The Midlife Feast

Latest Episodes:

#98 - High Blood Pressure in Menopause and Midlife: The Estrogen Connection with Dr. Alex Verge, ND Feb 05, 2024

Show notes

If you have recently been told that you have high blood pressure, (perhaps for the first time ever) there are a couple of things you should know. First, this is not your fault! Second, don’t panic - because Dr. Alex Verge ND is back to help us understand why you’re not alone when it comes to understanding why blood pressure (among so many other things) changes in midlife.
Your blood pressure might even improve as you listen to this episode and hear all of the great suggestions Dr. Alex shares with us to help you feel prepared for your next checkup. We talk about why Dr. Alex advocates for measuring your BP at home, how estrogen contributes to the equation, and what secondary factors to consider if you feel like you’re already doing all the right things.

If you learned something new on this episode, be sure to share it with another friend in this season as a way to celebrate heart health this month!
To learn more about Dr. Alex and her work, check out her website at www.kuraclinic.ca and follow her on Instagram at alexvergend.
Links Mentioned:

Hypertension Canada’s List of Recommended Devices - https://hypertension.ca/public/recommended-devices
US Blood Pressure Validated Device Listing - https://www.validatebp.org/
Stride BP (Joint Initiative with European Society of Hypertension) Validated Blood Pressure Monitors - https://www.stridebp.org/bp-monitors/

Episode 39: What Every Woman Needs to Know About Heart Health, Cholesterol, and Menopause with Dr. Alex Verge, ND

What did you think of this episode? Click here and let me know!

📚 I wrote a book! Eat To Thrive During Menopause is out now! Order your copy today and start thriving in midlife.

#97 - The Impact of Ageism on Body Image in Midlife with Deb Benfield, MEd, RDN Jan 29, 2024

Show notes

Today we’re tackling a topic we haven’t yet devoted an entire episode to but certainly deserves one! I’ve invited Nutrition & Body Relationship Coach, Deb Benfield to help us explore the subtle but profound impact of ageism on body image in midlife. We cover so much in this one conversation including aging body liberation, what it means to carry internalized ageism, and how that intersects with disordered eating during midlife.

The episode emphasizes the importance of self-compassion, acknowledging losses, and practicing body acceptance. Deb and I get to express our excitement about this life stage, challenge societal norms, and promote a positive and fresh perspective on aging.
To learn more about Deb and her work, be sure to check out her website at www.debrabenfield.com and follow her on IG @agingbodyliberation.

What did you think of this episode? Click here and let me know!

📚 I wrote a book! Eat To Thrive During Menopause is out now! Order your copy today and start thriving in midlife.

#96 - Why You're So Tired in Perimenopause and Menopause with Dr. Sarah Vadeboncoeur, ND Jan 22, 2024

Show notes

One of the biggest challenges of midlife is the fact that so many of us feel flat-out exhausted, even after 8 hours of sleep! That’s why I invited the Fatigue Fixer, Dr. Sarah Vadeboncoeur, ND to help us understand why this chronic exhaustion is so common but also more complex than just having low iron levels.
Sarah will share the four areas you need to explore to discover what's zapping your energy these days. We’ll also dive into why ”meno-rage” could actually be a gift and why we need to allocate more time each day to meet our own needs for nutrition, movement, rest, and pleasure.

To learn more about Sarah and her work, connect with her on her website at www.drsarahv.ca, follow her on Instagram @sarahvadeboncoeur and listen to her podcast The Fatigue Fixer. You can also watch her free masterclass here.

Links Mentioned:

Episode #26 Understanding Cultural Menorage with Mona Eltahawy
Episode #44: What Women in Perimenopause Need to Know About Iron Deficiency with MaryAnn Jacobsen

What did you think of this episode? Click here and let me know!

📚 I wrote a book! Eat To Thrive During Menopause is out now! Order your copy today and start thriving in midlife.

#95 - Is Feeling Seen the Missing Part of Your Midlife Story? with Dr Jody Carrington Jan 15, 2024

Show notes

Everyone comes from somewhere. It’s a simple, perhaps obvious statement, but one that is more relevant than we might realize. In this episode, I’m joined by psychologist, speaker, and author, Dr. Jody Carrington. Jody believes that finding the courage and the safe places to tell our stories is what we need most as we navigate a distracted and disconnected world.

While I haven’t known Jody for long, we quickly connected over the bathing suit story she shared on her podcast (what she calls the connector of all stories). I hope that by sharing some of these relatable battles with body image, you’ll realize you’re not alone. Jody will also talk about two of the biggest tools for recovery in moments like these: gratitude and agency.
You have a story too, and it needs to be told. Join us if you are craving friendships where we can trade in comparison for the confidence to finally take up space.

To learn more about Jody and her work, connect with her on her website at www. drjodycarrington.com, or follow her on Instagram @drjodycarrington.

What did you think of this episode? Click here and let me know!

📚 I wrote a book! Eat To Thrive During Menopause is out now! Order your copy today and start thriving in midlife.

#94 - How to Trade Wellness Culture for Well-being in Midlife with Christy Harrison, RD Jan 08, 2024

Show notes

If the pressure from wellness culture leaves you feeling fearful and anxious because of its unattainable standards, it's probably safe to say that it's not truly promoting well-being. And if you've invested time, money, or energy in the myths and promises of wellness culture, you probably haven't seen much ROI on those either.

