by Mackenzie Smith
Everyone wants to know the best workout, supplement, recovery tool, or new strategy that will take their results to the next level. But most people are overlooking the things that actually move the needle the most. In this episode, we break down why the simple basics have such a massive impact on your strength, muscle growth, fat loss, recovery, energy, and overall health. We also talk about why these habits work together, how small improvements compound over time, and why you shouldn't be trying to optimize the last 5% when the first 95% still needs work. The basics might not be exciting. But when you consistently get them right, they can completely change how you look, feel, and perform. Interested in Coaching? If you know what you should be doing but struggle to make it all fit into your life consistently, that's a huge part of what we help our clients with. We have a few coaching spots open this month. Apply using the link below and we'll learn more about where you're at, what you've been struggling with, and what you want to accomplish to see how we can support you. Join Team Unbreakable here: https://form.jotform.com/211409119511042 If You Enjoyed This Episode Send it to someone who's always looking for the next hack instead of mastering the basics. Subscribe, leave us a review, and we'll catch you in the next one.
We made it to 100 episodes of The Endless Pursuit. For this one, we're looking back at where the podcast started, how much we've changed along the way, and some of the biggest lessons we've learned through coaching, our own lives, and 100 conversations about health, growth, and becoming better. We talk about how our definition of health has expanded far beyond workouts and nutrition, why consistency will always beat perfection, and why the deeper work behind your behaviors is often the work that matters most. We also share five of the biggest lessons we've taken from the first 100 episodes. Thank you to everyone who has listened, shared an episode, sent us a message, become a client, joined us as a guest, or simply been along for the ride. Here's to the next 100. Connect With Us Mackenzie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit_with_mackenzie/ Twitter: https://x.com/smithhmackenzie LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithhmackenzie/ Laurence Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bestlifedude/ Twitter: https://x.com/bestlifedude/ --- If You Enjoyed This Episode Share it with someone who would benefit from the podcast. Subscribe, leave us a review, and we'll catch you in episode 101.
In this episode, we're breaking down emotional eating and why it's usually not a lack of discipline around food. If you find yourself eating when you're stressed, anxious, bored, overwhelmed, or exhausted, food may have become a way to cope, find comfort, or simply shut your brain off for a few minutes. We break down how to recognize what's actually driving the behavior, how to interrupt the pattern, and how to build healthier ways to handle what you're feeling instead. At the core, you need to understand why you need the food in the first place. Free Protein Guide Need some simple ways to get more protein in without spending hours cooking? Download our free guide with 10 ways to get 50g of protein in under 10 minutes here: https://fitwithmackenzie.com/protein Connect With Us Mackenzie Twitter: https://x.com/smithhmackenzie LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithhmackenzie/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit_with_mackenzie/ Laurence Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bestlifedude/ Twitter: https://x.com/bestlifedude/ If You Enjoyed This Episode please share it with someone who's been beating themselves up over food and needs to hear that the answer isn't simply more discipline. Subscribe, leave us a review, and we'll catch you next week. Appreciate you!!
In this episode, we're breaking down one of the biggest reasons people struggle to stay consistent with their health and fitness: all-or-nothing thinking. You miss one workout and suddenly the whole week feels ruined. You eat more than planned Friday night and decide you'll start over Monday. You have one bad weigh-in and convince yourself nothing is working. The real problem is that you haven't learned how to be imperfect and keep going. We break down how perfectionism actually makes you less consistent, how to stop compensating after you "mess up," and why your plan needs to have multiple versions that can adapt to real life. You don't need to keep starting over. You need to learn how to keep going. Interested in Working With Us? If you've been stuck in the on-and-off cycle for years and you're ready to build an approach that actually works around your life, we have a few coaching spots open this month. We'll sit down, learn more about where you're at, what's been keeping you stuck, what you've tried before, and where you're trying to go to see if and how we'd be able to support you. Apply here: https://form.jotform.com/211409119511042 Connect With Us Mackenzie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit_with_mackenzie/ Twitter: https://x.com/smithhmackenzie LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithhmackenzie/ Laurence Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bestlifedude/ Twitter: https://x.com/bestlifedude/ If you enjoyed this episode please send it to someone who's always telling themselves they'll "start again Monday."
