On episode 697 of the 40+ Fitness podcast, Allan sits down with Becca Chilzenkowski, a board-certified functional practitioner and hormone specialist, to dig deep into the complex world of hormone health—especially for those of us over 40. Becca shares her personal journey from years of unhealthy habits and hormonal imbalance to finding wellness through nutrition, sustainable lifestyle changes, and a passion for helping others do the same.

In this conversation, you'll hear why hormones play such a central role in our energy, metabolism, stress response, and even sleep. Becca breaks down how chronic stress and modern lifestyles are affecting our bodies as we age—particularly for women—and why we often see weight gain, fatigue, and slower recovery as we hit midlife. The episode is filled with practical advice on managing stress, improving sleep, making smart nutrition choices, and the importance of building time for recovery into your workout routine.

Whether you're struggling with unexplained weight gain, low energy, or just want to unlock your healthiest, happiest self in midlife, this episode is packed with actionable tips, scientific insights, and real-life inspiration. Time Stamps:

05:46 Mindset Over Stressors

08:19 Chronic Stress and Adrenal Dysfunction

09:48 Stress, Diet, and Metabolism Issues

13:10 Chronic Stress and Blood Sugar Issues

19:10 Cortisol's Impact on Sleep Disruption

21:28 Ranger School Sleep Deprivation Training

25:23 Diet, Gut Health, & Exercise Balance

27:20 Healthy Lifestyle Progression

31:21 The Cost of Feeling Well

34:41 Purpose, Passion, Health: Key to Happiness

37:05 Feast-Famine Eating for Health

The No-BS Guide to Reducing Stress Fast - 40plusfitness.com/becca