Scientific research on women's bodies is lacking, highlighting the need to recognize women's unique physiological needs and prioritize their health.
Resistance training and high-intensity workouts are essential for women's lean muscle development, brain health, cardiovascular function, and glucose control.
Deloading during the premenstrual phase and focusing on higher intensity training during ovulation can optimize women's workouts and support recovery.
Deep dives
The Importance of Understanding Women's Physiology
This episode emphasizes the need to understand that women are not just smaller versions of men. It explores the deficiency in scientific research on women's bodies and the impact it has on their training, exercise, and nutrition. The focus is on the potential that women have yet to discover and the importance of closing the gender data gap.
The Benefits of Resistance Training and High-Intensity Workouts
Resistance training and high-intensity workouts are highlighted as key components of women's exercise routines. They promote the development of lean mass, improve brain health, enhance cardiovascular function, and support better glucose control. The recommendation is to prioritize heavy resistance training and high-intensity intervals over moderate-intensity exercises like Pilates or long runs.
Understanding the Menstrual Cycle's Influence on Training
The podcast delves into the effects of the menstrual cycle on women's training. It explains the importance of deloading and modifying workouts during the premenstrual phase to support recovery and reduce inflammation. The ovulation phase, characterized by an estrogen surge, is highlighted as an optimal time for higher intensity training. The post-ovulation phase calls for slightly reduced intensity and more steady-state exercises.
The Role of Nutrition and Protein Intake
Protein intake is emphasized as crucial for supporting lean muscle development and reducing abdominal fat. Studies show that increasing protein intake to 1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight can lead to significant body recomposition. Proper nutrition, along with resistance training and high-intensity workouts, plays a vital role in optimizing women's health and body composition.
How to Approach Exercise During Perimenopause and Menopause
During perimenopause and menopause, it is recommended to continue following a regular exercise routine, adjusting intensity and recovery as needed. Listening to the body's signals and allowing for more recovery time is crucial during this transitional phase. The emphasis remains on resistance training, high-intensity workouts, and protein intake to support overall health and well-being.
In this episode, Georgie speaks to nutrition scientist, exercise physiologist, and author Dr. Stacy Sims. She provides valuable insights on exercise physiology, nutrition, and the unique needs of women's health.
She shares a wealth of knowledge on:
Understanding why women's health research is so far behind men's
Why women have very different physiological needs to men
How easy, time efficient exercise can help you glide through perimenopause
How to exercise with your menstrual cycle for high performance
If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to exercise with your cycle, this episode is for you!
Dr Stacy Sims, MSC, PhD, is a forward-thinking international exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist who aims to revolutionise exercise nutrition and performance for women. Check out her TED talk Women Are Not Small Men™ and her books are available here. You can find out more about her work on her website www.drstacysims.com and on Instagram @drstacysims
Need anxiety support?
Apply for a 30 minute FREE Anxiety Relief Call to work with me as a private client here: http://bit.ly/anxietyreset