Have you heard about retatrutide?

It's the weight loss drug everybody is talking about. People are buying it online as a research chemical, and patients ask me if I'm prescribing it (I'm not).

A study in the New England Journal of Medicine shared insights into the drug, which is currently not FDA-approved. At the highest dose, people lost an average of 25% of their body weight over 80 weeks, compared with about 4% body weight for those on placebo. The area I care about most—muscle—doesn’t get much attention.

In this episode, I go through the TRIUMPH-1 results, how retatrutide compares with semaglutide and tirzepatide, and what protein and resistance training do for muscle during weight loss.

Find Dr. Gabrielle Lyon at:

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgabriellelyon/

- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drgabriellelyon

- Facebook: https://facebook.com/doctorgabriellelyon

- YouTube: https://youtube.com/@DrGabrielleLyon

- X (Twitter): https://x.com/drgabriellelyon

- Apply to become a patient – https://drgabriellelyon.com/new-patient-inquiry/

- Join my weekly newsletter – https://institute-for-muscle-centric-medicine.ck.page

Chapters:

00:00 Cold open: weight loss we have never seen before with a drug

00:45 TRIUMPH-1 and phase three: a trial of retatrutide in people without diabetes

02:49 Approval and mechanism: phase three is not FDA approval, and retatrutide hits GLP-1, GIP and glucagon

04:53 The headline: 25% of body weight, about 62 pounds, against 15% for semaglutide and 21% for tirzepatide

06:52 Trial design: 2,339 adults, 80 weeks and no prescribed diet

08:45 Results by dose: 17 to 28% on retatrutide, about 4% on placebo and the bariatric surgery comparison

10:29 The top dose: more than half dropped below a BMI of 30, plus the 104-week extension

13:10 Beyond the scale: waist, blood pressure, triglycerides, insulin, CRP, knee pain and sleep apnea

15:37 The muscle question: TRIUMPH-1 does not report body composition

16:32 Phase 2 DEXA data: about 30 to 40% of weight lost was lean tissue

18:22 Protein and training: the 1.2 versus 2.4 g/kg deficit study

20:24 The goal: lose fat and keep muscle

21:29 Pharmacology: SURMOUNT-5 put tirzepatide at 20% against 14% for semaglutide

22:30 What glucagon adds, and why there is no head-to-head trial yet

25:23 Side effects, and why more drug is not better medicine

27:23 What TRIUMPH-1 changes, and the study still missing

28:48 Not FDA approved, and where obesity pharmacology goes next

29:51 Close: the goal was never weight loss

Study and References:

Jastreboff AM, Kaplan LM, Davies MJ et al. 2026. Retatrutide, a triple hormone receptor agonist, for treatment of obesity. N Engl J Med. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2604169

Coskun T et al. 2025. Effects of retatrutide on body composition in people with type 2 diabetes: a substudy of a phase 2, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, randomised trial. PMID: 40609566 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40609566/

Longland TM et al. 2016. Higher compared with lower dietary protein during an energy deficit combined with intense exercise promotes greater lean mass gain and fat mass loss: a randomized trial. PMID: 26817506 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26817506/

Aronne LJ et al. 2025. Tirzepatide as compared with semaglutide for the treatment of obesity. PMID: 40353578 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40353578/

Wilding JPH et al. 2021. Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity. PMID: 33567185 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33567185/

Jastreboff AM et al. 2022. Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity. PMID: 35658024 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35658024/

Disclaimer: The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Podcast and YouTube are for general information purposes only and do not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast, YouTube, or materials linked from this podcast or YouTube is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professional for any such conditions.

How do the amino acids in a soy patty and a beef patty compare once they reach your blood?

In a trial he helped design, Dr. David Church matched a 4-ounce beef patty against a soy-based burger. He had to double the soy to roughly match the single beef patty in essential amino acids. The blood amino acid levels shocked him.

David joins me at Protein Summit 3.0 to explain what happened.

He also tells me why muscle protein breakdown is so much harder to measure than synthesis, and shares insights from his 21-day testosterone study, where the men on testosterone lost all of their weight as fat while the placebo group lost about half of theirs as fat-free mass.

