Weekend Q&A: How do I Avoid Constant Fatigue from Low Energy Availability in My Training (A Mom Over 40)

How can you overcome feeling aimless and frustrated with recovery issues in your training, especially over 40 with a family? The question we're answering is: "I am a 46 year old mom and have been weight training since May 2022, focused on body recomp with at least one muscle building phase last spring. I have never done a fat loss phase. I have slowly but steadily put on muscle and lost body fat. I have loved weight training and getting stronger and I also have loved stepping away from restrictive diets (and the requisite binging that accompanied them) and the fasting that I had done in the past. My macros have fluctuated a bit over time. I think I'm right about at maintenance, maybe a little bit of a deficit since I am very very very slowly dropping the weight. However, my arms constantly feel sore and inflamed and I feel stiff and creaky and it is starting to make me dread upper body days. I actually have backed off training these last few weeks, dropping down to just 2 days a week of training and sometimes even only doing one set of everything because I just feel inflamed and weak. I haven't been able to do anything related to my biceps in months--I just skip those exercises entirely. I guess I just feel a little aimless at the moment and a little frustrated by this recovery issue and would love to re-focus." Find out in today's Weekend Q&A bonus episode. --- This is a special Weekend Q&A edition of the Wits & Weights podcast, where we supercharge your Saturdays with an answer to one burning question so YOU can put it into action this weekend. These questions are taken from the weekly #AskPhilip thread in our free Wits & Weights Facebook community . If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the endless amount of information and, let’s be honest, MISinformation online and just want a straight up answer without the jargon, that’s what this free service is for. With the weekly #AskPhilip thread, you can post a specific question relevant to your unique, individual situation that week and have it answered live by me on Friday. If you’d like to experience it yourself, I invite you to use the link in the show notes to join the Wits & Weights Facebook group . It’s totally free and you’ll quickly find out what a positive and supportive community it is. Join our FREE community here to get access to the #AskPhilip thread! Support the show 📱 Get Fitness Lab - Philip’s science-based AI app for fat loss, muscle building, and strength training for people over 40. It adapts to your nutrition, recovery, and training to improve body composition without guesswork. 🎓 Try Physique University - Evidence-based nutrition coaching and strength training to help you lose fat, build muscle, and master your metabolism with support and accountability (free custom nutrition plan with code FREEPLAN ). 👥 Join our Facebook community - Free fat loss, muscle building, and body recomposition strategies for adults over 40 who want practical, science-backed fitness guidance. 👋 Ask a question or find Philip Pape on Instagram