Ep 101: Training for symmetry | Are kettlebells good for muscle building?

Ep 101: Training for symmetry | Are kettlebells good for muscle building?

Author: Ashleigh VanHouten & Rachel Gregory | Fitness, Strength Training, Wellness April 29, 2025 Duration: 52:25

In this week's episode Ashleigh and Rachel answer questions from listeners about:

  • How to best train for symmetry, regarding both strength and esthetics: how do you minimize asymetry and strengthen weak muscles/limbs?
  • Are kettlebells a good tool for strength and hypertrophy? If yes, what exercises do they recommend and if no, why not?
  • Answer questions about progress when training naturally, or drug-free, vs. enhanced

And much more! If you have questions, comments, or topic ideas for an upcoming show, send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Our show sponsor, Cozy Earth—has a HUGE Mother's Day BOGO deal for you! 

The ladies have personally tested their Bamboo Sheet Set and Bamboo Pajamas and are huge fans - and it's risk-free: Take 100 nights to decide with their sleep trial. AND every Cozy Earth bedding product comes with a 10-year warranty! Visit CozyEarth.com and use the exclusive code MSW for 40% off best-selling sheets, towels, pajamas, and more. And if you use the code MSWBOGO from May 2-4, when you purchase one set of bamboo pajamas you'll get a second set FREE! Treat yourself and a special mom in your life.

Don't forget, we offer program discounts to first responders, military, and medical personnel. Send us an email for the code. And if you have any questions for the pod, comments or funny stories, send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Sign up for our new Strong & Sculpted Shoulders workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders 

Or check out the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes  

Learn about our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com  

Learn more about Ashleigh and Rachel at their websites: https://ashleighvanhouten.com/ and https://www.rgfit.com/ 

 

·      00:00 - 01:12 | Intro + Life Update

·      11:18 - 12:32 | Training for Symmetry

·      12:33 - 14:58 | Muscle Imbalance Tips

·      16:01 - 17:40 | Listener Q: are kettlebells good for strength and muscle growth?

·      25:21 - 28:00 | Bodyweight Training Realities

·      28:01 - 30:00 | Budget Diet Advice

·      30:01 - 31:30 | Supplements - which ones do you need and which ones can you skip

·      33:11 - 36:00 | Natural vs Enhanced Bodybuilding

·      50:01 - 52:00 | Nutrition's Role in Progress

·      52:01 - 54:24 | Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up


Ashleigh VanHouten and Rachel Gregory, the co-creators behind the Muscle Science for Women training program, bring their combined expertise as a health coach and a nutritionist-strength specialist into a regular, down-to-earth conversation. This isn't about generic fitness advice; it's a deep, practical look at how women can build strength and wellness on their own terms. Each episode feels like pulling up a chair with two knowledgeable friends who genuinely understand the specific physiological and cultural landscape women navigate in gyms and kitchens. They tackle the real questions-from optimizing nutrition for energy and recovery to designing effective training sessions and critically examining fitness trends. The dialogue is always rooted in science but delivered without jargon, making complex topics like metabolism, hormonal influences, and sustainable habit change both accessible and actionable. Tuning into this podcast offers a reliable source of clarity amidst the noise, transforming the principles of muscle science into a personalized roadmap for anyone looking to feel stronger and more confident. You'll hear honest discussions that blend evidence with experience, all aimed at empowering your individual health journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Muscle Science for Women
Podcast Episodes
Ep 133: Are you self-sabotaging your own goals (and happiness)? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:41
In this episode Rachel and Ashleigh answer questions about how sleep can impact meal timing, how to properly breathe during exercise (especially for those of you who always feel like you're breathing out when everyone el…
Ep 132: Heal your gut with Hannah Aylward [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:58
In this episode Ashleigh speaks with Hannah Aylward, a Certified Holistic Health Coach, Gut Health Expert + Mindfulness Advocate, to help breakdown: The major gut health issues we may be dealing with How to get to the ro…
Ep 131: How to train NOW to be strong at 80 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:26
In this episode, hosts Ashleigh and Rachel discuss what we need to be doing now to live the life we want when we're older, including discussing some key markers of longevity, the things they want to be able to do when th…
Ep 130: Influencer red flags | act like a baby - for your health [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:52
In this solo episode, Ashleigh offers some food for thought on how to handle the onslaught of health information we are exposed to on a daily basis, and how to determine whether or not the "online influencer" you're watc…
Ep 129: Super disciplined, or just not resilient? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:34
In this episode, hosts Ashleigh and Rachel give updates on their Dopamine Reset Challenge, continue to explore the impact of AI, talk about the latest negative fitness trend on social media, and confirm the importance of…
Ep 128: Does more control = more freedom? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:15
In this episode, Ashleigh and Rachel explore practical strategies for optimizing routines, managing dopamine, and choosing the right support systems to enhance overall well-being. They delve into the importance of flexib…
Ep 126: Is your favorite workout overrated? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:01
In this short solo episode, Ashleigh offers a free Substack subscription if you review the pod; she answers a listener question about whether or not it's normal to make gains and feel BETTER during pregnancy, and she rat…
Ep 125: Is your Type-A approach helping or hurting you? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:28
In this episode, the ladies discuss where they were in 2016, they both touch on some recent injuries and how they're dealing with them, and they talk about how having a Type A personality can be a blessing and a curse -…
Ep 124: Is AI going to take over coaching (and our brains)? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:31
In this episode, Ashleigh offers updates on her month-long Costa Rica residency, the ladies discuss more dopamine management, and they dive deep into AI as it relates to the current state (and future) of health coaching,…