In this episode, I’m joined by registered dietitian Kayla Girgen to talk about what it really takes to build strength and resilience in midlife—without burning out. We dive into common fitness and nutrition myths that keep women stuck, how to train smarter (not harder), and why simple things like walking with weight—aka rucking—can transform your metabolism, muscle, and mindset.

Timestamps:

[.15] Intro

[3:18] Interview with Kayla Girgen

[3:48] What actually counts as strength training?

[9:09] For women who are already active, what shifts should they make in mid life to better support bone density?

[12:38] Talk me through food for bone density

[18:00] What are some shifts that I can make to my current fitness routine to make it beneficial to my changing body?

[21:43] After age 35, how much of our routine should be cardio vs strength work?

[23:03] How often are you rucking?

[23:40] What exactly is rucking and how does it differ from walking?

[25:34] How does rucking compare to running, HIIT or cycling in terms of energy output, joint health or any of that?

[27:24] Is there science yet that looks at rucking?

[28:56] Let’s talk about weighted vests. What’s the difference between weighted vests and rucking and if it’s actually worth it?

[34:54] What would you say to people who say wearing a weighted vest or a pack with weight changes your posture and lead to injury?

[37:25] Is there a specific weight that needs to be carried? How do you know where to start?

[39:42] Are you using a normal backpack or a specific backpack?

[45:53] What are some of the biggest pitfalls that you see women run into when it comes to nutrition?

[53:02] What’s the easiest way for someone to start carrying the load?

[57:57] If a women only had 20 minutes a day, would you rather her ruck, lift or walk?

Episode Links:

Well Minerals Vitamin C

Ruck Fit

Visit Kayla's Website

Win the Week

Free CGM Guide

Sponsors:

Go to https://thisisneeded.com/ and use coupon code WELLFED for 20% off your first order.

Go to http://mdlogichealth.com/wfcolostrum, and use coupon code WFC15 for 15% off. You can also use code WELLFED for 10% off site wide on all MD Logic Products.

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I always get a ton of questions about how to handle cold and flu season, so today I’m doing a deep dive into both prevention, and what to do at the first sign of sickness. No panic, no spiraling—just practical, holistic support so you can feel confident all season long. You got this!

Timestamps:

[1:52] Welcome

[5:15] Prevention

[9:40] Supplements for prevention

[23:52] What do do when you start feeling it come on

[29:33] Bonus herbs

Episode Links:

New Well Minerals Pure Whole Food Vitamin C

Vitamin D3 + K2 (adults)

Vitamin D3 (kids)

Elderberry Syrup (use code coconuts for 20% off your first purchase)

Drs. Choice Probiotic

Herb Pharm Kids Immune Fortifier

Zinc Lozenges

Zinc Liquid Drops

Quercetin

Kids Quercetin (age 6+)

Xlear Nasal Spray

drinklmnt.com/wellfed

Herm Pharm Kids Immune Avenger

Gaia Herbs Quick Defense

Umcka Cold Care

Boiron Oscillococcinum

Lumebox red light therapy

Sponsors:

Go to curednutrition.com/wellfed and use code WELLFED for 20% off.

Go to drinklmnt.com/wellfed and use code WELLFED to get a free 8-pack with any drink mix purchase!

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Today we unpack a groundbreaking new study showing exercise stops cancer from coming back after treatment. We also talk about what really matters for building strength and longevity, how to know if you’re actually gaining muscle, and which labs are worth asking for at your next physical. Spoiler: “toning” isn’t a thing, but progressive overload definitely is.

Timestamps:

[1:35] Welcome

[15:15] Discussion about study on how exercise is better than drugs to stop cancer

[29:11] What are the top 3 basics for fitness after age 35?

[42:15] I'm due for a physical and I want bloodwork and don’t know what to ask for.

[49:05] I’ve been lifting more intentionally, but not sure if what I’m doing is building muscle. How do I know if I’m building muscle vs. maintaining?

Episode Links:

Exercise ‘better than drugs’ to stop cancer returning after treatment, trial finds

Noelle's instagram post: Exercise is more effective than drugs at stopping cancer

Sponsors:

Go to https://thisisneeded.com/ and use coupon code WELLFED for 20% off your first order.

Go to curednutrition.com/wellfed and use code WELLFED for 20% off.

