Exposing the Truth: Fasted Workouts, Lifting Heavy, Protein Timing, HRT, Cortisol, & More: Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple
Optimal Protein Podcast with Vanessa Spina
Release Date: 05/05/2025
Optimal Protein Podcast with Vanessa Spina
IQBAR is offering our special podcast listeners 20% OFF all IQBAR products, plus get FREE shipping. To get your 20% off, text VANESSA to 64000. That’s VANESSA to sixty-four thousand. Message and data rates may apply. See terms for details. Jump to start of the episode: 13:30 In this Friday solo episode, Vanessa Spina breaks down the first half of her latest interview with Dr. Donald Layman — legendary protein researcher and one of the most featured guests in the history of the Optimal Protein Podcast. They cover game-changing updates to U.S. dietary guidelines, red meat’s misunderstood...
info_outlineOptimal Protein Podcast with Vanessa Spina
Unlock sharper focus and support long-term brain health with Ketone-IQ—clean brain fuel for deep work, mental clarity, and sustained energy with no crash. Get 30% off your subscription, plus a free gift with your second shipment at Ketone.com/vanessa. This week on the Optimal Protein Podcast, I’m thrilled to be joined once again by Dr. Don Layman, one of the world’s foremost experts in protein metabolism and amino acid science. In this first part of our two-part conversation, we take a deep dive into the true definition of protein quality, the flaws of current scoring systems, and the...
info_outlineOptimal Protein Podcast with Vanessa Spina
IQBAR is offering our special podcast listeners 20% OFF all IQBAR products, plus get FREE shipping. To get your 20% off, text VANESSA to 64000. That’s VANESSA to sixty-four thousand. Message and data rates may apply. See terms for details. In this solocast episode, Vanessa shares a detailed recap of her interview with Dr. Eduardo de Souza, associate professor at the University of Tampa and one of the world’s leading researchers in body recomposition and exercise science. This episode is a masterclass on building muscle and losing fat at the same time—even for trained individuals. ➡️...
info_outlineOptimal Protein Podcast with Vanessa Spina
Unlock sharper focus and support long-term brain health with Ketone-IQ—clean brain fuel for deep work, mental clarity, and sustained energy with no crash. Get 30% off your subscription, plus a free gift with your second shipment at . In this powerhouse episode, Dr. Eduardo de Souza breaks down the real science of body recomposition—how to lose fat and build muscle simultaneously, even for advanced lifters. He shares the key strategies proven to work: optimal training volume, smart calorie deficits, high protein intake, and the underrated role of sleep. If you’ve hit a plateau or want to...
info_outlineOptimal Protein Podcast with Vanessa Spina
IQBAR is offering our special podcast listeners 20% OFF all IQBAR products, plus get FREE shipping. To get your 20% off, text VANESSA to 64000. That’s VANESSA to sixty-four thousand. Message and data rates may apply. See terms for details. In this solo recap episode, Vanessa breaks down the top takeaways from her interview with one of the world’s leading experts in body composition and metabolism — Dr. Mike Ormsbee, Professor at Florida State University and Director of the Institute of Sports Sciences and Medicine. Dr. Ormsbee has published over 200 peer-reviewed papers and is...
info_outlineOptimal Protein Podcast with Vanessa Spina
Unlock sharper focus and support long-term brain health with Ketone-IQ—clean brain fuel for deep work, mental clarity, and sustained energy with no crash. Get 30% off your subscription, plus a free gift with your second shipment at . In this episode of the Optimal Protein Podcast, Vanessa Spina sits down with one of the world’s leading experts in sports nutrition and metabolism — Dr. Mike Ormsbee. With over 200 peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Ormsbee brings unmatched insight into how to optimize fat loss, preserve muscle, and transform your body composition through nutrition, protein...
