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High Performance Health

High Performance Health

By: Angela Foster
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The High-Performance Health Podcast is all about optimising your body, mind and lifestyle for high performance. Packed full of actionable insights, strategies, bio hacks, lifestyle hacks, mindset strategies and expert performance advice, Angela Foster is on a mission to optimise your human potential. Featuring interviews with some of the top experts on the planet in the fields of health, performance and business, this show aims to inspire, educate and empower you to live an energetic, healthful and limitless life.2025 Angela Foster Alternative & Complementary Medicine Economics Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Finance
Episodes
  • Dr. Eric Helms: Why You Don't Need to Lift Heavy to Build Muscle and Strong Bones After 40

    Dr. Eric Helms: Why You Don't Need to Lift Heavy to Build Muscle and Strong Bones After 40
    Jul 5 2026
    If you've been told that menopause means muscle loss, weight gain, and declining strength are inevitable, the science says otherwise. In this episode, world-renowned strength scientist Dr. Eric Helms explains what actually drives body composition changes during perimenopause and menopause and why progressive strength training, good sleep, and consistent nutrition matter far more than chasing the latest social media trends. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why sleep disruption during perimenopause may be the biggest hidden driver of fat gain, poor recovery, and stalled progress Why progressive overload not lifting the heaviest weights possible is the key to building muscle and protecting bone health Whether women really need to train with heavy 5x5 programs or if moderate weights and higher reps work just as well How many sets, reps, and weekly training sessions are actually needed to build muscle after 40 Why muscle building should take priority over endless fat-loss cycles if you want to improve your shape and body composition The biggest myths about training timing, fasted workouts, cortisol, and "optimal" exercise routines How much cardio you really need for longevity, metabolic health, and body composition Whether women can build significant muscle in their 40s, 50s, and beyond even if they've never lifted weights before What the evidence actually says about menopause hormone therapy (HRT), testosterone therapy, muscle growth, and body composition How much protein you really need for muscle growth, fat loss, and healthy ageing and why total daily intake matters more than perfect meal timing Whether collagen supplements truly improve connective tissue and skin health according to the latest research TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Why body composition changes during perimenopause00:31 What's really happening physiologically during menopause01:10 Why sleep becomes the biggest factor affecting results03:25 How poor sleep impacts muscle gain and fat loss06:20 Bloating, water retention, and hormonal changes explained08:55 The biggest mistakes women make during menopause11:20 Why resistance training is the most important intervention16:50 Do women really need to lift heavy?22:30 How to build muscle and improve body shape after 4026:30 The ideal rep ranges, training intensity, and volume30:57 How much training is actually enough?37:56 Cardio for longevity, health, and body composition42:53 Can women still achieve incredible results in their 40s and 50s?49:00 The truth about hormone replacement therapy and testosterone54:35 Protein recommendations explained01:06:00 Does collagen actually work?01:09:18 Final takeaways A BIG thank you to our sponsors who make the show possible: 👉Timeline. Support your mitochondrial health with Urolithin A at the clinically studied dose to support cellular renewal and energy production, helping counter the natural decline in mitochondrial function that comes with age. 👉 Get 20% off Mitopure when you visit http://timeline.com/ANGELA and use code ANGELALA. VALUABLE RESOURCES • Follow Dr. Eric Helms on Instagram:👉 https://www.instagram.com/helms3dmj/ • MASS Research Review👉 https://massresearchreview.com/ • Muscle & Strength Pyramid Books👉 https://muscleandstrengthpyramids.com/ ABOUT THE GUEST Dr. Eric Helms is a coach, athlete, researcher, author, and educator specialising in strength training, muscle hypertrophy, body composition, and sports nutrition. He holds a PhD in strength and conditioning, is Chief Science Officer at 3DMJ, co-founder of MASS Research Review, and co-author of the internationally acclaimed Muscle & Strength Pyramid books. Widely regarded as one of the world's leading evidence-based voices in physique and performance science, Eric has spent more than two decades coaching athletes and translating research into practical strategies that help people build muscle, improve performance, and optimise long-term health. Want to go deeper? Start here: 💌 Fresh Start Mondays NewsletterYour weekly 3-minute guide to creating the healthiest, most vibrant version of you.Each Monday, get one simple habit to boost energy, balance hormones, and enhance longevity—joined by 25,000+ women worldwide.👉 https://angelafosterperformance.com/ 🌸 The 21-Day Hormone ResetDoing everything right but still don't feel like yourself? The 21-Day Hormone Reset helps you understand your hormones, restore your energy, and start working with your body instead of against it.👉 https://www.highperformance-health.com/ 🥗 The Ultimate Guide to Creatine for Women👉 https://academy.angelafosterperformance.com/ ⚡ 10 Habits That Helped Me Reverse My Biological Age by 25 Years During Perimenopause👉 https://academy.angelafosterperformance.com/ 👩‍💼 About Angela Foster Angela Foster is a corporate lawyer turned health and performance coach, keynote speaker, and creator of the BioSyncing® Method. She is the host of the High Performance Health Podcast, featuring over 500 conversations ...
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Why Lifting Weights Alone Isn't Making You Lose Fat in Perimenopause (And What Actually Works)

