Cortisol Coach

Why Weight Loss Gets Harder After 40: Cortisol, Perimenopause, Menopause and Health Debt with Bria Gadd

Why Weight Loss Gets Harder After 40: Cortisol, Perimenopause, Menopause and Health Debt with Bria Gadd You are doing all the same things that used to work. Same effort. Same discipline. Completely different results. Your leggings are tighter. Your sleep is a mess. Your anxiety is higher than it has been in years. And you are so exhausted that your kids notice. And you have been told to just try harder. Friend, trying harder is not the answer. And this episode is going to tell you why. In this episode of the Cortisol Coach Podcast, Christine Marie sits down with Bria Gadd, a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, holistic health coach, certified personal trainer, and host of the top 1% wellness podcast The Period Whisperer. Bria spent over 15 years in the fitness and nutrition world helping women lose weight and get their energy back. Then at 37 she hit the same wall her clients were hitting. Same effort. Totally different outcome. Instead of telling herself to just try harder, she went and built an actual strategy for what the female body needs in perimenopause and menopause. She has been featured on Fox News and Women's Health, and today she is bringing one of the most important concepts you have never heard to this show. Health debt. Health debt is what happens when the energy demand being placed on your body becomes greater than the energy supply your body has available. And for women in perimenopause and menopause, that gap is widening every single day without most of us even realizing it. This episode also holds one of the most personal moments Christine has shared on this show. Her daughter recently told her that all she remembered about her growing up was how tired she always was. If you have children still at home or even if yours are grown you are going to feel that one. Because choosing to take care of yourself is not selfish. It is the most generous thing you can do for the people who need you most. Be more in your life. Not just less on a scale. In this episode you will hear: What health debt is and how to know if your body is in it Why weight loss gets harder after 40 and what is actually happening in your body during perimenopause and menopause How cortisol, sleep, hormones, and metabolism are all connected Why eating less and exercising harder can make everything worse when your body is already overwhelmed How eating consistently supports your hormones and energy levels Why walking and restorative movement can be more powerful than intense workouts right now What functional lab testing reveals that standard labs miss Why rest, pleasure, connection, and purpose are not luxuries they are medicine When your body is actually ready for strength training and building muscle How investing in your health changes your marriage, your motherhood, and what your children believe is normal Your body is not working against you. It is trying to protect you with the energy it has available. Start Your 7-Day Trial of Midlife Mojo: Bria's online membership for women navigating perimenopause and menopause including her 90 Day Hormone Revival program, symptom specific trainings, weekly live coaching, workouts, nutrition resources, recipes, guided meditations, and a community of women walking through this season together. 👉 https://bit.ly/midlifemojonow Connect with Bria Gadd: Website: https://www.briatheperiodwhisperer.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bria_period_whisperer Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BriaThePeriodWhisperer TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briagadd YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bria_period_whisperer Podcast: https://www.briatheperiodwhisperer.com/the-period-whisperer-podcast Connect with Christine: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortisol_coach To be a guest on the Cortisol Coach Podcast: https://podcast.itschristinemarie.com/ If this episode blessed you: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts it takes 60 seconds and helps other women find this show Follow the Cortisol Coach Podcast so you never miss an episode Share this episode with one woman in your life who is trying harder and getting nowhere she needs to hear this SEO Keywords and Tags: why weight loss gets harder after 40, perimenopause weight loss, menopause weight loss, health debt, cortisol and weight gain, hormonal weight gain, metabolism after 40, low energy menopause, women over 40 hormones, functional lab testing, perimenopause symptoms, menopause symptoms, cortisol levels women, Bria Gadd, The Period Whisperer, Midlife Mojo, holistic health coach, FDN practitioner, cortisol coach podcast, Christine Marie podcast, be more in your life, restorative movement perimenopause, strength training menopause, eating consistently hormones

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Cortisol, Genetics, and Functional Testing | What Your DNA Is Telling You About Your Health with Dr. Sam Shay

Cortisol, Genetics, and Functional Testing | What Your DNA Is Telling You About Your Health with Dr. Sam Shay You have tried every protocol. Every wellness approach. Every health strategy on your feed. And you are still exhausted. Still gaining weight. Still wondering why nothing is working the way it should. What if the answer has been written in your DNA this whole time? In this episode of the Cortisol Coach Podcast, Christine Marie sits down with Dr. Sam Shay, a functional medicine doctor with over 25 years of experience, founder of Fit Genes USA, and one of the most sought after voices in personalized genetics and functional lab testing. Dr. Sam has appeared on more than 200 podcasts, summits, and stages and his whole mission is taking the complicated science of your genetics and making it actually make sense for real life. This episode covers cortisol in a way you have never heard before. Dr. Sam explains cortisol as the body's fire department. You want it there, but you do not want it raging and spraying water all over your house every single week just in case there might be a fire. That chronic, relentless activation is exactly what is making your body inflamed and unable to function the way it was designed to. But the most powerful part of this conversation is what Dr. Sam shares about genetics and the shame that drops off your shoulders when you finally understand why your body does what it does. Why you cannot stop craving sugar. Why alcohol hits you differently. Why stress wrecks you faster than the people around you. It is not a willpower problem. It is a genetic reality. And once you know it, you can build your life around it without guilt. Christine shares her own revelation about alcohol and her own body and how much faster healing became once she stopped fighting her own biology. Your symptoms are not character flaws. They are data. In this episode you will hear: Why cortisol is like the fire department and what happens when it never turns off What a cortisol awakening response test is and why it tells you more than a standard four point test How your genetics determine how you respond to stress, sugar, alcohol, and inflammation Why your struggles with food and cravings may be written into your DNA and why that removes the shame What a personal genetic blueprint actually looks like and how it changes everything The six functional lab tests Dr. Sam says expose what is really happening inside your body Why controlling your environment is more powerful than controlling your willpower How to get your own genetic blueprint through Fit Genes USA Get Dr. Sam's Free Masterclass — 6 Game-Changing Tests That Expose What's Really Happening Inside Your Body: 👉 https://drsamshay.com/masterclass/ Connect with Dr. Sam Shay: Website: https://www.DrSamShay.com Fit Genes USA: https://fitgenesusa.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsamshay/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sam.shay.792/ Connect with Christine: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortisol_coach To be a guest on the Cortisol Coach Podcast: https://podcast.itschristinemarie.com/ If this episode blessed you: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it takes 60 seconds and helps other women find this show Follow the Cortisol Coach Podcast so you never miss an episode Share this episode with one woman in your life who has been fighting her body instead of understanding it SEO Keywords and Tags: cortisol and genetics, functional lab testing women, DNA health testing, genetic blueprint health, Fit Genes USA, Dr Sam Shay, cortisol awakening response, functional medicine testing, personalized nutrition genetics, cortisol and inflammation, genetics and weight gain, genetics and sugar cravings, cortisol and stress response, epigenetics women, cortisol testing salivary, hormone and genetic testing, functional medicine women over 40, cortisol coach podcast, Christine Marie podcast, genetics and cortisol, DNA decoded health, nervous system and genetics, inflammation and genetics, biohacking women

