Growing up in sport, this week’s guest was often told her body wasn’t “right”—too muscular, not tall enough, never thin enough—and those messages followed her into adulthood through the pressures of work, marriage, motherhood, and loss. Her turning point came in a hotel gym, where she discovered the power of fueling well, eating enough protein, and lifting heavy. What began as a shift from self-medicating with alcohol to self-empowering with weights eventually led her to bodybuilding, a sport that both celebrates and sometimes complicates women’s bodies. We dig into how eating more can transform health and performance, what it really takes to step on stage, how perimenopause shows up with rage, panic, and fatigue, and why muscle is the “metabolic 401k” every woman needs. This is a conversation about rewriting the script—replacing “small and skinny” with “strong and powerful”—and embracing the bodies we were meant to have. You can learn more about her work at AnneMarieChaker.comAnne Marie Chaker is a veteran journalist and professional bodybuilder. During her two-decade career at The Wall Street Journal, she held reporting jobs all over the paper, from the Journal’s regional editions to the Spot News Desk during the September 11 attack. She has covered everything from politics to news events, consumer trends, education, the workplace, and the major sociological shifts of our time. Chaker lives in the Washington, D.C., area with her partner, Rick; daughters Juliette and Sylvie; and their overeager pup, Ninja. Her latest book is LIFT: How Women Can Reclaim Their Physical Power and Transform Their Lives. Resources:LIFT: How Women Can Reclaim Their Physical Power and Transform Their Lives hereAnne Marie Chaker Substack hereI Never Thought I’d Write This: I Am a Female Bodybuilder, Wall Street Journal I’m 50, in Perimenopause—and About to Compete as a Pro Bodybuilder, Daily BeastSign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feisty.co/feisty-40/Learn More and Register for our 2026 Tucson Bike Camp: https://feisty.co/events/gravel-camp-x-bike-mechanic-school/ Follow Us on Instagram:Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099 Support our Partners:Cozy Earth: Use Code HITPLAY at https://cozyearth.com/ Midi Health: You Deserve to Feel Great. Book your virtual visit today at https://www.joinmidi.com/Nutrisense: Go to nutrisense.io/hitplay and use code: HITPLAY to get 30% offPrevinex: Get 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/ Wahoo KICKR RUN: Use the code FEISTY to get a free Headwind Smart Fan (value $300) with the purchase of a Wahoo KICKR RUN at https://shorturl.at/maTzL

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