Afterpause

Midlife is defined as being between the ages of 35-60 yrs old. This is when we start to see and feel changes, and not in the direction we want. Brain fog, forgetting where we left our keys, more trips to get Botox, belly fat, dreaded hair thinning, chronic fatigue, horrible sleep, and, sadly, low to no libido – the list goes on and on. As we age, the doors to chronic disease open up: heart disease, Alzheimer's, type 2 diabetes, and cancer all become real possibilities for most of us. I'm all in against aging poorly. I'm all in when it comes to optimizing my overall health and wellness, especially while in menopause. The thing about being all in all of the time is that it gets easier. Your new routine becomes your new normal, and it's enjoyable, delicious, and reaps sexy rewards, like having a libido, rocking a bathing suit, healthy hair growth, and youthful skin, and you can go places and do lots of activities. What does your version of "all in" mean? What are the things you should be aware of, doing, taking, and planning for as we age?

My guest today is going to help break down the science of aging, what we need to pay attention to, and how to execute it all so that we can be optimized, midlife, human performance machines. Dr. Bryan Stepanenko MD, is a board-certified Family Physician and Functional Medicine practitioner certified by the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFMCP). He works alongside Dr. Gabrielle Lyon and serves as her lead physician and educator for her clinical practice (Young Medical PC) and the Institute for Muscle-Centric Medicine. He lectures internationally on how to identify and mitigate threats to health and performance in the military operational environment and everyday life. He is teaching staff for the military's only Functional Medicine training pathway based out of Walter Reed National Medical Center. He was also a career firefighter & paramedic in South Florida prior to accepting his military scholarship to attend medical school at the University of Miami in Florida and completed seven years as an active-duty Army Family Physician before joining Gabrielle Lyon in her practice. He cares for the full spectrum of patient populations including pediatric, adult, geriatric, Veteran, athlete, and tactical athlete populations.

Medical Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice or for making any lifestyle changes to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any of my guests on my podcast.

Resources:

website: https://drgabriellelyon.com/

website: https://drgabriellelyon.com/meet-the-team/

Watch on my Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@jillfooswellness/videos

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Schedule a free 30-minute consultation with me and start to discover your unique longevity plan:

https://www.jillfooswellness.com/contact

Today I am focusing on osteoporosis and midlife women. It's called the "silent disease" because you can't feel your bones getting weaker. The National Osteoporosis Foundation offers these facts:

-1 in 2 women will break a bone due to osteoporosis after the age of 50.

-A woman's risk of fracture is equal to her combined risk of breast, uterine, and ovarian cancer.

-24% of hip fracture patients age 50 and over die in the year following the fracture.

-A bone density test is the best way to diagnose osteoporosis and determine a treatment plan.

-They recommend you get this test at age 65- which is when most health insurance companies will pay for it.

A PubMed publication stated that women are most likely to be diagnosed with osteoporosis 10-15 years post-menopause, which would make them about 65. At that point, treatment will be a band-aid. It certainly won't be preventive.

Some of my midlife clients have discovered they have osteopenia while working with me because I encouraged them to get checked. They're in their 40's, they're peri-menopausal. Could you imagine if they waited another 20 years to get checked?

My guest today is a bone health and menopause expert who'd going to break it all down for us today. It's definitely a topic not talked about enough until it has to be, which is often too late.

Dr. Kristi Tough DeSapri is a board-certified internist specializing in midlife women's health. After fellowship training at the Cleveland Clinic, she has worked in private practice and academic medicine for over 13 years, including being the director of the Northwestern Women's Bone Health program at the Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. She is currently opening Bone and Body Women's Health, a concierge midlife women's health practice in the Chicago area, focused on consultation and management of perimenopause, menopause, osteoporosis, and sexual health.

Medical Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice or for making any lifestyle changes to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any of my guests on my podcast.