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Thyroid, Weight Gain, and Fatigue | Why Your Labs Are Normal But You Feel Terrible with Dr. Amie Hornaman

Thyroid, Weight Gain, and Fatigue | Why Your Labs Are Normal But You Feel Terrible with Dr. Amie Hornaman Your labs are normal. Your doctor says everything is fine. But you cannot get out of bed. Your hair is falling out. You have gained 20 pounds and you are doing everything right. You are not imagining it. And this episode is going to tell you exactly why. In this episode of the Cortisol Coach Podcast, Christine Marie sits down with Dr. Amie Hornaman, known as America's number one thyroid expert, founder of the Advanced Thyroid and Hormone Clinic, host of The Thyroid Fixer Podcast, founder of Fixxr supplements, and bestselling author of The Thyroid Fix. Dr. Amie is a functional health practitioner who has become one of the most recognized and unapologetically outspoken voices challenging the conventional approach to thyroid care and she treats patients not just across the US but in the UK and Australia too. Her personal story is one your listener is going to recognize immediately. Dr. Amie was a competitive figure athlete, eating chicken and broccoli, working out twice a day, tracking every macro when her scale started going up anyway. Six doctors told her she was normal. The seventh finally diagnosed hypothyroidism, handed her a prescription, and sent her home. Nothing changed. So she fixed it herself. And then she dedicated her career to making sure no other woman had to go through six doctors to get a real answer. One of the most powerful moments in this conversation is when Dr. Amie shares a message she received the morning of this recording. A patient texted her before and after photos and left her a voice message saying: You saved my life. And you saved my marriage. Because that is what getting your thyroid right actually does. It is not just about the weight. It is about your relationships, your career, your ability to show up as a mom, a wife, a friend. The trickle effects of an undiagnosed or undertreated thyroid condition are enormous. And most women have been told to just accept them as part of getting older. There is no memo that says after 40 you throw in the towel. You can feel your absolute best. Dr. Amie has seen it happen over and over again. In this episode you will hear: Why six doctors told Dr. Amie her labs were normal when she had hypothyroidism What a complete thyroid panel actually looks like versus what most doctors run Why TSH alone is not enough to tell the full story of your thyroid health The connection between cortisol, stress, and thyroid dysfunction Why your symptoms are gifts your body is giving you — and what to do with them How to advocate for yourself when your doctor dismisses your symptoms as normal aging What thyroid optimization actually feels like and why it changes everything Why getting personalized treatment is the only way to truly get optimized Take Dr. Amie's Free Thyroid Assessment: 👉 http://dramie.com/quiz Get the FREE 7-Day Thyroid Healing Kickstarter: 👉 https://fixyourthyroid.com/7daykickstart Thyroid and Hormone Testing plus Consult: 👉 https://fixerpowerlab.com Get the Book — The Thyroid Fix: 👉 https://thyroidfixbook.com Connect with Dr. Amie Hornaman: Website: https://dramie.com Podcast: https://dramie.com/podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dramiehornaman YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/dramiehornaman Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dramie Better Life Doctor: https://www.betterlifedoctor.com Connect with Christine: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortisol_coach To be a guest on the Cortisol Coach Podcast: https://podcast.itschristinemarie.com/ If this episode blessed you: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts: it takes 60 seconds and helps other women find this show Follow the Cortisol Coach Podcast so you never miss an episode Share this episode with one woman in your life who has been told her labs are normal but knows something is wrong SEO Keywords and Tags: thyroid and weight gain, hypothyroidism symptoms women, labs are normal but feel terrible, thyroid fatigue, Dr Amie Hornaman, The Thyroid Fixer, thyroid fix book, thyroid testing women, TSH levels women, complete thyroid panel, thyroid and cortisol, thyroid hair loss, underactive thyroid symptoms, functional medicine thyroid, thyroid optimization, thyroid and hormones women over 40, thyroid and menopause, Fixxr supplements, cortisol coach podcast, Christine Marie podcast, thyroid specialist women, thyroid diagnosis conventional medicine, thyroid and metabolism, thyroid and brain fog

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Stewardship, Discipline, Community, and Faith | Reframing Fitness with Ashton Gregory of Iron Forge Reignite

