Podcast

Inspire Fitness

Fitness, Health & Fitness

Inspire Fitness with Casey Young

You're in your 40s, 50s, or beyond, & the things that used to work just don't anymore. Your body is changing, your energy feels different, & the old advice to eat less & move more isn't cutting it.

This podcast is your place for real answers. Every week, you'll get practical, science-based strategies for strength training, nutrition, & navigating perimenopause & menopause, so you can lose fat, build muscle, & feel strong & confident in the body you have.

No shame, no fads, no starting over every Monday. Just structure that fits your real life.

Your host, Casey Young, is a Registered Dietitian & Certified Personal Trainer who's passionate about helping women become healthy, strong, & capable at every age. She's the owner & founder of Inspire Health & Wellness, where she coaches women worldwide through her virtual strength training program, Inspire Fitness, & her virtual nutrition coaching program, Inspire Nutrition. Casey is also a wife & a mom to 3 boys, so she gets how full your plate already is.

Tune in for solo episodes & expert conversations that help you stop guessing & start feeling like yourself again.

Learn more at inspirehw.com & follow along on Instagram @fit.nutritionist 🖤

Episodes
258
Releases
Weekly
Typical length
22 min
On air since
2024
Latest episode
22 hours ago

Episodes

258 episodes, newest first

  1. Stop Starting Over: Why Identity Beats Discipline After 45

    Show notes

    If you’ve started over more times than you can count, this one’s for you.

    Here’s the truth: doing a workout and being someone who works out are two very different things. And that difference might be the reason nothing has stuck before.

    In this episode, Casey breaks down why identity change is the most powerful form of behavior change, especially for women in midlife who’ve spent decades putting everyone else first. You’ll hear the research behind how the words you use about yourself shape what you actually do, and why “I don’t” works so much better than “I can’t.”

    In this episode, you’ll learn:
    💪 The difference between doing a workout & being a woman who trains
    💪 The 2-word swap that helps you stick with your goals
    💪 Why taking on a new identity can feel selfish (and why it isn’t)
    💪 4 practical ways to start building your new identity this week
    💪 How even a 15-minute workout counts as evidence of who you are

    You don’t have to feel like her yet. You just have to start collecting the proof.

    Ready for your first piece of evidence?
    Join free 15-Minute Fridays through Thanksgiving- sign up here for FREE! https://inspirehw.com/book-a-workout

    Shop Legion Supplements- Use the promo code "Inspire" and the link here: https://legionathletics.rfrl.co/zwo48

    Join us in the Inspire Fitness program: Use the link here: https://inspirehw.com/

    Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit.nutritionist?igsh=MTJqZXhjODR2ZzduaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

    Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Casey.Young.RD.CPT?mibextid=LQQJ4d

    19 min
  2. Leaking, Lifting & Your Pelvic Floor in Midlife- With Dr. Caroline Packard

    Season 2, Episode 252

    Show notes

    You’ve been told a little leaking is just part of having kids or getting older. It’s common, but it’s not something you have to accept.

    This week I’m joined by Dr. Caroline Packard, Doctor of Physical Therapy, pelvic floor physical therapist & founder of Connect Pelvic Floor Fitness. Caroline’s own experience with pelvic floor dysfunction led her to build a program that helps women move from pelvic floor rehab into real, progressive strength training.

    We talk about the part of your core nobody mentions when they tell you to lift weights after 40, and why your pelvic floor belongs in every strength conversation, not just the ones that start after symptoms show up.

    In this episode, you’ll learn:

    • What your pelvic floor actually does & how it works with your breath, core & overall strength
    • How perimenopause, menopause & dropping estrogen change these muscles, and when to bring it up with your doctor
    • Why leaking when you sneeze, laugh or jump is common but not normal
    • Why Kegels aren’t the whole answer
    • How to breathe through a squat or a dumbbell row so you can try it at your next workout
    • Whether heavy lifting, jumping, running & pickleball hurt your pelvic floor or help it
    • What leaking, heaviness or pressure during squats & deadlifts is telling you, and how to adjust without stopping
    • Simple things you can add to your routine now, even with zero symptoms
    • When to see a pelvic floor PT & what actually happens at a first visit
    • The one thing Caroline wants you to do this week

    If you want to keep lifting, jumping, laughing & doing the things you love for decades to come, this conversation is for you.

    Connect with Dr. Caroline Packard
    Connect Pelvic Floor Fitness: https://connectpelvicfloorfitness.com/

    Find her on IG: https://www.instagram.com/carolinepackarddpt

    Connect with Casey
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit.nutritionist

    Loved this episode? Share it with a friend who’s been told to “just do Kegels,” & leave a rating & review so more women in midlife can find the show.