Thank you to our sponsors:

- Cozy Earth: 20% off home and sleepwear at cozyearth.com with code DRLYON

- Timeline: an additional 20% off at timeline.com/lyon

- Bon Charge: 30% off sitewide in their Black Friday sale with code DRLYON30

Find Dr. David Church at:

- UAMS profile: https://uams-triprofiles.uams.edu/profiles/profile/5838748

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.myohead

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-church-6b0662280

- X (Twitter): https://x.com/DrMyohead

Find Dr. Gabrielle Lyon at:

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgabriellelyon/

- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drgabriellelyon

- Facebook: https://facebook.com/doctorgabriellelyon

- YouTube: https://youtube.com/@DrGabrielleLyon

- X (Twitter): https://x.com/drgabriellelyon

- Apply to become a patient – https://drgabriellelyon.com/new-patient-inquiry/

- Join my weekly newsletter – https://institute-for-muscle-centric-medicine.ck.page

Chapters:

0:00 – Dr. David Church on the Nandrolone Aging Study in Mice

3:17 – What Testosterone Changed in Men During a 21-Day Energy Deficit

6:14 – Androgens, Hormones and What We Still Do Not Know in Women

9:43 – Stable Isotope Tracers Explained With Legos

10:56 – Why Muscle Protein Breakdown Is So Hard to Measure

13:23 – How Testosterone May Recycle Amino Acids Inside the Muscle Cell

16:01 – Net Protein Balance, Burns and Whole-Body Protein

18:38 – Obesity, Anabolic Resistance and the 1.2 g/kg Protein Target

24:38 – Testosterone and Protein as Complementary Levers

26:15 – Nandrolone, Satellite Cells and Muscle Memory

32:50 – The Soy Burger vs. Beef Patty Trial

40:18 – Plant Protein, Low Appetite and Essential Amino Acid Supplements

41:16 – GLP-1 Responders and Why Dr. Lyon Uses Essential Amino Acids

47:49 – Are Essential Amino Acids Requirements Higher Than We Thought?

Disclaimers: This episode includes paid sponsorships.

The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Podcast and YouTube are for general information purposes only and do not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast, YouTube, or materials linked from this podcast or YouTube is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professional for any such conditions.

Protein has become a numbers game, and the numbers leave out the essential amino acids your muscle, brain and metabolism depend on. Protein is how you get them, and its quality may change how well you age.

In this episode, Dr. Gabrielle Lyon brings together some of her favorite moments with Dr. Don Layman, Dr. Heather Leidy and Dr. Jess Gwin to break down the essential amino acid requirement, cut through the confusion on protein quality (what a protein label leaves out, plant vs. animal sources, branched-chain amino acids, and leucine), and explain what the research says about essential amino acids in brain function, mood, sleep, energy deficit, and anabolic resistance as we age.

If you have ever wondered what your protein label isn't telling you, or why half an ounce of nuts and an ounce of lean beef count as the same serving, this conversation offers a clear, practical look at what the science says.

Thank you to our sponsors:

- BodyHealth: 20% off your first order at bodyhealth.com with code LYON20

- Tushy: 10% off your first bidet order at hellotushy.com with code DRLYON

Find Dr. Don Layman, Dr. Heather Leidy and Dr. Jess Gwin at:

- Dr. Heather Leidy: https://nutrition.utexas.edu/directory/heather-leidy/

- Dr. Don Layman: https://x.com/donlayman

- Dr. Jess Gwin: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jess-Gwin

Find Dr. Gabrielle Lyon at:

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgabriellelyon/

- TikTok: @drgabriellelyon

- Facebook: facebook.com/doctorgabriellelyon

- YouTube: youtube.com/@DrGabrielleLyon

- X (Twitter): x.com/drgabriellelyon

- Apply to become a patient – https://drgabriellelyon.com/new-patient-inquiry/

- Join my weekly newsletter – https://institute-for-muscle-centric-medicine.ck.page

Chapters:

0:00 – Why the Requirement Is Essential Amino Acids, From Muscle to Mood and Sleep

3:24 – Dr. Jess Gwin on Protein Quality and Why the Dietary Guidelines Miss It

5:36 – What a Protein Label Does and Doesn't Tell You

6:50 – Nuts vs. Lean Beef and the Cost of Going Plant-Based

9:35 – Dr. Don Layman on Branched-Chain Amino Acids, Leucine and mTOR

11:19 – How Much Protein Reaches the Leucine Threshold

14:00 – Dr. Jess Gwin on Essential Amino Acids Under Energy Deficit and Stress

16:36 – Dosing, Aging and Anabolic Resistance

19:26 – Whole Foods vs. Amino Acid Powders as Tools

21:29 – Dr. Lyon's First-Meal Routine

Disclaimers: This episode includes paid sponsorships.