Resources:

website: www.boneandbodywh.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/boneandbodywh/

Calcium Calculator: https://www.osteoporosis.foundation/educational-hub/topic/calcium-calculator

Fracture Risk Assessment Tool: https://frax.shef.ac.uk/FRAX/tool.aspx?country=9

Stay connected with me!

Watch on my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@jillfooswellness/videos

Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/jillfooswellness/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jillfooswellness

Grab discounts on my favorite biohacking products:

https://www.jillfooswellness.com/health-products

And, try some of my nutrient-dense recipes:

https://www.jillfooswellness.com/recipes

Schedule a free 30-minute consultation with me and start to discover your unique longevity plan:

Have you ever wanted to ask your primary care physician, or OBGYN, certain questions about your vagina or sexual health and bailed out? Or asked them questions only to have them tell you it's in your head or dismiss you altogether? Dr. Kelly Casperson, MD, and I sit down for my first Ask Me Anything episode on women's health. I collected some fantastic questions from you, my midlife women's community. Let's dive in and see what going on down there!

Dr. Kelly Casperson, MD is a board-certified urologic surgeon practicing in Washington State, author, sex educator, and top international podcaster whose mission is empowering women to live their best love lives. Kelly had her life changed by a patient with low desire and identified the need for better resources and education on topics like sexual health, intimacy, hormones, neuroscience, and the science of desire. She combines education, humor, and candor in her podcast, You Are Not Broken, where she dismantles the myths women have learned and normalizes healthy, enjoyable sex worth desiring. An engaging and humorous storyteller, she is a nationally known speaker and is known for being approachable, making people comfortable with these often, uncomfortable topics, and changing lives in the bedroom and out with her practical useful tips. She has also released her book titled, "You Are Not Broken".

Find Dr. Casperson here:

Her book: "You Are Not Broken: Stop Should-ing All Over Your Sex Life" is out now:

https://amzn.to/3vH3Jbh

website: www.kellycaspersonmd.com

IG: @kellycaspersonmd

PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-are-not-broken/id1495710329

FB: @youarentbroken

Learn more about which health coach package is right for you here:

https://www.jillfooswellness.com/services

To schedule your free 30-minute health coach consultation, submit this form:

https://www.jillfooswellness.com/contact

Podcast medical disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice or for making any lifestyle changes to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any of my guests on my podcast.

PCOS, or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, is one of the most common causes of female infertility, affecting 6% to 12% (as many as 5 million) of US women of reproductive age. There's no known cause of PCOS, but several mechanisms have been linked to this syndrome, such as hormonal imbalance, insulin resistance, and genetics.

Women with PCOS can develop serious health issues, especially if they are overweight. Here are some stats from the CDC:

-more than half of women with PCOS develop type 2 diabetes by age 40, just as a woman has most likely entered peri-menopause

-women with PCOS are at higher risk of CVD, and as a woman goes through menopause, their risk of CVD also increases

-women with PCOS generally have elevated LDL cholesterol and decreased HDL cholesterol—which also increases the risk of heart disease

-women with PCOS are more likely to develop plaque clogging their blood vessels which can lead to blood clots that in turn can cause a stroke

Most women that I work with who have PCOS are in their childbearing years. Today, I'm going to focus on PCOS and menopausal women – a topic not covered enough in my opinion. PCOS never goes away. Once properly diagnosed, it's yours to keep your whole life. Menopause is challenging enough. Adding PCOS to the equation is even more challenging for women.

I've invited Dr. Shawn Tassone MD, America's Holistic Gynecologist, to my podcast again. He's the first physician in the United States to be double board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology by the American Board of Integrative Medicine. He holds a medical degree in addition to a Ph.D. in mind-body medicine. He's a practicing OBGYN in Austin, Tx, hormone specialist, author, speaker, highly rated patient advocate, and creator of the world's first integrative hormonal mapping system.

