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Belly Fat, Cortisol, HIIT for Women Over 40—What You Really Need to Know with Dr. Stephen Cabral
Think you have to cut carbs, cold plunge daily, and give up HIIT forever to burn belly fat after 40? Think again. In this no-fluff, wildly informative (and entertaining) episode of the FASTer Way Podcast, CEO Amanda Tress teams up with naturopathic doctor and functional medicine legend Dr. Stephen Cabral to bust the biggest belly fat myths flooding your feed. They break down what actually works for fat loss, hormones, and longevity—backed by science, not social media hype. From confusion about cortisol and HIIT for women over 40 to whether you really need to eat like a caveman, this episode clears the air and sets the record straight. Ready to cut through the noise and get real results? Hit play—you don’t want to miss this one.
Burning Belly Fat Over 40
Dr. Cabral breaks it down in a way that finally makes sense: not all belly fat is created equal. There’s subcutaneous fat—the soft, squishy stuff just under the skin that’s easier to lose with healthy habits. And then there’s visceral fat—the deep, dense fat that wraps around your internal organs and quietly wreaks havoc on your health. This is the kind of fat that raises your risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, dementia, and chronic inflammation.
And here’s the kicker: many “quick fix” methods you see on social media like endless cardio and extreme diets either don’t touch visceral fat… or worse, make your body hold onto it even more by spiking cortisol and stressing your system out.
The good news? There is a way to target visceral fat—and it has nothing to do with calorie-restriction or 90-minute HIIT marathons. (Hint: we do it inside the FASTer Way.)
Let’s Talk Cortisol: Friend or Foe?
If you've been blaming cortisol for everything from belly fat to bad moods, you’re not necessarily wrong—but there’s more to the story. Cortisol is a necessary hormone—we need it to stay alive. Cortisol only becomes an issue when our levels are unbalanced—blocking fat loss, zapping your energy, and wreaking havoc on your sex hormones. Stress management is key here. Dr. Cabral and Amanda unpack how to actually become stress effective (not stress-free, because life).
You’ll learn:
- How cortisol hijacks your hormone pathways
- Why managing stress is just as important as managing macros
- Why “more HIIT, less food” can totally backfire
Myth: “Women Over 40 Should Never Do HIIT”
One of our favorite mic-drop moments? When Dr. Cabral calls out both ends of the internet extreme: 7 days/week of fasted HIIT vs. never doing HIIT again and missing out on its fat-burning, health-boosting benefits altogether. The truth lies in the middle—and the FASTer Way has been living there for years.
Say Goodbye to Polarizing Fads
Whether it’s keto, carnivore, or ice baths, Amanda and Dr. Cabral agree: extreme fitness trends are usually loud, short-lived, and mostly wrong within 3–5 years. Instead, this episode emphasizes the foundations—like carb cycling (not carb elimination), muscle over metrics, and a specific approach to HIIT.
What Works for Women?
So what does work for real women in their 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond? The conversation delivers:
- A better understanding of how to train with your hormones
- How strength training, paired with the right nutrition, supports longevity
- Why sleep, stress, and the right supplements matter
You’ll also hear:
- Why Amanda created foundations workouts for women navigating injury, illness, or high-stress seasons
- Why GLP-1 weight loss drugs can lead to long-term issues if you don’t also build muscle
- The cold plunge vs. sauna debate (and how to actually burn fat without freezing your buns off)
🎧 This one’s a must-listen. Tune in now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube!
Listen to the full episode here on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or on your favorite platform—and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.
Related Resources:
- Fasted Workouts in Perimenopause, Cycle-Syncing & Fitness Misinformation for Women Over 35
- Detox Biohacks for Women: Coffee Enemas, Castor Oil Packs, Intermittent Fasting & More
- Exercises that Can Balance Hormones for Women in their 40s
Subscribe to our blog
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique.
