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This is an eye-opening episode that brings awareness to a condition that is not very well known and often confused with being overweight. Chantel, a Registered Nurse married to a doctor, suffered with Lipoedema from her teenage years but wasn't diagnosed until her mid-thirties. 

Throughout these years she was subject to comments from "you've really let yourself go" to unhelpful advice like "you just need to lose weight", sadly often from health professionals. Eventually she discovered the name of the condition she was suffering from when she googled "cankles" and was confronted with images that mirrored her own body. 

In this heartfelt episode Chantel bravely tells us her story and sheds light on what this condition is, what it is like living with it and how to recognise and treat it. 

If you or someone you know has carried painful fat in the legs, and possibly the arms, that doesn't appear in the hands and feet and you've never put a name to it - or you're just interested in what it must be like to live with this condition - you'll want to listen to this episode.

Let’s Stay Connected:

• Get your free Midlife Health & Body Reset Guide: Here
• Find out more about the Midlife Reset Program: Here
• Join the Opt to Thrive mailing list: Here
• Follow Dr. Corina on Instagram: @drcorinasimsopttothrive
• Connect on Facebook: Opt to Thrive (Dr Corina Sims)
• Opt to Thrive official website

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In this week’s Mindful Moment, we’re exploring something that quietly works against so many midlife women trying to improve their health, body composition, and energy… cravings.

Those moments — often at night — when you’re not truly hungry, but still find yourself reaching for something. 

In this short, powerful episode, I share a simple question that can help you pause, reflect, and shift out of automatic habits:

We’ll look at what might actually be driving those cravings — from stress and fatigue to habit and emotional needs — and how learning to respond differently can support not just your goals, but your overall wellbeing.

This isn’t about willpower.
 It’s about awareness, self-support, and learning to have your own back in midlife.

A gentle, practical reset you can come back to anytime 💛

Let’s Stay Connected:

• Sign up for the upcoming free live talk Here
• Get your free Midlife Health & Body Reset Guide: Here
• Find out more about the Midlife Reset Program: Here
• Join the Opt to Thrive mailing list: Here
• Follow Dr. Corina on Instagram: @drcorinasimsopttothrive
• Connect on Facebook: Opt to Thrive (Dr Corina Sims)
• Opt to Thrive official website

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In this episode, I sit down with local Exercise Physiologist, Damien Crettenden, for a conversation every midlife woman needs to hear.

From somewhere around 40 we start to naturally lose muscle and this process will continue unless we do something about it. Only 8% of Australian women are doing what it takes to maintain their muscles. 

But muscle isn't the whole story. We also lose bone strength as we age and in fact this process is accelerated around the final menstrual period when we lose bone faster than any other time in our lives. 

In this episode, we unpack what you really need to know about maintaining muscle and bone health in midlife.

So, if you’ve ever wondered:

•  “Is walking and Pilates enough?” 
•  “Should I avoid weights because of joint pain?” 
•  “What does a safe and effective strength program even look like?” 
• "Where can I go for help?"
• "Should I be seeing an exercise physiologist?"

…this episode will give you clarity.

We talk about why strength training becomes non-negotiable in midlife—not from a place of fear, but from a place of empowerment. You’ll learn how it supports bone health (including osteoporosis prevention), improves joint pain and function (yes, even with osteoarthritis), and helps you feel stronger, more capable, and more confident in your body.

Damien also breaks down what an Exercise Physiology professional actually does, and why having the right guidance can make all the difference—especially if you’re feeling unsure where to start.

This is a grounded, practical, and reassuring conversation with someone who truly meets women where they’re at.

If you’re ready to move beyond confusion, fear, or “just walking more”… this episode is for you.

Let’s Stay Connected:

• Sign up for the upcoming free live talk Here
• Get your free Midlife Health & Body Reset Guide: Here
• Find out more about the Midlife Reset Program: Here
• Join the Opt to Thrive mailing list: Here
• Follow Dr. Corina on Instagram: @drcorinasimsopttothrive
• Connect on Facebook: Opt to Thrive (Dr Corina Sims)
• Opt to Thrive official website

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and share it with a friend who may enjoy it too.🫶

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Have you ever had a moment where something small completely derailed your mood… and you weren’t even sure why?

In this week’s episode I'm getting uncomfortably vulnerable to give a real-life example of how to use one of my favourite mind management tools. In this episode I'm sharing a real-life moment from my Easter weekend that left me feeling hurt, embarrassed, and unexpectedly emotional—and how I used this simple but powerful mindset tool to shift myself out of it within minutes.

We talk a lot about how our thoughts create our feelings… but this episode takes it one step deeper.