info_outlineOptimal Protein Podcast with Vanessa Spina
IQBAR is offering our special podcast listeners 20% OFF all IQBAR products, plus get FREE shipping. To get your 20% off, text VANESSA to 64000. That’s VANESSA to sixty-four thousand. Message and data rates may apply. See terms for details. This powerful solo episode recaps the most jaw-dropping insights from Vanessa’s recent conversation with Dr. Arny Ferrando—one of the world’s leading experts on human muscle metabolism, amino acids, and aging. Vanessa breaks down how muscle protein synthesis actually works on a physiological level, the surprising role of blood flow in getting...
info_outlineOptimal Protein Podcast with Vanessa Spina
Unlock sharper focus and support long-term brain health with Ketone-IQ—clean brain fuel for deep work, mental clarity, and sustained energy with no crash. Get 30% off your subscription, plus a free gift with your second shipment at . In this powerhouse episode of the Optimal Protein Podcast, Vanessa Spina sits down with legendary muscle metabolism researcher Dr. Arny Ferrando for an in-depth masterclass on essential amino acids, protein timing, aging, anabolic resistance, and how to optimize muscle retention and fat loss—especially during menopause. Dr. Ferrando shares the latest research...
info_outlineOptimal Protein Podcast with Vanessa Spina
IQBAR is offering our special podcast listeners 20% OFF all IQBAR products, plus get FREE shipping. To get your 20% off, text VANESSA to 64000. That’s VANESSA to sixty-four thousand. Message and data rates may apply. See terms for details. In this solo episode, Vanessa recaps her conversation with Dr. Eric Ravussin—one of the world’s foremost experts in metabolism, fat loss, and caloric restriction, author of the Biggest Loser and CALERIE studies. You’ll learn the truth about metabolic adaptation and why fat loss becomes harder over time, especially when using GLP-1 medications....
info_outlineOptimal Protein Podcast with Vanessa Spina
Timeline: Get 10% off Mitopure, clinically proven to boost mitophagy. Go to . Today’s episode features world-renowned metabolism expert Dr. Eric Ravussin, whose groundbreaking work has transformed our understanding of energy balance, calorie restriction, and long-term fat loss. Dr. Ravussin shares key insights from decades of clinical research on how the body adapts to weight loss—including why your metabolism slows, how to preserve lean muscle, and the critical role of mitochondrial health and metabolic flexibility. Visit for 30% OFF your subscription order PLUS receive a free gift...
info_outlineTimeline: Get 10% off Mitopure, clinically proven to boost mitophagy. Go to timeline.com/vanessa.
In this myth-busting episode of The Optimal Protein Podcast, host Vanessa Spina is joined once again by Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple — one of the most trusted voices in evidence-based women’s health and strength training.
Social media is overflowing with advice on what women should and shouldn’t do when it comes to building muscle, managing hormones, and training across the menstrual cycle. But how much of it is actually backed by science?
Dr. Lauren joins us to expose the truth behind the most persistent myths: from fasted workouts and estrogen “catabolism” to whether you need to sync your training with your cycle. Whether you’re navigating menopause, using hormonal contraceptives, or just trying to get stronger and leaner — this conversation is packed with clarity and empowerment.
🔍 In This Episode, We Cover:
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Is fasted training harmful for women?
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Do women need to consume protein within 45 minutes of exercise?
- Does intermittent fasting cause muscle loss?
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Does syncing your workouts to your cycle actually work?
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How menopause affects muscle building (and how it doesn’t)
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HRT and muscle maintenance during menopause
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How to prioritize what actually works for body composition
Visit https://ketone.com/VANESSA for 30% OFF your subscription order PLUS receive a free gift with your second shipment—fun surprises like a free 6-pack, Ketone-IQ merch, and more!
Connect with Vanessa:
- Instagram: @ketogenicgirl
- Free High-Protein Keto Guide
Get 20% off on the Tone LUX Crystal Red Light Therapy Mask or the Tone Device breath ketone analyzer at Ketogenicgirl.com with the code VANESSA
Guest: Follow Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple on Instagram
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