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Fuel Your Strength

The Fuel Your Strength podcast is all about helping women who lift weights get stronger, fuel themselves (without counting every bite of food), perform better in and out of the gym, and take up space. Strength nutrition strategist and weight lifting coach Steph Gaudreau shares how lifting weights is a catalyst for a more expansive life and how to challenge the status quo around nutrition and fitness. This weekly show brings you discussion about building strength without obsessing about food and exercise, lifting weights, food psychology, and more. You'll learn how to eat, train, recover, listen to your body, and step into your strength.
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Now displaying: 2022
Dec 6, 2022

One thing I hear women athletes over 40 complaining about a lot is their metabolism. I promise you that your metabolism is not broken; it may just be adapting in a downward direction based on the inputs you are putting in. While metabolism is complex, there are some simple and practical things you can start to implement today that will help you improve your metabolism as an athletic woman over 40.

If You Want to Increase Your Metabolism as an Athlete, You Should:

  1. Start with eating more energy, specifically protein intake
  2. Make muscle building a top priority by focusing on strength training
  3. Look for opportunities and strategies to build more non-exercise activity into your day

The Success Trifecta

The amount of energy going into your system versus what is going out, or your energy flux, is something we have discussed a lot on this podcast. Maintaining a higher energy flux is a key factor in the successful trifecta of training hard, having enough energy, and providing your body with what it needs to succeed. 

Understanding how to get more adaptations out of your training by increasing your energy flux is the best way to see the positive impacts of your training that you are looking for. It doesn't take anything complicated or extreme, just a simple set of behaviors and habits that you can actually implement.

Three Simple Habits for an Imposter Metabolism

If you are tired from your training, bunking your workouts, or don't feel like training for weeks and weeks at a time, it is going to be hard to have the consistency that you need to have positive outcomes in your training. Increasing your energy flux over time will help you spend more energy through movement, exercise better, and improve your digestion, all while simultaneously building muscle.

I wish that I knew these three positive habits that can have a huge benefit on your metabolism and so much more. The positive impacts you will see from eating more protein energy, prioritizing muscle building, and incorporating more non-exercise activity into your day, will get you back into good standing with your metabolism.

How has your metabolism changed over time? Share your thoughts on my easy-to-implement metabolism habits with me in the comments on the episode page.

In This Episode

  • Weaving together the threads of the last few episodes and painting a full picture of energy (2:51)
  • Understanding energy flux and why slashing your energy intake is not going to give you the results you may think (5:54)
  • How to minimize compensations while trying to nourish your body, maintain your energy levels, and train hard (10:22)
  • Three practical things that you can focus on as an athletic woman in her 40s and beyond (17:01)
  • Why you need to build more non-exercise activity into your daily routine (22:18)

Quotes

“I hear so often from athletic women over 40 who are very concerned about metabolism.” (3:20)

“We never want to lose muscle mass. Muscle mass is so incredibly important, and we know that muscle is an organ of longevity.” (9:21)

“What are the benefits of increasing your energy flux? What that really means is slowly over time increasing the amount that you are eating, and of course, being able to expend then slightly more energy through your training.” (16:02)

“These are really filed under the idea of lifestyle, nutrition and training, and things that we can do to improve our health and wellbeing and focusing on the behaviors themselves. That's what we are really trying to move the needle on here.” (18:04)

“Think about how to actually put some metabolism friendly into play in your life so that you are not stressing about the metabolism, but rather you are thinking about the positive, health-promoting changes that you can make.” (25:48)

Featured on the Show

Join Strength Nutrition Unlocked Here

Find the full show notes here

Follow Steph on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Pinterest

I'd really love it if you would take 1 min and leave us a rating and review on iTunes!

Podcast production & marketing support by the team at Counterweight Creative

Support the Podcast

Get 20% off Legion Supplements with code STEPH

Follow Steph on Instagram

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Related Episodes

FYS 352: Energy Flux and Fueling for Athletes with Jamie Scott

FYS 353: Fueling Best Practices for Active People with Jamie Scott

FYS 388: Why You’re Struggling with Motivation to Workout

Nov 29, 2022

In general, we have an oversimplified understanding of our energy intake and our energy expenditure. Only thinking about calories in and calories out does not assess your daily energy needs from a complete point of view. There are many nuances that go into the energy balance discussion for athletic women, and this episode is the place to start.

If You Want to Understand Your Daily Energy Expenditure Better, You Should:

  1. Remember that energy balance is a more nuanced concept than just saying calories in and calories out
  2. Pay attention to your protein energy and non-protein energy rather than your total calorie intake
  3. Work to understand your total energy expenditure from a complete daily point of view

Where Women Athletes Go Wrong

Often times athletic women get into trouble by trying to match a low daily energy calorie intake with a high energy output of training. This approach to fueling is where athletic women tend to go wrong and see negative outcomes. 

Your metabolism and your energy consumption need to work together in order to find the energy balance that is right for you and your training. Understanding how your energy is influenced when you are at rest when you are breaking down your food, and when you are engaging in non-exercise and exercise activity is the key to getting into balance and moving past oversimplification.

The 4 Pieces of Total Daily Energy Expenditure

There are four key pieces that affect your total daily energy expenditure. How your body processes energy during these four phases is the key to being in energy balance and avoiding an energy deficit. Your resting energy expenditure, the thermic effect of food, your non-exercise activity thermogenesis, or NEAT, and your exercise activity thermogenesis, or purposeful activity, all play a role in how your metabolism works together with your body. 

Maintaining an appropriate energy balance is the only way to see the improvements you are looking for in a sustainable and healthy way.

Do you feel as though your energy is in balance? Share your thoughts with me in the comments on the episode page.

In This Episode

  • The problem with applying basic principles of thermodynamics for athletic women (5:58)
  • Understanding the difference between energy intake and calories (9:59)
  • Which numbers are the most important to pay attention to as a female athlete (16:02)
  • How your total daily energy expenditure is impacting your metabolism (19:45)
  • Why you need to stop listening to the mindset of eating less and moving more (27:27)

Quotes

“Of course, you are a biological system, and when we strip biological models of all of their complexity and nuance and strip them down to pithy one-liners like ‘eat less move more,’ this simplicity at best can lead you astray as an athletic person, and even at worst, do some harm to your health and wellbeing.” (9:03)

“Saying a calorie is a calorie is like saying an inch is an inch or a pound is a pound. It quantifies things, but it doesn't qualify things.” (11:29)

“It is important to understand how metabolism and energy balance and so on work together, specifically when we are talking about why building muscle is so freaking important, and how does that affect our basal metabolic rate.” (20:44)

“I am not here to teach you intentional fat loss. What I am here to highlight is some of the ways we go astray in our thinking.” (22:01)

“I think it is important for you to understand how some of these factors are going to affect your training and why my primary goal here is to get you to understand that eating enough food is so incredibly important to your training and your health and well-being.” (30:42)

Featured on the Show

Join Strength Nutrition Unlocked Here

Find the full show notes here

Follow Steph on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Pinterest

I'd really love it if you would take 1 min and leave us a rating and review on iTunes!

Podcast production & marketing support by the team at Counterweight Creative

Support the Podcast

Get 20% off Legion Supplements with code STEPH

Follow Steph on Instagram

Rate and review on Apple Podcasts

Related Episodes

FYS 388: Why You’re Struggling with Motivation to Workout

FYS 391: What is Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S)?

FYS 351: Strength Training Risk vs Reward

Nov 15, 2022

Properly fueling yourself as an athlete, especially if you are an athletic woman over 40, can have a huge impact on your training, strength, and overall health and well-being. Understanding RED-S, or Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports, is a key piece of educational information I think every athlete needs to know about.

If You are Concerned About RED-S, You Should:

  1. Make sure you are eating enough protein and non-protein energy for your training
  2. Work with a nutrition professional if you are struggling to gain clarity about what to do next
  3. Seek a team approach treatment if you are intentionally under-fuelling

Understanding RED-S

You don't have to be an Olympic athlete to deal with RED-S or the implications of low energy availability. RED-S transcends different populations and athletic individuals. This is why it is so important to gain a clearer picture of how RED-S is defined, the signs and symptoms of low energy availability, how it impacts your performance and health, and what you can do to fuel yourself for the best success and performance possible.

Fueling Properly Is Not Optional

I want to challenge you to think about the amount you are fueling yourself in comparison to your training schedule. By the time you account for the energy you have spent through exercise and how much you are eating, there are a lot of cases where we don't provide our bodies enough energy to facilitate even basic bodily functions.

Fueling your body with enough energy to recover from training is incredibly important to basically every system you have in your body, from hormones to metabolism to menstruation. Low energy availability, or RED-S, doesn't just affect what is going on in the gym; it also has serious implications for your overall health and well-being.

What did you think about this topic? Have you ever struggled with low energy availability? Let me know your thoughts in the comments on the episode page.

In This Episode

  • What is RED-S and why you should know about it (5:06)
  • Why is there a different name associated with the female athlete triad (7:22)
  • Understanding low energy availability and the causes of RED-S (10:22)
  • Physiological signs that you may be dealing with low energy availability (19:19)
  • The possible impacts on your training and performance when it comes to RED-S (24:40)
  • What to do if you suspect you are in a state of low energy availability (28:29)

Quotes

“We are trying to fuel, we are trying to eat better and fuel our performance. And at the at the same time, it is revolutionary, talking about actually eating enough as female athletes.” (2:53)

“RED-S is more inclusive in terms of what the physiological implications of low energy availability happen to be. It is more expansive in terms of how this could potentially be affecting someone's performance and also their health and wellbeing.” (9:18)

“The physiological impacts when it comes to under eating, especially if we have a high amount of physical activity and exercise, can accumulate quite quickly.” (17:00)

“We just need enough energy in order for us to get the output in our training so that we will see the beneficial adaptations.” (23:57)

“You need to eat enough to cover your training and also your basic bodily needs. And that includes both protein and non-protein energy.” (28:41)

Featured on the Show

Schedule A Call About Strength Nutrition Unlocked Here

IOC consensus statement on relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S)

National Eating Disorders Association Website

Find the full show notes here

Follow Steph on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Pinterest

I'd really love it if you would take 1 min and leave us a rating and review on iTunes!

Podcast production & marketing support by the team at Counterweight Creative

Support the Podcast

Get 20% off Legion Supplements with code STEPH

Follow Steph on Instagram

Rate and review on Apple Podcasts

Related Episodes

FYS 388: Why You’re Struggling with Motivation to Workout

FYS 367: 5 Strength Nutrition Lessons I Wish I Learned a Decade Ago

FYS 350: Are You Eating Enough? Low Energy Availability in Sport

Nov 8, 2022

Strength conditioning as an over-40 athlete can be challenging enough on its own, but when you add in the dimension of being a postpartum athlete on top of everything else, special attention is warranted. Bridging the gap between rehab and performance requires an undefined timeline that is unique for you but will ultimately get you back to doing the things that you want to do.

