Life doesn’t always respect your perfectly planned training week. If you’re a woman over 40 following a strength training program, you might be juggling sleep swings, work crunches, hormonal shifts, caretaking, and everything in between. This episode breaks down how to keep your momentum without falling into the all-or-nothing trap so you still get a damn good training stimulus on busy days.

Steph explains a simple framework for structured flexibility – keeping the big-picture plan while adapting the day’s session. You’ll learn three practical ways to modify workouts using RPE / RIR, so you can train smarter, protect progress, and stay consistent in midlife.

• Why “all or nothing” thinking keeps sabotaging your strength progress after 40

• The simple shift that lets you keep momentum even when life gets chaotic

• Three creative ways to make workouts shorter without losing results

• How to know if you’re still training hard enough on those scaled-back days

• The mindset reframe that makes consistency possible long-term

Enjoyed this episode and want more?

If you want a lifting program that tells you exactly what to do, try 7 days of Strong with Steph here >> https://stephgaudreau.com/workout

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Feeling like the Tin Man when your feet hit the floor – and winded on a single flight of stairs – doesn’t have to be “just your 40s.” In this episode, we call BS on the idea that midlife means inevitable decline and lays out a clear, doable plan for rebuilding strength, muscle, and pep in your step over the next six months. No doom and gloom here – just evidence-informed training that respects your real life.

You’ll learn exactly how to structure your workouts for results: which compound lifts to prioritize, how to sprinkle in isolation work the smart way, and why adding power and plyometrics helps you feel quick and athletic again. We’ll also touch on where cardio fits for women over 40 so you can train wisely without living in the gym.

• The base of your lifting should be this

• Should you do cardio with your lifting?

• Why avoiding power work or impact over 40 backfires

• When to use isolation exercises

• Why 6 day a week bro splits aren't working for women 40+

Enjoyed this episode and want more?

Ready to have the plan done for you – with full-body strength, smart power progressions, and cardio that actually fits your life? Grab a 7-day sample of Strong with Steph at stephgaudreau.com/workout – then join the program and let Steph lay it out so you can just open the app and lift.

For many women over 40, cardio brings up memories of the 90s and early 2000s – endless hours on the elliptical, chasing a smaller body, and pushing through with Red Bulls and salads. It was an era marked by toxic fitness culture, and the fallout left a lot of us burnt out, swearing off cardio completely. But now, with energy, stamina, and health markers changing in midlife, it might be time to take another look at how cardio fits into your life.

In this episode, we explore what it means to rebuild a healthier relationship with cardio. From my personal journey – burnout from endurance sports, swinging the pendulum into strength training, then finding my way back to cardio on my own terms – to practical ways you can ease it back into your routine, this conversation is about healing from old patterns and creating balance. You’ll also hear answers to common questions about what counts as cardio, how to tell if it’s moderate or vigorous, and how to weave it in with your lifting.

• Why so many women over 40 have a complicated history with cardio

• The role of diet culture and body ideals in shaping our relationship with endurance exercise

• How to reframe cardio as a supportive tool instead of punishment

• Practical ways to bring conditioning back without burnout or dread

• Guidelines for balancing cardio with strength training so both work together

• Simple strategies for starting small and progressing over time

Motivation for working out episode

Enjoyed this episode and want more?

If you want a lifting program that tells you exactly what to do, try 7 days of Strong with Steph here >> https://stephgaudreau.com/workout

Share this episode with a friend looking to improve their strength training knowledge.

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Ever wonder if you’re lifting enough weight to truly see progress? You’re not alone – this is one of the most common questions in the gym, especially among athletic women over 40 who want to keep getting stronger without wasting time on unchallenging workouts. In this episode, you’ll learn a simple, almost foolproof way to gauge your lifting intensity – one you’ve probably never considered before – plus how it stacks up with other methods like RPE, reps in reserve, and bar speed.

We’ll explore what the science says about how your body (and face) signal effort, why “playing it safe” too long can stall your gains, and how to use these cues to choose the right weight every time. Plus, we’ll address the appearance-based fears that sometimes hold lifters back and reframe what really matters for strength, longevity, and performance as we age.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• A surprisingly effective visual cue to know if your weights are challenging enough.

• How facial expressions connect to effort and fatigue – and what research shows.

• Other key indicators like bar speed, RPE, and reps in reserve to cross-check your effort.

• Why small, strategic weight jumps are more effective than big, intimidating increases.

• The bigger trade-off when fear of wrinkles or “ugly lifting face” prevents pushing yourself.

Studies:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25435786/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30562370/

Enjoyed this episode and want more?

If you want a lifting program that tells you exactly what to do, try 7 days of Strong with Steph here >> https://stephgaudreau.com/workout

Share this episode with a friend looking to improve their strength training knowledge.

Subscribe to this podcast on your favorite streaming platform for new episodes!

Starting strength training after 40 can feel intimidating—especially when all the internet advice focuses on technical minutiae like deadlift angles or optimal rep ranges. But what if the biggest keys to success weren’t about that at all? In this episode, you’ll zoom out to the big picture and learn four foundational lessons that will make your strength journey more effective and sustainable from day one.

Using a year of personal experience learning to play the drums, this episode draws an insightful analogy between picking up a musical skill and building your strength training practice. If you’ve been unsure where to begin or find yourself stuck in perfectionist mode, this is the roadmap you’ve been missing. These aren’t quick hacks—they’re timeless mindset and behavior strategies that can keep you lifting for life.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The type of mindset you need when starting something new

• The thing to seek out early – even if you’re a total beginner

• What to let go of to find joy in the process

• Why these foundational lessons can help you stick with strength training when things get tough

• How to apply these ideas whether you're brand new to lifting or getting back into it after a break

Enjoyed this episode and want more?

If you want a lifting program that tells you exactly what to do, try 7 days of Strong with Steph here >> https://stephgaudreau.com/workout

Share this episode with a friend looking to improve their strength training knowledge.

Subscribe to this podcast on your favorite streaming platform for new episodes!

In this episode, you'll learn about common misconceptions in strength training related to gym "cheating." Discover why certain training methods are not only valid but can be the right choice depending on your needs and goals.

You'll get insights into choosing the right techniques and tools for your fitness over 40, especially if you're new to lifting, managing injuries, or looking to optimize your performance.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Common myths around strength training tools and techniques.

• How gym machines can be beneficial tools in your workouts.

• Why sumo deadlifts are a legitimate lifting technique.

• Practical reasons to use lifting straps during strength training.

• The importance of individualizing your training approach.

Enjoyed this episode and want more?

If you want a lifting program that tells you exactly what to do, try 7 days of Strong with Steph here >> https://stephgaudreau.com/workout

Share this episode with a friend looking to improve their strength training knowledge.

Subscribe to this podcast on your favorite streaming platform for new episodes!