Muscle, Strength and Menopause

Sara Frenza

Welcome to Muscle, Strength and Menopause with Sara Frenza, the podcast for women over 40 who refuse to accept that "nothing works anymore." I'm Sara Frenza, a certified nutrition coach, hormone and menopause coaching specialist, and creator of the Hourglass Body Method. After losing 50+ pounds in my 40s and helping 100’s of women transform their bodies, I'm here to share the science-backed strategies that actually work when your hormones are shifting. Each week, we break down the complex science of metabolic health, hormones, and muscle building and then turn it into simple, actionable steps you can implement immediately. We'll bust the myths keeping you stuck (more cardio and fewer carbs aren't the answer), share real transformation stories from women 40-65, and give you practical tools for building muscle, losing stubborn fat, and feeling powerful in your own skin. Because muscle isn't just about looking good in your jeans (though you will). It's about better body composition, stronger bones, improved mood, fewer hot flashes, higher metabolism, and the confidence to live life fully at 40, 50, 60, and beyond. This isn't about bouncing back to who you used to be. It's about rising into the strongest, most confident version of yourself yet. Topics covered in the podcast include: Menopause, Perimenopause, Post-Menopause, Hormone balance, Strength training for women over 40, Muscle building in midlife, Fat loss after 40, Metabolic health, Nutrition for hormonal health, Belly fat reduction, Weight management, Energy optimization, Sustainable lifestyle habits, Body composition, Midlife fitness, and Aging powerfully. Subscribe now, and let's turn this chapter into your most powerful one.

  1. Aug 28

    #45: Things your Doctor should of told you about your thyroid but didn't

    In this episode of Muscle, Strength and Menopause, Sara Frenza breaks down the hidden mechanics of thyroid health that conventional medicine frequently overlooks. As a board-certified functional medicine nutrition practitioner, Sara shares her personal journey into functional wellness after watching her mother's severe gut and metabolic health decline without answers. She dives deep into why standard lab ranges leave women feeling sick at "normal" levels, how sex hormones and dieting crash your thyroid, and why the real key to thyroid conversion lies in your liver and gut. Why 1 in 8 women will deal with thyroid issues and up to 60% of people with a condition remain undiagnosed. You'll uncover how the body converts storage hormone (T4) into active worker hormone (T3), the role of reverse T3 as a metabolic "brake," and why 80% of conversion happens in the liver while 20% occurs in the gut. Sara outlines the complete, full thyroid panel you actually need—including TSH, free T4, free T3, reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies. We explore the four main thyroid conditions (hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's, and Graves' disease), how chronic stress and leaky gut trigger autoimmune attacks, and why extreme calorie restriction or GLP-1 diets can force your body to throttle down its metabolism. More information about our Programs and book a FREE virtual Consultation Call with our team https://go.sarafrenzafitness.com/eve-info FREE Metabolic and Hormone Assessment - Find out what is creating the weight loss resistance. Free Hormone & Metabolism Assessment Join my private Facebook Community (attend live podcast recordings & Q&A) Body Transformation and Fat loss for women over 40 | Facebook ‌ Perfect Sports Nutrition Supplement Use discount code FRENZA20 Home | PERFECT Sports US (CANADA SITE) Home | PERFECT Sports US (USA SITE) The makers of DIESEL Protein powder Skynbio website: https://skynbio.comsca_ref=10929708.S7SVnfESwc5dwN85 Use Discount CODE: FRENZA15 Connect with Me Say Hello! Email: sara@sarafrenzafitness.com Instagram: Functional Practitioner | Gut, Menopause & Hormone Health (@sara_frenza) • Instagram profile Shop programs, bundles & resources: https://stan.store/SaraFrenza Website: Home - Sara Frenza

    #45: Things your Doctor should of told you about your thyroid but didn't
  2. Aug 24

