Midlife Mayhem

In this episode, Joanne connects several conversations that are often discussed separately — facial fat loss, muscle loss, grip strength, hormones, and rapid weight loss — and explains why they’re all part of the same biological picture in midlife.
Rather than treating these changes as isolated or cosmetic issues, this episode explores what’s really happening underneath: estrogen decline, rising myostatin, changes in muscle quality, and the body’s response to its environment.
Joanne also addresses recent criticism around rapid weight loss and explains why context, duration, and intention matter far more than the label.
In this episode, we cover:
Facial fat & muscle loss
Why facial fat loss accelerates with age — even without weight loss
How estrogen protects facial fat, skin thickness, and structural support
Why rapid weight loss can amplify facial aging when muscle isn’t preserved
The role of muscle tone and connective tissue in facial appearance
Why facial fat doesn’t always return proportionally with weight regain
Grip strength as a health marker
Why grip strength is one of the strongest predictors of aging, independence, and longevity
How grip strength reflects total-body muscle health, not just hands
The role of fast-twitch muscle fibers and why they disappear first with age
How rising myostatin makes muscle harder to maintain in midlife
Why estrogen loss worsens muscle breakdown and neuromuscular efficiency
Why grip strength often declines before visible muscle loss
The shared biology: estrogen & myostatin
How estrogen suppresses myostatin and supports muscle preservation
Why midlife changes create a more catabolic environment
How muscle loss, facial aging, and strength decline are biologically linked
Rapid weight loss — and why context matters
Joanne responds to criticism she received online for discussing rapid weight loss while also running Peak Week – the 5-Day Shred.
She explains:
Why prolonged restriction is the real problem — not short, strategic interventions
Why Peak Week is five days only, by design
That people don’t join Peak Week just to lose weight
People come to Peak Week to:
Reset habits
Re-establish structure and momentum
Get back “in the groove”
Experience the energy and accountability of a focused group
And yes — to see results that are guaranteed
Weight loss is not the only reason Peak Week works — it’s simply a predictable outcome when the body is placed in the right environment.
Why Peak Week works — every time
Joanne explains why Peak Week has such a high repeat rate:
Nearly everyone comes back again and again
Not because it’s extreme — but because it’s effective, structured, and supportive
During Peak Week:
There are 4 coaching calls in 6 days
Topics go far beyond weight loss
It’s an opportunity for Joanne to coach in real time, not just deliver a plan
She shares a real example:A woman who had been eating well and training consistently — without losing a single pound — joined Peak Week and lost 10 pounds.
Not because her body was “broken,” but because it finally experienced the right environment.
Most people aren’t failing.They’re just not in an environment that allows their body to respond.
Final takeaway
Midlife results — whether that’s fat loss, muscle preservation, facial aging, or strength — aren’t about willpower.
They’re about biology, hormones, and environment.
Create the right environment, and the body responds.Every time.
🔔 Call to Action
Peak Week – The 5-Day ShredStarts January 12
👉 www.5dayshred.com

What Compounding Pharmacies Actually Do — Why December 31st Matters — and the GLP-1 Confusion Explained
Before we talk about December 31st, the FDA, or compounded weight-loss medications, this episode starts with something most people misunderstand:
What compounding pharmacies are actually for.
Joanne begins by explaining the original and ongoing role of compounding pharmacies — using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as a clear, long-standing example — before addressing why compounded GLP-1 medications existed temporarily and why that chapter is now closing.
This context matters, because without it, everything happening right now sounds dramatic when it really isn’t.