In this episode, I’m kicking off 2024 with a guest who needs little introduction-Registered Dietitian and author of The Wellness Trap, Christy Harrison. We are taking a deep dive into why clean eating became so trendy (and dangerous), why we are drawn to the fear-based messaging of wellness culture, as well as why it’s so irrelevant to such a large population of the world.
If you’ve been craving an approach to food and body image that is more gentle, nuanced and includes priorities like mental health, community, and the understanding of socioeconomic influences on health disparities, you won’t want to miss this episode!
To learn more about Christy, check out her website at https://christyharrison.com/ or follow her on Instagram @chr1styharrison or join her free membership: https://rethinkingwellness.substack.com/

What did you think of this episode? Click here and let me know!

📚 I wrote a book! Eat To Thrive During Menopause is out now! Order your copy today and start thriving in midlife.

#93 -5 Ways to Pivot to a Peaceful Relationship with Food and Your Body in 2024 Dec 18, 2023

Show notes

As we bid farewell to 2023, I’d like to help you redirect the panic and pressure of New Year’s resolutions that may feel like they are waiting around the corner for you. I’m popping in to offer you some super practical tips for a healthier and more peaceful connection with food and your body, especially this time of year.

I challenge you to give me sixteen minutes to help you see how the peace you crave is absolutely within reach. I’ll share five tips that can help you make confident food decisions, that leave room for the freedom and flexibility you need to thrive in this season.
Wishing you a joyous holiday season, and here's to embracing a more empowered midlife in 2024!

What did you think of this episode? Click here and let me know!

📚 I wrote a book! Eat To Thrive During Menopause is out now! Order your copy today and start thriving in midlife.

#92 - From Body Grief to Body Acceptance: The Way Forward with Amanda Mittman Dec 11, 2023

Show notes

You know the overwhelming and even sometimes paralyzing feelings you battle when you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror or a photo? It’s when the image we see in front of us doesn’t match the image in our brain. That’s body grief.

In this episode, I’ve invited Registered Dietitian, Amanda Mittman to tackle this subject with me. We’re calling out why body grief has so many layers you might not be aware of, and why it becomes even more complex when the curve balls of perimenopause and aging are added to the mix. While there is a lot to process, you’ll be encouraged to know that you don’t have to stay stuck here either. Amanda shares some incredibly practical strategies for how to move through the pain and into body acceptance, reminding us why it’s just the opposite of just “giving up”.

To learn more about Amanda and the work she does, check out her website at www.happyvalleynutrition.com or follow her on Instagram at @BitchinbodyimageRD.

What did you think of this episode? Click here and let me know!

📚 I wrote a book! Eat To Thrive During Menopause is out now! Order your copy today and start thriving in midlife.

#91 - Why Healthcare Needs to Break Up with Diet & Wellness Culture with Dr. Sylvi Martin Dec 04, 2023

Show notes

Do you ever have days where you start out eating fat-free for breakfast, go vegan for lunch, and end up eating keto for dinner? Food rules are so appealing and yet so confusing. The problem is that there’s no “best” diet and they all have the same predictable result.

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Sylvi Martin who will help us expose why so many elements of wellness culture are getting in the way of your ability to thrive and have a normal relationship with food. We’ll also talk about why where you get your information matters as well as why you need to focus on adding foods to your plate instead of trying to keep them off the menu.
To learn more about Dr. Sylvi and her work, check out her website at www.drsylvimartin.com or follow her on Instagram at @dr.sylvimartin.nd or on Facebook at @drsylvimartin.

What did you think of this episode? Click here and let me know!

📚 I wrote a book! Eat To Thrive During Menopause is out now! Order your copy today and start thriving in midlife.

#90 - On the Menu: Your Questions About Menopause & Nutrition (Part 3) Nov 27, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to the third of a series of bonus episodes of The Midlife Feast, where we're flipping the script! Today, I’m in the hot seat and my podcast manager, Dee-Anna (who just turned 40) will be asking some of the questions asked by those of you in this community!

I had an overwhelming response of fabulous questions, so we are serving the answers to you in a series of bite-sized episodes designed to satisfy your curiosity about diving into gentle nutrition and un-dieting in midlife!

Today we’re tackling:

1️⃣ How do we combat the damage of low-carb and carb-phobia nonsense that's been done by diet and wellness culture?

2️⃣ With all the "experts" out there, how do I know that your advice is the right one? Who has the right advice?

3️⃣ HRT is being pushed at every angle! Can you get through perimenopause and menopause without it or is it really the only way to prevent all the worst case health conditions?

Links Mentioned
Did you miss Part 1 and 2 ? Find it HERE and HERE!

Episode 56: 8 Things I Wish I'd Known About Perimenopause Before My Last Period

Episode 78: Filtering the Fear of Insulin Resistance in Menopause with Val Schonberg, RD

What did you think of this episode? Click here and let me know!

📚 I wrote a book! Eat To Thrive During Menopause is out now! Order your copy today and start thriving in midlife.

#89 - Story Session: The Mindset Shifts Laura Needed to Embrace Food Freedom Nov 20, 2023

Show notes

In this episode, I invite you to listen as I sit down with Midlife Feast Community member, Laura, a veteran dieter who's now embracing life as an intuitive eater. Laura generously shares her 40-year dieting journey, beginning at age 11, and why it’s so easy to buy into the lie that if you’re not seeing results on a diet, well, you simply aren’t trying hard enough.

We debunk common myths like equating intuitive eating with “giving up” and explaining how it can truly nourish your soul and heart. Laura opens up about her previous restrictive eating habits, and how she now seeks balanced meals that satisfy more than just the palate. We discuss the liberating feeling of giving yourself permission to enjoy food, and how even dining out and treats can fit into a healthy relationship with food.

What did you think of this episode? Click here and let me know!

📚 I wrote a book! Eat To Thrive During Menopause is out now! Order your copy today and start thriving in midlife.

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