If You Are Thinking About Your Postpartum Training Needs, You Should: 

  1. Don’t be ashamed of your postpartum symptoms by surrounding yourself with people who understand how you need to train
  2. Make little adjustments that set up your body to perform better as a unit
  3. Understand your predispositions and reverse engineer what your training looks like

Returning to the Sport You Love

Brianna Battles is the Founder of Pregnancy & Postpartum Athleticism and CEO of Everyday Battles LLC. She is a relentless advocate and relatable resource for women who want training during pregnancy and to make a sustainable return to performance, lifestyle, function, career, and activity postpartum because postpartum is forever!

You Are an Athlete

Many women disqualify themselves as athletes. Brianna believes that if you are consistently dedicating yourself to movement, whether you are running, doing yoga, dancing, swimming, or anything that requires physical output, you are an athlete. While you can be an athlete in all seasons of your lifetime, how you interact with your athletic ability will change over time based on your body's needs. As a female athlete, especially if you are going through pregnancy or postpartum, you are not fragile, but you are also not invincible, and the way you train needs to reflect that.

Bridging the Gap Between Rehab and Performance

Because of the common male-dominated approach to training, birth is not given the same considerations when it comes to rehab and recovery as other events. Postpartum women are not a special or unique group of the population, and postpartum women deserve a more hands-on and substantial approach to their training.

Like in jiu-jitsu, you need to be a white belt before becoming a blue belt. The same can be said for training postpartum. While pregnancy and postpartum can act as an incredible catalyst for learning about your body, it can bring out many of your vulnerabilities. If you can give yourself patience, rest, and grace, you can learn how to work with your postpartum symptoms and get to the point that you want to be.

Are you showing yourself grace while you battle postpartum? Share your thoughts with me in the comments on the episode page

In This Episode

  • Examples of topics in which a changing viewpoint has been made through lived experiences (12:19)
  • Why people get hung up on what and who defines an athlete (19:00)
  • How postpartum athletes can support their bodies in a way that a lot of people miss (21:34)
  • Why your postpartum symptoms like incontinence are nothing to be ashamed about or stop you from getting back into training (27:12)
  • The importance of training with someone who understands your postpartum needs (33:00)
  • What coaches should know about training with postpartum women (35:05)

Quotes

“There are so many things about our body that changes during that season [of pregnancy and postpartum], and exercise has to adapt to meet the body where it is at.” (13:50)

“Fitness is a great baseline in general, but it is not a guarantee for anything.” (15:56)

“If you are consistently participating in fitness, you are an athlete. Its not about being a size or an ability, its honestly just an expression of dedicated physical output.” (19:35)

“Postpartum requires a rehabilitation period, a rebuilding period, and then an undefined timeline of what is that going to look like for you getting back to the things you want to do.” (23:29)

“If you can give yourself those seasons, and take it slow, take it gradually, get the support and resources that you need and not push boundaries, you are going to get what you want a hell of a lot faster than if you tried to push boundaries before your body or your brain or your lifestyle was ready for it.” (25:56)

“I think that it is a very real possibility when we are talking about women's core and pelvic health needs across all sports. It is becoming anticipatory and being able to react where you are not able to think about it or worry about it.” (42:58)

Featured on the Show

Join Strength Nutrition Unlocked Here

Brianna Battles Website

Pregnancy and Postpartum Athleticism Coaching Certification

Follow Brianna on Instagram

Follow Pregnant Postpartum Athlete on Instagram

Find the full show notes here

Follow Steph on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Pinterest

I'd really love it if you would take 1 min and leave us a rating and review on iTunes!

Podcast production & marketing support by the team at Counterweight Creative

Support the Podcast

Get 20% off Legion Supplements with code STEPH

Follow Steph on Instagram

Rate and review on Apple Podcasts

Related Episodes

LTYB 281: How To Exercise Intuitively w/ Steph Ondrusek

LTYB 345: How To Give Yourself Radical Permission w/ Hayden Dawes

FYS 372: Recovery Trackers, Training, and The Menstrual Cycle w/ Emily Capodilupo

 

Nov 1, 2022

Introducing a strength training element into your walking can have major benefits, especially as a woman athlete. A way to make your walking a bit more challenging is through rucking. Rucking is a great opportunity to take the foundational movement pattern of carrying and incorporate it into your training routine easily.

If You Want to Start Rucking, You Should:

  1. Find a backpack and fill it with a weight that does not exceed ⅓ of your total body weight
  2. Remember to carry your pack when going for your regular daytime walking
  3. Enjoy the benefits you will feel in your strength, ability, and overall fitness

Understanding the Comfort Crisis with Michael Easter

Michael Easter is an author, professor, and adventurer. He approaches movement and training from a scientific perspective, helping others to integrate modern science and evolutionary wisdom into their lives to expand their potential. He is the author of The Comfort Crisis and is personally a big fan of rucking and all of its benefits.

Controlled Discomfort is a Good Thing

Often we think about exercise as a 30 or 60-minute period of our day when we go hard. But being stagnant for the other 23 hours of the day has no benefit. Michael wants to challenge you to find ways in your daily routine to introduce some controlled discomfort into your life.

As the world has become more comfortable over time, we have lost certain things that help to make us healthy. Lifting heavy things while in motion can have huge benefits, especially for women. Walking with weight on your body, or rucking, is usually the best option if you want to see big results.

The Benefits of Rucking

Scientific research shows that strength training is crucial to longevity, especially in women. Rucking works to put your spine in a better position while lifting, avoid intense pressure on your joints, and is uniquely good at improving bone density.

If you struggle to integrate carrying into your fitness routine, which is an essential part of the seven functional movement patterns for building strength, rucking is a great option for you. Getting started is easy and incredibly simple.

Are you ready to get started with rucking today? Share your thoughts with me in the comments on the episode page.

In This Episode

  • Why you should put more focus on carrying in your lifting routine (12:15)
  • What is rucking and why you should know about it (13:34)
  • The difference, pros, and cons between wearing a weight vast and rucking (15:19)
  • Why rucking is great specifically for women athletes (19:37)
  • How to be a 2-Percenter in order to see big changes (27:25)
  • Tips for getting started with rucking and mitigating risk (29:15)

Quotes

“[Carrying] is kind of like the thing that most people aren't doing that would help them the most. Strength wise, fitness wise, cardio wise, and also just being protective against injuries.” (10:46)

“I think that rucking is a great way to add a strength stimulus for women.” (20:22)

“Women really were the people, as we have evolved, that kept us alive.” (22:48)

“Only 2 percent of people, when they have the option of stairs or an escalator, will take the stairs. Now, if you back up, it's actually those very small decisions that we make every day, whether to take the stairs, parking farther away in the parking lot, picking your kid up and moving them, carrying your groceries. All these little ways of adding activity back into your life, those add up over the course of the day to a greater calorie burn and stimulus than a workout.” (28:01)

“You know what is more risky than exercising? Not exercising at all.” (33:25)

Featured on the Show

Join Strength Nutrition Unlocked Here

The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter

Michael Easter Website

Follow Michael on Instagram

Find the full show notes here

Follow Steph on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Pinterest

I'd really love it if you would take 1 min and leave us a rating and review on iTunes!

Podcast production & marketing support by the team at Counterweight Creative

Support the Podcast

Get 20% off Legion Supplements with code STEPH

Follow Steph on Instagram

Rate and review on Apple Podcasts

Related Episodes

LTYB 281: How To Exercise Intuitively w/ Steph Ondrusek

FYS 385: How To Build An Athlete Mindset Over 40

FYS 384: Making Mobility Practical w/ Coach RT3

 

Oct 25, 2022

Are you lacking the motivation or energy to train? I often hear this from women athletes, and it often stems from a lack of fueling or being in a low energy availability state. If you are feeling more tired during your workouts or during daily activities, have to go to sleep hours earlier than normal, or find yourself taking the elevator instead of the stairs because you are just so tired, there is a good chance you are not fueling yourself enough.

If You Want To Increase Your Motivation to Train, You Should:

  1. Get clear about how, why, and when you are fueling yourself and if it is enough for your training program
  2. Look out for signs that you may be in a low energy availability state
  3. Remember that your energy levels impact so much more than just your physical activity

Stop Calling Yourself Lazy

Sometimes we think that low motivation is a character flaw, that we aren't working hard enough, are feeling lazy, and just need to power through. But so often, we forget to look at what could be the underlying causes behind our lack of energy. Not fueling yourself enough, especially if you are an athletic person, is something you need to consider.

I want you to stop blaming yourself and start looking at what, how, and when you are fueling yourself. You may find that your lack of motivation is really just a low energy availability issue by checking in with yourself regarding if you are getting enough daily energy intake.

Getting Real About the Energy Your Body Needs

Your energy levels impact your entire life, not just your intentionally structured physical activity. Low energy intake, or living in a low energy availability state, has psychological, mental, and physical impacts that you might not realize are linked. Not eating enough can play a huge role in determining your relationships, mood, goals, and so much more. This is why ensuring you are fueling enough for your unique body and training schedule is crucial. While the characteristics of low energy availability have a wide range, the impact they have on your body and mind is far-reaching.

Are you ready to stop beating yourself up for being ‘lazy’ or ‘unmotivated’ and start fueling yourself the way your body needs? Share your thoughts with me in the comments on the episode page.

In This Episode

  • Why competitive athletes who love to train can still struggle with motivation (4:47)
  • The reasons athletic women undereat and how it could be affecting your training and recovery (7:51)
  • Why eating enough and fueling correctly is crucial even if you didn't work out today (11:28)
  • How low energy could be impacting other areas of your life outside of the gym (14:30)
  • Signs that you are in a low energy availability state and what to do about it (17:39)

Quotes

“The inspiration for this podcast really comes from many, many years of working with many of you and clients out in the world, other athletic women. Especially athletic women over 40 who come to me with frustrations about low motivation.” (2:00)

“You know why you love to train. You have goals, and yet, sometimes it just seems like that motivation has gone ‘poof’ and is nowhere to be found.” (2:13)

“It's not just the energy or the ‘motivation’ to go train; we are talking about your energy levels impacting your entire life.” (13:29)

“When you get dragged down into the busyness of life, you can lose sight of how important your energy levels are and what it takes to stay fueled and recharged.” (14:52)

“It is important to note that low energy intake, or low energy availability state, can manifest itself in different ways for different people.” (22:16)

Featured on the Show

Join Strength Nutrition Unlocked Here

Laziness Does Not Exist by Dr. Devon Price

4 Part Energy Series

Find the full show notes here

Follow Steph on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Pinterest

I'd really love it if you would take 1 min and leave us a rating and review on iTunes!

Podcast production & marketing support by the team at Counterweight Creative

Support the Podcast

Get 20% off Legion Supplements with code STEPH

Follow Steph on Instagram

Rate and review on Apple Podcasts

Related Episodes

LTYB 350: Are You Eating Enough? Low Energy Availability in Sport 

LTYB 352: Energy Flux and Fueling for Athletes with Jamie Scott 

FYS 382: Making Strength Gains in Your Late 40’s with Allison Fitzpatrick

 

Oct 18, 2022

Diversity and inclusion belong in all areas of the fitness industry. By accepting all body types and sizes, we can help foster a sense of community and inclusion in an industry ravaged by toxic diet culture. I’m joined by Damali Fraiser, a Canadian kettlebell instructor, to talk about her mission of body acceptance in the industry, along with systemic racism and her non-diet approach to fitness.

