Great conversation with Dr. Woods about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, the effects of menopause on weight loss and her advice for women 50 and over. A functional medicine doctor, Dr. Makaila Woods has Double Board Certification with the American Board of Obesity Medicine, and the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

We discuss:

• why she decided to get into both functional medicine and weight loss from gynecolocy and obstetrics.
• when to consider bioidentical hormone replacement therapy
• the relationship of replacement hormones and cancer
• How to find a functional medicine doctor and how they are different than other types of doctors
• how she helps her clients lose weight

for more information and the links we discuss, go to our website show notes page at https://becomingelli.com

160 - Elite Athlete Bree Lambert

Bree Lambert is a personal trainer, running coach, nutritionist and ultra runner. She has been pursuing endurance sports since her teenage years, starting with road triathlon, Xterra off-road triathlon and now ultra running.

Bree completed her first 50K in 2005 and since then has completed distances from 50k to 100 miles. Each finish represents hundreds of hours of training, dedication and mental preparation.

Bree coaches other runners to achieve their goals while providing personal training services to both runners and non-runners alike in San Jose, California and online.

She believes in a healthy lifestyle and thinks that no matter where your health is now, you can make an improvement.

For more information and links, visit our website at BecomingElli.com.

Episode #151 Get More Fit with Kathy Murray

Kathy Murray is a certified personal trainer with over thirty years’ experience in the fitness industry.

She is a graduate of The Ohio State University where she was a member of the 1983 National Cheerleading Championship Team. After college she competed in and won the United States Aerobic Championship in 1986 and spent the year traveling the world as a Fitness Ambassador.

Kathy worked as a free-lance educator to teach fitness to European Instructors. While in Munich, she coached the Munich Cowboys (American Football) Cheerleaders to six national titles in cheerleading and was head trainer/translator for the German Gladiators during a pilot TV show for the International Gladiators. I was in Germany where she started Fit Bodies

Always an avid cyclist, Kathy dipped her toe into the world of multi-sport in 2000, first competing in duathlons then eventually moving to triathlons. Kathy has owned her personal training business Fit Bodies for 25 years and in 2022 co-authored the Audible book, The Munich Cowboy Cheerleaders based on her time coaching the squad.

She lives in Atlanta with her husband Lutalo, dog Mingus and cat Sassy.

We discussed:

• Coaching teens in Germany for the Munich Cowboys Cheerleaders
• Preparing for a hip replacement and setting goals
• Her active online fitness coaching at Fit Bodies
• How she helps her clients get more fit at any age

Learn more at our website: Becoming Elli

In episode 150, Jill McCauslin and Chris Brown interview Chris Freytag, the founder of Get Healthy U and Get Healthy U TV.

Chris Freytag has been teaching, training, writing books, creating DVD’s, and speaking on the subject of health and fitness for the last 30 years.

Get Healthy U TV is a streaming website with workouts for midlife women. They have over 700 workouts for all levels and ages. You can access the workouts on your computer, smart phone, Roku, Fire TV and the Get Healthy U app.

Get Healthy U is the sister fitness hub that educates and inspires women to make healthy lifestyle choices as they age. Get Healthy U provides trustworthy information about health, fitness, wellbeing, nutrition, and recipes.

Get Healthy U TV and Get Healthy U reach over 1 million women a month through their website, newsletters, social media and workouts.

Chris lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her husband where they raised their three now-grown kids.

More info at our website: BecomingElli.com

In episode 149, Jill and Chris talk with Emily and Mitchell Clionsky, the authors of Dementia Prevention: Using Your Head to Save Your Brain. Their book is the culmination of 45 years of extensive clinical evaluation and treatment. 

A husband-and-wife team, they have a combined 70 years of professional and clinical experience in medicine and neuropsychology and have treated 20,000 patients.

Emily Clionsky, MD, completed residencies in internal medicine and in psychiatry, and is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. 

Mitchell Clionsky, PhD, is a board-certified neuropsychologist who specializes in evaluating and treating patients with cognitive impairment, dementia, ADHD, and traumatic brain injury. 

They partner at a private practice, Clionsky Neuro Systems, Inc., based in Springfield, Massachusetts. 