Stewardship, Discipline, Community, and Faith | Reframing Fitness with Ashton Gregory of Iron Forge Reignite You have tried every program. Every diet. Every fitness trend on your feed. And somewhere along the way it became about how you look instead of what your body was actually made for. There is a different way to think about this. In this episode of the Cortisol Coach Podcast, Christine Marie sits down with Ashton Gregory, co-founder of Iron Forge Reignite, a Christian gym in North Fort Worth, Texas built on one unshakable conviction. The body is a temple, and we are called to steward it. Ashton grew up in South Mississippi, one of the most obese states in the country, but even surrounded by a culture that normalized the opposite, she found fitness early and never let it go. Sports, running, triathlons, even a bikini competition. Through every season she became fascinated not just with training the body, but truly understanding it. She earned her degree in Exercise Science, went back to school for Physical Therapy, and spent over 14 years as a licensed PTA in outpatient care while personal training clients on the side. When the Lord brought her husband Chris into her life and led them to Texas, they both carried the same dream, owning a gym one day. At the end of 2025, God started opening doors, and Iron Forge Reignite became the result. This is not a gym built on vanity or aesthetics. It is built on four pillars, stewardship, discipline, community, and faith, and Ashton and Chris are unapologetic about never separating any of it. One of the most powerful parts of this conversation goes beneath the surface of fitness altogether. Ashton shares why most resistance to taking care of the body is not really about the body at all. It is about identity. About seeing yourself the way God already sees you, chosen, beautiful, and worthy, before you ever step foot in a gym. In this episode you will hear: What the four pillars of Iron Forge Reignite actually mean and how they show up every day How Ashton's journey from athlete to physical therapist to gym owner shaped her view of fitness Why First Timothy 4:8 is one of the most misquoted verses in fitness culture Why resistance to self care is rooted in identity, not laziness or lack of discipline How seeing yourself as chosen and beautifully made changes your relationship with your body What it looked like for Ashton and Chris to wait on God's timing before opening their gym How to connect with Iron Forge Reignite if you are local to Fort Worth, and how to access their free fasting guide if you are not Visit Iron Forge Reignite (3 free workouts for new visitors): https://ironforgereignite.pushpress.com/landing/plans/plan_4551a30ed5e14b Get the Free Unshakable Fasting Manual: https://canva.link/9i0zg2mgb4yj5sj Connect with Ashton Gregory and Iron Forge Reignite: Instagram: @faithandfit_ash and @ironforgereignite Website: ironforgereignite.com Chris's Instagram: @chrisreignites Connect with Christine: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortisol_coach To be a guest on the Cortisol Coach Podcast: https://podcast.itschristinemarie.com/ If this episode blessed you: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, it takes 60 seconds and helps other women find this show Follow the Cortisol Coach Podcast so you never miss an episode Share this episode with one woman in your life who has been treating her body like a project instead of a gift SEO Keywords and Tags: stewardship discipline community faith, body as a temple, faith and fitness, Christian gym, Iron Forge Reignite, Ashton Gregory, fitness and identity, body image healing faith, First Timothy 4 8, Christian fitness coach, fasting guide faith, North Fort Worth gym, cortisol coach podcast, Christine Marie podcast, women's body image faith, healing through faith fitness, daughter of the king identity, biblical mindset fitness, physical therapy fitness coach, reframing fitness

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Chronic Stress, High Cortisol, and Spiritual Warfare | Why Your Health Struggles Are Bigger Than Science with Tori Jensen

Chronic Stress, High Cortisol, and Spiritual Warfare | Why Your Health Struggles Are Bigger Than Science with Tori Jensen You have tried everything. The diets. The supplements. The advice from every wellness account on your feed. And it still feels impossible to actually get healthy and stay healthy. There is a reason for that. And it is bigger than science. In this episode of the Cortisol Coach Podcast, Christine Marie sits down with Tori Jensen, a registered dietitian and registered nurse with 15 years of clinical experience for a conversation that goes straight to the hill Christine says she will die on. Chronic stress and high cortisol in women's bodies right now is not just physical. It is spiritual warfare. Tori knows this firsthand. A lifelong athlete and former collegiate soccer player, she built a career in nursing and nutrition before COVID reshaped everything about how she saw her work and her faith. When the vaccine mandate came down in California, she felt God make it unmistakably clear that it was not for her and she stood on that conviction even when it cost her job. What followed was not bitterness. It was boldness. Tori shares how surrendering areas of her life she never expected to surrender opened a clarity and a peace she had not known before and how that same obedience is available to every woman listening. This episode will encourage you to believe there is so much more available to you than what feels possible right now. In this episode you will hear: Why Christine believes chronic stress and high cortisol in women is rooted in spiritual warfare Tori's journey from college athlete to registered dietitian to registered nurse What happened when the COVID vaccine mandate came down and how Tori navigated that decision through faith How being fired for her convictions ultimately deepened her boldness and her walk with God Why praying the scary prayer is one of the most powerful things you can do What it means to surrender areas of your life you never expected to surrender How simple, consistent lifestyle habits fortify your body and your immune system Why God has something better for you than whatever you are using as your pacifier right now Connect with Tori Jensen: Instagram, X, and YouTube: @thetorijensen Podcast: The Nurse Tori Show on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube Connect with Christine: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortisol_coach To be a guest on the Cortisol Coach Podcast: https://podcast.itschristinemarie.com/ If this episode blessed you: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it takes 60 seconds and helps other women find this show Follow the Cortisol Coach Podcast so you never miss an episode Share this episode with one woman in your life who feels like getting healthy and staying healthy is impossible right now SEO Keywords and Tags: chronic stress and cortisol, spiritual warfare health, high cortisol women, Tori Jensen RN RD, religious freedom health, faith and healing, praying the scary prayer, registered dietitian nurse, surrender and obedience faith, Christian health coach, cortisol coach podcast, Christine Marie podcast, women over 40 health, biblical mindset health, immune system faith, conviction over fear, First Liberty Institute, homeschool mom health coach, nurse fired religious exemption, God given immune system

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Nervous System Healing, Trauma, and Faith | Why You Keep Getting Stuck and How to Break Free with Heather Shriver Burns

