Episode: 13
Women’s Energy: Hormones, Strength, and Feeling Like Yourself Again
With Layne Beachley, Tess Brouwer and Dr Stacy Sims
Listen on:
How do you stop fighting your body and start working with it?
In this powerful and practical episode, Tess and Layne welcome world leading exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist Dr Stacy Sims into the studio to unpack the science women were never taught about their own bodies.
Layne shares the real experience that so many women quietly go through: feeling flat, foggy, tired, and not quite like herself, while still trying to keep life moving. Tess opens up about what it is like to watch someone you love struggle and not know what to do, until the right information finally lands and everything starts to make sense.
Dr Sims breaks down the most important truth in women’s health science: women are not small men. She explains how female physiology responds differently to stress, training, fuelling, sleep disruption, and hormonal change, and why so many popular wellness trends can backfire for women, especially in perimenopause and menopause.
Together, they translate the science into everyday language, with tools you can actually use. You will learn how to build energy without burning out, how to train for strength not depletion, and how to fuel in a way that supports your hormones, brain, and long term health.
If you have ever thought, “Why is my body not responding the way it used to?” or “Why am I doing all the right things but still feel off?” this conversation will feel like a guide, a relief, and a reset.
You’ll learn:
- Why women respond differently to training, fasting, and stress, and what that means for your energy
- The role of hormones in mood, brain fog, sleep, body composition, and resilience
- Why under fuelling and skipping breakfast can disrupt women’s physiology, especially as hormones shift
- The difference between sprint interval training and high intensity training, and which one better supports women
- How strength training supports metabolism, bone density, confidence, and longevity
- What supplements and nutritional supports can help, including protein, creatine, magnesium, and smart fuelling habits
- How partners, families, and workplaces can better support women through hormonal transitions
5 Key takeaways
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Women are not small men, and your body is not failing Dr Sims explains that much of mainstream health advice was built on male physiology. When women follow those rules and feel worse, it is not because they lack discipline. It is because the strategy does not match their biology.
- Under fuelling is one of the fastest ways to crash your energy If you are skipping meals, restricting carbs, or “being good” with food, your body may interpret it as stress. That can show up as fatigue, brain fog, disrupted sleep, cravings, mood swings, and a stalled metabolism.
- The goal is strength and stability, not punishment This episode reframes exercise from burning calories to building capacity. Strength training is a hormone supportive tool for women, especially as they move through perimenopause and menopause. It supports muscle, bone, metabolism, and confidence.
- The wrong kind of intensity can work against women Dr Sims breaks down the difference between constant high intensity sessions and sprint style training. The key message: more intensity is not always better. The right intensity, done the right way, protects hormones and improves results.
- Perimenopause and menopause are not the beginning of decline With the right education, this stage can be a powerful upgrade. Dr Sims shares how women can feel stronger, clearer, and more energised by adjusting training, fuelling, and recovery to match the body they are living in now.
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Disclaimer
The A Wake Up Call podcast is created for general informational, educational, and inspirational purposes only. The stories, tools, and insights shared are designed to support your wellbeing journey - not to replace professional medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice. In fact, we believe therapy is non-negotiable in life.
If you’re experiencing a medical or mental health condition, please seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Never ignore or delay seeking professional advice because of something you’ve heard on this podcast.
Your wellbeing matters. Take care of yourself, stay curious, and remember the real wake-up call is listening to what your body and mind are trying to tell you.