See more information at our website: BecomingElli.com

Amy Wilson is a Board-Certified Geriatric Pharmacist, a certified fitness professional, and a certified nutrition coach. She helps people prevent and reverse diseases with nutrition and fitness. 

Amy believes diet and exercise can change a person’s life, and how the right nutritional program can be the key to improving health and fitness. She has seen her clients reverse their pre-diabetes, diabetes, high cholesterol, and more. 

Amy uses a holistic approach to health to help her clients feel in control of their bodies and minds, while no longer feeling enslaved by their scale.

For more information see our website: Becoming Elli.

Kim Rahir is a 60-year-old mother of three who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) 10 years ago. She decided to ignore her then doctor's advice... muscle her way back to a happy life...  and in 2023, become the European Champion in Masters Weightlifting in her age and weight category.

Her journey inspired her to leave her career in journalism in her 50s and become a health coach for middle aged women - with a big focus on reactivating and rebuilding muscle.

Today, Kim helps women tap into an abundant source of vitality by reactivating and maintaining their muscles, while ditching diet culture conditioning to actually eat to nourish and flourish.

For details see our website: Becoming Elli.

In episode 146, Jill and Chris talk with Heike Yates, a Midlife Mindset and Fitness Coach, a powerhouse in fitness, nutrition, and mindset with over 35 years of expertise. She breaks down the complexities of midlife wellness into simple, actionable steps you can start taking action today. But don’t mistake her for someone helping you get by in midlife—Heike’s all about helping you thrive.

She’s transforming not just bodies but lives with her unique approach to getting active, eating right, and boosting energy. When she’s not coaching or behind the mic, catch her outdoors, pushing her limits as a triathlete or embarking on a new adventure.

Heike's podcast, Pursue Your Spark, has over 200 episodes and is a wealth of resources and inspiration for mid-life women. Heike also has two other podcasts, one about intermittent fasting and one about Pilates.

We interviewed Heike in November of 2020 episode #71 and reconnected with her in August of 2023 at a podcast conference in Boulder Colorado. we knew we had to ask Heike to return to the podcast.

For more information and links, visit our website at BecomingElli,com.

In episode 145, the hosts of Fit Strong Women Over 50 podcast talk about the lessons they've learned for healthy living over the past six years. Chris and Jill also launch the 2024 Eating the Rainbow Challenge, while reflecting on 2023 and look forward to 2024.

In this episode we discuss:

• Setting goals, milestones, changing focus, having a theme for the year, three words
• Highlights from 2023 episodes and some of the things that the guests said that really resonated with us.
• Six lessons learned during the 6 years of developing our Becoming Elli website, Facebook Group and Fit Strong Women Over 50 podcast
• Our 2024 challenge: Eating the Rainbow. What it is and tracking your results
• What we like to throw together for dinner when running short of time.

Go to our website BecomingElli.com for links discussed in this episode.

In episode 144, Jill and Chris talk with Wendy Battles,the host of the Reinvention Rebels podcast.

Wendy interviews women between the ages of 50-90, who have reinvented themselves later in life. From traveling solo around the world with a carry-on bag at 60, to running in global marathons at 71, to launching a modeling career at 72, these women are boldly making their dreams a priority and reality.

During the day, Wendy is a Cybersecurity Awareness expert at Yale University and by night she pursues her passion for celebrating, illuminating and elevating midlife and older women.  At 58, Wendy is a Reinvention Rebel herself, having reinvented herself many times during her life including as a management consultant, voice actor, and health coach. Her most recent reinvention as a podcast host is by far her most rewarding.

More information and links at our website: BecomingElli.com

In episode 142, Jill and Chris talk with Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN. She is an award-winning Registered Dietitian and Sports Nutritionist and the co-founder of MIJA Naturals, a green beauty wellness company,  As a Registered Dietitian and Food & Nutrition Expert, Sarah understands the power that food has on our bodies. She knows that consuming the right foods can enhance one’s beauty, nourish one’s soul, and restore one’s health.

She works in the San Francisco Bay Area of California with technology firm CEOs, executives, and employees, Bay Area families, as well as professional, elite, and collegiate athletes. She also has nationwide and international clientele.

More information at our website: https://www.becomingelli.com

In episode 159 of the Fit Strong Women Over 50 Podcast, Jill and Chris talk with Alicia Jones who helps transform the health and the lives of women over 40 through her fitness and weight loss strategies. 