    Join us in the Inspire Fitness program: Use the link here: https://inspirehw.com/

    Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit.nutritionist?igsh=MTJqZXhjODR2ZzduaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

    Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Casey.Young.RD.CPT?mibextid=LQQJ4d

    35 min
  3. 7 Things I Would NOT Do Between Halloween & New Year’s (45+ Fat Loss Edition)

    Season 2, Episode 251

    Show notes

    You don’t have to gain 5 pounds every holiday season, and you don’t have to go to extremes to avoid it.

    The stretch from Halloween to New Year’s is about 10 weeks long. For most women over 45, holiday weight gain doesn’t come from one big dinner. It comes from small habits that slip a little at a time. In this episode, I’m sharing the 7 things I would NOT do this holiday season, and the simple structure to use instead, so you can enjoy the food, the parties, and the people and still walk into January stronger.

    In this episode you’ll learn:

    • Why “saving up” calories for a party backfires
    • How to handle the Halloween candy without restricting
    • The minimum strength routine that keeps you on track when life gets busy
    • Why the “start over Monday” mindset does more damage than the meal
    • How alcohol and short sleep affect cravings in midlife
    • Why you shouldn’t wait until January to set a goal

    Ready for structure this season? Join Inspire Fitness and jump into Stronger by Thanksgiving, or start with the 14-Day Strength Reset for just $14 at inspirehw.com.

    Join us in the Inspire Fitness program: Use the link here: https://inspirehw.com/

    Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit.nutritionist?igsh=MTJqZXhjODR2ZzduaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

    Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Casey.Young.RD.CPT?mibextid=LQQJ4d

    17 min
  4. My DEXA Scan: Here’s What I’ll Share (and What I Won’t)

    Season 2, Episode 251

    Show notes

    My mom was diagnosed with osteopenia at 50. I’m four years out from that age, and I wanted to know if I was as risk.

    In this episode, I’m telling you the whole story: the two and a half hour drive, the appointment itself, and what my results actually showed. I’ll also tell you what I’m choosing not to share, and why that matters just as much as what I do share.

    Here’s what you’ll hear:

    • Why I finally booked a scan, and how I found a place to go from a rural community
    • What the appointment was actually like, start to finish
    • My bone density results, and what they tell me about the choices I’ve been making
    • Why I’m keeping my body composition numbers private, even though I’m happy with them
    • Why a scan result is one point in time, not a verdict on your worth
    • What you can start doing right now for your own bone health: training, protein, vitamin D and K, calcium, and screening

    This isn’t about fear. It’s about knowing what’s happening in your body so you can do something about it before you’re the one getting the diagnosis.

    Inspire Fitness is strength training designed specifically for women in perimenopause and menopause. If you are looking for a place to get started, or continue with your lifting journey- we welcome you!

    Beginners Get Started HERE: https://inspirehw.com/14-day-strength-reset

    New Fitness Phase (intermediate level): https://inspirehw.com/inspire-fitness - use promo code THANKS20 for $20 off your first month.

    Educational content only, not medical advice. Talk with your healthcare provider about your own bone health and screening options.

    Join us in the Inspire Fitness program: Use the link here: https://inspirehw.com/

    Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit.nutritionist?igsh=MTJqZXhjODR2ZzduaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

    Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Casey.Young.RD.CPT?mibextid=LQQJ4d

    24 min
  5. Your But Is Getting in the Way (The And + So Method for Midlife Women)

    Season 2, Episode 250

    Show notes

    You want to get stronger, but... you're busy. You don't know where to start, but it's never worked for you before. Sound familiar?

    In this episode, you'll learn why that one little word, "but," keeps you stuck. It quietly cancels everything you just said you wanted. Casey walks you through a simple mindset shift she calls the And + So method. It doesn't pretend your challenges aren't real. It just stops them from getting the last word.

    In this episode:

    • Why "but" shuts down your goals before you even start
    • Why "and" isn't toxic positivity (your challenges are real, and so is what you want)
    • The And + So method, applied to the 3 most common "buts" women in midlife say
    • Where your "buts" hide, and how to catch them without judgment
    • A 3-step notes app exercise you can do in under 2 minutes

    Your challenges don't disqualify you. They're part of the plan.

    Ready for your "so"? Start the 14-Day Strength Reset for $14: https://inspirehw.com/14-day-strength-reset

    Shop Legion Product here: https://legionathletics.rfrl.co/zwo48 - use code "Inspire" for BOGO 50% off for new customers - 10% cash back for return customers.

    Join us in the Inspire Fitness program: Use the link here: https://inspirehw.com/

    Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit.nutritionist?igsh=MTJqZXhjODR2ZzduaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

    Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Casey.Young.RD.CPT?mibextid=LQQJ4d

    14 min
  6. GLP-1s & Muscle Loss After 45: What Every Woman Needs to Know with Ana Reisdorf, RD

    Season 2, Episode 249

    Show notes

    You can lose weight on a GLP-1 and still lose the strength you've worked so hard to build. Or you can do it differently.

