Dr. Stacy Sims is an exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist. She has directed research programs at Stanford, AUT University, and the University of Waikato, focusing on female athlete health and performance. She is also a recognized speaker and author.
In this episode with Freeletics CEO Daniel Sobhani, they dive deep into the unique physiology of women in fitness. Unraveling the outdated approach of treating women as smaller, sedentary versions of men, they shed light on the pitfalls of a historically male-centric approach to exercise research. From gender equality and identity affecting fitness studies, to understanding the key physiological differences that are crucial for customizing exercise and diet, they discuss it all. They also explore puberty's role in biomechanics, hormonal fluctuations influencing a woman's athletic journey, and the biases pushing women towards cardio. Plus, demystifying diet myths: should women go low-carb?
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Her journey of understanding the unique physiology of women in fitness.
How women have been treated as small, sedentary, middle aged men: the issue with previously male dominated fitness research.
Gender equality, identity, and its impact on gender specific fitness research.
Acceptance of physiological differences between genders in sports & exercise.
The key physiological differences between men and women that are important for adapting exercise and diet.
Puberty's impact: Do biomechanics shift differently for females vs. males?
Hormonal fluctuations: What's their real effect on a woman's training, recovery and competition performance?
Key principles for tailoring female-specific exercise and diet programs.
The societal bias to push women into cardio and why we have to change that.
Diet nuances: Do women need more carbs than men? Dive into diet hypes and their pitfalls.
Supplements: Are some potentially detrimental to female health?
Rapid fire: what does happiness mean for her, what she would have wished to know at the age of 20 and any life decisions that she would now take differently?
check out the full episode