Ep 114: Why your diet isn't working anymore - and how to fix it

Fear, avoidance, perfectionism and voluntary discomfort: Ashleigh hosts solo this week and talks through how fear works in the brain and body, and how it shows up around fitness goals and your life in general. She shares some of her own fears, and the fears listeners sent her on social media; covers the difference between fear and danger; how avoidance is actually beneficial (to a point); three questions to ask yourself when something feels scary and you're determining whether or not you should proceed, and much more. Have a story about something you were afraid of and then overcame? Share it at [email protected] and we might share it on the pod! This episode is sponsored by Peluva, makers of five-toe, zero-drop, barefoot-style shoes. When you put on a pair of Peluvas, you are getting an automatic foot strengthening effect, a toe spacer effect, and a healing effect from the damage caused by regular shoes. Peluva has sufficient cushioning to use for all manner of everyday movement, fitness and athletic activities, and navigating hard modern surfaces. And they look (surprisingly) good, and are super comfortable. Go ahead and use your specialized athletic shoes, work boots or even high heels when you need to, but the more you wear minimalist shoes when walking around and exercising safely, you can reawaken the natural functionality of the human foot to stand, walk, run, and perform. Visit https://checkout.peluva.com/MUSCLEMAVEN and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN for 10% off your first pair! 05:43 What fear is 10:50 Fear versus danger 11:52 Fight, flight or freeze 14:10 Fear in fitness goals 15:17 The surprising benefits of avoidance 18:54 Procrastination and perfectionism 24:28 Three questions to ask when you're afraid 37:54 Fitness as a fear practice Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9LhrpUCFlfE Programs Muscle Science For Women, 12-week strength program: https://rgfit.com/msw Grow Your Glutes, 90-minute workshop: https://rgfit.com/glutes Strong and Sculpted Shoulders, 90-minute workshop: https://rgfit.com/shoulders Fit Pregnancy Program: https://rgfit.com/fit-pregnancy Dopamine Reset Challenge, 10 days: https://rgfit.com/offers/BAQj63ya Newsletter: https://musclescienceforwomen.substack.com Ashleigh VanHouten: https://ashleighvanhouten.com, Instagram @themusclemaven (https://www.instagram.com/themusclemaven/) Rachel Gregory: https://rgfit.com, Instagram @rachelgregory.cns (https://www.instagram.com/rachelgregory.cns/)

Sleepmaxxing, peptides, intuitive eating, and AI personal training: Ashleigh and Rachel give their thoughts--underrated or overrated- on a list of fitness trends, food ideas. Ashleigh shares about a physical app blocker she has been testing for about a week, and they also talk about "wellness raves", the muscle mommy label, dating apps and run clubs, and much more. Anything else in the fitness world that you think is under or overrated? Share at [email protected] and we'll chat about it on the pod! This episode is sponsored by Peluva, makers of five-toe, zero-drop, barefoot-style shoes. When you put on a pair of Peluvas, you are getting an automatic foot strengthening effect, a toe spacer effect, and a healing effect from the damage caused by regular shoes. Peluva has sufficient cushioning to use for all manner of everyday movement, fitness and athletic activities, and navigating hard modern surfaces. And they look (surprisingly) good, and are super comfortable. Go ahead and use your specialized athletic shoes, work boots or even high heels when you need to, but the more you wear minimalist shoes when walking around and exercising safely, you can reawaken the natural functionality of the human foot to stand, walk, run, and perform. Visit https://checkout.peluva.com/MUSCLEMAVEN and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN for 10% off your first pair! 01:07 Ashleigh's app-blocking Brick experiment 05:20 Physical barriers, junk food and the reward pathway 13:10 Sleepmaxxing 16:19 Peptides 20:45 Wellness raves 22:34 Muscle mommy 23:41 Dating apps and run clubs 26:16 HYROX as a way to meet people 28:59 Intuitive eating 32:28 AI personal training Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ufapWVj9tiE Programs Muscle Science For Women, 12-week strength program: https://rgfit.com/msw Grow Your Glutes, 90-minute workshop: https://rgfit.com/glutes Strong and Sculpted Shoulders, 90-minute workshop: https://rgfit.com/shoulders Fit Pregnancy Program: https://rgfit.com/fit-pregnancy Dopamine Reset Challenge, 10 days: https://rgfit.com/offers/BAQj63ya Newsletter: https://musclescienceforwomen.substack.com Ashleigh VanHouten: https://ashleighvanhouten.com, Instagram @themusclemaven (https://www.instagram.com/themusclemaven/) Rachel Gregory: https://rgfit.com, Instagram @rachelgregory.cns