    Whether you're taking a GLP-1, thinking about it, or watching someone you love go through it, this conversation is for you.

    This week I'm joined by fellow Registered Dietitian Ana Reisdorf, MS, RD, founder of GLP-1 Hub. Ana shares her own GLP-1 story, including the mistakes she made early on, like running on iced coffee until her blood sugar crashed at 2pm, & how that experience shaped the education platform she's built today.

    We get honest about what these medications actually do, why muscle loss happens, & what you can put in place to stay strong & capable while you lose fat.

    In this episode, you'll learn:

    • What a GLP-1 does in plain English, including why it quiets food noise & cravings (and no, you're not injecting lizard venom)
    • Why the medication itself isn't what causes muscle loss, & what actually does
    • Why 30 to 40% of weight lost on a GLP-1 can come from lean mass, & how to protect yours
    • Ana's baseline protocol: at least 100 grams of protein a day, 25 to 30 grams per meal, strength training at least 2 days a week, & daily walking
    • Why losing slower (2 to 8 pounds a month) is a win, not a sign the medication isn't working
    • How to get protein in when nausea hits: shakes, cold proteins like yogurt & cottage cheese, & smaller meals
    • Why fiber deserves as much attention as protein
    • The "cheating" myth, & why a GLP-1 can be one tool alongside a strong foundation
    • Questions to ask your doctor, & yourself, before you start
    • First-shot tips: take it at home, go easy on high-fat foods, add a multivitamin, & plan your meals
    • Why sourcing matters, & what to avoid

    This isn't about getting smaller. It's about staying strong, capable, & independent for the long haul.

    About Ana Reisdorf, MS, RD
    Ana Reisdorf, MS, RD, is a Registered Dietitian, entrepreneur, & founder of GLP-1 Hub, a media & education platform focused on GLP-1 medications, nutrition, & sustainable weight management. She combines professional expertise with personal experience to make complex nutrition topics practical, realistic, & easy to understand. Ana also hosts the GLP-1 Hub podcast & creates educational content across YouTube, email, & social media.

    Connect with Ana:
    🎧 GLP-1 Hub Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/glp-1-hub-support-community-and-weight-loss/id1798502905

    ▶️ GLP-1 Hub on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GLP-1hub

    Ready to protect your muscle & build strength at home?
    Inspire Fitness is strength training built for women 45+, with structure that fits your real life. Get started for just $14 here: https://inspirehw.com/14-day-strength-reset

    Join us in the Inspire Fitness program: Use the link here: https://inspirehw.com/

    Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit.nutritionist?igsh=MTJqZXhjODR2ZzduaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

    Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Casey.Young.RD.CPT?mibextid=LQQJ4d

    44 min
  7. The Scale Is Lying to You: What a DEXA Scan Actually Reveals- With Tony Orlando

    Season 2, Episode 249

    Show notes

    It's 6am and you're standing on the same scale you've stood on for twenty years. The number moves half a pound and somehow it still gets to decide how your whole day feels.

    Here's what that number has never once told you: how much of you is bone. How much is muscle. Whether the "progress" you're chasing is actually costing you strength you'll need in ten years. Most women don't find out their bone density is a problem until there's already a fracture, because insurance won't screen for it before 65 and there are no symptoms to warn you first. This isn't something you did wrong. It's something almost nobody's told you to check.

    In this episode, I sit down with Tony Orlando, founder of DEXA Plus and a 25 year veteran of DEXA scan technology, to talk about what your body composition is really telling you and why it matters more than your weight ever will.

    You'll learn:

    • Why a DEXA scan sees things your bathroom scale, and even most gym body fat monitors, physically cannot
    • The real reason osteoporosis is showing up earlier in women, and why waiting until 65 to check is too late for a lot of us
    • What happened when Tony's own wife was nearly diagnosed with osteoporosis, and how she turned it around
    • The muscle loss risk on GLP-1 medications that almost nobody mentions, and how to protect against it
    • Why weight-bearing exercise outperforms cardio for long-term bone and muscle health
    • How to actually get scanned: where to go, what it costs, and what the results really mean
    • Why "the number on the scale" was never the full story to begin with

    Your body isn't a mystery you failed to solve. It's a system that's been giving you incomplete information this whole time. Once you can actually see what's happening with your bones and your muscle, the goal stops being smaller and starts being stronger, and that's a goal you can build on for decades, not just until the next diet ends.