A Non-Diet Approach to Kettlebells

  1. See that there are other benefits to movement other than weight loss
  2. Design your programming for all body types, sizes, and goals
  3. Prioritize goals that are outside of weight loss

About Damali Fraiser

Damali Fraiser (she/her/hers) is a Canadian Kettlebell Instructor, Nutrition Coach, and author passionate about exploring fitness from an intersectional lens. Founder of Lift Off Strength & Wellness, Damali is a compassionate coach and student of strength who teaches hardstyle kettlebell technique, inclusive fitness, and sustainable nutrition that supports you in meeting you wherever you are and confidently moving forward to where you want to be.

 

Dismantling Diet Culture in Kettlebell Coaching

The fitness industry is toxic regarding diet and weight loss culture. Damali Fraiser explains why her mission to de-center weight loss is so important and how her experience growing up in the Slim Fast era initially shaped her beliefs. She makes she educates her children on the dangers of the diet industry.

Damali shares the story of how an injury led her to seek out functional fitness in the form of kettlebells. Though she’s now healed, she has an improved and better quality of life thanks to her continued use of kettlebells, and her goal is to help other people feel that same sense of strength and vitality.

 

Inclusion and Diversity in the Fitness Industry

The kettlebell industry still has a way to go before it’s fully inclusive and diverse, but Damali is passionate about changing the narrative. She explains some of the steps coaches can take to dismantle toxic diet and fitness culture – it really is about decentering weight loss in their conversations.

Damali also talks about the racist roots of diet culture. It takes all of us working together to dismantle systemic racism to move forward collectively and help heal the damage caused.

How have you used functional fitness to overcome an injury or help your clients overcome injuries? What do you think of a non-diet approach to fitness? Let me know in the comments on the episode page.

 

In This Episode

  • Why it’s important to have broader conversations about fitness and health with our your children [5:30]
  • How kettlebells or other functional training can become a healing force in your life [13:15]
  • The current inclusivity and diversity in kettlebell training [17:00]
  • How to dismantle toxic diet and fitness culture [19:00]
  • What a non-diet approach to fitness is [20:30]
  • The challenges a non-diet approach to fitness presents [24:00]
  • The relationship between racism and diet culture [25:00]

Quotes

“I started to explore functional strength training for my recovery, and that was where kettlebells helped me to reconnect with myself and my body and my identity outside of Muay Thai. I appreciated how kettlebells make you feel unstable, yet that feeling is empowering, and you can now re-envision stability throughout your life.” [10:20]

“With kettlebells, I can have an improved and better quality of life. I feel like I’m fully living when I’m strong in my body and moving well.”[13:25]

“It’s multi-faceted. It’s a challenge just to be there and be present. Wanting to do a good job and have people see my expertise but also to see my humanity and know that I’m just alongside them, dealing with the same things they are.” [32:38]

 

Featured on the Show

Apply for Strength Nutrition Unlocked

Coaches Corner Waitlist

Join the Coaches Corner Kettlebell Training Course

Apply for 1:1 Coaching

Find Damali Fraiser Online

Find Damali Fraiser on Instagram | Facebook

Find the full show notes here

Follow Steph on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Pinterest

I'd really love it if you would take 1 min and leave us a rating and review on iTunes!

Podcast production & marketing support by the team at Counterweight Creative

Support the Podcast

Get 20% off Legion Supplements with code STEPH

Follow Steph on Instagram

Rate and review on Apple Podcasts

Oct 11, 2022

Women are starting to fuel better, lift heavier, recover smarter; they have fewer aches and pains, but yet we still collectively place huge importance on the number we see on the bathroom scale. This can be problematic for women athletes, as that number is not an accurate representation of the gains you are working towards.

Key Takeaways

If You Want to Change Your Relationship with the Bathroom Scale, You Should:

  1. Understand that there are many nuances and complexities when dealing with your relationship with the scale
  2. Work towards stopping weighing yourself in whatever unique way feels good to you
  3. Remember that the scale is not an accurate representation of the strength gains you are making

The Power of the Scale

The bathroom scale has a collective power over many of us when it comes to being an athletic woman who wants to train and be strong. We can make an entire list of things that have been improving since we started training, but if the scale isn't going down, we have been conditioned to think it is not successful. But the truth is, there are so many gains we get from taking care of ourselves that have nothing to do with counting calories, eating less and moving more, or weighing ourselves every day. The scale can get in the way of your ability to feel at ease with things and fully embrace your identity as an athletic woman.

Focusing on What Matters

Weighing yourself less, removing the scale from your environment, and keeping things in perspective when it comes to gaining muscle mass and bone strength are all ways that you can work on your health rather than the number on the scale. This is not just an aesthetics game anymore; we need to move past being ‘toned’ or ‘skinny’ and focus on what really matters.

When you are fueling yourself better, lifting heavier, and recovering smarter, you begin to have more energy, see more muscle definition and size, see improvements in your recovery and your energy, and so much more. These habits might not lower our body weight to what society idealizes, but they will help you stay strong and healthy for as long as possible.

How does the bathroom scale factor into your relationship with your body, your weight, and your training? Share your thoughts with me in the comments on the episode page.

In This Episode

  • Why making strength gains has so many benefits that have nothing to do with the scale (8:29)
  • How to know if you are fueling enough for your training (13:59)
  • The impact of pressure from diet culture when it comes to maintaining unrealistic weight standards (20:45)
  • Understanding how body dysmorphia plays into our relationship with our weight (25:35)
  • What you can focus on instead of the bathroom scale (28:26)

Quotes

“I want to help you move past the bathroom scale as having so much power over you as a woman athlete.” (2:21)

“Especially as athletic women, who constantly have the message drilled into us that we need to just eat less and move more, eat less and move more, we deserve a little bit more of a sophisticated conversation than that.” (13:33)

“There can be a lot of reasons why we still continue to put so much emphasis and importance on the scale, even when everything else is better!” (26:06)

“As an athletic woman, relying on weighing yourself less as a metric of your strength, as a metric of your improvements in the way that you are taking care of yourself and the things that you are prioritizing, is a smart way to move eventually.” (30:01)

“There are lots of different things that you can think about, instead of just keeping track of your body weight on the scale.” (39:36)

Featured on the Show

Apply for the Group Strength Nutrition Unlocked Program Here

Find the full show notes here

Follow Steph on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Pinterest

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Related Episodes

HTK 120: The Scale 

LTYB 314: How To Set Health Goals Beyond the Scale with Steph Dodier

LTYB 350: Are You Eating Enough? Low Energy Availability in Sport 

FYS 373: The Problem with Tiny Pink Dumbells with Nikki Naab-Levy

Oct 4, 2022

One area that I see athletic women over 40 consistently struggling with is the implementation of the high-quality information, techniques, and strategies they know would benefit them to include. Making change can be hard, and there is a mental and emotional challenge to adapting your training as you get older. However, with the right tools and mindset, the rewards of your training and longevity will amaze you.

Key Takeaways

If you want to effectively implement new training, nutrition, and recovery techniques as you age, you should:

  1. Develop awareness about what beliefs may be limiting your training gains
  2. Work with a coach or program that helps you implement the changes you seek
  3. Create an identity-based model to adjust your behavior and make habit changes for good

Information Versus Implementation

Information and the implementation of that information are two very different things. You could have high-quality information and tools to help you make a change in your training, but if you get stuck when implementing it into your routine, all that great information isn't serving you in the way it should.  

You don't need to do more just for the sake of doing more. Training more efficiently, or getting the most bang for your buck when it comes to your training, is only possible by changing the way you are thinking and adapting your training routine to your changing physiology.

The Unsung Hero of Implementation

We all have been conditioned by society to fear being lazy and that if there is no pain, there is no gain. This limiting belief is a perfect example of how powerful our belief systems are and the role they play in our training, nutrition, and recovery. If you are having a hard time getting started or implementing changes, it could be because of the beliefs you are holding onto about how you train and see results. 

Your beliefs affect your ability to follow through with implementing new habits that you know will be good for you. Your identity and belief system hold the key to adjusting how you can train more efficiently.

Are you ready to implement effective training techniques as you age? Share your thoughts about the connection between beliefs and identity with me in the comments on the episode page.

In This Episode

  • The importance of shifting your training, nutrition, and recovery as you get older (4:26)
  • Why it can be a struggle to implement things differently with fitness and nutrition (8:55)
  • What it means to train more efficiently and implement good information (12:42)
  • Learn what true HIIT training is and the importance of shorter intervals in training (18:38)
  • How your beliefs impact your ability to implement the changes you know your body needs (21:13)

Quotes

“If you are an athletic woman over 40 and you are someone who likes to challenge yourself, you know that you might have to do things differently as you continue to get older.” (3:52)

“It's hard sometimes to recognize that you are in a different place, and to make peace with that, and then to implement the new strategies that you know are going to be better for you.” (8:18)

“Beliefs are a big factor in us as we are approaching our changing physiology, and training and doing fitness and nutrition in different ways. But beliefs are going to get in our way.” (21:29)

“Coach is how we help you implement habits and behaviors to create new outcomes for yourself now and in the future. And it is very interesting to observe here how beliefs intersect with changing our habits around training and fueling and recovery.” (27:19)

“As were approaching our 40s and beyond as women athletes, we are trying to make a change based on our old identities, the previous versions of ourselves. (29:03)

Featured on the Show

Apply for the Group Strength Nutrition Unlocked Program Here

Acute effect of HIIT on testosterone and cortisol levels in healthy individuals study

Laziness Does Not Exist by Dr. Devon Price

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Find the full show notes here

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Related Episodes

FYS 367: 5 Strength Nutrition Lessons I Wish I Learned a Decade Ago

FYS 381: 6 Reasons To Hire a Nutrition Coach

FYS 375: Strength Training Changes for Peri-Menopause and Post-Menopause with Dr. Stacy Sims

Sep 27, 2022

Often we forget what an important part of strength training mobility work is. Mobility work has the reputation of being something that you just tack on or do during a warm-up. But the reality is that mobility work is incredibly important and dictates how you move, how you feel, and the gains that you see in and out of the gym.

Key Takeaways

If You Want to Make Mobility More of a Priority, You Should:

    1. Support online content creators who are sharing this information by saving and sharing their content
    2. Stop thinking of mobility work as something on the side and instead center your training around it
    3. Remember to rest and recover in order to achieve the goals you are looking for

Taking Care of Your Whole Body with Coach RT3

Rich Thurman, better known as Coach RT3, is a mobility specialist who is passionate about sharing his experiences as a black man in the fitness industry and advocating for coaching in a way that takes care of your body, mind, and spirit as one whole person.

Mobility is Not an Afterthought

Let's be real, does every part of your body function optimally? The chances are probably pretty low. Incorporating mobility into your strength training as the main objective will help you see the benefits you are looking for and improve your overall performance as you age.

