Podcast
Flipping 50 the Stronger Way
Hosted by Debra Atkinson · EN
The podcast for women in menopause and beyond who want to change the way they age. Fitness, wellness, and health science put into practical tips you can use today. You still got it, girl!
65episodes
Episodes
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Recovery Capacity in Menopause: 4 Studies Revealing Why Rest Isn’t Enough
Feb 1300:26:28Tap to summarizeThis episode is sponsored by Qualia. Take control of your cellular health today. Go to https://qualialife.com/FLIPPING to get 50% off and save an extra 15% with the code FLIPPING. Other Episodes You Might Like: Previous Episode - What Every Woman Over 50 Needs To Know About Weight Loss and Anti Aging More Like This: Why You Are or Aren’t Sore After Workouts — What does Menopause Really Have to Do With It Why Your Daily Workouts Are Making You Weaker After 50 Are Your Hormones Out of Balance? Resources: Don’t know where to start? Book your Discovery Call with Debra. Leave this session with insight into exactly what to do right now to make small changes, smart decisions about your exercise time and energy. Join the Flipping50 Insiders Facebook Group. Connect with other women navigating menopause fitness and get daily tips and support. Use Flipping 50 Scorecard & Guide to measure what matters with an easy at-home self-assessment test you can do in minutes. Recovery capacity in menopause is one of the most misunderstood reasons women feel sore, flat, or stuck—even when they’re doing “all the right things.” Let’s break down four compelling research studies that challenge the idea that menopause makes you fragile, slow to recover, or incapable of training hard. You’ll discover why rest alone isn’t the answer—and how sleep, stress, hormones, and training history quietly change the cost of your workouts. If you’ve been pushing harder but seeing fewer results, this conversation may flip what you think you know about recovery on its head. Recovery capacity in menopause isn’t about doing less—it’s about doing what actually works now. If this episode made you flip your workout routine — share it! 👉 Post to your stories, tag @Flipping50TV in Instagram and share the episode to your best friend. 👉 Meet other women, who are done with outdated fitness advice, at Flipping50 Facebook Group. 👉 Subscribe, share, and leave a review if you’re ready to flip the script on Flipping 50 The Stronger Way.
Transcribe →What Every Woman Over 50 Needs To Know About Weight Loss and Anti Aging
Feb 1001:16:09Tap to summarizeThis episode is sponsored by LMNT and Sundays. LMNT - Get a free 8-count Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular drink mix flavors with any purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/FLIPPING50. Sundays - Make the switch to Sundays. Go right now to https://sundaysfordogs.com/FLIPPING50 and get 50% off your first order. Or, you can use code FLIPPING50 at checkout. Other Episodes You Might Like: Previous Episode - Does Hormonal Phase and Training Intensity Change How Hard You Can Train? New Science Finally Tested It Next Episode - Recovery Capacity in Menopause: 4 Studies Revealing Why Rest Isn’t Enough More Like This - Lose Weight in Menopause Faster and Easier Than You Ever Thought Possible Resources: Don’t know where to start? Book your Discovery Call with Debra. Leave this session with insight into exactly what to do right now to make small changes, smart decisions about your exercise time and energy. Short & Easy Exercise videos in this 5 Day Flip Challenge. Use Flipping 50 Scorecard & Guide to measure what matters with an easy at-home self-assessment test you can do in minutes. Weight loss and anti-aging feel harder after 50. Not because you’re doing something wrong, but because the rules your body plays by have changed. Today’s guest shares how hormones, inflammation, and stress quietly sabotage fat loss—and what to do instead. We will unpack the truth about quick fixes like GLP-1 drugs and why sustainable results require a smarter, more personalized approach. If you want real answers that support your health, energy, and confidence, this conversation will change how you think about weight loss and anti aging. My Guest: Stu Schaefer is a 20-year award-winning celebrity weight-loss coach. He specializes in helping women over 40 put their body into The Thermogenic State so they burn fat 24/7… and lose weight like they did in their 20s. For the last 20 years, Stu has helped thousands of women take control of their body, lose weight faster and easier than ever before, and ditch the dieting cycle forever. Questions We Answer in This Episode: Why do women seem to struggle with weight loss after 50? What is the biggest weight loss mistake women make over 50? What are the key differences for women's weight loss and weight loss over 50? How can women lose weight AND experience anti-aging at the same time? What affects whether a person is burning fat or storing fat? How can too much exercise can actually PREVENT weight loss and hurt your body?