Nervous System Healing, Trauma, and Faith | Why You Keep Getting Stuck and How to Break Free with Heather Shriver Burns You have a good prayer life. You are doing all the right things. And you are still stuck. You keep finding yourself in the same patterns. The same cycles. The same places you have been a hundred times before. And you cannot figure out why. It is not your faith that is the problem. It is your nervous system. In this episode of the Cortisol Coach Podcast, Christine Marie sits down with someone who has had a profound and deeply personal impact on her life. Heather Shriver Burns is a master coach, spiritual director, and founder of Seek First Sisterhood. For the past decade she has coached ambitious women of faith from stay at home moms to eight figure business owners helping them break the internal patterns keeping them from freedom, peace, and joy. Her work blends neuroscience, nervous system restoration, story work, and Kingdom principles to help women align their body, soul, and spirit and build a life that feels as good as it looks. But Heather is not just a guest on this show. She was Christine's personal coach for many years. Christine earned one of her certifications through Heather. And she is the coach who helped Christine step into healing her nervous system and trauma. Heather's own story is extraordinary. A teacher turned corporate executive who stumbled into network marketing and built an eight figure business — only to lose it overnight at 27 weeks pregnant with her third child. That experience sent her searching. Not just for mindset tools but for something deeper. She discovered neuroscience. Then nervous system work. Then trauma healing. And the Holy Spirit connected every single piece to Scripture in a way that no pastor had ever shown her before. Today she helps women understand that science and Scripture have always been saying the same thing. They just speak different languages. This episode is for the woman who has read every book, done the work, knows the Word — and still cannot figure out why she keeps ending up in the same place. You do not need more information. You need to understand why what you already know does not feel true for you. In this episode you will hear: Why nervous system dysregulation keeps women stuck no matter how much mindset work they do The connection between trauma, cortisol, and the patterns that keep repeating in your life Why healing happens in layers and why God in His kindness does not show us everything at once How neuroscience and Scripture are saying the exact same thing in different languages What Heather lost overnight at 27 weeks pregnant and how that loss became her calling Why you do not need another Bible verse — you need to understand why the ones you already know do not feel true for you What nervous system restoration actually looks like in practice How Christine's own healing journey led to everything the Cortisol Coach Podcast stands for today Work with Heather Shriver Burns: Seek First CEO Academy for entrepreneurs ready to go deep into brain science, nervous system healing, and Kingdom principles One on one coaching for the woman ready for intimate transformational work Connect with Heather Shriver Burns: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathershriverburns Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heather.shriver Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seek-first-ceo-neuroscience-scripture-spirit-led-strategy/id1527176273 Connect with Christine: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortisol_coach To be a guest on the Cortisol Coach Podcast: https://podcast.itschristinemarie.com/ If this episode blessed you: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it takes 60 seconds and helps other women find this show Follow the Cortisol Coach Podcast so you never miss an episode Share this episode with one woman in your life who keeps finding herself in the same patterns and cannot figure out why SEO Keywords and Tags: nervous system healing women, trauma and cortisol, why am I stuck, breaking patterns faith, neuroscience and faith, Christian nervous system healing, Heather Shriver Burns, Seek First Sisterhood, nervous system dysregulation, trauma healing Christian women, faith and neuroscience, cortisol and trauma, Kingdom principles healing, women's mindset coach, spiritual director women, cortisol coach podcast, Christine Marie podcast, nervous system restoration, healing happens in layers, stuck in patterns, body soul spirit alignment, women over 40 healing, faith based coaching, biblical mindset healing, somatic healing faith

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Perimenopause, Menopause, and Root Cause Medicine | Hormone Health, Weight Wellness, and Longevity with Dr. Hart and Dr. Fashho of Eviva

Hormones, Weight, and Longevity | Root Cause Medicine for Women in Perimenopause and Menopause with Dr. Hart and Dr. Fashho of Eviva You have a good doctor. She runs your labs. She listens. She cares. And you still leave every appointment feeling like something is being missed. You are not wrong. And this episode is going to tell you why. In this episode of the Cortisol Coach Podcast, Christine Marie sits down with Dr. Abigail Hart and Dr. Charise Fashho — the co-founders of Eviva Total Wellness, both double board certified OB/GYNs and Obesity Medicine physicians, and Dr. Fashho holds additional certification as a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner — for a conversation about what happens when two highly trained physicians decide that good is not good enough for the women they serve. Together they co-founded Eviva Total Wellness — a practice dedicated to hormone health, weight wellness, and longevity medicine — built for the woman who always knew there had to be more. Dr. Hart had every credential. A chief residency. A career in gynecologic oncology. A lifelong commitment to fitness and health. And then came her breast cancer diagnosis in 2023. She was fit. She was active. She did everything right. And she still got sick. That experience sent her down a path of root cause research and cellular medicine that transformed her understanding of what women actually need. Dr. Fashho met Dr. Hart on the labor wards — two OB/GYNs navigating one of the most demanding jobs in medicine while simultaneously trying to figure out their own health. Motherhood shifted her perspective completely. She started asking the question that medical training had never taught her to ask. Why. Christine also shares her own powerful moment — discovering that her social anxiety diagnosis was actually a serotonin deficiency revealed through genetic testing. And the reminder that lands throughout this entire conversation: If you strip everything away, all you have is your health. In this episode you will hear: What led two board certified OB/GYNs to go beyond their training and build something new What root cause and cellular medicine reveals that standard lab work misses The truth about estrogen dominance and why so many women have it without knowing What the MTHFR mutation is and why it matters for your hormones, mood, and metabolism Why Christine's social anxiety diagnosis was actually a serotonin deficiency and how genetic testing revealed it The functional testing Dr. Hart and Dr. Fashho run that most physicians never order Why metabolic and cellular medicine is the missing piece for women who do everything right and still feel terrible What Eviva Total Wellness is building and why it exists for women like you Connect with Dr. Abigail Hart and Dr. Charise Fashho: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eviva.md Connect with Christine: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortisol_coach If this episode blessed you: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it takes 60 seconds and helps other women find this show Follow the Cortisol Coach Podcast so you never miss an episode Share this episode with one woman in your life who has been told she is fine but knows something is being missed SEO Keywords and Tags: hormones weight longevity, perimenopause symptoms, menopause root cause medicine, OB GYN holistic medicine, estrogen dominance, MTHFR mutation women, hormone testing women over 40, functional medicine OB GYN, Eviva Total Wellness, Dr Abigail Hart, Dr Charise Fashho, double board certified OB GYN, obesity medicine women, menopause society certified practitioner, metabolic health women, cellular medicine women, longevity medicine women, cortisol coach podcast, Christine Marie podcast, root cause hormone health, hormone imbalance perimenopause, weight wellness women, serotonin deficiency women, genetic testing hormones, perimenopause treatment, menopause specialist women

