The Flipping 50 Show

Many women want to lose weight. To lose weight for active women over 40, they also don’t want performance to deteriorate. There are a few things to consider. First, it’s not the eat less, exercise more dogma that will get you what you really want.  Most women want energy, tone and definition, and strength for now and later. Better blood sugar control that supports reductions in belly fat and overall insulin sensitivity.  Am I right? But eating less and exercising more - if successful at all during menopause and post - will generally cause the opposite. Less energy, worse mood, poor sleep, less muscle tone, and spirals down from there with long term ramifications to health.  Being active, whether sports performance level or just athletic active, requires energy. There is still a way to juggle goals of maintaining or improving performance while still dropping a few pounds of extra cushioning.  Eating to Lose Weight Active Over 40 Close to the beginning and/or after completion of exercise, peri- and postmenopausal athletes should aim for a bolus of high EAA-containing (~10 g) intact protein sources or supplements to overcome anabolic resistance. Anabolic resistance is the status of muscle loss being more likely than muscle gain and it requires more intense exercise stimulus (strength training), quality protein stimulus, and recovery to overcome it.  An ACSM review of literature stated 20 g protein pre-exercise (and 40 after) for older adults to boost Muscle Protein Synthesis similar to that of a 20 yr old when workout conditions were comparable.  Time pre-exercise fuel for optimal digestion. Within 30 minutes of a workout the easier to digest fuel must be. It’s not only a comfort factor, but also the diverted energy for digestion competing with the need for blood flow to deliver oxygen to working muscles. Both digestion and performance will suffer. A “simple shake” with protein powder and unsweetened almond milk or water may be the easy way to go.  If you want carbs, add a half a banana to the shake or have half cup oatmeal with protein powder. Pre-workout, avoid fiber and fat. A mixed meal eaten pre-workout should allow at least 2 ½ - 3 hours to be fully digested. Some will feel most comfortable if this is longer than that (4 hours) if it’s following recommendations for high fiber, high protein and high fat.  Given recommendations range from at least 10 to 20 grams of protein pre-workout, below are some examples of protein sources. The more challenged you are with gaining lean muscle (and or are attempting to lose weight while retaining muscle) the higher end of the range you want to be. Lose Weight for Active Women: Women’s Guide to Exercise Nutrition High EAA examples of 10 g protein:  Small half a simple shake including protein powder and unsweetened almond milk  Dairy (which does by the way include whey protein) generally pre-exercise wouldn’t be recommended due to its influence in mucus production, even if you tolerate which a lot of women don’t later in life (but Greek yogurt or cottage cheese are sources of protein- again I don’t recommend pre-exercise). ·      2 eggs equal 12 grams of protein (if you tolerate eggs)  ·      ½ cup steel cut oats with protein stirred in ·      Quinoa  Choices vary as to whether you want carbohydrate prior or not to avoid early fatigue during exercise sessions. Overcoming Anabolic Resistance:  A study in the European Journal of Sports Science found higher protein intakes (2-3 times the protein Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of 0.8 g/kg/d) during periods of energy restriction can enhance fat-free mass (FFM) preservation, particularly when combined with exercise. Athletes [and let’s include, the very active] aiming to reduce fat mass and preserve FFM should consume protein intakes in the range of ∼1.8-2.7 g kg(-1) d(-1) (or ∼2.3-3.1 g kg(-1) FFM) in combination with a moderate energy deficit (-500 kcal) and the performance of some form of resistance exercise.  What does that look like for you?  Say you weigh 130lbs. Rounding Kgs up to 60.  Based on body weight: 162 g protein  Using the FFM example:  Say you weigh 130lbs and are 25% body fat. Subtracting the fat weight in lbs (32.5) from bodyweight leaves 97.5 Fat Free Mass.  224 g  Using the high range number for each of body weight and FFM-based protein recommendations, the daily protein recommendation then would be 162 – 224 grams of protein daily. That is with the goal of losing weight while resistance training with a moderate calorie deficit.  Taking a median number of 180 g protein with each gram of protein offering 4 kcals means you’d be taking in 720 kcals/day from protein.  Fat = 7 kcals, Carb = 4 kcals.  Prepare to be confused.  Health Organizations Weigh in (Not necessarily on losing weight) Prestigious Organizations Offer These Calculations for a 130lb active woman:  American Dietetic Association (ADA): at least 59 - 106 grams/day. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): 48 - 169 grams/day (10-35% of daily caloric intake). World Health Organization safe lower limit: 49 grams/day. Keep in mind these recommendations vary in goal. The least amount of protein to avoid death or illness is not the same to thrive and add lean muscle, strength and energy. We have a gap.  So, it is of course confusing. We also have emotional relationships to food and beliefs we’ve held for a long time. Those too are likely factors in your reaction to this episode. You’re nodding or shaking. Even though the science is the basis of the content, we don’t as humans adopt it readily.  Say You Don’t Want to Lose Weight You Want to Maintain Daily protein intake should fall within the mid- to upper ranges of current sport nutrition guidelines (1.4-2.2 g·kg-1·day-1) for women at all stages of menstrual function (pre-, peri-, post-menopausal, and contraceptive users) with protein doses evenly distributed, every 3-4 h, across the day. Eumenorrheic athletes in the luteal phase and peri/post-menopausal athletes, regardless of sport, should aim for the upper end of the range. Let’s do the math.  130lb woman  Convert to kg: 59 129 g protein    150lb woman  Convert to kg: 68 149 g protein  This is the equivalent of 1 g protein per lb of body weight. You can keep it easy by remembering that is your daily AND that a “dose” of protein needs to be at least 30gm at a meal. However, if you go higher as suggested for your first meal of the day, the next meal may not need to be as high if you eat within 3-4 hours to keep that muscle protein synthesis up. The alternative is muscle protein breakdown. You’re in one or the other. There’s really not a neutral.  