Transcribe →Does Hormonal Phase and Training Intensity Change How Hard You Can Train? New Science Finally Tested It
Feb 600:45:26Tap to summarizeThis episode is sponsored by Timeline. Support your cells and how you age with Mitopure® Gummies from Timeline. Visit https://timeline.com/FLIPPING50SHOW and save up to 39% off your Mitopure® Gummies. Other Episodes You Might Like: Previous Episode - Yoga and Bone Density: Are you just a pose away from better bones? Next Episode - What Every Woman Over 50 Needs To Know About Weight Loss and Anti Aging More Like This: Women's Health Researcher Abbie Smith-Ryan on Protein & Exercise for Longevity The Truth About Muscle and Menopause: What Every Woman Needs to Know About the Science Data Resources: Don’t know where to start? Book your Discovery Call with Debra. Leave this session with insight into exactly what to do right now to make small changes, smart decisions about your exercise time and energy. Join the Flipping50 Insiders Facebook Group. Connect with other women navigating menopause fitness and get daily tips and support. Use Flipping 50 Scorecard & Guide to measure what matters with an easy at-home self-assessment test you can do in minutes. Hormonal Phase and Training Intensity has been talked about, debated, and often oversimplified—especially for women navigating midlife and menopause. Instead of opinions, myths, or influencer hot takes, this episode walks through a 2025 research that finally tested whether your cycle actually changes how hard you can train when intensity is high. If you want clarity instead of confusion about Hormonal Phase and Training Intensity, this episode is a must-listen.
Transcribe →YOGA AND BONE DENSITY: Are you just a pose away from better bones?
Feb 300:38:37Tap to summarizeThis episode is sponsored by Flipping 50 Menopause Fitness Specialist. Become a health & fitness coach who finally speaks midlife women’s language. Learn how to design workouts that balance hormones that actually get results for women in menopause. Other Episodes You Might Like: Previous Episode - Why You Are or Aren’t Sore After Workouts — What does Menopause Really Have to Do With It More Like This - Bone Density Updates for Women Over 50 Resources: Get the Flipping 50 What, When & Why to Exercise for Women 40+ Recording Bundle plus bonus guides and books! Don’t know where to start? Book your Discovery Call with Debra. Leave this session with insight into exactly what to do right now to make small changes, smart decisions about your exercise time and energy. Use Flipping 50 Scorecard & Guide to measure what matters with an easy at-home self-assessment test you can do in minutes. Yoga and bone density might be the most underestimated combination in women’s health after 50—and the science behind it may surprise you. What if 12 minutes a day could improve your DEXA scan, lower fracture risk, and support stronger bones without jumping straight to medication? This episode is an eye-opening conversation with Dr. Loren Fishman, breaking down the research on 12 yoga poses for bone density. If you’re in menopause or postmenopause and questioning whether prescriptions are your only option, this conversation will change how you think about exercise and aging. Stay with me, because yoga and bone density may be the connection your bones have been waiting for. My Guest: Dr. Loren Fishman, MD is a medical doctor and internationally recognized expert in physical medicine, rehabilitation, and integrative care, serving as Medical Director of Manhattan Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in New York City. He is a pioneer in the treatment of piriformis syndrome, a leading authority on back pain, and has published more than 70 peer-reviewed academic articles. A dedicated yoga practitioner since 1973, Dr. Fishman uniquely bridges rigorous medical research with practical, accessible movement-based solutions for long-term health. Questions We Answer in This Episode: [00:05:09] Why yoga for bone density when weight-bearing and strength training are the gold standard? [00:06:56] How did your 12-minute yoga study for osteoporosis come about? [00:08:30] What were the results when you compared yoga to doing nothing? [00:09:13] How does yoga compare to osteoporosis medications over time? [00:12:00] How does yoga actually stimulate bone growth? [00:14:30] Does stress play a role in bone loss—and can yoga help? [00:25:07] Is bone density the whole story, or is there more to fracture risk?
