Ep 151: "Cortisol: The Misunderstood Stress Hormone" with Dr. Carla DiGirolamo
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
Release Date: 01/16/2025
Ep 159: "How to Eat More Veggies and Make Them Delicious" with Jess Smith
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
Let’s be honest: most of us have tried to eat more —only to watch them slowly wilt in the back of the fridge. Or we associate veggies with bland, boring “diet food” and force ourselves to eat them when we’re feeling guilty, not because we actually enjoy them. In this episode, Alison chats with cookbook author , whose brilliant approach to vegetables reclaims them from diet culture and places them at the center of meals that are actually satisfying, flexible, and delicious. Jess’s cookbook flips the script on meal planning. Instead of figuring out how to “squeeze in”...
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Ep 158: "Rest is Fuel" with Erin Taylor
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
Are you constantly pushing through fatigue, thinking you’ll rest later—only to find that “later” never comes? In a culture that glorifies busyness, rest often feels like a luxury we can’t afford. But what if we told you that rest isn’t just a break—it’s a performance-enhancing strategy? In this episode, joins us to unpack the truth about rest as fuel—why we struggle with it, how our mindset around rest is all wrong, and the small but powerful ways we can integrate it into our daily lives. We dive deep into the idea that rest is not something that just happens—it’s a...
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Ep 157: Help Your Daughter Build a Positive Body Image with Drs. Janet Boseovski and Ashleigh Gallagher
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
We often associate poor body image and body dissatisfaction with teens and adult women. But the reality that the roots of negative body image take hold much earlier than that. In this week's episode, we dive deep into the science behind body image with Drs. Janet Boseovski and Ashleigh Gallagher, co-authors of Beyond Body Positive: A Mother’s Science-Based Guide for Helping Girls Build a Healthy Body Image. This conversation is a must-listen for moms, caregivers, and anyone looking to foster a healthier relationship with their body and break the cycle of toxic diet culture. From early...
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Ep 156: “The Science Behind Successful Habit Change” with Dr. Kyra Bobinet
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
Why is it so hard to change our habits—even when we know what to do? If you’ve ever struggled with sticking to your health goals, finding motivation, or breaking free from self-sabotage, you’re not alone. The real reason change feels impossible isn’t about willpower or discipline—it’s about your brain. In this episode, we’re diving deep into the neuroscience of behavior change with , a leading expert on habit formation. She breaks down how a tiny but powerful part of your brain—the habenula—can either fuel your motivation or shut it down completely. And, most importantly, she...
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Ep 155: “Breaking Free from Postpartum Body Pressure” with Marlene Andersson
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
What if the key to thriving in motherhood isn’t "bouncing back" to some old version of you—but moving forward into new postpartum potential and opportunities? In this empowering episode, I sat down with coach and former elite CrossFit athlete Marlene Andersson to dive into the pressures women face around "snapping back" after pregnancy. Together, we unpack the cultural myths that keep high-achieving women stuck in unrealistic expectations and explore a mindset shift that prioritizes self-compassion, growth, and sustainable health over outdated body ideals. Marlene shares her deeply...
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Ep 154: "Non-Financial Investments for Your Dream Retirement" with Suzanne Campi
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
Retirement planning isn’t just about financial planning—it’s about creating a life you love in your later years. In this episode, we sit down with , a coach specializing in life transitions, to talk about all the non-financial investments you can make now to ensure a fulfilling retirement. From relationships and adventure to purpose and health, Suzanne shares powerful insights on how to cultivate a meaningful, vibrant future beyond just saving money. Here’s Why We’re Obsessed with This Episode 🔥 Retirement is more than a 401k – Most of us have been told our whole lives to save...
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Ep 153: “Longevity = Training to Lift Weight, Not to Lose Weight” with Niki Sims
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
For many Gen X and Millennial women, fitness was introduced through the lens of —workouts were about burning calories and getting smaller. But as we've grown older, we’re realizing that those outdated messages aren’t serving us anymore. In this episode of the podcast, we explore a powerful shift: moving away from exercise as a means to shrink ourselves and instead embracing fitness as a way to enhance our quality of life and longevity. This week, I sat down with strength coach of to dive into the world of training and why women should be lifting weights for strength, not just for...
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Ep 152: "Understanding Diet Culture & Its Impact on Body Image"
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
is making a resurgence and we couldn't be more pissed off about it. The signs are everywhere. New weight loss drugs that are making people think our bodes are more changeable than they actually are and promise in their advertising the same shit diets have promised for generations and failed to deliver on -- the myth of transformation. Former champions of have gone to the dark side. Vogue Business is reporting a "worrying return to using extremely thin models" and a drop-off in size inclusivity in the fashion industry. There are whole industries out there that make billions of dollars each...
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Ep 151: "Cortisol: The Misunderstood Stress Hormone" with Dr. Carla DiGirolamo
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
We hear so much about cortisol, the " hormone," on social media these days. has become a buzz word in the health and fitness industry—part of a cautionary tale used to warn women away from intense bouts of exercise they age. From fear-mongering posts about how it’s ruining your health to questionable advice from "hormone coaches" selling pricey supplements and restrictive diets—it can be hard to separate fact from fiction. That’s why we brought in the expert, —a Board Certified Obstetrician/Gynecologist, Reproductive Endocrinologist, Certified Practitioner, and fitness enthusiast...