Because often, it’s not just the circumstance or even the thought that’s causing the pain— it’s what we’re making that thought or circumstance mean.

Inside this episode, I walk you through:

•  Why strong emotional reactions are actually a signal (not a problem) 
•  The powerful question that can instantly change how you feel 
•  How to challenge the meaning your brain is assigning to a situation 

You’ll hear exactly how I unpacked a thought in the moment to uncover the deeper belief that was actually causing the hurt.

And most importantly, how I shifted it.

We can’t always control what happens.
We can’t control what other people think.

But we can question the meaning we give it.

And that is where your power is.

If you’ve ever found yourself spiraling over something small…
 or carrying around feelings that don’t quite make sense…

This episode will give you a practical tool you can use immediately.

Takeaway to reflect on:

👉 What am I making this mean… and is that actually true?

Let’s Stay Connected:

• Register your interest for the Wellbeing program Here
• Get your free Midlife Health & Body Reset Guide: Here
• Find out more about the Midlife Reset Program: Here
• Join the Opt to Thrive mailing list: Here
• Follow Dr. Corina on Instagram: @drcorinasimsopttothrive
• Connect on Facebook: Opt to Thrive (Dr Corina Sims)
• Opt to Thrive official website

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Trish describes herself as being in a “menopause mess”—gaining weight without changing her diet, waking daily with headaches, dealing with pain, and feeling like she’d been “hit by a truck” with no light in sight.

In this episode, she shares how discovering a new approach—and making one powerful mindset shift—changed everything.

Now, over six months after completing the Midlife Reset, Trish is strong again in both mind and body. She’s back to strength training without pain, has clarity and confidence around her nutrition, and no longer feels stuck or controlled by the scales.

This is a real and honest conversation about what’s possible in midlife when you have the right support, the right tools, and a new way of thinking.

Let’s Stay Connected:

• Register your interest for the Wellbeing program Here
• Get your free Midlife Health & Body Reset Guide: Here
• Find out more about the Midlife Reset Program: Here
• Join the Opt to Thrive mailing list: Here
• Follow Dr. Corina on Instagram: @drcorinasimsopttothrive
• Connect on Facebook: Opt to Thrive (Dr Corina Sims)
• Opt to Thrive official website

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When was the last time you started something new?

Something that challenged you… stretched you… and at the same time lit you up from the inside out?

In this episode, I’m sharing what I’ve learned over the past two years of building Opt to Thrive, and why stepping outside your comfort zone might be one of the most powerful things you can do in midlife.

We talk about growth, confidence, and doing things before you feel ready… but also the deeper reason this matters more than ever.

Because this isn’t just about trying something new.

There’s actually strong evidence that having a sense of purpose—especially in midlife—can improve your mental health, your brain function, your relationships… and even how long you live.

If you’ve been thinking about starting something, but keep putting it off… consider this your nudge.

Your future self will thank you.

Let’s Stay Connected:

• Register your interest for the Wellbeing program Here
• Get your free Midlife Health & Body Reset Guide: Here
• Find out more about the Midlife Reset Program: Here
• Join the Opt to Thrive mailing list: Here
• Follow Dr. Corina on Instagram: @drcorinasimsopttothrive
• Connect on Facebook: Opt to Thrive (Dr Corina Sims)
• Opt to Thrive official website

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Not all leg swelling is the same.

In this episode, I unpack a topic that isn’t talked about nearly enough—lipoedema—and how it differs from lymphoedema and more common causes of swollen legs.

If you’ve ever experienced heavy, painful, or swollen legs… or felt frustrated that your legs don’t seem to respond the way the rest of your body does… this is an important conversation.

We’ll walk through:

• The key differences between lipoedema, lymphoedema, and excess weight
• Common signs and clues that are often missed
• Why these conditions are frequently misdiagnosed
• What can actually help manage symptoms and improve quality of life

If something about your legs has never quite felt “normal”… this might give you the answers you’ve been looking for.

Let’s Stay Connected:

• Access Printable fibre cheat sheet
• Register your interest for the Wellbeing program Here
• Get your free Midlife Health & Body Reset Guide: Here
• Find out more about the Midlife Reset Program: Here
• Join the Opt to Thrive mailing list: Here
• Follow Dr. Corina on Instagram: @drcorinasimsopttothrive
• Connect on Facebook: Opt to Thrive (Dr Corina Sims)
• Opt to Thrive official website

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What do you do when something you can’t control suddenly feels very close to home?

In this episode, I share a personal experience of supporting my daughter while she lives in Dubai during this period of rising tension in the region. It has been confronting, emotional, and a real test of how I manage my own mind.

