Hit Play Not Pause

This week we welcome back protein and fat-loss researcher Dr. Bill Campbell to unpack early findings from what may be the largest menopause fitness survey to date, designed to finally study women who actively train. We dive into what thousands of fit midlife women report about calorie and protein intake, hormone therapy use, and the widely felt—but poorly studied—experience of weight-loss resistance during peri- and postmenopause. The conversation also explores why hormone therapy use appears far higher in fitness-engaged women than in national estimates, how muscle quality and power may decline even before we notice muscle loss, and why high-intensity interval work appears especially promising for reducing visceral fat.
Bill Campbell, PhD is a Professor of Exercise Science and Director of the Performance and Physique Enhancement Laboratory at the University of South Florida. He is also a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist from the National Strength & Conditioning Association and former president of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (where he is also 1 of 35 individuals to be recognized as a ‘Fellow’ of the organization—an honor reserved for those individuals who have outstanding contributions to the field of sports nutrition). He has published over 200 scientific papers and abstracts, three textbooks, and 20 book chapters in areas related to physique enhancement, sports nutrition, resistance training, and dietary supplementation. You can learn more about him and his work at www.billcampbellphd.com
Resources
Investigating weight loss resistance across the menopausal transition: a preliminary quantitative survey of resistance-trained women here
Insufficient sleep undermines dietary efforts to reduce adiposity here
Why the Calories In/Calories Out Equation Can Fail Women with Jody Dushay, MD here
Sign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feisty.co/feisty-40/
Book Your Mallorca Cycling Trip with Feisty: https://feisty.co/events/mallorca-cycling-trip-with-the-cyclists-menu/
Learn More about our 2026 Feisty Events, including Bike Camps and Cycling Trips: https://feisty.co/events/
Follow Us on Instagram:
Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause
Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099
Support our Partners:
Midi Health: You Deserve to Feel Great. Book your virtual visit today at https://www.joinmidi.com/
Cozy Earth: Use Code HITPLAY at https://cozyearth.com/ for up to 20% off
Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at https://hettas.com/
Previnex: Get 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/

When the first signs of menopause hit, the temptation can be strong to throw everything we have at it–all the supplements, all the hacks, all the hormones. But not everything is right for everyone, and doing too much at once can backfire, leaving you feeling worse, lighter in the wallet, or both. This week, we take a more measured, targeted approach with pharmacist, nutritionist, and certified menopause lifestyle practitioner Sarah Gray, author of It’s Not You, It’s Perimenopause. A marathon runner herself, Sarah explains how incremental, sustainable changes—matched to your body, goals, and real life—can help you feel better now while protecting your health for the long run.
Sarah Gray is one of Australia’s few dual-qualified health professionals in pharmacy and nutrition, and a Certified Menopause Lifestyle Practitioner. She takes a practical, science-based, whole-person approach to helping women thrive through perimenopause and beyond—blending nutrition, movement, mindset, and the smart use of supplements and medications. A trusted Australian health expert and social media thought leader, Sarah has appeared on Channel 10’s My Market Kitchen for four seasons and regularly contributes across radio, print, online media, and podcasts. In her debut book, The Australian Perimenopause Action Plan, she draws on 25+ years across pharmacy, private practice, public health, and the supplements industry to give women a clear, actionable roadmap for midlife. You can learn more about her and her work at thenutritionpharmacist.com
Resources
Book: It's Not You, It’s Perimenopause
Collagen studies:
Specific collagen peptides benefit the biosynthesis of matrix molecules of tendons and ligaments
Collagen supplementation augments changes in patellar tendon properties in female soccer players
Sign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feisty.co/feisty-40/
Book Your Mallorca Cycling Trip with Feisty: https://feisty.co/events/mallorca-cycling-trip-with-the-cyclists-menu/
Learn More about our 2026 Feisty Events, including Bike Camps and Cycling Trips: https://feisty.co/events/
Follow Us on Instagram:
Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause
Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099
Support our Partners:
Midi Health: You Deserve to Feel Great. Book your virtual visit today at https://www.joinmidi.com/
Cozy Earth: Use Code HITPLAY at https://cozyearth.com/ for up to 20% off
Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at https://hettas.com/
Previnex: Get 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/