🔍 What’s Covered in This Episode
🧪 What Compounding Pharmacies Actually Do
Why compounding pharmacies exist in the first place
How compounding is meant to customize medication, not replace FDA-approved drugs
A clear explanation of compounded HRT, including:
Doses that do not exist in FDA-approved products
Patients who need amounts between standard commercial doses
Delivery methods or formulations that FDA products don’t offer
Why testosterone for women is commonly compounded
Why compounded HRT continues to be appropriate and legal:because FDA products cannot meet every individual dosing or formulation need
⚖️ How GLP-1 Compounding Was Different
Why compounded GLP-1 medications were legally allowed during shortages
How compounding pharmacies were permitted to fill a supply gap, not a medical customization gap
Why this was always intended to be temporary
The difference between individualized medical compounding and mass-market convenience compounding
📆 Why December 31st Matters
What actually changed when GLP-1 shortages ended
Why compounding pharmacies were given a wind-down period
Why December 31st became a common operational cutoff
Why this is not a ban, crackdown, or conspiracy — but a return to standard FDA rules
🧠 What This Means Going Forward
Why compounding still exists — but within narrow, patient-specific boundaries
Why GLP-1 mass compounding no longer fits the legal definition once supply stabilized
How fear-based “stock up now” messaging misses the point
Why medication can be a tool — but not a substitute for education, physiology, and behavior
🩺 Personal Update Mentioned in the Episode
Joanne also shares her recent reaction to a change in her thyroid medication, using it as a real-world example of why individualized dosing matters — and why nuance in medicine is often lost in online conversations.
📅 Program Dates for 2026
All program dates for 2026 are now set.
View the full schedule here:👉 www.joannelee2026.com
🧬 One-on-One Peptide Consultations
If you’d like to book a private consultation regarding peptide use, you can contact Joanne directly:
📧 joanne@joannelee.com📱 Text: 208-918-6569
(These consults are educational, individualized, and grounded in physiology — not trends.)
👋 New Here? Start Here.
If you’re new to Joanne’s work and want a low-risk way to experience her coaching style before committing to a longer program, start with one (or both) of these programs:
🔥 The Peak Week — 5 Day Shred
A focused, educational reset that sharpens habits, mindset, and execution.👉 www.5dayshred.com
🧠 The Victory Vault
A foundational program covering body composition, decision-making, and long-term success.👉 www.yourvictoryvault.com
These programs give you a clear feel for how Joanne coaches before stepping into more advanced or longer-term work.
🎧 Final Thought
This episode isn’t about losing access — it’s about understanding how compounding was meant to work, why GLP-1 compounding filled a temporary gap, and why returning to clear boundaries actually protects patients.
Clarity beats panic.Education beats outrage.

Today’s episode was sparked by a Medscape article that immediately grabbed my attention. The headline essentially said that set point weight does not seem to decrease with the use of GLP-1 medications.
If you’re taking Semaglutide, Tirzepatide, or any of the current weight-loss medications, that line alone is enough to make your heart skip a beat. For many people, these medications have felt like the first time in their lives that their hunger was quiet, their cravings were manageable, and their weight finally responded. So when you hear that set point may not actually change — that the body might be waiting to crawl right back to its original weight — the fear becomes very real.
But like most things in physiology, the headline didn’t tell the whole story.And that’s what this episode unpacks.
What Set Point Actually Is — And Isn’t
Set point is often described as the weight your body “likes” to sit at, but that’s far too simplistic. Your body isn’t trying to sabotage you; it’s trying to protect you. Deep in your brain — specifically the hypothalamus — you have a kind of metabolic thermostat. It constantly monitors hormones, nutrient availability, inflammation, hunger cues, stress levels, and even the kinds of foods you routinely eat. All of this information is used to determine what weight range the body feels safest maintaining.
When you drop below that range, or lose weight quickly, the brain interprets it as a potential threat. Hunger rises. Cravings intensify. Food becomes more rewarding. Energy levels dip. Your metabolism slows. Your movement decreases without you even noticing. These aren’t character flaws — they’re ancient survival mechanisms.
And here’s the part that matters most:your set point is not permanent.It adapts based on your physiology. Your environment. Your habits. Your muscle mass. Your food quality. Your inflammation levels. Your stress. Your sleep. Your blood sugar stability.
Your set point can shift up or down — but it doesn’t shift just because you lost weight. It shifts when the biology underneath the weight changes.
So Where Do GLP-1 Medications Fit Into All of This?
GLP-1 medications do something incredibly powerful: they create the feeling of a lower set point. Hunger drops. Fullness increases. Cravings go quiet. Food stops dominating your thoughts. You feel in control. You naturally eat less because your biology finally lets you.
But it’s critical to understand why this happens.
GLP-1s don’t magically reset the metabolic thermostat.They simply turn down the noise that makes weight loss nearly impossible for some people.
