Launch Your Life Podcast

Abuse is a lot more common than a lot of us would admit.

It’s not just physical. It’s more than that and it cuts through to someone’s core.

And while it may not be directly related to menopause, some of us may be in abusive relationships.

Understanding more about how to handle, get out of and heal from an abusive relationship is so important.

Nobody deserves to be abused physically, verbally or emotionally.

In this episode of The Best of The Menopause Movement Podcast, I’m with Miki Sturges where we talk about the cycle of shame, angel syndrome PLUS:

• The cycle of abuse
• How we live in a patriarchy and how that affects abuse
• Breaking the cycle

Miki is a life coach and an expert in the field of resilience and survival from domestic abuse. She established a company called the Rise Up, Women Movement, where she aims to empower, encourage, and inspire women in conquering challenges from abuse.

One out of every four women in the United States experiences domestic violence in their lifetime. The most crucial step in getting away from this trauma is contacting a domestic abuse hotline.

If you need immediate assistance for domestic abuse, call 911, or you may call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). They will provide help by assisting with crisis intervention and initial safety planning. There is also a hotline for teen victims of domestic violence, called Love Is Respect, which you can call at 1-866-331-9474.

 

What’s Discussed in This Episode:

(02:11) Miki talks about her journey and how she became a life coach.

(08:16) Leaning into your fear.

(09:13) Miki shares about her healing from an abusive marriage. "I put up the facade, I was very confident at my job, but when I went home, I was this little person, worth nothing."

(14:06) The cycle of abuse.

(20:02) How the fear of leaving affects women in an abusive marriage and why it's not easy to leave.

(21:41) Transforming beliefs.

(25:50) Emotional and verbal abuse cuts through your core.

(26:55) The cycle of shame.

(29:36) Learning to get through your subconscious.

(34:10) Miki shares how the need to protect her son was the biggest jump in finding the courage to leave her abusive husband. 

(36:55) We live in a patriarchal society, and that plays a significant role in perpetuating abuse.

(40:17) The importance of having support in escaping and recovering from abuse.

(47:55) You are not responsible for anyone else's feelings.

(49:00) What is angel syndrome?

(52:15) Approaching a relationship in a healthy marriage.

(56:47) Freeing and forgiving yourself from thoughts of the past.

(1:03:48) The Rise Up, Women Movement.

 

About the Guest:

Miki Sturges is a bilingual (Japanese-English) Women’s Empowerment coach, Abuse Recovery Ministry Leader,  Master-certified in Neuro-Coaching,  certified in Christian coaching, and Splankna Trauma Release Practitioner in training.  She helps women let go of past hurt, overcome long-standing insecurities, and get back lost confidence so that they feel empowered, capable, and worthy to step into their God-given greatness and the person they are created to be. Unlike conventional therapy or counseling, she uses her unique "G.R.A.C.E" methodology, combined with a neuroscience-based technique to reveal what’s programmed at the subconscious level, along with God’s guidance and wisdom.

 

Resources:

• Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.menopausemovement.com/podcast)
• Connect with me on Instagram (@drmichellegordon)
• Follow me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/drmichellegordon)
• Check out my LinkedIn posts (https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmichellegordon/)
• Reach Miki on her Facebook page
• You can also listen to her podcast
• Visit her website

 

For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Menopause Movement Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

 

Thank you for tuning in!

If You Like It, Donate To My Venmo! Thanks!: https://account.venmo.com/u/drgordon

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever been triggered?

A few years ago, this term used to be new to me.

There were many instances where I was triggered and reacted inappropriately, because one of the ways that I managed my own trauma was not to trust anyone and to always push people away.

If I felt threatened at all I would lash out. This almost cost me my job when I was a resident, because I didn't know how to interact with people.

Thankfully I got to a place where I had the luxury to do some introspection, where a lot of women may not have that because a lot of us are still in survival mode even into midlife.

This is why having a safety net relationship is important.

During midlife, we often rethink our relationships. This phase also calls for the rediscovery of self.

