Why You Struggle to Build Muscle in Midlife (Even If You're Doing Everything Right) with Liz Plosser

You're eating "pretty well." You're moving your body. So why does it feel like your muscle is disappearing and your effort isn't paying off the way it used to? In this episode, I sit down with Liz Plosser, former editor-in-chief of Women's Health and a woman who has spent her entire career reporting on health and fitness, to talk about what changes in midlife and why the old rules stop working.

Then we go deep on amino acids, what they actually are, why your body becomes less efficient at using them as estrogen declines, and why an essential amino acid supplement might be one of the smartest, simplest things you can add to your routine. We also break down the real difference between amino acids and creatine, why BCAAs may not be worth your money, and how to build a stack that actually fits a real life, not a biohacker's spreadsheet.

If you've ever felt like your body stopped responding to the things that used to work, this episode will explain why, and more importantly, what to do about it.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• How perimenopause changed Liz's approach to fitness after decades as a cardio-focused marathoner
• Why muscle loss accelerates in midlife and what that means for your metabolism, strength, and aging
• The injury that led Liz to fall in love with strength training and chase a 280-pound deadlift PR
• Why it's okay to want to look strong, lean, and confident, not just "healthy"
• What essential amino acids are and why your body can't use protein without all nine
• Why women become less efficient at absorbing amino acids from food as estrogen declines
• The difference between amino acids and creatine, and why you likely need both
• Why branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) may not be worth the hype or the money
• New research on creatine and brain health, including higher doses on high-demand days
• How to build a simple, realistic daily protein and supplement routine, especially if you're on a GLP-1

Who This Episode Is For

This episode is for the woman who feels like her body just isn't responding the way it used to, no matter how "right" she's doing things. It's for women in perimenopause and menopause who are confused about protein, curious about amino acids and creatine, or tired of conflicting advice from every corner of the internet. It's also for anyone on a GLP-1 medication who needs a realistic way to protect muscle while eating less. If you want a stack that's simple, effective, and grounded in real research instead of trends, this one's for you.

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Your host:

Karen Martel

Certified Hormone Specialist, Transformational Nutrition Coach, & Weight Loss Expert

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