They reduce hunger signals, slow digestion, balance blood sugar, dampen reward-driven eating, and improve certain hormonal pathways. While you’re on the medication, your body behaves as though it has a lower defended weight. You’re in the zone. You’re losing weight. Everything feels easier.
But — and this is exactly what the Medscape article was pointing to —once the medication is removed, the underlying system is still the same. If the physiology that created the higher set point hasn’t changed, the body will start nudging you back up toward where it felt safe before. Hunger returns. Cravings return. The pace of eating speeds up. You start thinking about food again. You don’t get as full as quickly. The thermostat simply goes right back to its previous setting.
This is why so many people regain weight after stopping GLP-1s.It isn’t because the medication “stopped working.”It’s because the set point didn’t shift, and the hunger cues were only being temporarily managed.
So What Does Lower a Set Point?
This is where physiology and lifestyle meet.
If you want the weight to stay off — with or without medication — your biology has to change in ways that make your brain feel safe at a lower weight. And that doesn’t come from being hungry. It comes from being metabolically supported.
Muscle is one of the biggest drivers. The more muscle you carry, the more efficiently you handle glucose, the more stable your metabolism becomes, and the less defensive your body is about holding fat. Protein intake matters for the same reason — it improves satiety, stabilizes cravings, and helps maintain lean mass.
Movement — especially strength training — tells the body, “We’re active, we’re strong, and we are not in a famine.” That’s when your metabolism relaxes and your appetite becomes more biologically appropriate.
Blood sugar stability matters enormously. When glucose swings up and down, cravings and hunger spikes follow — and your body fights to get back to the heavier weight where it felt more stable.
Even inflammation plays a part. A highly inflamed body is a defensive body. It clings. It protects. It stores. Lower inflammation sends the opposite signal:we’re safe, we’re nourished, we can let go.
None of these changes come from medication alone.The medication simply gives you the breathing room — the quiet — to build the habits that actually shift your biology.
So… Was Medscape Right?
In a way, yes.GLP-1 medications don’t appear to lower the set point by themselves.
But the interpretation matters.It doesn’t mean GLP-1s are ineffective.It doesn’t mean you’re doomed to regain weight.It doesn’t mean the medication “failed.”
It simply means this:
GLP-1s press pause on the hunger drive long enough for you to build the habits that actually lower your set point for good.
This is why coaching, education, nutrition, movement, sleep, and stress regulation matter so much during GLP-1 use. Because the medication lowers the volume, but you build the new metabolic environment.
And when the metabolic environment changes, the set point changes.When the set point changes, the weight stays off.
If You’re Using GLP-1s Right Now — Or Planning To — You Need Support
You need someone to teach you the physiology, guide your nutrition, protect your muscle, structure your training, and make sure you are lowering your set point while the medication gives you the space to do it.
This is exactly what my programs are designed for.
My January programs and my 10-month elite mentorship (beginning March 1st) are for people who want the science, the clarity, and the plan — not the fluff.
You can learn more at:
👉 www.JoanneLee.com
And if you want to ask me anything personally, or you’re trying to figure out the best way to use GLP-1s without falling into the regain cycle:
📩 Email me directly at joanne@joannelee.com

Testosterone therapy is exploding in popularity, especially among midlife women — but how you take testosterone dramatically affects how it works in your body.
In this episode, Joanne breaks down the three major delivery systems — transdermal creams, oral lozenges, and injections — and explains why some women are now being told they’re “poor absorbers” and switched to oral or injectable forms.
You’ll learn:
Why women may not respond to topical testosterone (and why “poor absorber” is often misdiagnosed)
How creams differ from orals in absorption, side effects, and DHT conversion
Why oral lozenges feel strong quickly — and the real reason they spike DHT
Why injections seem aggressive but actually deliver the smoothest hormonal profile
Which delivery system works best depending on your goals, symptoms, and physiology
How men differ in absorption and why some men do brilliantly on gels while others might as well bathe in them
How dosing, metabolism, and estrogen/testosterone balance influence results
How to talk to your provider about choosing the right method
This episode is a must-listen for any woman navigating midlife hormones — and for men who want to understand why their therapy may or may not be working.