To Lose Weight for Active Women, Examples of a day of high protein meals:  Pre-Workout: 20 gm protein in a simple shake pre-workout  Or minimally, 12 gm protein in two eggs pre-workout Meal Examples:  45g protein in a post- workout smoothie  51g Salmon (35) + quinoa (6) + Greek-style yogurt (10) with berries  43g Taco Salad with ground Bison (35) + Black beans (8)  46g 6 large Sauteed Scallops (29) + Three-bean salad (8) + Black Bean Brownie (9)  I’m not an advocate of calorie counting. However, a snapshot of the number of calories you take in can be helpful. Many women are too far below what they need, AND too low in protein, AND not lifting weights with adequate intensity or sleeping. Those will add up to muscle loss. You may temporarily think you’re successful at the weight loss game, but unless you mitigate it, muscle loss will result in you feeling weaker, less energetic and having a slower metabolism  Weight loss with an on-target activity plan means having a slight caloric deficit with an increased amount of protein from a maintenance phase. Other research I’ve shared suggests increasing protein by 10-15% above maintenance along with a reasonable deficit if weight loss is needed.  So, let’s challenge that.  Do you need weight loss? Or do you need to gain lean muscle? Get very clear. You may need both but someone listening needs to hear this: you don’t need weight loss; you need fat loss. That will come with an increase in lean muscle and a decrease in inflammation.  Additionally, to Lose Weight While Active Over 40 Creatine supplementation of 3 to 5 g per day is recommended for the mechanistic support of creatine supplementation with regard to muscle protein kinetics, growth factors, satellite cells, myogenic transcription factors, glycogen and calcium regulation, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Postmenopausal females benefit from bone health, mental health, and skeletal muscle size and function when consuming higher (5g) doses of creatine. References:  Murphy CH, Hector AJ, Phillips SM. Considerations for protein intake in managing weight loss in athletes. Eur J Sport Sci. 2015;15(1):21-8. doi: 10.1080/17461391.2014.936325. Epub 2014 Jul 11. PMID: 25014731. Hector AJ, Phillips SM. Protein Recommendations for Weight Loss in Elite Athletes: A Focus on Body Composition and Performance. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2018 Mar 1;28(2):170-177. doi: 10.1123/ijsnem.2017-0273. Epub 2018 Feb 19. PMID: 29182451. Sims ST, Kerksick CM, Smith-Ryan AE, Janse de Jonge XAK, Hirsch KR, Arent SM, Hewlings SJ, Kleiner SM, Bustillo E, Tartar JL, Starratt VG, Kreider RB, Greenwalt C, Rentería LI, Ormsbee MJ, VanDusseldorp TA, Campbell BI, Kalman DS, Antonio J. International society of sports nutrition position stand: nutritional concerns of the female athlete. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2023 Dec;20(1):2204066. doi: 10.1080/15502783.2023.2204066.  Science:  PMID: 37221858; PMCID: PMC10210857. Resources:  5 Day Flip: https://www.flippingfifty.com/5dayflip Flipping 50 Cafe Membership: https://www.flippingfifty.com/cafe/ Flipping 50 Protein: https://www.flippingfifty.com/store/protein-powders/paleo-protein-powder-vanilla/ Other Episodes You Might Like:  How Much Collagen Counts Toward Protein Needs?  https://www.flippingfifty.com/how-much-collagen/ Protein Supplements for Muscle Building: What, When & Why to Exercise for Women 40+  https://www.flippingfifty.com/protein-supplements-for-muscle-building/ Midlife Weight Loss: Burn Body Fat, Balance Your Hormones  https://www.flippingfifty.com/midlife-weight-loss/

Fair warning: this 5 books I loved in 2023 episode will read a little like a book review. It’s a great gift guide but perhaps the biggest take-away for us all is in the review of titles. I won’t make you wait. I’m going to share them all in the beginning. The titles are like trends on skinny jeans or cropped tops and high-waisted tights. I didn’t love either of those. With these I’m less judgmental but certainly curious. This says a lot about what sells today. Because of course, don’t judge a book by it’s cover… but we do. The image, the title, the subtitle all matter a great deal. An agent, a publisher and editors all rely on data about sales to determine what will sell.  So these 5 titles…. 5 Books I Loved in 2023 (or coming soon!)  Younger for Life -Dr Anthony Youn The subtitle of this book is Feel Great and Look Your Best with the Science of Autorejuvenation. You’ll hear more on the book from the author himself in an episode titled Younger for Life with America’s Holistic Plastic Surgeon. But truly if you’re on TikTok, this is also a TikTok, YouTube and Instagram favorite plastic surgeon.  He's a funny, and clearly knowledgeable surgeon whose mission is to turn on the power of your own body instead of turning to the knife.  This one is coming out just after the New Year. We’ll link to it and share a special 21-day challenge we can only hint about now too! Pre-orders for that book will come soon so watch for it! Forever Strong -Dr Gabrielle Lyon  We will of course link to previous episodes with Dr Gabrielle. She worked with Dr Donald Layman who, if you are into the science of protein for longevity and preserving muscle with weight loss, appears as an author of many of the studies since the late 90s.  Dr Lyon has made the information more mainstream and positively opened the subject of obesity again in a new way. It's not a fat problem, it’s a muscle problem.  Forever Strong came out earlier this fall and it’s one for everyone in your family. The science can only fill so much of a book. The rest of the content is recipes supporting one means of staying strong, eating protein. You’ll find descriptions of exercise protocols as well as the long list of references used throughout the book.  Young Forever -Mark Hyman Do you see a theme here yet? And we’re not done!  This book explores the biological hallmarks of aging, their causes, and their consequences—then shows us how to overcome them with simple dietary, lifestyle, and emerging longevity strategies. You’ll learn:  How to turn on your body’s key longevity switches  How to reduce inflammation and support the health of your immune system  How to exercise, sleep, and de-stress for healthy aging  How to eat your way to a long life, featuring Dr. Hyman’s Pegan Diet  Which supplements are right for you  Where the research on aging is headed Mark Hyman is 63.  Spoiler Alert: 5 Books I Loved in 2023 Reveal What We Want Younger You -Dr Kara Fitzgerald  If you’re new to the power of your epigenetics, that is your daily habits, to either accelerate or decelerate, in fact reverse age, then this is for you.  We all have cancer cells within us. We don’t all get cancer.  Some of us have genetics that predispose us to obesity. I do. But I’m not obese. Why ? Is it exercise? Nutrition? What specifically about your DNA and your habits could change things for you?  