, Adequate protein intake.

Each of these things plays off of one another. You can gain muscle in a calorie surplus without resistance training, but you’ll likely put on more fat than you will lean body mass if you don’t lift. If you don’t eat enough protein, you won’t put on as much muscle as you could.