In this episode, my guest is Dr. Stacy Sims, Ph.D., an exercise physiologist, nutrition scientist, and expert in female-specific nutrition and training for health, performance, and longevity. We discuss which exercise and nutrition protocols are ideal for women based on their age and particular goals.
We discuss whether women should train fasted, when and what to eat pre- and post-training, and how the menstrual cycle impacts training and nutrition needs. We also explain how to use a combination of resistance, high-intensity, and sprint interval training to effectively improve body composition, hormones, and cardiometabolic health, offset cognitive decline, and promote longevity.
We also discuss supplements and caffeine, the unique sleep needs of women based on age, whether women should use deliberate cold exposure, and how saunas can improve symptoms of hot flashes and benefit athletic performance. Dr. Sims challenges common misconceptions about women’s health and fitness and explains why certain types of cardio, caloric restriction, and low-protein diets can be harmful to women’s metabolic health.
Listeners will learn a wealth of actionable information on how to improve their training and nutrition to enhance their health and how to age with greater ability, mobility, and vitality.
Access the full show notes for this episode at hubermanlab.com.
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Timestamps
00:00:00 Dr. Stacy Sims
00:02:24 Sponsors: Maui Nui, Eight Sleep & Waking Up
00:07:03 Intermittent Fasting, Exercise & Women
00:12:50 Cortisol & Circadian Rhythm, Caffeine & Training
00:17:25 Reps in Reserve, Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE); Age & Women
00:21:06 Pre-Training Meal & Brain, Kisspeptin
00:26:45 Post-Training Meal & Recovery Window
00:29:59 Sponsor: AG1
00:31:48 Hormones, Calories & Women
00:34:24 Women, Strength Improvements & Resistance Training
00:39:10 Tool: Women & Training Goals by Age Range
00:44:16 Women, Perimenopause, Training & Longevity
00:47:14 Women & Training for Longevity, Cardio, Zone 2
00:51:42 Tools: How to Start Resistance Training, Machines; Polarized Training
00:58:23 Perform with Dr. Andy Galpin Podcast
00:59:10 Menstrual Cycle & Training, Tool: Tracking & Individual Variability
01:04:31 Tool: 10-Minute Rule; High-Intensity Training & Menstrual Cycle
01:08:36 “Train Hard & Eat Well”; Appetite, Nutrition & Menstrual Cycle
01:12:22 Oral Contraception, Hormones, Athletic Performance; IUD
01:20:57 Evaluating Menstrual Blood, PCOS; Hormones & Female Athletes
01:26:31 Iron, Fatigue; Blood Testing & Menstrual Cycle
01:29:33 Caffeine & Perimenopause; Nicotine, Schisandra
01:34:24 Deliberate Cold Exposure & Women, Endometriosis; Tool: Sauna & Hot Flashes
01:42:19 Tools: “Sims’ Protocol”: Post-Training Sauna & Performance; “Track Stack”
01:49:37 Women, Hormones & Sleep, Perimenopause & Sleep Hygiene
01:52:54 Supplements: Creatine, Water Weight, Hair Loss; Vitamin D3
01:57:21 Protein Powder; Adaptogens & Timing
02:00:11 Pregnancy & Training; Cold & Hot Exposure
02:06:19 Tool: Women in 50s & Older, Training & Nutrition for Longevity
02:09:38 Tool: Women in 20s-40s & Training, Lactate
02:12:18 Tool: What is High-Intensity Training?, Cardiovascular Sets & Recovery
02:17:22 Training for Longevity, Cellular & Metabolic Changes
02:19:30 Nutrition, 80/20 Rule
02:23:30 Listening to Self
02:26:00 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, YouTube Feedback, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter
Disclaimer & Disclosures
