In this Friday deep dive recap, Vanessa Spina breaks down the biggest takeaways from her recent interview with leading body composition researcher Dr. Bill Campbell. 🎉 The Memorial Day Sale starts early! Use code MEMORIALDAY40 for 40% off Tone devices & red light therapy, and MEMORIALDAY25 for 25% off the brand new PSMF Library including the digital download, printed book, and 2 months free community access. Visit Ketogenicgirl.com to SAVE BIG! The episode explores one of the most debated t...
May 22, 2026•43 min•Season 1Ep. 795
In this episode, Vanessa Spina is joined again by leading body composition scientist Dr. Bill Campbell for a deep dive into menopause, weight loss resistance, rapid fat loss, protein, muscle preservation, and the newest research coming out of his lab. 🎉 The Memorial Day Sale starts early! Use code MEMORIALDAY40 for 40% off Tone devices & red light therapy, and MEMORIALDAY25 for 25% off the brand new PSMF Library including the digital download, printed book, and 2 months free community acces...
May 18, 2026•1 hr 23 min•Season 1Ep. 794
In this Friday solo recap, Vanessa breaks down the biggest takeaways from her recent interview with Dr. Antonella Schwarz on why the goal should not simply be to lose weight, but to build and preserve muscle. Check out the Protein-Sparing Modified Fasting Library at ketogenicgirl.com and use code VANESSA for 20% off. Vanessa explores the critical difference between weight loss and fat loss, why the scale can be misleading, and how losing weight without resistance training and adequate protein ca...
May 15, 2026•42 min•Season 1Ep. 793
Dr. Antonella Schwarz returns to the Optimal Protein Podcast to discuss her latest study restuls and why building muscle—not simply losing weight—is one of the most powerful things we can do for longevity, metabolic health, and body composition. The PSMF Library is officially live 🎉 👉 Check it out here + get 20% off with code VANESSA In this episode, Vanessa and Dr. Schwarz dive into why the scale can be misleading, why fat loss is not the same as weight loss, and how resistance training helps...
May 11, 2026•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 792
Why do so many people lose weight at first on keto or carnivore… only to eventually stall or even gain weight? In this Friday recap episode, Vanessa breaks down the biggest takeaways from her interview with Craig Emmerich, co-author of The Art of Metabolic Health . She explains why ketosis alone does not guarantee body fat loss, why high dietary fat can prevent the body from tapping into stored fat, and how protein-prioritized keto may be a more effective approach for fat loss and body recomposi...
May 08, 2026•41 min•Season 1Ep. 791
Why do so many people lose weight on keto… only to stall—or even gain it back? In this episode, Vanessa sits down with Craig Emmerich to break down one of the biggest misconceptions in fat loss: that simply eating high fat will keep the weight coming off. Together, they unpack why high-fat keto can stall fat loss, how fuel partitioning actually works, and what your body is being driven to burn based on your macronutrient intake. The PSMF Library is officially live 🎉 👉 Check it out here + get 2...
May 04, 2026•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 790
You've been told to eat more fiber… But what if that's not why you're still hungry? In this Friday recap, Vanessa breaks down the biggest insights from her conversation with Dr. Joanne Slavin — a leading fiber researcher who still says most people are focusing on the wrong thing for fat loss. This episode unpacks why some "high fiber" diets backfire, what actually controls appetite, and the simple shift that makes fat loss feel dramatically easier. 🎯 In This Episode: How much fiber you actually...
May 01, 2026•33 min•Season 1Ep. 789
In this episode, Vanessa sits down with Dr. Joanne Slavin, Professor of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota and one of the most highly cited researchers in nutrition science on fiber, satiety and protein. 👉 Extended one more day: The PSMF Library is available at ketogenicgirl.com — use code PSMFLAUNCHDISCOUNT70 to save $70! With decades of research on dietary fiber, satiety, and nutrition guidelines, Dr. Slavin brings a fresh perspective to a key question in fat loss: 👉 W...
Apr 27, 2026•1 hr 23 min•Season 1Ep. 788
In today's Friday deep dive, Vanessa breaks down one of the most important new studies in fat loss and body recomposition — along with her recent interview with Dr. Eric Helms. This episode explores a cutting-edge meta-regression by Dr. Eric Helms, Dr. Eric Trexler, and Dr. Martin Refalo on protein intake during caloric restriction — and what it means for preserving muscle while losing fat. Last Day to Save on the PSMF Library (Pre-Order) Final hours to lock in the launch pricing 🎉 The PSMF Lib...
Apr 24, 2026•38 min•Season 1Ep. 787
Vanessa Spina is joined by Dr. Eric Helms to break down the latest research on protein intake during fat loss and what it really takes to preserve muscle while dieting. 🔗 PSMF LIBRARY (PRE-ORDER)Time Limited Offer The PSMF Library is officially live for pre-order 🎉 get the LAUNCH discount HERE They discuss Dr. Helms' new meta-regression, whether more protein always leads to better outcomes, how lean mass retention changes depending on body fat level and calorie deficit size, and what the ideal...