The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Podcast and YouTube are for general information purposes only and do not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast, YouTube, or materials linked from this podcast or YouTube is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professional for any such conditions.

Eating before bed: harmful or helpful? Dr. Mike Ormsbee breaks down protein before bed, casein vs. whey, fat metabolism, sleep, and resistance training for postmenopausal women.

Late-night eating comes with many rules of thumb, and most people follow them without knowing what the research shows. Dr. Mike Ormsbee, a researcher at Florida State University, has spent years measuring how protein before bed affects metabolic rate, overnight fat burning, sleep, and recovery. If you lift, want to keep muscle as you age, or have been told to stop eating after dinner, his view on casein vs. whey and bedtime snacks may change what you keep in the kitchen.

Thank you to our sponsors:

- BodyHealth: 20% off at https://bodyhealth.com with code LYON20

- One Skin: 15% off with code Doctor Lyon at oneskin.com

- Ladder app: ladder.fit/doctorlion, free 7-day trial, no credit card, $10 off the first month

Find Dr. Mike Ormsbee at:

- Visit www.mikeormsbee.com/lyon

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikeormsbee/?hl=en

- Course, Changing Body Composition Through Diet and Exercise (The Great Courses): https://shop.thegreatcourses.com/changing-body-composition-through-diet-and-exercise

Find Dr. Gabrielle Lyon at:

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgabriellelyon/

- TikTok: @drgabriellelyon

- Facebook: facebook.com/doctorgabriellelyon

- YouTube: youtube.com/@DrGabrielleLyon

- X (Twitter): x.com/drgabriellelyon

- Apply to become a patient – https://drgabriellelyon.com/new-patient-inquiry/

- Join my weekly newsletter – https://institute-for-muscle-centric-medicine.ck.page

Chapters:

0:00 – The Eating-Before-Bed Debate and How Pre-Sleep Feeding Is Defined

5:00 – Metabolic Rate, Belly-Fat Probes and Casein vs. Whey

9:14 – Exercise as Our "Metabolic Apology" for Poor Diet and Poor Sleep

15:07 – Resistance Training and Fat Metabolism

21:58 – Inside the Five-Year NIH Study: Lifting vs. Cardio After Menopause

31:59 – Growth Hormone, Fed vs. Fasted Training and Why Obesity Slows the Response

36:29 – Protecting Muscle During Rapid Weight Loss and How Much Lifting Is Enough

43:09 – What the Postmenopausal Study Is Showing So Far

50:00 – Sleep, Evening Exercise and the Hungry-at-Night Protein Snack

55:47 – Does Excess Protein Turn to Fat? Older Adults, Calories and Timing

1:02:25 – Collagen, Creatine and Ketones: What He Takes and Skips

1:11:15 – Casein vs. Whey, Future Research and His Best Advice for Postmenopausal Women

Disclaimers: This episode includes paid sponsorships.

The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Podcast and YouTube are for general information purposes only and do not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast, YouTube, or materials linked from this podcast or YouTube is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professional for any such conditions.

Childhood and adolescence provide a one-time biological opportunity: our kids' bodies are primed to grow, build tissue, and develop cognitive capacity. But to do that, they need the right raw materials.

In this video, we break down why restricting nutrient-dense foods in growing children puts their development at risk. We explore the critical role of highly bioavailable nutrients like heme iron and vitamin B12, how nutrient status directly impacts academic performance and attention, and why building muscle and metabolic reserve early protects your health decades later.

Don't wait until your children are 40 and struggling with their health to teach them what strong looks like.

