Podcast
Fuel Your Strength
Hosted by Steph Gaudreau · EN
The Fuel Your Strength podcast is all about helping women who lift weights get stronger, fuel themselves (without counting every bite of food), perform better in and out of the gym, and take up space. Strength nutrition strategist and weight lifting coach Steph Gaudreau shares how lifting weights is a catalyst for a more expansive life and how to challenge the status quo around nutrition and fitness. This weekly show brings you discussion about building strength without obsessing about food and exercise, lifting weights, food psychology, and more. You'll learn how to eat, train, recover, listen to your body, and step into your strength.
23episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Coming Back from Injury Over 40
3w ago00:48:51Tap to summarizeWhat happens when the thing that keeps you grounded, confident, and connected to yourself suddenly gets taken away by injury? In this episode, you'll hear from strength coach, combat athlete, and student physical therapist Adam Duthie of Gray Beard Black Belt to unpack the messy middle between getting injured and getting back to the activities you love. You'll hear about the physical and psychological realities of rehab, chronic pain, strength training, and returning to sport in your 40s and beyond. From navigating fear around movement to understanding why "just rest it" often isn't enough, this conversation is packed with practical insight for athletes over 40 who want to stay strong, resilient, and active for the long haul. What you'll learn in this episode: Why injuries hit harder than just the physical pain The problem with "just stop training" advice What scans and imaging may not tell you A different way to think about pain and recovery Why some athletes stay stuck after injury The overlooked role of strength training in resilience What's missing from a lot of rehab programs How to stay connected to your sport while recovering Enjoyed this episode and want more? If this episode resonates and you're ready to stop guessing in the gym, you can try a free sample of Strong with Steph, my progressive strength training program built specifically for women over 40 who want to get results. Try 7 days of lifting at https://stephgaudreau.com/workout Get the performance meal prep guide at https://stephgaudreau.com/mealprepguide If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and subscribe to Fuel Your Strength so you don't miss future episodes like this one.
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Pre-Workout Nutrition for Early Morning Training Sessions
Mar 1700:37:30Tap to summarizeIf you train early in the morning, you might be wondering what to eat before your session to arrive fueled and perform well. In this episode, you'll learn how to approach pre-workout nutrition for early morning workouts, especially when you're short on time but still want enough fuel to make it through your session without gassing out. You'll learn how to factor in training intensity, how much time you have before your session, hydration, and what you did the day before. This is a practical episode for athletes over 40. What you'll learn in this episode: How to fuel early morning workouts How training intensity factors in to pre-workout nutrition What to eat if you have 2-3 hours before training Smart pre-workout snack ideas when you only have 30-90 minutes How hydration, caffeine, and electrolytes can impact performance How the food you ate the day before affects your morning training energy Enjoyed this episode and want more? If this episode resonates and you're ready to stop guessing in the gym, you can try a free sample of Strong with Steph, my progressive strength training program built specifically for women over 40 who want structure and flexibility. Try 7 days of lifting at https://stephgaudreau.com/workout Get the performance meal prep guide at https://stephgaudreau.com/mealprepguide If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend who's lifting (or thinking about starting), and make sure you're subscribed to Fuel Your Strength so you don't miss future episodes like this one.
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How to Strength Train as a Hobbyist Athlete
Feb 2400:32:51Tap to summarizeIf you're a hobbyist athlete over 40 who loves your sport – cycling, running, pickleball, martial arts to name a few – but you've been hesitating to start strength training, this episode is for you. In today's episode of the Fuel Your Strength podcast, you'll hear exactly how to strength train as an athletic woman over 40 without sacrificing time for your sport. This is a simple, sustainable blueprint for building muscle, improving power, preventing injury, and staying in the game long-term – without living in the gym five days a week. What you'll learn in this episode: Why strength training makes you faster – not slower The "Insurance Policy" mindset for athletes over 40 A 2-Day strength training template for athletes How hard should you train? (RPE made simple) Why power training matters after 40 Why less is often more for busy women over 40 Enjoyed this episode and want more? If this episode resonates and you're ready to stop guessing in the gym, you can try a free sample of Strong with Steph, my progressive strength training program built specifically for women over 40 who want structure and flexibility. Try 7 days free at https://stephgaudreau.com/workout If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend who's lifting (or thinking about starting), and make sure you're subscribed to Fuel Your Strength so you don't miss future episodes like this one.