💉 Delivery Systems Explained
Joanne breaks down:
1. Transdermal Creams
Gentle, steady, least DHT-converting
Great for subtle libido, mood, strength improvements
Why absorption varies wildly between women
When creams are not enough
2. Oral Lozenges
Fast-acting, potent, and sharp
More likely to spike DHT
Why these are often a solution for “non-responders” — but come with caveats
The classic “love it or hate it” delivery method
3. Injections
The smoothest and most predictable system
Lowest DHT spikes compared to oral
Best for consistent energy, stable mood, and strong results
Why smaller, more frequent microdoses are often ideal for women
🔥 Who This Episode Is For
Women feeling under-dosed or inconsistent on testosterone cream
Women newly prescribed oral testosterone and unsure what to expect
Anyone concerned about androgenic symptoms like acne, hair shedding, or irritability
Men frustrated with gels or creams
Anyone navigating TRT/HRT and wanting real science without fear or fluff
👀 Want More Like This?
This episode is part of Joanne’s in-depth midlife education series. If you love detailed, physiology-first coaching — not surface-level soundbites — you’ll love what’s coming next.
🌐 Explore the New Website
My brand-new website is live (not fully finished, but go have a peek):👉 www.joannelee.com
This is where all upcoming programs, courses, podcasts, and resources will live.

In this episode of Midlife Mayhem, Joanne breaks down one of the most misunderstood concepts in the supplement and peptide world: half-life — the amount of time it takes for half of a substance to leave your system.
Half-life is the key that determines:
how often you should take something
whether a pill works better than an injection
why weekly injections make sense for some compounds
and why weekly injections are completely useless for others
With everyone experimenting with B12 injections, peptides, thyroid meds, GLP-1 weight-loss medications, and metabolic enhancers, understanding half-lives is crucial. It is the difference between a protocol that WORKS and one that’s pure wishful thinking.
Joanne walks you through real-life examples — from caffeine to thyroid hormones — then explains why short half-life peptides like 5-Amino-1MQ and SLU-PP-332 must be taken in ways that match their rapid clearance times.
If you want to be your own health advocate, understand your protocols, and stop wasting money on things taken the wrong way… this episode will change how you see every supplement and injectable.
🧪 Key Topics Covered
✔ What “half-life” actually means
Simple explanation
Why it determines dosing schedules
Why clearance time ≠ half-life
✔ Half-lives of everyday substances
Caffeine: 5–7 hours
Melatonin: 20–50 minutes
Nicotine: ~2 hours
✔ Hormones & metabolism examples
Thyroid (T4): ~7 days
T3: ~24 hours
Cortisol: ~90 minutes
✔ GLP-1 medications (Ozempic, Mounjaro)
Why once-weekly injections make perfect sense
How the 5–7 day half-life prevents daily swings
✔ The BIG mistake people are making
Joanne exposes the trend of taking fast-clearing peptides or compounds once a week, despite half-lives of 4–6 hours — making the protocol physiologically pointless.
✔ Short half-life peptides
These require consistent dosing for meaningful effect:
5-Amino-1MQ → ~4–6 hour half-life
Learn more at: www.5amino.com
SLU-PP-332 → ~4 hour half-life
Learn more at: www.slu332.com
Understanding these half-lives helps you choose the correct delivery method and the correct dosing frequency so your results match your intentions.
🔗 Resources Mentioned in This Episode
5-Amino-1MQ Information → www.5amino.com
SLU-PP-332 Information → www.slu332.com
My new website (still being finished but take a peek!) → www.joannelee.com
📣 Upcoming Programs & Announcements
✨ January Programs Start the 3rd Week of January
If you want 2025 to be the year you take full control of your health, metabolism, and body composition, Joanne’s programs begin again in mid-January.Spots fill quickly — keep your eye on www.joannelee.com for updates.
🔥 The 10-Month Elite Mentorship — Starts March 1
(Originally planned for February, but the new website is taking a little longer — and it needs to be perfect.)
Joanne is inviting 10 women who are ready for a new life experience:
Not a quick fix
Not a shortcut
A 10-month immersive mentorship
Deep coaching, retreats, advanced training, and complete physiological transformation
For women whose commitment matches their desire
If this is you… March 1 is your starting line.
More details coming soon on www.joannelee.com

🔍 Episode Overview
Joanne Lee Cornish explores two massive wellness categories — green powders and fiber supplements — breaking down real science, real efficacy, and real value. She helps you make informed decisions, avoid marketing fluff, and invest in what actually works.