In today’s episode of The Best of The Menopause Movement Podcast, we have Deirdre Fay, a licensed clinical social worker, who is the author of Attachment-Based Yoga and Meditation For Trauma Recovery.

Tune in as we talk about valuable insights on how you can healthily deal with your triggers and get useful information on how to deal with self-discovery and relationships.

 

What’s Discussed in This Episode:

(05:18) Definition of triggers

(06:57) Attachment theory

(07:40) Seven fundamental attachment needs

(09:53) Triggers as heavily-charged memories

(12:05) What are attachment imprints?

(13:23) What is representation?

(14:21) Changing attachment imprints

(17:45) Getting rid of triggers through spiritual practices

(22:02) Attachment styles

(26:41) Uses of meditation

(29:39) Importance of self-compassion

(31:08) How should you deal with negative thoughts?

(34:14) How should you deal with repressed memories?

(37:02) What is dissociation?

(39:27) Recognizing triggers

(42:14) Online course about living with triggers

(46:53) The need for constant improvement

 

About the Guest:

Deirdre Fay is a licensed clinical social worker and author of two books, while currently working on her third one. She lived in a yoga ashram for six and a half years learning meditation and body presence. She has spent 35 years working with individuals and groups helping them form solid, secure, and satisfying relationships with themselves and others.

 

Resources:

• Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.menopausemovement.com/podcast)
• Connect with me on Instagram (@drmichellegordon)
• Follow me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/drmichellegordon)
• Check out my LinkedIn posts (https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmichellegordon/)
• Deirdre Fay’s website
• Take this quiz to find out your relationship profile

 

Books mentioned in this episode:

• Michael Singer’s The Untethered Soul (https://amzn.to/3nxCHxL)
• Adyashanti’s Pure Meditation 
• David Richo’s How To Be An Adult In Relationships
• Hal Elrod’s Miracle Morning

 

Amazon pays me a small fee when you buy using these links.

For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Menopause Movement Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

 

Thank you for tuning in!

If You Like It, Donate To My Venmo! Thanks!: https://account.venmo.com/u/drgordon

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I was certain I was going to be happy when I become a surgeon and I worked hard for it until I became one.

But I had this moment 15 years ago while I was sitting in my office, and I thought, “Is this it?”

In midlife, most of us are starting to look for meaning in our lives.

We’ve served other people for years, and some of us are retired now or maybe our kids have grown up…

So what do we do with the extra time?

Have you ever thought about getting connected to Source?

Today’s episode of The Best of The Menopause Movement Podcast is all about slowing down the busy-ness with the Practical Joy Alchemist, Tina van Leuven.

Tina is dedicated to helping people align their energy with joy, freedom, and abundance to bring those values to their business and life. She is passionate about helping soulpreneurs to release themselves from lifelong limiting programming that’s been sabotaging humanity for eons.

Tune in today as we talk about what mindfulness is and how we can pause DOING and start BEING so you can align your energy with joy.

What’s Discussed in This Episode:

(02:08) Energies and massage therapy: how Tina got started with her current journey

(07:43) Getting connected to a source

(12:41) What are “soulpreneurs?” 

(13:59) How does essence manifest in work?

(15:04) People seek freedom to have fun, to lighten up.

(17:06) Aligning yourself with the essence of what you want and breaking that limited perspective

(21:42) Who is it that I am being? 

(24:15) Understanding the good and negative emotions and the purpose of both.

(28:23) Women need to keep their spiritual or energetic battery charged during menopause.

(30:12) The Money Archetypes: money as a catalyst to realigning with yourself.

(35:07) Examining your money beliefs to counter money blocks

(38:36) To heal your relationship with money is to heal your relationship with the source

(39:19) Telling yourself stories as a way to survive during childhood trauma

(44:36) Learning to trust to overcome self-sabotage

(46:55) Creating an energetic blueprint for your client’s business

(51:46) You need to remove fear, obligation, and guilt from your conditioning to achieve the essence of what you want.