Apr 20, 2026•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 786
In this episode, Vanessa breaks down one of the most important conversations on the podcast to date — her interview with Dr. Carlene Starck on newly published research suggesting that protein requirements may be significantly higher than current guidelines. 🔗 PSMF LIBRARY (PRE-ORDER) The PSMF Library is officially live for pre-order 🎉 get the LAUNCH discount HERE Vanessa dives into what this new model reveals about how the body actually uses — and loses — amino acids every day, and why many pe...
Apr 17, 2026•37 min•Season 1Ep. 785
In this episode, Vanessa is joined by Dr. Carlene Starck to break down her newly published research on protein and essential amino acid requirements — and why current recommendations may be too low. 🔗 PSMF LIBRARY (PRE-ORDER)Time Limited Offer The PSMF Library is officially live for pre-order 🎉 get the LAUNCH discount HERE They explore how protein needs have traditionally been calculated, what's been missed (including gut losses and amino acid oxidation), and why this new model suggests higher...
Apr 13, 2026•1 hr 27 min•Season 1Ep. 784
In today's episode, Vanessa breaks down five of the most popular diet protocols of the last 50 years — and compares them directly to Protein-Sparing Modified Fasting (PSMF) days. 🔗 PSMF LIBRARY (PRE-ORDER) The PSMF Library is officially live for pre-order 🎉 get the LAUNCH discount HERE She unpacks: The Bernstein Diet The Zone Diet (40/30/30) The Ornish Diet (very low fat) The HCG very low calorie diet Traditional ketogenic diets But instead of discussing them conceptually, Vanessa focuses on w...
Apr 10, 2026•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 783
The PSMF Library is officially live for pre-order — and I'm so excited to finally share this with you! This is a resource I created based on what worked so effectively for me for fat loss and body recomposition — using a structured, high-protein approach instead of trying to restrict calories every single day. Instead of guessing what to eat or constantly starting over, this framework helps you structure your nutrition across the week — combining higher-protein, lower-energy days with maintenanc...
Apr 10, 2026•26 min•Season 1Ep. 782
In Part 2 of this AMA, Vanessa answers your most asked questions on protein, fat loss, muscle, and metabolism — including digestion issues, emotional eating, protein myths, and how to optimize your intake for better body composition results. 📩 Join the waitlist for Vanessa's upcoming Protein-Sparing Modified Fasting Library and receive the special LAUNCH DISCOUNT! Join HERE If you've been struggling to hit your protein targets, wondering about protein powders vs amino acids, or trying to optimi...
Apr 06, 2026•53 min•Season 1Ep. 780
In this episode, Vanessa breaks down the fasting mimicking diet (FMD) — including the exact calories, macros, and protein intake used in the research — and compares it to higher-protein fat loss approaches like protein-sparing modified fasting (PSMF) days. 📩 Join the waitlist for Vanessa's upcoming Protein-Sparing Modified Fasting Library and receive the special LAUNCH DISCOUNT! Join HERE You'll learn what the science actually shows about fat loss, lean mass preservation, and autophagy, and why...
Apr 03, 2026•47 min•Season 1Ep. 781
In this AMA episode, Vanessa answers your questions on fat loss, protein intake, PSMF, keto, pregnancy nutrition, and muscle preservation. Topics include perimenopause fat loss, protein timing, ketosis myths, GLP-1 considerations, and how to structure high-protein days for body recomposition. 📩 Join the waitlist for Vanessa's upcoming Protein-Sparing Modified Fasting Library and receive the special LAUNCH DISCOUNT! Join HERE If you've been struggling with fat loss — especially during perimenopa...
Mar 30, 2026•43 min•Season 1Ep. 778
Vanessa breaks down a groundbreaking new study on carbs, fat loss, metabolism, and performance — and what it means for high protein, low carb, and ketogenic approaches. 📩 Join the waitlist for Vanessa's upcoming Protein-Sparing Modified Fasting Library and receive the special LAUNCH DISCOUNT! Join HERE Vanessa breaks down one of the most important conversations on fat loss, metabolism, and performance with Dr. Andrew Koutnik. In this episode, she unpacks why fat loss isn't about eating less — i...
Mar 27, 2026•47 min•Season 1Ep. 779
Why protein + ketones reduce hunger, how fat-adapted athletes perform without carbs, and what this new study reveals. Timeline Mitopure Gummies — The #1 Urolithin A supplement for energy and healthy aging, now in delicious strawberry gummies. Get 20% off at timeline.com/vanessa In this episode, Vanessa breaks down one of the most controversial and important new papers in metabolism and sports nutrition with Dr. Andrew Koutnik. From fat loss to performance, this conversation challenges long-held ...
Mar 23, 2026•1 hr 23 min•Season 1Ep. 776
📩 Join the waitlist for Vanessa's upcoming Protein-Sparing Modified Fasting Library and receive the special LAUNCH DISCOUNT! Join HERE What if eating more protein — even more calories — didn't cause fat gain? What if it did the opposite instead? In this episode, Vanessa recaps her conversation with sports nutrition researcher Dr. Jose Antonio, whose groundbreaking studies on protein overfeeding found that people consuming extremely high protein diets did not gain fat — and in some cases lost mo...
