Robert Santana | PhD, RD, CSCS

Qualifications: PhD RD SSC Hobbies and Interests: Hiking, Dog Training, Collecting whiskey Why Choose Robert: Robert Santana is a Registered Dietitian and Strength Coach and owner of Weights & Plates Gym in the Greater Phoenix area. For the past two decades, Robert has developed and refined his knowledge, skills, and experiences through both higher education and practical experience. Robert earned both a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics and a Master of Science in Kinesiology at Western Illinois University. His quest for knowledge and a deeper understanding of the scientific process led him to earn a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing & Health Innovation at Arizona State University. He has extensive experience as a strength coach, nutrition coach, researcher, teacher, and competitor. He built upon his foundational knowledge by providing effective nutrition coaching in conjunction with teaching and coaching the barbell lifts through the application of the Starting Strength model of performing barbell exercises to help clients move safely while getting stronger and building muscle. As a firm believer that one must experience that which he or she is coaching, he has served as his own “guinea pig” experimenting with various diets, training programs, and has competed in the sports of Strengthlifting, Powerlifting, and Olympic Weightlifting. His key goal has always been to continuously build muscle, while minimizing fat gain, in a functional and sustainable way. Integrating elements of all the various lifting approaches has enabled him to help clients achieve their body composition goals while becoming more functional human beings. What you can expect when working with Robert: A strength training program focused on improving both strength and technique on the major barbell lifts—squat, standing press, bench press, deadlift, and pull-up/chin-up variations Programming built around full body, upper/lower, or push/pull training splits, depending on what fits your needs Access to the TrueCoach app for seamless workout delivery and tracking Ongoing form checks on the major lifts to make sure you’re lifting safely and effectively A balanced, sustainable diet plan built around your lifestyle and preferences What you won’t get: A 5 to 6 day per week bodybuilding split with endless volume A bloated set and exercise count just for the sake of intensity Crash dieting or unsustainable restriction Empty promises like spot-reducing fat—you’ll lose it in the order your body decides Quick fixes, magic pills, or anything that doesn’t exist in the real world