The Female Factor: What Your CrossFit Training Is Missing With Dr. Stacy Sims (EP. 021)

Dr. Stacy Sims is an exercise physiologist, nutrition scientist, TEDx speaker, and the bestselling author behind the viral phrase “Women are not small men.” In this episode, she joins Denise Thomas to unpack what we really need to know about women’s physiology — and how most training and nutrition advice completely ignores it. They get into the menstrual cycle, perimenopause, postmenopause, and how to train through it all. Stacy explains why women lose power during certain phases, how training affects the brain, and what female athletes should do differently when it comes to strength, conditioning, recovery, and stress. They also break down cold plunges, sauna use, and why CrossFit coaches and gym owners have an opportunity to lead the way in changing the narrative. Topics Included Biological differences in training, recovery, and metabolism Power, hormone shifts, and the menstrual cycle When and how to modify workouts Why fasting and cold plunges don’t affect men and women the same way How to feel and perform your best during perimenopause and postmenopause Raising the next generation of girls to understand their physiology for performance Resources Mentioned Dr. Stacy Sims’ TEDx Talk: Women Are Not Small Men Book: “Roar” by Stacy Sims Book: “Next Level” by Stacy Sims DrStacySims.com Proov or Oova (hormone-tracking tools) OsteoGains app Community Highlight Arielle Loewen is a household name in CrossFit — fierce on the floor, kind in every interaction. But behind the scenes, she’s also quietly mentoring the next generation.⠀Last year, she supported eight teenage CrossFit Games athletes, checking in weekly to discuss the mental aspects of elite competition. One even flew out to train with her in person. Arielle’s leadership comes from lived experience. In 2013, she couldn’t afford her first competition — someone else covered the entry fee. Now, she pays it forward. She designs and sells “Strong Mom” shirts to help other moms cover local competition costs. Her message is simple: “When you think you’re done, you’re not done.”Arielle’s a bright spot in the CrossFit community — and we’ll be cheering her on at the 2025 CrossFit Games. Know someone you think deserves to be highlighted? Nominate them here Share Your Thoughts Let us know what you think about the podcast and how we can improve here