Thank you to our sponsor:

Rula: https://www.rula.com/drlyon

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction: Why We Must Start in Childhood

01:14 - Kids Are Not "Little Adults": Growth vs. Maintenance

02:25 - Puberty & Protein Metabolism: The Role of Leucine

03:50 - How Much Protein Do Kids Actually Need? (RDA vs. Modern Data)

06:10 - Protein Requirements for Active and Athletic Youth

08:35 - Upgrading the Typical Kid Diet: High-Quality Protein Sources

11:47 - Bone Accrual & Debunking the Youth Strength Training Myth

14:10 - Neurological Strength: Why Kids Get Stronger Without Bulking Up

17:15 - Resistance Training for Girls: Hormones, Strength & Busting the "Bulk" Fear

20:50 - Critical Micronutrients for Brain & Body: Iron and B12

22:45 - Building Lifelong Biological Reserve: Raising Capable Humans

Explore More from Dr. Gabrielle Lyon

Weekly newsletter: Recipes, podcast updates, and practical weekly insights https://drgabriellelyon.com/sign-up/

Apply to become a patient: Personalized care with Dr. Lyon’s clinical team https://drgabriellelyon.com/new-patient

Connect with Dr. Gabrielle Lyon:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgabriellelyon

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@drgabriellelyon

X (Twitter): https://x.com/drgabriellelyon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doctorgabriellelyon

Studies mentioned in the podcast:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42752819/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35020179/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35011099/

If you found this episode valuable, share it with someone who would benefit from it.

Disclaimers: This episode includes paid sponsorships.

The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Podcast and YouTube are for general information purposes only and do not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast, YouTube, or materials linked from this podcast or YouTube is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professional for any such conditions.

What you choose to eat is the single most important decision you make every day—impacting your metabolic health, your family, the economy, and the future of our food supply.

In this episode, world-renowned cardiologist and nutrition expert Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian breaks down the "Food is Medicine" movement, cuts through dietary confusion (fats vs. carbs, food label marketing, and ultra-processed ingredients), and reveals how public demand, science, and policy can repair a broken food system. If you have ever felt overwhelmed in the grocery aisle or wondered how to separate real nutrition science from industry marketing, this conversation provides a clear, practical roadmap.

Thank you to our sponsors:

BodyHealth: 20% off at https://bodyhealth.com with code LYON20

Timeline: 20% off at http://www.timeline.com/lyon

Wildgrain: $40 off first box + free croissants for life at http://www.wildgrain.com/drlyon40 with code LYON40

Food is Medicine by Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250394286/foodismedicine/

Chapters:

00:00 - The Reality of Our Current Food System

05:12 - Carbs vs. Fats: Breaking Down the Science

18:40 - How to Read a Food Label Like an Expert

32:15 - Ultra-Processed Foods & Why Real Food Spoils

48:30 - The History of Food Policy: From the Green Revolution to Today

01:05:10 - The Economics of Chronic Illness

01:21:40 - The Crucible: Science, Government, and Consumer Power

01:31:54 - "Food is Medicine" & Dr. Mozaffarian's Ultimate Message

Explore More from Dr. Gabrielle Lyon

• Weekly newsletter: Recipes, podcast updates, and practical weekly insights https://drgabriellelyon.com/sign-up/
• Apply to become a patient: Personalized care with Dr. Lyon’s clinical team https://drgabriellelyon.com/new-patient

Connect with Dr. Gabrielle Lyon:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgabriellelyon
• TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@drgabriellelyon
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/drgabriellelyon
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doctorgabriellelyon/

If you found this episode valuable, share it with someone who would benefit from it. Disclaimers: This episode includes paid sponsorships. The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Podcast and YouTube are for general information purposes only and do not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast, YouTube, or materials linked from this podcast or YouTube is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professional for any such conditions.

Protein is in everything right now: coffee, chips, cookies, bars. But despite the massive marketing hype, the world’s leading scientists are still debating fundamental questions about how much protein we actually need and how the body uses it. Fresh off the Protein Summit 3.0 at Texas A&M, Dr. Gabrielle Lyon breaks down what top researchers agreed on, why treating protein as a single number is a major mistake, and how to stop falling for "high-protein" health halos in the grocery store.