She has a B.A in Kinesiology and has many certifications, including National Coach of Canada (NCCP), Advanced Sport Nutrition, Certified Group Fitness Instructor, and Personal Training Specialist: Canfit-pro.

Alicia has appeared on various health and wellness television programs and produced and hosted Health Matters and The View: Health and Wellness On Rogers TV.

For more information and links, visit our website at www.BecomingElli.com.

In episode 141, Jill and Chris talk with Jeanette Evans, a long-time friend of Jill's who has developed a wonderful anti-cancer lifestyle.

Jill first met Jeanette many years ago when they were both working as technical writers and belonged to a professional organization together. Jeanette is a writer and editor and is involved in all kinds of communications. They have kept in touch over the years and started to meet for lunch recently. We believe that Jeanette’s story and way of life might be of interest to everyone.

Jeanette Evans has had three cancer surgeries with the first being in 2003 and a diagnosis of presumed triple negative breast cancer.

She has tried to educate herself on staying healthy with an anti-cancer lifestyle and diet which she finds to be delicious too.

We discuss:

• Her anti-cancer lifestyle
• Which authors that she follows and why
• What she eats on a regular basis
• What food she avoids
• How she gets variety into her diet
• Her views on supplements
• How this anti-cancer lifestyle has improved her health
• Ways this type of eating has protected her from other problems like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
• Views on organic vs non-organic
• How she exercises throughout the week
• Ways she manages stress in her life

Links and more information at our website: BecomingElli.com

In episode 140 Jill and Chris talk with Elizabeth Emery. She is a former professional cyclist, US National Champion, and Pan Am Games gold medalist who raced in the women’s Tour de France for many years when it was called The Grand Boucle. She won the US Time Trial National Championship, a gold medal in the Pan American Games, the Pan American Championships, and the Tour of Japan.

Elizabeth is the host of the podcast Hear Her Sports where female athletes share stories of the amazing things they’re doing.

We discuss:

• Her experiences as a professional athlete and racing in The Tour de France
• Her motivation to keep training
• Why she started her podcast Hear Her Sports
• What she has learned about ways the female athletes train and eat
• Lessons we can learn from professional women athletes

For more information visit our website: BecomingElli.com

In episode 139 Jill and Chris interview podcast host Wendy Green who helps people to feel more purposeful and engaged with life. She helps them increase their confidence to re-Imagine their next chapter, helping them understand that they still have a lot left to give and that they can have a positive impact on their lives and their community.

Wendy Green is the host of the live show & podcast. “Hey, Boomer!”  Her goal is to serve an inspirational role for people 55 to 75, who are looking for ways to live meaningful, fulfilling lives. Wendy wants to help people see that they are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream.

We met Wendy Green in Denver when we were at Podcast Movement, the conference for podcasters. We hit it off right away. We were women of a certain age who host podcasts and discovered we have a lot in common. We realized very quickly that Wendy should be a guest on our podcast. She lives in Greenville, SC. She has two children and four grandchildren.

More info: see our website at BecomingElli.com

In episode 138, Jill and Chris speak with Susan Salenger, an author who has found effective ways of dealing with frustrations with the healthcare system and better ways to ask your doctor questions, resulting in more complete answers.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Susan attended UCLA to study English. After graduation, she worked alongside her husband Fred for 25 years at their production company, Salenger Films, which produced corporate training and development films distributed worldwide.

She is the author of Sidelined: How Women Can Navigate a Broken Healthcare System. Today, at age 80, when Susan is not speaking about her book or spending time with family and friends, you will find Susan power lifting to stay in shape.

We discuss:

• How women are often treated differently than men by doctors and medical experts
• Why getting a second opinion is so important and how to do get a second opinion
• How to ask questions at your doctor appointment to get more complete answers
• Differences between nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and medical doctors
• Why blaming ourselves for an illness can prevent us from getting the care we need
• Autoimmune diseases and why their is so much difficulty in diagnosing them

More at our website: BecomingElli.com

In episode 137, Jill and Chris talk with Dr. Danielle Peebles, an author and Chiropractic physician.

She founded Pro Health Family Chiropractic, in 2007 and has worked with thousands of people, helping them regain mobility, strength and overall well-being.

