Ever feel like your body is shifting faster than you can keep up with? This episode is a breath of clarity for every ambitious female runner navigating the wild pivots of perimenopause while still wanting to feel strong, confident, and in control.

Louise, a multi-award-winning women's integrative health practitioner, performance scientist, and exercise physiologist specializing in empowering female runners to navigate the impacts of changing hormones on their health and performance, opens up about what it really takes to thrive in this stage of life: targeted lifestyle strategies, nervous system regulation, nutrition, and training methods designed specifically to work with our female physiology. She shares real success stories from everyday runners who restored their energy, reduced symptoms, hit their goal times, and unlocked their strongest physiques without burning out or giving up the endurance sports they love!

Listeners will learn why most women struggle when juggling fat loss, performance, and hormonal changes all at once, and how a simple two-week focus system can restore clarity and confidence. Louise also breaks down the power of strategic off-season training (like a 5K block), restoring ferritin, balancing cortisol, understanding strategic carbohydrate amounts, and building a community that actually supports you instead of overwhelming you.

If you’re ready to feel capable, energized, and in control again, this episode shows you exactly what’s possible.

Explore our Breaking Through Wellness Masterclasses here: https://www.breakingthroughwellness.com/store

Learn & level up with my free nutrition guide and award-winning Badass Breakthrough Academy to thrive through perimenopause with less stress here: https://www.breakingthroughwellness.com/

Link to our FullScript where you can see our curated best supplement picks & save 20% off: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/breakingthroughwellness/store-start

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
(2:55) Ferritin, iron, and the new masterclass update
(9:00) How runners are navigating perimenopause shifts
(12:06) Why competing goals create loss of control
(13:00) The four-month training cycle framework
(16:04) Protecting health first: hormones, thyroid, minerals
(17:40) The fine line between fat loss and performance
(19:31) Why the 5K block is transformative
(23:11) Rethinking carb strategies for perimenopause
(28:38) Stepping into your potential as an aging athlete
(30:26) New science: ovary, nerves, and longevity
(31:47) Clarity + two-week cycles for sustainable results
(42:30) Sleep, cortisol, and the real root of fat storage
(45:57) Outro

Tune in weekly to "Maximizing Hormones, Physique, and Running Through Perimenopause" for our 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

What if chasing a race-day PR quietly pushed your body back into amenorrhea?

In this episode, Louise, one of the world’s leading health, fitness and performance experts, shares a raw, real story of how one hard 5K and a busy stage of life almost cost her cycle again, even after 22 years of working to optimize her hormones. She explains what amenorrhea is, how it connects to RED-S, the former “female athlete triad,” and why so many active women are still under-fueling without realizing it.

You will hear how stress from training, travel, family, and business all stacked up, how one race actually “kicked” her out of getting her period on time, and the exact steps she took with food, recovery, and mindset to get her cycle back just days after a half marathon. Louise also talks about seed cycling, perimenopause, and why every female runner needs a custom plan, not cookie-cutter advice.

If you are a woman who loves to run, wants strong performance and a lean body, yet also wants a healthy, regular period through perimenopause, this episode will help you see what is possible and what to watch for in your own body.

Learn & level up with my free nutrition guide and award-winning Badass Breakthrough 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 Promo code LOUISE saves on all future orders!

Link to our FullScript where you can see our curated best supplement picks & save 20% off: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/breakingthroughwellness/store-start

Episode Highlights:
(0:00) Intro
(4:55) From female athlete triad to RED-S
(7:35) When performance goals collide with real life
(9:44) Racing hard and losing a period
(13:45) Big lesson: never race on period day
(16:04) How travel and stress tank recovery data
(21:02) Recovery, food, and rituals that protect hormones
(24:06) Period returns and what actually worked
(28:44) Hope stories from women who got cycles back
(31:47) Outro

Tune in weekly to "Maximizing Hormones, Physique, and Running Through Perimenopause" for our 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

What really happens to running in perimenopause, when hormones change, recovery slows, and the old training playbook stops working? In this episode, Louise, a leading expert in helping active women who love to run thrive through perimenopause, sits down with Molly, a lifelong runner, professional chef, wellness coach, nutrition professional, busy mom, and Breaking Through Wellness Badass!