    #44: Tara Benoit's story of surviving a heart attack at 46

    Despite eating clean, strength training, and appearing to be the picture of health, Tara survived a rare Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) heart attack at age 46 after being repeatedly dismissed by emergency room doctors who attributed her symptoms to anxiety. In this conversation, Tara shares her harrowing experience navigating medical dismissal, the underlying health warning signs—including a decade of severe gut dysfunction and chronic stress—that preceded her event, and how she completely transformed her definition of health and strength. In this episode, you'll learn why SCAD is the leading cause of heart attacks in women under 50 and its strong connection to perimenopause, menopause, and hormonal fluctuations. You'll hear about the dangerous reality of medical gaslighting and why women must act as the CEO of their own health when told "everything is normal". Tara and Sara explore how chronic fight-or-flight stress, over-exercising, and unaddressed gut issues like SIBO impact cellular health and cardiovascular risk. Finally, you will learn how functional testing—such as GI-MAP stool testing and nutrient panels—helps women optimize their bodies for long-term health, cellular recovery, and true longevity. Connect with Tara Benoit https://www.instagram.com/tarabenoitofficial/ https://tarabenoit.com/ More information about our Programs and book a FREE virtual Call with our team https://go.sarafrenzafitness.com/eve-info FREE Metabolic and Hormone Assessment - Find out what is creating the weight loss resistance. Free Hormone & Metabolism Assessment Join my private Facebook Community (attend live podcast recordings & Q&A) Body Transformation and Fat loss for women over 40 | Facebook ‌ Perfect Sports Nutrition Supplement Use discount code FRENZA20 Home | PERFECT Sports US (CANADA SITE) Home | PERFECT Sports US (USA SITE) The makers of DIESEL Protein powder Skynbio website: https://skynbio.comsca_ref=10929708.S7SVnfESwc5dwN85 Use Discount CODE: FRENZA15 Connect with Me Say Hello! Email: sara@sarafrenzafitness.com Instagram: Functional Practitioner | Gut, Menopause & Hormone Health (@sara_frenza) • Instagram profile Shop programs, bundles & resources: https://stan.store/SaraFrenza Website: Home - Sara Frenza

    #44: Tara  Benoit's story of surviving a heart attack at 46
  3. Aug 17

    #43: You started HRT, so why are you more puffy, more exhausted, and gaining weight?

    In this episode of Muscle, Strength and Menopause, Sara Frenza dives deep into the hidden science of estrogen metabolism and hormone clearance. As a board-certified functional medicine nutrition practitioner on HRT herself, Sara explains why HRT fails to address the root causes of weight loss resistance, fluid retention, and chronic fatigue. She breaks down how sluggish liver pathways, gut dysbiosis, high cortisol, and hidden thyroid dysfunction block hormone performance, turning your treatment into a source of frustration. Why HRT acts as a fire alarm silencer rather than putting out the root metabolic fire causing your symptoms, Today, you'll discover the three phases of estrogen clearance (liver phase 1, phase 2 methylation, and gut phase 3) and how an overgrowth of beta-glucuronidase bacteria or constipation causes your body to recycle estrogen right back into your bloodstream. We explore why muscle loss is the single biggest driver of midlife weight gain, why HRT protects muscle but cannot build it without resistance training and optimal protein, and how high cortisol steals from your progesterone production. Finally, Sara breaks down why 20% of thyroid conversion happens in the gut and why comprehensive functional testing—including DUTCH urine testing, GI-MAP stool testing, and full blood panels—is essential to map out your unique hormone roadmap. More information about our Programs and book a FREE virtual Call with our team https://go.sarafrenzafitness.com/eve-info FREE Metabolic and Hormone Assessment - Find out what is creating the weight loss resistance. Free Hormone & Metabolism Assessment Join my private Facebook Community (attend live podcast recordings & Q&A) Body Transformation and Fat loss for women over 40 | Facebook ‌ Perfect Sports Nutrition Supplement Use discount code FRENZA20 Home | PERFECT Sports US (CANADA SITE) Home | PERFECT Sports US (USA SITE) The makers of DIESEL Protein powder Skynbio website: https://skynbio.comsca_ref=10929708.S7SVnfESwc5dwN85 Use Discount CODE: FRENZA15 Connect with Me Say Hello! Email: sara@sarafrenzafitness.com Instagram: Functional Practitioner | Gut, Menopause & Hormone Health (@sara_frenza) • Instagram profile Shop programs, bundles & resources: https://stan.store/SaraFrenza Website: Home - Sara Frenza

