56. Renee McGregor on Why Women Need to Eat More, Not Less

What if the symptoms you're blaming on aging, hormones, or stress are actually signs that your body isn't getting enough energy to function properly?In this eye-opening conversation, Lisa sits down with renowned sports dietitian, eating disorder specialist, and author Renee McGregor to discuss a growing health issue affecting women far beyond elite athletics: underfueling. Together, they explore how years of dieting, overtraining, fasting, and chasing smaller bodies can leave women exhausted, hormonally disrupted, and struggling to recover.Renee explains Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) and why she is seeing it increasingly in active women navigating midlife, perimenopause, and menopause. She challenges many of today's popular wellness trends and explains why sustainable health requires adequate nourishment, recovery, and a healthier relationship with food and exercise.This conversation is both empowering and refreshing. It offers a different perspective on health, one that prioritizes resilience, strength, and long-term well-being over restriction and relentless self-optimization.Renee's Substack on RED-S: https://substack.com/@thefuellinereneemcgregor/note/p-198840613?r=b09bp&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-actionIn this episode, Lisa explores:- What RED-S is and why it affects more than athletes- How underfueling impacts hormones, energy, and recovery- The connection between diet culture and body image- Why fasting may not be beneficial for many women- How wearable devices can increase health anxiety- What women can do to better support their bodies through midlifeKey Moments04:39 – Renee explains RED-S and why it goes beyond athletes17:00 – Why simply running your body requires more energy than women realize18:20 – How culture, body image, and diet pressure lead women to underfuel31:06 – Warning signs of RED-S, from fatigue to poor recovery and hormone changes48:39 – Why Renee is anti-tracking, macros, and wearable obsession54:26 – Renee explains why fasting can backfire for stressed midlife womenFREE GUT ANALYSIS CALL🎁 Schedule your free gut analysis call with me!CONNECT WITH LISA📱 Instagram: @lisagarrettnutrition🌐 Website: https://www.lisagarrettnutrition.com/SUPPORT LET’S TALK SH*T✨ Love what you’re hearing? Please subscribe, rate, and review Let’s Talk Sh*t! Your support helps spread the light to more listeners. 👉 Share this episode with a friend or tag it in your IG stories. Don’t forget to follow along on Instagram @lisagarrettnutrition for more inspiration.