Women’s health and performance science is finally catching up—but for decades, much of the research guiding training, nutrition, and recovery was built primarily on male physiology. That mismatch has left many women feeling like they’re doing everything right—training hard, eating “clean,” tracking their metrics—yet still struggling with energy, metabolism, recovery, and body composition.

In this episode of the Crackin’ Backs Podcast, we sit down with Abbie Smith-Ryan, one of the world’s leading researchers in female metabolism, performance physiology, and body composition, to explore what happens when we finally study women’s bodies on their own terms.

Drawing from hundreds of peer-reviewed publications and years of clinical and laboratory research, Dr. Smith-Ryan explains how women’s hormones, metabolism, muscle physiology, and fueling strategies influence everything from athletic performance to long-term health and longevity.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why much of the traditional fitness and nutrition advice for women was built on male data
• What actually happens to metabolism and body composition during perimenopause and menopause
• Why many active women are chronically under-fueling without realizing it
• The growing research behind creatine for women’s health, muscle, and brain performance
• Why muscle may be one of the most powerful longevity organs
• The role of strength training vs cardio in women’s long-term health
• The pros and cons of wearables, hormone panels, and optimization tools
• The highest-impact habits women can implement without expensive testing

Dr. Smith-Ryan also discusses the future of women-specific exercise science, why we may need to start these conversations much earlier in life, and what she hopes women ultimately believe differently about their bodies.

This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in:

• women’s health
• female metabolism
• strength training for women
• creatine supplementation
• menopause performance
• body composition science
• longevity and muscle health

About Dr. Abbie Smith-Ryan

Abbie Smith-Ryan is an internationally recognized exercise physiologist, researcher, and professor at the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, where she directs the Applied Physiology Laboratory.

Her research focuses on female metabolism, exercise performance, body composition, sports nutrition, and dietary supplementation, with particular emphasis on women across the lifespan—from athletes to women navigating menopause. She has authored hundreds of scientific publications and is widely recognized as a leader in translating complex metabolic science into practical strategies for real-world health and performance.

Her work has been featured in major scientific journals and global media outlets, helping shape the modern conversation around women’s physiology, muscle health, and metabolic resilience.