#228 ‒ Improving body composition, female-specific training principles, and overcoming an eating disorder | Holly Baxter, APD

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Oct 24, 2022

Holly Baxter, an accredited practicing dietician and competitive bodybuilder, shares her journey through mental health struggles and eating disorders. She discusses her road to recovery, emphasizing the importance of therapy and self-compassion. Holly also outlines female-specific training principles, effective nutrition strategies for muscle gain, and the concept of reverse dieting. Her insights provide a roadmap for women seeking to improve their physique while prioritizing mental well-being and realistic goals in fitness.

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ANECDOTE

Early Struggles

Holly Baxter's interest in nutrition stemmed from a desire for control, linked to a 15-year eating disorder.
She struggled with anorexia, binge eating, and bulimia, alongside depression and two suicide attempts at 16.

ANECDOTE

Family Dynamics and Trauma

Holly's eating disorder developed alongside depression, influenced by a strained family environment and the pressure to excel.
Experiences of sexual trauma and a lack of supportive communication further exacerbated her struggles.

INSIGHT

Anorexia and Athleticism

Holly's athletic background prevented her anorexia from becoming dangerously low in body weight, but led to binging and purging.
The inability to control her hunger despite her knowledge of nutrition frustrated her and fueled the cycle.

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Holly Baxter is an accredited practicing dietician (APD), competitive bodybuilder, fitness and nutrition educator, and coach. In this episode, Holly discusses her experience as an athlete and competitive bodybuilder. She also opens up about her struggles with mental health, her long battle with an eating disorder, and the important steps she’s taken in her road to recovery. From there, she explains how she would design a nutrition and training program for a hypothetical female client wanting to improve her physique through the addition of lean muscle and loss of body fat. She explains reasonable expectations for gaining muscle and the value of a “reverse diet” for maintaining weight loss, and she shares her favorite exercises. She also talks through some female-specific training considerations such as programming, reps, volume, hormone replacement therapy, and more.

We discuss:

Holly’s background and passion for sports and nutrition [2:00];
Holly’s struggle with depression and an eating disorder [4:30];
Reflecting on her eating disorder, body image, and a wake up call [18:15];
Road to recovery: therapy, meditation, self-compassion, and a breakthrough [27:45];
The effect of competitive bodybuilding on women [39:00];
Holly’s competition prep and how she guides her clients wanting to improve their physique [46:45];
Training principles for muscle hypertrophy [57:00];
Training advice for an inexperienced person wanting to build muscle [1:01:30];
Training program for a hypothetical woman wanting to add lean muscle and lose body fat [1:04:15];
Lower body lifts: Holly’s approach to leg workouts with clients [1:14:00];
Upper body exercises: Holly’s approach with her clients [1:24:45];
Importance of nutrition and protein during the muscle building phase [1:34:00];
Changes to nutrition and training during a fat loss phase [1:40:30];
A “reverse diet” after a cutting phase to help prevent weight gain [1:49:45];
Female-specific training considerations: programming, reps, volume, sex hormones, and more [1:53:15];
Holly’s future in bodybuilding and helping struggling women [2:05:45];
Looking forward: Holly’s focus on longevity, bone mineral density, and wellness [2:08:15]; and
More.

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