Belly Fat, Cortisol, HIIT for Women Over 40—What You Really Need to Know with Dr. Stephen Cabral
Belly Fat, Cortisol, HIIT for Women Over 40—What You Really Need to Know with Dr. Stephen Cabral
Think you have to cut carbs, cold plunge daily, and give up HIIT forever to burn belly fat after 40? Think again. In this no-fluff, wildly informative (and entertaining) episode of the FASTer Way Podcast, CEO Amanda Tress teams up with naturopathic doctor and functional medicine legend Dr. Stephen Cabral to bust the biggest belly fat myths flooding your feed. They break down what actually works for fat loss, hormones, and longevity—backed by science, not social media hype. From confusion about cortisol and HIIT for women over 40 to whether you really need to eat like a caveman, this episode clears the air and sets the record straight. Ready to cut through the noise and get real results? Hit play—you don’t want to miss this one.
Burning Belly Fat Over 40
Dr. Cabral breaks it down in a way that finally makes sense: not all belly fat is created equal. There’s subcutaneous fat—the soft, squishy stuff just under the skin that’s easier to lose with healthy habits. And then there’s visceral fat—the deep, dense fat that wraps around your internal organs and quietly wreaks havoc on your health. This is the kind of fat that raises your risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, dementia, and chronic inflammation.
And here’s the kicker: many “quick fix” methods you see on social media like endless cardio and extreme diets either don’t touch visceral fat… or worse, make your body hold onto it even more by spiking cortisol and stressing your system out.
The good news? There is a way to target visceral fat—and it has nothing to do with calorie-restriction or 90-minute HIIT marathons. (Hint: we do it inside the FASTer Way.)
Let’s Talk Cortisol: Friend or Foe?
If you've been blaming cortisol for everything from belly fat to bad moods, you’re not necessarily wrong—but there’s more to the story. Cortisol is a necessary hormone—we need it to stay alive. Cortisol only becomes an issue when our levels are unbalanced—blocking fat loss, zapping your energy, and wreaking havoc on your sex hormones. Stress management is key here. Dr. Cabral and Amanda unpack how to actually become stress effective (not stress-free, because life).
You’ll learn:
- How cortisol hijacks your hormone pathways
- Why managing stress is just as important as managing macros
- Why “more HIIT, less food” can totally backfire
Myth: “Women Over 40 Should Never Do HIIT”
One of our favorite mic-drop moments? When Dr. Cabral calls out both ends of the internet extreme: 7 days/week of fasted HIIT vs. never doing HIIT again and missing out on its fat-burning, health-boosting benefits altogether. The truth lies in the middle—and the FASTer Way has been living there for years.
Say Goodbye to Polarizing Fads
Whether it’s keto, carnivore, or ice baths, Amanda and Dr. Cabral agree: extreme fitness trends are usually loud, short-lived, and mostly wrong within 3–5 years. Instead, this episode emphasizes the foundations—like carb cycling (not carb elimination), muscle over metrics, and a specific approach to HIIT.
What Works for Women?
So what does work for real women in their 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond? The conversation delivers:
- A better understanding of how to train with your hormones
- How strength training, paired with the right nutrition, supports longevity
- Why sleep, stress, and the right supplements matter
You’ll also hear:
- Why Amanda created foundations workouts for women navigating injury, illness, or high-stress seasons
- Why GLP-1 weight loss drugs can lead to long-term issues if you don’t also build muscle
- The cold plunge vs. sauna debate (and how to actually burn fat without freezing your buns off)
🎧 This one’s a must-listen. Tune in now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube!
Listen to the full episode here on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or on your favorite platform—and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.
Related Resources:
- Fasted Workouts in Perimenopause, Cycle-Syncing & Fitness Misinformation for Women Over 35
- Detox Biohacks for Women: Coffee Enemas, Castor Oil Packs, Intermittent Fasting & More
- Exercises that Can Balance Hormones for Women in their 40s
Subscribe to our blog
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique.