Transcribe →Love Relationships and The Health & Hormone Connection
Feb 11, 202500:55:29Tap to summarizeAfter 50, love relationships take a turn. For women who become more educated and mature their relationship may no longer solve a problem they can’t solve on their own. My respected guest and Flipping 50 returning favorite on love relationships, Dr. John Gray. My Guest: John Gray, author of Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus, wrote the iconic relationship book, a global bestseller translated into 45 languages. With 20+ books, including Beyond Mars and Venus, he transforms how men and women view relationships, blending communication skills and nutrition for lasting health and romance. Featured on Oprah and other major media, he shares insights through books, blogs, and workshops. More about John here. Questions We Answer in This Episode: Can you address how relationships impact anti-aging? [00:10:20] Does a relationship need to follow a traditional model (same household, romantic), or can male friendships also provide value? [00:10:45] You mention romance for hormone stimulation—would “hormone optimization” be a better term?[00:40:37] Are romance and love relationships the ultimate biohack?[00:25:05] How does romance or relationships optimize hormones? [00:41:15} How is the stress response related to a woman’s relationships? [00:13:51] Why is this more significant for women than men as they age? [0013:35] A recent Joe Dispenza video discussed single women who don’t rely on dopamine or oxytocin from relationships may experience fewer emotional highs and lows and find other ways to create stability. How does this perspective align with your views? [00:36:48] Connect with John:https://www.marsvenus.com/ On Social: Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Mars.Venus.John.Gray Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/johngraymarsvenus_official/ Twitter:https://x.com/marsvenus Other Episodes You Might Like: You Ask Libido and Hormone Balance Qs: Dr John Gray Answers:https://www.flippingfifty.com/libido-and-hormone-balance/ Create Natural Hormone Boosts with Dr. John Gray | MarsVenus:https://www.flippingfifty.com/natural-hormone-boosts/ Resources: 5 Day Flip:https://www.flippingfifty.com/5-day-challenge-new/ Protein Products:https://www.flippingfifty.com/protein
Transcribe →12 Strength Training Mistakes in Menopause Robbing Your Results
Feb 7, 202500:48:25Tap to summarizeMost commonly the challenge is gaining lean muscle. Doing all the things but can’t seem to gain muscle? Then tune in and go through this like a check list of 12 strength training mistakes in menopause that could be the reason. It just takes one. But if there are multiple, it’s compounded and in this case, not interest but penalty! Join us at Metabolism Makeover 2.0 to support your journey avoiding the 12 strength training mistakes in menopause. Overworking Small Muscle Groups [00:02:20] You need fewer of these small muscle group-focused exercises in your routine if you prioritize the major muscles like chest (pectoralis) and back (trapezius and Latissimus Dorsi). If the secondary (biceps and triceps) muscles are going to get a workout most of the time, these will rob you of time and energy that is better spent on major muscles if you aren’t getting in the adequate volume there. Skipping the Warmup [00:06:40] Nearly a decade ago, I began sharing the fact that if you skip the warmup, you also miss an opportunity to increase total energy expenditure during a workout. It’s not only about injury prevention. There’s an increased blood circulation, improved energy expenditure, mobility and you can work closer to your capacity. If fitness and longevity are truly goals, “exercising” is not the same as working at your capacity and safely, sanely raising the roof on your fitness level so that age doesn’t automatically result in slowing down or gaining weight. Not Resting Between