Molly opens up about rebuilding her speed, strength, and confidence, proving that this stage of life isn’t the end of running, it’s the start of running smarter, stronger, and with more joy than ever.

Molly opens up about running since middle school, stepping away during early motherhood, and returning during COVID, only to discover her body needed a new approach. Her biggest breakthrough? Learning that smart training beats more miles and that fueling matters more than ever in perimenopause.

We talk protein timing, specific and targeted strength training for female runners, ditching “garbage miles,” preventing injury (buh bye plantar fasciitis), and letting go of outdated advice that tells women to slow down or stop running altogether.

If running is part of who you are, this conversation is nourishment.

Learn About Molly’s Light Work Kitchen Corporate Wellness Culinary Experiences: https://www.lightworkkitchens.com/

Learn & level up with my free nutrition guide and award-winning Badass Breakthrough Academy to thrive through perimenopause with less stress here: https://www.breakingthroughwellness.com/

Link to our FullScript where you can see our curated best supplement picks & save 20%: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/breakingthroughwellness/store-start

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
(6:31) Falling in love with running early
(7:48) Running as a lifelong identity
(9:18) Realizing training needs to change in perimenopause
(11:39) Discovering the podcast through a single search
(13:05) Plantar fasciitis and why it didn’t return
(14:50) Strength work that actually helps runners
(15:47) The protein timing change that changed everything
(19:20) Letting go of 50+ mile weeks
(21:44) The Iceland “mini taper” breakthrough
(23:12) Training smarter, not draining hormones
(24:19) Biggest win: strength as a forever habit
(28:26) Why even experienced runners feel stuck
(34:26) Favorite fueling strategy: bookending runs
(37:49) The rise of women-specific research
(42:48) Her advice: don’t accept that running is over, adapt instead
(45:27) Outro

Tune in weekly to "Maximizing Hormones, Physique, and Running Through Perimenopause" for our 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

Thriving through perimenopause does not have to be about losing our best health, hormones, fitness, and running, but instead, it can be about learning and leveling up to unlock our fierce female body's potential!

In this episode, Louise, one of the world’s leading perimenopause experts for women who love to run, pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to look, feel, and run your best through this transformative stage of life. She speaks candidly about the loneliness that often comes with growth, the space between where you are and who you’re becoming, and why so many high-achieving women feel misunderstood when pursuing optimal health, performance, and balance.

From hormone-optimizing nutrition and specific strength training to nervous system regulation and community connection, Louise breaks down the science and mindset behind sustaining energy, clarity, and confidence. Her insights remind women that this journey is not just about body composition, it’s about reclaiming vibrance, self-love, optimal health, and belonging in a world that often overlooks the female experience.

Whether you’re a runner, ambitious fitness-focused mom, or simply a woman refusing to settle for burnout, this episode empowers you to celebrate progress, embrace structure, and find your tribe. Because you’re not alone in wanting more.

Learn & level up with my free nutrition guide and award-winning Badass Breakthrough 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 Promo code LOUISE saves on all future orders!

Link to our FullScript where you can see our curated best supplement picks & save 20% off: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/breakingthroughwellness/store-start

Episode Highlights:
(0:00) Intro
(4:00) The loneliness of wanting more
(6:59) Balancing ambition, motherhood, and self-care
(9:03) Why precision matters in perimenopause nutrition
(12:42) Unlocking potential through root cause mechanisms
(16:25) Redefining what it means to train like an athlete
(21:14) Real success stories from midlife runners
(23:29) The truth about HRT and sustainable transformation
(27:08) Healing the nervous system and finding calm
(31:12) You’re not alone; building a powerful community
(33:07) Outro