Can you be addicted to food? Rachel opens with the research she has been doing since the emotional eating episode. Then the ladies answer two listener questions: whether three, ten-minute blocks spread across a day can build strength, and how to adjust training through heavy cycles, low iron and deep fatigue. This episode is sponsored by Peluva, makers of five-toe, zero-drop, barefoot-style shoes. When you put on a pair of Peluvas, you are getting an automatic foot strengthening effect, a toe spacer effect, and a healing effect from the damage caused by regular shoes. Peluva has sufficient cushioning to use for all manner of everyday movement, fitness and athletic activities, and navigating hard modern surfaces. And they look (surprisingly) good, and are super comfortable. Go ahead and use your specialized athletic shoes, work boots or even high heels when you need to, but the more you wear minimalist shoes when walking around and exercising safely, you can reawaken the natural functionality of the human foot to stand, walk, run, and perform. Visit https://checkout.peluva.com/MUSCLEMAVEN and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN for 10% off your first pair! CHAPTERS 06:48 Eating disorders, restriction, and what is different here 11:44 Stacked rewards at night and the Dopamine Reset Challenge 17:40 Consistency over extremes 18:54 Hannah's question about short strength sessions through the day 21:12 Rachel on exercise snacks, warming up, and tracking overload 27:48 Tiana's question about heavy cycles, low iron and fatigue 29:06 Ashleigh on grace, and what low iron actually feels like 33:04 Rachel on maintenance, not a deficit, and getting support 40:02 The sports betting ad and the outrage economy

How much fiber do you actually need, and can you overdo it? Rachel and Ashleigh sort the fiber claims that hold up from the ones that don't: where the 30 gram number came from, what happens when you jump from 10 grams to 40, whether fiber does anything for your hormones, and what to do about constipation on a GLP-1. They also talk about fiber supplements, resistant starch from cooked and cooled rice and potatoes, whether you should eat fiber before training, and more. Head to truenutrition.com/MUSCLE and use the code MUSCLE for 20% off your custom mix! Choose a mix of protein bases, a range of delicious flavors and sweetness level, and boost your protein with adaptogens, collagen, immune support, electrolytes and much more. Ashleigh loves the chocolate fudge brownie with a grassfed New Zealand beef protein base, and Rachel is testing different protein base combos for the ultimate protein ice cream recipe. Save time, effort, and money by combining all your supplement needs into one delicious protein powder. 02:06 Protein versus fiber, and internet rage bait 03:04 Catch-up: Ashleigh's full blood panel 12:41 Where the 30 gram number came from 16:04 Digestion and regularity as feedback 18:01 Claim: fiber fills you up so you eat less 20:28 Fiber and the number on the scale 22:34 Net carbs 24:46 Claim: fiber supplements are a shortcut 29:53 Claim: fiber balances your hormones 32:02 Constipation on a GLP-1 34:39 Fiber intake moves with calories 36:15 Cooking and cooling rice and potatoes for resistant starch 39:01 Fiber before training 41:03 Whole versus ground flaxseed 41:41 Fiber before bed, and where to send questions Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/I6eWkvmLDuQ Programs Muscle Science For Women, 12-week strength program: https://rgfit.com/msw Grow Your Glutes, 90-minute workshop: https://rgfit.com/glutes Strong and Sculpted Shoulders, 90-minute workshop: https://rgfit.com/shoulders Fit Pregnancy Program: https://rgfit.com/fit-pregnancy Dopamine Reset Challenge, 10 days: https://rgfit.com/offers/BAQj63ya Newsletter: https://musclescienceforwomen.substack.com Ashleigh VanHouten: https://ashleighvanhouten.com , Instagram @themusclemaven Rachel Gregory: https://rgfit.com , Instagram @rachelgregory.cns

