Unlocking Real Recovery with Dr. Willie Villarreal

Unlocking Real Recovery with Dr. Willie

Villarreal

Champion Living Fitness — Blog

Recovery isn’t optional for rodeo athletes, ranch families, or anyone living a demanding, physical lifestyle. It’s the difference between staying in the game or breaking down early.

On this week’s episode of the Champion Living Podcast, I sat down with Dr. Willie Villarreal, a functional medicine expert who works daily with athletes, tactical operators, and hard-working people who rely on their bodies to perform.

This conversation digs into what’s real, what’s effective, and how modern performance medicine can support everything you do in and out of the arena.

Peptides: What Actually Works

Peptides get talked about everywhere now, but most people don’t understand them. Willie broke down the two most useful tools for athletes:

BPC-157

Best used for chronic tendon issues, inflammation, and soft-tissue recovery.

Here’s what we’ve seen:
• Athletes dealing with tendon pain for months or years often see major relief in five to seven days
• Injecting near the injury site produces the best results
• It will not repair ruptured or torn tissue, but it is extremely effective for tendonitis and inflammation

One important point: most peptides sold online are not what the label claims. Over 80% are under-dosed or adulterated. Anything you put in your body needs to come from a legitimate pharmacy. You only get one body—don’t cut corners.

TB-500

Often paired with BPC-157 for deeper tissue recovery. It’s useful, but only if the product comes from a trusted medical source.

NAD and Longevity

NAD is another area where Willie sees huge benefits. If you’re constantly traveling, battling fatigue, or feel like you can’t bounce back like you used to, NAD may be the missing piece.

NAD supports cellular energy, repairs damaged DNA, and improves recovery during heavy training blocks. IVs, injections, and orals all have a place—but dosing and delivery matter. Work with someone qualified who understands the physiology.

LactiGo: Used at the Highest Levels

One big takeaway from the episode: LactiGo works. This transdermal L-carnosine gel is being used by:

• Medalists and record-breakers at the most recent Olympics
• Every team in the NHL (it’s the official recovery gel of the league)
• Navy SEALs in daily training
• Professional organizations like the Washington Commanders

Why? Because it delivers faster recovery, less soreness, and improved power output. If elite athletes and tactical units trust it, that’s worth paying attention to.

Get Your LactiGo Here → Click Here!

The Truth About Testosterone

For years, testosterone therapy carried a black box warning suggesting increased risk of heart attack and stroke. That warning has now been removed because the study it was based on was flawed.

Here’s what actually matters:
• TRT does not increase cardiovascular risk in monitored patients
• Most side effects are temporary, reversible, and dose-dependent
• Lab work must be evaluated in context—not in isolation
• Proper dosing beats aggressive protocols every time

If your energy, strength, recovery, or performance isn’t where it should be, your hormone profile needs to be part of the conversation.

New Programs Now Live in All Three Tracks of the Champion Living App

Two new programs are now included across every track—Roughstock, Timed Event, and Beyond the Arena.

Built to Move – 20-Minute Daily Mobility

A simple, structured mobility plan you can add to your warm-up, cool-down, or recovery days. No guessing. No random videos. Just daily movement designed to improve how you feel and perform.

Bulletproof Shoulders – 8-Week Prehab and Rehab Program

A strength-based shoulder health program built to improve overhead mobility, stabilize the rotator cuff, and keep you strong and pain-free. Ideal for rodeo athletes and anyone doing physically demanding work.

Both programs are included in your membership. Pick your track and start today.

Final Thoughts

If you’re a rodeo athlete, ranch hand, or anyone whose livelihood depends on performance, you cannot afford to fall behind on recovery. Conversations like this one with Dr. Willie matter because they bring clarity to tools that actually work.

Pairing smart recovery with structured training is how you stay durable, powerful, and competitive for years—not months.

Listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.
Train with us inside the Champion Living App. Let’s get to work.