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Hormone Imbalance, Menopause, and Cortisol | Why You Feel Terrible and What to Do About It with Dr. Anna Cabeca

Hormone Imbalance, Menopause, and Cortisol | Why You Feel Terrible and What to Do About It with Dr. Anna Cabeca Your labs are normal. Eat less. Walk more. Have a nice day. If you have heard those words and walked out of a doctor’s office feeling completely unseen, this episode is for you. In this episode of the Cortisol Coach Podcast, Christine Marie sits down with Dr. Anna Cabeca, triple board certified OBGYN, bestselling author, and one of the most sought after voices in women’s hormone health in the world, for a conversation that is going to change the way you think about cortisol, menopause, and what your body is actually capable of. Dr. Anna knows firsthand that your diagnosis is not your destiny. At 39, she was told she would never conceive again after failing six rounds of infertility treatments and being diagnosed with early menopause. She went on a healing journey around the world and naturally reversed early menopause, conceiving the child she was told she would never have at 41 years old. Today she helps women understand the powerful connection between cortisol, oxytocin, and hormonal health, and why the keto green approach is changing the way women heal through perimenopause and menopause. Christine also shares her own powerful moment. The day she met Dr. Anna was the same day she found out she was in mid menopause. And what Dr. Anna shared with her that day changed everything. Optimal is not the same as normal. And you deserve optimal. In this episode you will hear: How cortisol and oxytocin are always in opposition and what that means for your health Why the keto green approach works specifically for women in perimenopause and menopause What alkalinity has to do with hormones and why most women have never heard this How Dr. Anna naturally reversed early menopause and conceived at 41 Why your labs being normal does not mean you are optimal What functional lab testing reveals that standard labs miss How to advocate for yourself when your doctor dismisses you Why dysregulated hormones are spiritual warfare and what God designed your body for Get Dr. Anna’s FREE 10 Day Breeze Through Menopause Program: https://dranna.com/tribe Connect with Dr. Anna Cabeca: Website: https://drannacabeca.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegirlfrienddoctor Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAnnaCabeca YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thegirlfrienddoctor TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drannacabeca Podcast: https://drannacabeca.com/blogs/podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/drannacabeca Connect with Christine: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortisol_coach If this episode blessed you: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It takes 60 seconds and helps other women find this show. Follow the Cortisol Coach Podcast so you never miss an episode. Share this episode with one woman in your life who has been told her labs are normal but knows something is wrong. SEO Keywords and Tags: Dr Anna Cabeca, The Hormone Fix, keto green approach, cortisol and menopause, perimenopause hormones, menopause weight gain, hormone optimization women, early menopause reversal, cortisol and oxytocin, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, functional medicine women, hormone testing women over 40, keto green 16, MenuPause, girlfriend doctor, women’s hormone health, cortisol coach podcast, Christine Marie podcast, normal labs but feel terrible, hormone imbalance menopause, integrative medicine women, adrenal health women, oxytocin and stress, spiritual warfare hormones

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Hormone Imbalance, Gut Health, and Fasting for Women Over 40 | Dr. Tabatha Barber

In this episode of the Cortisol Coach Podcast, Christine Marie sits down with Dr. Tabatha Barber — triple board certified in obstetrics and gynecology, menopause, and functional medicine, and founder of Fast to Faith — for one of the most powerful and prophetic conversations this show has ever had. Dr. Tabatha's story is extraordinary. She built a medical career to prove everyone wrong — driving herself into Hashimoto's, depression, IBS, weight gain, and a back injury that two surgeons said required spinal fusion. And it was not until God stopped her cold and said — you left me in the delivery room and never brought me on the journey — that everything changed. Today she helps women heal their hormones, gut, and metabolism by addressing root causes — not just symptoms — through her signature Fast to Faith framework that integrates fasting, neuroscience, and biblical truth. This episode is not just about hormones. It is about what happens when you stop trying to carry your health journey alone and finally invite Jesus in. Because your body is not broken. Your approach is. In this episode you will hear: Dr. Tabatha's raw and remarkable story — from teenage mother and high school dropout to triple board certified physician Why she left conventional medicine and what functional medicine does differently The gut and hormone connection that is the missing link for most women What fasting does specifically for women in perimenopause and menopause How Romans 12:2 is the original neuroplasticity protocol Why Scripture and science have been saying the same thing all along The Fast to Faith 40 day program and what it does for women's health What to say to Jesus when you do not even know where to start Join Dr. Tabatha's FREE Masterclass — From Stuck to Free: 👉 https://masterclass.fasttofaith.com/fromstucktofree FREE Guide to Intermittent Fasting the Faithful Way: 👉 https://fasttofaith.com/intermittent-fasting-guide/ FREE Balancing Your Hormones Naturally Guide: 👉 https://drtabatha.com/free-hormone-guide/ Connect with Dr. Tabatha Barber: Website: https://fasttofaith.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gutsydrtabatha Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrTabatha YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fasttofaith Connect with Christine: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortisol_coach If this episode blessed you: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it takes 60 seconds and helps other women find this show Follow the Cortisol Coach Podcast so you never miss an episode Share this episode with one woman in your life who has been white knuckling her health journey alone SEO Keywords & Tags: faith based functional medicine, healing hormones naturally, gut health and hormones, Fast to Faith, Dr Tabatha Barber, fasting and hormones women, perimenopause functional medicine, menopause root cause healing, Hashimoto's natural healing, hormone imbalance women over 40, biblical health, Christian wellness, faith and medicine, cortisol and gut health, metabolic health women, fasting for women over 40, Jesus and healing, functional medicine OBGYN, cortisol coach podcast, Christine Marie podcast, Fast to Faith 40 day program, intermittent fasting women hormones, renewing your mind Romans 12:2

