Many high-achieving and active women in perimenopause and teen athletes in puberty pride themselves on discipline, resilience, and doing everything “right.” But what if the very habits that helped you succeed are quietly draining your energy, disrupting your hormones, and disconnecting you from your body?
In this episode, Julie sits down with Dr. Katherine Hill (Stanford-trained physician) and Megan Hellner (registered dietitian) — co-founders of AthleteMD, a multidisciplinary practice specializing in Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S).
What begins as a conversation about young athletes quickly expands into something much bigger: the hidden epidemic of under-fueling among ambitious humans, especially women navigating intense careers, motherhood, and changing bodies.
They explore why many driven people unknowingly fall into chronic under-fueling while trying to follow “healthy” advice — from clean eating to high-protein trends to restrictive wellness culture. They also unpack the surprising parallels between teen athletes and women in midlife, where changing hormones, high performance expectations, and misinformation collide.
This episode is a powerful reminder that health isn’t something you earn through restriction or optimization — it begins with enough fuel, enough flexibility, and enough compassion for the body you live in.
Whether you’re an athlete, a healthcare professional, a parent of a young competitor, or simply someone learning to soften after years of pushing yourself, this conversation will challenge the way you think about food, performance, and self-trust.
00:00 — Why High-Performing Women and Athletic Teens Often Run on Empty
08:21 — Building AthleteMD: Creating Care That Puts People First
14:23 — RED-S: The Hidden Energy Deficiency Affecting Athletes of all Ages Everywhere
22:20 — When “Healthy Eating” Becomes Under-Fueling
32:29 — The Overlooked Parallel: Teen Athletes and Women in Midlife
42:44 — Recognizing the Warning Signs of RED-S
58:09 — What True Nourishment Actually Looks Like for Athletes
-- Love what you hear and want to explore more? --
Stay connected with the founders of AthleatMD:
Instagram: @athleatMD
Website: https://www.athleatmd.com/
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