Go to http://mdlogichealth.com/chocolate and use coupon code COLLAGEN15 for 15% off.

Go to boncharge.com/WELLFED and use coupon code WELLFED to save 15% off any order.

Blood sugar affects everything from your energy and sleep to your hormones and weight—yet most women are never taught how to manage it. In this episode, Kara Collier, RDN and co-founder of Nutrisense, shares what you need to know about CGMs, practical lifestyle hacks for glucose control, and the unique considerations women face after 35.

Timestamps:

[1:44] Intro

[6:45] Interview with Kara

[7:06] What did you see in your practice that made you realize blood sugar is a much bigger piece of the health puzzle?

[10:51] Can you define what healthy blood sugar is, outside of markers on labs?

[13:45] What does healthy blood sugar look like from a CGM perspective?

[19:20] What's your opinion on why women are struggling more with blood sugar?

[24:36] What do CGM's track and what data is most important?

[36:10] Talk to me about the impact that stress has on our blood sugar and our ability to manage glucose.

[41:06] What about exercise and sauna (the things that raise our heart rate)? What do we expect to see, what’s normal, and what’s not?

[48:01] What are some of the most effective "hacks" in nutrition and exercise for blood sugar?

[55:30] Do you think that carb timing influences blood sugar at all?

[56:28] I got a CGM to see if there is anything obvious with my sleep. Am I trying to avoid spikes all together?

[1:03:04] How do we actually reverse insulin resistance?

[1:09:56] Is fasting really good for blood sugar?

[1:11:38] My 10 -year -old daughter has been wearing a CGM for about a month now. She has high anxiety and I noticed that when her anxiety is high, a juice box will calm her down at night. Once we put a CGM on her, we realize that her glucose is pretty low on average. How do we keep her glucose up without eating straight sugar all the time? What are some good glucose boosting snacks?

Episode Links:

Nutrisense CGM

Well Minerals Vitamin C

Sponsors:

Go to drinklmnt.com/wellfed and use code WELLFED to get a free 8-pack with any drink mix purchase!

Go to curednutrition.com/wellfed and use code WELLFED for 20% off.

Go to http://mdlogichealth.com/chocolate and use coupon code COLLAGEN15 for 15% off.

Go to wellminerals.us/chill and use code WELLFED to get 10% off your order.

This week we’re digging into a new study on high-protein ultra-processed foods (spoiler: protein doesn’t magically cancel out junk food), plus your biggest questions on appetite, cardio vs. strength, and working out with hypothyroidism. We talk about our thoughts on “belly fat,” why your hunger might have gone MIA, and how to find the right workout balance without losing your mind.

Timestamps:

[1:35] Welcome

[4:00] Discussion: study that looked at protein enriched foods

[14:40] I’d love to know how to increase my appetite.

[36:14] What’s a good ratio of cardio vs strength per week?

[39:26] This question is about hypothyroidism - I take a medicine first thing in the morning and I’m not supposed to eat for a full hour after taking. It’s also the only time I have to workout - am I doing damage working out on an empty stomach?

Episode Links:

High protein ultra processed foods

Sponsors:

Go to https://thisisneeded.com/ and use coupon code WELLFED for 20% off your first order.

Go to curednutrition.com/wellfed and use code WELLFED for 20% off.

Go to http://mdlogichealth.com/chocolate and use coupon code COLLAGEN15 for 15% off.

Go to boncharge.com/WELLFED and use coupon code WELLFED to save 15% off any order.

Michelle Shapiro is back to uncover the shocking truths about MCAS, histamine intolerance, and POTS that most people, including practitioner, get wrong. We dive into the latest science, why “detoxing” or chasing root causes too soon can actually backfire, and how to begin the path to healing. If you’ve ever felt dismissed, confused, or stuck in your symptoms, this conversation will change how you see chronic illness.

Timestamps:

[1:36] Welcome

[5:20] Interview with Michelle Shapiro

[6:11] How often do histamine or mast cell issues show up under the surface when people don’t realize it?

[11:14] Is there anything that you need to clear or calm down the activation?

[14:18] What are the earliest red flags that someone's unexplained symptoms could be mast cells or a histamine reaction?

[18:02] Are there different symptoms with MCAS verses histamine issues or do they always coincide?

[21:12] What are some common root cause of histamine issues?

[28:44] How is someone targeting their nervous system and histamines?