(54:52) Ask yourself: How committed am I?

 

About the Guest:

Tina van Leuven is known as the Practical Joy Alchemist. She’s the host of the JOY Evolution Summit and founder of the Sacred JOY Circle. She has created numerous transformational online programs, including the life changing 40 Days of Money and Miracles, 40 Days of JOY and the popular Money Mindset Makeover.

 

Resources:

 

• Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.menopausemovement.com/podcast)
• Connect with me on Instagram (@drmichellegordon)
• Follow me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/drmichellegordon)
• Check out my LinkedIn posts (https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmichellegordon/)
• Tina van Leuven’s website and books

 

For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Menopause Movement Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

 

Thank you for tuning in!

If You Like It, Donate To My Venmo! Thanks!: https://account.venmo.com/u/drgordon

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At 95, your brain should be just as sharp as 24.

This is according to Dr. Pamela Wartian Smith, a diplomate of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Physicians.

This is something that I always tell the women who go through our programs: It’s hard for us to reconcile with our brains still feeling young while our bodies are lagging behind.

I can do things with my body now that I couldn't do when I was 18, because I've trained consistently for the past five years, but this is not easy for everyone.

But with the combination of nutrition, exercise, cognitive training, socialization, the mindset of staying young and keeping our bodies in good shape… all the things you want to do can be achievable.

Retirement is not the end. It’s the beginning of a whole new life.

You can learn new languages, hobbies, arts, music… all these are so good for your brain.

Brain fog is one of the symptoms women experience in menopause.

And when it comes to memory, there are some hormones that are involved.

In today’s episode of The Best of The Menopause Movement Podcast, we talk about ways on how to support brain fog with Rena Yudkowsky, who is a professional memory coach and geriatric social worker.

During the podcast, Rena shares how she became a memory coach, the role hormones play in memory and the memory hormone, PLUS:

 

• What to do if someone you love has been diagnosed with dementia or cognitive impairment
• Two tips for combating brain fog
• Brain fog versus dementia
• What is encoding memory and how to do it

 

And stay to the end to find out what is normal versus abnormal memory function.

 

What’s Discussed in This Episode:

 

[02:40] Rena's background and professional experience 

[05:00] Role of hormones in memory 

[07:58] Why sleep matters for everyone 

[08:21] What sleep does for the brain 

[09:23] Exercising to maintain the sharpness of the brain 

[13:04] How to find balance in strengthening the body and mind 

[13:53] Opportunities of retirement 

[15:13] What is the memory hormone 

[18:48] Sally's story 

[19:58] Why lifestyle modification positively affects people 

[21:39] Helping someone who is suffering from a cognitive problem 

[22:55] Advice for people caring for loved ones with cognitive impairment 

[25:49] What can you do if you have brain fog 

[26:23] Stop multitasking and be more mindful 

[30:50] Use your senses to encode a memory 

[32:47] Not doing things automatically 

[33:48] Behavior change is hard but not impossible 

[35:23] The difference between normal and abnormal memory loss or function 

[38:53] You can fight your genes 

[40:43] Importance of self talk and not beating yourself down 

[41:52] Reaching out to people who have memory loss or cognitive impairment

If You Like It, Donate To My Venmo! Thanks!: https://account.venmo.com/u/drgordon

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anxiety is probably the number one complaint along with weight gain that I hear from women who are in menopause.

When I have anxiety, my heart is usually racing.

Anxiety is a thought that when unobserved, can get us into a pattern that is filled with fear and worry.

And when we're filled with fear and worry, we're not able to attract abundance to our lives.

How we talk to ourselves is really important because we can perpetuate our anxiety by continuing to say the same things.

Mothers understand unconditional love, and one of the techniques that I like to give to women that I'm coaching when it comes to anxiety is to pay attention to how you talk to yourself.

And so the question is: How do you talk to yourself when you have anxiety?

