#446 Dr Lauren Colenso-Semple - Wellness Peptides and Differences Between Men’s and Women’s Training

#446 Dr Lauren Colenso-Semple - Wellness Peptides and Differences Between Men’s and Women’s Training

Author: Andrew Coates February 24, 2026 Duration: 1:13:00

Dr Lauren Colenso-Semple is back to tackle a series of current trends, narratives, and pseudoscientific claims in fitness and wellness, including:

-Is there any quality human research on “wellness peptides”

-What are wellness peptides

-Why are they becoming more popular

-Is there any evidence to suggest that muscle building is any different for women than men

-Is there any evidence that birth control affects muscle growth

-Is there any difference in protein timing needs for muscle growth in women

-Are there notable differences in muscle fibre type between men and women

-Is there any association between testosterone levels and lean mass and strength in women

-Does menopause accelerate muscle loss

-Is creatine as potent as it’s currently hyped

-Is there any evidence to support cycle syncing

-Why is messaging around unique physiological differences so appealing to women

-Why are some fitness and wellness “professionals” incentivized to brand around differences in men’s and women’s training physiology

-Are there differences in injury risks across the phases of menstrual cycles

-Do vibration plates have any benefits

-Is calling out female creators for spreading misinformation by other women “mean girl behaviour”

-And much more


IG: @drlaurencs1


CHAPTERS


01:00 What Are Wellness Peptides and Why They’re Trending

02:00 How Peptides Work in the Body

03:00 Drug Development and Approval Process

04:00 Unapproved Peptides in the Wellness Market

07:00 Biological Risks and Tumor Concerns

08:00 Limited Human Data and Research Quality

09:00 Placebo Effects and Pain Resolution

10:00 Drug Approval vs Evidence Reality

11:00 Placebo Surgery Example and Mind-Body Effects

12:00 The “Wild West” of Peptide Research

13:00 Manufacturing and Dosing Risks

14:00 Why Peptides Became Popular

15:00 Normalization of Injectables and “Natural” Marketing

20:00 Branding Differences Between Approved Drugs and Peptides

24:00 Historical Drug Regulation Context

25:00 Are Muscle Gains Different Between Men and Women?

26:00 Molecular and Physiological Similarities Between Sexes

27:00 Muscle Fiber Type Complexity

30:00 Genetics vs Training Adaptation

33:00 Athlete Caliber vs Sex Differences

37:00 Creatine Performance Effects

38:00 Creatine and Clinical Populations

39:00 High Dose Creatine Considerations

42:00 Testosterone Myths and Hypertrophy

43:00 Menopause and Muscle Loss

45:00 Measuring Testosterone and Lab Variability

46:00 PCOS and Testosterone Levels

47:00 Research Gaps in PCOS and Performance

48:00 Menstrual Cycle Strength Research Discussion

51:00 Why Cycle Syncing Messaging Is Appealing

52:00 Marketing Incentives and Female Targeting

53:00 Diet Culture Parallel and Behavior Change

54:00 Individualization vs Simple Prescriptions

55:00 Age vs Training Factors That Actually Matter

58:00 Vibration Plates — Claims vs Evidence

59:00 Exercise vs Passive Modalities

01:01:00 Injury Risk Across Menstrual Cycle Phases


SUPPORT THE SHOW


If this episode helped you cut through confusion in fitness and wellness claims, you can support the show by:


• Subscribing and checking out more episodes

• Sharing it on your social media (tag me — I’ll respond)

• Sending it to a friend who’s overwhelmed by conflicting advice


FOLLOW ANDREW COATES


Instagram: @andrewcoatesfitness

https://www.andrewcoatesfitness.com


PARTNERS AND RESOURCES


RP Strength App (use code COATESRP)

https://www.rpstrength.com/coates


Just Bite Me Meals (use code ANDREWCOATESFITNESS for 10% off)

https://justbitememeals.com


MacrosFirst – FREE Premium Trial

Download MacrosFirst and during setup you’ll be asked “How did you hear about us?”

Type in: ANDREW


KNKG Bags (15% off)

https://www.knkg.com/Andrew59676


Versa Gripps (discount link)

https://www.versagripps.com/andrewcoates


TRAINHEROIC – FREE 90-Day TRIAL (2 steps)

Go to https://www.trainheroic.com/liftfree


Reply to the email you receive (or email trials@trainheroic.com

) and let them know Andrew sent you


Andrew Coates hosts Lift Free And Diet Hard, a conversation grounded in the belief that strength and wellness are built on more than just routines. This podcast moves beyond quick fixes to examine the principles and personal stories that shape a sustainable, intentional life. You’ll hear from a variety of inspiring guests who share not only their expertise but also the real-world challenges and triumphs they’ve faced. The discussions naturally weave together the science of fitness with the practicalities of daily choices, offering a nuanced look at what it means to truly care for your physical and mental health. Each episode is designed to provide actionable insights you can use to navigate your own path, fostering resilience and confidence whether you're in the gym or the kitchen. By focusing on informed decision-making over dogma, the Lift Free And Diet Hard podcast becomes a resource for anyone looking to cut through the noise of wellness culture. Andrew facilitates these explorations with a focus on empowerment, ensuring every conversation adds a layer of understanding to the complex journey of building a strong, healthy life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Lift Free And Diet Hard with Andrew Coates
Podcast Episodes
#452 Elizabeth Davies - Training For Your Old Lady Body [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:29
Elizabeth Davies is the author of Training For Your Old Lady Body and famous for the quote:“Training for my summer body? Fuck no. I’m training for my old lady body. Dense bones, strong muscles, a healthy heart, good bala…
#451 Sheridan Skye - Is Resistance Training Safe During Pregnancy? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:45
Sheridan Skye is a pre-and postnatal coaching specialist and educator and joins me to share her expertise about:Is resistance training safe for pregnant womenDo mom and baby have better outcomes when the mother works out…
#449 Gareth Sapstead - How To Transform Your Physique and Your Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:58
Gareth Sapstead, my long time T-Nation writing peer joins me to talk about his new book (which I contributed to) and share wisdom and experience about:-Where to start if you look in the mirror and you’re not happy with w…
#445 Susan Niebergall - Strong Instead of Skinny [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:41
Susan Niebergall - author and one of the most visible female fitness authorities in the industry - returns to share her wisdom on aging, strength, recovery, metabolism, and redefining what women should strive for physica…
#444 Nick Shaw - Where “Science Based Lifting” Went Wrong [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:39
Nick Shaw — CEO of RP Strength, author, and IFBB Pro Bodybuilder — returns to the show to discuss how the “science-based lifting” space evolved from education into competing ideologies.In this episode, Nick and Andrew br…