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The Cortisol and Nervous System Connection Every Woman Over 40 Needs to Hear

Why Rest Is Not Lazy- The Cortisol and Nervous System Connection Every Woman Over 40 Needs to Hear You were not designed to keep going until you break. But somewhere along the way — between the to-do lists, the kids, the career, the hustle culture, and the guilt — rest became something you had to earn. And your cortisol has been paying the price ever since. In this episode of the Cortisol Coach Podcast, Christine Marie sits down with Carli Reiners — mental health counselor, life coach, founder of Rural & Well, and two-time stroke survivor — for a conversation about the one thing most high-functioning women refuse to give themselves permission to do. Rest. Carli knows the cost of ignoring this firsthand. She was the woman who had it all together on the outside — president of this, checking every box, always in motion — and exhausted at 16 years old. The striving followed her into adulthood, into motherhood, into her career. Until her body said no — twice. Today she helps women understand that rest is not laziness. It is not a reward. It is not something you earn after you finish everything on your list. Rest is the very thing your nervous system needs to lower cortisol, regulate your body, and allow you to become everything God created you to be. This episode is for the woman who cannot sit down and watch a movie with her family without feeling guilty. The woman who has not taken a deep breath in she does not know how long. The woman who is running on empty and calling it strength. Friend — you are worthy of rest. And this episode is going to give you permission to finally receive it. In this episode you will hear: Why rest feels like something women have to earn — and how to flip that script The direct connection between chronic striving, cortisol, and nervous system dysregulation What two strokes taught Carli about the cost of never stopping Why being present is one of the most powerful ways to lower cortisol What God says about rest — and why the enemy uses busyness as a weapon One simple step you can take today to begin introducing rest into your life Get Carli's Free Rest Guide: Connect with Carli on Facebook to grab her free guide: https://www.facebook.com/carli.israelson.reiners Connect with Carli Reiners: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carli.israelson.reiners Connect with Christine: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortisol_coach If this episode blessed you: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it takes 60 seconds and helps other women find this show Follow the Cortisol Coach Podcast so you never miss an episode Share this episode with one woman in your life who needs permission to rest Keywords & Tags: rest and cortisol, why rest is not lazy, nervous system regulation women, cortisol and stress women over 40, chronic stress and burnout, rest and hormones, perimenopause and rest, menopause fatigue, nervous system healing, fight or flight women, high functioning burnout, rest and faith, biblical rest, God and rest, striving vs rest, women over 40 exhaustion, cortisol coach podcast, Carli Reiners Rural and Well, mental health counselor women, rest and healing, two time stroke survivor, permission to rest

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Weight Gain, Body Image, and Faith | A Biblical Perspective for Women Over 40 Who Are Struggling to Lose Weight

Weight Gain, Body Image, and Faith | A Biblical Perspective for Women Over 40 Who Are Struggling to Lose Weight She was a successful fitness coach. Lean. In shape. Building a business. And by every outward measure — thriving. And then she gained 40 pounds seemingly overnight. But that is not the most important part of her story. The most important part is what God did with it. In this episode of the Cortisol Coach Podcast, Christine Marie sits down with Renee Maldonado — founder of Rich Glow and creator of Fit for the Call — for one of the most prophetic and powerful conversations this show has had yet. Renee did not grow up in a faith-filled home. She entered fitness from a place of insecurity — never feeling small enough, never feeling worthy enough — and built an entire business on a foundation that looked successful from the outside but was completely disconnected from God on the inside. When burnout hit and her body changed, God did something far more significant than a physical transformation. He dismantled every identity marker she had built her worth on. Her fitness. Her appearance. Her expertise. All of it. And what felt like a breaking became her breakthrough. Today Renee helps Christian women stop treating their bodies like projects and start stewarding them as temples — through a framework that addresses identity, stewardship, and fruit as one integrated calling. Her approach is not about meal plans and macros. It is about becoming the healthiest, holiest version of yourself so you are actually equipped for what God has called you to. If you have been struggling to lose weight, battling body image, and wondering why nothing is working — this episode is going to reframe everything. Because the problem may not be your diet. It may be your identity. Your healthiest self is your holiest self. In this episode you will hear: Why so many Christian women are treating their bodies like projects instead of temples How Renee gained 40 pounds and lost everything she had built her identity on — and what God did with it The Identity, Stewardship, and Fruit framework that changes everything Why your body being a bottleneck is a kingdom problem The difference between body obsession and body stewardship Why fitness is not about vanity — it is about being a willing and able vessel for God The Esther 4:14 calling over every woman listening to this episode What it means to train in identity first — before anything else Take Renee's Free Body Audit Quiz: Find out exactly what your struggle is, how to overcome it, and get the language for what you have been walking through. 👉 https://www.richglow.org Connect with Renee Maldonado: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coach.renee TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@coach.renee YouTube: https://youtube.com/@coach_renee Website: https://www.richglow.org Connect with Christine: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortisol_coach If this episode blessed you: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it takes 60 seconds and helps other women find this show Follow the Cortisol Coach Podcast so you never miss an episode Share this episode with one woman in your life who has been striving in her body instead of surrendering it SEO Keywords & Tags: weight gain women over 40, body image Christian women, struggling to lose weight, biblical perspective weight loss, faith and fitness, Christian fitness coach, body obsession vs body stewardship, fit for the call, rich glow, Renee Maldonado, identity in Christ, cortisol and weight gain, hormone health faith, kingdom purpose health, Christian wellness women over 40, body image faith, temple of the Holy Spirit, biblical fitness, body audit quiz, stewardship and health, holistic Christian health, cortisol coach podcast, Christine Marie podcast, Esther 4:14, your healthiest self is your holiest self, can't lose weight Christian, weight loss faith based

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The Gut Health and Hormone Connection You Need to Know

