Starting around age 30, we lose about 1% of our muscle mass each year. But during perimenopause, that number can jump to a staggering 10%. Muscle is one of our most powerful tools for blood sugar balance, bone protection, strength, and longevity.
So what do we do when building muscle gets harder—but we need it more than ever?
Enter Targeted Compression Training —a game-changing approach to fitness that helps us maintain and build muscle, even with lighter weights. In this episode, I sit down with Alex Birks, founder of Suji, a tech-forward company that’s making smart, safe compression training more accessible.
We cover:
What’s the difference between Blood Flow Restriction and Targeted Compression Training (TCT)?
How TCT boosts growth hormone, improves vascularity, and supports brain health
Why it’s ideal for midlife women dealing with hormonal shifts, injuries, or joint issues
What the research says about compression training and menopause
Who shouldn’t use this technology (contraindications you should know)
How Suji is making training safer, smarter, and more affordable as we age
Alex Birks is a robotics engineer, athlete, and founder of Suji, a breakthrough company bringing smart, safe targeted compression training to everyone from pro athletes to everyday movers. A top graduate from Heriot-Watt University with advanced study at Oxford, Alex combines cutting-edge tech with a deep passion for human performance and recovery.
Suji’s compression technology is already used by one-third of U.S. professional sports teams, and now their consumer products are making waves in the wellness and longevity space. Alex’s mission? Help people move pain-free, train smarter, and build strength for life—especially as they age.
10% off code ZORA https://www.trysuji.com/?ref=ZORA
Check the website FAQ for contraindications https://www.trysuji.com/apps/frequently-asked-questions
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In menopause, we may absorb fewer nutrients than before and it’s nearly impossible to get all of our minerals from food alone. Therefore, many of us are getting sicker, with issues like hair loss, anxiety, fatigue, muscle cramps, insulin resistance and other imbalances. I take Beam Minerals, to cover all my bases. Head over to beamminerals.com/zora for 20% off of the entire store.
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One of the easiest hacks I use for improved muscle mass and tissue repair is Kion EAAs, which contains up to 8x more EAAs than whole food protein sources gram for gram. Kion is 40% leucine, which is crucial for optimizing muscle protein synthesis. Grab your EAAs at https://glnk.io/j6vy/hackmyage for 20% off.
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