Weighted vests are having a major moment - especially in the wellness world for women over 40. But are they really worth the hype? In this episode, I take you behind the headlines and into the science to answer the question: Can wearing a weighted vest actually improve bone density and strength?

I dive into recent research, share my personal experience testing one out, and offer practical tips if you're curious about adding a weighted vest to your routine. As always, we approach this with curiosity, compassion, and clarity because not everything trending on Instagram is backed by evidence (or even feels good for your body!).

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What the latest research says about weighted vests and bone density

• Whether walking with a vest is as beneficial as it seems

• The pros and cons of adding weight to your walk or workout

• How posture, core strength, and alignment factor into safe use

• Personal tips for getting started if you choose to try one

Episode Highlights:

• Three key studies on weighted vests and midlife women's strength, balance, and bone health

• The (limited) evidence on whether walking with a vest impacts bone density

• Why enjoyment, posture, and core strength matter before strapping one on

• Robin’s personal experience testing a 12-lb vest—and how it felt in her body

• Questions to ask before adding a vest to your routine

• Join the Lindywell community: www.lindywell.com

• Follow us on Instagram for daily inspiration: @wearelindywell

• Blog post on weighted vests with links!

• Visit www.lindywell.com for free resources and more episodes.

• Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode!

• If you found this episode helpful, leave a review and share it with a friend!

In this deeply personal solo episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what’s really been going on in my body, brain, and energy over the past few years.

I share the unfiltered truth about my experience with chronic exhaustion, the surprising results from advanced hormone and neurotransmitter testing, and why popular biohacking advice actually made things worse for me.

We’re talking:

• The hidden role dopamine plays in motivation, focus, and burnout

• Why I was not actually low in estrogen (even though I was told it was)

• How adrenaline depletion kept me stuck in overdrive

• The habits I unknowingly had that were draining my dopamine—and my energy

• What I'm doing now to heal, rebuild, and feel more like myself again

This episode isn’t medical advice—it’s a peek into my journey. And it’s an invitation to approach your own health with more curiosity, more compassion, and way less comparison.

Topics We Cover:

• The truth about “high dopamine brains” and what that means for women in midlife

• The connection between hormones, neurotransmitters, and stress

• Why rest isn’t optional for high-performing women—it’s essential

• Sneaky habits that deplete your dopamine (and what to do instead)

• Gentle, science-supported ways to rebuild energy and mental clarity

Resources + Links:

• Listen to the episode about mold recovery here: https://lindywell.com/episode52/

• Listen to the episode about steps I took to improve my hormonal balance here: https://lindywell.com/episode69/

• Well to the Core – Grab the book for a realistic, grace-filled approach to wellness: https://go.shopmy.us/p-4200825

• Get access to 400+ on-demand Pilates workouts, breathwork and more in the Lindywell app. Start your free trial here: https://lindywell.com/freetrial/

• Follow us on Instagram for daily inspiration: @wearelindywell

In this episode of Well to the Core, we’re diving into a mindset that holds so many of us back: the all-or-nothing mentality. Whether it’s fitness, nutrition, or wellness goals, many women feel they have to do things perfectly or not at all—but this way of thinking only leads to guilt, shame, and burnout. Join me as we explore how to embrace progress over perfection, celebrate small wins, and show ourselves more grace along the way. I’ll also share actionable steps and real-life examples to help you take the first step toward lasting change.

• What the all-or-nothing mindset is and why it’s so harmful.

• How small, consistent steps lead to long-term success, backed by science.

• Practical ways to reframe your goals and shift your mindset.

• Tips to celebrate progress, practice grace, and make movement enjoyable.

• Dr. B.J. Fogg’s book: Tiny Habits

• Brené Brown’s research on shame and resilience: The Gifts of Imperfection

• Join the Lindywell community: www.lindywell.com

• Follow us on Instagram for daily inspiration: @wearelindywell

This week, challenge yourself to find just 10 minutes a day for movement. Join us for the 21-Day Lindywell Jumpstart for daily 10-minute workouts and daily texts to keep you motivated. Not a member yet? Sign up here: www./lindywell.com/jumpstart/ Lindywell members - check your inbox for your link to join!

• Visit www.lindywell.com for free resources and more episodes.

• Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode!

• If you found this episode helpful, leave a review and share it with a friend!

In this episode, Robin Long reflects on the past 10 years of leading and growing the Lindywell community. From big successes, to challenging stumbles, she shares the journey from starting an in-person Pilates business to a global online wellness platform that has served and supported more than 100,000 women over the past decade.

Listen in to:

1. Be encouraged in your creative endeavors and business ventures

2. Get a peek behind the scenes of what it really took to build Lindywell to where it is today

3. Hear what's changed and what remained the same since Robin started blogging and teaching Pilates online more than ten years ago

4. A personal update on the podcast and why there haven't been any new episodes in the past few months

Get 2 weeks free in the Lindywell app and community: https://lindywell.com/freetrial/

Connect with Lindywell on Instagram: @wearelindywell https://www.instagram.com/wearelindywell

Connect with Robin on Instagram: @robinmarielong

https://www.instagram.com/robinmarielong

Links mentioned in this episode:

Lindywell 2-week free trial: https://lindywell.com/freetrial/

Episode 76: Behind the scenes of our exciting new chapter (The Balanced Life/Lindywell rebrand) https://lindywell.com/episode76/

In this episode, Robin Long and Tasha Triana discuss the impact of false narratives on women's self-perception and overall well-being. They explore the importance of creating space and shifting inner narratives to cultivate peace and calm. Tasha emphasizes the need for self-compassion and prioritizing the relationship with yourself. You'll get practical tips for prioritizing self-care and setting boundaries! Plus, a reminder of the negative effects of false narratives and the importance of challenging and replacing them with empowering beliefs.