    To learn more about Dexa Plus or to book your scan visit: https://dexascan.com/

    Join us in the Inspire Fitness program: Use the link here: https://inspirehw.com/

    Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit.nutritionist?igsh=MTJqZXhjODR2ZzduaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

    Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Casey.Young.RD.CPT?mibextid=LQQJ4d

    50 min
  8. Cutting vs. Bulking: What No One Tells Women in Midlife

    Season 2, Episode 248

    Show notes

    Cutting. Bulking. You've heard the terms - but chances are, no one's ever explained them for your body, in this season of life.

    In this episode, Casey breaks down what these two phases actually mean, why almost everything you've heard about them was built for 25-year-old men, and how to know whether you're in a fat-loss season or a muscle-building one (spoiler: most of us are exactly where we're supposed to be). Plus - why you literally cannot build new muscle in a calorie deficit, and what to do instead if that's your goal.

    🔗 Ready to tackle your fat-loss season the right way? The Fat Loss Accelerator is open for enrollment and starts September 20. Details here: https://inspirehw.com/fat-loss-accelerator

    Join us in the Inspire Fitness program: Use the link here: https://inspirehw.com/

    Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit.nutritionist?igsh=MTJqZXhjODR2ZzduaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

    Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Casey.Young.RD.CPT?mibextid=LQQJ4d

    22 min
  9. Sober September: What Happens When You Take a Break From Alcohol

    Season 2, Episode 247

    Show notes

    What happens when you take a break from alcohol-especially as a woman in perimenopause/menopause working toward health and fat loss goals?

    In this episode, I’m sharing my personal experience of going alcohol-free, why I’m committing to a “Sober September,” and the surprising benefits I’ve already noticed just two weeks in.

    This episode is a replay of one I dropped last year when I was doing a 6 week "Sober October" but it is timely and I hope you find it helpful!

    We’ll talk about how alcohol can slow fat loss, impact sleep and recovery, and even mess with your discipline when it comes to nutrition and workouts. And most importantly, I’ll show you how removing alcohol- even temporarily- can help you feel clearer, stronger, and more in control of your goals.

    This isn’t medical advice, and if you struggle with alcohol dependence, please seek professional support. But if you’re curious about what alcohol-free living might do for your body, your mind, and your momentum- this episode is for you.

    For fitness or nutrition services, please use the link here: https://inspirehw.com/

    Join us in the Inspire Fitness program: Use the link here: https://inspirehw.com/

    Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit.nutritionist?igsh=MTJqZXhjODR2ZzduaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

    Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Casey.Young.RD.CPT?mibextid=LQQJ4d

    23 min
  10. I Booked My Own DEXA Scan. Here's Why You Should Too.

    Season 2, Episode 246

    Show notes

    You could be losing bone right now and never know it. No pain, no symptoms, no warning... until the day you fracture something and your whole life changes.*

    In this episode, I'm getting personal about a topic that's close to home for me: bone health. Two generations of women in my family didn't find out their bones were weakening until it was already happening. My mom's diagnosis age, 50, is 4 years from where I am right now. That's a countdown I'm not willing to ignore.

    You'll learn:

    • Why osteopenia affects more than half of women over 50, and why so many don't find out until it's already progressed
    • Why bone loss accelerates so sharply after menopause, with women able to lose up to 20% of bone density in the first 5 to 7 years alone
    • Why an estimated 1 in 2 women over 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis, compared to 1 in 4 men
    • What losing even 10% of your bone mass really means for your fracture risk
    • Why this is about more than a broken bone, it's about protecting your independence for decades to come
    • What you can start doing right now: training, protein, vitamin D, and screening
    • Why I recently started an estrogen patch, and how bone health factored into that decision

    This isn't about fear. It's about knowing what's happening in your body so you can do something about it before you're the one getting the diagnosis.

    In a couple weeks, I'm sitting down with the founder of DexaPlus and dexascan.com to go even deeper on screening tools and what they mean for women in perimenopause and menopause. And I'll be getting my own DEXA scan on 9/16, so stay tuned, I'm bringing you along for that too.

    Inspire Fitness is strength training designed specifically for women in perimenopause and menopause. If this episode resonated, share it with a woman who needs to hear it.

    Ready to start building the strength that protects your bones for the long haul? Join the Fall Back to Fitness Bootcamp: https://inspirehw.com/fall-back-to-fitness

    Shop Legion Supplements with promo code Inspire here: https://legionathletics.rfrl.co/zwo48

    *This episode is for educational purposes only and isn't medical advice. Bone health, hormone therapy, and screening decisions are personal and should be made with your own doctor, based on your own history and risk factors. Please talk to your provider before making any changes.

    Join us in the Inspire Fitness program: Use the link here: https://inspirehw.com/

    Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit.nutritionist?igsh=MTJqZXhjODR2ZzduaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

    Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Casey.Young.RD.CPT?mibextid=LQQJ4d

    32 min
  11. 3 Things My Most Successful Clients Never Skip

    Season 2, Episode 245

    Show notes

    You want to be consistent. So you download the app, save the workout plan, and try to overhaul everything at once, meals, movement, sleep, water, all of it, starting Monday. By week two, it's gone. You're back to square one, wondering why other women seem to make this look so easy.

