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The mindbodygreen Podcast

615: How to fuel smarter, train better, & build lean muscle in midlife | Ashley Damaj, BCBA, CPT

The mindbodygreen Podcast

mindbodygreen

Alternative Health, Health & Fitness

4.52.1K Ratings

🗓️ 14 September 2025

⏱️ 65 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

“When you gain muscle mass, a lot of other things begin to happen,” explains Ashley Damaj, BCBA, MSW, CN, CPT.  Ashley Damaj, BCBA, MSW, CN, CPT, board-certified behavior analyst, nutritionist, therapist, trainer, and the founder of Mothership Wellness, joins us today to break down what it really takes to change your body and your habits, covering everything from behavior patterns and mindset shifts to muscle-building, nutrition, and sustainable routines for women. Plus:  - Damaj’s background (~2:30) - How to create long-term, sustainable change (~4:30) - How to increase lean muscle mass & decrease body fat (~6:45) - Holistic vs fitness nutrition (~8:30) - Understanding motivations & limitations (~13:38) - How to achieve your goals (~16:45) - Finding trusted experts on social media (~19:00) - Finding joy (~21:00) - Carving out time to work out for busy moms (~23:45) - How to model positive habits (~30:20) - Changing your perspective on weight loss (~33:15) - The importance of pre- & post-workout nutrition (~35:55) - The best way to do cardio (~40:00) - Rules of resistance training (~40:50) - Alternate strength vs. hypertrophy training (~41:00) - Increasing volume (~46:50) - Sets, reps, & weight (~19:50) - The power of functional training (~55:55) - The importance of mindset (~56:50) - The best way to optimize body composition (~59:50) - Don’t forget carbs (~1:00:00) - The importance of water & hydration (~1:01:50) Referenced in the episode:  - Follow her on Instagram (@mothershipwellness)   - Check out her company, Mothership Wellness (https://www.mothershipwellnessinc.com/)    - Work with her (https://www.mothershipwellnessinc.com/coaching)   - Don’t miss out on these free resources:    - Free Boss Mom's 5-Day Challenge - Life Satisfaction Survey - Vision Board Template We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: podcast@mindbodygreen.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Welcome to the My Buddy Green podcast. I'm Jason Wacob, founder and co-CEO of My Buddy Green, and your host.

0:07.3

This episode of the MBG podcast was created in partnership with Haven Well Within. Haven Well Within is a one-stop shop for everything you need to elevate your well-being routine.

0:17.3

With their thoughtful collection of loungeware, activeware, sleepware, intemates,

0:21.2

home goods, and beauty essentials, you can make every moment feel more intentional, more grounded,

0:25.7

and more you. Because comfort isn't just a luxury, it's a daily ritual that supports your

0:30.8

overall well-being. Right now, you can get $10 off every $50 you spend at havenwellwithin.com slash MBG with code MBG 10 now through Sunday,

0:43.0

September 28th. That's H-A-V-E-N-W-E-L-L-W-I-T-H-I-N.com slash MBG using code MBG 10, b g 10 t-en see our show notes for more information most of us know what to do when

1:05.3

it comes to our health but the real challenge is actually doing it and then sticking with it that's why

1:10.6

today's guest,

1:11.7

Ashley DeMage, takes a different approach. Ashley is the go-to here in Miami for anyone looking

1:17.7

to take their training up a notch. With credentials spanning from behavior analysis and nutrition

1:22.6

to resistance training and therapy, Ashley brings an unparalleled, integrative approach to coaching,

1:28.4

and not to mention, she is my wife, Colleen's trainer, and Colleen has incredibly high standards.

1:34.4

I've seen firsthand how she's transformed Colleen's muscle strength. And today, Ashley explains why

1:40.3

mindset, environment, and behavior cues are just as critical as macros and movement,

1:45.1

and how finding joy in your routine may be the most overlooked lever for success.

1:50.2

We'll also get to the tactical. From her go-to workouts and nutrition hacks to the best way

1:54.8

to build muscle, eat for body recomposition, and avoid common pitfalls. Whether you're looking

2:00.2

to build lean muscle, feel empowered,

2:02.2

or finally make your healthy habits stick, this episode is packed with wisdom. Let's get to it.

2:11.0

So you're a behavioral therapist, nutritionist, trainer, bodybuilding competitor, and mom. What was the catalyst that brought these

2:20.8

roles together into what you do today? You left drug addict and high school dropout off that

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