In general, we tend to overlook and neglect important health things until it is too late. This is why Coach RT3 is so passionate about helping others understand the why behind their workouts and get specific about how mobility work can help them. Mobility work is not an afterthought; it is a key component to achieving your goals.

Knowledge is Power

Coach RT3 really understands the importance of educating people on how their body works. You need to access the full capability of your mobility to ensure your training is going to succeed. Coach RT3 believes in the power of sharing information, which can be challenging on social media. But, through his passion and tenacity for the power of mobility, he helps people move better, feels better, and do more while still recovering in a way that is essential for longevity. 

The more you have access to your mobility, the better your life is going to be. What are you waiting for?

Are you ready to dedicate yourself to mobility? Share your thoughts with me in the comments on the episode page.

In This Episode

  • Understanding the struggles around creating social media content as a creator (4:48)
  • Calls to action that will help amplify and support the content of diverse online creators (24:52)
  • Common mistakes or fallbacks people believe to be true when it comes to mobility (33:51)
  • How to incorporate mobility work as a key part of your strength conditioning (40:12)
  • Tips for working with Coach RT3 and improving your relationship with mobility (51:53)

Quotes

“I am a firm believer in the way I communicate and the way I put out information; it is in a sharing way. I don't hold any information back. And if you want to work with me and if you want to train with me, then you are working with me and training with me because you like the way in which I coach.” (26:18)

“I want you all to be better and to understand and to learn and to grow. Because if you all learn and grow, then everyone is better.”  (27:40)

“Mobility should be the throughline for everything that you are doing in life because it is life.” (33:19)

“If you really want mobility to be something that impacts your longevity and life, you have to slot it in as the thing, and everything else has to be the 20.” (44:53)

“If you move better, you feel better… and if you feel good you do more. And if you do more, you get more of what you want overall anyways.” (51:37)

Featured on the Show

The Upgrade Guys Website

Follow Coach RT3 on Instagram | TikTok

Find the full show notes here

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Related Episodes

LTYB 338: Mobility, Justice, and Representation in the Fitness Industry with Rich Thurman

FYS 370: Mobility for Strength Training with Dr. Jen Hosler

Sep 20, 2022

You can still be a strong badass who can lift heavy as you journey through peri-menopause and post-menopause. But, you have to do it in a way that is a bit different than you did in your 20s. If you are a 40+ woman and not seeing the results you want, holding back on adjusting the way you train as your body transitions is probably the reason.

Key Takeaways

If You Want To Level Up Your CrossFit Training Through Peri-Menopause, You Should:

  1. Find a trainer or program that takes into account your unique physiological needs as a woman
  2. Give yourself grace when changing your mindset around getting stronger
  3. Embrace the confidence that CrossFit and strength training can give you as you age

The Power of Muscle with Shawna Norton

Shawna Norton is an L1 Certified Nutrition Coach through Precision Nutrition, with a B.S in Kinesiology. She holds an L1 with Crossfit and actively coaches athletes through her women’s only coaching program- Competitive Female Training. She is passionate about serving the needs of women in her community and loves helping them fuel their training and focus on what their bodies can do in peri-menopause and beyond.

Why You Need to Lift Heavy Things

As we get older, sometimes we can forget about the importance of hard things. Society tells us to focus on the scale and not get ‘too bulky’. But building muscle as you age, especially as a woman, is so important to your overall health, longevity, mindset, and happiness. 

This new stage of life is an opportunity for you to reassess what your body needs and create a strength training program that is going to meet your unique needs as a woman. Strength training isn't just about what you look like. It is a way to ensure your quality of life throughout peri-menopause, post-menopause, and beyond.

Giving Women a Voice and a Program

Women make up 50% of the sport of CrossFit, and yet most of the programs out there are designed for men. That's where Shawna comes in. She is all about empowering women with the right tools and knowledge to be given a voice in the CrossFit world and feel confident in their training. 

Shawna is dedicated to answering the question, ‘what about us?’. By helping women understand the power of muscle and how to achieve their CrossFit goals in a way that is adapted to a woman's physiology as she ages, Shawna provides programming tailored specifically to the needs of women. A conversation that is not had enough, in this episode, Shawna smashes CrossFit misconceptions and provides a unique perspective on strength training in peri-menopause and on.

How have you adjusted your strength training to suit the needs of your changing body? Share your thoughts and experiences with me in the comments on the episode page.

In This Episode

  • The biggest lessons learned through the journey of strength training and CrossFit (11:12)
  • Addressing the misunderstandings around CrossFit and getting strong as a woman (15:45)
  • How to adapt your training through the Competitive Female Training program (24:17)
  • Why the Level M Program is a unique approach to building strength (34:31)
  • Tips for shifting your mindset when it comes to how you train as you transition through peri-menopause and beyond (38:55)

Quotes

“I got into CrossFit, and all of a sudden I had a barbell in my hands, and it was like, this is where I am supposed to be. I want to take up space, I want to lift heavy.” (6:17)

“I am still a beautiful woman, but I am beautiful because of how I am made, not because of how society says I need to be.” (12:54)

“Our programming is designed only for women. But we also communicate in a way that our female athletes can actually understand what they are supposed to do.” (29:10)

“Women are 50% of the sport, and we have the right to have our weaknesses addressed to the same level that you are programming for men. Think about that when you are programming.” (32:16)

“If you are not happy where you are at, you have to do something different. If you keep doing the same thing, you are going to keep getting the same results. Try it! What's the worst that can happen? You’re going to get stronger?” (42:43)

“Having muscle is so much more than if you can fit into your jeans.” (48:23)

Featured on the Show

Join the Group Strength Nutrition Unlocked Program Here

Competitive Female Training Website

Shawna Norton Website

Follow Competitive Female Training on Instagram

Follow Shawna on Instagram

Pull-Ups Resource

Find the full show notes here

Follow Steph on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Pinterest

I'd really love it if you would take 1 min and leave us a rating and review on iTunes!

Podcast production & marketing support by the team at Counterweight Creative

Support the Podcast

Get 20% off Legion Supplements with code STEPH

Follow Steph on Instagram

Rate and review on Apple Podcasts

Related Episodes

FYS 382: Making Strength Gains in Your Late 40’s with Allison Fitzpatrick

FYS 378: Powerlifting and Recovery Tips for the 40+ Athlete with Laura Phelps

FYS 375: Strength Training Changes for Peri-Menopause and Post-Menopause with Dr. Stacy Sims

Sep 13, 2022

The idea of gaining strength in your 40s and beyond can seem daunting. But with the right tools, nutrition, and support, it is much easier than you might think. Often we think we know best when it comes to how we can achieve our goals, but in reality, it takes an outside perspective to help you reach a level of health and happiness that you never thought possible.

Key Takeaways

If You Want to Make Strength Gains in Your 40’s, You Should:

  1. Find a coach or program that works to help you get clear and support your fitness goals
  2. Stop using the scale as the only monitor of your progress and health
  3. Fuel yourself properly for your activity level and pay attention to what is on your plate

From Novice to Top-Notch with Allison Fitzpatrick

Allison Fitzpatrick found strength training in her late 30s and is now a 10+ year veteran in the world of fitness. Coming to strength training as a non-athletic person, Allison had her fair share of skepticism and fear. After completing my Strength Nutrition Unlocked Program, Allison is here to give a first-hand account of what it is like to go through the program and the amazing gains she has made on the other side.

Trusting the Process

By the time Allison hit her 30s, she knew that she wanted to get stronger but didn't want her body to change. Like many of us, she struggled with the tug-of-war mentality between the things we can't control about getting older. She started to feel out of control of her body and was dealing with a toxic relationship with the scale. 

Finally, she was ready to try something new. Allison entered the world of Strength Training through Crossfit. What surprised her the most was how she started feeling happy in the gym. However, the real progress came when Allison realized she not only needed to change the way she trained but also the way she fueled herself.

Take Control of How You Age

Strength Nutrition Unlocked is all about embracing your ability to make a change. While we cannot control getting older, we can control how we treat our bodies, fuel our bodies, and think about our bodies. You are not a spreadsheet, and your body is not a calculator. It takes a personalized and nuanced understanding of your body needs to see the results you are searching for.

Allison is keeping it real with a first-hand account of what it is like to be a student in Strength Nutrition Unlocked, embracing her highs and lows, and why nutrition was the key to making strides in strength as a woman in her late 40s.

Are you ready to make a change when it comes to how you train and fuel your body? Share your thoughts with me in the comments on the episode page.

In This Episode

  • The one thing that hooked Allison when it came to lifting weights and getting stronger (9:33)
  • How underfueling played a role in Allison joining Strength Nutrition Unlocked (16:30)
  • Key nutrition changes that can have a huge impact on your outcome goals (30:27)
  • Addressing our conversations and relationships with the number on the scale (34:51)
  • Why fueling yourself properly and adjusting your mindset can help you reach PR’s you never thought possible (51:02)

Quotes

“It's like this crazy adrenaline rush. You have more power than you think you have. It was amazing to see that my body was capable of doing things I never knew possible.” (10:03)

“For me, the biggest changes were increasing my protein and increasing my carbs and just overall food intake. And just being more mindful of what is actually on my plate.” (32:24)

“I was making my feelings about myself and how I felt about myself contingent on this number on the scale… It really did become a toxic relationship.” (36:30)

“I can’t control that I get older and older. I can’t control perimenopause. I can’t control that my body is going to change. There are all these things that are out of my control. But I can control what I put into my body, how I fuel my body, how I move my body, and how I think about my body.” (39:27)

“I know I wanted to be happier. I know I wanted to feel better. I know I wanted all of these feelings, and I thought that losing weight was going to give me those feelings. And it wasn't that. As soon as I started to feel that increase in weight and eat more and feel better and notice that I am actually fueling my body for what I am doing, and fueling my body for strength and for health and for longevity and all of that, that's what is making me happy and making me feel good.” (48:56)

Featured on the Show

Join the Group Strength Nutrition Unlocked Program Here

Find the full show notes here

Follow Steph on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Pinterest

I'd really love it if you would take 1 min and leave us a rating and review on iTunes!

Podcast production & marketing support by the team at Counterweight Creative

Support the Podcast

Get 20% off Legion Supplements with code STEPH

Follow Steph on Instagram

Rate and review on Apple Podcasts

Related Episodes

FYS 381: 6 Reasons to Hire a Nutrition Coach

FYS 378: Powerlifting and Recovery Tips for the 40+ Athlete with Laura Phelps

FYS 375: Strength Training Changes for Peri-Menopause and Post-Menopause with Dr. Stacy Sims

FYS 350: Are You Eating Enough? Low Energy Availability in Sport

 

Sep 6, 2022

If you want to build muscle, get stronger, see better results and gains in the gym, have more energy, and improve your performance, hiring a nutrition coach could be the best investment you have ever made in yourself. A coach can help you accomplish your goals quicker, focus on a doable way to reach those goals, and provide you with the emotional and social support you need to get there.