“Carbs are evil.” As we usher in 2026, and as endurance athletes around the globe are stuffing down as many carbohydrates per hour as humanly possible to supercharge their performance, this week’s guest, sports dietitian Kristen Arnold, still manages misconceptions, especially from her midlife clients, that carbohydrates are something to be cut from the diet. Nothing could be further from the truth. This week we kick off the new year with a show all about the life and performance-boosting benefits of carbs. We cover carbohydrate timing, processed carbs versus unprocessed carbs, carbohydrate’s impact on blood sugar, brain function, mood, inflammation, general health, and much, much more.
Kristen Arnold, MS, RDN, CSSD is a board-certified sports dietitian, cycling coach, and retired professional athlete with over 10 years of experience in sports dietetics. She has worked with a wide range of professional sports teams, athlete-centered healthcare initiatives, and Olympic organizations. Kristen owns a thriving private practice dedicated to empowering active women across the lifespan through evidence-based sports nutrition coaching and education. She is a first-author, peer-reviewed researcher on improving postmenopausal women’s health through targeted nutrition strategies and counseling, and she regularly speaks on podcasts and contributes to publications on sports nutrition topics. Learn more at sportsnutritionforwomen.com.
Sign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feisty.co/feisty-40/
Book Your Mallorca Cycling Trip with Feisty: https://feisty.co/events/mallorca-cycling-trip-with-the-cyclists-menu/
Learn More about our 2026 Feisty Events, including Bike Camps and Cycling Trips: https://feisty.co/events/
Follow Us on Instagram:
Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause
Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099
Support our Partners:
Midi Health: You Deserve to Feel Great. Book your virtual visit today at https://www.joinmidi.com/
Cozy Earth: Use Code HITPLAY at https://cozyearth.com/ for up to 20% off
Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at https://hettas.com/
Previnex: Get 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/

This episode originally dropped on: March 19, 2025
Many of us have spent a lifetime trying to shrink ourselves. We grew up being told you could never be too thin. As athletes, especially in endurance sports, smaller, lighter, faster was the ethos of the day. That is changing as we see athletes, especially women, discover that being fueled and strong yields even better performance–and longevity. This week’s guest, trainer and nutrition coach Steph Gaudreau embodies that journey through both her personal and professional life. She shares how, for 40+ women especially, growing muscles is the key to better energy and performance in sport and life, and how strength training is the gateway to midlife self-acceptance.
Steph Gaudreau, CISSN, CPT, helps athletic women over 40 fuel themselves better, get stronger, increase their energy, and perform better in the gym. She’s a sports nutritionist and strength coach with multiple certifications including USA Weightlifting coach, Menopause Health & Fitness Specialist, Girls Gone Strong Women’s Coaching Specialist, and Intuitive Eating Counselor. She shares her advice on building strength, proper fueling, and much more as the host of the Fuel Your Strength Podcast. You can learn more about Steph and her work at www.stephgaudreau.com
Sign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feisty.co/feisty-40/
Book Your Mallorca Cycling Trip with Feisty: https://feisty.co/events/mallorca-cycling-trip-with-the-cyclists-menu/
Learn More about our 2026 Feisty Events, including Bike Camps and Cycling Trips: https://feisty.co/events/
Follow Us on Instagram:
Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause
Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099
Support our Partners:
Midi Health: You Deserve to Feel Great. Book your virtual visit today at https://www.joinmidi.com/
Cozy Earth: Use Code HITPLAY at https://cozyearth.com/ for up to 20% off
Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at https://hettas.com/
Previnex: Get 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/

This episode originally dropped on: June 2, 2025
When some of the biggest names in menopause medicine want to learn to lift heavy, they turn to this week’s guest, Nike Master Trainer and midlife fitness advocate Holly Rilinger, founder of the LIFTED Method. Because Holly gets it. She’s been through her own journey with damaging diet culture, body image issues, and a challenging perimenopause that has left her navigating sheet soaking night sweats, brain fog, and fatigue. Through a midlife-specific training plan and tailored hormone therapy regimen (including testosterone), she’s been able to reclaim her energy and power and is devoted to helping others do the same. This week we dive into the science and strategy behind Holly’s Lifted Method and her Blueprint programs designed specifically for women in midlife, as well as for those using GLP-1 medications. This conversation is packed with insight, honesty, and a lot of muscle. You can learn more about Holly and her programs at www.theliftedmethodcoaching.com
Holly Rilinger is a Nike Master Trainer, author, and founder of the LIFTED Method: An in-person and virtual platform with the focus of empowering people at all levels to strength train. Holly is dedicated to delivering innovative, science-backed training methods in an environment that prioritizes growth, resilience, and a lifelong passion for fitness. Holly coaches in her East Hampton studio and on her virtual platform. She is also the founder of LIFTED Blueprint, formerly Menopause Bootcamp, a program designed specifically to help women in midlife get stronger, feel more energized, and gain confidence as they navigate this powerful phase of life. She is also the creator of LIFTED’s newest program for SLP-1 patients–GLP-1 Blueprint in partnership with Dr. Alexandra Sowa of So Well.
Sign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feisty.co/feisty-40/
Book Your Mallorca Cycling Trip with Feisty: https://feisty.co/events/mallorca-cycling-trip-with-the-cyclists-menu/
Learn More about our 2026 Feisty Events, including Bike Camps and Cycling Trips: https://feisty.co/events/
Follow Us on Instagram:
Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause
Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099
Support our Partners:
Midi Health: You Deserve to Feel Great. Book your virtual visit today at https://www.joinmidi.com/
Cozy Earth: Use Code HITPLAY at https://cozyearth.com/ for up to 20% off
Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at https://hettas.com/
Previnex: Get 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/