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The Catalyst

The Catalyst

By: Chris Cooper
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The Catalyst is your source for information about improving fitness and health. Once a week, host Chris Cooper of Catalyst Fitness bridges the gap between science and ground-level tactics in gyms and coaching practices. The Catalyst is perfect for coaches, trainers, nutritionists, athletes and general exercisers who want to learn more about training. Be sure to subscribe!© 2024 The Catalyst Hygiene & Healthy Living
Episodes
  • Working Out, But Not Seeing Results?
    Mar 21 2026

    You're showing up. You're putting in the work. So why aren't you seeing results?

    The problem usually isn't effort — it's a mismatch between your problem and your prescription. The wrong fix, no matter how hard you work it, won't get you where you want to go.

    In this episode of the Catalyst Fitness Quickcast, Coach Chris goes rapid-fire through 11 of the most common "working out but stuck" scenarios — and the specific fix for each one:

    Lifting but not getting stronger? It's a volume-and-intensity problem, not an effort problem. Doing HIIT but not losing fat? Chronic high-intensity training actually reduces your body's ability to burn fat. Going to the gym five times a week but always exhausted? You're under-recovered, not undertrained. Eating healthy but the scale won't move? Healthy doesn't mean low-calorie.

    You'll also hear why tight muscles are usually weak muscles, why protein shakes don't build muscle on their own, and why sometimes the fastest path to progress is going to the gym less.

    Find your scenario. Apply your fix. Give it four weeks.

    And if you can't identify your mismatch on your own — that's what coaching is for.

    OnRamp program for beginners and returning athletes: catalystgym.com

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    13 mins
  • How to Talk To Your Kids About Food
    Mar 14 2026

    Are you already teaching your kids about food? Whether or not you realize it — yes, you are.

    Every meal, every snack, every habit they see you model is a lesson. The question is whether it's the lesson you want to pass on.

    In this episode, Coach Chris Cooper walks through four simple principles every kid should understand about food and nutrition — the things the Canada Food Guide won't teach them, but that your parents or grandparents probably lived without even thinking about it. You'll also learn why the fear of "creating an eating disorder" is holding too many parents back from having the most important health conversation of their child's life.

    What you'll take away:

    1. Why sugar — not lack of exercise — is driving childhood weight issues
    2. The caffeine conversation your teenager needs to hear
    3. How to build a protein-first plate habit before the teen years
    4. Why eating before bed matters more than most people think

    Find more episodes and resources at catalystgym.com.

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    12 mins
  • How to Talk To Your Kids About Exercise
    Mar 8 2026

    How do you talk to your kids about working out — without pushing them away?If your kid has started showing interest in fitness, or if you wish they would, this episode is for you. Coach Chris breaks down the #1 thing parents get wrong (hint: it has nothing to do with what you say), why early specialization backfires, and how to introduce fitness to kids without creating pressure or fear.You'll learn: • Why your daily habits speak louder than any conversation • The exact phrases that encourage vs. the ones that shut kids down • How to address growth plate and 'obsession' fears with actual science • When to get a coach — and why it's one of the best investments a parent can make Whether your child is 10 or 17, this episode gives you the language and strategy to support their health journey in a way that actually works. Ready to invest in your own fitness first? Our OnRamp program was built for adults who want to get started without the intimidation. Learn more at catalystgym.com.

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    15 mins
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