Key Takeaways

If You Want to Get Serious About Your Nutrition, You Should:

  1. Stop spending your time, money, and effort on figuring it out yourself
  2. Appreciate that you don’t have to be an expert in everything you want to accomplish
  3. Find a coach that will support you in your own unique environment

Doing It Yourself is Not Free

Many people out there think they can do it themselves when it comes to nutrition and fitness. While the internet is full of advice, that doesn't mean it's necessarily good advice. A meal plan or chatting with a bot does not help you change the things that are in your way, and will cost you your time, effort, and mistakes in return.

If you are ready to make serious progress in your fitness and nutrition goals, a coach is the best way to create a plan that is doable in your life, and that fits your unique needs, likes, and dislikes. You shouldn't have to be an expert in order to feel good in your body and supported in your dreams; that's what coaches are for!

Now is the Best Time to Start

Being able to assess a situation objectively is hard to do, especially when it comes to our own lives. If you want to progress and gain strength and endurance, it will take more of a sophisticated approach that helps you build sustainable and addictive habits.

When you get focused, get serious, invest in yourself, and put some money where your mouth is, it is incredible what you can accomplish. Don't keep putting off your goals, today is the best day to start, and it is never too late. With the right focus and support, I know you can do this.

Are you ready to hire a nutrition coach? Share your thoughts with me about my top 6 reasons in the comments on the episode page.

In This Episode

  • Why hiring my first nutrition coach was the best investment I ever made in myself (2:12)
  • How to navigate all of the fitness and nutrition advice you see on social media (6:11)
  • Why DIY’ing your training is not as cheap or easy as you might think it is (9:58)
  • Tips for approaching changing your fitness and nutrition regime as you get older (16:12)
  • The problem with nutrition apps and why they can never replace a nutrition coach (23:44)

Quotes

“Hiring my first sports nutrition coach was a key decision that I made that really changed the trajectory of not only my fitness but my personal life and my career.” (2:19)

“You might think that you are eating really ‘healthy,’ but that doesn't mean that you are adequately fueling, or eating enough of the right things, for example, to get you the fitness results that you want.” (7:52)

“I wasn't just paying a coach. I am investing in my own growth and in actually having a plan to get me to my goals quicker and help me figure out why what I was doing wasn't working.” (11:07)

“I want you to think about hiring someone to help you assess what needs to change, look at and identify the things you are willing to change, and how to do it in a way that is going to be doable in your life.” (19:10)

“Meal plans don't teach you about long-term habit change, and they don't help you address the underlying challenges that might be getting in your way.” (24:24)

Featured on the Show

Join the Group Strength Nutrition Unlocked Program Here

1-1 Strength Nutrition Coaching

Find the full show notes here

Follow Steph on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Pinterest

I'd really love it if you would take 1 min and leave us a rating and review on iTunes!

Podcast production & marketing support by the team at Counterweight Creative

Support the Podcast

Get 20% off Legion Supplements with code STEPH

Follow Steph on Instagram

Rate and review on Apple Podcasts

Related Episodes

FYS 380: From Endurance to Lifting: Top Sports Nutrition & Training Lessons

FYS 367: 5 Strength Nutrition Lessons I Wish I Learned a Decade Ago

Aug 30, 2022

I have been on a journey through fitness, movement, and nutrition my whole life. I rarely take a moment to reflect on my past and all of the ups and downs it took to get to this point. So, what better way to start the new season than share my story with you and the lessons I have learned along the way.

Key Takeaways

If You Are Ready to Start Taking Care Of Yourself Better, You Should:

  1. Learn the necessary amount of fuel and recovery your body needs for your training
  2. Don’t forget the importance of an experienced coach and support system
  3. Remember that your training should add to your life, not take away from it

The Gift of Hindsight

When I started on my fitness journey, I had no idea about the importance of fueling for your training, recovery, the importance of muscle mass, and so much more. All I cared about was getting smaller and performing harder. It took me years to learn how to change my mindset and approach to training so that I could finally achieve the results that I was searching for.

Luckily the gift of hindsight has shown me that when it comes to the idea of women athletes, an understanding of where you are and the struggles you are having is key to getting to the bottom of your issues and overcoming them.

Expand Your Life

It has taken me ten years of experience, learning, and education to get to the place where I know what works. This is why I am passionate about sharing this information with you so that you can take my past mistakes and use them to help guide you on your strength and nutrition journey. 

Don’t just rely on the wilds of Tik Tok and Instagram for information because not everybody out there is doing it the right way. I understand what it is like to be at the beginning, and I want to help you get past those challenges so that you can experience the expansive power that taking care of your body can give you, just like it's given me.

What are some lessons you have learned throughout your fitness and nutrition journey? Share your thoughts with me in the comments section of the episode page.

In This Episode

  • Why I am looking forward to the renewing time that is fall (2:34)
  • Join me while I share my story of how fitness and movement have played a role in my life (6:39)
  • Learn why I am passionate about this subject and preventing others from experiencing my struggles (17:03)
  • Addressing the controversy and emotions around Crossfit and Crossfit HQ (19:14)
  • How learning to properly fuel my body changed the way I train and recover (25:14)

Quotes

“If you are a woman athlete, especially if you are 40 and beyond like me, there are just some things that we need to do differently. And I am really passionate about helping you perform better, build muscle, feel stronger, get those strength numbers up, hit new PRs, and feel even more capable in your life outside of training.” (4:13)

“When I tell you I’ve done a lot of stuff, I've done a lot of different stuff!” (10:55)

“Learning how to lift weights and the empowerment that I felt, the idea, the concept that never fucking occurred to me. That I could focus on getting stronger, and that my body was not a problem to fix, my weight wasn't a problem, just that concept alone changed literally the entire trajectory of my life.” (20:49)

“It was just gradually through that process, of seeing what I was capable of and how lifting made me feel, that I found this freedom.” (23:42)

“It took effort. It took consistency. It took awareness. It took challenging some of the certain beliefs I had had. It took learning new things, with the point being, how can I fuel myself better? (33:28)

Featured on the Show

Join the Group Strength Nutrition Unlocked Program Here

Stuck to Strong Private Podcast

Find the full show notes here

Follow Steph on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Pinterest

I'd really love it if you would take 1 min and leave us a rating and review on iTunes!

Podcast production & marketing support by the team at Counterweight Creative

Support the Podcast

Get 20% off Legion Supplements with code STEPH

Follow Steph on Instagram

Rate and review on Apple Podcasts

Related Episodes

FYS 369: Introducing the Fuel Your Strength Podcast

LTYB 350: Are You Eating Enough? Low Energy Availability in Sport

LTYB 364: Nutrition & Strength Training for Cyclists with Marissa Axell

LTYB 378: Powerlifting and Recovery Tips for the 40+ Athlete with Laura Phelps

FYS 377: Overtraining, Injury, and Burnout with Dr. A’Naja Newsome

Jun 21, 2022

If there is one macronutrient that I receive pushback on, it’s protein. That is because it can be hard to increase your protein intake, but that doesn't mean it is without merit to do. If you want to feel good in your body and go throughout the day feeling strong and capable, you need protein, and that's a fact.

Key Takeaways

If You Want to Enjoy the Benefits of Protein, You Should:

  1. Understand the difference between knowledge and implementation when it comes to nutrition science
  2. Find a source of protein that works for you and your unique dietary needs
  3. Focus on balance and creating an atmosphere in which your body can thrive in longevity

The Power of Protein with Victoria LaFont

Victoria LaFont is an opera singer turned scientist. Her nutrition-focused copywriting and coaching have helped hundreds of clinicians go from burnout to career bliss. She is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Western States with a master’s degree in human nutrition and functional medicine and is passionate about helping women build strength through balanced nutrition and strength training.

Protein is Primary

Protein is incredibly important when it comes to preventing age-related muscle loss, overall health, and longevity. The Latin root of the word protein even means primary, as it is essential to your body's ability to build muscle and function throughout the day. 

Victoria is passionate about letting the research speak for itself. She has seen firsthand how eating a balanced, protein-rich diet, and lifting heavy stuff, has helped women thrive for longer and avoid sarcopenia, or age-related muscle loss. If you want to protect your muscles for as long as possible, protein is the key you have been looking for.

Making Balance Trendy

Victoria's hope is that one day, balance becomes trendy. Women being afraid of their bodies changing is a billion-dollar industry, and the way society projects the way a woman is supposed to look prevents us from having perspective about our own body autonomy. 

Don’t let protein scare you. Instead, work to understand the science, research, and benefits behind protein so that you can bring your body to a place of balance and make decisions about your health based on what is right for your body.

Are you ready to embrace the power of protein? Share your thoughts on this episode with me in the comments on the episode page.

In This Episode

  • Why you need to apply the basics when it comes to sports nutrition (14:28)
  • Learn about sarcopenia and why it is such a growing problem for women (19:31)
  • Debunking common myths around protein and getting back to the research (28:33)
  • How to get started on increasing your protein intake if the numbers scare you (35:17)
  • Tips for focusing on the benefits of protein that have nothing to do with the scale (44:42)

Quotes

"If we are going through those actions, we have to fuel that, or else we have detrimental outcomes. Not just in the gym but in our life." (16:09)

"I want my feet to stay healthy and I want to put on as much muscle mass as possible before I hit menopause because I want to stay functional as I age." (22:21)

"I hope and pray that balance becomes trendy and sexy and sells a lot of products. Because really that is what we need. And part of that balance is we have to intake enough protein for physiological function." (29:41)

"Most women who are after this formula of increasing dietary protein and picking up some heavy stuff, weight gain, that's the thing you want to see on the scale, but it's so much different than what we have been taught." (48:46)

"My job is to present a balanced point of view to people and support other practitioners who are doing that." (55:56)

Featured on the Show

Join the Group Strength Nutrition Unlocked Program Here

Victoria LaFont Website

Follow Victoria on Instagram

Find the full show notes here

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Related Episodes

LTYB 352: Energy Flux and Fueling for Athletes with Jamie Scott

LTYB 367: 5 Strength Nutrition Lessons I Wish I Learned a Decade Ago

Jun 14, 2022
As we age, we need to adopt our training and recovery programs in order to see continued performance. This is especially true in the sport of powerlifting, where it is critical to equip yourself with the knowledge necessary to keep your body healthy and ready as you age.

Key Takeaways

If You Want to Stay Strong in your 40’s and Beyond, You Should:

  1. Find a variety of sports such as powerlifting that make you feel good in your body
  2. Avoid the common conjugate programming mistakes by listening to Laura’s tips
  3. Don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone and always remember to give your body time to recover

Finding Your Power with Laura Phelps

Laura Phelps has been an athlete her entire life and started powerlifting at age 23. She currently holds 8 All-Time World Records in the sport of powerlifting and was personally coached by Louie Simmons. Since 2017 Laura has used her knowledge and expertise to help train others through her coaching company, Queen Bee Power. She finds pride in helping athletes both old and new succeed and reach goals that otherwise would have been unattainable.

Staying Strong at Every Age

Laura’s greatest hope is for everyone to stay healthy and be strong. Strength and power work to our benefit, especially as we get older, which is why we have to be wise and intentional about how we train in every stage of our life. Powerlifting is proof that you can be strong for a very long time, you just have to do it in a way that can adapt to your needs as you get older.