Belly Fat, Cortisol, HIIT for Women Over 40—What You Really Need to Know with Dr. Stephen Cabral
Belly Fat, Cortisol, HIIT for Women Over 40—What You Really Need to Know with Dr. Stephen Cabral
Think you have to cut carbs, cold plunge daily, and give up HIIT forever to burn belly fat after 40? Think again. In this no-fluff, wildly informative (and entertaining) episode of the FASTer Way Podcast, CEO Amanda Tress teams up with naturopathic doctor and functional medicine legend Dr. Stephen Cabral to bust the biggest belly fat myths flooding your feed. They break down what actually works for fat loss, hormones, and longevity—backed by science, not social media hype. From confusion about cortisol and HIIT for women over 40 to whether you really need to eat like a caveman, this episode clears the air and sets the record straight. Ready to cut through the noise and get real results? Hit play—you don’t want to miss this one.
Burning Belly Fat Over 40
Dr. Cabral breaks it down in a way that finally makes sense: not all belly fat is created equal. There’s subcutaneous fat—the soft, squishy stuff just under the skin that’s easier to lose with healthy habits. And then there’s visceral fat—the deep, dense fat that wraps around your internal organs and quietly wreaks havoc on your health. This is the kind of fat that raises your risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, dementia, and chronic inflammation.
And here’s the kicker: many “quick fix” methods you see on social media like endless cardio and extreme diets either don’t touch visceral fat… or worse, make your body hold onto it even more by spiking cortisol and stressing your system out.
The good news? There is a way to target visceral fat—and it has nothing to do with calorie-restriction or 90-minute HIIT marathons. (Hint: we do it inside the FASTer Way.)
Let’s Talk Cortisol: Friend or Foe?
If you've been blaming cortisol for everything from belly fat to bad moods, you’re not necessarily wrong—but there’s more to the story. Cortisol is a necessary hormone—we need it to stay alive. Cortisol only becomes an issue when our levels are unbalanced—blocking fat loss, zapping your energy, and wreaking havoc on your sex hormones. Stress management is key here. Dr. Cabral and Amanda unpack how to actually become stress effective (not stress-free, because life).
You’ll learn:
- How cortisol hijacks your hormone pathways
- Why managing stress is just as important as managing macros
- Why “more HIIT, less food” can totally backfire
Myth: “Women Over 40 Should Never Do HIIT”
One of our favorite mic-drop moments? When Dr. Cabral calls out both ends of the internet extreme: 7 days/week of fasted HIIT vs. never doing HIIT again and missing out on its fat-burning, health-boosting benefits altogether. The truth lies in the middle—and the FASTer Way has been living there for years.
Say Goodbye to Polarizing Fads
Whether it’s keto, carnivore, or ice baths, Amanda and Dr. Cabral agree: extreme fitness trends are usually loud, short-lived, and mostly wrong within 3–5 years. Instead, this episode emphasizes the foundations—like carb cycling (not carb elimination), muscle over metrics, and a specific approach to HIIT.
What Works for Women?
So what does work for real women in their 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond? The conversation delivers:
- A better understanding of how to train with your hormones
- How strength training, paired with the right nutrition, supports longevity
- Why sleep, stress, and the right supplements matter
You’ll also hear:
- Why Amanda created foundations workouts for women navigating injury, illness, or high-stress seasons
- Why GLP-1 weight loss drugs can lead to long-term issues if you don’t also build muscle
- The cold plunge vs. sauna debate (and how to actually burn fat without freezing your buns off)
🎧 This one’s a must-listen. Tune in now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube!
Listen to the full episode here on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or on your favorite platform—and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.
Related Resources:
- Fasted Workouts in Perimenopause, Cycle-Syncing & Fitness Misinformation for Women Over 35
- Detox Biohacks for Women: Coffee Enemas, Castor Oil Packs, Intermittent Fasting & More
- Exercises that Can Balance Hormones for Women in their 40s
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