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Muscle Science for Women — Fitness & Nutrition
Muscle Science for Women

Muscle Science for Women is a weekly podcast for women who want to build muscle, get stronger, improve their nutrition, and understand what their bodies actually need, especially in their 40s and beyond.

Hosted by Rachel Gregory, MS, CNS, CSCS, and Ashleigh VanHouten, each episode takes a question women are asking and breaks down what the research says, what matters in real life, and what you can actually do with that information.

Rachel is a nutritionist, strength and conditioning specialist, and the founder of RG Fitness. Ashleigh is an author, coach, and former nationally ranked natural figure competitor and powerlifter. Together, they bring science, coaching experience, personal stories, and plenty of honest conversation to topics that are often confusing, oversimplified, or buried under a mountain of internet bullshit.

You’ll hear conversations about strength training during perimenopause and menopause, hormone replacement therapy, bone density, body composition, and how to train now so you can still be strong at 80. Rachel and Ashleigh also dig into the fundamentals beneath it all, including protein, fat loss, maintenance phases, muscle growth, rep ranges, cardio, training zones, GLP-1s, fasting, gut health, pelvic floor health, emotional eating, and the habits that make progress sustainable.

This is not about chasing perfection or following one rigid plan. It’s about understanding the why behind training and nutrition so you can make better decisions for your body, your goals, and the season of life you’re in.

Have a question you want Rachel and Ashleigh to answer? Want to explore the Muscle Science for Women training programs?

Visit https://musclescienceforwomen.com

Copyright: Muscle Science for Women © 2022

Latest Episodes:

Ep 74: How do you know when it's time to eat more carbs? Jul 23, 2024

Show notes

In this short episode, Ashleigh and Rachel answer listener questions about how you know when it's time to eat more carbs, and offer some practical and tangible health tips for shift workers.

A reminder that if you are a member of the military, medical, or first-responder community, we offer discounts for all of our programs. Emails us at musclescience4women@gmail.com for the discount, or to send us any questions, comments, or topic ideas!

This episode is brought to you by Paleovalley. They make amazing healthy snacks, like 100% grassfed and fermented beef sticks and Superfood bars made with bone broth protein and packed with plant-based superfoods (while still managing to taste like a delicious treat). They also have a range of real-food supplements, like Fish Roe and an Organ Complex. This company doesn't cut corners, they combine the best that plants and animals have to offer for our health, and it shows - get 15% off your order at https://paleovalley.com/musclescience

And shoutout to our show sponsor Active Stacks! They make high-quality collagen peptide powder and beef protein powder in two delicious flavors, chocolate and vanilla. They're made with cocoa and vanilla paste, not that unexplained "natural flavoring" you see listed everywhere, so it tastes better and mixes well into your protein shakes or baking. The chocolate flavor literally tastes like chocolate milk - it's a great way to get a collagen boost in your daily diet.

Learn more at https://activestacks.com/discount/MSW10 and use the code MSW10 to save 10% on your purchase!

Sign up for our new Strong & Sculpted Shoulders workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders

Or check out the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes

Learn about our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com

Ep 73: Why is it so much harder for women to lose fat? Jul 16, 2024

Show notes

The Women of Muscle Science are back from their summer break! Get ready for fun life updates, some silliness, and as always, plenty of education mixed in. This week the ladies answer questions about how to stay consistent with your fitness when you travel a lot for work; how to improve your workouts in general; and the age-old question: is it really harder for women to lose fat than men? And if so, WHY?! (and what can we do about it?)

Don't miss it - and please email musclescience4women@gmail.com with any feedback, questions or comments.

Here's the link to Ashleigh's blog post with three ways to improve your workouts now, without even changing your programming: https://ashleighvanhouten.com/blogs/news/three-ways-to-improve-your-workouts-today-without-changing-your-programming

We have an epic Amazon Prime deal from our show sponsor, Active Stacks - makers of high-quality collagen peptide powder and beef protein powder in two delicious flavors, chocolate and vanilla. Head to this link and use the claim code 05PRIMEMSW https://www.amazon.com/promocode/A2PBCGF48UL6FT

This episode is also brought to you by Paleovalley. They make amazing healthy snacks, like 100% grassfed and fermented beef sticks and Superfood bars made with bone broth protein and packed with plant-based superfoods (while still managing to taste like a delicious treat). They also have a range of real-food supplements, like Fish Roe and an Organ Complex. This company doesn't cut corners, they combine the best that plants and animals have to offer for our health, and it shows - get 15% off your order at https://paleovalley.com/musclescience

Sign up for our new Strong & Sculpted Shoulders workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders

Or check out the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes

Learn about our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com

Ep 72: How to improve bone density | partial ROM reps for hypertrophy? Jun 25, 2024

Show notes

In this week's episode, Ashleigh and Rachel chat about how they manage their colds (including what they do to minimize sickness). They also answer questions from listeners about

how to improve bone density: what exercises should we be doing? At what age is it too late? Why is bone density important? What foods help?
Do partial range of motion reps help hypertrophy even more than full range of motion? Prepare for a deep dive!
And Ashleigh tells a Planet Fitness story

