Ep 98: Is fasted cardio more effective? | Some thoughts on male coaches who work primarily with women

Ep 98: Is fasted cardio more effective? | Some thoughts on male coaches who work primarily with women

Author: Ashleigh VanHouten & Rachel Gregory | Fitness, Strength Training, Wellness March 25, 2025 Duration: 44:42

In this episode, Ashleigh and Rachel answer questions about fasted cardio and their thoughts on male coaches who focus on female clients looking to grow their glutes (there are a lot of them!) 

  • Is there evidence that fasted cardio first thing in the morning burns more fat than fed cardio?
  • What's the balance with cardio that optimizes fat loss without adding negatively to your overall stress load, increasing hunger, etc?
  • And the ladies do their best to convince listeners that more/harder cardio is NOT necessarily a faster and more effective way to burn fat.

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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/ 


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 113: Are you being insane? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:29
In this brand-new episode, Ashleigh and Rachel share big life and fitness updates; they give their unfiltered answer to a listener question who wonders if she's being insane about her body recomp goals; they share how to…
Ep 112: 10 Mistakes Women Make When Trying To Build Muscle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:57
In this solo episode (a re-release of a popular episode from Rachel's other podcast, MetFlex and Chill) Rachel talks about the mistakes women make when trying to build muscle. We hope you find this episode helpful; if yo…
Healthy Aging Series: Mental Health [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:22
In this episode of the Healthy Aging Series, Ashleigh and Beth discuss mental health: how it impacts physical health and vice versa; how it changes through the decades; how our hormonal changes impact mental health; how…
Ep 110: Weighted vests and CrossFit support groups [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:54
In this solo episode, Ashleigh weighs in on whether or not weighted vests are worth it; she talks about starting a CrossFit support group for folks trying to leave, and answers a question from the podcasts #5 male listen…
Ep 108: What is a maintenance phase and how does it work? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:46
In this episode the ladies talk about "maintenance," - what does it mean, how do you get to maintenance, how do you stay there, how long do you stay there, why is maintenance a good thing and when is it hindering your go…
Ep 107: How grief impacts health [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:11
In this vulnerable episode, Rachel and Ashleigh talk about the intersection of grief and health - it's a topic that we'll all deal with at some point, but isn't often discussed. Behavioural and lifestyle changes can dram…
Ep 106: All about pelvic health [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:45
This episode is a deep dive into pelvic health, an incredibly important aspect of overall health, function, and quality of life for women that many of us don't know enough about (and aren't taught). In this episode, Ashl…
Healthy Aging Series: Motherhood [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:14
This week is another episode of the Healthy Aging Series, and this time Ashleigh and Beth are diving into motherhood, a deeply personal and lifechanging event. They discuss the ways motherhood changed them (and the ways…
Ep 104: Limiting factors in training | How to avoid being skinny-fat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:10
In this episode, Ashleigh answers listener questions about: -how to work around "limiting factors" like grip strength and weaker muscles when trying to challenge the lower body -can you heal and "tighten" fascia in your…