🧬 What You’ll Learn
The manufacturing differences between whole-plant powders, juice powders, and cheap heat-dried powders
Why processing method determines how effective a green powder actually is
The truth about sulforaphane: how it’s made, how to ensure you’re getting it, and why so many products don’t
The roles of fiber in midlife: gut health, hormones (especially estrogen metabolism), insulin sensitivity, weight control, satiety
Why fiber supplements can be inexpensive yet powerful — and how to avoid overpriced fluff
A clear framework for purchasing: what to buy, how much to pay, what to avoid
🌱 GREEN POWDERS — BRANDS & VALUE GUIDE
✅ Premium Tier (High-quality, “buy if you’re serious”)
Vibrant Health – Green Vibrance: Whole-food powders + probiotics + enzymes; transparent dosing.
Thorne Daily Greens: Clean manufacture, third-party tested, reliable.
Biotics Research – Sulforaphane / SFE-Branded Extracts: Not a generic “greens powder” but one of the only ones that actually delivers sulforaphane.
AG1 (Athletic Greens): Big brand, high price, good quality—but you’re paying convenience + marketing.
🏷 Mid Budget Tier (Good value)
Amazing Grass Greens Blend: Whole-food based, more affordable; not highest potency but decent.
NOW Foods Super Greens: Basic formula, clean brand, budget-friendly.
Primal Harvest Primal Greens: Balanced formula, solid value.
⚠️ Caution / Avoid Unless You Know What You’re Buying
Essential-oil companies doing greens powders (e.g., doTERRA Greens): Overpriced, questionable processing, poor taste.
Powders made mostly from barley grass/wheatgrass juice powders: Low fiber, low matrix, low potency.
Products claiming “sulforaphane” without listing myrosinase or stabilized compounds: Likely empty claim.
Any greens powder that uses “proprietary blend” to hide dosages: You don’t know what you’re paying for.
🧾 Quick Brand Comparison Table
Brand
Price Tier
Fiber Content / Indicators
Remark
Vibrant Health
Premium
Higher fiber, full-food matrix
Top performance
Thorne
Premium
Moderate fiber, clean label
Medical grade
AG1
Premium / convenience
Moderate
Good but pricey
Amazing Grass
Mid
Moderate–Low
Value starter
doTERRA Greens
Premium price
Low fiber
Taste & value caution
Generic superfood blends
Budget price
Low transparency
Risk of low effectiveness
🧾 FIBER SUPPLEMENTS — BRANDS & VALUE GUIDE
✅ Best Value / Most Effective
Doctor’s Best Prebiotic Powder (Sunfiber® PHGG): Clean, effective, affordable.
Bluebonnet Sunfiber® Prebiotic Soluble Fiber: Same core ingredient, budget friendly.
NOW Foods Psyllium Husk: Viscous fiber, highly effective for satiety, gut motility.
Metamucil Sugar-Free: Proven brand, basic but reliable.
🎯 Premium / Specialty Tier
Sunfiber® (Stick Packs / Travel Versions): Convenience format, slightly higher cost.
Essential Stacks Sunfiber + Acacia Blend: Layered fiber types for more advanced gut support.
Bob’s Red Mill Potato Starch: Resistant starch, metabolic benefits—not just a “fiber drink.”
⚠️ Brands/Formats to Avoid
Fiber gummies (low gram dose + sugar)
Detox “fiber drinks” with senna, cascara (not true fiber)
Influencer-priced blends ($60–$100) with handful of grams of fiber and big marketing
Any “fiber” product with <4g per serving unless clearly intended as microdose
🧾 Quick Brand Comparison Table
Brand
Price
Fiber Type
Key Benefits
Doctor’s Best Sunfiber®
~$20-30
PHGG (soluble, fermentable)
Excellent value
Bluebonnet Sunfiber®
~$20
PHGG
Same core, budget variant
NOW Psyllium Husk
~$15-25
Viscous soluble
Satiety, gut motility
Metamucil Sugar-Free
~$25-30
Psyllium
Proven history
Essential Stacks Sunfiber+Acacia
~$30-35+
PHGG + acacia (dual fiber)
Advanced gut support
Gummies / Detox blends
~$40+
Mixed or under-dosed
Low value
📣 SPECIAL THANKSGIVING OFFER — LISTENER EXCLUSIVE
For a limited time:5-Amino-1MQ and SLU-PP-332 are available at discount.