Download Rachel's sick protocol: https://www.rgfit.com/blog/sick-protocol

All that and more - if you have questions, comments, or funny stories for the Muscle Science ladies, send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

This episode is brought to you by Paleovalley. They make amazing healthy snacks, like 100% grassfed and fermented beef sticks and Superfood bars made with bone broth protein and packed with plant-based superfoods (while still managing to taste like a delicious treat). They also have a range of real-food supplements, like Fish Roe and an Organ Complex. This company doesn't cut corners, they combine the best that plants and animals have to offer for our health, and it shows - get 15% off your order at https://paleovalley.com/musclescience

And shoutout to our show sponsor Active Stacks! They make high-quality collagen peptide powder and beef protein powder in two delicious flavors, chocolate and vanilla. They're made with cocoa and vanilla paste, not that unexplained "natural flavoring" you see listed everywhere, so it tastes better and mixes well into your protein shakes or baking. The chocolate flavor literally tastes like chocolate milk - it's a great way to get a collagen boost in your daily diet.

Learn more at https://activestacks.com/discount/MSW10 and use the code MSW10 to save 10% on your purchase!

Sign up for our new Strong & Sculpted Shoulders workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders

Or check out the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes

Learn about our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com

Ep 71: Did you ruin your metabolism by undereating? Jun 18, 2024

Show notes

In this episode Rachel recaps a fun Vegas weekend, they talk about some of their favorite "on the go" snacks, and they answer a listener question about balancing strength training and marathon training.

The girls also go through a case study from a listener who is also a VERY common client profile: a woman in her 50's who has spent decades undereating, being extremely rigid and strict with their diet, over training and under recovering, and practicing a negative and fear-based mindset around food and training. This client is now, in menopause, struggling with minor weight gain and wondering if decades of habits are impossible to fix or change. There's a lot to unpack here and we hope you find it helpful!

This episode is brought to you by Paleovalley. They make amazing healthy snacks, like 100% grassfed and fermented beef sticks and Superfood bars made with bone broth protein and packed with plant-based superfoods (while still managing to taste like a delicious treat). They also have a range of real-food supplements, like Fish Roe and an Organ Complex. This company doesn't cut corners, they combine the best that plants and animals have to offer for our health, and it shows - get 15% off your order at https://paleovalley.com/musclescience

Sign up for our new Strong & Sculpted Shoulders workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders

Or check out the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes

Learn about our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com

Ep 70: How much muscle is enough - or too much? Jun 04, 2024

Show notes

This week Ashleigh and Rachel recap Ashleigh's San Diego visit; they respond to a critical email about Botox; they answer a question about whether or not you should cut or bulk first, and a deeper conversation about how to know when you have "enough" muscle. What does enough muscle even mean? How do you know if you have enough to maintain health - and should we be at all worried about too much muscle - what are the potential downsides?

This is a fun episode - if you have any feedback or topic ideas send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Sign up for our NEW workshop, Strong & Sculpted Shoulders: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders

Check out our specialized program, the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes

More info on our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com

And shoutout to our show sponsor Active Stacks! They make high-quality collagen peptide powder and beef protein powder in two delicious flavors, chocolate and vanilla. They're made with cocoa and vanilla paste, not that unexplained "natural flavoring" you see listed everywhere, so it tastes better and mixes well into your protein shakes or baking. The chocolate flavor literally tastes like chocolate milk - it's a great way to get a collagen boost in your daily diet.

Learn more at https://activestacks.com/discount/MSW10 and use the code MSW10 to save 10% on your purchase!

Ep 69: Are some people just not "built" for certain exercises? | How many meals per day is optimal? May 21, 2024

Show notes

In today's episode, Ashleigh and Rachel answer listener questions about whether or not three meals per day is optimal for protein/nutrient absorption; if some builds or anatomies just aren't cut out for certain exercises (and if so, how do we pick the best movements for our bodies?); Ashleigh rants about a particularly bad take on the carnivore diet; and more.

If you have questions, comments, feedback, or want to add a topic for "Ashleigh's Rant Corner," send it to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

This episode is brought to you by Paleovalley. They make amazing healthy snacks, like 100% grassfed and fermented beef sticks and Superfood bars made with bone broth protein and packed with plant-based superfoods (while still managing to taste like a delicious treat). They also have a range of real-food supplements, like Fish Roe and an Organ Complex. This company doesn't cut corners, they combine the best that plants and animals have to offer for our health, and it shows - get 15% off your order at https://paleovalley.com/musclescience

Sign up for our new Strong & Sculpted Shoulders workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders

Or check out the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes

Learn about our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com

Ep 68: Too much dietary protein causes cardiovascular disease (again)? Discussing the latest study May 14, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, Ashleigh and Rachel answer a listener's question about a recent study claiming that high leucine (and dietary protein) intake can cause atherosclerosis or cardiovascular disease. The links below provide more information on the study and their response.