    #43: You started HRT, so why are you more puffy, more exhausted, and gaining weight?
  4. Aug 9

    #42: Healing the Relationship With Food: Liz Kennedy's Journey to Finding Her Strong

    In this episode of Muscle, Strength and Menopause, host Sara Frenza is joined by Coach Liz Kennedy, a certified nutrition coach, personal trainer, and expert coach inside the Hourglass Body Method. Liz spent 33 years as a social worker helping others, but spent two decades trapped in the toxic cycle of extreme restriction, guilt, and body dysmorphia. She shares her transformative journey of finding CrossFit in her 40s, touching a barbell for the first time, and discovering that fueling her body and building muscle was the ultimate key to physical and mental freedom. Today, you will learn on how to break free from the 80s/90s toxic diet culture mindset of shrinking yourself and turn exercise into an empowering act of self-care. You'll discover how lifting heavy weights and building muscle completely transforms your physique, boosts your confidence, and helps eliminate body dysmorphia and food guilt. We break down practical, real-world nutrition strategies—including Liz's expert meal prep systems, bowl-building framework, and prioritizing single-ingredient whole foods—to naturally crush cravings and keep you full. Finally, Liz shares how to navigate mental health shifts during menopause, why focusing on protein is your single biggest nutritional lever, and how to start building your "70-year-old body" today for lifelong independence. Connect with Liz Kennedy: https://www.instagram.com/kennedyliz/ https://www.facebook.com/liz.b.kennedy.3 More information about our Programs and book a FREE virtual Call with our team https://go.sarafrenzafitness.com/eve-info FREE Metabolic and Hormone Assessment - Find out what is creating the weight loss resistance. Free Hormone & Metabolism Assessment Join my private Facebook Community (attend live podcast recordings & Q&A) Body Transformation and Fat loss for women over 40 | Facebook ‌ Skynbio website: https://skynbio.comsca_ref=10929708.S7SVnfESwc5dwN85 Use Discount CODE: FRENZA15 Connect with Me Say Hello! Email: sara@sarafrenzafitness.com Instagram: Functional Practitioner | Gut, Menopause & Hormone Health (@sara_frenza) • Instagram profile Shop programs, bundles & resources: https://stan.store/SaraFrenza Website: Home - Sara Frenza

    #42: Healing the Relationship With Food: Liz Kennedy's Journey to Finding Her Strong
  5. Jul 28

    #41: Why Your Environment Is Sabotaging Your Goals (And How to Fix It), with Karen Kelly

    In this episode of Muscle, Strength and Menopause, host Sara Frenza sits down with Coach Karen Kelly, one of the expert coaches inside the Hourglass Body Method. With over 30 years of experience in the fitness industry—from teaching cardio classes in tights and a thong to running half marathons—Karen shares her powerful journey of entering her 50s and realizing that her old habits were no longer working. As a postmenopausal woman who has lived it, Karen breaks down the practical, science-backed habit systems that turn healthy living into an effortless routine. The traditional "eat less, move more" cardio approach backfires for women in midlife and how to shift toward strength training for long-term health and mobility. You'll discover why environment beats willpower every single time, along with fascinating research on how the visible food in your kitchen can actually predict your weight. We explore simple, actionable tools like "strategic remembering" and habit stacking—such as pairing your evening magnesium or morning supplements with routines you already do—to make healthy choices automatic. Finally, Karen reveals how to create a "backup plan" to eliminate the all-or-nothing mindset, why a 10-minute workout always counts, and how to train today for the independent, vibrant life you want at age 80. Connect with Karen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wellbalancedwomenover50/ Book a Strategy Call (Functional Wellness Program or Nutrition & Fitness Coaching Program) https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/free-discovery-call-with-team FREE Metabolic and Hormone Assessment - Find out what is creating the weight loss resistance. Free Hormone & Metabolism Assessment Join my private Facebook Community (attend live podcast recordings & Q&A) Body Transformation and Fat loss for women over 40 | Facebook Skynbio website: https://skynbio.comsca_ref=10929708.S7SVnfESwc5dwN85 Use Discount CODE: FRENZA15 Connect with Me Say Hello! Email: sara@sarafrenzafitness.com Instagram: Functional Practitioner | Gut, Menopause & Hormone Health (@sara_frenza) • Instagram profile Shop programs, bundles & resources: https://stan.store/SaraFrenza Website: Home - Sara Frenza