Tune in weekly to "Maximizing Hormones, Physique, and Running Through Perimenopause" for our 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 wonder why your “clean” meals sometimes make you feel bloated, puffy, or downright awful? In this fierce, honest episode, Louise, as one of the world’s leading health, fitness, and performance experts, breaks down how even the healthiest habits can backfire during perimenopause. She shares raw, real-life examples of how stress, impacts of changing hormones, and food timing collide and what to do when your once-perfect routine suddenly stops working. From alcohol pairings and carb choices to HRV tracking, blood sugar hacks, and nervous system health, this episode is packed with “aha” moments for active women and female runners who want to stay strong, lean, and balanced without losing their joy (or their nachos).

You’ll learn why “healthy” snacks can secretly spike inflammation, make your blood sugar erratic, how HRV can reveal hidden stress, and why balancing carbs, fats, and protein in the right portions and at the right time of day can make or break your energy, mood, physique, long-term health and performance.

Link to check out the Daily Nutritional Support (DNS) Shake mentioned (go to “Supplements” → “Daily Nutritional Support”) https://equi.life?irad=859795&irmp=3644194

Learn & level up with my free nutrition guide and award-winning Badass Breakthrough 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 Promo code LOUISE saves on all future orders!

Link to our FullScript where you can see our curated best supplement picks & save 20% off: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/breakingthroughwellness/store-start

Episode Highlights:
(0:00) Intro
(4:38) How hormone shifts change everything
(7:52) Why running harder can backfire
(9:24) What HRV reveals about your stress
(15:25) When alcohol and “clean” food don’t mix
(29:22) The muffin mistake that triggered inflammation
(33:40) How stress amplifies your body’s response
(38:22) Why food timing and ratios matter
(43:02) Louise’s recovery and lessons learned
(47:47) Why managing inflammation is a full-body strategy
(50:35) What to look for in a protein powder
(55:31) Outro

Tune in weekly to "Maximizing Hormones, Physique, and Running Through Perimenopause" for our 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

As hormones change age 35 and beyond, true strength isn’t just about lifting heavier, but finding balance between a variety of strength training strategies, power, dialed in female-specific nutrient timing and your most confident vibrantly well glow... that's resilient enough to shine through life's up and downs!

In this empowering episode, Louise, one of the world’s leading experts in women's health, fitness, and running, challenges the all-or-nothing mindset that dominates women’s fitness and strength training today. She opens up about her own journey from working in male dominated fields like high-performance professional sports and research, to redefining what feminine strength really means, encouraging women to honor both their fierce and graceful sides.

Listeners will learn how to train smarter, not harder, by understanding their physiology, preventing overtraining, and embracing a personalized results-based approach to strength and running. Louise breaks down why specific strength exercises like endless squats do not serve female runners, how muscle-building differs for each woman, and why “bigger, faster, stronger” doesn’t always equal better health.

She reminds us that it’s okay to want to look lean, to crave badass definition, or to simply feel at home in your body. Whether you’re lifting for health, injury prevention, power in running, or physique, this episode invites you to let go of black-and-white fitness thinking and live strong and feminine, without apology.

Learn & level up with my free nutrition guide and award-winning Badass Breakthrough Academy to thrive through perimenopause with less stress: https://www.breakingthroughwellness.com/

Link to our FullScript where you can see our curated best supplement picks & save 20% off: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/breakingthroughwellness/store-start

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 Promo code LOUISE saves on all future orders!

Episode Highlights:
(0:00) Intro
(3:39) Masculine energy in wellness culture
(5:11) Balancing strength with femininity
(7:00) Smart training for runners
(8:08) Why endless squats can backfire
(9:58) The “gain as much muscle” debate
(13:15) Tailoring training to body type and goals
(16:51) When heavy lifting turns harmful
(17:51) The gray space between strength and softness
(28:37) Letting go of black-and-white fitness thinking
(31:16) Outro

Tune in weekly to "Maximizing Hormones, Physique, and Running Through Perimenopause" for our 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

What if midlife wasn’t the end of your best runs, vibrant health, and unstoppable performance, but it was the start of something even stronger?

