Libsyn Directory

Aging with Power, (Without an Outage) with Vonda Wright

Release Date: 08/26/2025

80 Lb Perimenopausal Weight Loss After Corporate Burnout

The Flipping 50 Show

Perimenopausal weight loss may seem daunting to some. We hear so much more about perimenopausal weight gain and weight loss resistance. If you’ve learned diets don’t work the hard way, you’ll identify with my guest. What you may not realize is why the diet isn’t working. A whole food, healthy diet will often work for most. But it won’t work if that isn’t the problem. My guest in this episode overcame a stressful corporate existence, and thanks in part to the pandemic, was able to leave that and 80 lbs behind. Here is how she achieved her 80lb perimenopausal weight loss in...

Muscle Mass and Strength Gains After Menopause How Much How Fast?

The Flipping 50 Show

If you’ve ever doubted your ability to make muscle mass and strength gains after menopause, this episode is for you. It’s not too late to gain strength and lean muscle mass can be gained at any age—even after 85. Based on a 2024 Study on Resistance Training in Older Adults by Int. Journal of Sports Nutrition & Exercise Metabolism, here’s what happened and the results: Participants: 17 adults aged 65–75. 12 adults aged 85+. Program: Duration: 12 weeks, 3x per week Structure: Warm-up 4 lower body sets 3 upper body exercises (2 sets each) Stretching ...

Aging with Power, (Without an Outage) with Vonda Wright

The Flipping 50 Show

We dive into the true science and strategy behind aging with power. We’re busting myths about menopause, metabolism, and muscle, bone and talking strategy for women over 40 who want strength without burnout. Know how to prevent the physical “outages” that so often follow menopause, injury, or hormonal upheaval. Reclaim control without burning out!! If you’re ready to redefine what aging looks and feels like, this conversation is your roadmap to aging with power—and joy. My Guest: Dr. Vonda Wright is a double-board certified orthopedic surgeon and...

Acute vs Chronic Stress Effects on Cortisol in Menopause and Beyond

The Flipping 50 Show

There is no escaping stress but cortisol in menopause changes. With that, your stress response to nearly everything may change. You don’t feel it at first but then there’s unexplained weight gain or belly fat. There’s less focus or concentration than you used to have. It shows up in different ways for each of us. My Guest: Sara Banta is a Certified Dietary Supplement Professional and member of the National Association of Nutrition Professionals, helping people take their health into their own hands using cutting-edge natural supplements, DNA-driven nutrition, and real...

The New Menopause Therapy: Confessions of a Femme Fatale

The Flipping 50 Show

This new menopause therapy is like stand-up comedy for hot flashes. My guest in this episode uses humor and truth to bridge the gap between women’s health then, now and the future. Her message is for all women on how to address the gaps in awareness about menopause. If you’re a health and wellness pro you’ll want to listen to this, the new menopause therapy. My Guest: Satori Shakoor is a dynamic storyteller, performer, and social entrepreneur, known for founding the award-winning The Secret Society of Twisted Storytellers®. Her career began as a background singer with...

Running vs Walking for Fast Fat Loss in Menopause

The Flipping 50 Show

Fast fat loss in menopause is not really the goal. Let’s be realistic and say this right out of the gate. Fast fat loss is a myth. You may, however, drop inflammation fairly quickly with the right type of exercise. Part 1: The Fat Burning Fundamentals Let's start with the basics. When we talk about fat burning during exercise, we need to understand two key concepts: Percentage of Fat Used for Fuel Total Calories Burned Here's something surprising: At rest, we burn about 85% fat for fuel. Your body is already a fat-burning machine when you're sitting on the...

Take Up Space: A Perimenopause Body Builder on Her Strength Journey

The Flipping 50 Show

A Perimenopause bodybuilder shares her story on how to take up space and the history of women being strong before skinny. Book author, Anne Marie Chaker, will surprise you about women’s empowerment and when skinny reared its ugly head. Stay ‘til the end and listen to a very subtle challenge we’ll give you about messages to women. Strong does things Skinny Never Even Dreams About. - Debra Atkinson My Guest: Anne Marie Chaker is a veteran journalist and professional bodybuilder. During her career at The Wall Street Journal, from the Journal’s regional editions...

Retired Lawyer Shares How to Advocate for Yourself & Loved Ones

The Flipping 50 Show

From homes to health care, you and I need to advocate for yourself. You have choices and you have power. You can take action and you do have choices. My Guest: Karen Mulroy is an attorney who retired at age 62 without regret to spend quality time with her parents until their death at the ages of 97 and 98. They passed away within 4 months of each other, followed by the death of her former husband, with whom she maintained a close relationship. She has navigated the challenges, rewards and emotional aftermath of caring for loved ones through their final moments. Questions We...