Dr. Fitzgerald shares the diet and lifestyle plan that shows you how to influence your epigenetics for a younger you. In Younger You you’ll learn:   It’s not your genetics that determines your age and level of health, it’s your epigenetics  How DNA methylation powerfully influences your epigenetic expression  The foods and lifestyle choices that most affect DNA methylation  Simple swaps to your daily routines that will add years to your life  The full eating and lifestyle program, with recipes and meal plans, to reduce your bio age and increase vitality   How to take care of your epigenetic expression at every life stage, from infancy through midlife and your later decades   Outlive - Peter Attia  This book is what Dr Attia describes as the opposite of biohacking but one has to wonder. Isn’t biohacking based on science (we’ll link to a recent episode where I discuss biohacking you probably are doing even if you don’t know it)?  There are a lot of things inside this book I love top but of course the top : • Why exercise is the most potent pro-longevity “drug”—and how to begin training for the “Centenarian Decathlon.” Then there is:  • Why you should forget about diets, and focus instead on nutritional biochemistry, using technology and data to personalize your eating pattern. • Why striving for physical health and longevity, but ignoring emotional health, could be the ultimate curse of all. Bottom line on the titles of these health books I loved in 2023 (and 2024)... We are clearly obsessed with anti-aging. Even if the authors are not, the words “young” and “younger” are high volume search words. Enough so that agents and publishers agree they will sell. So whether it’s ageist or not, we collectively seem to want it. Applause to Dr Lyons and Dr Peter Attia for busting barriers of age with choice of works Forever Strong and Outlive.  One book not mentioned here but on my nightstand right now is, Finding Me, by Viola Davis. She’s a masterful storyteller and I’m only about a third of the way through but have newfound respect for each of the roles she’s played.  Other Episodes You Might Like:  What Is BioHacking https://www.flippingfifty.com/what-is-biohacking/  Your Protein Needs, Your Optimal Body Composition https://www.flippingfifty.com/your-protein/ Behind the Scenes with America's Holistic Beauty Doc Now! https://www.flippingfifty.com/beauty-doc/ Resources: Stronger: https://www.flippingfifty.com/get-stronger-2023/ Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/flipping50

Before I go further you should know, I’ve despised the word “hacking” for a long time. For me it seemed like code for shortcut, cheat, and quick fix. And a decade ago I think that was true. But I know better and the biohacking we’re talking about here is very different. It’s not cheating the system but rather getting a bonus. If you lift weights and can’t lift heavy, the use of a whole body vibration tool may give you a bonus benefit of bone density you can’t get otherwise. If you can lift heavy, I for one am using it for the icing on the cake it can be.  Biohacking is a term used to describe various tips and tricks for enhancing the body’s ability to function at peak performance—and maybe even extend one’s lifespan. But it’s not just aging, it’s health. How to trick your body into, or back into its natural state of optimal health. You were born with it.    It’s science-based and it’s individual.  Though if you read this line from Peter Attia’s book, you might think bio-hacking is psuedoscience at best:  This is not “biohacking,” it’s science: a well-founded strategic and tactical approach to extending lifespan while also improving our physical, cognitive, and emotional health. Dave Asprey’s description in an article in Men’s Health:  “...the use of science, biology, and self-experimentation to take control of and upgrade your body, your mind and your life…” What Qualifies as Biohacking [You Might Already be Doing] While certain modalities of biohacking may seem extreme, forms like meditation and intermittent fasting are fairly commonplace and time tested, with extensive research supporting their use. What’s new, however, is the movement behind this overall quest for better biological function no matter how old (or young you are).  Not an all-inclusive list but things like:  Lumen CGM monitors  Infrared Saunas Ice Baths  …are making their way into more homes for regular use. Are these methods of bio-hacking or simply application of new science allowing us to see what used to be invisible? I think we have to concede that in most if not many cases biohacking is science… and much like menopause fitness, there’s only so much of it out there. We’re forced to combine exercise physiology + menopause physiology where there are gaps and clear results a woman doesn’t feel good or muscle and bone losses are occurring in spite of following guidelines and position statements, for upgraded exercise prescriptions  [exactly why Flipping50 was born 10 years ago and exists today].  Many, maybe you listener, doubt the accuracy of trackers. Isn’t it interesting? When we don’t stop using them despite learning that seed oils and processed foods contribute to poor health but continue to buy and eat them, not only not questioning the science, but ignoring it…  We humans are complicated at best.  We question if we should use PowerPlate or if a Smart Scale tells us the correct body composition, failing to see that benefits still outweigh accuracy.  Asking, What is BioHacking Only Skims the Surface!  There is biohacking of different types.  Lifestyle - nutrition, exercise, meditation  Biology Shifts - Supplements Biologics - non-medical IV therapies and medical Stem Cell injections Technology - CGMs, wearable tracking devices for HRV What is Age-Related Biohacking? Age-related biohacking examples include: Red light therapy Stem cell therapy Cryotherapy The consumption of anti-aging and mitochondrial support supplements like those containing coenzyme Q10, polyphenols, L-carnitine and Urolithin A  What is Sleep Biohacking? Sleep trackers  Blue light blocking Magnesium  Melatonin Meditation  For support with sleep, grab my Sleep Yourself Skinny eguide.  What is Nutrition Biohacking? Intermittent fasting Pre and Probiotics  Understanding and avoiding inflammatory foods  If you’re not familiar with an elimination diet that helps you personally test foods, learn more here.  What is Physical Health Biohacking ? A recent study in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport found participating in a single high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workout can also boost brain neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to rewire or modify its neural connections) within 20 minutes of the session. So it’s not just physical or fat burning, it’s your brain benefitting. There’s also as I’ve shared a feeling of mastery and accomplishment that many women report about HIIT.  