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!

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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!

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

In this heartfelt solo episode, Louise, one of the world’s leading perimenopause fitness experts and integrative health practitioners for everyday female runners age 35 & beyond, opens up about a major shift—taking a big social media break to reclaim her focus, health, next-level fitness, and joy. She reflects on how this decision led to deeper connections within her private community, even better results for her clients, and a renewed sense of purpose. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by information, distracted from the goals that mean the most to you, or disconnected from your body, this conversation is for you!

Louise discusses how stepping away from the constant noise and misleading marketing helped her and her clients achieve incredible physical, emotional, and even spiritual breakthroughs. She explores the pressure of social media, the toll it takes on female confidence—especially in perimenopause—and why simplicity, science, and support matter more than ever. You’ll also hear about real transformation stories, practical hormone optimization and fitness insights, and how to tell if you're a "moderator" or an "abstainer" when it comes to social media and even snacks!

If ready to confidently step into your highest level self in mid-life, this episode will make you stop, think, and realign your own vibrant healthy life.

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
(2:45) Impact of leaving social media and the growth of a private, focused community of high-vibe recreational runners maximizing their perimenopause potential with female-specific science, simplicity, and less stress
(7:53) What to expect on upcoming episodes, including Louise’s race day struggles and how to fuel, live, and train with your changing hormones
(10:33) The decision to leave social media and regaining vibrant health, focus, and hormonal balance
(16:12) Realizing the cost of distraction and recommitting to family and purpose
(21:07) Coaching insights: confidence, community, and calling out excuses
(25:08) Abstainer vs. moderator mindset for food and habits
(30:45) Financial peace, family focus, and a desire for simplicity in success
(37:40) Aging with intention, reconnecting with your body, and podcast wrap-up
(44:17) 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

In this episode, we explore what it really takes to thrive as a recreational runner during perimenopause and menopause. With so much misinformation out there, especially in traditional fitness, fat loss, and running advice, Louise, one of the world’s leading women's health, fitness and performance experts, gives us a fresh perspective rooted in female-specific science.

You'll hear real-life stories, from Louise advocating for female-specific methods with Nike pro coaches, to the everyday runners she supports in ditching weight gain, hormone shifts, fatigue, and injuries—and how they are rewriting their wellness with smarter training designed to work with their uniquely changing hormones, strategic fat loss designed for the ambitious active women, and holistic methods that maximize recovery. Whether you're running ultras, chasing BQs, trying to heal your thyroid, or just trying to feel good in your body again, this episode is packed with validation, clarity, and support.

If you've been told to give up running, or you're overwhelmed by the noise around what you should be doing, this is your space to explore the gray. You deserve to feel strong, fit, and energized—without sacrificing your love of running.

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
(2:55) The current fitness landscape & misleading anti-running messages
(3:47) Why the host is passionate: her story, credentials & purpose
(7:01) Understanding the gray area in running and perimenopause
(9:13) Weight gain, hormone issues, and navigating the desire for more
(13:22) The conflict between marathon training and fat loss goals
(16:40) Case study: ultra runner adjusting methods for female physiology
(21:39) Frustration with outdated male-centric training advice
(24:35) Managing autoimmune symptoms while balancing race goals
(28:01) Running’s impact on thyroid, hormones & recovery
(31:24) The role of strength training vs. yoga & Pilates
(34:29) Creating confidence and building community
(40:16) 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

In this empowering episode, your host Louise, a multi award-winning women's integrative health practitioner, performance scientist and one of the world's leading exercise physiologists specializing in the needs of active women and recreational runners, opens up about her personal journey through the broken U.S. healthcare system—sharing real frustrations, devastating setbacks, lessons learned, and practical strategies to help you advocate for your own vibrant health and fitness. From being dismissed for "looking healthy" to getting denied essential labs, she highlights the challenges many women face, especially ambitious active women facing hormone challenges and frustrating peri/menopause symptoms.

You'll learn how to prepare for a doctor’s visit, including ideas of what labs and screenings to request, how to present your health history effectively, and why walking in with confidence and clarity matters. She breaks down how to blend traditional and integrative medicine for optimal care and stresses the importance of tuning into your body over relying solely on expensive tests.

Whether you’re trying to get answers, ditch symptoms, reverse setbacks or take a more proactive approach to your holistic wellness, this episode will leave you informed, fired up, and equipped to take charge of your healthcare journey!

Ready to level up your knowledge of getting the holistic care you deserve? Let's freaking go! Tune in and take action today!

Check out Function Health, using our referral link here: https://my.functionhealth.com/signup?code=LVALENTINE11&_saasquatch=LVALENTINE11 If you use our link, a small portion of the sale goes back to support our work at Breaking Through Wellness & this podcast. Thank you!

