Stronger after 40: Fuel, Lift, and Ride with Power (ep 155)

<p>This episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast features Marissa Axel, founder of Action Fitness and Coaching, for an empowering conversation about helping women over 40 become stronger, faster, and more resilient athletes.Marissa explains why the training strategies that worked in our 20s and 30s may no longer produce the same results as our bodies and hormones change. She and Dana discuss the importance of moving beyond endurance-only training and building a foundation that includes strength, power, proper fueling, and intentional recovery.They also explore the warning signs of underfueling and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), including persistent fatigue, poor performance, frequent illness, injuries, and difficulty recovering. Marissa shares practical ways athletes can fuel before, during, and after training without making nutrition overly complicated.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why strength training becomes essential for women beginning around age 35How strength work supports cycling, triathlon performance, bone health, and longevityWhy fasted training may create additional stress for women over 40How to match carbohydrate intake to the length and intensity of a workoutWhy recovery nutrition should include both protein and carbohydratesHow underfueling can contribute to fatigue, injuries, illness, and declining performanceWhy the scale doesn’t tell the full story of your health or athletic potentialHow to shift your focus from becoming smaller to discovering what your body can doMarissa’s message is simple but powerful: stop chasing a number on the scale and start building a body that can support your goals and adventures for decades to come.About Marissa:Marissa Axell is the founder of AXN Fitness and Coaching and a coach for women over 40 who want to improve cycling performance through strength, power, skill, fueling, and recovery. Her work focuses on helping athletes move beyond endurance-only training and build the kind of resilience that supports speed, injury prevention, and long-term performance.Connect with Marissa:Instagram and Facebook: @marissa.axellWebsite: https://axnfitnessandcoaching.comDana’s Links:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast Disclaimer:The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.</p>