Resources:

Website: https://www.drshawntassone.com/

IG: shawntassonemd

Book: Hormone Balance Bible

Podcast: Confessions of a Male Gynecologist Podcast

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice or to make any lifestyle changes to treat any medical condition in yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any of my guests on my podcast.

Schedule your Free 30-minute consultation with Jill Foos here: https://www.jillfooswellness.com/contact

Learn more about health coach packages here: https://www.jillfooswellness.com/services

In Part 2, I share my ongoing personal journey of hair loss and hair growth. After a year of amazing hair growth, and very little hair shedding, I made one change that triggered a massive shedding, bringing me back to where I was over a year ago. With my oldest son's wedding in six months, i decided to try two newer modalities on the market and am sharing my experience with you.

When working with my clients on their hair growth journeys, as well as my own, I work with three buckets: lifestyle interventions, personalized supplement protocol, and a medical component with a well-versed doctor in hair loss. When my massive shedding started again due to my one change, I knew I'd be able to grow my hair back because of my healthy foundation and personalized approach to diet and supplements.

Listen in on my continuing journey and learn from my mistake, my wins, and the daily routine that will be with me forever...if I want a great head of curls, that is.

Resources:

Alma TED: https://almainc.com/products/almated

Check out my other hair loss podcasts:

https://www.jillfooswellness.com/podcast/the-red-light-therapy-hair-loss-to-hair-growth-connection

https://www.jillfooswellness.com/podcast/scalp-health-amp-hair-loss-42

https://www.jillfooswellness.com/podcast/turning-hair-loss-into-hair-growth-34

https://www.jillfooswellness.com/podcast/my-personal-hair-loss-to-hair-regrowth-journey

Schedule your free 30-minute consultation with me here:

https://www.jillfooswellness.com/contact

Did you know that having regular sex positively influences your overall health and longevity? Studies have shown that both men and women who engage in regular sexual activity have stronger immune systems, reduced anxiety, feel happier, and protect the health of a man's prostate. Sexual activity and orgasms release beneficial chemicals in our body that supports bonding with others and a feeling of self-worth. Regular sex may also support a woman's transition into menopause and beyond by minimizing adverse side effects, such as vaginal atrophy and dryness. Do you have trouble sleeping? Regular sex helps that too! Sex also supports strengthening the pelvic floor for men and women - very important as we age.

There are zero downsides to having regular sex. And, as you age, it can become even more pleasurable. You're older, wiser, more comfortable with yourself, and understand what values in life are important to you. Having that knowledge in your back pocket opens up the door to becoming a better lover. And, just in case you need to brush up on your lovemaking skills, and we all could use a bit of that, I have invited Susan Bratton back onto my podcast.

Susan Bratton, "Intimacy Expert to Millions💋" is a champion and advocate for all those who desire intimacy and passion their whole life long.

She is the co-founder and CEO of two corporations: Personal Life Media, Inc., a publisher of heart-connected lovemaking techniques and bedroom communication skills and The20, LLC., a manufacturer of organic and botanical supplements that enhance sexual vitality.

Susan is a best-selling author and publisher of 34 books and programs including Sexual Soulmates, Relationship Magic, Revive Her Drive, Ravish Him, Steamy Sex Ed™, The Passion Patch, Hormone Balancing, and Hot To Trot.

Susan has been featured in the New York Times and on CNBC and the TODAY show as well as frequent appearances on ABC, CBS, The CW, Fox and NBC.

Medical Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice or for making any lifestyle changes to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any of my guests on my podcast.