    Why Lifting Weights Alone Isn't Making You Lose Fat in Perimenopause (And What Actually Works)
    Jul 2 2026
    In this Bitesize episode, we revisit a key conversation on why resistance training and fat loss need to be treated as two separate goals — and why blending them usually backfires. This short-form cut pulls together the core science on training for muscle/strength versus training for calorie burn, why "lifting to near failure" matters more than the weight on the bar, and a practical progression toward an unassisted pull-up. It also revisits the protein research: why menopausal women are commonly deficient, and how simply increasing protein intake can drive meaningful fat loss and lean mass gains — no calorie-cutting required. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why lifting heavy, moderate, or light doesn't matter for muscle growth — but matters enormously for building strength How to structure your resistance training if your goal is to build or maintain muscle versus increase strength Why treating your lifting sessions as a "calorie-burning workout" can undermine both your strength and muscle-building results A practical progression (band-assisted reps, then eccentric lowering) for working toward an unassisted pull-up Why menopausal-aged women are commonly deficient in protein, and what happens when protein intake alone is increased The optimal protein target (1.6g/kg or ~0.75g/lb of body weight per day) for maximizing lean mass and fat loss Where protein intake starts to hit diminishing returns KEY TAKEAWAYS Separate Your Training Goals: Muscle growth responds to sets taken near failure regardless of load; strength gains require heavier weights. Combining strength/muscle work with calorie-burning goals in the same session tends to produce lower-quality training on both fronts. Progression Over Perfection for Pull-Ups: Band-assisted reps followed by slow eccentric (lowering) practice is an effective, movement-specific path to an unassisted pull-up — though the strength requires ongoing maintenance to keep. Protein Is an Underused Lever: Many menopausal-aged women fall well below optimal protein intake (studies cite averages around 70g/day). Increasing protein alone — without cutting calories — has been shown to reduce body fat and increase lean mass. Diminishing Returns Above ~0.75g/lb: Protein benefits continue to accrue above the optimal threshold but with steadily smaller returns, so hitting "close enough" still delivers most of the benefit. BEST MOMENTS "Lifting heavy or light really doesn't matter if you're trying to build muscle... it does matter if you're trying to increase strength." "As soon as we start looking at our lifting programs as a way to burn more calories... that's when we start to say, 'I'm going to lift for two hours.' And those sets usually tend not to be very high quality." "The act of increasing protein resulted in a significant gain of lean mass and a significant loss of body fat." This episode is brought to you by Calocurb a natural appetite control supplement that helps you feel fuller, longer, without the jitters or crash of stimulant-based options. Head to⁠ calocurb.com/angela⁠ and use code ANGELA for 10% off your order. Follow Calocurb: Website:⁠ Calocurb.com⁠ Instagram:⁠ @calocurb⁠ YouTube:⁠ Calocurb⁠ LinkedIn:⁠ Calocurb
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    11 mins
  • The Natural Ozempic Alternative for Weight Loss | Sarah Kennedy