How Mold Toxicity Affects Hormonal Balance During Menopause And Effective Detox Strategies

The Flipping 50 Show

Exposure to mold toxicity affects hormonal balance. You may not have been exposed to mold or you may not know that you’ve been exposed to mold. That mold doesn’t always look like asthma or you getting sick, but it may look like a simple symptom that might be mistaken for menopause. Stay tuned to this episode and learn what mold exposure can do, what it might feel like and why you might simply mistaken your menopause symptoms when they could be so much more! My Guest: Dr. Jaban Moore is a Doctor of Chiropractic located in Kansas City who works virtually with clients through functional...

What Is Sarcopenia and How to Avoid Sarcopenia In Menopause

The Flipping 50 Show

What is sarcopenia and why is this such an important topic for every woman over 40? That is the topic of conversation today. What is Sarcopoenia? Sarcopenia is to muscle what osteoporosis is to bone. Significant loss of skeletal muscle mass and or muscle strength. Sarcopenia is tied to anabolic resistance in midlife women, making it harder to gain lean muscle growth or maintenance after 40. Older adults - both men and women - have to work harder to gain lean muscle mass. Women have less overall body mass and muscle to begin with and more dramatic reductions in...

More Episodes

We dive into the true science and strategy behind aging with power.

We’re busting myths about menopause, metabolism, and muscle, bone and talking strategy for women over 40 who want strength without burnout.

Know how to prevent the physical “outages” that so often follow menopause, injury, or hormonal upheaval.

Reclaim control without burning out!!

If you’re ready to redefine what aging looks and feels like, this conversation is your roadmap to aging with power—and joy.

My Guest:

Dr. Vonda Wright is a double-board certified orthopedic surgeon and internationally recognized authority on human performance, longevity, and women's health. The founding director of the Performance and Research Initiative for Masters Athletes (PRIMA), she has served as a physician for athletes at the University of Pittsburgh, Georgia State, the Pittsburgh and Atlanta Ballet, World Rugby, and the PGA. A highly sought after media expert, she has been featured on the Diary of a CEO, Jay Shetty, and Mel Robbins podcasts as well as the Today show, the Dr. Oz show, and in top publications including The New York Times, USA Today, and the Observer. She has authored five books, including Fitness After 40 and Guide to THRIVE. She lives with her husband, a retired two-time Stanley Cup champion, near Orlando, Florida.

Questions We Answer About Aging with Power:

[00:06:24] How did your personal menopause experience shape your clinical and personal mission?
[00:10:12] Most women listening are hard-driving, get-it-done, but wonder, WTH happened here. Was it like that for you?
[00:16:34] What do you see for the future of medicine and fitness co-existing with diseases not only osteoporosis and sarcopenia but cancer, heart disease, diabetes, etc.?
[00:22:53] Why are there doctors telling women they can’t gain bone density after 30. What are the science-backed exercise strategies for aging with power, compared to online misinformation and was recommended in the 90s?
[00:24:36] How much of your work is dedicated to educating physicians about updated science?
[00:26:25] What are your thoughts on HRT for muscle and bone density?
[00:32:47] How can we help under-muscled, under-nourished women ditch diet culture, reclaim their strength, and find joy in movement again for aging with power?
[00:35:59] What advice do you have for women when they feel like they’re “doing everything right” but their bodies aren’t responding—and how can they start to feel in control again?
[00:36:26] Instead of losing 3-8% of muscle a decade after 30, how can women flip the script?

Vision for Longevity – Medicine And Fitness Co-Existing

Prevention to become the primary model of healthcare, with disease care as the fallback.
Insurance-based care to cover preventing illness.
Make fitness and nutrition prescriptions a standard practice.

Reversing Pre-Diabetes

96M Americans have pre-diabetes—most are told “watch what you eat”
Building muscle, walking daily, and avoiding poor food choices can reverse it quickly.
Diabetes increases Alzheimer’s risk; lack of estrogen makes it worse.

Aging with Power Through Menopause – From Exhausted to Empowered

Progress does not happen overnight.
You can build muscle at every age.

Reclaim Your Strength

Start with walking, if you're starting from zero.
Use body weight.
Lift heavy or HIIT.
Recovery through sleep and nutrition.

Connect with Dr. Vonda:

Other Episodes You Might Like:

Previous Episode - Acute vs Chronic Stress Effects on Cortisol in Menopause and Beyond
Next Episode - Muscle Mass and Strength Gains After Menopause How Much How Fast?
More Like This - Smart Movement for Aging Better with Lara Heimann

Resources:

Join the Hot, Not Bothered! Challenge to learn why timing matters and why what works for others is not working for you.
Don’t know where to start? Book your Discovery Call with Debra. Leave this session with insight into exactly what to do right now to make small changes, smart decisions about your exercise time and energy.

TOPICS