Find Dr. Gabrielle Lyon at:

Protein is in everything right now: coffee, chips, cookies, bars. But despite the massive marketing hype, the world’s leading scientists are still debating fundamental questions about how much protein we actually need and how the body uses it. Fresh off the Protein Summit 3.0 at Texas A&M, Dr. Gabrielle Lyon breaks down what top researchers agreed on, why treating protein as a single number is a major mistake, and how to stop falling for "high-protein" health halos in the grocery store.

Explore More from Dr. Gabrielle Lyon:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgabriellelyon/
• TikTok: tiktok.com/@drgabriellelyon
• Facebook: facebook.com/doctorgabriellelyon
• YouTube: youtube.com/@DrGabrielleLyon
• X: x.com/drgabriellelyon
• Apply to become a patient: https://drgabriellelyon.com/new-patient-inquiry/
• Weekly newsletter: https://institute-for-muscle-centric-medicine.ck.page
• Order my new book: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1668085623

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction & Protein Summit

02:30 - Amino Acids Beyond Muscle

05:55 - Minimum vs. Optimal Protein

08:13 - Lab Studies vs. Real Life

10:33 - Context & Individual Needs

12:04 - The Fortification Trap

14:41 - The Whole Food Matrix

16:18 - Research Funding & Transparency

18:00 - The Future of Protein

Disclaimer: The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Podcast and YouTube are for general information purposes only and do not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast, YouTube, or materials linked from this podcast or YouTube is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professional for any such conditions.

In this episode, board-certified anesthesiologist, researcher, and former Real Housewives of Dallas star Dr. Tiffany Moon pulls back the curtain on modern medicine, surgical pain management, and the reality of navigating elite academia. From addressing widespread public fears around clinical fentanyl use to detailing why she was branded an "embarrassment" by academic peers for appearing on reality television, Dr. Moon speaks candidly about breaking stereotypes, the gender pay gap in healthcare, and using a massive public platform to advocate for science and mentorship.

What You'll Learn In This Episode:

• The Clinical Truth About Fentanyl: Why it is the standard of care for 90% of surgeries, and why post-op patients shouldn't fear becoming addicted.
• The Reality TV Fallout: How appearing on The Real Housewives led to institutional blowback—and why she’d do it again.
• Leveraging Fame for Science: Turning pop culture visibility into serious advocacy for mentorship, healthcare equity, and closing the gender pay gap.
• Shattering Stereotypes: Moving past appearances to run clinical trials, publish randomized controlled studies, and teach the next generation of physicians.

Thank you to our sponsors:

• Cozy Earth: cozyearth.com Use code DRLYON for 20% off
• Our Place: fromourplace.com Use code DRLYON for 10% off
• Branch Basics: branchbasics.com Use code DRLYON for 15% off Premium Starter Kit

Explore More from Dr. Gabrielle Lyon

• Weekly newsletter: Recipes, podcast updates, and practical weekly insights https://drgabriellelyon.com/sign-up/
• Apply to become a patient: Personalized care with Dr. Lyon’s clinical team https://drgabriellelyon.com/new-patient

Find Dr. Tiffany Moon at:

• Instagram: instagram.com/tiffanymoonmd (@tiffanymoonmd)
• TikTok: tiktok.com/@tiffanymoonmd (@tiffanymoonmd)
• YouTube: youtube.com/@TiffanyMoonMDOfficial (@TiffanyMoonMDOfficial)
• Website: tiffanymoonmd.com
• Facebook: facebook.com/tiffanymoonmd (@tiffanymoonmd)
• X (Twitter): x.com/TiffanyMoonMD (@TiffanyMoonMD)

Connect with Dr. Gabrielle Lyon:

• Instagram: / drgabriellelyon
• TikTok: / drgabriellelyon
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/drgabriellelyon
• Facebook: / doctorgabriellelyon

Chapters

00:00 – The Truth About Fentanyl in Surgery

01:18 – Breaking Stereotypes in Academic Medicine

12:00 – Pain Protocols, Anesthesia Safety & Clinical Trials

25:00 – Reality TV, Academic Backlash & Healthcare Equity

40:00 – Career Reinvention & Overcoming Physician Burnout

1:00:00 – Why Preventive Medicine Is the Future

1:08:39 – Longevity Medicine, GLP-1s & Muscle Health

If you found this episode valuable, share it with someone who would benefit from it.