• False narratives and limiting beliefs can impact women's self-perception and well-being in various areas of life.
• Awareness is the first step in uncovering and shifting false narratives.
• Practicing self-compassion and prioritizing the relationship with oneself are essential for personal growth and well-being.
• Creating boundaries around activities that may reinforce false narratives, such as social media, can support mental and emotional well-being.
•  Prioritizing rest and engaging in activities that nurture physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being can help break free from false narratives.

• @TheNurturedNurse on Instagram
• Connect with Tasha Triana

Follow Lindywell

• On Facebook
• On Instagram

Do you know what your fascia is? If you don’t you have to listen to this episode. If you do know what the fascia is, you won’t want to miss hearing about how you can use our newest fascia flow series to optimize your health and wellness. 

Lindywell’s very own Kaita Mrazek joins me to discuss all things fascia on this episode of The Balanced Life. You’ll hear why your fascia matters, how incorporating movements targeting the fascia can benefit your whole body, and what you can expect from our new Fascia Flow series. 

Don’t miss out on this one! When you’re done listening head on over to your Lindywell app to get started improving your fascial movements and improving your overall wellness.

• How Kaita became interested in fascia [5:22]
• What the fascia is [8:26]
• Understanding the similarities in muscle tightness and fascia tightness [10:36]
• The benefits of fascia flow [16:20]
• Trying out a fascia movement [21:30]
• The types of videos you’ll find in the fascia series [29:22]
• How to incorporate these movements into your movement routine [37:03]
• Specific benefits of fascia work [39:54]

• Yoga Soup 

• @KaitaMrazek on Instagram
• Kaita Mrazek

Follow Lindywell

• On Facebook
• On Instagram

Subscribe to Well To The Core

In this episode, Robin Long introduces our newly rebranded podcast, Well to the Core. She dives into what she's been up to the past 6 months while the podcast was on a break. (Hint: it's a lot of fun things including launching her best-selling book, getting certified as a nutrition therapy practitioner and turning the big 4-0!

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...

• The podcast has been rebranded as Well to the Core and is now available on YouTube as well.
• Robin took a break from the podcast to focus on launching her book and getting certified as a nutrition therapy practitioner.
• She turned 40 and reflected on her accomplishments and goals.
• The upcoming episodes will cover topics such as nutrition, aging, hormones, menopause, stress reduction, and strength building.

July is here and that means it is time to have some fun. Every July we break out of our routines, let go, and focus on play. This year we have a special guest to join us and guide us as we play. 

Kara Latta is the Chief Fun Officer at The Playful Warrior and today we chat about the positive impact that play has on our mental and physical health. We’ll learn about the neuroscience behind incorporating play into our daily routine and you’ll discover how you can incorporate fun into your life each day. 

Make sure to stick around until the end of the episode to hear how you can join all of us at Lindywell for a play-filled workshop.

• What Kara does at The Playful Warrior [1:22]
• What inspired Kara to create The Playful Warrior [6:04]
• What your inner child really is [10:30]
• Roadblocks to play [13:00]
• How she got back into play [16:39]
• What playful resilience is [17:58]
• Play rewires your brain [24:44]
• How to navigate play through the hard seasons of life [30:48]
• What play looks like in Kara’s daily life [32:17]
• How community is an important part of play [35:51]
• What to expect in the live workshop on Sunday, July 16 [38:50]

• Register here for our FREE play workshop with Kara Latta on July 16 at 4 pm PDT

• The Playful Warrior
• @ThePlayfulWarrior on Instagram

• On Facebook
• On Instagram

Subscribe to The Balanced Life

If you have been trying to incorporate more exercise into your life you know exactly how challenging it can be to build the habit. Our habits make us who we are, so it’s important to intentionally cultivate good habits.

Our guest today is Sandra Chuma, a coach and certified habit-building expert. In this episode, she answers some of the most frequent questions I get surrounding habits: how to create habits that stick, how to break bad habits, and how many habits we should work on building at once. 

Sandra provides us with a number of practical tips that we can implement today. Press play to discover her wealth of inspiration and knowledge.

• How Sandra got into coaching [3:42]
• How to know where to start [8:33] 
• How many habits to crate at one time [20:05]
• How to stop bad habits [27:40]
• Breathwork hour [37:52]
• What people forget about building habits [42:22]

• Episode 74: Are your habits helping or hurting you? with Sandra Chuma
• BOOK - Atomic Habits by James Clear
• BOOK - Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg
• BOOK - Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends on It by Kamal Ravikant
• BJ Fogg 

• SandraChuma.com
• IAmWorthy.com
• @Sandra.Chuma on Instagram

• On Facebook
• On Instagram

Subscribe to The Balanced Life

Changing seasons in life call for different kinds of workouts and changes in wellness routines. At Lindywell, we’re all about honoring the season you're in, meeting your body where it is, and adjusting as necessary.

My season of life is changing which is why I want to share what I'm currently doing in my workouts, what has changed, what I'm loving, what I’m struggling with, and everything in between.

If you would like an honest look at where I am in my wellness journey, press play. 

• Where my life has been over the past ten years [2:02]
• How my morning routine has shifted in the last six months [6:10]
• How I strive to challenge myself [9:40]
• What we just released in the Lindywell app [12:30]

• Lindywell Resistance Bands
• Lindywell Hand Weights

• On Facebook
• On Instagram

• Try us out free for 14 days

Subscribe to The Balanced Life