Level Up Your Programming, Conjugate Style

Adapting your training based on where you are now is nothing to be scared of. Powerlifting can be incredibly beneficial to your overall health and longevity, and Laura’s adapted version of the conjugate method can help you feel empowered while taking care of your body's needs. 

By building strength through supportive exercises, taking time for recovery, and introducing variation into your training routine, you can experience the restorative impact of conjugate-style programming.

How are you adjusting your training program to the needs of your body at different stages of life? Share your thoughts with me in the comments on the episode page.

In This Episode

  1. How the methodology of powerlifting training is different from bodybuilding and other sports (13:44)
  2. Common ways the conjugate method of powerlifting can be used by athletes (18:26)
  3. Tips for adapting your training as you get older (23:22)
  4. Explore the difference and benefits between conventional deadlifting and sumo deadlifting (33:45)
  5. The biggest form issues found when sumo deadlifting (37:50)

Quotes

“I just had this supreme confidence, not arrogance, but I had this unbelievable confidence in what I was doing because I loved it so much.” (12:37)

“If you are doing everything right, following these principles and the right percentages and whatnot, and the recovery, it is set up for longevity.” (23:50)

“Any time your body is imbalanced, you are putting yourself at risk for injury. So if we can make everything more balanced, I just think it is more functional.” (27:36)

“If you don't bench press now as much as you did 10 years ago, it's okay. It's all relative at this point.” (32:03)

“Powerlifting is proof that you can be strong for a long time, a really long time. You are just pushing yourself to your limit at that time and whatever your circumstances are.” (33:00)

Featured on the Show

Join the Strength Nutrition Unlocked Group Coaching Program Here

Queen Bee Power Website

Follow Queen Bee Power on Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Find the full show notes here

Follow Steph on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Pinterest

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Related Episodes

FYS 371: The Fitness Industry Needs Quality Coaches with Jasmine Braxton

Jun 7, 2022

If you have ever been injured in your sport as an athletic person, you know how challenging it can be to get back into it. Not just for your body, but also for your mind. Movement, exercise, mental health, mindset, self-efficacy, and burnout are all connected, which is why it can be extra difficult to come to terms with a change or adaptation in your training routine. This is why it is so important to find harmony in your training, and recovery, as an athletic person.

Key Takeaways

If You Want To Overcome Injury and Avoid Burnout, You Should:

  1. Look for new or interesting ways to experience the mental benefits of exercise in a way you haven't done before 
  2. Remember the importance of proper recovery in order to maintain your ability and motivation
  3. Take a step back and look at your environment and how it affects your goals, lifestyle, and mindset

Overcoming Injury with Dr. A’Naja Newsome

Dr. A’Naja Newsome is an exercise scientist, coach, and educator who is passionate about helping people like you to optimize your strength, mental health, mindset, self-efficacy, and balance training with recovery. She knows firsthand the struggles that adapting your training and understanding how your body is healing can take on an athlete. If you have ever been injured and noticed it took a toll on your mental health or identity, this episode is for you.

The Mental Benefits of Movement

Often when people think about the benefits of exercise, they focus on the physical benefits without realizing all of the amazing mental benefits movement and exercise can have. Improved mood, cognitive function, memory, and overall happiness are just a few of the ways that exercise and physical activity can benefit your life. 

However, when we have to change the way in which we train, it can feel like an overwhelming task. This is where your mindset, lifestyle, and goals come into play.

Building Goals Against Yourself

Dr. A’Naja is an advocate of adjusting your training to where you are right now. Instead of trying to compete against others or an old version of yourself, she recommends taking a step back and re-evaluating your training goals. By building goals against yourself, you can align the things that matter most to you so that you can improve your ability and performance while avoiding burnout, overtraining, and poor motivation.

By adjusting your mindset, you can adjust your training and recovery to your lifestyle. Because life is always going to happen, and as athletes, we need to find ways to improve our self-efficacy while taking a step back and checking that our actions are moving us towards our real goals.

Are you struggling with overcoming an injury or changing your training routine? How do your lifestyle, mindset, and goals play into your recovery? Share your thoughts with me in the comments on the episode page.

In This Episode

  • Explore the connection between movement and mental health (9:56)
  • How to develop the motivation, self-efficacy, and mental skills to promote longevity in your physical activity (16:06)
  • Advice for those having difficulty adjusting their identity to a new training regime (21:34)
  • Mindset and mental health strategies to help you adjust to a change in your physical activity (29:36)
  • The importance of social support when it comes to self-efficacy (35:34)

Quotes

“Enjoyment, happiness, those are all things we have seen a connection with increased physical activity.” (11:15)

“It is really important to understand that physical activity and exercise is not just about physical improvement. There are mental and psychological improvements as well that can be had.” (13:02)

“[Overtraining] is not worth it in the long run. For your physical health, but also your mental health. It is not good in the long run for the longevity of being an athlete to overtrain.” (20:18)

“Your lifestyle is going to constantly change. Your mindset is going to constantly change… you have to fully align your training goals to your nutrition, to your mindset, and to your lifestyle.” (26:16)

“I don't care what your one rep max is. I want to see if you can hit 85% six times, and look sexy doing it.” (31:15)

“Self-efficacy is not about it being easy, it's not about choosing easy tasks, it is simply about believing that you have the tools to overcome whatever obstacle is going to come.” (34:24)

Featured on the Show

Join the Strength Nutrition Unlocked Group Coaching Program Here

Follow Dr. A’Naja on Instagram

Find the full show notes here

Follow Steph on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Pinterest

I'd really love it if you would take 1 min and leave us a rating and review on iTunes!

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Related Episodes

LTYB 362: Sports Injury Rehab & Returning to Lifting with Dr. Leada Malek

May 31, 2022

It is so easy to fall into common nutrition traps or trends that we think are serving us but that are really stopping us from reaching our fullest potential. Common diet and nutrition trends like intermittent fasting, keto, and low carb are not designed for everyone, especially women entering perimenopause or menopause that are athletic.

 

Key Takeaways

If You Are Ready to Adjust Your Nutrition in a Way That Will Actually Serve Your Body, You Should:

  1. Remember that women are not small men and the diet and nutrition trends out there are not for your female physiology
  2. Change your mindset around fueling and recovery practices that are tailored to your unique body
  3. Stop being afraid of carbohydrates and feed yourself with proper whole foods that are going to improve your training

Understanding the Science Behind our Bodies with Dr. Stacy Sims

In Part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Stacy Sims, she is breaking down the science behind why these common nutrition and diet trends are not working for your female physiology. Stacy T. Sims, Ph.D., is an applied researcher, innovator, and entrepreneur in human performance, specifically sex differences in training, nutrition, and environmental conditions. She is passionate about teaching the world why women are not just small men and empowering women to make choices that are supporting their bodies through every phase of life.

If You Aren’t Seeing Results, It’s Not Your Fault

If you have ever thought to yourself ‘why is this diet working for my male partner but not for me?’, you are not alone. The truth is most of the diets out there like intermittent fasting and keto do not take into account our unique female physiology. This is only amplified even more when our hormones start to change as we approach our 40’s and beyond. There is a reason that these common diet and nutrition trends are not working for you, and it is not your fault.

Embracing the Female Physiology

Females have a different threshold for calorie intake, oxidative stress, and countless other biological responses than men do. This is why we need to take a deep dive into what is going on with our bodies at every phase of our life so that we can mitigate the symptoms and see the results from our training that we are hoping for.

How are you fueling your body to ensure that you are supporting it in every way possible? Share your thoughts about this episode with me in the comments on the episode page.

In This Episode

  • Learn what the research says about intermittent fasting when it comes to women who exercise (5:25)
  • Why it is not your fault if you are not seeing the same results as a man using the same nutrition methods (10:51)
  • The problem with a keto diet as an active woman getting close to menopause (14:36)
  • What you should be putting on your plate if you are a woman who exercises in her 40’s (18:50)
  • How to stop focusing on the scale when you are not seeing the results you want to see (28:06)

Quotes

“If you look at the longevity data of exercise, it is more stimulating and more robust than intermittent fasting or time restricted eating.” (6:16)

“When we look at ketogenic and the lack of diversity and a huge overgrowth of the fila that promotes obesity, then it is definitely not a win for women, especially when we start hitting this change over of our hormones.” (16:25)

“If you don't have carbohydrates, you are not going to hit your training measures. You can't hit high intensity, you can't lift well, your body needs carbohydrates.” (20:11)

“I don't want people to think that I say all this stuff and I do it all the time and it is easy for me. Because it's not. It's hard for everyone, you just have to be very cognitive.” (27:05)

“The weight on the scale is not representative of what is actually happening. So we have to live through that little bit of transition and freak out in our minds that something negative is happening. But know that weight on the scale is not representative of what is happening inside the cell, what is happening with inflammation going down, or increasing the stuff that is in the muscle. So just be patient, just be patient, don't freak out.” (30:18)

Featured on the Show

Join the Strength Nutrition Unlocked Group Coaching Program Here

Next Level: Your Guide to Kicking Ass, Feeling Great, and Crushing Goals Through Menopause and Beyond with Dr. Stacy Sims

Check out the full show notes here!

Follow Steph on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Pinterest

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Related Episodes

FYS 375: Peri-Menopause, Fasting and Low Carb in Athletic Women

HTK 077: Women are Not Small Men with Dr. Stacy Sims

May 24, 2022

Many women dont realize that as we age, our training and fueling routines need to change with us. But how do we do this when there are so many nutrition trends out there that are so easy to get sucked into? The answer is in this 2 part episode where we dive into the research beyond how to fuel and move your body in peri-menopause, menopause, and beyond.

Key Takeaways

If You Are Looking to Change Your Training Routine as You Enter Your 40s, You Should:

  1. Remember that women are not small men and most guidelines out there need to be adjusted for your changing body
  2. Drop the moderate intensity crap and focus on high-intensity speed and power to see the results you want
  3. Take a step back to re-learn the difference between being tired from exercise or tired from stress

Women Are Not Small Men with Dr. Stacy Sims

Stacy T. Sims, Ph.D., is an applied researcher, innovator, and entrepreneur in human performance, specifically sex differences in training, nutrition, and environmental conditions. She is a regularly featured speaker at professional and academic conferences, including those hosted by US Olympic Committee, High-Performance Sport NZ, and USA Cycling, she is a Senior Research Associate at AUT University and resides at the beach in Mt. Maunganui, New Zealand with her husband and young daughter.

Listen To Your Body and the Research

When a woman enters her 40s, her body composition starts to change. Many people associate the symptoms of these changes with low sleep, high stress, and try to do more training to counter it. None of these are the appropriate types of stress that your body needs in order to mitigate these changes. Women need specific changes to their training routine, along with nutrition, to support their bodies throughout their 40s and beyond. Proper sleep, high-intensity workouts, and polarizing your training in order to recover are key.