👉 Visit my home page: www.theshrinkshop.comScroll down to find both products.
Use discount code: THANKSGIVINGOffer expires Thanksgiving Day.
Keep an eye out: you can get 5-Amino-1MQ for as low as $106 per bottle (regularly $139).
🌐 NEW WEBSITE LAUNCHING SOON
My brand-new website www.joannelee.com is almost ready.Big things coming in the new year.
Special thanks to Reham for building it and prepping the marketing — reach out to him if you need tech/marketing support:📧 octagon.ghl@gmail.com
💌 THANK YOU (From Me to You)
Happy Thanksgiving to you — who listens, learns, shows up.When I started this podcast I was just talking into the void.Now thousands of you tune in.It means everything.
I’m deeply grateful for your time, your curiosity, your willingness to think critically.
Here’s to smart supplements, strong bodies, clear minds — and choices we make with intention.
— Joanne Lee Cornish 🧡

🎙 SHOW NOTES — “PCOS Doesn’t End at 30: The Midlife Metabolic Storm No One Warned Us About”
Most women only hear about PCOS in their teens or twenties — when cycles are irregular, acne is flaring, weight is piling onto the midsection, and fertility becomes a concern.But here’s the truth:
👉 PCOS does NOT disappear.👉 Symptoms simply shift.👉 And midlife can amplify everything that was simmering beneath the surface for decades.
In this episode of Midlife Mayhem, Joanne breaks down the real metabolic story behind PCOS — not the simplified, fertility-focused version most women are handed in their early years.
You’ll learn:
💥 Why PCOS is a metabolic condition first — reproductive second
PCOS fundamentally affects insulin, inflammation, and cortisol long before it affects fertility. Those root issues follow women into midlife even when cycle symptoms fade.
💥 Why some symptoms seem to “improve” with age — and why that’s misleading
Regular cycles and clearer skin don’t mean PCOS is gone. It simply means estrogen and progesterone have shifted, masking reproductive symptoms while worsening metabolic ones.
💥 How midlife hormones collide with PCOS physiology
This is the perfect storm no one talks about.Declining estrogen + progesterone + long-standing insulin resistance = intensified midsection fat gain, inflammation, cravings, fatigue, and higher cardiometabolic risk.
💥 The hidden PCOS symptoms many women mistake for “just menopause”
Afternoon crashes, carb cravings, stubborn belly fat, worsening triglycerides, glucose instability, and unexplained inflammation — these aren’t random. They’re PCOS physiology expressing itself in a new hormonal landscape.
💥 Why PCOS is more important, not less, after 40
When estrogen drops, insulin resistance rises.When muscle declines, metabolic flexibility crashes.And when progesterone disappears, inflammation spikes.Midlife magnifies every mechanism behind PCOS.
💥 The good news: midlife is the BEST time to correct PCOS physiology
With the chaos of cycles behind them, women can finally address PCOS with precision:strength training, protein prioritization, carb timing, gut repair, insulin management, targeted supplementation, GLP-1 support, and HRT where appropriate.
This episode is packed with the depth, physiology, and straight-talk education that midlife women deserve — and rarely receive.
🔗 Resources & Links
✨ 5-Amino-1MQ — Metabolic, energy & body composition support👉 www.5amino.com
✨ SLU-PP-332 (“Exercise in a Bottle”) — A next-generation mitochondrial & longevity compound👉 www.slu332.com
✨ Joanne’s New Website (80% complete — launching soon!)👉 www.joannelee.com
✨ To connect with Joanne directly:📩 joanne@joannelee.com

The Cult of the Needle: Why Everyone’s Injecting Everything — and Why You Don’t Need To
In this episode of Midlife Mayhem, Joanne dives into one of the wildest cultural shifts in modern health and fitness:how we went from terrified of needles to injecting everything in sight — from weight loss medications to peptides, and now, even experimental compounds.
A few years ago, the idea of self-injecting anything was unthinkable.Today? People proudly post their peptide stacks like they’re Michelin-star meals.But somewhere in all this newfound syringe enthusiasm, we’ve lost sight of something important:the delivery system doesn’t determine the result — the mechanism does.