    Here's the truth: the women who are the most successful stay consistent longest - and they didn't fix everything at once. They didn't rely on willpower. They built their consistency around three specific, non-negotiable things, and nothing more.

    In this episode, Casey shares what happened when she asked her own community their top three non-negotiables, and the pattern that showed up again and again across dozens of answers.

    You'll learn:

    • Why "consistency over perfection" isn't just a saying, it's an actual strategy real women use on their hardest days
    • The exact number of lifts per week that came up again and again as the real minimum that works
    • Why specific numbers (protein grams, water ounces) stick where vague goals fail
    • The scheduling trick that removes the daily decision of whether to work out
    • What actually separates consistent women from women who quit after one missed workout
    • How to build your own three non-negotiables, starting today

    You don't need ten new habits. You need three you never skip, and permission to not be perfect on the days you do.

    If you are ready to join a community of women who share in these core values- we welcome you to join us in Inspire Fitness. The Fall Back to Fitness Bootcamp is starting August 31, and you can register here: https://inspirehw.com/fall-back-to-fitness

    Join us in the Inspire Fitness program: Use the link here: https://inspirehw.com/

    Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit.nutritionist?igsh=MTJqZXhjODR2ZzduaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

    Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Casey.Young.RD.CPT?mibextid=LQQJ4d

    17 min
  12. Progressive Overload Isn't Optional After 40 (Here's Why Your Workouts Stalled)

    Season 2, Episode 244

    Show notes

    If your workouts are exactly the same as they were six months ago, that's probably exactly why your results have stalled. In this episode, Casey breaks down progressive overload in plain terms, the tool she uses to actually teach it to her clients (RPE, or rate of perceived exertion), and why so many women unknowingly train the same way for months or years without ever building in real progression.

    In this episode, you'll learn:

    • What progressive overload actually means
    • Why RPE (rate of perceived exertion) is the key to knowing if you're truly progressing
    • The most common reasons progression gets skipped, especially after 40
    • Why a harder day and fewer reps at the same RPE isn't failure, it's your body doing exactly what it's supposed to
    • Why muscle and bone density make this non-negotiable at this stage of life
    • How Fall Back to Fitness builds progression into every single week, so you never have to guess

    Inspire Fitness with Casey Young is strength training and nutrition coaching built specifically for women in perimenopause and menopause. Casey is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Personal Trainer who helps women build strength, confidence, and sustainable habits without the guesswork.

    Details will be dropping soon for the Fall Back to Fitness Bootcamp. Click here for details: https://inspirehw.com/

    Join us in the Inspire Fitness program: Use the link here: https://inspirehw.com/

    Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit.nutritionist?igsh=MTJqZXhjODR2ZzduaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

    Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Casey.Young.RD.CPT?mibextid=LQQJ4d

    24 min
  13. Your Zucchini Isn't the Fiber Hero You Think It Is

    Season 2, Episode 243

    Show notes

    Your neighbor just dropped another bag of zucchini on your porch, and somewhere between the stuffed boats and the noodle spirals, you started telling yourself you were finally getting your fiber handled. You've been doing the right things, eating the vegetables, filling the plate. And yet the bloating hasn't budged, the energy crashes are still showing up mid-afternoon, and you can't quite figure out why.

    Here's the truth almost nobody tells you: most late summer garden vegetables, the zucchini, the cucumber, the tomatoes, are actually pretty low in fiber. This isn't a willpower problem or a "you're not trying hard enough" problem. It's an information problem, and once you know which foods are actually doing the work, everything gets easier.

    In this episode, I walk through what fiber really does for your body in this season of life, which vegetables are pulling their weight and which ones aren't, and exactly what to add to your plate so your garden overflow finally earns its keep.

    You'll learn:

    • Why fiber becomes more important, not less, during perimenopause and menopause
    • The real fiber counts hiding in your favorite summer vegetables, and why the numbers might surprise you
    • The difference between soluble, insoluble, and prebiotic fiber, and why your body needs all three
    • A simple way to pair your zucchini overload with real fiber sources, no recipe overhaul required

    The top ten highest fiber foods worth building meals around

    • Navy beans, cooked, 1 cup: 19g
    • Split peas, cooked, 1 cup: 16g
    • Lentils, cooked, 1 cup: 15.5g
    • Black beans, cooked, 1 cup: 15g
    • Chia seeds, 1 oz (about 2 tablespoons): 10g
    • Artichoke, 1 medium: 10g
    • Avocado, 1 whole: 10g
    • Green peas, cooked, 1 cup: 9g
    • Raspberries, 1 cup: 8g
    • Brussels sprouts, cooked, 1 cup: 6g

    This isn't about eating perfectly. It's about finally understanding what's actually on your plate, so you can stop guessing and start feeling like the effort you're putting in is going somewhere.

