December 16, 2025

Women's Health Researcher Abbie Smith-Ryan on Protein & Exercise for Longevity

46 minutes

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The growing body of knowledge around midlife women’s fitness and longevity is in part due to women’s health researcher Abbie Smith-Ryan.

I’m thrilled to host her and share a few of the insights from her work. She’s instrumental in bringing directly to you from the lab the practical ways you can change your next workout and your routine this week for a better future.

My Guest:

Dr. Abbie E. Smith-Ryan, PhD, is a Professor of Exercise and Sport Science who leads an innovative research lab focused on body composition, metabolism, sport nutrition, and exercise performance—particularly for women across the lifespan. She has published over 220 peer-reviewed studies and is a nationally recognized leader in sports science, with multiple awards from the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Questions We Answer in This Episode:

[00:04:28] How has entering midlife changed how Abbie views her own research?

[00:06:34] Why do postmenopausal women often need more training volume to change body composition — and how do we balance that with recovery?

[00:14:54] Is high-intensity training actually helpful for midlife women — and how do we know when intensity is helping versus hurting?

[00:14:46] Does walking really burn more fat — or is that one of the biggest myths in exercise science?

[00:21:02] What is metabolic inflexibility, and why do so many midlife women struggle to burn fat even when they’re exercising and eating “right”?

[00:23:52] Why does protein before exercise improve fat oxidation, energy, and muscle preservation — especially after 40?

[00:32:43] What’s the one piece of science every midlife woman should understand to immediately improve how she trains and fuels?

...more

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By Debra Atkinson

4.5

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