Sets Long Enough Before [00:13:10] Rapidly moving from one exercise to the next, was yesterday. The “metabolic conditioning workouts” are a nice anomaly, a change in pace. Rest between sets of strength training. Reach complete muscle fatigue or within 2 reps of it. If you do HIIT, separate the sessions so you get the best benefit from it and from strength. If you are not getting stronger, not increasing muscle, and these are your goals (in order, perhaps to improve body fat % ultimately), it’s a “how” you’re doing it problem. Plan Your Routine to Avoid 12 Strength Training Mistakes in Menopause No Organized Plan [00:17:30] You either default to using what’s available at the gym or doing the same exercises in the same sequence every time. If you’re not careful you won’t change the stimulus (by changing the sequence and sets/rep combination) and may also not be getting enough sets per muscle group in each week. It doesn’t mean that all sets for a muscle group must be all the same exercise. A super set of 6 different exercises for the triceps works. The next workout you may just do 3 and you’re still covered… if you planned it that way. Not Sleeping Enough or Not Changing the Workout When You Don’t Sleep [00:20:50] The sleep you get will determine the benefit you get from exercise. If you don’t prioritize, your workouts will suffer too. You’re also at risk for injury, not only because your body isn’t fully doing the repair job or releasing testosterone and growth hormone in deep cycles of sleep as it should, but because coordination suffers. Treating Soreness or Worn Out an Indication of “Good Workout” [00:22:40] When you work muscles, it’s normal to feel sore, even if you’re extremely fit. Some muscles like quads and glutes are used to a lot of activity and tend to get sore less often. But there are two genes associated with soreness and you may either be predisposed to be sore or not. It’s not a good indication of whether you worked hard enough. If you reached muscle fatigue or came close, you gave the muscle enough stimulus. The first sign of poor recovery was soreness after workouts, the second was reduced performance during workouts. 12 Strength Training Mistakes in Menopause to Avoid and Nurture Your Body Dependence on Supplements and Negating Balanced Whole Food Meals. [00:27:00] If you’re all too willing to jump to EAAs, or BCAAs but won’t eat regular meals that result in satiety, chances are your lack of micro and macronutrients will catch up with you. “Food first”, then allow supplements to take you the rest of the way. I don’t like to “count” calories on a regular basis but a snapshot is very helpful for checking in. Often for knowing when you’re eating too little. Taking Too Much Advice (or Too Little From Too Many People) [00:30:20] It often takes even gurus a while to come around. You have to love Vonda Wright and Mary Haver sharing their own menopause journeys. We need more women like them. They’re open about not knowing what they didn’t know about menopause, as physicians and women. You have at your fingertips access to women who learned the hard way, so you don’t have to. Just don’t jump in the middle. You need an onramp. Ignoring Nutrition Needs. [00:32:30] The talk is “calorie deficit.” Yet, 80% of women in our community under-eat for their mere existence (resting metabolic rate) and then try to put their foot on the accelerator for exercise causing a bigger caloric deficit. Then they stay there for years, under-fed and under-fueled (processed food, diet food), the metabolism will come to a halt, along, potentially with adrenal and thyroid function. Figure your calorie needs. Use an app to track your actual intake for 3-5 days. 12 Strength Training Mistakes in Menopause That Hinder Your Progress Thinking Small, Skinny, or Numbers That Don’t Matter Instead of That Do [00:36:20] Your size and your weight on the scale do not tell the story of your fitness