We talk more about that in today’s episode of The Best of The Menopause Movement Podcast where I give you a step-by-step process to kick your anxiety right to the curb. This is the exact process the MENO-Mates discover in the MENO-Mastery Academy as they begin to rethink menopause.

Tune in today!

 

What’s Discussed in This Episode:

[0:00] Intro

[3:40] Why it is important to know how anxiety makes you feel

[4:40] How do you talk to yourself when you have anxiety?

[6:36] How does anxiety reflect on your self-esteem?

[7:36] The stories that we tell ourselves

[11:00] They key drivers of anxiety

 

Resources:

• Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.menopausemovement.com/podcast)
• Connect with me on Instagram (@drmichellegordon)
• Follow me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/drmichellegordon)
• Check out my LinkedIn posts (https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmichellegordon/)

 

For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Menopause Movement Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

 

Thank you for tuning in!

If You Like It, Donate To My Venmo! Thanks!: https://account.venmo.com/u/drgordon

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I never realized that I had a form of anxiety back when I was just getting started in my surgical practice.

And every time, it’s because of the responsibility of taking out a gallbladder.

Here’s a quick science talk: There are two structures that have to be cut in order to remove the gallbladder—the cystic artery and the cystic duct.

And if you do it wrong, it could be devastating for the patient.

I’m a good surgeon, I know my anatomy, but every single time I do it, this feeling of dread will just come up, and it wasn't until several years later when I looked back that I recognized that as anxiety.

This is why it’s important for me to remember that everything comes down to belief.

I heard this first from Jack Canfield: “Fear is just false events, appearing real.”

We only have a couple of fears like the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises. Other than that, everything else is manufactured because of beliefs that we created as we grew up, like failure.

The mindset of being able to fail forward is a foreign concept to a surgeon.

And when I started the Menopause Movement, I really had to work hard to undo all those beliefs around failure because you don't start a business without failing it forward. You've got to test things, you’re going to fail and then you have to tweak things.

But when you think about how we live inside of a box, and how our growth is outside of it, as we step out, the cycle continues. Failing forward is the way to go.

Anxiety is a very disruptive condition and can increase during menopause, but there’s a way to overcome it and I talk more about that in today’s episode of The Best of The Menopause Movement Podcast with Vikki Yaffe.

Vikki is a coach who helps ambitious people manage anxiety and procrastination so they can get more done in half the time. She's the host of the Hack Your Time podcast (previously F*ck Anxiety and Get Sh*t Done).

During our conversation, we talk about the definition of anxiety, why we evolved to have anxiety, where anxiety comes from PLUS:

 

• Dealing with procrastination
• How our brains hold us back from almost everything
• A new definition of goal setting
• Why failure is so important when it comes to meeting our goals
• The perks of being unrealistic

 

And stay to the end to find out how to deal with imposter syndrome and find more ambition.

 

What’s Discussed in This Episode:

 

01:57 What is anxiety 

04:29 The link between anxiety and procrastination 

06:26 Techniques to calm anxiety and other overwhelming emotions

08:27 Identifying and interpreting the things that make you anxious 

09:14 Reminding yourself that you can survive any situation 

11:01 The connection of anxiety and feeling overwhelmed 

12:38 Motivation comes from success 

16:54 How to manage bringing the mind to commit to changes or modifications 

20:02 Placing meaning to neutral aspects in life bring anxiety 

23:43 Everyone has the choice to make a change 

26:21 Taking the smallest step to be motivated 

27:20 The habit of time on and time off 

28:54 Your productivity does not define you 

29:35 Resting is essential for your well-being 

32:55 Setting goals for growth and not success 

35:55 Building failure tolerance for yourself

38:09 Retraining the brain to think differently

39:22 The perks of being unrealistic 

42:03 Attaching intention to your goals 

43:02 Working on ambition and understanding emotions attached to it 

45:26 Imposter syndrome and dealing with it

 

About the Guest:

Vikki Yaffe is a professional anxiety and procrastination coach. She has been helping different individuals manage their anxiety and procrastination issues for the past few years. Vikki also helps her client overcome doubts about their capabilities and skills, whether in the workplace or at home. She aims to encourage everyone to be consistent in getting things done.

