263 Why Your Scale Lies - The Truth About Body Fat, Wearables and Aging with Cheryl McColgan
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
Release Date: 04/13/2026
280 What Traditional Chinese Medicine Can Teach Us About Healthspan Extension and Aging Youthfully with Dr. Mao Shing Ni DACM, LAc, PhD
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
What if the path to healthy longevity lies not in choosing between ancient healing traditions and modern science, but in learning how to integrate both? In this episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with Dr. Mao Shing Ni—38th-generation doctor of Chinese medicine, co-founder of Tao of Wellness, and author of Secrets of Longevity—about how Traditional Chinese Medicine can complement modern approaches to healthspan optimization. Dr. Mao explains the foundational principles of Chinese medicine, including balance, the five elemental systems, and the links between organ function,...
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279 The Aging Immune System: Vaccines, Healthy Longevity and What We Can Learn from Covid with Michael T. Myers JR MD
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
How does our immune system change as we age, and what role can vaccines play in supporting healthy longevity? In this informative episode of Growing Older Living Younger, Dr. Gillian Lockitch welcomes physician, healthcare executive, and medical writer Dr. Michael Myers for a thoughtful, evidence-based discussion about immunosenescence—the age-related decline of immune function—and its implications for healthy aging. Together they explore how vaccines work, why vaccine recommendations evolve throughout life, and the importance of understanding both the science and the uncertainties...
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278 The Muscle-Longevity Connection: Strength Training Supports Metabolism, Bones, and Healthy Longevity with Jeanne Phares
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
What role does muscle strength play in healthy aging, longevity, and independence? In this episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with Jeanne Phares about why maintaining and building muscle becomes increasingly important for women during and after menopause. Drawing on her personal experience as a leukemia survivor and decades of strength training, Jeanne explains the connections between muscle mass, metabolism, bone health, resilience, and recovery. Listeners will learn practical strategies for strength training, nutrition, and lifestyle habits that support vitality...
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FB 109 Anne Mullens: Fueling with Fat: Demystifying the Ketogenic Lifestyle
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
THIS FLASHBACK FRIDAY EPISODE OF GROWING OLDER LIVING YOUNGER focuses on the impact of low carbohydrate and ketogenic nutrition on health and aging well. Today’s Featured Expert is Anne Mullens, an award winning Canadian journalist and author specializing in Health and Science Writing, At a time when the twin hazards of diabetes and obesity are so prevalent in our society that we say that there is a diabesity epidemic, we are bombarded with discordant messages about what, when, and how to eat, to stay healthy and age gracefully. A goal of this podcast is to cut through the noise and provide...
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277 Chronic Pain, Mobility and Healthy Aging: The Muscle-Longevity Connection with Stacey Roberts
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
Is chronic pain really an inevitable part of aging—or could it be a warning sign that deeper imbalances are affecting your healthspan, mobility, and quality of life? In this episode of Growing Older Living Younger, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with physical therapist, registered nurse, educator, and functional wellness expert,Stacey Roberts, about the root causes of chronic pain and why conventional treatments often focus on symptom relief instead of true healing. Stacey explains how chronic inflammation, food sensitivities, hormone imbalance, gut health issues, biomechanics, and lifestyle...
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Flashback Friday 005 Susan Bock Smith and Judy Bjornson: Becoming Fall-Proof
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
“You got to just move. It doesn’t matter how efficient your movements are, what matters is that you are moving.” - Susan Bock Smith
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276 Why You Never Get Over Grief -and Why That's Good with Thomas Attig
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
Grief is not a problem to be solved or something we simply “get over.” In this profound conversation, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with philosopher and grief expert Thomas Attig about mourning as a lifelong process of relearning how to live in a world forever changed by loss. Drawing on decades of scholarship and personal insight, Thomas explains how grief can deepen our love, strengthen resilience, and help us find wisdom and meaning in life’s most difficult transitions. This episode offers compassionate guidance for anyone grieving a loved one or supporting someone through loss. Thomas...
