Stronger with Time

🎓 Join the 9-Week Science of Thriving Course → https://scienceofthriving.com.au 📲 Follow us on Instagram → @tonyboutagyFasted vs fed training, glucose control, and interval training are hot topics in women’s fitness - but much of the advice online isn’t grounded in real-world research.In this conversation with Professor Jenna Gillen, I unpack the latest evidence on how women respond to different training states, why “exercise snacks” work, and how to adapt high-intensity training for different life stages.You’ll learn: • What mitochondria are and why they matter for health beyond sport • The truth about fibre type differences between men and women • How exercise impacts glucose control - during, after, and long term • Why frequent short bouts of movement (“exercise snacks”) are so effective • How low-volume sprint intervals compare to moderate continuous training • The 3 x 20-second sprint protocol for time-crunched women • What the research shows on fasted vs fed training for females • Interval training options for perimenopause and postmenopause • Key takeaways for sustainable cardio and strength programming

If you’ve ever wondered whether older adults can lift heavy or build muscle after 70, this conversation changes everything.Professor Maria Fiatarone Singh pioneered resistance training research in frail elderly populations when no one else believed it was possible. Her 1988 study showing 200% strength gains in nursing home residents aged 80-96 launched four decades of research proving that high-intensity resistance training is the most powerful intervention for healthy aging.In this episode, you'll discover:• How frail 90-year-olds can safely progress to 80% intensity in just four days • Why simple leg press and leg extension improved all activities of daily living • The nitrogen-retention benefits of resistance training (opposite of what most believe) • How weightlifting alone improves VO2 max by 10% without any aerobic training • Why resistance training is more feasible than walking for frail populations • The 13-intervention program that reduced post-hip fracture deaths by 85% • Brain changes from resistance training: growing empathy centers and protecting memory • Maria's personal training approach at age 71: "the heaviest weight I can actually lift"This conversation reveals why resistance training should be the foundation of exercise prescription for older adults and chronic disease management.🎓 Join the 9-Week Science of Thriving Course → https://scienceofthriving.com.au📲 Follow us on Instagram → @tonyboutagy

🎓 Join the 9-Week Science of Thriving Course → https://scienceofthriving.com.au  📲 Follow us on Instagram → @tonyboutagy  How do you keep training (and coaching) when real life gets complicated?In this episode, Michelle MacDonald shares the practical strategies she uses to coach women through inflammation, structural limitations, post-surgery recovery, and the emotional ups and downs of midlife training. From leveraging machine work to rewriting beliefs about cardio, Michelle’s approach blends deep physiological awareness with day-to-day adaptability.We also explore how she helped her 79-year-old mother go from inactive to lifting four days a week—and what it really means to build an “athlete mindset” later in life.You’ll learn:• How a yoga foundation shaped Michelle’s elite mind-muscle control• The difference between flexibility and mobility (and what women really lose)• Why women need more regressions, not more restrictions• What to do when inflammation flares or structural pain appears• How to coach via communication, not just programs• Why the anti-cardio trend is harming women—and how to reframe it• What Joan’s transformation teaches us about consistency, identity, and longevityThis episode is a masterclass in practical, intelligent coaching—built for women training through life.

🎓 Join the 9-Week Science of Thriving Course → https://scienceofthriving.com.au📲 Follow us on Instagram → @tonyboutagyIf you've seen those viral MRI images comparing active and sedentary 70-year-olds, you've witnessed one of the most compelling visual demonstrations of how exercise shapes the aging process - but the story behind them reveals even more.In this episode, Professor Scott Trappe - the researcher behind those images - explains what happens to muscle as we age and how exercise fundamentally alters this process. You'll discover:• What those MRI comparisons reveal about the aging trajectory• When muscle mass, strength, and power peak and how exercise affects this timeline• The reality of fast-twitch fibre changes with age and what training can reverse• Why males and females show remarkably similar responses to exercise across the lifespan• Scott's evidence-based approach that consistently outperforms complex programming• How muscle with different training histories responds to exercise stimuli• The finding that 90-year-old lifelong exercisers maintain muscle quality similar to 40-year-olds• Why consistency matters more than complexity in long-term outcomesThis conversation explores what decades of research reveal about muscle adaptation and the aging process.

🎓 Join the 9-Week Science of Thriving Course → https://scienceofthriving.com.au📲 Follow us on Instagram → @tonyboutagyAre you overwhelmed by nutrition rules, tired of feeling guilty about food, or just want to reclaim your energy and confidence after 40?This episode is all about unlearning decades of restrictive diet culture, breaking free from perfectionism, and rebuilding trust with your body and food. Dr. Mikki Williden and I cut through nutrition confusion, show you why common deficiencies and frustration are not your fault, and give you the tools to finally feel at home with your plate again.You’ll learn:How to spot and fix nutrient gaps (iron, B12, D, thyroid)Why most “healthy eating” advice leaves women stuck or burnt outHow to regulate blood sugar and energy, without food obsessionWhy high-protein meals, flexible carbs, and meal planning create freedomWhat “tuning in” really means (and how to stop second-guessing yourself)If you’re ready to let go of nutrition anxiety, this is the reset you need.