In this episode, Rachel and Ashleigh talk about recent struggles with comfort eating, sharing the reality that nearly EVERYONE has experienced at least once: eating in secret, or feeling shame and guilt over their food choices, and eating in a way that doesn't support your goals even when you know you don't really want to. Why do we sometimes eat compulsively even when we tell ourselves we shouldn't, or don't want to? Why do we feel so much shame around "guilty pleasure" eating? Rachel also shares where she has been over the past few months, including another heartbreak/grief cycle, a period of depression, starting a low dose antidepressant, and the body image feelings that come with regaining weight. In addition to sharing some very personal stories, they also offer a range of strategies and tactics for breaking habits that aren't serving you: things like urge surfing, planning, mindfulness and other therapies that can have a big impact. Some big lessons come out of this episode, including the fact that you are not alone in your struggles; externalizing your fears can make them less scary; and there is always work to be done (and why this is a good thing!) Thank you to our sponsor, True Nutrition, where you can customize your own protein! Choose a mix of protein bases, a range of delicious flavors and sweetness level, and boost your protein with adaptogens, collagen, immune support, electrolytes and much more. Ashleigh loves the chocolate fudge brownie with a grassfed New Zealand beef protein base, and Rachel is testing different protein base combos for the ultimate protein ice cream recipe. Save time, effort, and money by combining all your supplement needs into one delicious protein powder. Head to truenutrition.com/MUSCLE and use the code MUSCLE for 20% off your custom mix! Chapters 00:13 What this episode covers instead of fiber 03:44 Listener feedback on the Strong and Sculpted Shoulders program 05:48 Using food to take the edge off 08:36 Why the brain defaults to food under stress 10:16 Shame, guilt, and eating in secret 11:43 Meeting the pattern with compassion instead of shame 15:13 Getting back on track faster instead of never messing up 16:04 Urge surfing and pausing before you react 19:30 Interrupting the pattern and building new pathways 21:16 Setting up your environment and taking a portion instead of the whole bar 24:43 Working with a coach, structure, and tracking as data 26:11 Change takes time, Ashleigh on eating two dinners 28:25 Rachel on the past few months 30:18 Getting lean while depressed 32:41 Starting an antidepressant and what changed 36:27 Body image, postpartum, and pressure in the fitness industry 39:29 Externalizing it and asking for help 41:27 Stigma around antidepressants and weight loss drugs 45:43 What this podcast is for 47:00 The work is not done 48:55 Sponsor break, True Nutrition 51:42 Sign off Takeaways Both hosts say they eat to cope with stress, and both say that knowing the mechanism does not stop them doing it. Rachel frames the goal as getting back faster rather than never slipping, and says that interrupting the pattern even once starts building new pathways you can prove to yourself. Ashleigh's tool is putting time between the urge and the reaction, five or ten minutes, then deciding, so the choice is a made one either way. Rachel's portion approach for clients: take a serving instead of the whole bar, eat it somewhere else, pay attention to it, then step away and pick a different way to cope if the feeling is still there. Rachel says a low dose antidepressant has helped alongside therapy and her own work, and she is careful to say the medication did not cause the weight gain. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vehl-lpMXM8 Programs Muscle Science For Women, 12-week strength program: https://rgfit.com/msw Grow Your Glutes, 90-minute workshop: https://rgfit.com/glutes Strong and Sculpted Shoulders, 90-minute workshop: https://rgfit.com/shoulde