Other ways to support Physical biohacking:  Cold plunging practices and the use of ice baths (my newest hack) The use of heat therapy and saunas The use of smartwatches and other training feedback tools Whole body vibration therapy Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields (PEMFs) therapy Red light therapy (for healing and recovery) The consumption of athletic supplements like creatine and amino acids The consumption of electrolytes and energy drinks What is Brain Biohacking? Meditation  Regular exercise Brain games  Supplements like omega 3s References:  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31759829/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9518606/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26180741/ Resources:  My CGM: https://www.flippingfifty.com/myglucose My Sauna: https://www.flippingfifty.com/sauna My Whole Body Vibration: Use Flipping50 for 20% off https://www.flippingfifty.com/powerplate  My Urolithin A: https://www.flippingfifty.com/mitopure My Amino Acids: https://www.flippingfifty.com/resources/ My Mediation: https://www.flippingfifty.com/ jdmeditation  My Coffee: save 10% with Flipping50   https://www.flippingfifty.com/givedanger My Tru Energy Skin Care System: https://www.flippingfifty.com/truenergy Other Episodes You Might Like:  Whole Body Vibration for Bone Density  https://www.flippingfifty.com/whole-body-vibration/ Electrolytes for Hydration: Beyond Water, Heat, and Exercise https://www.flippingfifty.com/electrolytes-for-hydration/ 12 Reasons to Use Infrared Sauna | Why I Love Mine https://www.flippingfifty.com/reasons-to-use-infrared-sauna/ Books I love from 2023 and for 2024: 11/24/23 release date!

If you’ve experienced this… I want you to to know the #1 reason you’re not getting results from my 40 years experience, and most of all from the most recent comments, DMs and group conversations we have. Said 100% with respect to us all… but we have failed to commit to any one. While we’re complaining about the abundance of overwhelming and often conflicting information, we fail to realize it’s us who continues to let it in.  Not saying that we should stop trying to learn or gain knowledge. You know I share summits with you from time to time. I share experts with you right here regularly who challenge your thinking. And I hosted a summit myself - one of the primary goals of that was to clarify for you the information and to probe guests for clarity wherever I sensed there could be confusion for you.  But if we keep letting ourselves stay stuck collecting data, we’re procrastinating on changing anything.  You ARE choosing. You’re choosing to stay stuck. You won’t “accidentally” find your best path to health. You’ll need to get a bit organized and choose what to take action on now, what you might take action on later, and what you’re just throwing out because you’ve tried it, tested it and you know it doesn’t work for you. This episode is to help you get out of your own way.  You’re Not Getting Fitness Results? Keep Reading The only way I can do this episode is because I live it too. We can in any area of our lives sit in the middle of the room staring at the piles of things to be organized and picked up, put away, given away … and not know where to start and so never do. That, I believe may be hoarding.  In 2013 I quit. I quit my job on January 16. I was going to start paying college tuition in August. I had to put my house for sale in November. In tears in early December instead of putting up Christmas decorations I was taking down every picture carefully placed and planned from my walls because the realtor said a new buyer needs to be able to imagine their things on the wall.  For the entire first year of that new start I didn’t have a clear step-by-step. Very few had done this before, few if any had created an online fitness site exclusively for women in menopause without any technical background or knowledge in hiring someone I could trust who had one.  It wasn’t until year two, when I got a vision of what steps mattered most, what could wait and be tested later, that I started to be able to pay my own bills again instead of borrowing off of the sale of my home.  If you aren’t at a “it has to work” place, you may not commit. I was all in. There was no net. If you’ve had cancer, if you’ve had a virus so scary it made you wonder… then you know. You commit. You do everything and focus on just the important things and other things fall off the radar.  You may need to do this for yourself. Take this podcast as your wake-up call. Trust me… you don’t want to be pawning jewelry, or selling homes, asking relatives for a loan… or having to choose chemo or not… but we often do wait for a diagnosis. Decide right now if you will or you won’t.  If you think it’s inconvenient to eat differently than others in your house, if you think it’s just too hard not to have a drink or 3 every night, and you’re committed to that way of thinking, this may not be your episode. I may not be your girl.  A stale, overused and very appropriate on-point term: choose your hard.  The Number #1 Reason You’re Not Getting Fitness Results…  You are not committing to one thing consistently for long enough to test it and only it. It’s not all your fault. You hear high protein is necessary to build muscle for successful active aging.  You learn that the quality of essential amino acids in animal protein is higher per calorie than that of plant protein.  You hear that fasting is good for longevity due to autophagy.  Yet, you’ve heard the term low energy availability and identify with the concept of slowing down your metabolism because by eating less you will cause the body to breakdown muscle (especially while exercising more) and signal the body to burn less energy.  Often the #1 reason you're not getting fitness results is because you’re not trying one thing at a time and committing to it. The problem? Isn’t really an abundance of information. It’s feeling a sense of urgency that really isn’t there. Yes, it’s important you make progress this YEAR, but it doesn’t have to today. You can choose. Test it. And you can choose again.  The Reason you’re not getting fitness results:  You are honing in on ONE thing that you hear, not necessarily the most important thing, and doing it at the omission of some important details.  For instance, all the experts whether they favor plant-based protein earlier in life Agree that at 60 or 65 high quality animal protein is a must for muscle synthesis to avoid sarcopenia resulting in frailty and falls. Experts who were not long ago suggesting fasted exercise who now are more in tune with maintaining and gaining lean muscle mass and bone density are all about fed exercise.  