The ladies also chat about some recent injuries, Ashleigh's upcoming trip to San Diego, and more. If you have questions, comments, feedback, or want to add a topic for "Ashleigh's Rant Corner," send it to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

This episode is brought to you by Paleovalley. They make amazing healthy snacks, like 100% grassfed and fermented beef sticks and Superfood bars made with bone broth protein and packed with plant-based superfoods (while still managing to taste like a delicious treat). They also have a range of real-food supplements, like Fish Roe and an Organ Complex. This company doesn't cut corners, they combine the best that plants and animals have to offer for our health, and it shows - get 15% off your order at https://paleovalley.com/musclescience

Sign up for our new Strong & Sculpted Shoulders workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders

Get fit with us in 2024 - sign up for the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes

Or our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com

Link to the study discussed in this episode: 1. Zhang X, Kapoor D, Jeong SJ, et al. Identification of a leucine-mediated threshold effect governing macrophage mTOR signalling and cardiovascular risk. Nat Metab. 2024;6(2):359-377.

Link to Dr. Peter Attia's response, also mentioned: https://peterattiamd.com/protein-and-ascvd/

Ep 67: Lessons on nutrition and muscle building from Stan Efferding May 07, 2024

Show notes

Enjoy this re-release of one of our more popular episodes with Stan Efferding, an IFBB Professional bodybuilder and World Record Holding Powerlifter. He is one of only 10 men in the world to ever total over 2,300 pounds raw in competition. Stan holds the title as the World's Strongest Bodybuilder. Stan conducts seminars all over the country for various sports and nutrition and training techniques, and he coined the Vertical Diet - in this episode Ashleigh and Stan talk all things diet, muscle building, and what we can all take from the regimens of elite athletes.

They cover:

Stan's morning/daily routine
His book, The Vertical Diet
Some of his key nutrition tips around fiber and protein
Practical tips for the rest of us gained from the worlds of powerlifting and bodybuilding
Stan's experience dealing with depression and anxiety, and how he addressed it
Working with elite athletes like Hafthor Bjornsson and Jon Jones
And much more!

Please check out our new show Sponsor, Palleovalley - they make amazing healthy snacks, like 100% grassfed and fermented beef sticks and Superfood bars made with bone broth protein and packed with plant-based superfoods (while still managing to taste like a delicious treat). They also have a range of real-food supplements, like Fish Roe and an Organ Complex. This company doesn't cut corners, they combine the best that plants and animals have to offer for our health, and it shows - get 15% off your order at https://paleovalley.com/musclescience

Let us know your thoughts, or pose more questions or topic ideas to Rachel and Ashleigh at musclescience4women@gmail.com

Sign up for our new Strong & Sculpted Shoulders workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders

Get fit with us in 2024 - sign up for the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes

Or our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com

Ep 66: How to Figure Out Maintenance Calories? | Herniated Disc Recovery Apr 30, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, Ashleigh and Rachel answer listener questions about how to transition from a cut to "maintenance" and all the mistakes and misconceptions that come from this process; they talk about training during recovery from a herniated disc; they discuss the concept that cold beverages may be inherently less good for you; and much more.

If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for Muscle Science for Women, email it to musclescience4women@gmail.com

Sign up for the new Strong & Sculpted Shoulders workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders

Check out our specialized program, the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes

More info on our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com

Thank you to our sponsor Purity Coffee! Quality coffee can be health promoting and help fight inflammation. Purity Coffee is certified organic and lab tested for pesticides, mold, and heavy metals. They use a proprietary roasting protocol that results (when tested) in up to 65% more antioxidants on average vs other organic coffees. It truly is the best of the best - and it tastes great, with a number of options for you to choose from - even a decaf and a 1/3 caffeinated option! Use our link or the discount code MSW25 to get a full 25% off your first order of the best coffee out there: https://puritycoffee.com/discount/MSW25

Ep 65: Aging well doesn't happen by accident: how to enjoy the process Apr 23, 2024

Show notes

The term "aging," to many, is a bad word, associated with negative changes and a general decline in health. But many of the negative aspects we associate with aging aren't inevitable. In this episode re-release, Ashleigh speaks with New York Times bestselling author, weight-loss and natural anti-aging expert Dr. Kellyann Petrucci.She is a concierge doctor for celebrities in New York City and Los Angeles, a board-certified naturopathic physician and a certified nutrition consultant. She is a massive proponent of using food to encourage robust health and beauty, and challenging what we think about "natural aging."

In this episode Dr. Kellyann and Ashleigh discuss eating for beauty; addressing gut health as a means of overall health but also anti-aging; how to slow down brain aging; and ways we can switch our perspective from thinking of aging as an inevitable decline, to thinking of it as an opportunity for growth, improvement, and continued vitality. Aging well doesn't happen by accident, and there's so much we can do to feel, look, and perform well as move through life. Learn more about her work at drkellyann.com.

Let us know your thoughts, or pose more questions or topic ideas to Rachel and Ashleigh at musclescience4women@gmail.com

Sign up for our new Strong & Sculpted Shoulders workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders

Get fit with us in 2024 - sign up for the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes

Or our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com

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