💉 Inside This Episode
This is a deep, science-backed, myth-busting conversation for anyone curious about:
Why injectable doesn’t automatically mean superior
The real reason scientists use injections in research — and why that doesn’t translate to better human results
How 5-Amino-1MQ and SLU-PP-332 actually work at the cellular level
The difference between spikes and stability in metabolism and fat oxidation
How oral delivery can often outperform injections by providing consistent activation instead of biochemical chaos
Why small, lipophilic molecules like 5-Amino-1MQ and SLU-PP-332 thrive in oral form — and what that means for energy, endurance, and longevity
The hidden risks of home-mixed injectables (purity, solvents, contamination, degradation)
Why consistency, not intensity, is what drives results in body composition and performance
🧠 The Takeaway
Injectables look hardcore.They feel scientific.But for many compounds — especially small molecules designed to work through long-term cellular signaling — oral delivery isn’t a compromise. It’s often the smarter, safer, and more sustainable route.
The body doesn’t care how fast something hits your bloodstream; it cares how well it integrates into your system.And that’s where the hype ends and the science begins.
⚡ Key Quotes
“Injectables were designed for lab control, not lifestyle performance.”
“Needles spike. Capsules sustain. And for long-term results — stability wins.”
“We’ve glamorized the syringe, but metabolism doesn’t need theater — it needs consistency.”
🧬 Want to Learn More?
Explore the science, studies, and benefits behind these two groundbreaking compounds:👉 www.5amino.com — Learn about 5-Amino-1MQ and how it supports metabolism, energy, and muscle preservation.👉 www.slu332.com — Discover SLU-PP-332, the endurance molecule known as “exercise in a bottle.”
And for more in-depth discussions on midlife performance, muscle, and metabolism:🎥 Subscribe to my YouTube channel — @JoanneLeeCornish

🎙️ Episode Title:
“Sore but Not Growing: Why Pain Isn’t Proof of Progress”
💡 Full Episode Summary (for Readers)
We’ve been taught to wear soreness like a badge of honor.If you can’t sit down after leg day, that’s proof you “did it right,” right?Wrong.
Soreness is inflammation — not progress.It’s a sign your muscles are repairing micro-tears, not necessarily adapting or growing stronger. In fact, constant soreness can be a red flag: poor recovery, hormonal imbalance, or even overtraining.
Let’s unpack it all.
1️⃣ What Soreness Really Is
That post-workout ache — called DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) — is your immune system’s inflammatory response to microscopic damage in muscle fibers, especially from eccentric (lowering) phases of movement.Think walking downhill, controlling a squat on the way down, or those long negative reps everyone swears by.
Your body rushes repair crews — fluid, enzymes, and immune cells — to the scene. The result: tight, swollen, tender muscles.It feels productive, but it’s not a direct measure of effectiveness. You can grow without pain — and you can be wrecked for days and make zero progress.
2️⃣ Why You’re Sore (and Still Not Growing)
Soreness doesn’t always mean success. It usually means you did something new, not necessarily something optimal.
Here’s why:
Novelty – New exercises, new volume, new tempos. Your body isn’t used to it, so inflammation spikes.
Eccentric overload – Lowering weights slowly or training deep into stretch under load causes more micro-tears. Great tool, bad habit if overused.
Volume creep – “One more set” becomes five more sets. Without recovery, your muscles stay in repair mode and never shift into growth mode.
Under-fueling – Low protein, low calories, or poor hydration prolong recovery and amplify soreness.
So that crippling soreness you’re proud of?That’s your body saying, “I’m still fixing what you broke last week.”
3️⃣ Who Gets the Most Sore
Beginners: Every move is new — soreness is brutal but short-lived.
The ‘Back-from-a-Break’ crowd: Two weeks off? Welcome to DOMS-ville.
Variety junkies: Constantly changing workouts prevents adaptation. Your body never learns efficiency.
Under-fed or over-stressed lifters: Low fuel and high cortisol = chronic soreness.
Midlife athletes: Slower repair mechanisms mean you’ll feel sore longer. It’s not age weakness — it’s physiology.
4️⃣ Should You Train When You’re Sore?
Depends.
