Libsyn Directory

#202 Navigate Holiday Temptations With Intermittent Fasting

Pursue Your Spark: Fitness, Confidence & Clarity in Midlife

Release Date: 12/14/2023

251. Why Your Metabolism Isn’t the Main Villain in Midlife Weight Gain

Pursue Your Spark: Fitness, Confidence & Clarity in Midlife

Midlife weight gain can feel like a mystery—one day, everything works, the next, nothing does. You’re eating less, staying active, maybe even doubling down on healthy habits, but your body just isn’t responding. In Episode 251: Why your metabolism isn't the main villain in midlife weight gain, I dig into a hard truth most women haven’t been told: the weight gain, fatigue, and body changes you're feeling aren’t just about a slower metabolism. Yes, metabolism plays a role. But it’s not the whole story—and believing it is may be exactly what's keeping you stuck. What if the...

250. Midlife Skin, Decoded: What Women 40+ Really Need for Healthy, Glowing Skin / Dr. Mary Alice Mina

Pursue Your Spark: Fitness, Confidence & Clarity in Midlife

Is your skin changing — and not in ways you love? In episode 250 of Pursue Your Spark, titled “Midlife Skin, Decoded”, I sit down with dermatologist Dr. Mary Alice Mina to decode what’s really happening to your skin after 40 — and what actually works to care for it. If you’ve been doing “all the right things” but still feel frustrated with dullness, dryness, or a lack of results, you’re not alone. We’re talking about the hormonal shifts, collagen loss, and lifestyle factors that start showing up in your skin in midlife — and how to respond with science-backed,...

249. How to Ditch the All-or-Nothing Mindset and Set Goals That Stick

Pursue Your Spark: Fitness, Confidence & Clarity in Midlife

Tired of starting over every Monday? You’re not alone — and it’s not your fault. In How to Ditch the All-or-Nothing Mindset and Set Goals That Stick, I break down the real reason your workouts and nutrition plans don’t last: perfectionism disguised as discipline. So many midlife women believe if they can’t do it all — the perfect routine, the flawless food tracking, the six-day workout plan — then it’s not worth doing at all. But that mindset drains your energy and kills your progress. In this episode, I show you how to reframe the all-or-nothing fitness mindset into...

248. What Your Midlife Symptoms Are Really Telling You / Andrea Nakayama

Pursue Your Spark: Fitness, Confidence & Clarity in Midlife

Midlife symptoms have a way of turning up the volume on everything you’ve been ignoring—fatigue, restlessness, burnout, or that persistent feeling that “this just isn’t working anymore.” In Episode 248: What Your Midlife Symptoms Are Really Telling You, I’m joined by functional nutritionist and educator Andrea Nakayama for a powerful reframe: your symptoms aren’t failures—they’re feedback. Andrea brings a fresh lens to midlife wellness, one that goes far beyond quick fixes and trendy biohacks. She invites us to listen—to treat our midlife symptoms as messengers,...

247. Why Cardio Backfires in Midlife—and What to Do Instead

Pursue Your Spark: Fitness, Confidence & Clarity in Midlife

You're eating well, staying active, and doing everything that used to work—so why are you feeling tired, stuck, and frustrated with your results? In episode 247, “Why Cardio Backfires in Midlife—and What to Do Instead,” I break down why your once-trusted workout strategies may be failing you now—and what to do about it. If you’re still relying on cardio as your go-to solution, it’s time to reassess. Midlife changes everything, from hormones to muscle mass to recovery time. That means your fitness approach needs a serious upgrade. I explain why too much steady-state cardio...

246. When Childhood Trauma Reawakens: Stacey Hettes on Healing After Midlife

Pursue Your Spark: Fitness, Confidence & Clarity in Midlife

Have you ever felt like you were finally okay—only to be blindsided by a wave of emotion you didn’t see coming? In this episode of Pursue Your Spark, “When Childhood Trauma Reawakens: Stacey Hettes on Healing After Midlife,” I sit down with Dr. Stacey Hettes, scientist, college professor, and author of Dispatches from the Couch, to explore how deeply buried childhood trauma can resurface in midlife—and how we begin to heal truly. We dig into the ACEs framework (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and how Dr. Hettes used it to make sense of emotional shutdown, people-pleasing, and...