Yet, they do observe and recommend fasting. But what length? Should you do a 24 hour fast? Should you do 20 ? Even 18? How about we try 12-14 regularly first and stop snacking between meals and instead actually have meals.  Stop skipping, skimping or eating a “protein bar” pretending it is full of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals the way a plate of food or even a smoothie will all the goodness of greens and healthy fats and light fruits and fiber.  What to Do When You’re Not Getting Results If you’re stuck between animal or plant protein… How much muscle do you have? Compare that to last year and the year before that. Don’t have those measures? Get them started now. Because if you’re nearly 60 like me, you’re knocking on the door of muscle losses that accelerate to 1-2% a year unless we’re doing the right things to avoid it. If you don’t know for sure what the right things are, write down your choices. Because you sure DO know what is confusing and conflicting. Let’s just agree that we have to stop complaining about being confused. We have to start taking responsibility for the information, for making choices, taking action and then being okay with making a new choice if it doesn’t work. But no one is going to get “data” from an experiment of starting one thing and then not really doing it. The worst possible answer to a question, “How did it go with the magnesium this week?” or “What happened when you introduced dairy this week?” is… well it worked okay when I remembered or I had it a couple times but didn’t notice anything.  These are NOT following the process for adding magnesium or re-introducing dairy, respectively.  When a client says, “I don’t feel any better this week and I haven’t lost weight” and then in reflection, 50% of the time she committed to what we agreed on and the rest of the time didn’t, we can’t expect to get results. What we have is data:  That it isn’t urgent or important enough to matter She isn’t committed to the changes she agreed to Take Action If You’re Not Getting Fitness Results What I suggest is that you choose: Choose ONE thing to take action on.  Plot your plan ALL the way through.  Choose the next thing you might choose after you see this one through. Before you start anything MEASURE: Weight. Body fat %, and girth measurements. Record your subjective ratings of sleep, energy, libido, brain clarity, digestion.  Take 3-4 weeks at least to commit. Spend a little time deciding how you might have to tweak this experiment. Will you need to start smaller than your original goal? Will you be able to begin right away?  July 4 started walking 30 minutes a day. I might also strength training or do interval training. But I was walking before 8am every day. Some days I had to do it later because I missed it earlier. But I kept that promise. Some days I hiked and it was a longer walk.  A couple days it was chilly and rainy and I did indoor “walking.” Other days still I have had a hard time getting in a solid 30 but got 10 minutes in three times. But I stuck with it. What happened after 90 days? I’m hooked as I have been 3 other times in my life, body composition improved. Tone and definition and mood improved.  You can always move on. Choose the next. But do it.. Documenting. Do what you said you’d do consistently. Make sequential changes or tweaks if required. (With introduction of magnesium or with Betaine HCL, for instance). Don’t just throw it out completely. Is it timing? Have you tried shorter instead of longer, tried it in the morning instead of at night?   No idea? Get a coach. Have an assessment. I can help you derive a plan if you’re committed to changing once you’ve got one. Got this?  Please let us know if this was valuable! AND share it! If it’s been helpful for you it will be for another woman too.  Resources:  Ultimate Assessment https://www.flippingfifty.com/store/coaching-programs/private-coaching-90-min/ Coming up! Blissmas (12 days of light exercise for holiday strategies without the stress) https://www.flippingfifty.com/blissmas  Flipping 50’s Annual Holiday 2023 Gift Guide https://www.flippingfifty.com/goodgiftsguide Other Episodes You Might Like:  How to Love Your Midlife Body More | Stop Self-Sabotage https://www.flippingfifty.com/midlife-body/ How to Stop Self Sabotage, Stay Motivated, and Get Results: Episode 2 https://www.flippingfifty.com/how-to-stop-self-sabotage-stay-motivated-and-get-results-episode-2/ Why It’s So Hard to Change Health Habits (and What to Do)  https://www.flippingfifty.com/change-health-habits/

Answers to Your CGM Questions: For Nondiabetics  Got questions about CGM use? We’ve got answers to your CGM questions in this episode. My guest wrote the book and we have a tip-rich discussion about how you can benefit from CGMs and change your life. And if not you, potentially this will be of value for someone you influence.  My favorite CGM: https://www.flippingfifty.com/myglucose  My Guest: Paul Kolodzik, MD is board-certified by both the American Board of Preventive Medicine and the American Board of Emergency Physicians. In a thirty-year emergency room career, he has cared for many patients in crises and has witnessed firsthand the failures of mainstream diets and the medical system overall, which prioritizes medications and surgery over diet and lifestyle changes to prevent and reverse disease. In his metabolic health practice Dr. Kolodzik uses the technology of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), previously used only by diabetics, to help his patients achieve weight loss and improved health.  In his recently published book, The Continuous Glucose Monitoring Revolution, Dr. Kolodzik shares how he has helped thousands of patients lose weight, and prevent and reverse metabolic diseases such as hypertension, high cholesterol, prediabetes, GERD, sleep apnea, fatty liver disease and others using CGM. In this book, he presents a comprehensive program for metabolic health success using CGMs. Dr. Kolodzik graduated from the University of Notre Dame and completed medical school and residency at Wright State University where he served as chief resident. He is a founding member of the Society of Metabolic Health Practitioners. Questions We Answer in This Episode:   Why should a nondiabetic consider using a CGM to improve health. How do CGMs work? How are they applied? How accurate are they?  