After eight episodes with the world’s leading experts, what actually works for women’s health, strength, and performance?This is the first summary podcast of Stronger With Time—a distillation of what I’ve learned from conversations with eight world-class researchers and practitioners in women’s health and performance.  🎓 Join the 9-Week Science of Thriving Course →⁠⁠ https://scienceofthriving.com.au⁠⁠📲 Follow us on Instagram → @tonyboutagyIf you’ve been following the series, or if you’re looking for a rigorous, practical update on what the research actually supports, this is your one-stop briefing.Inside, you’ll learn: → Why “cycle syncing” needs context, not blanket rules (Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple) → How to balance intensity and base training for results (Prof. Paul Laursen) → What muscle research really says about menopause and strength (Prof. Severine Lamon) → The truth about protein, adaptation, and what actually matters after 40 (Prof. Stuart Phillips) → Why gender-based nutrition rules often don’t hold up (Prof. Louise Burke) → How mindset and emotional fitness drive lasting change (Craig Hall) → The power of individualised breathing for sleep and recovery (Dr. Rosalba Courtney) → How to build muscle and strength at any age without dogma (Prof. Tommy Lundberg)And more.This is the playbook I’m using, based on both the literature and decades of coaching.Next up:More episodes with true experts, deeper dives into the research that matters, another run of my Menopause course → https://scienceofthriving.com.au, and an upcoming “Ask Me Anything” where I’ll answer your biggest questions.Follow for more.

Joining the conversation is Professor Tommy Lundberg, a world-renowned expert from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, specializing in resistance training and muscle performance. He dives into the science of building muscle at any age, busts myths about aging and strength, and reveals how women can maintain muscle through menopause. Lundberg emphasizes tailored training methods, optimal rep ranges, and the importance of recovery. His insights challenge the notion that muscle loss is inevitable, inspiring listeners to redefine their fitness journey.

🎓 Join the 9-Week Science of Thriving Course → https://scienceofthriving.com.au 📲 Follow us on Instagram → @tonyboutagyHow do stress, menopause, and modern life change the way women breathe? Is there really a “right” way to breathe - or do we need a more adaptive, compassionate approach?In this conversation, Dr. Rosalba Courtney shares the latest science behind functional breathing, the E.A.R.S. model, and how women can use breathwork to ease anxiety, improve sleep, and regain control during menopause.You’ll learn: • What dysfunctional breathing actually is and how to spot it• How stress, anxiety & menopause disrupt your breathing patterns• The link between CO₂ tolerance, nervous system health & sleep quality• Why rigid breathing techniques can do more harm than good• Nasal vs. mouth breathing: what the science says (not social media)• Evidence-based breathing drills for sleep, anxiety & nasal function• The truth about sighs, yawns, and breath holds — and how to use themWhether you’re a coach, a midlife woman, or anyone interested in the science and art of breathing, this episode gives you practical tools to breathe easier and thrive.

 🎓 Join the 9-Week Science of Thriving Course → https://scienceofthriving.com.au 📲 Follow us on Instagram → @tonyboutagyWhat happens when the body, confidence, or routines you've built your identity around begin to shift - and how do you navigate this transition with grace rather than resistance?In this honest and grounded conversation, Tony speaks with one of Australia’s first life coaches Craig Hall to explore the quiet identity shifts that surface in midlife. You’ll learn how to:• Understand why emotional triggers are useful - not shameful• Rebuild self-trust when your confidence has shifted• Let go of the pressure to “go back to who you were”• Work with - rather than against - your current reality• Navigate the invisible identity shift with more compassion and less controlThis episode is for anyone who feels like their old tools no longer fit - and is ready to meet midlife with more grace, honesty, and strength.

Join the 9-Week Science of Thriving Course → https://scienceofthriving.com.auFollow us on Instagram → @tonyboutagyHow should female athletes approach nutrition and recovery—and does the menstrual cycle significantly alter these strategies?In this evidence-driven conversation, Professor Louise Burke clarifies: • Accurate guidelines for carbohydrate loading in women • The realities of training fasted for women • Collagen supplementation and its actual effectiveness • Practical nutrition and recovery strategies • Optimal caffeine use without compromising sleep • Crucial insights into maintaining bone healthPerfect for coaches supporting female athletes and women training through different life stages, this episode provides clear, actionable guidelines to confidently manage nutrition and performance.