#413 Dr. Karl Nadolsky – Adrenal Fatigue and Balancing Hormones: Science or Pseudoscience?

#413 Dr. Karl Nadolsky – Adrenal Fatigue and Balancing Hormones: Science or Pseudoscience?

Author: Andrew Coates November 4, 2025 Duration: 53:45

Endocrinologist and obesity specialist Dr. Karl Nadolsky joins me to bust myths, debunk pseudoscience, and share evidence-based nuance around:

• Whether “adrenal fatigue” is a real thing
• What adrenal insufficiency actually is
• The most common symptoms people misattribute to “adrenal fatigue”
• Thoughts on self-proclaimed “hormone specialists”
• The marketing of “hormone balancing” and why it’s misleading
• How lifestyle improvements get mistaken for medical fixes
• The nuance behind BMI, waist circumference, and metabolic risk
• What happens when cortisol is too high or too low
• The truth about hormones and fat gain or loss
• Are diet drinks really bad for your liver?
• And much more

CHAPTERS
00:00:49 Debunking Adrenal Fatigue
00:03:29 Symptoms and Misdiagnosis
00:05:05 Real Medical Concerns
00:06:24 The Role of Lifestyle Changes
00:06:59 Challenges in Healthcare
00:13:45 Understanding Hormone Specialists
00:19:51 The Problem with Hormone Balancing
00:23:51 Hormones and Metabolic Rate
00:26:13 Understanding Hormonal Impact on Weight Gain
00:27:25 Cortisol and Its Complex Role in Weight Gain
00:31:06 Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Obesity
00:31:56 The Dangers of Abdominal Obesity
00:32:46 BMI vs. Waist Circumference: A Better Indicator?
00:42:03 Musculoskeletal Risks of Obesity
00:48:30 Debunking Myths About Diet Drinks

SUPPORT THE SHOW
If this episode helped you, you can help me by:
• Subscribing and checking out more episodes
• Sharing it on your social media (tag me—I'll respond)
• Sending it to a friend who needs this

FOLLOW ANDREW COATES
Instagram: @andrewcoatesfitness
Website: https://www.andrewcoatesfitness.com

PARTNERS & RESOURCES
RP Strength App (use code COATESRP)
https://www.rpstrength.com/coates

Just Bite Me Meals (use code ANDREWCOATESFITNESS for 10% off)
https://justbitememeals.com/

MacrosFirst (nutrition tracking)
https://www.macrosfirst.com/

KNKG Bags (15% off)
https://www.knkg.com/Andrew59676

Versa Gripps (discount link)
https://www.versagripps.com/andrewcoates

TRAINHEROIC — FREE 90-DAY TRIAL (2 steps)

  1. Go to https://www.trainheroic.com/liftfree

  2. Reply to the email you receive (or email trials@trainheroic.com) and let them know I sent you



Andrew Coates hosts Lift Free And Diet Hard, a conversation grounded in the belief that strength and wellness are built on more than just routines. This podcast moves beyond quick fixes to examine the principles and personal stories that shape a sustainable, intentional life. You’ll hear from a variety of inspiring guests who share not only their expertise but also the real-world challenges and triumphs they’ve faced. The discussions naturally weave together the science of fitness with the practicalities of daily choices, offering a nuanced look at what it means to truly care for your physical and mental health. Each episode is designed to provide actionable insights you can use to navigate your own path, fostering resilience and confidence whether you're in the gym or the kitchen. By focusing on informed decision-making over dogma, the Lift Free And Diet Hard podcast becomes a resource for anyone looking to cut through the noise of wellness culture. Andrew facilitates these explorations with a focus on empowerment, ensuring every conversation adds a layer of understanding to the complex journey of building a strong, healthy life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Lift Free And Diet Hard with Andrew Coates
Podcast Episodes
#423 Melody Schoenfeld - Vegan Myth Busting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:38
Melody Schoenfeld is an author, gym owner, nutrition coach, and holds a Master's in Health Psychology. She brings deep expertise, a sharp nonsense detector, and evidence-based nuance to one of the most polarizing topics…
#422 Dr. Allan Bacon - Breaking Fat Loss Plateaus [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:44
Dr. Allan Bacon returns to break down one of the trickiest parts of health and fitness: fat loss plateaus.Allan blends evidence, coaching experience, and no-nonsense communication to clarify why plateaus happen, why most…
#421 Alex Allen - You’ll Never Hate Yourself Into a Body You Love [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:39
Alex Allen is one of the most skilled coaches in the industry at communicating nuance around training, lifestyle, and nutrition. She brings deep compassion and lived experience to the conversation - including weight gain…
#420 Chris Duffin - Resilience Engineered [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:30
Chris Duffin is an iconic strength athlete, entrepreneur, inventor, author, and educator known for engineering both world-class feats of strength and world-class systems of mindset.In this episode, Chris opens up about h…
#418 Jaime Filer - Is Anxiety Interfering With Your Progress? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:54
Jaime Filer is the founder of Filer Fitness and a respected speaker and educator in the fitness industry.In this episode, Jaime brings a mix of humor, vulnerability, and hard-earned wisdom to help unpack the very real wa…
#415 Kris Gethin - How To Transform Your Body, Mind, and Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:33
Kris Gethin is one of the most recognizable figures in the global fitness industry, known for his role as the longtime Editor-in-Chief of Bodybuilding.com, his transformation programs, and his relentless commitment to ph…