In this inspiring episode, host Louise Valentine, one of the world's leading experts for perimenopausal avidly active women and runners, reminds every woman that it’s never too late to pivot, reset, and build your own dream happy place. Louise opens up about her journey of “retiring” at 40 after a remarkable career, not to stop working, but to serve from a place of love, integrity, passion, and deep meaningful purpose.

Listeners will hear powerful stories of Breaking Through Wellness women runners who overcame chronic pain, hormone imbalances, perimenopause symptom hell, amenorrhea, and running burnout to reclaim their best strength, confidence, and performance yet! Louise also shares how Breaking Through Wellness became more than a women's health practice and program; it’s a movement of women runners and endurance athletes redefining what health and high performance look like age 35 and beyond as hormones change.

If you’ve ever felt like your body or work life is changing faster than you can keep up, this episode is your permission slip to slow down, realign, and start again, without guilt or grind.

Learn & level up with my free nutrition guide and award-winning Badass Breakthrough Academy to thrive through perimenopause with less stress: https://www.breakingthroughwellness.com/

Link to our FullScript where you can see our curated best supplement picks & save 20% off: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/breakingthroughwellness/store-start

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 Promo code LOUISE saves on all future orders!

Episode Highlights:
(0:00) Intro
(3:04) Life updates and rapid podcast growth
(5:19) Transformations at the Wineglass Wellness Retreat
(8:03) Integrity, limits, and community connection
(15:01) What “retirement” really means for Louise
(19:57) The shame of slowing down as a runner
(27:27) Redefining women’s health with authenticity
(41:37) Be bold, take up space, and rewrite your story
(45:53) Outro

Tune in weekly to "Maximizing Hormones, Physique, and Running Through Perimenopause" for our 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

After years of running, we know that our strongest race day performance starts before we even lace up our shoes and hit the start-line. Now, it's time to discuss nuances as our hormones change age 35 and beyond and how to optimize race day outcomes! Ready to thrive? Hell yes you are!

In this energizing episode, Louise shares the excitement of taper week leading up to the first Breaking Through Wellness retreat and half marathon in the Finger Lakes of beautiful New York. With real stories of women thriving through hormone-optimizing training and female-specific fueling, she reveals how small shifts, like maximizing cortisol resilience, sleep, and recovery, can completely transform performance and confidence for women in perimenopause and beyond.

Louise, as one of the world’s leading health, nutrition, and performance experts for everyday female runners, breaks down her exact taper-week formula, explaining how to balance strength training, short yet effective mindset work, and nervous system regulation to feel strong, calm, and injury-free on race day. Through personal experiences, including winning a 5K during her taper week, she demonstrates how female-specific methods can yield results that seem “too good to be true.”

As an industry leader actively rewriting women's health, fitness, and recreational running age 35 and beyond alongside her clients, this is a can't miss episode with inspiring badass runner stories!

Whether you’re chasing a PR or just want to feel amazing in your next race, this episode gives you the roadmap to do it: hormonally smart, strategic, and joy-filled.

Learn & level up with my free nutrition guide and award-winning Badass Breakthrough Academy to thrive through perimenopause with less stress: https://www.breakingthroughwellness.com/

Link to our FullScript where you can see our curated best supplement picks & save 20% off: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/breakingthroughwellness/store-start

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 Promo code LOUISE saves on all future orders!

Episode Highlights:
(0:00) Intro
(3:15) Breaking Through Wellness Retreat & race prep
(5:17) Taper week and hormone optimization
(7:06) Louise’s race-day story & mindset
(23:39) Training week breakdown for taper
(15:04) Recovery and cortisol management
(23:39) Training week breakdown for taper
(24:59) Mindset: From breakdown to badass
(29:58) Nutrition and carb-loading for women
(32:14) Recovery, results, and redefining limits
(33:51) Outro

Tune in weekly to "Maximizing Hormones, Physique, and Running Through Perimenopause" for our 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