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How to Stop Quitting the Gym
Feb 1000:18:56Tap to summarizeStory time! I'm sharing a personal story from my early triathlon days that still shapes how I coaches lifters today. What started as a scary open-water swim became a powerful lesson about progress, patience, and why perfection is not required to move forward. In this episode, you'll reframe how you think about missed workouts, imperfect weeks, and all-or-nothing thinking in fitness. If you've ever felt like skipping one session meant you blew it, this episode offers a grounding reminder: that forward progress counts, even when it doesn't look pretty. What you'll learn in this episode: Why stopping completely doesn't get you any closer to your goals – but imperfect effort does How all-or-nothing thinking quietly sabotages long-term strength training consistency What "just keep swimming" really looks like inside a lifting program Why flexibility is a skill – not a lack of discipline How minimum effective effort can keep momentum alive during hard seasons What strength training consistency actually looks like for women over 40 Enjoyed this episode and want more? If this episode resonates and you're ready to stop guessing in the gym, you can try a free sample of Strong with Steph, my progressive strength training program built specifically for women over 40 who want structure and flexibility. Try 7 days free at https://stephgaudreau.com/workout If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend who's lifting (or thinking about starting), and make sure you're subscribed to Fuel Your Strength so you don't miss future episodes like this one.
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Strength Training Lessons from 15 Years of Lifting Weights
Jan 2700:33:03Tap to summarizeIf I could go back and talk to beginner-me in 2010, there are a handful of strength training lessons I would absolutely whisper in her ear. Not because I did everything wrong, but because so much frustration, second-guessing, and spinning my wheels could've been avoided with a little context and coaching. In this episode, I'm reflecting on more than 15 years of consistent lifting, coaching, and learning the hard way. Whether you're brand new to strength training, a few years in, or coming back after a break, these lessons will help you train smarter, progress more confidently, and stop getting stuck in common traps that hold so many women back, especially after 40. What you'll learn in this episode: Why chasing "perfect form" can quietly stall your strength progress How staying in your comfort zone with weights limits adaptation over time What the research actually says about rep ranges for muscle growth Why recovery becomes a non-negotiable as we get older A surprisingly simple way to gauge whether your sets are hard enough Enjoyed this episode and want more? If this episode resonates and you're ready to stop guessing in the gym, you can try a free sample of Strong with Steph, my progressive strength training program built specifically for women over 40 who want structure and flexibility. Try 7 days free at https://stephgaudreau.com/workout Doors are currently open for enrollment at the time of this episode. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend who's lifting (or thinking about starting), and make sure you're subscribed to Fuel Your Strength so you don't miss future conversations like this one.
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Rebuilding Strength After 80? Change How You See Aging
Jan 600:54:31Tap to summarizeIs it really never too late to start strength training – even if you're in your 80s and you've never touched a barbell? You'll hear from journalist Clare Johnston of the "Rebuilding Mum and Dad" project, about what happens when older adults begin true progressive strength training from scratch – and why the results can feel straight-up miraculous (without being magic). Clare shares how her parents started lifting in their 80s after years of mobility decline, osteoporosis concerns, and "we've tried everything" frustration. Together, they built a simple garage setup, worked with a coach remotely, and documented the entire journey. If you've ever wondered whether muscle, bone density, balance, and independence can improve later in life, this conversation is for you. What you'll learn in this episode: What actually happens when someone starts strength training for the first time in their 80s Why muscle keeps showing up in every serious conversation about aging well What surprised Clare the most once her parents started lifting regularly How slow progression and coaching changed what seemed "impossible" at first What this journey reveals about fear, confidence, and who strength training is really for Enjoyed this episode and want more? If you want a lifting program that tells you exactly what to do, try 7 days of Strong with Steph here >> https://stephgaudreau.com/workout Share this episode with a friend looking to improve their strength training knowledge. Subscribe to this podcast on your favorite streaming platform for new episodes.