Disclaimers: This episode includes paid sponsorships. The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Podcast and YouTube are for general information purposes only and do not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast, YouTube, or materials linked from this podcast or YouTube is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professional for any such conditions.

Can you tell someone's testosterone or estrogen levels just by looking at their face? Is "jawmaxxing" actually backed by science? In this video, we dive deep into the real science of hormones, physical attraction, and evolutionary biology.

We debunk popular myths around high testosterone, facial masculinity, and ovulation preferences, revealing what the research actually shows about human mate selection. Discover why facial structure isn't a hormone panel, how estrogen impacts skin and collagen as women age, and why physical strength accounts for 70% of perceived bodily attractiveness.

If you want to understand how hormones shape our development—and why muscle is the single most modifiable signal of health and longevity—this episode is for you.

Find Dr. Gabrielle Lyon at:

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgabriellelyon/

- TikTok: tiktok.com/@drgabriellelyon

- Facebook: facebook.com/doctorgabriellelyon

- YouTube: youtube.com/@DrGabrielleLyon

- X: x.com/drgabriellelyon

- Apply to become a patient: https://drgabriellelyon.com/new-patient-inquiry/

- Weekly newsletter: https://institute-for-muscle-centric-medicine.ck.page

- Order my new book: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1668085623

Chapters:

00:00 What role do hormones play in the traits we find attractive?

00:46 High vs. low testosterone: does it change who we pick?

01:44 The ovulation story: do women seek out masculine men?

03:19 Two questions: can you see hormones, and what's modifiable?

04:12 What testosterone and estrogen build during development

05:23 Does winning raise testosterone? What a masculine face tells you

06:26 Selection, training and genes: why muscle isn't just testosterone

07:54 Are women attracted to testosterone? What the longitudinal studies show

09:29 Face vs. strength: what predicts mating success

10:08 The 70% finding: strength and bodily attractiveness

11:44 Why strength is a hard-to-fake health signal

13:41 Can you see estrogen? Facial ratings and why more isn't better

14:41 Culture moves beauty standards, and estrogen shows up in skin

16:08 Estrogen therapy and skin: what it can and can't do

16:36 Can you see hormones? Muscle is the system you can see and change

Disclaimer: The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Podcast and YouTube are for general information purposes only and do not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast, YouTube, or materials linked from this podcast or YouTube is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professional for any such conditions.

When you have musculoskeletal pain, the natural instinct is to try and treat it directly. But the cause of that pain often starts somewhere else in the body.

I learned that from this week's guest, Dr. JJ Thomas, who is my physical therapist and good friend. She was my patient first, and now we are each other's patients. She has practiced physical therapy for more than 25 years and has worked with the Philadelphia 76ers, the Philadelphia Eagles, and athletes from the UFC and US Olympic programs.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why a chronic tendon injury can come right back, even after eccentric loading or PRP
• Whether a frozen shoulder in menopause is a hormone problem, and one of the first movements Dr. Thomas checks
• Why she works lying on her stomach, and the 10-minute band routine she wrote for an eight-hour desk day
• Why sitting up taller won't fix your posture, and what poor posture tells her about your body
• Why she gives patients shoulder blade exercises for their pelvic floor
• How much a standard squat does for your posterior chain, and the position she wants you in more often
• Why she believes “overuse” injuries are often underuse injuries, and how that changes the way she treats shin splints
• Why needling a clinician's quad and adductors normalized his neck rotation
• What her blood work showed after years of hard training, and the nutrition change she calls her “game changer”

Thank you to our sponsors:

• Manukora - Get 31% off at https://www.manukora.com/drlyon

• Timeline - up to 20% off when you subscribe and save at https://www.timeline.com/lyon

• Bon Charge - Use code DRLYON for 15% off at https://www.boncharge.com

Explore More from Dr. Gabrielle Lyon

Weekly newsletter: Recipes, podcast updates, and practical weekly insights https://drgabriellelyon.com/sign-up/

Apply to become a patient: Personalized care with Dr. Lyon’s clinical team https://drgabriellelyon.com/new-patie...