Change Is a Good Thing

Often as women are approaching peri-menopause they are nervous about getting bulky or are told to switch to moderate intensity workouts. Dr. Stacy is here to say that is absolutely not the case. Physiologically women respond better to speed and power, and if anything we should be increasing the intensity of our workouts when we can, and bookending them with softer workouts for our recovery. This is just one example of the necessary ways you need to change your training routine in order to support your changing body and hormones.

Are you excited for Part 2 of Dr. Stacy Sims' knowledge and experience? Share which of her tips you loved most from this episode with me in the comments section of the episode page.

In This Episode

  • Why the phases of your menstrual cycle should impact how you train (11:35)
  • Some of the changes that you can expect to see when entering peri-menopause (14:49)
  • How to shift the way that you strength train as you enter your 40s and beyond (18:42)
  • Why the ‘moderate intensity’ for women in their 40’s is the exact opposite of what you should be doing (26:22)
  • Tips for changing up your training and eating routine in order to stress your body and see results (33:52)

Quotes

“They attribute it to life stress, but it's not. Well, some of it is life stress of course. But when we pull it back to physiology and we see this change over these ratios, and our bodies are also trying to adjust.” (16:26)

“What we are trying to do when we get into our 40s is look for an external stress that is going to help support what the hormones used to do, or augment what the hormones can do.” (19:55)

“You need to work with someone who knows how to do proper movement.” (23:26)

“We don't know what it is like to be uncomfortable. We have air-conditioned houses, we have heating in the winter, we go outside in the summer, and we don't know what it truly means to be uncomfortable, so our bodies never adapt.” (32:05)

“We are really trying to get people to understand what it feels like, and teach themselves because we have lost that. We have lost what it feels like to be tired from physical activity, versus being tired from stress. So we are trying to teach that.” (37:41)

Featured on the Show

Join the Strength Nutrition Unlocked Group Coaching Program Here

Next Level: Your Guide to Kicking Ass, Feeling Great, and Crushing Goals Through Menopause and Beyond with Dr. Stacy Sims

Women Are Not Small Men TED Talk

Check out the full show notes here!

Follow Steph on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Pinterest

I'd really love it if you would take 1 min and leave us a rating and review on iTunes!

Podcast production & marketing support by the team at Counterweight Creative

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Get 20% off Legion Supplements with code STEPH

Follow Steph on Instagram

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Related Episodes

HTK 077: Women are Not Small Men with Dr. Stacy Sims

 

May 17, 2022

Key Takeaways

What Can Change by Applying the Program Information:
  1. More compliments from your partner
  2. Huge strides in your fitness goals 
  3. Feeling like a nicer person with more stable emotions

About Brittany Sterling

Brittany Sterling is a member of my community. I asked her to come on to talk about her experience with Strength Nutrition Unlocked and how she’s developed her fitness routine through strength training.

The Support of Community is Second to None

Strength training has always been a part of Brittany’s fitness routine, but she talks about how she hasn’t always been hitting her goals and often hit plateaus. One of the biggest things that Brittany can attribute her success to these days is the power of community. 

Community is the best support system when you’re serious about your fitness journey. It’s there for motivation and support when you’re feeling stuck or you’re injured. And each community member brings their own resources, perspectives, and experiences that can help fuel you forward.

Surprising Benefits of Strength Training

When Brittany started working with me in my training programs, she learned how to apply the knowledge she knew from books in a more practical setting. She started seeing the gains she always wanted to and felt supported in all aspects of her life.

One of the most surprising changes for her was that she started to feel happier and more joyful in her life - and her partner even said she was a nicer, more fun person to be around. When you’re balanced in your fitness routine, including eating enough calories, you’re going to notice those awesome differences!

Your fitness journey doesn’t have to be perfect. When you take that element out of it, ditch the all or none thinking, and start enjoying your body now!

Let me know in the comments of the episode page what you’re doing to overcome your plateaus and what role community plays for you.

 

In This Episode

  • Why a support system or supportive environment is so beneficial [8:00]
  • How community can help get you through rough periods in your training [11:15]
  • Why it’s so crucial for you to fuel your body and eat more food when you’re working long, hard days [20:00]
  • What prompted Brittany to seek help with her fitness routine [24:15]
  • How calorie tracking might lead you into a scarcity mindset, leading to overeating [27:00]
  • What happens when you apply your book fitness knowledge to your fitness journey [29:00]
  • How following a balanced fitness plan with proper nutrition can help you lead a more balanced life [34:00]
  • How your fitness journey can inspire other women [39:00]
  • What happens when you remove the element of perfection from your fitness journey [41:30]

Quotes

“Having people that continue to support and push you, even when you feel down and out, you have people that you can learn from. You have people that have been there. That no what it’s like to slog through things. Maybe what you need to do today is not what you want it to look like. Maybe it’s just doing a little something. Anything’s better than nothing. Then you come out on the other side feeling so much more accomplished and better about yourself that you were able to overcome the emotional obstacle.” [9:06]

“In the last seven years, I’ve had multiple physical injuries, both work-related and gym-related, and it feels like starting from scratch all over again. You get very frustrated because you know where you were going, how well you were doing, and think ‘I know I’m capable, but I just can’t right now, so what’s the point?’ That’s where having that community come in really makes a difference. People who have been there, are there with you, can cry, suffer, hold your hand, cheer you on - it really makes a huge difference in your ability to keep pushing forward to the other side.” [13:17]

“Being well-fed makes me a nicer person!” [31:10]

“We get so hyperfocused on how we look. For women, it’s very much about appearances, skimpy bodysuits, and Lululemon head-to-toe. We do that to be noticed for how we look. How cool would it be to be noticed for what we can do? I don’t feel like we do that enough as women. Giving and getting feedback from other women is so cool.” [37:42]

“I don’t have to do cardio for an hour at one time in order to be effective and progress myself in my goals. As long as I’m moving. A little bit of jump roping or three sets of pull-ups on the squat bar in my backyard so I can do those things has really created this opportunity to not feel like I have to miss out on other things. I don’t have to sacrifice one thing for the other, I can do both, it just may not look like I want it to.” [40:51]

“We get into those weird mentalities and vicious loops where we say, ‘more is more, all or nothing, it has to be perfect.’ We put ourselves up for failure and fall into these weird, sneaky hate spirals. When you’re able to let those go and naturally allow yourself to find movement when you can, it makes it so much more enjoyable and so much less like a chore. When you’re able to find peace and enjoyment in that, other people notice and want to be part of it.”  [43:04]

Featured on the Show

May 10, 2022

Key Takeaways

If You Are Sick of Seeing Tiny Pink Dumbbells, You Should:
  1. Remember that just because you are a woman it does not mean you are not capable or are too fragile to be strong
  2. Stop worrying about getting bulky or comparing yourself to people on Instagram
  3. Find your weight sweet spot and focus on using an adequate amount of weight that is right for you

Calling Out Problematic Marketing with Nikki Naab-Levy

Nikki Naab-Levy is a strength and nutrition coach who has been involved in multiple arenas in the fitness industry for the last 17 years. She helps women move, build strength, improve mobility, move beyond injury, and find a sustainable approach to nutrition. She is passionate about having the unscripted and messy conversations necessary to help women get stronger and call attention to the problematic marketing in the world of fitness and beyond.

Pink Is Not the Problem

There is nothing wrong with expressing your femininity and working out in a way that suits you. However, you need to ask yourself if your tool fits the application. We all have the autonomy to decide how we want to lift weights or exercise; the problem comes when we allow marketers to lie to women about how they can achieve their goals using insufficient methods. Strength training, real strength training, is all about using smart programming and an appropriate amount of weight to get stronger over time, not ‘to get toned and flexible’ by using weights designed to keep women in a small mindset.

The Weaponization of Femininity

The marketing of tiny pink dumbbells says that women shouldn't get too bulky and that they need to lift petite things because they are fragile. This is simply not true, and this brainwashing keeps women from experiencing their full abilities and capacities for getting stronger. 

The weaponization of femininity has a range of negative implications that we are honestly just sick of. If your goal is to get progressively stronger over time, you need to take a step back and analyze the messages that are being directed toward you as a woman who lifts.

How do you believe the marketing of fitness impacts your decisions regarding your routine? Share your thoughts with me in the comments on the episode page.

In This Episode

  • What is really behind the marketing of tiny pink dumbbells (9:12)
  • Why we need to stop lying to women about how they can achieve their fitness desires (15:14)
  • How to address a lack of lifting results and find your weight sweet spot (20:41)
  • The difference between something that makes you stronger and strength training (27:23)
  • Unpack the implication behind the messaging of tiny pink dumbbells (39:25)

Quotes

“It is amazing that we live in a day and age where tiny pink dumbbells need an entire podcast conversation, but they do! Because they are so prevalent in marketing and the marketing in what they can and cannot do for you in no way matches the reality of what you would actually want to use them for.” (7:21)

“Strength is a continuum. There is a lot of confusion about what you are trying to achieve and what is the best use of the thing that you are doing.” (21:05)

“Scratch below the surface of why you are buying something or why you are following someone or why you are doing something, because there is underlying science and utility in each of the modalities, and if you are going to choose something, choose something that actually has an application.” (38:32)

“When we make choices for ourselves, we need to step back and be logical and look beyond the marketing, I think that is my whole thing. The tiny pink dumbbell is fine, it can have its utility, just stop calling it strength training and stop saying it will make you toned because it freakin won’t.” (39:15)

“I still have capabilities that go far beyond what I thought I could do when I was in the box of the tiny pink dumbbell when I was in the world of the tiny pink dumbbell.” (44:36)

Featured on the Show

May 3, 2022

It can be tricky to strike a balance between when our bodies are optimized to go hard and when we need to rest. This is why wearable trackers like my personal favorite, Whoop, are such amazing tools to help you understand the data and analytics behind your performance and recovery.

Key Takeaways

If You Want to Use A Recovery Tracker to Improve Your Recovery, You Should:

  1. Find a tracker that provides you with science-based data and analytics unique to your body
  2. Don't forget about your menstrual cycle and the impact it can have on your training and recovery
  3. Remember that it is necessary to rest in order to see the gains that you want

Making Data-Driven Decisions with Emily Capodilupo

Emily Capodilupo is the Senior Vice President of Data Science & Research at Whoop. A Harvard-educated neurobiology expert, former gymnast, and current runner, Emily knows firsthand the importance of sleep and recovery when it comes to peak performance. She combines her skills, personal experience, and sleep and analytics knowledge to empower athletes to make intelligent, data-driven decisions about their bodies.

Recovery Is Non-negotiable

By now, we all know that rest is an important factor in recovery, but did you know it can also impact your athletic, cognitive, and emotional performance? The average person sleeps for ⅓ of their life, and yet the reason behind why sleep is a universal need is still yet to be fully understood. 

As Emily says, sometimes the best thing you can do for your body is rest. There is no point in training hard if you are not going to see the benefits, and you will not see the results you are hoping for without giving your body time to rest. By using a tracker like Whoop, you can better understand what is going on with your body and how to improve your metrics in order to meet your fitness goals.

Closing the Research Gender Gap

Another area that Emily is passionate about bringing attention to is the lack of female representation in academic research, especially when it comes to exercise physiology research. Historically women have been excluded from research studies, which does a horrible disservice to the females who want to train the right way. 