    Shop Legion Supplements: https://legionathletics.rfrl.co/zwo48 - use promo code Inspire to get 10% cash back on each order.

    Join us in the Inspire Fitness program: Use the link here: https://inspirehw.com/

    Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit.nutritionist?igsh=MTJqZXhjODR2ZzduaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

    Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Casey.Young.RD.CPT?mibextid=LQQJ4d

    17 min
  14. "Watch Me": What Happened When a Stranger Told Me I Couldn't Lift It

    Season 2, Episode 242

    Show notes

    A stranger told me, to my face, that I wasn't going to be able to lift it. I didn't get the chance to prove him wrong in the moment, but the story stuck with me for a completely different reason than you'd expect. In this episode I'm telling you exactly what happened on a bike path on Mackinac Island, and why my reaction says more about eight years of strength training than it does about that one moment.

    Then we get into the part that surprised me most: what's actually happening in your body right now, whether you lift or not, and why it matters so much more than the number on the scale.

    In this episode, you'll learn:

    • Why the average woman starts losing 3 to 5 percent of her muscle every decade after 30, and why most women never notice it happening
    • The reason your strength can decline even faster than your muscle, and how menopause pours gas on the whole thing
    • What resistance training actually protects, from your bone density to your balance to your ability to get up off the floor at 80
    • Why "keep going" matters just as much as "get started," and how progressive overload keeps your body adapting for the long haul
    • What to do next, whether you've never picked up a dumbbell or you're already lifting every week

    Whether you're just starting or you're already in it, this one is about playing the long game. Not fitting into your jeans a little better today. Building a body that works with you for decades.

    If you're ready to start, the 14-Day Strength Reset is the easiest place to do it. Six workouts, 20 minutes each, all from home, all you need is a set of dumbbells. Comment "reset" on the episode post and I'll send you the link. Just $14 to get started.

    At Inspire Fitness, I help women in perimenopause and menopause build real strength, real confidence, and a body that works with them, not against them. This isn't about willpower. It's about having the right information and the right support for this season of life.

    Join us in Inspire Nutrition: https://inspirehw.com/nutrition

    Legion Supplements: https://legionathletics.rfrl.co/zwo48 - use promo code "Inspire" for 10% cash back

    Join us in the Inspire Fitness program: Use the link here: https://inspirehw.com/

    Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit.nutritionist?igsh=MTJqZXhjODR2ZzduaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

    Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Casey.Young.RD.CPT?mibextid=LQQJ4d

    20 min
  15. 5 Things to Know Before Your Next Summer Drink

    Season 2, Episode 242

    Show notes

    You don't have to quit drinking to reach your goals this summer - but you do need to know what's actually happening in your body when you do, and what to do instead so it doesn't derail your progress.

    In this episode, we're talking honestly about alcohol, summer, and the social pressure that comes with it. Not from a place of judgment - from a place of finally understanding what's going on so you can make choices that actually feel good, before and after.

    You'll learn:

    • Why alcohol hits differently in perimenopause and menopause, and what it's doing to your blood sugar, sleep, and recovery
    • How one night out can quietly turn into a wasted week — and how to stop that spiral before it starts
    • Alcohol-free alternatives that feel like an actual treat, not a punishment
    • How to set real limits on frequency and amount — decided in advance, not in the moment
    • A simple, non-awkward way to navigate the social situations where alcohol is everywhere and expected

    This isn't about willpower. It's about walking into summer with a plan instead of hoping you'll figure it out in the moment.

    Inspire Fitness is strength training and nutrition coaching designed specifically for women in perimenopause and menopause. If this episode resonated, share it with a woman who needs to hear it doesn't have to be all or nothing.

    A note: this episode is about the everyday social drinking most of us do, not about alcohol use disorder. If your relationship with drinking feels heavier than "one glass turned into a rough week," you deserve real support, not a podcast episode. The SAMHSA National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) is free, confidential, and available anytime.

    Peak Cocktails: https://peakcocktails.com/caseyyoung - Use code: Inspire20 for 20% off your order. Blood Orange is my favorite flavor, but I like the variety packs so I have options.

    Join us in the Inspire Fitness program: Use the link here: https://inspirehw.com/

    Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit.nutritionist?igsh=MTJqZXhjODR2ZzduaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

    Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Casey.Young.RD.CPT?mibextid=LQQJ4d

    18 min
  16. The Certainty You're Waiting For Is Not Coming - And That's Actually Good News

    Season 2, Episode 241

    Show notes

    There's a decision you've been sitting on. Maybe it's starting a program. Maybe it's committing to tracking your food. Maybe it's finally investing in yourself after years of putting everyone else first. And you keep pushing it to Monday. To September. To when things calm down. To when you feel ready.