    #41: Why Your Environment Is Sabotaging Your Goals (And How to Fix It), with Karen Kelly
  6. Jul 17

    #40: Diet Mistakes That Are Silently Tanking Your Thyroid, with Carmela Bugliarisi

    In this episode, I’m joined by Carm Bugliarisi, one of our expert coaches inside the Hourglass Body Method Program. Carm brings over 25 years of experience in the fitness and nutrition industry, but her most valuable lesson came from her own personal journey through perimenopause. We pull back the curtain on the "three-legged stool" of female metabolism—ovaries, adrenals, and thyroid—and explain why your body essentially "flatlines" when these systems are stressed. We break down the massive difference between conventional lab ranges and functional ranges, why you must stop "starving" yourself to lose weight, and why you likely need to trade your excessive cardio for strength training. Book a Strategy Call (Functional Wellness Program or Nutrition & Fitness Coaching Program) https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/free-discovery-call-with-team FREE Metabolic and Hormone Assessment - Find out what is creating the weight loss resistance. Free Hormone & Metabolism Assessment Join my private Facebook Community (attend live podcast recordings & Q&A) Body Transformation and Fat loss for women over 40 | Facebook ‌ Perfect Sports Nutrition Supplement Use discount code FRENZA20 Home | PERFECT Sports US (CANADA SITE) Home | PERFECT Sports US (USA SITE) The makers of DIESEL Protein powder Skynbio website: https://skynbio.comsca_ref=10929708.S7SVnfESwc5dwN85 Use Discount CODE: FRENZA15 Connect with Me Say Hello! Email: sara@sarafrenzafitness.com Instagram: Functional Practitioner | Gut, Menopause & Hormone Health (@sara_frenza) • Instagram profile Shop programs, bundles & resources: https://stan.store/SaraFrenza Website: Home - Sara Frenza

    #40: Diet Mistakes That Are Silently Tanking Your Thyroid, with Carmela Bugliarisi
  7. Jul 10

    #39: 10 "Normal" Lab Results That Are Actually Red Flags

    Today in this episode, I go over 10 normal lab results that are actually red flags. When your doctor says your lab results are "normal," it simply means you haven't been flagged for immediate danger or disease. However, "normal" does not mean your body is thriving or operating at its optimal level. I break down the gap between standard conventional lab ranges and the optimal ranges used by functional medicine practitioners. Tune in to learn what your body is actually trying to tell you through these standard lab markers so you can catch metabolic and hormonal issues before they develop into chronic diseases. Episode Timestamps: 03:26 - Lab Marker 1: Fasting Glucose 05:32 - Lab Marker 2: Fasting Insulin 08:00 - Lab Marker 3: HbA1c (Hemoglobin A1c) 11:20 - Lab Marker 4: hs-CRP (High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein) 12:56 - Lab Marker 5: Full Thyroid Panel 16:56 - Lab Marker 6: Homocysteine 18:49 - Lab Marker 7: DHEA-S (Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate) 20:41 - Lab Marker 8: SHBG (Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin) 23:38 - Lab Marker 9: Ferritin 26:12 - Lab Marker 10: Vitamin D Book a Strategy Call (Functional Wellness Program or Nutrition & Fitness Coaching Program) ⁠https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/free-discovery-call-with-team⁠ FREE Metabolic and Hormone Assessment - Find out what is creating the weight loss resistance. ⁠Free Hormone & Metabolism Assessment⁠ Join my private Facebook Community (attend live podcast recordings & Q&A) ⁠Body Transformation and Fat loss for women over 40 | Facebook⁠ Perfect Sports Nutrition Supplement Use discount code FRENZA20 Home | PERFECT Sports US (CANADA SITE) Home | PERFECT Sports US (USA SITE) The makers of DIESEL Protein powder Skynbio website: ⁠https://skynbio.comsca_ref=10929708.S7SVnfESwc5dwN85⁠ Use Discount CODE: FRENZA15 Connect with Me Say Hello! Email: sara@sarafrenzafitness.com Instagram: Functional Practitioner | Gut, Menopause & Hormone Health (@sara_frenza) • Instagram profile Shop programs, bundles & resources: https://stan.store/SaraFrenza‌ ‌Website: Home - Sara Frenza