How are they used "diagnostically". Is there there other data that can help assess level of insulin resistance? How are CGMS used "therapeutically" to guide diet? What dietary approaches work best with a CGM? What does a comprehensive CGM program look like? Why did you write a book about CGM use for nondiabetics. How is the book useful for first-time CGM users? Did we cover all the answers to your CGM questions? If not, please reach out. And thank you in advance for sharing our podcast with a friend!  Connect with Dr. Paul : Website: https://www.metabolicmds.com/ On Social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/metabolicmd/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulkolodzik/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/metabolicmds/?hl=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/drkolomd TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.kolo.md?lang=en Resources:  Dr. Paul’s Book: https://a.co/d/8O13wje Debra’s Favorite CGM: https://www.flippingfifty.com/myglucose  Other Episodes You Might Like:  Weight Management After 50 and Beyond https://www.flippingfifty.com/weight-management-after-50/ How a Continuous Glucose Monitor Could Help Menopause Weight Loss #514 https://www.flippingfifty.com/glucose-monitor/ Your Diabetes Risk: You’re In Control | Midlife Women https://www.flippingfifty.com/diabetes-risk/  

Let’s get into the science today. These 5 menopause workout tips stem from recent research featuring women in menopause and effects of menopause. If this is you, was you or will be you… I’m so glad you’re here!  No idea where to start? Start with this: https://www.flippingfifty.com/5dayflip  #1 Menopause Workout Tips: ESTROGEN LOSS DIRECTLY CORRELATES TO MUSCLE PROTEIN SYNTHESIS LOSS Because insufficient estrogen levels lead to loss of muscle protein synthesis, during menopause transition when this is the most significant, there needs to be an increased external stimulus (lifting weights) and protein compared to before menopause transition. Solution: Lifting heavier and or with more volume (not frequency) than PRE menopause and consuming a regular dose of high quality protein throughout the day: both proven to boost muscle protein synthesis. Science: Gerontology, 2021 #2 Menopause Workout Tips: The Greatest Loss of Lean Muscle Tissue Occurs... ... during the phase from Early Perimenopause to Late Perimenopause (27%) percent. This is the greatest opportunity to PREVENT losses that follow in greater significants too. Though early and late postmenopause phases also reflect signficantly high muscle loss, they could be mitigated by positively influencing what occurs for most women between 40 and 50. (Understand every woman's menopause journey is unique) If you didn't, start. If you're in perimenopause (know it or not in your 40s) begin this muscle protein synthesis boosting NOW. Science: Iran Journal of Public Health, 2021 #3 Menopause Workout TIps: Greater Volume During a Session vs Greater Volume in Frequency ...Provides Greater muscle mass, strength, and endurance. THIS is really an important concept to consider. When volume is identical comparing 3x a week with 2 sets of strength vs 2x a week with 3 sets of strength, the latter was far more beneficial. There's more. If you combine this study with others demonstrating adrenal insufficiency, recovery rate, and the number one obstacle for exercise (time), there is a huge advantage to less frequent, yet additional sets creating a volume of stimulus with a more positive effect. Science: Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 2022 #4 Menopause Workout Tips: Still Ovulating? A Time to Lift Heavy, a Time to Do Agility Moves Plan your exercise with your cycle or you miss an opportunity to make fitness gains and decrease risk injury. During week 2 or ovulation, That is about 10-14 days after your cycle starts, is the BEST time to lift heavy. Yet, it is the worst time to do agility and rapid directional changes of movement. The effects of estrogen mean muscle benefits significantly from heavy and power work, and is supported by rigid tendons. However the combination of rigid tendons and lax ligaments also created with high estrogen mean injury risk is greater during this time. Very often, women begin reporting greater injury or repeat injuries during perimenopause and there's no proof but I do suspect that not honoring this cycle is a contributing factor. Then once you've got a weak link you are not aware of, the repeated stress without cycling workout stimulus is worsened. Menopause? of course estrogen is over all, down. But cycling or periodization is still a consideration in order to optimize benefits and decrease risk of injury. Science: Frontiers in Physiology, 2019 #5 Menopause Workout Tips: 3 Solutions for Overcoming Sarcopenia or Anabolic Resistance Muscle protein synthesis is a chief mechanism for maintaining and gaining lean muscle. Estrogen's positive influence on muscle is removed or reduced during menopause. What's left? Resistance Training High quality protein at regular intervals throughout the day (high quality includes sources with adequate leucine and EAA important to muscle gain) Supplementation - if dietary protein goals aren't achieved (could include protein powder, EAAs, Creatine, and or BCAAs) The greatest of these is Resistance Training. The stimulus is a must. Science: Nutrition Metabolism, 2016 Resources:  Power Plate: https://www.flippingfifty.com/PowerPlate Use Code: Flipping50 Essential Amino Acids: https://www.flippingfifty.com/resources  What, When & Why to Exercise for Women 40+ Recordings: https://www.flippingfifty.com/womensexercise  Other Episodes You Might Like:  Whole Body Vibration: http://flipping50.com/whole-body-vibration/ Are MEN JUST as at Risk for Osteoporosis?: https://www.flippingfifty.com/risk-for-osteoporosis/  

It’s Match-dot-com for wellness! My guest today is making it easy for women over 40 to find the right coach. And she’s also midlife herself so this episode is so meta in terms of examples of creatively following your passion, finding a problem and solving it!  Women in business are to be applauded! And women in wellness, well don’t we all need not MORE, but better choices. We need programs based on science, science featuring women just like you.  If you happen to be listening as a health or wellness professional, there’s a special episode on She Means Fitness Business that releases one day after this one. If you have ever struggled to find the right coach, (or trainer) then this is for you!  My Guest:  In Jill Beck’s eyes, Health and wellness for people over 40 is in dire need of transformation. Let’s be honest, the industry has struggled to address the lack of fitness and wellness options for anyone who’s NOT a fit 25-40 year old (white) guy. Once Jill left Wall Street 20+ years ago, she started to get serious about her health and fitness. Over that journey, she saw firsthand how few resources and options existed for people over 40. Now she’s on a mission to ensure that no one else has to go through that experience by themselves! Combining her experience with tech & finance with her passion for wellness, fitness and overall health, Go Long is currently her third business venture and the one she’s most excited about.  