 

Resources:

 

• Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.menopausemovement.com/podcast)
• Connect with me on Instagram (@drmichellegordon)
• Follow me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/drmichellegordon)
• Check out my LinkedIn posts (https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmichellegordon/)
• Vikki Yaffe Website (https://www.vikkilouise.com/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vikkilouise___) 
• Vikki’s Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hack-your-time/id1455953384)

 

Books mentioned in this episode:

 

• The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle https://amzn.to/2LmJ5ZI
• The Alphabet Versus the Goddess: The Conflict Between Word and Image by Leonard https://amzn.to/2MopicX
• Disrupt You!: Master Personal Transformation, Seize Opportunity, and Thrive in the Era of Endless Innovation by Jay Samit https://amzn.to/3ogNsUZ

 

Amazon pays me a small fee when you buy using these links.

 

For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Menopause Movement Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

 

Thank you for tuning in!

If You Like It, Donate To My Venmo! Thanks!: https://account.venmo.com/u/drgordon

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I watched this Russian science fiction where robots looked like humans, and everytime something happened, these humans were pouring a drink and smoking.

When I think about the commercials in the 50s, I remember seeing eating, drinking, and pushing down emotions.

We're almost conditioned with the way the media portrays stress—that when you feel a certain way, the thing to do is to reach for a substance. It's not to go out for a walk and control ourselves or to get some personal mastery.

I usually share this story of how certain types of food remind me of my parents.

Whenever I eat potato chips, I think about my dad. I have a really strong memory of him slicing potatoes, putting salt on them, and eating them raw. With my mom it’s her in one of those square pants while she made brownies, and me eating the corners.

When I choose to eat potato chips, I always have to step back and be the observer and say, “Okay, well, what is this? Am I missing my dad who passed away in 2017 or am I really enjoying the crunch?”

I always want to be cognizant of that, because of the ripple effect.

Because when we identify the emotions associated with whatever we do, we get to talk about it, understand where it came from, and see how it affects our personal mastery and relationships.

It’s a ripple effect that women in the Menopause Movement experience that results to improved relationships and feeling better overall.

In today’s episode of The Best of The Menopause Movement Podcast, I’m with a professional chef who created menopause-friendly recipes with me, Cassandra Cotoia.

During the podcast we discuss food and emotions, chefs, cooking, eating for herself PLUS:

 

• The Menopause Movement Recipes for Living Cookbook and our recipes membership
• Shifting gears from employment to starting her own business
• Health coaching
• How food connects families and is emotionally rewarding and memorable
• Cassandra's relationship with anxiety
• Choosing not to drink and the choices that she's made
• Support for not drinking as a chef and where to find it
• How her choice to not drink has been an experiment rather than a punishment
• Cultural beliefs around drinking

 

If you want to start understanding your food choices to feel better in menopause, this episode is for you.

 

What’s Discussed in This Episode:

 

[2:59] A little background on Chef Cassandra

[5:20] Cooking for Dr. G 

[6:42] Experimenting on the healthiest diet 

[9:44] Exploring business opportunities 

[11:18] Being a chef and a health coach 

[12:09] Working with kids 

[15:22] The big ripple effect of cooking as a group 

[16:27] Food connects to memory 

[18:18] Food unites families 

[20:25] Being alcohol-free 

[21:25] Experiencing the side-effects of alcohol-intake

[22:56] It's hard to be in a world of distractions and not be distracted 

[23:24] Trying alcohol cessation 

[25:06] Examining your beliefs to free yourself from alcohol 

[26:41] Having the right support system to get you through alcohol cessation 

[27:58] To be good at food, you should be good at playing with food 

[30:17] Having wine is a culturally-accepted belief system 

[32:20] It's okay to feel your emotions 

[34:53] Alcohol only temporarily pushes your emotions away 

[36:34] At the end of the day, things are just things 

[38:51] Answering alcohol recommendation questions from clients 

[40:35] How to be a health coach with Chef Cassandra

 

About the Guest:

 

Cassandra Cotoia is a professional chef and health coach from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. With over 20 years of culinary experience, she has transitioned from being an executive chef, working for a private home, to having her own business called Empowered Foodie. In her free time, she enjoys being with her husband Jim and their dog, Roy, and two cats, Minna and Merlin.