and health. Though they might hint at your likelihood of sarcopenia and osteoporosis, fall and fracture risk. When women focus on weight or size they sacrifice muscle. When they lose muscle, they lose strength, longevity and independence. A woman who has her ideal weight or size is constantly thinking about it and a step away from a fall or fracture. A fracture that results in bedrest, weakness and loss of more muscle. The beginning of the end. Those falls are not devastating just because of the breaks, but because of brain bleeds or other internal damage. Too Heavy to Start [00:38:20] The first 6-8 weeks, and up to 12, of a resistance training program, the benefits are due to the neural connection. That isn’t rushed by going heavy. But loads too great for your ligaments, tendons and joints or muscles can cause weakness, undue soreness, and a weak foundation leading to injury. We, in the fitness industry, need to be more careful. We have sometimes lost our way in regard to where to START, and how and at what pace to PROGRESS. You Add Something But Don’t Remove Something Else [00:40:30] I’ve experienced this temptation myself. When I started training for triathlons at 40, I was compelled to figure out how to run even while I was adding biking or swimming to my schedule. I soon realized I was sabotaging the quality of every workout and just putting those “junk miles.” A woman will lose muscle because of the added stress, inability to recover. That’s an extreme example, but if you’re adding and never subtracting/replacing, you’re probably going to experience similar results. References for the 12 Strength Training Mistakes in Menopause: For dropping in the references.. Ideally just the single line link.. Vs long for the podcasts and posts - however if the research is really: within last 10 years, features female subjects.. Then it should be added to the research document. Nothing else should ever be used in our content. #1 Cheng AJ, Jude B, Lanner JT. Intramuscular mechanisms of overtraining. Redox Biol. 2020 Aug;35:101480. doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2020.101480. Epub 2020 Feb 26. PMID: 32179050; PMCID: PMC7284919. #2 Afonso J, Brito J, Abade E, Rendeiro-Pinho G, Baptista I, Figueiredo P, Nakamura FY. Revisiting the 'Whys' and 'Hows' of the Warm-Up: Are We Asking the Right Questions? Sports Med. 2024 Jan;54(1):23-30. doi: 10.1007/s40279-023-01908-y. Epub 2023 Sep 2. PMID: 37658965; PMCID: PMC10798919. #3 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19691365/#:~:text=Conversely%2C some experiments%20have%20a demonstrated,be%20safer%20and%20more%20reliable #4 Hughes SL, Seymour RB, Campbell RT, Whitelaw N, Bazzarre T. Best-practice physical activity programs for older adults: findings from the national impact study. Am J Public Health. 2009 Feb;99(2):362-8. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2007.131466. Epub 2008 Dec 4. PMID: 19059858; PMCID: PMC2622796 #4 Brickwood KJ, Ahuja KDK, Watson G, O'Brien JA, Williams AD. Effects of Activity Tracker Use With Health Professional Support or Telephone Counseling on Maintenance of Physical Activity and Health Outcomes in Older Adults: Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2021 Jan 5;9(1):e18686. doi: 10.2196/18686. PMID: 33399541; PMCID: PMC7815450. #5 https://www.somnologymd.com/2024/09/sleep-womens-health/ #6 Romero-Parra N, Maestre-Cascales C, Marín-Jiménez N, Rael B, Alfaro-Magallanes VM, Cupeiro R, Peinado AB. Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage in Postmenopausal Well-Trained Women. Sports Health. 2021 Nov-Dec;13(6):613-621. doi: 10.1177/19417381211014134. Epub 2021 May 27. PMID: 34039086; PMCID: PMC8558998. #6 https://sheffieldphysiotherapy.co.uk/muscle-soreness-mean-youve-effective-workout/ #7 & #9 Erdélyi A, Pálfi E, Tűű L, Nas K, Szűcs Z, Török M, Jakab A,...
Transcribe →What You Don't Know About Hormone Tests (Wish I'd Known Sooner!)
