Muscle Science for Women

In this vulnerable episode, Rachel and Ashleigh talk about the intersection of grief and health - it's a topic that we'll all deal with at some point, but isn't often discussed. Behavioural and lifestyle changes can dramatically impact our health in times of acute grief, which can exacerbate the pain we're already feeling. In this episode, the women share personal stories and go over some of the ways grief can negatively impact our health, as well as ways we can work to mitigate those impacts and care for ourselves even in times of acute sadness, stress, and devastation. We hope you find this episode helpful; if you do, please rate/review/subscribe and share it with someone who could benefit! Check out our BRAND NEW program from Muscle Science for Women: The Fit Pregnancy Specialization program! The program offers a customizable training program that will adjust throughout your pregnancy, a full exercise video library, a downloadable resource document and a 90 minute lecture from your coaches. Read more about our new program at this link, and reach out if you would like the military/first responders discount: https://www.rgfit.com/fit-pregnancy [https://www.rgfit.com/fit-pregnancy]  If you have comments, feedback, or questions please send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com [musclescience4women@gmail.com]. Learn more about the hosts at rgfit.com and ashleighvanhouten.com Timestamps 2:00: Rachel shares life updates 11:20: How to manage health in times of acute grief 15:00: Self-help book recommendations 22:00: The immune response to stress 25:30: Tools for sleep 33:00: Importance of routine 39:55: Accelerated aging with grief 42:55: Coping strategies

This episode is a deep dive into pelvic health, an incredibly important aspect of overall health, function, and quality of life for women that many of us don't know enough about (and aren't taught). In this episode, Ashleigh and Rachel cover: * The basic anatomy and function of the pelvic floor * The most common pelvic floor issues, from pain to prolapse to incontinence and more * Risk factors for pelvic floor dysfunction * How to tell if your pelvic floor may not be functioning optimally * Prevention and protection * Self-care and lifestyle tips for avoiding or mitigating these issues * Other steps if you're experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction that you can't manage on your own We hope you find this episode helpful; if you do, please rate/review/subscribe and share it with someone who could benefit!  You'll learn even more about pelvic health in our NEW program from Muscle Science for Women: The Fit Pregnancy Specialization program! Read more about our new program at this link, and reach out if you would like the military/first responders discount: https://www.rgfit.com/fit-pregnancy [https://www.rgfit.com/fit-pregnancy]  If you have comments, feedback, or questions please send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com [musclescience4women@gmail.com]. Learn more about the hosts at rgfit.com and ashleighvanhouten.com

This week is another episode of the Healthy Aging Series, and this time Ashleigh and Beth are diving into motherhood, a deeply personal and lifechanging event. They discuss the ways motherhood changed them (and the ways they have stayed the same), the experience of being "older" mothers, the balance of caring for children and aging parents, managing your kids' hormonal shifts at the same time as their own, and much more. See timestamps below. And listeners learned about the NEW program from Muscle Science for Women: The Fit Pregnancy Specialization program! There has been a slight delay in launch, but if you want to be the first to gain access to the program (and our early bird discount) you can email and let us know at musclescience4women@gmail.com  [musclescience4women@gmail.com] The whole Healthy Aging Series can be found on Ashleigh's YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@musclemaven  If you're interested in listening to Ashleigh's episode all about her first pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience, you can listen to it here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4FHQRW8LMDEXt2lLUgpLVz?si=eb5dab46d9ba4e6b [https://open.spotify.com/episode/4FHQRW8LMDEXt2lLUgpLVz?si=eb5dab46d9ba4e6b] If you have comments, feedback, or questions please send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com [musclescience4women@gmail.com]. Support for this podcast comes from Kion. Use code MUSCLEMAVEN at this link [https://glnk.io/j6vy/themusclemaven] to save on high-quality protein powder, creatine, the tastiest EAA's (I recommend watermelon!) and other tested supplements to support your goals.  Learn more about the hosts at rgfit.com and ashleighvanhouten.com Timestamps: 7:00: Things that have changed about us since motherhood, if anything 18:00: Our experiences being “older” mothers 27:00: Our decision-making process to have kids (and how many to have) 36:00: Differences in parenting expectations with different generations 40:30: Managing your own hormonal changes as well as your children's 45:00: How we talk about our bodies and hormones, and how that impacts the way women feel about themselves 47:45: Parenting while also helping aging parents 53:00: The sometimes fraught relationship between mothers and daughters 1:01:00: Balancing how to love your kids equally but engage with them differently according to their personalities 1:05: How the parenting dynamic shifts as both you and kids age 1:09: Combatting losing your sense of self in motherhood

In this episode, Ashleigh answers listener questions about: -how to work around "limiting factors" like grip strength and weaker muscles when trying to challenge the lower body -can you heal and "tighten" fascia in your stomach and get rid of "mommy pooch" after multiple pregnancies -how to avoid being "skinny fat" when you're looking to lose fat and change body composition -advice for people looking to become a professional health coach And more! Check timestamps below. And listeners learned about the NEW program from Muscle Science for Women: The Fit Pregnancy Specialization program! There has been a slight delay in launch, but if you want to be the first to gain access to the program (and our early bird discount) you can email and let us know at musclescience4women@gmail.com [musclescience4women@gmail.com] If you have comments, feedback, or questions please send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com [musclescience4women@gmail.com]. Support for this podcast comes from Kion. Use code MUSCLEMAVEN at this link [https://glnk.io/j6vy/themusclemaven] to save on high-quality protein powder, creatine, the tastiest EAA's (I recommend watermelon!) and other tested supplements to support your goals.  Learn more about the hosts at rgfit.com and ashleighvanhouten.com Timestamps: 2:00: how to work around limiting factors like grip and upper body strength 7:45: can you tighten stomach fascia after pregnancy? 13:00: how to reverse the "skinny fat" look after years of sedentary living 22:30 advice for folks who want to get into the health coaching business

In this vulnerable episode, Ashleigh shares her pregnancy and birth story from the recent birth of her daughter. She covers topics including: * Her symptoms and overall experience during pregnancy, and how it differed from her first * How she managed severe pubic symphysis pain, and her experience with pelvic floor physiotherapy * All the details of her unmedicated water birth and the immediate postpartum period * Information on her exercise and nutrition * The ups and downs of being a parent of two, and how this is impacting her fitness and overall health * And much more! And listeners learned about the NEW program from Muscle Science for Women: The Fit Pregnancy Specialization program! There has been a slight delay in launch, but if you want to be the first to gain access to the program (and our early bird discount) you can email and let us know at musclescience4women@gmail.com [musclescience4women@gmail.com]  If you're interested in listening to Ashleigh's episode all about her first pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience, you can listen to it here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4FHQRW8LMDEXt2lLUgpLVz?si=eb5dab46d9ba4e6b [https://open.spotify.com/episode/4FHQRW8LMDEXt2lLUgpLVz?si=eb5dab46d9ba4e6b] If you have comments, feedback, or questions please send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com [musclescience4women@gmail.com]. Support for this podcast comes from Kion. Use code MUSCLEMAVEN at this link [https://glnk.io/j6vy/themusclemaven] to save on high-quality protein powder, creatine, the tastiest EAA's (I recommend watermelon!) and other tested supplements to support your goals.  Learn more about the hosts at rgfit.com and ashleighvanhouten.com