The Next Level Health & Fitness Podcast

In this episode of the Next Level Health and Fitness Podcast, Craig and I sat down to recap the brand-new Biggest Loser documentary on Netflix. It’s a three-part series that dives into one of the most controversial weight loss shows ever — and we went deep breaking it all down.

We talked about the pros, the cons, and what the show got completely wrong when it comes to creating lasting results. More importantly, we shared what you can actually take away from watching it — and how those lessons apply to dieting and choosing a more sustainable approach.

We also dug into the 2016 research study that followed Biggest Loser contestants years after the show. We gave our take on the findings, what they revealed about metabolism, and what it means for anyone out there trying to lose weight and keep it off.

Here’s what you’ll hear in this episode:

• Our honest thoughts on Netflix’s Biggest Loser documentary
• The good, the bad, and the ugly of the show’s approach
• Why extreme dieting never works long-term
• Insights from the 2016 metabolism study
• Why ownership and sustainability are the real keys to success

If you’ve ever felt frustrated with dieting, struggled to keep weight off, or wondered what really happens when you take extreme approaches to weight loss, you’re going to get a lot from this one.

 

Back To School Challenge Weight Loss Challenge

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Next Level Links

Nutrition Coaching - www.becomenextlevel.com

Nutrition Coaching Free Consultations - Schedule Here

Next Level Experience Waitlist - Join Here

 

Craig's Links

Focus Journal - Order Here

www.greatestdaymindset.com

 

Free Guides:

• Eating Out Guide - Get The Guide
• High-Protein Fast Food Orders - Get the Guide
• Macro Food Options Guide - Get The Guide

 

Join Us On Patreon - Join Here

 

Submit your questions to be featured on our Q&A episodes.

 

Order from Cured Supplement

Order from Legion Supplements and get 20% off your first order by using discount code: keynutrition

 

Connect with us on Instagram

Host Brad Jensen – @thesoberbodybuilder

Co-Host Craig Smith - @greatestdaymindset

Next Level Nutrition – @mynextlevelnutrition

 

Valerie Lusvardi is back on the show, and since her last appearance over a year ago, she’s become not only a good friend but someone I’ve worked with in a professional capacity. We even teamed up to help a girl prep for a bodybuilding show.

Val is one of the sharpest minds in the game when it comes to training and programming, and she’s just as dialed in with nutrition. Not to mention—she’s an IFBB pro, a coach, a wife, and a mom to three boys.

In this episode, we covered a lot of ground:

• Val’s journey through 17 bodybuilding shows and the lessons she’s taken away from competing.
• The real power of maintenance calories for women—how to optimize maintenance to build muscle without forcing a huge surplus.
• How long you can (and should) keep certain lifts in your program before switching things up.
• The balancing act of being a coach, competitor, wife, and mom—and how Val shows up strong in every role.

Valerie's Links

Work with Valerie - Learn More

Follow on Instagram - @valerielusvardi

 

Next Level Links

Nutrition Coaching - www.becomenextlevel.com

Nutrition Coaching Free Consultations - Schedule Here

Next Level Experience Waitlist - Join Here

 

Craig's Links

Focus Journal - Order Here

www.greatestdaymindset.com

 

Free Guides:

• Eating Out Guide - Get The Guide
• High-Protein Fast Food Orders - Get the Guide
• Macro Food Options Guide - Get The Guide

 

Join Us On Patreon - Join Here

 

Submit your questions to be featured on our Q&A episodes.

 

Order from Cured Supplement

Order from Legion Supplements and get 20% off your first order by using discount code: keynutrition

 

Connect with us on Instagram

Host Brad Jensen – @thesoberbodybuilder

Guest Valerie Lusvardi - @valerielusvardi

Next Level Nutrition – @mynextlevelnutrition

This milestone episode is a special one. Brad and Craig dive deep into a topic that separates people who stay stuck from those who create real transformation: choosing hard on purpose.

We live in a world designed for comfort—but comfort rarely produces growth. In this conversation, Brad and Craig unpack the art of designed discomfort and why leaning into hard things is the gateway to the life you want.