Feb 4, 202500:57:59Tap to summarizeIn this special episode, you get to join me in a doctor’s appointment and lm tell you… what you don’t know about hormone tests could be the difference in feeling 10x better and aging better too! If you don’t know about hormone tests that there are not only different test, but different ways to interpret them from norms to optimal….if you don’t know that some doctors don’t know all test and couldn’t order them if they did because they don’t know how to interpret them… then you’re in for a treat…. And education! My Guest: Dr. Sharon Stills is a Naturopathic Medical Doctor providing comprehensive health care, therapeutic and diagnostic services to patients worldwide. She combines her conventional medical training, data-driven science, cutting-edge diagnostic tools and a deep knowledge of natural healing to effectively identify and treat health concerns ranging from allergies to end stage cancer, and everything in between Questions We Answer in This Episode: Why do a Wet Urine Test? [00:02:18] What are Metabolites? Why do they matter when it comes to your hormones? [00:04:35] How does Estrogen impact your body and what can you do to keep them in balance? [00:04:41] Why is Testosterone important to women? How can you support healthy levels? [00:27:01] What does DHEA do and how can you optimize it? [00:29:17] How can you accurately Cortisol? What does it mean for your stress levels? [00:37:01] How can you boost Oxytocin naturally? [00:38:37] How does Thyroid affect your metabolism, energy, and mood? What can you do to balance it? [00:43:17] Connect with Dr. Sharon: https://www.flippingfifty.com/drsharon On Social:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsharonstills/ Other Episodes You Might Like: Circadian Rhythm Hacks for Muscle in Menopause: https://www.flippingfifty.com/Circadian-Rhythm-Hacks Can I Still Start Hormones 10 Years After Menopause? Doctors Respond: https://www.flippingfifty.com/start-hormones-10-years-after-menopause Which Hormones Matter Most in Meno(pause): https://www.flippingfifty.com/which-hormones Resources: 5-Day Flip: https://www.flippingfifty.com/5dayflip Sleep Yourself Skinny: https://www.flippingfifty.com/sleep-yourself-skinny
Transcribe →Protect Your Vision in Midlife and Beyond
Feb 1, 202500:33:22Tap to summarizeCan you improve your eyesight and protect your vision in midlife? Vision health goes far beyond eyesight and the ability to see the golf ball or the small print on the supplement bottle. Aging doesn’t mean dimming sight; it’s possible to preserve and improve vision with the right knowledge and tools. Did you know you can slow the aging effects on your eyes? Stay tuned to learn how to protect your vision in midlife! My Guest: Dr. Bryce Appelbaum is a pioneer in neuro-optometry passionate about unlocking life’s potential through vision. His expertise includes reorganizing the visual brain post-concussion to return to learn and return to life, remediating visual developmental delays interfering with reading and learning, and enhancing visual skills to elevate sports performance. You may have seen him on the podcast circuit as a recent guest on MindBodyGreen, Chris Kresser’s Revolution Health Radio, and Cynthia Thurlow's Everyday Wellness. Questions We Answer in This Episode: - What is the difference between eyesight and vision? [00:04:15] - What do women in midlife need to know about their vision? [00:07:15] - What are the key things you should be doing if you want to maintain your vision as you age? [00:11:55] - Is it possible to reverse the effects of aging on your vision? [00:13:05] - What is the screen pandemic and how is it contributing towards the global decline in vision? [00:26:05] Connect with Dr. Bryce: https://www.flippingfifty.com/screenfit Enjoy $200 discount when using this link On Social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myvisionfirstoptometry Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbryceappelbaum/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@visionfirstwithdrb Other Episodes You Might Like: Ditch Your Glasses or Contacts? Naturally Clear Vision: https://www.flippingfifty.com/clear-vision/ Healthy Eyes and Vision Tips for Women in Menopause: https://www.flippingfifty.com/eyespy/ Resources: Flipping 50 Membership: https://www.flippingfifty.com/cafe Flipping 50 STRONGER 12-week program: https://www.flippingfifty.com/getstronger
Transcribe →How to Exercise with High or Low Cortisol in Menopause