Exhausted. Bloated. Anxious. Gaining weight no matter what you eat. Hormones out of balance and nobody can tell you why. In this episode of the Cortisol Coach Podcast, Christine Marie sits down with Stephanie Crabtree, a Registered Dietitian with over 15 years of clinical experience including oncology nutrition and her own thriving private practice for a conversation about root cause healing that is going to change the way you think about food, your body, and your health. Stephanie knows this firsthand. After her third child she was bloated for over a year with no answers. She had sleep issues, low energy, and felt like she did not recognize herself. Then her doctor wanted to put her on a statin, even though she was eating well and staying active. Instead of accepting that answer she went looking for another one. What she found led her to leave her hospital job, move her family across the country, and step into a brand new mission of helping women heal their bodies through food, faith, and functional medicine. She breaks down exactly how your gut health is connected to your hormones, your cortisol, your energy, your mood, and your weight. She shares practical gut healing strategies you can start today, the lifestyle first approach that gets to the root cause instead of treating symptoms, and how God designed your body with everything it needs to heal when you give it what it was created to thrive on. This is not about deprivation. This is not another diet. This is about finally understanding why your body feels the way it does and what to do about it. Stephanie also has a free gut health checklist for you. Head to her Instagram to grab it. You were designed to thrive. Let's get you there. In this episode you will hear: The root cause connection between gut health and hormone imbalance Why exhaustion, bloating, anxiety, and weight gain are often gut issues in disguise How cortisol and chronic stress destroy your gut microbiome The food as medicine approach that heals from the inside out Why functional testing reveals what standard lab work misses How circadian rhythms and lifestyle habits directly impact your hormones Simple steps you can start using today Get Stephanie's Free Gut Health Checklist: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holistic.health.rd Connect with Stephanie Crabtree: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holistic.health.rd Connect with Christine: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortisol_coach If this episode helped you: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it takes 60 seconds and helps other women find this show Follow the Cortisol Coach Podcast so you never miss an episode Share this episode with one woman in your life who has been exhausted and bloated and told she is fine SEO Keywords & Tags: gut health and hormones, exhausted and bloated, hormone imbalance women over 40, gut health women, root cause healing, food as medicine, cortisol and gut health, leaky gut hormones, gut microbiome women, bloating hormones, weight gain gut health, anxiety gut connection, functional nutrition, registered dietitian hormones, perimenopause gut health, menopause gut health, biblical wellness, faith and healing, God designed your body, holistic health women, Christine Marie podcast, Stephanie Crabtree dietitian, cortisol coach, gut health checklist, hormone reset food

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Hormones and Depression in Women Over 40 — The Signs You Need to Know

Depression in women over 40. Hormonal depression. Perimenopause and mood. Menopause and mental health. Estrogen and depression. Progesterone and mood. Cortisol and mental health. If you have been exhausted, emotionally empty, and told you are fine — your hormones may be at the root of everything. In this episode of the Cortisol Coach Podcast, Christine Marie sits down with Jessica Crespo — a Physician Assistant with 26 years of clinical experience spanning cardiology, emergency medicine, psychiatry, and over a decade in primary care — for the conversation most doctors are not having with their patients. Depression in women over 40 does not always look like depression. It looks like exhaustion. Irritability. Brain fog. Joint pain. Zero sex drive. Going through the motions as a mom and a wife while quietly disappearing on the inside. And for most women — nobody ever connects it to their hormones. Jessica knows this firsthand. Not just as a clinician — but as a woman who experienced a devastating hormonal crash that sent her into a severe depression. Her story is one of the most powerful proofs you will ever hear that hormones drive everything. She breaks down exactly what is happening in a woman's body after 40 — how declining estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol directly impact mood — and why so many women are being handed antidepressants when the root cause is hormonal. She shares exactly what to say to your doctor, what tests to ask for, and what to do if you get dismissed. This episode is for the woman who has been telling herself she is fine. You are not broken. Your hormones are. In this episode you will hear: What depression actually looks like in high functioning women over 40 Why women do not recognize they are depressed and what symptoms they are dismissing The direct connection between hormones and mood after 40 Why perimenopause and menopause are triggers for depression nobody warns you about Why so many women are on antidepressants when the root cause is hormonal What to say to your doctor and what tests to ask for The cost of putting yourself last for too long Get Jessica's Free Checklist: Am I Depressed? A Self-Assessment for Women Over 40 👉 https://www.facebook.com/jessica.crespo.colamaria Connect with Jessica Crespo: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessica.crespo.colamaria Connect with Christine: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortisol_coach If this episode helped you: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it takes 60 seconds and helps other women find this show Follow the Cortisol Coach Podcast so you never miss an episode Share this episode with one woman in your life who has been telling herself she is fine SEO Keywords & Tags: depression in women over 40, hormonal depression, perimenopause depression, menopause and depression, postpartum depression hormones, estrogen and mood, progesterone and depression, cortisol and mental health, women's mental health over 40, high functioning depression, hidden depression women, depression symptoms women, hormone imbalance mood, antidepressants vs hormone therapy, how to talk to your doctor about depression, women putting themselves last, cortisol coach, Christine Marie podcast, Jessica Crespo PA, hormone health women, depression and hormones connection

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Low Libido After 40 — The Hormonal Truth Behind the Intimacy Problem in Your Marriage