They cover:

• The science behind discomfort and what it does to your brain.
• Why intentionally putting yourself in uncomfortable situations builds resilience and confidence.
• How to reframe “hard” so you stop avoiding it and start using it as a tool for growth.
• The truth that everything you want is on the other side of uncomfortable.

This episode will challenge you to stop waiting for change to magically appear and start seeking out the hard things that sharpen you into the person you’re meant to be.

If you’re ready to get unstuck, break through plateaus, and live at your next level—this one’s for you.

 

Next Level Links

Nutrition Coaching - www.becomenextlevel.com

Nutrition Coaching Free Consultations - Schedule Here

Next Level Experience Waitlist - Join Here

 

Craig's Links

Focus Journal - Order Here

www.greatestdaymindset.com

 

Free Guides:

• Eating Out Guide - Get The Guide
• High-Protein Fast Food Orders - Get the Guide
• Macro Food Options Guide - Get The Guide

 

Join Us On Patreon - Join Here

 

Submit your questions to be featured on our Q&A episodes.

 

Order from Cured Supplement

Order from Legion Supplements and get 20% off your first order by using discount code: keynutrition

 

Connect with us on Instagram

Host Brad Jensen – @thesoberbodybuilder

Co-Host Craig Smith - @greatestdaymindset

Next Level Nutrition – @mynextlevelnutrition

If you’ve been stressing over every tiny detail in your health and fitness journey… this episode is your permission slip to chill out.

I’m breaking down six things you just don’t need to waste your mental energy on anymore — from obsessing over your friend’s macros, to comparing your progress to someone else’s transformation timeline, to that outdated BMI chart that’s about as useful as a flip phone in 2025.

This is part straight talk, part humor, and part motivational kick to remind you: your journey is yours. The less you stress over the wrong stuff, the more you can focus on what actually moves the needle.

By the end, you’ll walk away with less noise in your head and more clarity on what matters.

 

Next Level Links

Nutrition Coaching - www.becomenextlevel.com

Nutrition Coaching Free Consultations - Schedule Here

Next Level Experience Waitlist - Join Here

 

Craig's Links

Focus Journal - Order Here

www.greatestdaymindset.com

 

Free Guides:

• Eating Out Guide - Get The Guide
• High-Protein Fast Food Orders - Get the Guide
• Macro Food Options Guide - Get The Guide

 

Join Us On Patreon - Join Here

 

Submit your questions to be featured on our Q&A episodes.

 

Order from Cured Supplement

Order from Legion Supplements and get 20% off your first order by using discount code: keynutrition

 

Connect with us on Instagram

Host Brad Jensen – @thesoberbodybuilder

Co-Host Craig Smith - @greatestdaymindset

Next Level Nutrition – @mynextlevelnutrition

In this Q&A episode of the Next Level Podcast, Craig and I dive into a variety of real-life questions you’ve sent in. We talk about how to genuinely help loved ones when you can see they’re struggling, whether getting 15,000 steps one day and 5,000 the next still evens out to your goal, and what to do when you’re trying to help a client who clearly doesn’t want to do the work.

We also cover how to get your menstrual cycle back after it’s gone missing, ways to maintain a healthy social life while living sober, and a handful of other topics that hit on health, mindset, and life balance. Throughout the conversation, we share straightforward solutions and tactical action plans so you can walk away with steps to take — not just ideas to think about.

 

Next Level Links

Nutrition Coaching - www.becomenextlevel.com

Nutrition Coaching Free Consultations - Schedule Here

Next Level Experience Waitlist - Join Here

 

Craig's Links

Focus Journal - Order Here

www.greatestdaymindset.com

 

Free Guides:

• Eating Out Guide - Get The Guide
• High-Protein Fast Food Orders - Get the Guide
• Macro Food Options Guide - Get The Guide

 

Join Us On Patreon - Join Here

 

Submit your questions to be featured on our Q&A episodes.

 

Order from Cured Supplement

Order from Legion Supplements and get 20% off your first order by using discount code: keynutrition

 

Connect with us on Instagram

Host Brad Jensen – @thesoberbodybuilder

Co-Host Craig Smith - @greatestdaymindset

Next Level Nutrition – @mynextlevelnutrition