Jan 31, 202500:48:06Tap to summarizeWith either high or low cortisol in menopause, the way you exercise has to change. Yet, this is a gap in fitness education for trainers, instructors and coaches who don’t get training specific to women in menopause. So, whether you’re here for yourself or here as a coach or trainer who does now or wants to coach women in midlife and beyond, this episode is for you. In this episode, I talk about the impact of exercise intensity on cortisol and how cortisol is used for the energy to do exercise, cortisol changes that occur in menopause, and what’s really wrong with the way we can interpret the signs of high or low cortisol… all so you can avoid making mistakes that might make you worse, or prevent you from ever having an issue in the first place. Questions We Cover in This Episode: Why are high or low cortisol in menopause so prevalent? [00:04:00] What’s the difference between someone “apparently healthy” and high or low cortisol? [00:04:30] How would you test to know? [00:11:30] Without testing what does abnormal cortisol feel like? [00:13:50] How does exercise impact cortisol levels? [00:16:30] What mistakes do women (and trainers & coaches) make with exercise recommendations? [00:28:10] Looking at Exercise Science for High or Low Cortisol in Menopause Low-intensity exercise may decrease cortisol levels or keep them steady. Prolonged activity, however, can cause cortisol to rise. Moderate to high-intensity exercise increases cortisol. Prolonged “aerobic” exercise at higher intensities can significantly elevate cortisol concentrations. At about 45 minutes, to less than an hour, cortisol begins to rise significantly above resting levels and then not have the corresponding fall that is beneficial for us. This elevated cortisol response can occur even with exercises you’ve done for years. With declining estrogen, life itself becomes more stressful. For women engaging in long endurance activities without proper fuel, recovery, or adjustments, results may stall—or even backfire.. This doesn’t mean giving up long runs or rides forever but prioritizing muscle, bone, and brain health temporarily. Why Elevated cortisol is indicative of muscle catabolism, increasing the loss of lean muscle tissue. This is a significant health concern for the growing elderly population. The rate of cortisol production changes as we age and has differing responses to exercise intensities in males and females. Cortisol production is correlated with exercise intensity and duration but does not increase the same across all exercise intensities. Higher exercise intensities and duration appear to be the main contributing factors that influence the production of cortisol, increasing the potential for muscle catabolism and muscle loss. The longer the duration, or the higher the intensity, and certainly both combined, the greater the increase in cortisol. Other factors like heat, humidity, intake of carbohydrate and hydration can impact cortisol levels. Last, of course the higher the conditioning level you have the less of a stress response (cortisol rise) you’re going to have to the same level of duration or intensity in a deconditioned level. That is, the stress response will occur sooner for the deconditioned than later. Low Cortisol Solutions When Dealing with High or Low Cortisol in Menopause With low cortisol levels (adrenal stress), overtraining is the biggest risk. Small exercise snacks, lower intensity exercise is the first step. Gradually adding in resistance training in short sessions to support blood sugar stabilization is the goal. Monitor to be sure you don’t go backward. Keep in mind cortisol and adrenaline are needed to support intense exercise. Your body doesn’t currently have it, so high intensity workouts like intervals and metabolic conditioning (bootcamp style) are not favorable for you. You won’t benefit from them right now. Low intensity and low volume resistance training would mean lower rep ranges and higher number of sets (3-5) with a few compound exercises. You’re going to skip old school advice for 8-10 exercises for each muscle group. High Cortisol Solutions when Dealing with High or Low Cortisol in Menopause Short interval sessions or metabolic conditioning can be effective, but be mindful to keep them short. Start with 1 session and add a second only if it’s improving, not draining your energy. These sessions may help reduce cortisol, but going too long, even if it feels good, can backfire. Neurotransmitters may push you to continue, but elevated cortisol and adrenal fatigue will eventually catch up. High cortisol breaks down muscle, so strength training is essential. Use heavier weights and increase your rest time (by using balance exercises, stretches or core) to make the most of your time. The HPA-Axis issue, that is adrenal fatigue, needs time away from longer duration and