Training hard and eating well but still feeling stuck with stubborn stuck fat that won't budge or lack of seeing significant body composition changes? You’re not alone—and it’s not your fault.

In this powerful episode, Louise, one of the world’s leading women's health, fitness and performance experts, breaks down five hidden reasons why ambitious active women and runners aren’t seeing the body composition changes they work so hard to achieve. She reveals why general population diets work against endurance athletes, the real impact of coffee creamers, why vegetables are your fat-loss and hormone balancing bestie, and how proper carb timing that works with your changing hormones can transform your workouts, recovery, perimenopause symptom management and physique!

She also shares honest stories, practical fixes, and essential mindset shifts to help you break through plateaus without giving up your love for running, lifting, or living life to its fullest.

If tired of feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, confused, and stuck, this episode will show you that a better performing, more healthy, happy and vibrant body is possible—with simple shifts that honor the active, ambitious woman you are!

Link to check out our multi award-winning Badass Breakthrough 1:1 Academy to thrive through perimenopause with less stress: https://www.breakingthroughwellness.com/

Take advantage of our podcast listener discount and save 20% off all of Kion’s science-backed clean products: https://www.getkion.com/pages/maximizing

Episode Highlights:
(0:00) Intro
(4:41) The problem with GenPop diet advice for active women
(14:17) Coffee creamer: the sneaky saboteur
(18:21) Why eating vegetables is non-negotiable
(24:36) The big mistake: low-carb after exercise
(28:10) Tips for fueling right if you can’t eat post-workout
(32:14) Outro

Tune in weekly to "Maximizing Fitness, Physique, and Running Through Perimenopause" for a simple female-specific science-based revolution. Let's unlock our best with less stress!

I'd love to connect!

Instagram 📷
https://www.instagram.com/breakingthroughwellness

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/BreakingThroughWellness

Email 💬 (Note: We do not have guests on our podcast)
support@breakingthroughwellness.com

Ever feel like you’re doing everything right—but your body has other plans? In this raw and relatable episode, Louise, one of the world's leading experts for perimenopausal runners and runners with a history of hormone-related concerns, opens up about her latest race day experience that was hijacked by perimenopause symptoms, mindset struggles, and hormonal chaos. From early wakeups and surprise cramps to hydration mishaps and mental battles, she shares it all—the good, the bad, and the hilarious. But this isn’t just a story; it’s packed with practical tips for runners in perimenopause: why symptoms occur, how to fuel before and after a race, why pre-hydration matters more than ever, what to do when anxiety creeps in, and how to adjust your training goals with compassion.

If you’ve ever questioned whether it’s your period, perimenopause, or just being undertrained—this episode will make you feel seen, understood, and better prepared for your next run. Ready to finally understand why your body is talking to you and exact strategies to do something about it so you can look, feel and run your best for life? Learn, laugh and level up with Louise today!

Link to check out our multi award-winning Badass Breakthrough 1:1 Academy to thrive through perimenopause with less stress: https://www.breakingthroughwellness.com/

Link to our Fullscript to save 20% off supplements mentioned, such as Trace Minerals, Maca & more under “Favorites”: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/breakingthroughwellness/store-start Heads up: A small portion of all sales goes back to support us. Thank you in advance!

Link to my blog article, “Long Run Fueling Strategies That Change The Game Age 35 & Beyond”: https://www.breakingthroughwellness.com/blog/long-run-fueling-strategies-that-change-the-game-age-35-beyond

Take advantage of our podcast listener discount and save 20% off all of Kion’s science-backed clean products: https://www.getkion.com/pages/maximizing

Episode Highlights:
(0:00) Intro
(5:45) How life stress impacted training
(7:26) Setting race goals post-hiatus
(9:36) Overcoming "you're not built to run" messaging
(11:07) Nervous system expansion through discomfort
(12:51) Red flags from HRV and cycle timing
(15:19) Nutrition missteps and sleep disruption
(18:00) Caffeine, urination, and hydration lessons
(20:08) Pee pants and hydration check-in
(21:44) Fueling right 2 hours before the race
(24:09) Cramping, panic, and hormonal self-talk
(25:54) Hydration adjustments for perimenopause
(28:39) Race pacing and emotional rollercoaster
(30:38) A powerful moment of self-recognition
(33:09) Race-week mindset rituals and meditations
(34:22) Finding belonging through community
(37:21) The truth about post-race recovery
(39:11) Easy tips to optimize protein intake
(42:42) Adjusting race pace for health first
(44:50) Outro

Tune in weekly to "Maximizing Fitness, Physique, and Running Through Perimenopause" for a simple female-specific science-based revolution. Let's unlock our best with less stress!

I'd love to connect!

Instagram 📷
https://www.instagram.com/breakingthroughwellness

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/BreakingThroughWellness

Email 💬 (Note: We do not have guests on our podcast)
support@breakingthroughwellness.com

Ever feel like your body isn’t keeping up with your goals—even though your mind is all in? In this raw and empowering episode, Louise, one of the world's leading exercise physiologists specializing in active women and recreational runners, shares her personal journey as a dedicated runner navigating fat loss, muscle building, and hormone health during perimenopause. Speaking to ambitious, active women who love to move but are frustrated by stubborn weight, low energy, or confusing fitness advice, Louise breaks down why the “eat less, move more” mindset just doesn’t work in this phase of life.

You’ll learn why undereating can backfire, how to fuel smart for performance and fat loss, and why tracking progress with photos—not the scale—is key. Louise also opens up about balancing performance goals with hormone health, and why honoring your body’s signals (like hunger before bed or fatigue during a run) is not failure—it’s power.

Whether you’re a run-walker or marathoner, this episode offers practical tools and compassionate wisdom for staying strong, vibrant, and confident through life’s changes.

Get our free nutrition guide, weekly newsletter & explore our industry-leading Badass Breakthrough Academy here: https://www.breakingthroughwellness.com/

Get our podcast listener discount of 20% off Kion’s science-backed essential amino acids & more at https://www.getkion.com/maximizing Code “LOUISE” saves on all of your future orders.

Episode Highlights:
(0:00) Intro
(4:43) The complexity of fat loss for runners
(6:09) Why constant calorie deficits fail
(7:55) The knowledge gap in women’s health
(10:06) Rewriting the story of female runners
(11:42) What’s working inside the community
(13:39) The truth about body composition scales
(14:48) The best ways to track progress
(17:16) Training smart in perimenopause
(19:38) Listening to your body = success
(25:55) When to return to maintenance calories
(29:45) Why fat in the morning matters
(31:23) A sample hormone-healthy recovery meal
(37:20) Protein, perimenopause, and performance
(41:34) Breaking through mindset and nutrition blocks
(43:26) Finding your “I don’t want to grow up” boundary
(48:51) For the well-read but still confused
(56:10) Outro

Tune in weekly to "Maximizing Fitness, Physique, and Running Through Perimenopause" for a simple female-specific science-based revolution. Let's unlock our best with less stress!

I'd love to connect!

Instagram 📷
https://www.instagram.com/breakingthroughwellness

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/BreakingThroughWellness

Email 💬 (Note: We do not have guests on our podcast)
support@breakingthroughwellness.com