 

Resources:

 

• Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.menopausemovement.com/podcast)
• Connect with me on Instagram (@drmichellegordon)
• Follow me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/drmichellegordon)
• Check out my LinkedIn posts (https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmichellegordon/)
• Check out the One Year No Beer Website (https://www.oneyearnobeer.com/)
• Visit the Empowered Foodie Website (https://www.empoweredfoodie.com/)
• Follow Chef Cassandra on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/cassandra.cotoia)
• Join the Empowered Foodie Facebook group (https://ww.facebook.com/groups/1956420097951826)

 

Books mentioned in this episode:

• Menopause Movement: Recipes for Living by Dr. Michelle Gordon and Chef Cassandra Cotoia https://amzn.to/3miiawi
• The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer https://amzn.to/2E0KZfn

 

Amazon pays me a small fee when you buy using these links.

 

For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Menopause Movement Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

 

Thank you for tuning in!

If You Like It, Donate To My Venmo! Thanks!: https://account.venmo.com/u/drgordon

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I remember not too long ago, I was at a conference and it said something that went home for me.

It went along the lines of, “Are you going to let a four-year-old run your life?”

This isn’t parenting 101, but it can be.

You see, we all learn something from our childhood experiences—including negative ones that led to traumas.

The thing is, if we don’t deal with them, we can be 30, 40, 50, 60 years old and full of wisdom, but still not know why we get triggered by what other people do or say to us.

Have you ever been triggered?

I thought about a couple of experiences I had when I was pretty early in my surgical career and had some not so pleasant interactions with colleagues who were questioning me.

And because I came from a patriarchal home where my opinion never mattered, I was always really defensive when my colleagues would challenge me.

At that time, I didn’t see it as a challenge. I saw it as a conflict that reminded me of how people in my family interacted.

So I would lash out and get triggered.

“Are you going to be a four-year-old for the rest of your life?” the leader of that conference asked.

I always say that change starts with awareness.

And to be free from our subconscious programming, we need to be present so we can recognize the past that's coming in, name it, and put it together in a different way.

My friend and colleague Deirdre Fay shares how we can do that in today’s episode of The Best of The Menopause Movement podcast.

Deirdre Fay works with people who have crummy histories to develop an inner platform for success to get their needs met for life. With decades of experience as a psychotherapist and educator, Deirdre brings together modern neurobiology and ancient wisdom into a practice in what she calls becoming safely embodied.

During the podcast we talk about how to listen to yourself, what emotions really are PLUS:

 

• Internal versus external signals
• Anxiety versus excitement and possibility
• Separating the past from the present
• What is shame?
• The seven foundational attachment needs
• The role practice plays in success
• The 17 second nervous system cycle
• What to do to keep that alive and present feeling between therapy sessions

And stay to the end to discover some practical tips to get out of overwhelm.

 

Discussion Points: 

 

[0:00] Introduction and opportunity 

[2:51] Deirdre Fay talks about her book 

[3:08] What does it mean to become safely embodied?

[6:17] What are emotions for? 

[8:04] How to listen to yourself 

[11:18] What causes difficulty in healing and recognizing trauma?