[39:01] What is it about cycle changes that make you react more to high histamine foods?

[43:10] What do you recommend people do to figure out their root cause? Are there specific tests or timelines?

[49:04] If someone’s in the middle of a reaction, what do you recommend they do in the short to to immediately reduce the symptoms?

[53:40] How do you know when it’s time to come off of medications that are working well?

[56:12] Do you feel like you ever truly heal mast cells and histamine or is it something you just manage?

[1:05:23] I break out in hives while exercising. How do I manage this so I can get movement in?

[1:07:24] Histamine issues - I get pain in my feet after I nursed my third child - why?

[1:08:31] I’m down to three safe foods - how can I improve tolerance to food?

Episode Links:

Visit Michelle's Website

Michelle's Histamine Webinar

Quiet the Diet Podcast

Follow Michelle on Instagram

Episode #534: Weight Loss and Diet Changes without Diet Culture with Michelle Shapiro, RD.

Sponsors:

Go to https://thisisneeded.com/ and use coupon code WELLFED for 20% off your first order.

Go to boncharge.com/WELLFED and use coupon code WELLFED to save 15% off any order.

Go to http://mdlogichealth.com/chocolate and use coupon code COLLAGEN15 for 15% off.

Go to wellminerals.us/creatine and use code WELLFED to get 10% off your order.

In this episode, we’re tackling your biggest questions about exercise, stress, and hormones. We explore why blood sugar may look more stable on workout days, what exercise intolerance really means (and when it’s best to rest), and the difference between everyday stress and deeper hormonal imbalances. If you’ve ever wondered how stress shows up in your workouts, energy, and resilience, this one’s for you.

Timestamps:

[1:55] Welcome

[13:48] Health benefits of walking backwards

[20:41] Could you talk more about exercise intolerance - when to push and when to hold back? How do we know when strength training we’ll help and when to hold back and take a break?

[35:23] I recently tried a cgm and started back at CrossFit two times a week. I noticed on my CrossFit days my blood sugar was lower and more stable. Is this a good indication that I’m ok to do this type of exercise?

[47:03] I’m in my late 30s, working full time, and raising two kids. I feel like I’m constantly in "go mode". I know that stress affects hormones, but lately I’ve been wondering how much of my fatigue, irritability, and brain fog is really from my work load verses something deeper going on. What are some practical ways to support resilience when you can’t just eliminate the stress?

Episode Links:

Walking backwards

Rehab for MS

Histamine and Exercise

Sponsors:

Go to wellminerals.us/creatine and use code WELLFED to get 10% off your order.

Go to drinklmnt.com/wellfed and use code WELLFED to get a free 8-pack with any drink mix purchase!

Go to http://mdlogichealth.com/chocolate and use coupon code COLLAGEN15 for 15% off.

Go to coconutsandkettlebells.com/air and click the link in the review for $300 off select models and 10% off filters.

Back pain is one of the most common health issues, but most people are getting the story wrong. In this episode, Dr. Grant Elliott breaks down the latest research on pain, the nervous system, and recovery—explaining why scary MRI results don’t always match symptoms, why movement is medicine, and how your beliefs can shape healing. You’ll learn practical tools to calm a sensitized nervous system and rethink what real recovery looks like.

Timestamps:

[1:50] Intro

[4:49] Welcome Dr. Grant Elliott

[5:20] What are some of the biggest misconceptions that you’ve found in your practice most people carry with them about pain?

[16:53] Can an unregulated nervous system make our pain worse or stuck in pain patterns?

[24:42] Are there any specific mechanical movements that you see is one specific thing causing pain?

[27:47] What are some examples of movements that are familiar in the gym that are extension based?

[29:44] True or false? Movement is the antidote to pain?

[34:41] Can you explain the concept of graded exposure?

[59:10] What is worth it for pain management overall and how do we know what actually works?

[1:03:15] If someone’s nervous system is stuck in a hyper state, what is the first step they can do to stop that cycle?

Episode Links:

The Rehab Fix

The Rehab Fix Lower Back Program

Explain Pain

Tame the Beast

Sponsors:

Go to http://mdlogichealth.com/chocolate and use coupon code COLLAGEN15 for 15% off.

Go to https://thisisneeded.com/ and use coupon code WELLFED for 20% off your first order.

Go to wellminerals.us/chill and use code WELLFED to get 10% off your order.