Mild soreness: Move — it boosts blood flow and recovery.
Moderate soreness: Train something else or reduce volume.
Severe soreness: Rest. If it changes your form, you’re one rep away from injury.
The goal isn’t to crawl out of the gym — it’s to keep coming back.Consistency outperforms intensity every time.
5️⃣ When Soreness Becomes a Warning Sign
If you’re always sore, you’re not recovering — you’re overtraining.This isn’t dedication. It’s dysfunction.
Chronically sore athletes often show:
Elevated cortisol (stress hormone that blocks muscle repair)
Suppressed testosterone and DHEA
Low thyroid output (T3)
High CRP and CK (blood markers of inflammation and muscle breakdown)
Fatigue, poor sleep, brain fog, and mood swings
If this sounds like you, stop chasing soreness and start chasing balance.You’re not getting fitter — you’re getting inflamed.
6️⃣ How to Reduce Soreness and Actually Grow
Increase training volume gradually — no 50% jumps overnight.
Eat 30–40g of protein per meal.
Add carbs pre- and post-workout to lower cortisol and replenish glycogen.
Hydrate like an athlete — recovery slows when you’re dehydrated.
Prioritize sleep — it’s when growth hormone peaks.
Use tools like red light therapy, sauna, or massage to enhance recovery.
Stick with your plan. Constantly switching workouts keeps you sore and stagnant.
7️⃣ Bloodwork Clues
Your labs often tell the real story.If you’re training hard but always sore, ask your doctor about:
Cortisol (AM levels) – chronic elevation = catabolism.
DHEA/Testosterone – low levels = poor repair potential.
Ferritin/B12 – energy and oxygen transport markers.
CRP/CK – inflammation and muscle damage indicators.
T3/Reverse T3 – thyroid efficiency under stress.
These numbers explain more about your soreness than your workouts ever could.
8️⃣ The Big Takeaway
Soreness isn’t the goal. Adaptation is.Real progress doesn’t come from pain — it comes from stimulus, recovery, and consistency.Muscle grows when you give your body enough stress to signal growth, and enough recovery to make it happen.
Stop chasing the ache. Start mastering the process.
💌 Work With Joanne: A Perfect 10
If you love the depth and science in this episode, imagine applying that precision to your own health.
Joanne is now accepting applications for A Perfect 10, her exclusive 10-month mentorship beginning February 2026.
Ten women. Ten months.A master-level experience covering hormones, training, nutrition, mindset, and midlife mastery — built for women who refuse to fade quietly.
If you’re ready to understand your physiology, master your metabolism, and feel stronger than ever,email Joanne directly at joanne@joannelee.com for details.

🎙️ Episode Title:
“Hormones Off the Hook: What the FDA’s New Decision Means for Women, HRT, and the Future of Menopause Care”
💡 Episode Summary:
For decades, women have been warned that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is risky business — linked to heart disease, cancer, and every imaginable midlife horror story.
But that narrative just flipped.
In a landmark move, the FDA has lifted the black box warnings from many HRT products — a long-overdue acknowledgment that the old data was outdated, misunderstood, and unnecessarily fear-inducing.
In this episode, Joanne breaks down:
🔍 What the FDA actually did — and how it changes the landscape for women in midlife.
⚖️ Why the original warnings were wrong for most women and what new research reveals about timing, dosage, and delivery.
💊 The arrival of a new non-hormonal medication (Lynkuet / Elinzanetant) for hot flashes and night sweats — and who it’s perfect for.
🧬 How all of this impacts your hormones, body composition, recovery, and long-term health.
This episode is your science-based, hype-free breakdown of one of the most important updates in women’s health in decades.
🎯 Why You’ll Want to Listen:
If you’ve ever been told HRT is “too risky,” or you’ve suffered through hot flashes, mood swings, or sleepless nights because you thought you had no options — this conversation changes everything.
It’s time to replace fear with facts and take control of midlife on your terms.
💌 Work With Joanne:
Joanne is now accepting applications for her exclusive 10-month mentorship, A Perfect 10, starting February 2026.
Ten women. Ten months.A deep-dive journey into hormones, training, nutrition, mindset, and the science of midlife mastery.
If you’re ready to look, feel, and live at your absolute best — email Joanne directly at joanne@joannelee.com for details.