The major throughline in all her businesses has been wanting to help people become their best selves, however they define that. Questions we answer in this episode:  What is a wellness matchmaker? How can a wellness matchmaker help a listener? What makes you qualified to have these conversations? What is Go Long's approach? How do you help your clients define success from the typical "I want to lose weight"? How does it work? How does someone get started with you, and what’s the timeline?  What have been the biggest challenges for you in pivoting your career in midlife?  You know someone who wants to find the right coach. Thank you in advance for sharing this episode with them.  Connect with Jill:  Website: https://golong.me On Social: Instagram: https://instagram.com/justgolong Threads: https://threads.net/justgolong Resources:  5 Day Flip: https://www.flippingfifty.com/5dayflip How Do You Choose the Best Exercise Program for You? https://www.flippingfifty.com/choose-best-exercise-program/ Other Episodes You Might Like:  Do You Need a Coach, Trainer, or Consultant? How to Choose a Fitness Pro https://www.flippingfifty.com/need-a-coach/ Behind the Scenes Menopause Fitness Coaching Session https://www.flippingfifty.com/menopause-fitness-coaching/ If You Were My Coaching Client, Here’s What I’d Ask… | Ask the Health Coach https://www.flippingfifty.com/my-coaching-client/

Have you wished there was a hormone therapy roadmap? Well, it’s your lucky day. It’s exactly what I hope this episode is for you. On the regular I am approached or meet with functional doctors who do hormone therapy for clients.  But this is a unique episode and I’ve crafted my questions hoping to answer yours: the ones you have and the ones you don’t. My goal during this interview was not to let my own bias enter in but ask curious questions as if I was naive, haven’t worked with functional doctors and clients and supported them as a liaison for what to ask, demand and when to get a second opinion. I’ve shared the difference between norms and optimal levels of labs, supported health coaches and trainers within our Flipping 50 Menopause Fitness Specialist training in understanding a hormone therapy intervention and how they can within scope of practice support clients. But today, I try to fly blind and look at the options, the facts, the science, and ask my guest to share just that too.  My Guest:  Daved Rosensweet MD is the Founder of The Institute of BioIdentical Medicine and The Menopause Method, as well as the author of three books on the subject including his latest "Happy Healthy Hormones". With over 30 years of experience specializing in andropause and menopause treatment, Dr. Rosensweet is an internationally known lecturer and presenter. Early in his career, he trained the first nurse practitioners in the United States and was in charge of health promotion for the State of New Mexico. Currently, Dr. Rosensweet spends the majority of his time as the Medical Director of The Institute of BioIdentical Medicine, where he trains medical practitioners to specialize in menopause and andropause medicine. Questions we answer in this episode:  Pros and Cons of: pills creams pellets shots  under tongue  patches I would love to know if this hormone therapy roadmap was helpful for you.  Connect with Dr. Rosensweet:  Website: https://www.brite.live On Social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1124278224398950,  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davedrosensweetmd,  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/menopausedoctor/ Resources:  Download Dr. Rosensweet’s book “Happy Healthy Hormones” for free: https://iobim.org/book/ Book: Estrogen Matters https://www.amazon.com/Estrogen-Matters-Hormones-Menopause-Well-Being/dp/0316481203 5 Day Flip: https://www.flippingfifty.com/5dayflip Other Episodes You Might Like:  Which Hormones Matter Most in Meno(pause) https://www.flippingfifty.com/which-hormones/ My Thyroid and Adrenals: Navigating Midlife Hormones https://www.flippingfifty.com/my-thyroid/ What Women Need to Know about Hormone Replacement Therapy https://www.flippingfifty.com/?s=hormone+therapy

Postmenopause bones are at greater risk of fracture, continued bone loss and in need of specific exercise to target and protect. Whether you’re fragile, high risk or you’re one of millions of women diagnosed with either osteoporosis or osteopenia wanting to reverse it, if you’re postmenopause, this is particularly for you. It’s a quick episode targeting specifically women post menopause to compliment this month-long heavy emphasis on bone health.  From the research: Average bone loss is 1.5% per year for the spine and 1.1% – 1.4% for the femoral neck in the first 4-5 years post menopause. Losses slow slightly after this and then increase again in later decades. Scared? Not the intention. But woken up? It’s time to be fully so.  Look, it would have been much better had you jumped rope and done gymnastics as a kid. Better still if you started serious strength training and stopped starving yourself in your 20s. Even better if during pregnancies you ate more knowing the baby was first priority and your bones were getting drained if you were trying to avoid too much weight gain. And if in your perimenopause stages you didn’t lift heavy weight and consume high quality protein, then now… now is the time to get serious.  Post Menopause Bones: The 411  With none of these should you start at this ideal. Each of them requires a start that’s appropriate, and a progression that’s slow and appropriate over months. Your ligaments and connective tissue, your neural or brain connection to muscle is a piece that cannot be rushed Strength Train major muscle 8-12 reps 3-4 sets, 2-3x a week Add Power: lift quickly, lower under control Weight bearing impact activity   3-5 sets of 10-20 jumps 4-7 days per week   [https://youtu.be/Q4cDTMHWP6Y]  In this list of movements (those demonstrated briefly in the video), the numbers that follow represent the ground forces of the moves. If you can do the Vertical squat jump, your bone benefit is nearly 3x that of dancing (which is probably only slightly greater than walking). With impact comes a slightly greater risk and reasons may exist why this isn’t a good choice for you. Those include but aren’t limited to arthritis, joint replacement, low cartilage (in need of a replacement), degeneration in spine.  