Find Dr. JJ Thomas at:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjjthomas

• Website: https://primalphysicaltherapy.com/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjjphysicaltherapist/

Connect with Dr. Gabrielle Lyon:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgabriellelyon/

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drgabriellelyon

• Facebook: http://facebook.com/doctorgabriellelyon

• X: http://x.com/drgabriellelyon

• Apply to become a patient – https://drgabriellelyon.com/new-patient-inquiry/

• Weekly newsletter – https://institute-for-muscle-centric-medicine.ck.page

Chapters

00:00 – Posture Myths & Why Sitting Up Straight Fails

02:18 – Treating Root Causes vs. Bandaging Pain

06:48 – The Hazards of Sitting & Reframing Movement as Health

13:39 – The 7 Primal Movement Patterns Every Body Needs

25:28 – Scapular Stability, Pelvic Health, and Primal Movements

39:12 – Fixing Glute Amnesia & Activating the Posterior Chain

51:57 – Why "Overuse" Injuries Are Really Underuse Problems

58:34 – Dry Needling & System-Based Movement Resets

1:13:53 – Dialing in Hormones, Protein, and Metabolic Health

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The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Podcast and YouTube are for general information purposes only and do not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast, YouTube, or materials linked from this podcast or YouTube is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professional for any such conditions.

Will I get too bulky?" No. "Is it too late?" Also no. Here's the context: during the menopause transition, women lose lean mass, gain fat, and their muscle becomes harder to build — the same workout and the same protein meal produce less than they did at 30. For years the only conversation has been hormone therapy, yes or no, as if that were the fix. In Part 2 of her menopause series, Dr. Gabrielle Lyon looks at what the evidence actually says builds muscle back.

In this episode:

-Postmenopausal women can build muscle and strength at any age (Frontiers in Endocrinology)

- Up to 8 lbs of skeletal muscle in 12 weeks (J Nutr Health Aging RCT)

- Anabolic resistance: why the same workout and the same meal produce less after menopause

- "I was wrong": hormone therapy vs. lifting, and the conversations with Dr. Donald Layman

- HRT alone and lean mass: a 0.06 kg difference across 12 trials

- Estradiol plus training: bigger quad and fat-free mass gains, maintained at 12 months

- Lift first — the practical translation while the HRT evidence evolves

- Why protein matters more after menopause, and why 60 g spread thin isn't enough

- The RDA (0.8 g/kg) isn't enough to protect bone; ESCEO's 1–1.2 g/kg floor

- Doubling protein to 1.6 g/kg: more fat lost, more lean mass kept

- The 6-step Forever Strong menopause protocol

Sponsor

David Protein — 28 g of protein, 150 calories, zero sugar → davidprotein.com/drlyon, subscribe to save 10% on every order

Find Dr. Gabrielle Lyon at:

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgabriellelyon/

- TikTok: tiktok.com/@drgabriellelyon

- Facebook: facebook.com/doctorgabriellelyon

- X: x.com/drgabriellelyon

- Apply to become a patient – https://drgabriellelyon.com/new-patient-inquiry/

- Weekly newsletter – https://institute-for-muscle-centric-medicine.ck.page

Chapters:

00:00 Will I get too bulky? Is it too late? Both answers are no

01:09 Postmenopausal women gained up to 8 lbs of muscle in 12 weeks

02:24 Anabolic resistance: more volume, more intensity, more protein

03:34 Hormone therapy or lifting? "I was wrong"

05:16 HRT alone and lean mass: 0.06 kg across 12 trials

06:16 Estradiol amplifies training — it doesn't replace it

07:22 Lift first: what to do while the evidence evolves

10:21 Why protein matters more after menopause (and why 60 g isn't enough)

11:16 The RDA won't protect your bones: the 1–1.2 g/kg floor

12:16 Doubling protein: more fat lost, more lean mass kept

13:22 The Forever Strong protocol, step 1: train 2–3 days a week

14:15 Steps 2–3: 30–50 g protein at first and last meal, impact and loading

15:13 Steps 4–6: hormone therapy with training, body composition, blood work

16:07 You're not alone: the Menopause Challenge

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or create a doctor–patient relationship. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Do not disregard or delay seeking medical advice because of something you heard here.