    Here's what I need to tell you: that moment of certainty is not coming. And that is actually the best news I can give you.

    In this episode, I'm sharing something more personal than I usually do. A story from my first year in business, a terrifying investment decision, and what happened when I moved before I felt ready. And then I'm connecting it directly to where you are right now, because the decision you've been postponing and the fear underneath it are more familiar to me than you might think.

    You'll hear:

    • The story of a decision I made in my first year of business that made absolutely no rational sense on paper, and what happened two months later that changed everything I believed was possible for me
    • Why the certainty you're waiting for before you start is not a prerequisite for success, it's the thing keeping you from finding out what you're capable of
    • What "there are no wrong directions" actually means, and why every attempt you've made, even the ones that didn't stick, was never wasted
    • What moving before you feel ready actually looks like in practice, for real women in real life with real schedules
    • The one belief that separates the women who change their lives from the women who stay exactly where they are
    • A mantra I borrowed from a mentor that I want you to steal: one sentence that reframes everything about how you approach this journey

    You don't need to feel ready. You need to move. You only find out what's possible on the other side of the decision you've been postponing.

    This is that episode.

    Inspire Fitness is strength training and nutrition coaching built specifically for women in perimenopause and menopause. If this episode gave you the push you needed, share it with a woman who's been waiting for the right moment. Tell her the moment is now.

    Join us in the Inspire Fitness program: Use the link here: https://inspirehw.com/

    Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit.nutritionist?igsh=MTJqZXhjODR2ZzduaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

    Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Casey.Young.RD.CPT?mibextid=LQQJ4d

    21 min
  17. 3 Things to Do Right Now If Summer Eating Has Quietly Gone Off the Rails

    Season 2, Episode 240

    Show notes

    It's mid-July. You started the summer with good intentions. And somewhere between the cookouts, the vacations, the late nights, and the "just this once" moments that have been stacking up since Memorial Day - your routine quietly dissolved.

    You're not tracking. You're not hitting your protein. You're eating whatever is fastest because the day got away from you again. And you've been saying "I'll reset after this weekend" for six weeks.

    This isn't a discipline problem. This is what happens when you spend an entire season with no structure and no plan. And today I'm giving you three specific steps to refocus before August arrives and the whole summer is gone.

    You'll learn:

    • Why mid-July is its own specific challenge - and why the "just this once" events that have been stacking since Memorial Day are not a moral failing, they're a predictable response to an unstructured season
    • Why avoiding the scale and the food log is quietly making everything worse - and what looking at the number actually does for your momentum
    • How to pick one anchor habit for the next two weeks that keeps you connected to your goals while summer swirls around you
    • Why the "what's for dinner" problem is the single most underestimated driver of off-rails eating in summer - and the exact fix
    • The 60-second AI trick I use to solve dinner before it becomes a crisis: the exact prompt to type into ChatGPT or Claude to get five high-protein, under-30-minute summer meals built around what you actually have in your kitchen
    • Why the women who arrive at Labor Day feeling strong are not the ones who were perfect all summer - they're the ones who noticed the slide in mid-July and did something about it

    It is not too late to salvage the second half of your summer. Not even a little bit.

    Three things. That's all this takes. Let's do it.

    AI Prompt: "I need dinner ideas for this week. I want meals that are under 30 minutes, high in protein, and light enough for summer because I don't want to stand over a hot stove. I have chicken, shrimp, and ground turkey in my freezer. I need options that work for a busy woman who might be coming in from outdoor activities and needs something fast. Can you give me five ideas with a quick description of each?"

    Join us in Inspire Nutrition! Use the link here and code JULY30 and save $30 instantly! https://inspirehw.com/nutrition

    Legion Supplements. Shop here with Code Inspire: https://legionathletics.rfrl.co/zwo48

    Join us in the Inspire Fitness program: Use the link here: https://inspirehw.com/

    Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit.nutritionist?igsh=MTJqZXhjODR2ZzduaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

    Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Casey.Young.RD.CPT?mibextid=LQQJ4d

    24 min
  18. 5 Things I'd Do Today to Recover From a Holiday Weekend (Before It Turns Into a Month Off)

    Season 2, Episode 239

    Show notes

    It's Tuesday morning. The fireworks are done, the cooler is empty, and somewhere between the cookout and the long weekend you lost your routine. The scale is up. You feel bloated and sluggish and like you undid everything you've been working toward.

    And the thought that keeps coming back is: I'll start fresh Monday. Or I'll start in Aug. Or September...

