Most women trying to lose weight have been told the same thing their whole lives: eat less. But on this episode of The Nutrition Couch, Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell make the case that under-eating may be one of the most common and most overlooked reasons women struggle to lose fat, build muscle, and feel well.

If you are tired despite sleeping well, craving sugar and carbs by mid-afternoon, getting sick more than you should, or stuck at the same weight no matter what you do, this episode is for you.

Are you under-eating? The signs your metabolism is working against you

Leanne and Susie walk through the most common clinical signs of chronic under-fuelling: persistent fatigue, intense cravings, poor gym performance, frequent illness, and hormonal disruptions including irregular or missing periods. They explain why women who train hard, eat clean, and keep portions small are often the most at risk, and why not feeling hungry is not a sign you are doing well. They also break down the restrict-crave-overeat cycle and why eating more, not less, is often the fastest path to the body composition results their clients are actually after.

Sausages: what the label is actually telling you

Australians eat a lot of sausages, but the nutritional quality varies dramatically across supermarket brands. Susie compares Coles, Woolworths, and Aldi options and reveals exactly what to check on the label, including the three specific additive numbers (250, 251, 252) that indicate nitrates, what total fat and saturated fat thresholds to look for, and why butcher sausages are usually not the healthier choice most people assume.

Product review: Peter's Frosty Fruits 50% Less Sugar

Leanne tried these on holiday in Noosa and the kids loved them. She breaks down the ingredient list, the sugar comparison versus the originals, and why these are one of the better supermarket ice block options, particularly when you catch them half price.

How to choose the right collagen supplement

Not all collagen works, and a lot of what is being sold is poorly formulated. Leanne shares five evidence-based criteria for choosing a collagen supplement that actually delivers results: why vegan collagen is ineffective, what hydrolysed collagen peptides means and why it matters, which patented strains have clinical research behind them, how vitamin C improves collagen absorption, and why daily dose consistency matters far more than a large serve size. If you are currently spending money on collagen and not seeing results, this segment will tell you exactly why.

For a collagen supplement built to these exact standards, visit designedbydietitians.com.

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