[14:51] Reasons we experience shame 

[15:39] 7 foundational attachment needs 

[19:44] The lens we see and perceive the world with

[21:19] Understanding triggers  

[23:59] Practical tips to help when your parents trigger you 

[28:06] The role of practice in success 

[28:42] The soothing rhythm breath 

[29:57] The 17-second cycle 

[33:00] Working on triggers, trauma, pains between therapy

[36:32] How to feel alive all the time (not just during therapy) 

[41:32] Skills to do daily to get better faster 

[43:40] Deirdre shares final takeaways 

 

About the Guest:

Deirdre Fay works with people who have crummy histories to develop an inner platform for success  to get their needs met for life. With decades of experience as a psychotherapist and educator, Deirdre brings together modern neurobiology and ancient wisdom into a practice of what she calls “becoming safely embodied.” She also wrote the book Becoming Safely Embodied: A Guide to Organize Your Mind, Body and Heart to  Feel Secure in the World. 

Deidre’s message resonates deeply with those who may look successful on the surface, but  internally they may be plagued with shame, anxiety, distress, depression, and they’re wondering why  they’re stuck in these repeating patterns. Experts in the field have described her practical methods as a  “radically positive approach to healing trauma” and a way for people to “get better faster.”

Resources:

• Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.menopausemovement.com/podcast)
• Connect with me on Instagram (@drmichellegordon)
• Follow me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/drmichellegordon)
• Check out my LinkedIn posts (https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmichellegordon/)
• Visit Deirdre Fay’s website (https://dfay.com/) 
• Reach out to Deirdre Fay through email ([email protected]) 
• You can also follow Deirdre Fay on her social media channels: 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/healingattachment 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dfaypics 
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dfay 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/defay

 

Books mentioned in this episode:

 

• Becoming Safely Embodied: A Guide to Organize Your Mind, Body and Heart to Feel Secure in the World https://amzn.to/2O2Wzf4
• The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma https://amzn.to/3c3TpQb

 

Amazon pays me a small fee when you buy using these links.

 

For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Menopause Movement Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

 

Thank you for tuning in!

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When I was in surgical residency we used to say, “You eat when you can; you sleep when you can.”

I picked up this habit where I would just shovel food into my mouth as fast as I could, because we’re supposed to eat on the fly.

I’m glad I don’t have to do that anymore.

But here’s something you might like to know:

Obesity is a hormonal disease.

And for women in menopause, putting on a bunch of extra weight can turn into a negative spiral.

If you’re still unsure where I’m getting at, I’m saying it’s not your fault if you can’t shift the weight even if you’ve tried so many times.

But there are steps for you to take so you can manage hormonal weight gain in menopause.

In today’s episode of The Best of The Menopause Movement Podcast, I’m with Dr. Avishkar Sabharwal who is a diplomat of the American Board of Obesity Medicine, and the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine.

His experience in India made him profoundly interested in the effects of nutrition on health and disease. He's researched metabolic syndrome, which is often the outcome of obesity during his MD in India.

During the podcast we talk about his struggle with obesity personally, how residency lifestyle can lead to obesity, and what he changed PLUS:

 

• What causes obesity and the role your environment plays in your weight
• Treatments for obesity
• Obesity as a disease state and not a problem of willpower
• The role medication plays in helping to manage weight
• Weight loss surgery
• What the food industry wants

 

And stay to the end to find out how to be successful in your own weight loss journey.

 

Discussion Points: 

 

[0:00] Introduction and Offer 

[3:25] What got Dr. Sabharwal into obesity medicine 

[10:31] The cause of obesity 

[12:03] What to do with obesity during menopause 

[14:15] The role of medication in managing obesity 

[15:16] Metabolic surgeries 

[20:09] The fat gene

[22:55] General recommendation for those who want to manage weight 

[24:09] Meal replacements, protein powders 

[30:45] The role metabolism plays in weight loss

[31:31] Eating what you want while losing weight 

 

About the Guest:

Dr. Avishkar Sabharwal, M.D., Dipl. ABOM, Dipl. ABLM has trained in Internal Medicine both in India and the US, and is board certified in Obesity Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine. His focus area has always been lifestyle diseases, especially obesity. His experience in India made him profoundly interested in the effects of nutrition on health and disease. He researched metabolic syndrome, which is often the outcome of obesity, during his MD in India. Dr. Sabharwal is a member of the Obesity Medicine Association and also a member of the Lipid Association of India and has been a speaker at various webinars, highlighting the importance of recognizing obesity and metabolic syndrome in cardiovascular Health. He was also a member of the committee responsible for formulating the Lipid Association of India Expert Consensus Statement on Management of Dyslipidemia in Indians 2020: Part III.