Dance Step  2.7 Step Up(30cm) 2.7 Lateral Step up 3.1  Hopping  3.4 Jump squat  3.8 Side to side jumps 3.9  Star jump 4.3 Foot stomp 4.6 Vertical jump 4.7  Side to side over rope 5.1  Depth jump 5.2 Drop jump 5.5  Forward/backward Squat Jump 6.3  Vertical Squat Jump 7.1 Yoga 12 minutes a day  Exercise extensor muscles of spine are among the greatest benefactors of yoga, supporting the prevention of fractures.  HIIT High Intensity Exercise activates fast twitch muscle fibers which help build bone, as well as improve reaction skills and decrease risk of falls Exercise Effects on Bone Vary: + resistance exercise on femoral neck exercise without resistance on femoral neck  resistance-only exercise  functional exercises on femoral neck or lumbar spine balance exercises  bone loading exercise alone A review of literature that included many studies show mixed results for exercise effects on bone. It’s the wild west. Just checking the “weight training” box may not support significant change in bone.  For Programs Targeting Postmenopause bones, know your goals and ASK:  Stop or slow losses  Gain bone density  Overall, higher levels of physical activity were associated with better bone health. [When it combining targeted recommendations below] Need to Know: Weight bearing balance and functional exercises must also include resistance component to be effective for bone. (Either, weighted vest, or (most optimal) resistance training as a component of weekly routine). Walking speeds lower than 3.5 prove ineffective for bone benefit BULLSEYE for BONE: (shared in a recent podcast episode)  Weight bearing impact activity (stepping, jumping, weighted vest)  3-5 sets of 10-20 jumps 4-7 days per week (see prior post) Strength Train major muscle groups 8-12 reps 3-4 sets, 2-3x a week (equal change) Add Power: lift quickly, lower under control Volume matters: a sound 3 or 4 sets of compound or “core” moves BESTs 8-10 exercises done 2x. (those big circuits are not what your bone needs)  Exercise extensor muscles of spine for posture (& fracture prevention)  What was NOT effective in postmenopause bones improvement?  Resistance training at less than 80% (8-10 reps)** Functional training alone  Balance weight bearing alone  Walking or running alone Even resistance alone is not as significant as in combination with multiple exercises including resistance.  What IS functional exercise for bones?  Related directly to improving your bones. It’s not necessarily a trainer’s “functional fitness” class.  ** you have to start with less than 80% however. Start with 60-70% or 15-20 reps. Progress over months. Know good form.  References::  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6429007/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30503353/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30503353/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33239014/ https://asbmr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jbmr.3284 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4851231/ Pinheiro, M.B., Oliveira, J., Bauman, A. et al. Evidence on physical activity and osteoporosis prevention for people aged 65+ years: a systematic review to inform the WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act17, 150 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-020-01040-4 Other Episodes You Might Like: Whole Body Vibration: http://flipping50.com/whole-body-vibration/ Exercise for Bone Density Then and Now: https://www.flippingfifty.com/exercise-for-bone-density/ 21 Reasons Weight Training Should Be Mandatory Exercise After 50: https://www.flippingfifty.com/weight-training-should-be-mandatory/ Resources:  Use Code: Flipping50 for 20% off your own Power Plate Move

  Are you swinging for the fence, or just bunting? Midlife AND… an autoimmune diagnosis that might have made someone else fold their tent and go home. But not today’s guest. In fact, she turned it around and leveraged it instead.    You may say it fuels what she does.    It’s easy to think you’re on the downhill slide.You’re enjoying an easier life, an empty nest, a little more disposable income. But are you really passionate about your daily life? Are you looking forward to things on your calendar both near and far off? Do you have goals that make you both a little nervous and excited?    For the past 20 years of my 40 year career I’ve been serving as a coach for many of my clients in addition to supporting the wellness and fitness goals they have. I was 18 years into my career juggling exercise psychology with physiology but there was often more. We humans can sometimes put up obstacles to getting the things we say we want, as a way of self-preservation. We protect ourselves from the risk of change. And there we stay stuck unless someone like a coach calls BS for you.  I think you’ll agree today’s guest shares and lives much of this is her everyday actions.  My Guest:   Christine Conti believes in the “YES. YOU CAN” mindset. Christine is an international fitness educator chronic disease wellness specialist, and the recipient of the IDEA World 2023 Fitness Professional of the Year. She is the CEO of CONTI: a woman-owned enterprise that offers keynote speaking, chronic disease wellness, mindset coaching and continuing education for fitness professionals, schools and private companies. Christine is also a best-selling author, podcast host, co-founder of REINVENTING THE WOMAN INTERNATIONAL, a 3x IRONMAN and a guide for Special Olympic athletes. After receiving a life-changing diagnosis at age thirty, this former investment banker and English teacher is determined to show the world that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE! Questions We Answer in This Episode:  You’re a woman in midlife, you’ve had some health obstacles but leveraged them and turned them into assets, and you’re doing some “big reach” things, talk about that! Why do you believe most people are unable to face their fears? What are some words or advice that you live by? How do you juggle "all the things?" Reflect: Are you swinging for the fence or playing it safe?  Connect with Christine: Website: https://www.contifit.com/ Book: https://www.contifit.com/shop Podcast: https://www.twofitcrazies.com/ Reinventing the Woman International Group: https://www.RTWtribe.com On Social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ContiFit/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-conti-b0668710b/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christine_m_conti/ Resources: STRONGER 12-week strength training: https://www.flippingfifty.com/getstronger Other Episodes You Might Like: You Can Lose Fat and Add Muscle in Your 60s: She Did!: https://www.flippingfifty.com/lose-fat-and-add-muscle/ Female Entrepreneur Suzelle Snowden of Fit Bodies, Inc. Teaching Vacations: https://www.flippingfifty.com/female-entrepreneur/