high intensity workouts to allow the brain and adrenals to start communicating effectively again. It doesn’t have to be permanent. Train earlier in the day, balancing sleep and exercise, especially if work adds stress. Overworking, lack of movement, or poor stress management may have contributed to current challenges. Use weekends wisely – skip long workouts and focus on a solid strength session one day and yoga or walking the next. Prioritize earlier sessions that don’t require an alarm clock for optimal recovery and hormonal balance. Signs You’re Recovering from High or Low Cortisol in Menopause Check Your Appetite: You should have one, but not cravings especially, soon after meals. Appetite can be sluggish with low cortisol and either high or low with high cortisol. Your Energy level: Should be stable throughout the day. For low energy getting up, maca can be a natural support for your own system to self-regulate. It’s an herb most women can take, however check if you have had breast cancer, there are some contraindications and a medical advisory board you can check with. I found this super helpful and within a week of taking this felt better back in early 2020. Sleep Should Improve: Whether you struggle to fall asleep, stay asleep or simply are not waking rested, this should begin to improve. (That is, if you’re doing your job to prioritize sleep). Other Episodes You Might Like: A Hormone Therapy Roadmap: What, When & Why: https://www.flippingfifty.com/hormone-therapy-roadmap**Cortisol Hormone: Don’t let it derail your fat loss efforts:https://www.flippingfifty.com/cortisol-hormone**Turn Midlife Stress into Strength | Victim to Victorious Author:https://www.flippingfifty.com/midlife-stress Resources: Mighty Maca: https://www.flippingfifty.com/mightymaca Sleep Yourself Skinny: https://www.flippingfifty.com/sleep-yourself-skinny-tonight Flipping 50 Menopause Fitness Specialist®: https://fitnessmarketingacademy.com/ 5 Day Flip: https://www.flippingfifty.com/5-day-challenge-new/ References : Hackney AC, Walz EA. Hormonal adaptation and the stress of exercise training: the role of glucocorticoids. Trends Sport Sci. 2013;20(4):165-171. PMID: 29882537; PMCID: PMC5988244. The Effects of Different Exercise Intensities and Modalities on Cortisol Production in Healthy Individuals: A Review. (2021). Journal of Exercise and Nutrition, 4(4). https://doi.org/10.53520/jen2021.103108
Transcribe →Daily Rituals That Regulate Your Nervous System
Jan 28, 202500:45:53Tap to summarizeKnow the daily rituals that regulate your nervous system to calm inflammation and slow the effects of aging! My Guest: Dr. Monisha Bhanote, MD, ABOIM, FCAP, ACCM, is a quintuple board-certified physician and founder of WELLKULÅ. She blends ancient wisdom with mind-body medicine, advocating for #CellCare as self-care. As an international speaker, best-selling author, and wellness expert, she educates on cellular health and nervous system regulation. Dr. Bhanote’s expertise in longevity, Ayurveda, plant-based nutrition, mindfulness, and digestive health shapes her Longevity Retreats and best-selling book, The Anatomy of Wellbeing, which offers practices to embrace your body’s unique design and revitalize your health at the cellular level. Questions We Answer in This Episode: What is the importance of the 'gut-brain connection' for women? [00:07:05] How does nervous system dysregulation impact gut health, vitality and longevity? [00:10:45] What is the 'gut-skin axis,' and how does gut health and nervous system balance influence skin’s appearance and inner beauty?[00:14:22] How do chronic stress and nervous imbalances accelerate aging, and what strategies support longevity?[00:14:58] How does stress contribute to inflammation and how can we manage it?[00:15:28] What daily rituals regulate the nervous system, improve gut health, and promote internal beauty and vitality?[00:31:13] Connect with Dr. Monisha:https://www.drbhanote.com/ On Social: Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/drbhanote Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/drbhanote/ YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@drbhanote Other Episodes You Might Like: Reverse Biological Age with Dr. Olga Stevko’s Methodology:https://www.flippingfifty.com/reverse-biological-age/ Midlife Gut Solutions from Bloat to Colitis and Crohn’s:https://www.flippingfifty.com/gut-solutions/ That Gut Feeling is Real How Gut Impacts Mood:https://www.flippingfifty.com/that-gut-feeling/ Resources: Flipping 50 Membership:https://www.flippingfifty.com/cafe Flipping 50 STRONGER 12-week program:https://www.flippingfifty.com/getstronger
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