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Ep 150: 5 Beliefs to Leave Behind for an Epic New Year
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
With a new year, comes new goals and new . The end of one year and the beginning of another provide the perfect opportunity to pause, take stock, and reflect on the goals we want to achieve and the habits we hope to form. But what if the biggest obstacle standing in the way of your success wasn’t external? What if it was rooted in our own beliefs and thought patterns? That’s exactly what we explore in this week’s episode of , where I sat down with FBG Alex - a mindset coach passionate about helping individuals break free from limiting beliefs and step into their full potential - to break...
info_outlineWe hear so much about cortisol, the "stress hormone," on social media these days. Cortisol has become a buzz word in the health and fitness industry—part of a cautionary tale used to warn women away from intense bouts of exercise they age.
From fear-mongering posts about how it’s ruining your health to questionable advice from "hormone coaches" selling pricey supplements and restrictive diets—it can be hard to separate fact from fiction.
That’s why we brought in the expert, Dr. Carla DiGirolamo—a Board Certified Obstetrician/Gynecologist, Reproductive Endocrinologist, Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, and fitness enthusiast (not to mention a CrossFit trainer and certified nutrition coach). She’s spent her career helping active women—from puberty to menopause—optimize their mental and physical performance. Yep, she’s basically a rockstar when it comes to understanding hormones and coaching high-performing women.
This week’s episode of The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast is all about cortisol—the misunderstood “stress hormone” everyone loves to hate. We’re cutting through the noise, debunking myths, and exploring how cortisol plays a critical role in your health, fitness, and overall resilience. Together, Dr. Carla and I tackle the conversation we all need to hear about cortisol, women’s health, and the truth behind those viral hormone claims.
Seriously, this week’s episode is one for the books.
Here’s why we’re obsessed with this episode:
Dr. Carla’s analogy of cortisol as the trombone in a much larger orchestra will completely change the way you think about hormones, stress, and health. (Spoiler alert: it’s not all about cortisol!) She also dives into practical ways to dial down stress, recover better, and stay strong as you age.
Real Talk: Recovery Matters
Recovery isn’t just a checkbox after a workout—it’s where improvement actually happens. Whether it’s dialing in your nutrition, prioritizing sleep, or finally learning to love your cool-down routine, recovery helps you stay resilient and ready for your next challenge.
Don’t skip this one if…
✅ You’ve been freaked out by cortisol content on social media.
✅ You want to know how to be stronger (and healthier) as you age.
✅ You’re curious about how hormones impact your stress and performance.
Tune in now to hear Dr. Carla’s incredible insights and practical advice!
👉 Listen to the Full Episode Here
👉 Watch the episode on YouTube
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Cortisol isn’t the villain—it's essential for life and fitness. It’s the hormone that helps you tackle challenges, whether that’s a tough workout or life stress. However, it’s all about returning your stress response system to baseline after activation.
- Stop worrying about “spiking your cortisol.” You need cortisol to be responsive to outside stressors in order to survive. Instead, start focusing on returning your stress response system to baseline regularly through proven down-regulation strategies like meditation, leisure walks, gentle or relaxing yoga.
- Burnout isn’t caused by cortisol—it’s caused by chronic stress. Dr. Carla shares how to address what’s triggering your elevated stress rather than blaming cortisol itself.
- Why aging changes the game. Recovery gets trickier as women age due to changes in resilience and hormonal shifts, but proper recovery strategies can keep you thriving. Strength training, nutrition, and mindful recovery are more important than ever.
- The limits of hormone testing. Single snapshots from blood tests can be misleading! Dr. Carla explains why you need to focus on the bigger picture of your health.
- Under-fueling = underperforming. Under-eating can actually be a big cause of persistent internal stress and elevated cortisol levels. Nutrition fuels your body for workouts and recovery.
About Dr. Carla DiGirolamo
Dr. Carla DiGirolamo is a double Board-Certified Obstetrician/Gynecologist and Reproductive Endocrinologist specializing in caring for active and high-performing women from puberty through menopause. Dr. Carla completed her residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Brown University Medical School/Women and Infants’ Hospital and Reproductive Endocrinology fellowship training at the Massachusetts General Hospital at Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Carla has 20 years of experience as a fertility specialist and more recently as a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. She is also an endocrine consultant for Wild Health and Eternal Life. She has been featured in Boston Magazine’s Top Doctors in the Boston area for 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Dr. Carla has been featured in multiple podcasts and speakerships at various events discussing the physiology of the hormonal changes of menopause, hormone therapy, and optimizing physical performance in elite and avid recreational female athletes. Dr Carla is also the author of multiple courses including the “Menopause Fitness Specialist” course with MedFit Classroom, and the “Strong” and” Navigate Menopause” courses with Feisty Media.
Dr. Carla has been in the fitness industry her entire life as a recreational athlete and for more than a decade as a fitness professional with credentials as a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer and Certified Nutrition Coach. As a pioneer in Women’s Performance Endocrinology, she specializes in optimizing mental and physical performance in women in high-performance professions and female athletes of all ages.
Dr. Carla has a blog through Substack called “Athletic Aging”. https://www.athleticaging.blog/ and her second publication “Performance Edge” https://www.performanceedge.blog/ launched in February 2023
Follow Dr. Carla
Website: https://www.drcarlad.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carla.digirolamo.14
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_carla_d/
Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carla-digirolamo-0109b8103/
Sponsor Shoutout
This episode was brought to you by Miles to Go Athletics. Take our app-based training community for a two-week no obligation test drive here.
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