245. What To Eat After 40 To Boost Energy

Pursue Your Spark: Fitness, Confidence & Clarity in Midlife

Do you find yourself dragging through the afternoon, reaching for coffee or snacks just to stay awake? You’re not alone. After 40, those 2 p.m. crashes become more common—and it has nothing to do with motivation. It’s your hormones and nutrition working differently now, and midlife nutrition plays a much bigger role than it used to. In Episode 245: What To Eat After 40 To Boost Energy, I explain how hormone shifts, stress, and sleep all affect your energy. As estrogen trends down, your body becomes more sensitive to carbs. Add cortisol spikes from stress and poor sleep, and...

244. Aqua Yoga for Midlife Strength / Christa Fairbrother

Pursue Your Spark: Fitness, Confidence & Clarity in Midlife

Struggling with stiff joints, low energy, or feeling unsure how to move your body without hurting it? You’re not alone—and in Episode 244: Aqua Yoga for Midlife Strength, we explore how the pool might just be your new best friend. I talk with Christa Fairbrother, a former farrier turned aqua yoga teacher, who shares how a painful autoimmune diagnosis changed her path—and how movement in the water gave her strength, balance, and confidence again. We go deep into why aqua yoga is one of the best low-impact workouts for midlife bodies, especially when arthritis or chronic illness...

243. How to Reset After Summer Without Diets or Guilt In Midlife

Pursue Your Spark: Fitness, Confidence & Clarity in Midlife

After a season of rosé, ice cream, and skipped workouts, many women feel the urge to “start over.” But here’s the truth: restriction and guilt aren’t the answer. Instead of punishing yourself for summer indulgences, you can embrace a different approach—one that feels empowering, sustainable, and kind. That’s exactly what I share in my new post, Reset After Summer: A Midlife Healthy Eating Guide. This isn’t about diets, detoxes, or a perfect Monday plan. It’s about creating a realistic reset for midlife women—one rooted in food freedom, energy, and confidence. A healthy...

242. Holistic Psychology for Stress Relief: Bridging Eastern and Western Healing/ Tatiana Miller

Pursue Your Spark: Fitness, Confidence & Clarity in Midlife

Ever been told “it’s all in your head” when you know your body is asking for help? That disconnect is more than frustrating—it’s often the very thing that deepens our stress, amplifies burnout, and keeps us stuck. In Episode 242: Holistic Psychology for Stress Relief: Bridging Eastern and Western Healing, I sit down with holistic psychologist Tatiana Miller to explore what happens when we stop chasing symptoms and start listening to our whole selves. Tatiana’s story is powerful—from years of being dismissed by Western doctors to discovering healing through yoga,...

In this episode, we tackle a common seasonal challenge: sticking to intermittent fasting goals during the holidays. We explore the balance between festive joy and health commitments, ensuring holiday enjoyment without derailing fasting routines.

First, we address the holiday season's unique pressures. Breaking fasting schedules can spark guilt, and balancing health choices with family expectations adds stress. We emphasize understanding these emotions as key to managing fasting during these times.

Next, we offer practical tips for handling intermittent fasting's social aspects during the holidays. We emphasize staying true to our fasting decisions and recalling our personal motivations. By simply and friendly explaining our choices to friends and family, we demystify our approach and foster understanding. We also suggest non-food-centric activities at gatherings, allowing enjoyment of loved ones' company without eating pressure.

We then strategize for gracefully handling social situations. This includes preparing responses to common questions, setting personal boundaries, finding support from friends or online communities, and skillfully redirecting conversations away from dietary habits.

To conclude, I stress the importance of self-confidence and embracing our lifestyle choices. Celebrating small victories and leaning on community support is key, empowering us to confidently navigate the holiday season while staying true to our intermittent fasting goals.

Tune in for an empowering mix of encouragement, practical advice, and community support designed to help you enjoy the festive season while honoring your health and wellness journey.

Links mentioned:

🎙️ ⁠Listen to the Podcast!⁠

⭐️ ⁠Take The Pursue Your Spark Blueprint Course ⁠

🙋‍♀️ ⁠Work with me 1:1 privately ⁠

🤩 ⁠Grab all the midlife goods! ⁠

💥 ⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠

❤️ ⁠Join the club!⁠