    #39: 10 "Normal" Lab Results That Are Actually Red Flags
  8. Jul 2

    #38: Why Your GLP-1 or Peptide didn't Work for you (And What Nobody Told You Before You Started)

    In this episode of the Muscle Strength and Menopause podcast, host Sara Frenza dives deep into why popular GLP-1 medications and peptides often fail to deliver results for women over 40. While these treatments are often marketed as miracle solutions for weight loss, they frequently stall when the body's underlying foundation is cracked. Sara explains that peptides are merely signals that can only be processed by a hormonally balanced and metabolically efficient system. The discussion covers the critical need for comprehensive testing—including metabolic health, inflammation markers, hormones, and gut health—before starting any peptide protocol. You will learn how dropping estrogen levels in perimenopause and menopause can close the "docking stations" these medications need to function, and why healing the gut is the essential first step to overcoming weight loss resistance. Book a Strategy Call (Functional Wellness Program or Nutrition and Fitness Program) https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/free-discovery-call-with-team FREE Metabolic and Hormone Assessment - Find out what is creating the weight loss resistance. Free Hormone & Metabolism Assessment Join my private Facebook Community (attend live podcast recordings & Q&A) Body Transformation and Fat loss for women over 40 | Facebook ‌ Perfect Sports Nutrition Supplement Use discount code FRENZA20 Home | PERFECT Sports US (CANADA SITE) Home | PERFECT Sports US (USA SITE) The makers of DIESEL Protein powder Skynbio website: https://skynbio.comsca_ref=10929708.S7SVnfESwc5dwN85 Use Discount CODE: FRENZA15 Connect with Me Say Hello! Email: sara@sarafrenzafitness.com Instagram: Functional Practitioner | Gut, Menopause & Hormone Health (@sara_frenza) • Instagram profile Shop programs, bundles & resources: https://stan.store/SaraFrenza Website: Home - Sara Frenza

    #38: Why Your GLP-1 or Peptide didn't Work for you (And What Nobody Told You Before You Started)

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About

Welcome to Muscle, Strength and Menopause with Sara Frenza, the podcast for women over 40 who refuse to accept that "nothing works anymore." I'm Sara Frenza, a certified nutrition coach, hormone and menopause coaching specialist, and creator of the Hourglass Body Method. After losing 50+ pounds in my 40s and helping 100’s of women transform their bodies, I'm here to share the science-backed strategies that actually work when your hormones are shifting. Each week, we break down the complex science of metabolic health, hormones, and muscle building and then turn it into simple, actionable steps you can implement immediately. We'll bust the myths keeping you stuck (more cardio and fewer carbs aren't the answer), share real transformation stories from women 40-65, and give you practical tools for building muscle, losing stubborn fat, and feeling powerful in your own skin. Because muscle isn't just about looking good in your jeans (though you will). It's about better body composition, stronger bones, improved mood, fewer hot flashes, higher metabolism, and the confidence to live life fully at 40, 50, 60, and beyond. This isn't about bouncing back to who you used to be. It's about rising into the strongest, most confident version of yourself yet. Topics covered in the podcast include: Menopause, Perimenopause, Post-Menopause, Hormone balance, Strength training for women over 40, Muscle building in midlife, Fat loss after 40, Metabolic health, Nutrition for hormonal health, Belly fat reduction, Weight management, Energy optimization, Sustainable lifestyle habits, Body composition, Midlife fitness, and Aging powerfully. Subscribe now, and let's turn this chapter into your most powerful one.

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