Whoop works to provide you with information about your recovery and sleep, and menstrual cycle so that you can work smarter, not harder. By understanding your menstrual cycle and how your body is operating, you can actually get fit more efficiently. Using technology to gain more information about ourselves, and learning how to apply this information in simple and straightforward ways, is truly the optimal way to perform in all of your athletic pursuits.

Are you ready to use science-backed guidance to improve your performance and recovery? Share your thoughts on data and science when it comes to your optimal health with me in the comments on the episode page.

In This Episode

  • How data collection and algorithms work hand in hand with human physiology (7:58)
  • What is taken into consideration when creating a recovery score with Whoop (17:25)
  • Why it is important to close the gender gap when it comes to exercise physiology research (29:22)
  • What Whoops current and future research tells us about our menstrual cycles (38:43)
  • How to adjust your training based on where you are at in your cycle, stage of life, and more (45:52)

Quotes

“It is a pretty powerful metric of how ready your body is to adapt to the varying stimuli you may be exposed to that day.” (19:21)

“The recovery score, because we are getting at these pretty basic physiological measurements of readiness and adaptation, it translates into all these different things. So both your ability to perform, as well as your risk of potentially getting injured.” (24:32)

“By neglecting research into how to comfortably and safely exercise as a person with a uterus, with these ovarian hormones, we are kind of setting these people up to opt out and therefore reduce their health later in life, shorten their lifespan, make them feel less good and less health, and I feel like that is a really big problem.” (36:54)

“We have collected data from thousands of perimenopausal and menopausal females, and we are going to be able to do research… to sort of understand what research in that population looks like in a way that academic research failed to comment on. We are excited to be a part of closing that gap.” (51:08)

“When we make stuff up, we are at such a high risk of getting it wrong and doing this huge disservice to a population who wants to do it right.” (53:37)

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The Locker Blog

Apr 26, 2022

It is no secret that without quality coaches and personal trainers, there wouldn't be much of a fitness industry. And yet, if you are an aspiring coach or trainer, there are some common pitfalls that you might fall into. If you are trying to impact others in the world of fitness coaching and personal training, this episode is filled with the most important messages you need to know.

Key Takeaways

If You Want to Improve Your Skills as a Fitness Coach, You Should:

  1. Focus on improving your understanding of how people operate and communication skills to create strong bonds with your clients
  2. Set boundaries and do not engage with a topic you are not educated in or comfortable with
  3. Make an investment in yourself by seeking out help to start your career with your best foot forward

Get Your Career Toolbox with Jasmine Braxton

Jasmine Braxton helps personal trainers implement their knowledge and overcome their imposter syndrome as a coach. She is on a mission to not only help other people become coaches but to bring high-quality coaching and personal training to the world. She knows the pitfalls that brand new coaches or personal trainers often unknowingly fall into and is here today to provide you with the most important steps that you can take to become the most impactful coach you can be.

You Deserve to Know What You Are Doing

Getting your certification to be a personal trainer is the first step on a long journey to becoming the best coach you can be. Applying exercise-related science to a personal field can be difficult, especially when you do not have the skills necessary to program in a way that will be impactful for your clients. 

Understanding how people function and communication are two of the biggest struggles Jasmine sees in coaches and trainers. She has dedicated herself to helping others navigate these spaces and improving the quality of training available.

The Importance of a Good Foundation

If you have watched any home renovation show, you know that you can’t build a house on a bad foundation. Despite this, many trainers are entering the field without the foundational knowledge necessary to take the ‘stumbling stage’ out of the equation. There are a lot of lessons in failing, asking for help, and admitting when you do not know something. It is only by observing what you are doing and learning how to improve that you can remove as many barriers as possible in order to gain the success, results, and career that you want.

Are you ready to improve the quality, knowledge, and relationships in your personal training or coaching journey? Share your thoughts with me in the comments on the episode page.

In This Episode

  • What sets Jasmine’s approach apart from what is regularly seen in the fitness industry (11:44)
  • The biggest challenges when it comes to relationship building in the coach to client sphere (17:13)
  • How the pandemic impacted the in-person and online fitness spaces and why it has created a problem (24:18)
  • Why you need to give yourself grace when navigating the coaching landscape and progression of information (30:36)
  • What skills you need to cultivate in order to have the most successful clients and career (33:14)

Quotes

“For trainers, whether we are in Year 1 or Year 12, we still struggle with a lot of the same things. A lot of them is confidence in ourselves, and our ability to program, our ability to help our clients change behaviors, and just overall feeling prepared to do our jobs well.” (9:23)

“Getting a certification to be a personal trainer is just like stage 1. It is not everything y'all, it is just your start.” (12:31)

“Coaching is not just about prescribing sets and reps and progressing someone. It's about helping them achieve a version of themselves that they cannot see yet, but it is there if they have someone supporting them.” (22:18)

“There are lots of lessons in not getting things perfectly, and I think that is an opportunity for growth. When you are just okay with putting yourself out there and doing it and knowing it is not perfect, but learning what you can do to improve it.” (31:26)

“I'm doing this because I can so empathize with what it feels like to want to do this so bad… wanting to be in this industry, but feeling like you have all these little stumbling stones in your way that make it so difficult.” (38:19)

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5 Industry Secrets to Make Program Design Simple

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The Quality Coach Podcast

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Apr 19, 2022

There is a huge need for more understanding of movement and mobility regarding fitness in general. While injuries are impossible to avoid, the idea that our bodies just fall apart as we get older has been normalized to, the point of, detriment. By providing yourself with the necessary tools and knowledge, you can keep your joints healthy to continue to do the things you love at any age.

Key Takeaways

If You Want to Improve Your Mobility, You Should:

  1. Start with a daily movement routine to ensure you are hitting your full range of motion
  2. Remember that mobility work is strength training, just with a different focus
  3. Get an assessment to understand your limitations and where your training should go

Connecting With Your Body With Dr. Jen Hosler

Dr. Jen Hosler is a physiotherapist and trainer who is passionate about helping women cultivate healthy behaviors and discover how simple it can be to live a healthy life, without stress. Building strong joints and tissue through mobility practices is the tool Jen uses to help her clients avoid injury, recover better, and connect with their bodies from the inside out.

Healthy Joints = Healthy Life

For many people, concerns around pain or injury in their lower back and neck stop them from achieving their health goals. Jen wants to challenge you to look beyond your regular fitness routine and incorporate some mobility practices that will target your joints and focus on your strength from the inside out to feel better and get stronger. 

Life will find a way to put every difficult position in front of you. This is why you should expose yourself to these movements now so that your body can be prepared for them when you are faced with them.

Making Your Mobility a Priority

Mobility work is like the brushing and flossing of your teeth, but for your joints. Mobility work can help you maintain and improve your range of motion, get necessary nutrients in and out of your joints, and help you gain body control and body awareness. Mobility is not something that you can just ignore, and the benefits you will receive from starting now instead of tomorrow will have a huge impact on your ability to take your health to the next level.

Don't just accept that your body will start to fall apart as you age. You owe it to yourself to connect with your body and see the return on your investment in your health.

Are you ready to start prioritizing your mobility? Share your thoughts with me in the comments below.

In This Episode

  • Common challenges women face as they age and how specific mobility training could help (8:25)
  • How to navigate fear surrounding a past injury or hurting yourself through mobility (15:10)
  • Addressing the polarization between mobility and nutrition in your day to day life (22:01)
  • Examples of how to properly move your body during mobility work exercises (30:35)
  • Why you should adopt a new attitude when it comes to how your body is aging (40:43)

Quotes

“I really realized that the place that I can have the most impact in helping people continue to still do the things that they love.” (4:12)

“We need to load and off-load the joint to flush junk out and get good stuff in. You can take all of the supplements you want, but if you are not moving your full range of motion, you are never going to get there.” (17:49)

“I am really lucky that I started to learn the importance of these things and addressing my limitations early on because most people don't realize until they are 40 or 50 and have a major injury.” (26:04)

“Most people don't realize that mobility work eventually looks like strength training, or it is strength training, it is just with a different focus in mind. (28:30)

“It is not necessarily your fault that you didn't have the right information, but it is your responsibility to address the things when your body is talking to you.” (41:43)

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Dr. Jen Hosler Website

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Apr 12, 2022
Since I left teaching to start my own company nine years ago, my business has changed a lot. From Stupid Easy Paleo to Harder to Kill, to now Listen to Your Body, I try my hardest to stay transparent about how messy entrepreneurship and life can be. Now, I am ready to announce a new chapter in this journey, one that I hope you are as excited about as I am.

Key Takeaways

When Listening to the Fuel Your Strength Podcast, I Hope You:
  1. Remember my goals of being transparent and following my heart
  2. Relate to my changing business goals when being presented with new information
  3. Know that my dedication to this content only grows stronger with each business pivot
New Name, Similar Mission

I try my very best to only get behind something if in my body or mind it is a definite ‘hell yes’. Part of this process means changing course or pivoting when presented with new information or different viewpoints and perspectives you may have considered before. 

I am pleased to announce the new name of my podcast, the Fuel Your Strength Podcast. This new name is really a better fit that connects more cohesively with my mission, the content I love to create, and the community that I love to work with.

The Future of Fuel Your Strength

I love working with athletic women in the range of their 40s who really want to fuel smarter. I am passionate about helping women step into their strength at any age and combating the idea that life after 40 means accepting defeat. This new podcast will bring you evidence-based strategies for nutrition, training, and recovery so that you can continue to feel strong in your body and your life as a result. 

I cannot wait to take this show into the future, and I cannot wait for you to join me in this new chapter.

What are you hoping to hear about on the new Fuel Your Strength Podcast? Let me know your thoughts on the new name with me in the comments on the episode page.

In This Episode

  • Gather round for a true story from my past that I can’t wait to tell you (0:27)
  • Lessons from my entrepreneurial journey that may help you in your journey whatever that may be (4:25)
  • An exciting announcement about this podcast and what to expect going forward (7:04)
  • Why you should keep challenging yourself at any age (11:58)
  • What I hope you see when you look at my back catalog and my content going forward (13:21)

Quotes

“It goes to show that there are sometimes these different places that we come from, and I came from the world of education, and yet here I am still doing what I love, coaching, helping women with their nutrition… and it's just been such an amazing career I have had in this phase of my life.”  (4:10)

“As much as possible I try to share those things with you, about how much things have changed, about how my way of thinking about certain things has evolved, about how when I started this journey in 2013 of working for myself, it in some ways looked nothing like it does now.” (6:20)

“When we help women build their strength, it is incredible what else changes in the process.” (6:43)

“If I could say there was one thing that I was put on this planet to do, it is to talk about strength, to relay that message, to introduce it to people, to help support you as you are going through your own process of lifting and learning how to do it and understanding how you need to provide your body with the things it really needs to lift strong and recover well, and really see the results that you want.” (10:25)

“We all start somewhere. And it is okay to change and evolve and grow, especially when faced with new information or presented with different viewpoints and perspectives.” (13:53)

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Check out the full show notes here!


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