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
(2:10) Why women’s healthcare is failing and the personal motivation behind this episode
(4:30) Early struggles with hormonal health and long-term impact
(5:56) What Breaking Through Wellness offers and how it supports clients
(7:04) How to advocate confidently at your doctor’s visit
(9:10) The problem with denied labs like Vitamin D and A1C
(10:54) Using Function Health and customizing lab insights
(12:45) Why blood tests aren't always best for hormone tracking
(14:25) The frustration of functional medicine being dismissed
(19:49) Advocating with lab printouts and history
(22:19) Preventive screenings to include in your checklist
(25:11) Liver health and when to request an ultrasound
(29:54) Advocating for cardiology referrals at age 40
(32:38) DEXA scans, bone health, and why you should start early
(35:07) Advanced bone health labs (CTX and P1NP)
(38:18) What to do if you’re denied or dismissed
(41:01) A look at int

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)
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If you've been told to give up caffeine completely during peri/menopause, it's time to set the record straight. In this episode, Louise, a multi award-winning exercise physiologist, women's integrative health practitioner, and performance scientist, breaks down the myths around caffeine, cortisol, anxiety, and belly fat—and how they’re actually all connected!

You'll learn why having caffeine on an empty stomach is counterproductive, how to fuel properly before workouts, and why over-caffeination is, without a doubt, making your anxiety worse. She also covers the best caffeine timing, types, doses, brands and most importantly, how to use it without wrecking your hormones! Get ready to compare female-specific science and considerations to cutting-edge generalized performance science so you can be fully empowered to work with your female body, not against it. Additionally, you can learn if you are genetically a slow or a fast caffeine metabolizer (without needing expensive genetic tests).

Louise discusses why caffeine often gets blamed for hormonal imbalances (and why that’s not the full story), how stress and cortisol levels affect fat storage, bone, and muscle loss, and the best way to pair caffeine with food for sustained energy and hormone support. Plus, she shares why cutting off caffeine by noon or earlier can improve your sleep, mood, mental health, and recovery, along with a simple hack to reset your caffeine tolerance—without quitting cold turkey.

Tune in for practical, science-backed strategies to help you enjoy your coffee without the hormonal chaos. If ready to reclaim your best holistic health, vibrance, and badass fitness results, this episode is for YOU!

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 & excellent clean low acidity coffee at https://www.getkion.com/maximizing Code “LOUISE” saves on all of your future orders.

Explore our masterclasses on maximizing sleep, gut health, libido & more here: https://www.breakingthroughwellness.com/store

Episode Highlights:
(0:00) Intro
(4:58) The problem with having caffeine on an empty stomach
(6:02) How cortisol affects fat loss, muscle growth & hormones
(9:41) Common mistakes women make with caffeine & exercise
(13:06) How caffeine impacts sleep, anxiety & weight gain
(21:39) The right caffeine dosage & why timing matters
(27:39) How caffeine metabolism affects your body differently
(31:06) The caffeine-anxiety connection & how to fix it
(35:55) The easy way to reset your caffeine tolerance
(41:04) 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

In this episode, Louise, a multi industry-leading expert for peri/menopausal active women and runners, dives into 10 critical concepts every woman should reconsider during peri/menopause. From outdated medical advice to misleading nutrition trends, she cuts through the noise and focuses on science-backed strategies to help you feel strong, energized, and in control of your health.

Women struggle with misinformation about hormones, nutrition, and fitness during this stage of life. Get ready to open your mind to new concepts that work with your changing female physiology, not against it! Louise talks about why fasting, low-carb diets, and excessive running can harm your body rather than help it plus what to consider instead. Often overlooked nuances specific to recreational runners, endurance athletes and fitness lovers are discussed. She also breaks down the truth about HRT per current female-specific science, adaptogens, and why trusting every new "science-backed" trend might not be in your best interest.

If you’ve ever felt confused by conflicting peri/menopause advice or frustrated by doctors who don’t fully understand your love of exercise and movement, this episode will empower you to make informed decisions. Tune in for practical insights that will help you fuel your body to perform its best, protect your metabolism, and build kickass strength to maximize longevity in the active life you love!

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
(5:16) Recognizing perimenopause symptoms and why they vary
(8:31) Why most doctors don’t have answers for perimenopause
(11:33) The truth about HRT in your 40s (and when it actually helps)
(16:29) Why fasting can destroy hormones for active women
(22:53) The dangers of low-carb diets in perimenopause
(27:08) Rethinking the “no eating before bed” myth
(33:01) How processed foods impact hormones and metabolism
(45:00) Are adaptogens really helping or just a quick fix?
(49:09) Supplements: What you actually need (and what’s a waste)
(57:26) Why the 80/20 running rule isn’t working for perimenopausal women
(1:06:19) 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