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FB 026 Brian Morgan: Think Deeply, Speak Clearly, Bridge the Divide
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
I talk with Brian Morgan. President of Think Deeply, Write Clearly about bridging the many divides that are polarizing our society, through creative thought and communication.
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275 Reverse Diabetes and Restore Vitality Through Functional Nutrition with Lori Balue
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
What if fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, and declining strength after 50 are not inevitable signs of aging, but signals of underlying metabolic dysfunction that can be corrected? In episode 275, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with metabolic restoration practitioner, Lori Balue, about how women can restore energy, reduce inflammation, preserve muscle, and regain metabolic resilience through personalized nutrition and functional testing. Lori shares her remarkable journey of losing 100 pounds, reversing prediabetes and chronic inflammation, and transforming her health in midlife. Listeners will...
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FB 118 Dr. Douglas Scharre: Alzheimer's ? or Simply Aging ?
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
THIS FLASHBACK FRIDAY EPISODE OF GROWING OLDER LIVING YOUNGER focuses on the effect of aging on brain functions, affecting many attributes of cognition, like memory and processing speed; and on the importance of recognizing the early warning signs of dementia for early treatment. Today’s guest is neuropsychiatrist and creator of the SAGE test, Dr. Douglas Scharre. Dr. Scharre is board certified in neurology, behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry with special interests in cognitive assessment, degenerative dementias and dementia-related behaviors. He joined The Ohio...
info_outlineHave you ever stepped on a scale and questioned whether the numbers truly reflect what is happening inside your body? In this episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with nutrition expert Cheryl McColgan to unpack the confusion around body composition data, wearable devices, and the science behind tracking your health as you age. Together, they explore how to interpret trends rather than obsess over absolute numbers, and how lifestyle habits like sleep, stress management, and nutrition influence the data we see. This conversation empowers listeners to use technology wisely while focusing on the foundational habits that support vibrant, healthy aging.
Cheryl McColgan is an author, coach, and the founder of Heal Nourish Grow, a wellness platform focused on nutrition, metabolic health, and sustainable lifestyle practices. With over 25 years of experience in psychology, addiction studies, fitness, yoga, and nutrition, Cheryl brings a multidisciplinary approach to health optimization. She is also the host of the Heal Nourish Grow podcast and has authored multiple books on keto nutrition and fat loss. At age 52, she became a competitive bodybuilder, demonstrating her commitment to strength, longevity, and aging powerfully.
Episode Timeline:
00:00 – Welcome and introduction
00:30 – A personal story of unexplained weight gain
Dr. Gillian shares her experience with atrial fibrillation, weight gain, and confusion over body composition data
06:35 – Cheryl’s journey into health, nutrition, and bodybuilding
From early exposure to fitness to becoming a competitor in her 50s
10:48 – Can we trust wearable and scale data?
Why body composition devices vary and how to approach their accuracy
12:27 – The problem with body fat readings
Why scales may underestimate fat and how algorithms affect results
16:08 – Hydration, inflammation, and measurement variability
How fluid shifts, illness, and exercise impact bioimpedance readings
18:46 – Daily vs weekly tracking
Why trends over time matter more than isolated measurements
21:38 – How wearables measure stress, sleep, and recovery
Understanding HRV, skin signals, and algorithm-driven insights
24:16 – Are we becoming obsessed with health data?
Balancing measurement with mindset and wellbeing
29:04 – The most important habits for healthy aging
Sleep, stress management, and aligning exercise with life demands
31:32 – Rethinking productivity and rest
The importance of giving yourself permission to recover
33:18 – Keto, metabolic health, and personalized nutrition
Cheryl’s journey from vegetarian to keto and evolving dietary flexibility
36:58 – Final reflections and practical takeaways
Using tools wisely while focusing on foundational health behaviors
Call to Action:
Find "Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and the Art of Retiring Comfortably" at www.gillianlockitch.com (N.America only)
Subscribe to Growing Older Living Younger on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5 star review to help others discover the show.
Connect with Dr. Gillian Lockitch at https://www.askdrgill.com/ or email: askdrgill@gmail.com to book a one-on-one call.
Learn more about Cheryl's work at https://healnourishgrow.com
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