The Worst Female Fitness Myths (ft. Antonella Schwarz PhD)

In this episode, I sit down with exercise scientist Dr. Antonella Schwarz to break down some of the biggest myths and misconceptions about women's fitness. We discuss whether women really need to train and eat differently than men, menstrual cycle-based training, calorie and protein needs, and supplementation. We also explore how menopause, pregnancy, and contraceptives may influence training, and what the research actually says about these topics. Antonella’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.antonella.schwarz/ Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 4:05 - Are Myo-Reps an Effective Training Technique? 9:22 - Do Women Need Women-Specific Programs? 12:55 - Should Women Structure Their Training Around Their Menstrual Cycle? 23:32 - Should Women Adjust Their Training During Perimenopause, Menopause, or Pregnancy? 33:39 - Can Women Better Tolerate Higher-Rep Training? 39:43 - Do Women Need Fewer Calories? 52:10 - Do Women Need More or Less Protein? 1:01:18 - Do Women Need to Avoid Carbs? 1:05:00 - Should Women Take Creatine? 1:11:20 - Do Women Need Women-Specific Supplements? 1:14:27 - Should Women Adjust Their Training When Using Contraceptives? 1:20:25 - Does Your Metabolism Actually Slow Down as You Age? 1:27:03 - The Realities of Physique Goals and Calorie Intake 1:34:10 - Antonella’s Hot Take References: Metabolism Paper: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8370708/