Trigger warning: This episode includes discussion about restrictive eating patterns and their potential harm.

This is the final episode in our Metabolism Roundtable series, bringing together HER+ providers to challenge the messaging women — especially moms — have been taught about weight, energy, and health. (Episodes 158, 157 & 156 are also part of the Metabolism Roundtable series)

In this closing conversation, the panel unpacks why cycles of restriction often leave women feeling more fatigued, stressed, and metabolically stuck, particularly during perimenopause. The experts explore how under-fueling, chronic stress, and the pressure to be smaller can disrupt hormones, increase metabolic resistance, and fuel weight cycling.

The discussion also examines the evolving role of GLP-1 medications, including their potential benefits for insulin resistance and inflammation, alongside the critical need for medical oversight, strength training, and adequate nutrition to protect muscle and bone health.

The takeaway for this final chapter: intensity and restriction aren’t the answer. Consistency, strength, proper fueling, and a collaborative care team offer a more sustainable path forward — one that shifts the focus from shrinking the body to supporting long-term metabolic health and overall well-being.

These are the top three things you will learn from this podcast episode:

• Why restriction often backfires for women’s metabolismYou will learn how under-fueling, chronic stress, and repeated cycles of “trying harder” can slow metabolism, increase fatigue, and create metabolic resistance — especially for moms and women in perimenopause.

• What actually supports long-term metabolic healthThis episode clarifies why consistency matters more than intensity, and how adequate fueling, strength training, muscle preservation, and stress support are foundational for sustainable energy, blood sugar balance, and overall well-being.

• How tools like GLP-1 medications fit into a bigger pictureYou will gain a balanced understanding of the potential benefits and limitations of GLP-1 medications, and why medical oversight, nutrition, and strength work are essential to protect muscle, bone health, and long-term outcomes.

HER+ Experts:

● Katherin Andrew, Registered Dietitian - https://www.katherineandrew.com/

● Dr. Abby DeVries, Family Medicine Doctor - https://www.sabiahealthnc.com/

● Sarah Parise, ACE Certified Fitness Professional - https://greatdaysbysarah.com/

● Kate Layman, Certified Nurse Midwife - https://motherlovewellness.com/

Episode Notes and Resources:

Dr. Salas-Whalen and her book Weightless

FREE Expert Provider Directory - https://herhealthcollective.com/search-the-directory/?type=fitness

HER Circle (A Mom community by HER Health Collective) - https://www.herhealthcollective.com/membership

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