Resources:

 

• Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.menopausemovement.com/podcast)
• Connect with me on Instagram (@drmichellegordon)
• Follow me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/drmichellegordon) 
• Check out Dr. Avishkar Sabarwal’s website (https://decodingobesity.com/)
• Listen to Dr. Avishkar Sabarwal’s podcast Decoding Obesity (https://decodingobesity.com/listen/) 

 

For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Menopause Movement Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

 

Thank you for tuning in!

If You Like It, Donate To My Venmo! Thanks!: https://account.venmo.com/u/drgordon

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When I first started having menopause symptoms, I couldn't remember the name of certain anatomical body parts.

It used to happen all the time while I was a surgeon.

I'd be trying to remember the name of an artery or something and it would just pop out… And I would be like:

Then finally it would show up in my brain.

Brain fog is definitely not fun.

But you’re not alone and there’s something you can do about it along with the symptoms that you’re specifically concerned about.

Now, before you go to the nearest drugstore, it's important to buy supplements from a reputable company.

There are supplements that can help you manage menopause: DHEA, biotin, evening primrose, black cohosh, thiamine, and so much more.

Today's episode of The Best of The Menopause Movement Podcast is an informational one, and we’re back with Dr. Sharzad Green as we talk about the eight B vitamins and why they're necessary, plus the importance of them when it comes to specific symptoms AND:

• Black cohosh, what it's used for, when it's appropriate, and when not to use it
• Soy, how it's gotten a bad rap and how it can possibly help you
• Evening primrose oil and the surprising thing it helps with
• DHEA, how important it is to know your levels before you start taking it and why

And stay to the end to find out what CoQ10 is, how it can help you, and what is the best type to take.

Tune in to find out how to manage hot flashes, sweating, sleeplessness, and mood disturbance with supplements.

 

Discussion Points: 

 

[0:00] Introduction and Opportunity 

[3:28] The eight types of B vitamins 

[16:41] Supplements that menopausal women usually look for and use 

[33:43] Where to get reliable supplements 

[34:47] DHEA 

[39:18] CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10)  

 

About the Guest:

 

Sharzad Green is a well-acknowledged figure in the industry. With over 20 years of pharmaceutical and healthcare experience, she has helped more than 15,000 people overcome various health problems. She is passionate about women's physical and mental health, integrative medicine, and finding the best solutions for people’s health issues every day. She is the creator of FabuVag, a vaginal moisturizer that helps erase the feeling of dryness that most women feel when undergoing menopause.

 

Resources:

• Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.menopausemovement.com/podcast)
• Connect with me on Instagram @drmichellegordon
• Follow me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/drmichellegordon
• Join The Menopause Movement private group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/menopausemovement)
• Listen to the previous podcasts with Dr. Green:
• Episode 13: Hormone Consultations: What Do Your Hormones Tell You About Your Body?
• Episode 31: Hormones After Menopause with Dr. Sharzad Green
• Episode 136: Should You Really Take Supplements for Menopause? (The Best of The Menopause Movement Podcast Episode 36)
• Episode 39: Ways To Boost Your Immune System During This Pandemic With Dr. Sharzad Green
• Episode 137: What They Don't Tell You About Supplements For Menopause (The Best of The Menopause Movement Podcast Episode 80)
• Episode 84: Adrenal Fatigue
• Find out more about FabuVag here
• Reach out to Dr. Green through email ([email protected])
• Gaia Herbs Website
• Fullscript Website

 

For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Menopause Movement Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

 

Thank you for tuning in!

If You Like It, Donate To My Venmo! Thanks!: https://account.venmo.com/u/drgordon

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.