One in five married couples is living in a sexless marriage right now. And 27% of women reported having no sex at all in the last twelve months. Not because they don’t love their husbands. Not because their marriage is broken. Because nobody ever told them the truth — that what they are experiencing is hormonal. It is biological. And it is not their fault. In this episode of the Cortisol Coach Podcast, Christine Marie sits down with physician associate Josh Reiners — a clinician with over 20 years of experience in orthopedics, sports medicine, and hormone therapy — for the conversation that your doctor and your pastor have both been avoiding. Josh breaks down exactly what happens to estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and cortisol in a woman’s body after 40 — and why perimenopause and menopause are quietly destroying intimacy in marriages everywhere. He explains why so many women spend years blaming themselves, their marriages, or their mental health — when the root cause is hormonal. And he gives your listener the exact words to say to her doctor, the specific tests to ask for, and what to do if she gets dismissed. But what makes this episode unlike anything else in the women’s health space is the conversation nobody in the faith community is willing to have. Josh and Christine go there — the silence around sex and intimacy in the church, why the enemy specifically targets this area of marriage, and what God actually designed intimacy to look like. If you have felt broken, disconnected, ashamed, or like a shell of the woman you used to be in your marriage — this episode was made for you. You are not broken. Your hormones are. In this episode you will hear: • Why low libido after 40 is a hormonal issue — not a marriage issue • How estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and cortisol all impact sexual desire • Why perimenopause and menopause are the tipping point for intimacy in marriage • The exact words to say to your doctor to start this conversation • What hormone tests to ask for — and what to do if your doctor dismisses you • Why the church silence around sex is costing marriages • What a God-honoring, thriving intimate marriage actually looks like Connect with Christine: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortisol_coach Connect with Josh Reiners: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecowboydr TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cowboy.doctor1 Facebook: https://facebook.com/josh.reiners.9 If this episode helped you: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it takes 60 seconds and helps other women find this show Follow the Cortisol Coach Podcast so you never miss an episode Share this episode with one woman in your life whose marriage needs this conversation low libido after 40, low libido menopause, low libido perimenopause, hormone imbalance libido, testosterone women over 40, estrogen and sex drive, cortisol and libido, sexless marriage hormones, intimacy after menopause, perimenopause marriage problems, menopause sex drive, hormone therapy women, how to talk to your doctor about libido, faith and intimacy marriage, Christian marriage intimacy, church and sex, spiritual warfare marriage, cortisol coach, hormone health women, women over 40 health, Christine Marie podcast, low sex drive hormones, hormone panel women, what tests to ask for hormones

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High Cortisol Symptoms in Women Over 40 | The Story Behind the Cortisol Coach

It all began when she was 37 years old, exhausted, gaining weight, losing her hair, and had seen more doctors than she could count. She had been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, anxiety, panic attacks, and put on medication for every single one. But not one doctor, specialist, or OBGYN ever said the four words that would have changed everything: Let’s test your hormones. This is Episode 1 of the Cortisol Coach Podcast, and this is where it all begins. In this episode, host Christine Marie shares the raw, unfiltered story behind @cortisol_coach. Eight years of searching for answers. A growing list of misdiagnoses. Surgery. A hysterectomy. Rock bottom. And the quiet morning moment that changed everything. If you are dealing with high cortisol symptoms in women over 40, this episode is going to connect the dots in a way nothing else has. The exhaustion that does not go away. The weight gain that will not budge. The anxiety, brain fog, emotional overwhelm, and feeling like your body is working against you. This is not random. And it is not in your head. For so many women, high cortisol and hormone imbalance are the missing piece. Chronic stress keeps your body stuck in fight or flight, impacting your energy, metabolism, mood, sleep, and even your sense of identity. If you are exhausted no matter how much you sleep, gaining weight you cannot explain, and wondering why nothing is working, this episode was made for you. You are not crazy. Your symptoms are real. And healing is possible. Christine also gives you a first look at what is coming on this show, including conversations with leading doctors, specialists, and coaches in hormone health, nervous system healing, mental health, spiritual health, and whole body restoration. Every guest and every episode is designed to help you understand what is actually happening in your body so you can finally move forward with clarity. Because physical healing leads to clarity. Clarity leads to identity. Identity leads to calling. And calling leads to Kingdom impact. Your healing starts here. WHAT YOU WILL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE The symptoms that ruled Christine’s life for 8 years, including brain fog, exhaustion, weight gain, migraines, fibromyalgia, zero libido, and rage What it felt like to be made to feel dismissed and misunderstood while searching for answers How chronic stress, high cortisol, and fight or flight disrupted her hormones, energy, and daily life The moment she hit rock bottom and what she cried out to God The turning point that changed everything What is coming on this show and why it exists CONNECT WITH CHRISTINE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortisol_coach IF THIS EPISODE RESONATED WITH YOU This show grows because of women like you. If this episode helped you feel seen, gave you language for what you have been experiencing, or reminded you that healing is possible, here is how you can help: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It takes less than a minute and helps more women find answers. Follow the Cortisol Coach Podcast so you never miss an episode. Share this episode with one woman in your life who is exhausted, overwhelmed, and still searching for answers. You might be the reason everything changes for her. For the products that changed her life: http://cortisolcoach.itschristinemarie.com

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Cortisol Coach Podcast Trailer

If you've been exhausted, gaining weight no matter what you try, anxious, foggy, and running on empty and nobody can give you a straight answer.... you are in the right place. I'm Christine Marie, the Cortisol Coach. I spent 8 years living exactly where you are. Pushing through. White-knuckling it. Wondering why my body felt like a stranger. And what I finally discovered changed everything -- chronic stress had hijacked my hormones and cortisol was running the show. Here's what I want you to know: it's not your fault. It's not just aging. And you don't have to keep living this way. Each week I sit down with hormone experts, functional medicine doctors, therapists, and coaches to give you real answers about cortisol, hormone imbalance, perimenopause, menopause, weight loss, anxiety, brain fog, and healing from the inside out. Because when your body is stuck in survival mode, everything suffers. Your health, your mind, your relationships, your calling. And you were made for so much more than surviving. On this podcast we are going to cover: Understanding how cortisol and hormones affect your body, mind, and spirit How to navigate perimenopause and menopause without losing your mind How to lose weight, sleep better, and get your energy back after 40 How to heal your nervous system and get out of chronic stress and survival mode The emotional and spiritual impact of living in a constant state of pressure Real stories and expert conversations that finally make your body make sense This is the podcast for the Christian woman who is done guessing and ready to heal her hormones, her whole self, and the territory God created her to walk in. So go grab your cup of coffee and let's jump in. XO, Christine