How Women of 40 Should Train for Fat Loss and Muscle Building with Ben Bruno

This week, I am joined by Ben Bruno—a Los Angeles–based trainer whose client roster ranges from professional athletes to musicians, actors and models. Known for his no-nonsense approach, Ben believes that while every person is different, the principles of good training remain the same: simple, consistent, and effective work tailored to the individual. In this conversation, Ben cuts through the noise of social media fitness trends and breaks down what really works for building strength, staying mobile, and aging well. With nearly two decades of experience, he’s trained stars like Jessica Biel and Chelsea Handler, yet his message applies to anyone with a goal, a positive attitude, and the willingness to work hard. In this episode, Ben Bruno shares why consistency and the basics always outperform flashy trends, and how real-world training differs from what we see online. He breaks down the three pillars of longevity—strength, mobility, and conditioning—explains why full-body workouts often work best, and highlights the key exercises everyone should master. Ben also dives into how women can stay strong and confident into midlife, the dangers of comparison culture, and why sustainable, smart training beats gimmicks every time. *** Subscribe to The Neuro Experience for more conversations at the intersection of brain science and performance. I'm committed to bringing you evidence-based insights that you can apply to your own health journey. *** A huge thank you to my sponsors for supporting this episode. Check them out and enjoy exclusive discounts: Function Health: Learn more and join using our/my link. The first 1000 get a $100 credit toward their membership. Visit ⁠www.functionhealth.com/louisanicola⁠ (http://www.functionhealth.com/louisan...) and use code NEURO100 or use gift code NEURO100 at sign-up to own your health. Troscriptions: Go towww.troscription.com/neuro | Code: NEURO for 10% your first order Ketone IQ: Go to https://ketone.com/NEURO for 30% OFF your subscription order + receive a free gift with your second shipment. Timeline: Head to timeline.com/neuro to get 20% off Beam: Visit https://shopbeam.com/TNE and use code TNE to get our exclusive discount of up to 35% off Honeylove: Save 20% Off Honeylove at honeylove.com/NEURO *** Where to find Ben Bruno Instagram: benbrunotraining Twitter: @benbruno1 Fitness app: https://benbruno.com/start/ *** I’m Louisa Nicola — clinical neuroscientist — Alzheimer’s prevention specialist — founder of Neuro Athletics. My mission is to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into actionable strategies for cognitive longevity, peak performance, and brain disease prevention. If you're committed to optimizing your brain — reducing Alzheimer’s risk — and staying mentally sharp for life, you’re in the right place. Stay sharp. Stay informed. Join thousands who subscribe to the Neuro Athletics Newsletter → https://bit.ly/3ewI5P0 Instagram:   / louisanicola_   Twitter :   / louisanicola_   Topics discussed: 00:00: Consistency over quick fixes; Jessica Biel & Chelsea Handler’s long-term training 05:18: Social media fitness vs. real-world training; flashy trends vs. basics 07:18: Longevity & aging 11:09: Full-body training vs. body-part splits; flexibility & practicality 14:11: Unrealistic fitness standards 20:05: Nutrition & biohacking noise 26:05: Exercise dose & sustainability: overtraining risks, exercise as medicine 29:00: Men vs. women in training; goals vs. needs; injury considerations 35:00: Progressive overload, RPE (rate of perceived exertion), strength testing 42:07 : Essential exercises: Bulgarian split squat, chin-ups (vs. squats/deadlifts) 44:11: Core training, injury prevention, importance of rotational strength