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Muscle Science for Women

Hosted by health coach and author Ashleigh VanHouten and nutritionist and strength and conditioning specialist Rachel Gregory - co-creators of the Muscle Science for Women training program - this podcast dives into all aspects of fitness including nutrition, training, recovery, fitness culture, and so much more, all with a focus on addressing women's unique goals and challenges. It's conversational, interactive, and will help listeners understand their bodies and how to achieve their goals.
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Now displaying: June, 2025
Jun 24, 2025

This week is another episode of the Healthy Aging Series, and this time Ashleigh and Beth are diving into motherhood, a deeply personal and lifechanging event. They discuss the ways motherhood changed them (and the ways they have stayed the same), the experience of being "older" mothers, the balance of caring for children and aging parents, managing your kids' hormonal shifts at the same time as their own, and much more. See timestamps below.

And listeners learned about the NEW program from Muscle Science for Women: The Fit Pregnancy Specialization program! There has been a slight delay in launch, but if you want to be the first to gain access to the program (and our early bird discount) you can email and let us know at musclescience4women@gmail.com 

The whole Healthy Aging Series can be found on Ashleigh's YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@musclemaven

 If you're interested in listening to Ashleigh's episode all about her first pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience, you can listen to it here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4FHQRW8LMDEXt2lLUgpLVz?si=eb5dab46d9ba4e6b

If you have comments, feedback, or questions please send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Support for this podcast comes from Kion. Use code MUSCLEMAVEN at this link to save on high-quality protein powder, creatine, the tastiest EAA's (I recommend watermelon!) and other tested supplements to support your goals. 

Learn more about the hosts at rgfit.com and ashleighvanhouten.com

Timestamps:

7:00: Things that have changed about us since motherhood, if anything

18:00: Our experiences being “older” mothers

27:00: Our decision-making process to have kids (and how many to have)

36:00: Differences in parenting expectations with different generations

40:30: Managing your own hormonal changes as well as your children's

45:00: How we talk about our bodies and hormones, and how that impacts the way women feel about themselves

47:45: Parenting while also helping aging parents

53:00: The sometimes fraught relationship between mothers and daughters

1:01:00: Balancing how to love your kids equally but engage with them differently according to their personalities

1:05: How the parenting dynamic shifts as both you and kids age

1:09: Combatting losing your sense of self in motherhood

 

Jun 17, 2025

In this episode, Ashleigh answers listener questions about:

-how to work around "limiting factors" like grip strength and weaker muscles when trying to challenge the lower body

-can you heal and "tighten" fascia in your stomach and get rid of "mommy pooch" after multiple pregnancies

-how to avoid being "skinny fat" when you're looking to lose fat and change body composition

-advice for people looking to become a professional health coach

And more! Check timestamps below.

And listeners learned about the NEW program from Muscle Science for Women: The Fit Pregnancy Specialization program! There has been a slight delay in launch, but if you want to be the first to gain access to the program (and our early bird discount) you can email and let us know at musclescience4women@gmail.com

If you have comments, feedback, or questions please send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Support for this podcast comes from Kion. Use code MUSCLEMAVEN at this link to save on high-quality protein powder, creatine, the tastiest EAA's (I recommend watermelon!) and other tested supplements to support your goals. 

Learn more about the hosts at rgfit.com and ashleighvanhouten.com

Timestamps:

2:00: how to work around limiting factors like grip and upper body strength

7:45: can you tighten stomach fascia after pregnancy?

13:00: how to reverse the "skinny fat" look after years of sedentary living

22:30 advice for folks who want to get into the health coaching business

Jun 3, 2025

In this vulnerable episode, Ashleigh shares her pregnancy and birth story from the recent birth of her daughter. She covers topics including:

  • Her symptoms and overall experience during pregnancy, and how it differed from her first
  • How she managed severe pubic symphysis pain, and her experience with pelvic floor physiotherapy
  • All the details of her unmedicated water birth and the immediate postpartum period
  • Information on her exercise and nutrition
  • The ups and downs of being a parent of two, and how this is impacting her fitness and overall health
  • And much more!

And listeners learned about the NEW program from Muscle Science for Women: The Fit Pregnancy Specialization program! There has been a slight delay in launch, but if you want to be the first to gain access to the program (and our early bird discount) you can email and let us know at musclescience4women@gmail.com

 If you're interested in listening to Ashleigh's episode all about her first pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience, you can listen to it here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4FHQRW8LMDEXt2lLUgpLVz?si=eb5dab46d9ba4e6b

If you have comments, feedback, or questions please send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Support for this podcast comes from Kion. Use code MUSCLEMAVEN at this link to save on high-quality protein powder, creatine, the tastiest EAA's (I recommend watermelon!) and other tested supplements to support your goals. 

Learn more about the hosts at rgfit.com and ashleighvanhouten.com

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