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Women's Fitness Over 40: Cutting Through the Confusion with Nikki Naab-Levy
Dec 201:02:46Tap to summarizeIf you've been feeling like women's fitness over 40 is a nonstop back-and-forth debate - like you're courtside at Wimbledon watching the ball whip from one hot take to another - you're not imagining it. Social media is loud right now, especially when it comes to what women should or shouldn't be doing in midlife. That noise can make it hard to trust your instincts or know what actually matters for building strength and aging athletically. In this episode, I'm joined by strength for hypermobility & nutrition coach Nikki Naab-Levy. Together, we unpack the most confusing fitness narratives floating around right now and give you context that brings you back to center court so you feel confident, grounded, and clear on what works. What you'll learn in this episode: What if "feeling the right muscle" isn't the best way to judge your lift? Are you training for strength… or just training to get tired? Do rest periods actually matter, or is that all overblown? If hypertrophy works across a huge rep range, how do you choose what you should do? What happens when aesthetic fears collide with long-term strength and aging well? Enjoyed this episode and want more? If you want a lifting program that tells you exactly what to do, try 7 days of Strong with Steph here >> https://stephgaudreau.com/workout Share this episode with a friend looking to improve their strength training knowledge. Subscribe to this podcast on your favorite streaming platform for new episodes!
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How to Be More Consistent in the Gym Over 40
Nov 1100:29:25Tap to summarizeLife is life-ing especially in midlife. One day you're fired up, smashing your lifts, and thinking the whole week will be a highlight reel; two days later you're sleep-deprived, stressed, and wondering who parked a bus on your quads. In this episode, you'll learn a structured-yet-flexible strategy to use with your lifting to ride the wave of real-life energy swings so you can keep showing up, build muscle, and actually enjoy the process. We'll break down how to anchor your week with strength, layer in cardio, and use auto-regulation (RPE/RIR) to dial intensity up or down without ditching your plan or your progress. If you're an athletic woman 40+ navigating perimenopause, career, caregiving, and sport hobbies, this practical framework will help you train smarter, recover better, and stay consistent long term. What you'll learn in this episode: Why the "go hard every day" mindset backfires once you hit your 40s and what to focus on instead. The approach that keeps lifters consistent even when life is chaos. How to tell if it's a day to push or pull back without second-guessing your training plan. The simple two-day strength & cardio framework that delivers results without burning you out. The mindset shift that turns "I missed a workout" guilt into sustainable long-term progress. Enjoyed this episode and want more? If you want a lifting program that tells you exactly what to do, try 7 days of Strong with Steph here >> https://stephgaudreau.com/workout Share this episode with a friend looking to improve their strength training knowledge. Subscribe to this podcast on your favorite streaming platform for new episodes!
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The 5 Hard Truths Your Lifting Needs After 40
Oct 2800:34:40Tap to summarizeIf you've ever heard a coach say "it's not wrong, but it's not right either," you'll resonate with this episode. Dive into the nuance that gets lost in punchy social media hot takes – especially for athletic women over 40 who want strength, muscle, and better performance without the fluff. Get insight into why your progress may feel stuck, what to do about it, and how to build muscle with less frustration. Get practical coaching on progressive overload, program hopping, hypertrophy, auto-regulation, and why DIY training isn't actually "free." What you'll learn in this episode: What happens when you've been lifting for a while… but the weights (and results) haven't really changed? Why "switching things up" might be the reason you're stuck in place. The truth behind words like toned, sculpted, and long and lean and what they really mean for your training. How chasing the number on the scale can quietly derail your performance and progress. The real cost of trying to make up your own workouts, and what it's stealing from your gains. Enjoyed this episode and want more? If you want a lifting program that tells you exactly what to do, try 7 days of Strong with Steph here >> https://stephgaudreau.com/workout Share this episode with a friend looking to improve their strength training knowledge. Subscribe to this podcast on your favorite streaming platform for new episodes!
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How to Adjust Workouts When You're Short on Time
Oct 700:27:07Tap to summarizeLife doesn't always respect your perfectly planned training week. If you're a woman over 40 following a strength training program, you might be juggling sleep swings, work crunches, hormonal shifts, caretaking, and everything in between. This episode breaks down how to keep your momentum without falling into the all-or-nothing trap so you still get a damn good training stimulus on busy days. Steph explains a simple framework for structured flexibility – keeping the big-picture plan while adapting the day's session. You'll learn three practical ways to modify workouts using RPE / RIR, so you can train smarter, protect progress, and stay consistent in midlife. What you'll learn in this episode: Why "all or nothing" thinking keeps sabotaging your strength progress after 40 The simple shift that lets you keep momentum even when life gets chaotic Three creative ways to make workouts shorter without losing results How to know if you're still training hard enough on those scaled-back days The mindset reframe that makes consistency possible long-term Enjoyed this episode and want more? If you want a lifting program that tells you exactly what to do, try 7 days of Strong with Steph here >> https://stephgaudreau.com/workout Share this episode with a friend looking to improve their strength training knowledge. Subscribe to this podcast on your favorite streaming platform for new episodes!
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