In this episode, we're joined by our client Tim Schippmann, who has spent his life saying yes to experiences most people leave on their someday list. He's run marathons, completed Ironmans, biked across the United States, climbed the equivalent of Mount Everest, traveled the world, and raised three kids who are now chasing adventures of their own. But this episode isn't really about doing crazy endurance feats... it's more about what being healthy gives you access to. We talk about how taking care of his body has allowed him to keep doing MORE as he's gotten older, not less. We also get into strength training and longevity, choosing friends who push you forward, raising kids through example instead of instruction, balancing responsibility with adventure, and why you shouldn't wait until retirement to finally start living your life. The goal of fitness is to build a body capable of saying yes to the experiences, people, and adventures that make those years worth living. Connect With Tim on IG @HappyOnTrails If You Enjoyed This Episode Share it with someone who's been telling themselves they'll get healthy, take the trip, or start living differently “someday.” Don't wait for someday. Subscribe, leave us a review, and we'll catch you in the next one. Appreciate y'all 🤍
In this episode, we're using The Biggest Loser as a case study for what actually creates lasting weight loss and what doesn't. The show produced some incredible transformations, but many contestants eventually regained the weight. So what can we learn from it? We break down three of the biggest problems: using shame and self-hate as motivation, chasing extreme results that aren't sustainable, and creating an environment where losing weight is easy without teaching people how to maintain those habits in real life. Because losing weight isn't the same thing as learning how to keep it off. Connect With Us Mackenzie Twitter: https://x.com/smithhmackenzie LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithhmackenzie/ Laurence Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bestlifedude/ Twitter: https://x.com/bestlifedude/ If You Enjoyed This Episode Send it to someone who's tired of constantly losing weight just to gain it back. Subscribe, leave us a review, and we'll catch you in the next one.
In this episode, we're talking about something that has a much bigger impact on your health than most people realize: boundaries. Because most people already know they should work out, eat better, and get more sleep. The problem is that they haven't actually protected the time, energy, and space in their life to do those things. We talk about what it looks like when work, relationships, your phone, social obligations, and everyone else's needs constantly get access to you — while your own health gets whatever is left over. We also dive into setting clearer boundaries around your time, energy, food environment, work, relationships, and even yourself, and why deciding those boundaries before you're exhausted or stressed makes them much easier to keep. Because boundaries aren't selfish. They're how you protect your health, energy, relationships, and ability to actually show up for the people you care about. Interested in working with us? If you're realizing your health has been getting whatever is left over and you're ready to finally prioritize yourself, we have a few spots open for coaching this month. We'll sit down, learn more about where you're at, what you've been struggling with, and what you're trying to accomplish to see if we can support you. Apply for coaching here: https://form.jotform.com/211409119511042 --- Connect With Us Mackenzie Twitter: https://x.com/smithhmackenzie LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithhmackenzie/ Laurence Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bestlifedude/ Twitter: https://x.com/bestlifedude/ If You Enjoyed This Episode Send it to someone who needs the reminder that taking care of yourself isn't selfish. Set one boundary this week, protect it, and we'll catch you in the next one.
Whether it's grabbing a glass of wine after work, scrolling before bed, emotionally eating when you're stressed, or starting over every Monday, most habits aren't a lack of discipline—they're patterns you've been reinforcing for years. In this episode, we dive into why breaking habits feels so difficult, how your daily routines become automatic, and why simply relying on willpower almost never works. More importantly, we discuss practical ways to interrupt those patterns and begin building healthier ones that actually last. If you've ever felt like you're stuck repeating the same cycle despite knowing exactly what you "should" be doing, this episode is for you. Resources Mentioned: 10 ways to get ~50g of protein in under 10 minutes: https://fitwithmackenzie.com/protein Apply to work with us: https://form.jotform.com/211409119511042 Connect with Us: Mackenzie X: https://x.com/smithhmackenzie Mackenzie LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithhmackenzie/ Laurence Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bestlifedude/
In this episode, we're joined by orthopedic surgeon and performance medicine physician Dr. Edwin Spencer to break down one of the biggest topics in health right now: peptides. We separate the science from the hype, discuss where peptides may actually be beneficial, and why they're never a replacement for the fundamentals of nutrition, exercise, and healthy habits. We cover: What peptides are and how they work The most popular peptides, including BPC-157, TB-500, CJC-1295, and GLP-1s How peptides may support recovery, healing, muscle growth, and performance The difference between peptides and growth hormone Why sourcing and quality matter when considering peptides The current research, what we know, and what we still don't know Why peptides should complement healthy habits—not replace them How sleep, resistance training, nutrition, and VO₂ max still have the biggest impact on your long-term health If You Enjoyed This Episode Share this episode with someone who's curious about peptides or looking for an evidence-based discussion on where they fit into health, performance, and longevity. We'll catch you in the next one.
In this episode, we're diving into something we believe is at the root of almost every health and fitness transformation: the inner work. Because for most people, the biggest obstacle isn't a lack of knowledge. It's the deeper beliefs, patterns, and identities that keep pulling them back into the same cycles. We talk about why emotional eating, perfectionism, people-pleasing, fear of failure, tying your worth to achievement, and constantly staying busy aren't just mindset issues—they become fitness issues. Until those patterns change, no workout program or meal plan will ever stick for long. More Resources Apply to work with us: https://form.jotform.com/211409119511042 Connect with Us: Mackenzie X: https://x.com/smithhmackenzie Mackenzie LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithhmackenzie/ Laurence Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bestlifedude/