Women’s Fitness Expert: What You NEED To Know About Dieting & Exercise | Dr. Stephanie Estima
- Jun 29, 2026
- 1:35:08
- Full Episode
Women's Health Expert Dr Stephanie Estima reveals the 6 fitness myths keeping you weak, why skinny is the wrong goal, and the 5 muscle groups every woman should be building!
Dr. Stephanie Estima is a Doctor of Chiropractic and women's health expert with over 20 years of clinical practice specialising in female physiology, hormones, and metabolism. She hosts the podcast Better With Dr Stephanie and is the author of ‘The Betty Body’ and the upcoming book, ‘Nothing to Lose: A Clinicians Guide to What Comes After Skinny: Building Strength, Shape, and a Body You Can Trust.’
She explains: ◼ The 4 types of women sabotaging their own health, and which one is you ◼ Why lifting weights won't make you bulky, and what actually changes your body ◼ How long fasts are quietly damaging your hormones and what to do instead ◼ Why the way you squat might be wrong for your anatomy ◼ The supplements every woman should take and what they actually do for you
00:00:00 Intro 00:02:50 Why Women Are Still Given Bad Health Advice 00:04:46 Is Being Skinny Actually Healthy? 00:06:02 How Stephanie's Experience Changed Her Approach 00:07:02 Stephanie's Personal Battle With Body Image 00:09:39 What You'll Take Away From This Conversation 00:10:41 The 4 Female Health Archetypes Explained 00:11:11 Are You Overwhelmed Olivia? 00:12:53 Are You Skinny Fat Sophie? 00:14:17 How To Reduce Belly Fat Effectively 00:16:28 Are You Exorcist Emily? 00:17:51 Are You Dialled-In Diana? 00:20:07 Are Carbs Really Bad? And Is Keto Worth It? 00:22:25 Signs Your Thyroid May Not Be Working Properly 00:24:47 Will Lifting Weights Make You Bulky? 00:26:49 Is Fasting Safe For Women? 00:29:17 What If You're Scared To Lift Heavy Weights? 00:30:41 Does Post-Workout Meal Timing Really Matter? 00:31:24 Should You Eat Before A Workout? 00:32:08 Can Ketones Improve Your Workout? 00:33:10 Which Muscles Should Women Prioritise? 00:36:05 How To Train For An Hourglass Figure 00:37:52 The Key Differences Between Male And Female Anatomy 00:42:16 Why Women Should Squat Differently Than Men 00:45:01 How Strength Training Can Help Prevent Falls 00:47:02 Ads 00:49:01 Which Supplements Are Actually Worth Taking? 00:52:08 Should Women Take Creatine? 00:52:46 A Creatine Hack For Perimenopause 00:53:51 Does Collagen Actually Work? 00:56:23 Are Protein Shakes Worth It? 00:56:37 Where Cardio Fits Into A Strength Plan 00:57:26 Are Cortisol Spikes Really A Problem? 00:59:01 Is Cardio Helpful For Women With PCOS? 01:00:40 Don't Stop Doing These Exercises As You Age 01:00:58 Why Sprinting Is So Good For Women 01:04:35 Is Running Bad For Your Knees? 01:05:26 Why Jump Training Matters 01:05:43 The Benefits Of Isometric Holds 01:06:59 Why Deceleration Is Essential For Mobility 01:07:57 The Most Underrated No-Equipment Exercise 01:12:55 The Best Bodyweight Exercises To Add To Your Routine 01:13:23 Ads 01:15:31 The Biggest Fitness Challenges Mothers Face 01:16:11 What Every Woman Should Know About The Pelvic Floor 01:19:30 What Women Aren't Saying Out Loud About Sex 01:21:42 GLP-1s And HRT: What Women Should Know 01:23:02 The Recovery Habits Women Should Prioritise 01:24:24 The Missing Piece Of Fitness Most Women Overlook 01:25:52 Is Pilates Alone Enough? 01:27:29 Stephanie's Skincare Routine 01:28:02 Nearly 50 And Feeling Better Than Ever 01:29:12 Do You Believe In God? 01:29:45 What Does A Successful Life Look Like? 01:30:57 Where To Find Stephanie
Follow Dr Stephanie: YouTube - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/rYfoNE Podcast - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/6jpMJFM Newsletter - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/8RH73AS Instagram - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/AEFoO6V
You can find out more about ‘Get LIFT: The training program for women in midlife’, here: https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/fCH9zk
You can pre-order Stephanie’s book, ‘Nothing to Lose: A Clinicians Guide to What Comes After Skinny: Building Strength, Shape, and a Body You Can Trust’, here: https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/Bsldjir
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Brief Summary
Dr. Stephanie Estima discusses women's health, fitness myths, and strategies for building strength and a positive body image.
Key points
- The Pursuit of Skinny. Exploring the dangers of focusing on weight loss over health and strength.
- Understanding Fitness Archetypes. Identifying different types of women in their fitness journeys to help them succeed.
- Debunking Myths About Carbs. A discussion on the misconceptions surrounding carbohydrates and women's health, highlighting the importance of a balanced diet.
- Women and Weightlifting. Addressing fears of bulking up, the speaker reassures that most women won't gain excessive muscle mass from weight training.
- Building an Hourglass Figure. The speaker outlines key muscle groups for women to focus on to achieve a desired body shape.
- The Importance of Deceleration. Deceleration training is crucial for everyone, not just athletes, to prevent injuries.
Episode highlights
- The Pursuit of SkinnyExploring the dangers of focusing on weight loss over health and strength.“The pursuit of skinny is a bad thing with devastating consequences.”0:51Jun 29, 2026
- Understanding Fitness ArchetypesIdentifying different types of women in their fitness journeys to help them succeed.“Skinny fat Sophia is my favorite woman because when we start giving her a little bit more food...”12:56Jun 29, 2026
- Debunking Myths About CarbsA discussion on the misconceptions surrounding carbohydrates and women's health, highlighting the importance of a balanced diet.“We have to heal our relationship with carbohydrates.”20:23Jun 29, 2026
- Women and WeightliftingAddressing fears of bulking up, the speaker reassures that most women won't gain excessive muscle mass from weight training.“Bulking up, it's not a thing.”26:16Jun 29, 2026
- Building an Hourglass FigureThe speaker outlines key muscle groups for women to focus on to achieve a desired body shape.“You can't spot reduce, but you can definitely spot build.”35:03Jun 29, 2026
- The Importance of DecelerationDeceleration training is crucial for everyone, not just athletes, to prevent injuries.“You need to be able to clear the floor.”46:24Jun 29, 2026
- The Importance of CollagenCollagen is essential for joints, tendons, and ligaments, not just muscle. "Collagen is just like muscle..."53:58Jun 29, 2026
- Cortisol and TrainingCortisol spikes during training are normal and necessary for performance. "Without cortisol you won't wake up in the morning."58:01Jun 29, 2026