    Here's what I need you to hear before anything else: you did not undo your progress. You had a holiday weekend. Those are two completely different things. And "I'll start Monday" is the single most common way women lose weeks, and sometimes months, to a four-day holiday.

    In this episode, I'm giving you the exact reset protocol to get back on track today, and I'm talking about why the Monday reset pattern keeps so many women stuck in a cycle they can't seem to break.

    You'll learn:

    • Why the scale is up after a holiday weekend, and why it's almost certainly not what you think it is
    • The real reason "starting Monday" is working against you, and the pattern it reinforces every single time
    • Five specific things you can do today, right now, to re-anchor to your habits and send your brain the signal that you're back
    • Why eating light all day to "make up for" the weekend is setting you up for the same spiral all over again
    • How a 20-minute workout today is worth more than a perfect week that starts on Monday
    • Why the women who bounce back fastest after a disruption almost always do this one thing within 24 hours

    You are not starting over. You are continuing. There is a difference.

    The summer is still very much here. What you do today is what matters.

    Join us in the Inspire Fitness program: Use the link here: https://inspirehw.com/

    Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit.nutritionist?igsh=MTJqZXhjODR2ZzduaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

    Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Casey.Young.RD.CPT?mibextid=LQQJ4d

    22 min
  19. Zone 2 Cardio: The Cardio You Actually Need After 45 (And Exactly How to Do It)

    Season 2, Episode 238

    Show notes

    Last week I told you that cardio can't be your whole plan in midlife. This week I'm telling you exactly what the cardio piece should look like.

    If you missed last week's episode on why your body stopped responding to cardio in perimenopause, go back and listen - the link is in the show notes. This episode picks up right where that one left off.

    The answer to "what cardio should I actually be doing" is simpler than you think. It's called Zone 2. And it is specifically, almost perfectly suited to the body you have right now.

    In this episode you'll learn:

    • What Zone 2 cardio actually is - and the simple talk test that tells you if you're in it
    • Why Zone 2 burns fat without spiking cortisol, and why that distinction is everything after 45
    • What counts as Zone 2 and what doesn't - including why your summer walks might already qualify
    • The exact weekly structure that combines Zone 2 with three strength sessions per week - with real time numbers, not vague advice
    • How long your Zone 2 sessions should be, how often, and whether to do them on the same day as strength training
    • Where HIIT fits in - and why it should be a condiment, not the main course

    Three strength sessions. Two to three Zone 2 sessions. That's your week. That's the framework that works with your hormones, protects your muscle, and burns fat efficiently - for the long term.

    Now you know exactly what it looks like.

    Ready to train with a program that has already put this all together for you?
    Find us at https://inspirehw.com/

    Shop Legion Supplements with promo code "Inspire": https://legionathletics.rfrl.co/zwo48

    Last week's episode: Why Cardio Isn't Enough Anymore

    Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inspire-fitness/id1731207251?i=1000773856308

    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7xTCQfbWNJVa1sOb1OSvG1?si=bo3ILdl1SDaMWSpJR5qzSA

    Join us in the Inspire Fitness program: Use the link here: https://inspirehw.com/

    Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit.nutritionist?igsh=MTJqZXhjODR2ZzduaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

    Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Casey.Young.RD.CPT?mibextid=LQQJ4d

    22 min
  20. Why Cardio Isn't Enough Anymore - What Women 45+ Actually Need

    Season 2, Episode 237

    Show notes

    You've been showing up. Walking, running, spinning, moving. You're sweating consistently - and your body has stopped responding the way it used to.

    Here's what most women don't realize: it's not a discipline problem. It's a hormone problem. And the solution isn't more cardio. It's a completely different approach.

    In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly why cardio stops working as a fat loss strategy in perimenopause - and what to do instead.

    You'll learn:

    • What estrogen decline actually does to your muscle mass and metabolism - and why it changes everything about how you should be training
    • What strength training does for your hormones, your metabolism, your bone density, and your body composition that cardio simply cannot
    • What a realistic, effective strength-focused week actually looks like - without spending an hour in the gym
    • The difference between maintaining and actually progressing -and why it matters more than most women realize
    • Why the women who feel genuinely different by the end of summer are almost never the ones who ran more miles

    Cardio is not the enemy. But if it's been your whole plan, now you know why it hasn't been enough.

    Your body isn't failing you. It's asking for something different. In today's episode, we talk about what that is.

    Join us in Inspire Fitness- use promo code SUMMER20 to Save $20 on your first month: https://inspirehw.com/inspire-fitness

    Join us in the Inspire Fitness program: Use the link here: https://inspirehw.com/

    Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit.nutritionist?igsh=MTJqZXhjODR2ZzduaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

    Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Casey.Young.RD.CPT?mibextid=LQQJ4d

    21 min