Because when uncertainty hits, our brains often want to go straight to the “what ifs.”

But what if there’s another way to meet those moments?

We explore the concept of active acceptance—a powerful shift that helped me move from fear and overthinking to a surprising sense of calm and clarity.

This conversation is for you if you:

• Find yourself worrying about things outside your control
• Struggle with uncertainty or worst-case thinking
• Want to feel more grounded and steady, even when life feels unpredictable

Sometimes the situation doesn’t change…
 but the way we meet it can change everything.

🌿 Takeaway

You can’t control everything that happens—
 but you can choose how you respond.

Let’s Stay Connected:

• Register your interest for the Wellbeing program Here
• Get your free Midlife Health & Body Reset Guide: Here
• Find out more about the Midlife Reset Program: Here
• Join the Opt to Thrive mailing list: Here
• Follow Dr. Corina on Instagram: @drcorinasimsopttothrive
• Connect on Facebook: Opt to Thrive (Dr Corina Sims)
• Opt to Thrive official website

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Have you ever opened a cupboard, looked around your home, or stared at a pile of papers and felt instantly overwhelmed?

Clutter doesn’t just take up physical space. It can quietly drain our mental energy, increase decision fatigue, and add to the invisible load many midlife women are already carrying.

In this episode, I’m joined by professional organiser Tracy Hoth, host of the Organized Coach Podcast and founder of Simply Squared Away, where she helps people simplify their homes and their lives.

Tracy shares her practical and compassionate approach to decluttering, including her simple SPACE framework, a step-by-step process designed to help you organise your home without overwhelm.

We talk about why midlife is often the perfect time to reassess what we’re holding onto — physically and emotionally — and how creating a more organised environment can bring surprising benefits for our wellbeing, energy, and peace of mind.

This conversation goes far beyond cleaning out a cupboard. It’s about creating space for the life you want in your next chapter.

In this episode we talk about:

• Why clutter can contribute to stress, overwhelm, and decision fatigue
• The surprising mental and emotional benefits of decluttering
• Tracy’s SPACE framework for organising your home step by step
• Where to start when your home feels overwhelming
• How to approach clothes, paperwork, and everyday household clutter
• Navigating a partner’s clutter when they may not be as motivated as you
• What to do with heirlooms and sentimental items you don’t actually want
• Why it can be a gift to your children to sort through your belongings now
• Simple strategies to make decluttering manageable and sustainable

If you’ve ever thought “I should really get organised one day”, this episode will give you the tools — and the motivation — to start.

Because sometimes creating space in your home can also create space in your mind.

Connect with Tracy

Learn more about Tracy and her work at:
 simplysquaredaway.com

Download Tracy's 15-minute Challenge Tool

You can also listen to Tracy’s podcast:
 The Organized Coach Podcast

Let’s Stay Connected:

• Register your interest for the Wellbeing program Here
• Get your free Midlife Health & Body Reset Guide: Here
• Find out more about the Midlife Reset Program: Here
• Join the Opt to Thrive mailing list: Here
• Follow Dr. Corina on Instagram: @drcorinasimsopttothrive
• Connect on Facebook: Opt to Thrive (Dr Corina Sims)
• Opt to Thrive official website

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Over the past week I’ve had some disappointments, heavy stressors, and moments where my brain told me it would be easier to just quit.

“You’re failing.”
“This is too much.”
“Why are you even trying?”

Instead of hiding that — or pretending I’ve mastered my mind — I’m sharing what it actually looked like to self-coach through it in real time.

In this Mindful Moment, I walk you through:

• What my brain offered me during a challenging week
• The temptation to pull back from self-care when life feels overwhelming
• How I distinguish between true rest and avoidance
• The non-negotiables I protect to maintain balance
• Why emotional stress quietly drains your energy
• The small, grounded decisions that kept me moving forward instead of spiralling

This isn’t about perfection.

It’s about practising what we preach.
It’s about leaning into self-care, balance, and structure — especially when it would feel easier to withdraw.

If you’ve been tempted to quit on yourself lately, I hope this personal story reminds you that you can learn to self-coach through hard weeks — and come out stronger, steadier, and more grounded on the other side.

Let’s Stay Connected:

• Register your interest for the Wellbeing program Here
• Get your free Midlife Health & Body Reset Guide: Here
• Find out more about the Midlife Reset Program: Here
• Join the Opt to Thrive mailing list: Here
• Follow Dr. Corina on Instagram: @drcorinasimsopttothrive
• Connect on Facebook: Opt to Thrive (Dr Corina Sims)
• Opt to Thrive official website

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and share it with a friend who may enjoy it too.🫶