Mar 20, 2026•38 min•Season 1Ep. 777
In this episode of the Optimal Protein Podcast, Vanessa sits down with sports nutrition scientist Dr. Jose Antonio, one of the world's leading researchers on protein metabolism and body composition. Dr. Antonio is widely known for his groundbreaking protein overfeeding studies, which found that participants consuming extremely high protein diets did not gain body fat — and in some cases actually lost more fat — even while eating more calories. In this conversation, Vanessa and Dr. Antonio explor...
Mar 16, 2026•50 min•Season 1Ep. 774
📩 Join the waitlist for Vanessa's upcoming Protein-Sparing Modified Fasting Library and receive the special LAUNCH DISCOUNT! Join HERE In this episode, Vanessa Spina breaks down the biggest insights from her recent conversation with Dr. Jason Fung, one of the leading voices in fasting and metabolic health. The episode also covers fasting strategies, emerging research on protein-supported fasting approaches like protein-sparing modified fasting (PSMF), the benefits and limitations of GLP-1 medic...
Mar 13, 2026•45 min•Season 1Ep. 775
In this episode, Vanessa is joined by Dr. Jason Fung, author of The Hunger Code , to unpack the hormonal science behind fat loss — and how fasting may be entering a new era. They start with the three types of hunger and why obesity is not simply about willpower, but disrupted hormonal signaling. We break down insulin's role in fat storage, obesity, and how ultra-processed foods blunt satiety hormones. Vanessa and Dr. Fung also discuss how protein, fiber, and fat affect hunger very differently th...
Mar 09, 2026•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 772
What do elite athletes do differently when it comes to fat loss? In this episode, Vanessa breaks down the most surprising takeaways from her conversation with sports dietitian Emily Mitchell, who has worked with professional teams including UCLA Athletics, the LA Galaxy, the Clippers, and the Buccaneers. While many people think getting lean requires constant dieting, eliminating carbohydrates, and pushing through hunger, elite athletes often take a completely different approach. Vanessa explores...
Mar 06, 2026•41 min•Season 1Ep. 773
What do elite athletes do differently when it comes to fat loss and body composition? In this episode, Vanessa sits down with Emily Mitchell, RD, CSSD, CDCES — former Director of Sports Nutrition at UCLA Athletics, Sports Performance Dietitian for the LA Galaxy, and current Registered Dietitian at Love.Life — to unpack the real nutrition strategies used at the highest levels of sport. You'll learn: The core principles elite athletes use to stay lean while maximizing performance How protein intak...
Mar 02, 2026•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 772
Is fasted cardio really better for fat loss? Or could eating protein before your workout actually improve fat burning, muscle retention, and long-term metabolic health — especially for women? In this deep-dive masterclass recap, Vanessa breaks down the science from her interview with exercise physiologist Dr. Katie Hirsch and unpacks the research on: Fasted vs fed training Essential amino acids before HIIT Muscle quality vs muscle size Intramuscular fat and metabolic dysfunction Perimenopause an...
Feb 27, 2026•34 min•Season 1Ep. 771
Fasted training is one of the most persistent fat-loss myths—and in this episode, Dr. Katie Hirsch breaks down what actually matters for women: training quality, muscle preservation, and metabolic health. We unpack why "burning more fat during a workout" is often the wrong target, and how a small amount of protein (or EAAs) before training can change perceived exertion, improve workout output, and potentially increase post-workout energy expenditure—especially in women who are prone to under-fue...
Feb 23, 2026•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 770
Is fasting really the best way to lose fat — or is there a smarter, more strategic approach? In this masterclass episode, Vanessa introduces a powerful new concept: Protein Fasting — a structured approach using PSMF (Protein-Sparing Modified Fast) days to optimize fat loss, suppress appetite naturally, protect muscle, and potentially tap into fasting-like cellular signaling. 🧠 IQBAR – Try the Ultimate Sampler Pack: IQBARs, IQMIX, and IQJOE! Text VANESSA to 64000 for a 20% off discount code You'...
Feb 20, 2026•55 min•Season 1Ep. 769
Timeline Mitopure Gummies — The #1 Urolithin A supplement for energy and healthy aging, now in delicious strawberry gummies. Get 20% off at timeline.com/vanessa Perimenopause isn't just about estrogen. If you're eating less, working out more, and still gaining belly fat or losing muscle, the real issue may be metabolic — not hormonal. In this episode, Vanessa sits down with Dr. Nicole Huffman to unpack what's actually happening beneath the surface in midlife: rising insulin resistance, stress-dr...
Feb 16, 2026•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 768
Start of episode recap is at 13.41 In today's Friday solocast, Vanessa Spina breaks down the biggest takeaways from her interview with Dr. Paul Moughan—one of the world's leading experts on protein quality, amino acid digestibility, and how much of the protein you eat actually becomes usable by the body. If you've ever wondered why fat loss stalls in a deficit, why muscle can drop even when you "hit your protein," or why metabolic rate seems to slow during dieting—this episode explores a rarely ...
Feb 13, 2026•42 min•Season 1Ep. 767