Resources:

https://personallifemedia.com/2022/03/making-whoopee-3-0-orgasmic-intercourse-techniques-for-him-and-her/

https://the20store.com/product/flow/

https://personallifemedia.com/stimulating-sex-positions/

https://personallifemedia.com/

IG: susanbratton

FB: Susanbratton

Website: www.betterlover.com

https://gainswave.com/

https://femiwave.com/

If you're like me and going through menopause, you may have taken notice of some vaginal changes for the worse. As we move through menopause, our hormone levels drop. Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are the three dominant sex hormones that matter most when it comes to having hot, pleasurable, juicy sex. Some women cruise through menopause without a hitch, but most women experience adverse physical, emotional, and psychological issues, such as:

-loss of self-lubrication

-thinning vaginal walls making for painful intercourse

-zero to low libido

-loss of sexual desire

-loss of sexual arousal

-fatigue

-brain fog, anxiety, depression

-night sweats

-weight gain

And more

Menopause can literally put the brakes on your sex life. I don't know about you, but I will try pretty much anything to biohack my sex life, my vagina, and my longevity.

My guest today is someone that I've been following for a few years now. She is all about having hot sex and never using age as an excuse to not have the best sex of your life, even during and after menopause. We're going to talk about all things related to menopausal sex, including what is actually happening to your vagina during menopause, different regenerative therapies that you may want to try, the best sex toys to use, and myths around sex as we age well into our older years.

Susan Bratton, "Intimacy Expert to Millions" is a champion and advocate for all those who desire intimacy and passion their whole life long. She is the co-founder and CEO of two corporations: Personal Life Media, Inc., a publisher of heart-connected lovemaking techniques and bedroom communication skills and The20, LLC., a manufacturer of organic and botanical supplements that enhance sexual vitality.

Susan is a best-selling author and publisher of 34 books and programs including Sexual Soulmates, Relationship Magic, Revive Her Drive, Ravish Him, Steamy Sex Ed™, The Passion Patch, Hormone Balancing, and Hot To Trot.

Susan has been featured in the New York Times and on CNBC and the TODAY show as well as frequent appearances on ABC, CBS, The CW, Fox, and NBC.

Medical Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice or for making any lifestyle changes to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any of my guests on my podcast.

Resources:

https://personallifemedia.com/2022/03/making-whoopee-3-0-orgasmic-intercourse-techniques-for-him-and-her/

https://the20store.com/product/flow/

https://personallifemedia.com/expand-her-orgasm-free-report-old/

IG: susanbratton

FB: Susanbratton

Website: www.betterlover.com

The average age of a woman in menopause is 51 but can range between 40-58 years old. We are going to spend a third of our lives in menopause so why not make it as vibrant as possible? There is no need to suffer during perimenopause, menopause or post-menopause when we have options to support us. Perimenopause and menopause may include a variety of symptoms such as hot flashes, brain fog, low libido, anxiety, hair loss, and weight gain. Menopause also opens the door to an increased risk of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis, and metabolic syndrome.

I’ve said this before on previous podcasts, and I will say it again, at the end of the day you get to make the final decision on whether or not to take hormone replacement therapy, whether it’s HRT or BHRT. At the very least, educate yourself on the topic, the benefits, and the possible health consequences if you don’t do anything. Then, make your decision.

My guest today is Dr. Wen Shen, an associate professor of clinical gynecology and an associate professor of oncology at the oncology center in the Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics. She is also the clinical director of the Menopause Consultation service and Co-Director of the Women’s Wellness & Healthy Aging Program.

A board-certified gynecologist, Dr. Shen has concentrated on menopause medicine for more than 15 years. She specializes in treating peri-menopause and menopausal symptoms taking into consideration the woman’s overall health. She often works with her patients’ primary care provider to recommend non-hormonal therapies, alternative treatment options and menopause hormone therapy as appropriate for the individual patient.

In addition to clinical care, Dr. Shen focuses on educating her patients, other physicians and future physicians on women’s post reproductive health. She is engaged in clinical trials for new therapies for the treatment of menopause symptoms. She is actively developing curricula and educational aids for future physicians and health care providers on menopause medicine and the importance of healthy aging. 

Dr. Shen has published numerous articles and book chapters on menopause and perimenopause. She is a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and is on the Board of Trustees for the North American Menopause Society.