    The Natural Ozempic Alternative for Weight Loss | Sarah Kennedy
    Jun 29 2026
    Sarah Kennedy of Calocurb explains why food noise spikes in perimenopause: falling estrogen raises cravings while the hindbrain overrides forebrain willpower under stress or poor sleep. She contrasts natural appetite hormones (GLP-1, GIP, CCK, PYY) with pharmaceutical GLP-1 agonists, which run at roughly 3,000% physiological levels versus the body's natural 300% rise - explaining rebound hunger after stopping injectables. Calocurb, a hops-derived bitter compound, stimulates a 600% natural hormone rise for an 18% average calorie reduction. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why food noise isn't a willpower problem, and what's actually happening in your hindbrain versus your forebrain when cravings take over How declining estrogen in perimenopause changes your calorie needs even as cravings increase What GLP-1, GIP, CCK, and PYY actually do in your body, and how they differ from each other How pharmaceutical GLP-1 agonists compare to your body's own natural hormone levels, and what that gap means for nutrient intake Why coming off a GLP-1 medication can trigger intense rebound hunger, and what's happening hormonally during that transition How bitter taste receptors throughout your gut influence appetite signaling, and why this evolutionary mechanism matters What role the luteal phase, travel, and sleep deprivation play in cravings, and how timing strategies can offset them TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro 00:58 - Willpower vs. Biology: The Hindbrain-Forebrain Battle Driving Cravings 04:58 - GLP-1 Explained: How Natural Appetite Hormones Actually Work 10:21 – Supraphysiological Dosing on GLP-1 Drugs and Nutrient Sufficiency Risks 14:03 – Bitter Taste Receptors: The Gut-Brain Mechanism Behind Appetite Suppression 16:58 – Managing Mindless Snacking, Grazing, and the "Licks, Sips, and Dips" Problem 22:06 – Using Appetite Support Strategically During Weight Loss Plateaus 26:26 – Onboarding, Dosing, and Managing Digestive Side Effects 28:13 – Blood Sugar Regulation and New Clinical Research on Weight Loss Outcomes 30:51 – Why You Must Transition Off GLP-1s Strategically to Avoid Rebound Weight Gain 36:53 – Mood, Motivation, and the Liberating Effect of Quieting Food Noise 39:44 – Closing Thoughts VALUABLE RESOURCES• Take the BioSyncing Quiz to help you understand what’s actually happening in your body — and how to fix it. 👉 https://biosyncing.scoreapp.com/ *** This episode is brought to you by Calocurb a natural appetite control supplement that helps you feel fuller, longer, without the jitters or crash of stimulant-based options. Head to calocurb.com/angela and use code ANGELA for 10% off your order. Follow Calocurb: Website: Calocurb.com Instagram: @calocurb YouTube: Calocurb LinkedIn: Calocurb ABOUT THE GUEST Sarah Kennedy is the Founder and CEO of Calocurb, a natural appetite-management company built around years of scientific research and clinical trials that brought Amarasate, a natural GLP-1 activator derived from New Zealand bitter hops, to market. She brings more than 20 years of experience leading health, nutrition, and consumer products companies, including executive leadership roles at Fonterra and Healtheries/Vitaco NZ. In 2010, she completed a Sloan Fellowship Program in Global Leadership and Innovation at MIT. Sarah's own lifelong struggle with weight and complicated relationship with food became the personal driving force behind Calocurb — when the product worked for her where nothing else had, she made it her mission to bring that option to others looking for a natural, non-injectable way to manage cravings and support healthy weight management.
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    45 mins
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