Dr. Shen earned her Master’s in Public Health and her Medical Degree from the Tulane University School of Medicine. She completed her residency in Gynecology and Obstetrics at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. During the 18 years Dr. Shen spent in general practice she became aware of the lack of physician education on post-reproductive health in women.

Since her 2005 return to Johns Hopkins, she has committed herself to raising awareness of menopausal and post-reproductive health in women to help them stay their healthiest beginning in peri-menopause and as they age.

Medical Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice or for making any lifestyle changes to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any of my guests on my podcast.

Studies & Resources mentioned during our conversation:

Treatment Strategies for Hot Flushes: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19405789/

The Bioidentical Hormone Debate: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19179815/

Women's Wellness & Healthy Aging Program: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/womens_wellness_program/meet_our_team.html

I work with a lot of men and women who want, and need, to lose weight. Some are struggling to lose 50+ pounds, while others can't seem to shake the last 10 pounds off. As we age, our mitochondria diminish in quantity and quality, leading to a reduction in cellular function. Burning body fat requires optimal cellular function and energy. If you think back to biology class in high school, remember that the mitochondria reside inside our cells and produce ATP, our energy currency, that runs the mother ship- your body. Without optimal cellular functioning, our body struggles to perform. That's the simple version. Other factors that influence our inability to efficiently burn body fat are poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, stress, poor sleep, toxins, and genetics. Some people are genetically wired to be fat, affecting appetite control, metabolism, food cravings, body-fat distribution, and more.

During menopause, many women start gaining weight. One year it may be just 5 lbs. But, because their hormone levels are dropping, women struggle to shed those pounds. The next year, it may be another 5-7 pounds, until each year it continues to accumulate. Twenty to forty pounds later, post-menopausal women are overweight, fatigued, stressed, not sleeping, and their lipid profiles and metabolic biomarkers change for the worse. They may become insulin resistant as a result. This chronic condition will lead to pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dementia, bone density loss, and more.

Then there's the obesity epidemic. You can view the stats on the CDC.gov website, but here's a snippet:

From 2017-2020 nearly 42% of the US population was obese. I'm sure it's higher now, especially due to the pandemic.

Staggering numbers.

The first line of defense for weight loss is always lifestyle interventions and personalized supplementation. But, what if you are doing everything right and you still cannot shed those pounds? The next line of defense may be medical weight loss interventions. And that's what we are here to learn about today. If you watch tv, you've seen commercials for Wegovy, Trulicity, or Ozempic. These are safe, effective, and proven medical weight loss interventions that are used for type 2 diabetics but are now being used more and more for weight loss. They are called GLP-1 receptor agonists and my guest today is going to put this all in layman's terms for you to understand what they are and how they work.

Dr. David Yablonsky has been practicing medicine for over 20 years and is a board-certified internist. He has experience in providing adults with help diagnosing a full range of medical issues including chronic disease management, primary care, hormone optimization, erectile dysfunction, weight loss, and vitamin deficiencies. He graduated with honors from Boston University prior to attending the Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Upon completion of medical school, he went on to complete a three-year residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine in Rochester, New York. His past leadership positions include Chief of Medicine, Internal Medicine Section Chief, Medical Director of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Chairman of Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee at Grinnell Regional Medical Center in Grinnell, Iowa. Dr. Yablonsky's focus is on disease prevention and health optimization. He has furthered his training by completing several conferences and courses in age management medicine including the elite training programs of Cenegenics, A4M, AMMG, and the International Peptide Society.

Medical Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice or for making any lifestyle changes to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any of my guests on my podcast.

To contact Dr. Yablonsky, feel free to email him at [email protected]

To schedule a free 30-minute consultation call, please email [email protected]

Once women go through menopause, their risk of cardiovascular disease and having a stroke increases – heart disease is the #1 killer among women. Our risk of Alzheimer's, osteopenia, osteoporosis, urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction, and belly fat all increase exponentially as well. Increased belly fat leads to insulin resistance, which leads to pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and again, heart disease.