Dr. Peebles specializes in working with athletes who are suffering from injuries. She recognized that chiropractic care is often overlooked in the pre-surgery and rehabilitation process, but it can aid in a quicker recovery.

Many athletes have taken longer than necessary to return to their sports because they are missing this critical element of the recovery process. Dr. Peebles has worked with professional basketball players, football players and Olympic athletes.

She is the author of “Sex Sent Me To The Chiropractor”, which uses humor to teach the benefits of chiropractic care. She also serves the community through organizations such as Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and the YMCA O’Fallon Park, where she is a board member.

For more information, see our website at BecomingElli.com

In episode 136, Jill and Chris talk with Fluid Running founder, Jennifer Conroyd.

She is the world’s leading expert on aqua jogging/deep water running and is the epitome of a Fit Strong Woman Over 50. Jennifer is A.C.E. certified, AEA certified and has an Exercise Is Medicine credential from ACSM. She is also a 16-time Boston Marathon qualifier and an Ironman finisher. 

Jennifer founded Fluid Running on the belief that even though injury and pain can sideline even the most fit and strong women, there is a way to keep active and stay healthy -- both mentally and physically -- while our body heals. She learned how to do it through deep water running and is now teaching thousands of others around the world the secret to her success.

We discuss: 

• How fluid running helped her maintain her marathon training
• After injury (and qualify for Boston!)
• What fluid running is and what it isn’t
• Why it is different from aqua jogging
• How to interpret heart rate while in the water
• Weight loss benefits of fluid running
• Equipment needed for fluid running
• How fluid running fits in with cross training and endurance sports

More information at our website Becoming Elli.

In episode 135, Jill and Chris speak about using spices and greens for a healthy weight with Joanna Wen. 

Joanna Wen is a weight loss coach who helps her clients lose weight in a healthy and sustainable way. Her unique approach helps her clients love their food and lose weight without deprivation.

She also helps her clients get to the true root cause of their overeating and remove those blocks so that they keep the weight off once and for all., Joanna specializes in online nutrition and weight loss coaching through her website, Spices & Greens.

Joanna has studied and experimented extensively with the healing powers of food to de-stress, gain energy, and lose weight.  When she contacted us, she said that she enjoys learning about nutrition for longevity because she is approaching her 50th birthday.  

For more information visit our website at BecomingElli,com.

#134 Fit, Fierce, & Fabulous with Karín FeltmanKarínK
In episode 134, Jill and Chris talk with Karín Feltman, a registered nurse and the author of Fit, Fierce, and Fabulous Over 50! Her first book was Plant-based Basics. Her work focuses on holistic health for women over 50, with a particular focus on intermittent fasting and healing through nutrition.

She is a full-time cross-cultural worker in Nepal. She doesn’t always have access to the Internet so we’ve been waiting for a chance to talk with her. She graciously made time for us when she was available, technology-wise.

Karín was a hospital nurse for 23 years, before beginning work in relief provision and mission trips. She now works on empowerment projects for vulnerable girls and women in Nepal and uses her writing to help fund greater opportunities for the communities she works with.

She completed the VegHealth Nutrition Mastery Course with the VegHealth Institute, and continues her research on holistic health and healing.

Karín is a self-confessed foodie and loves discovering delicious new plant-based recipes, picking up fresh ideas from every new culture she visits.

More information: Becoming Elli website

arín

https://becomingelli.com/natural-remedies-for-vibrant-health-with-shivani-gupta/Jill and Chris speak with Dr. Shivani Gupta, who has practiced Ayurvedic medicine for over 20 years and is an expert in fusing Eastern and Western practices to help our bodies achieve equilibrium. She has both a Masters and Ph.D. in Ayurvedic studies.

When opioids, muscle relaxers, and injections only worsened a sports injury, Shivani decided to rebuild her body naturally. She created her own line of natural ayurvedic supplements when she failed to find an effective natural product on the market. She applied this approach to healing a leaky gut and an autoimmune condition as well.

Dr. Shivani works with physicians including orthopedic and spine surgeons, rheumatologists, and functional medicine doctors to help patients from CrossFit athletes to Baby Boomers reduce chronic pain, and acute and low-grade inflammation, prevent surgery and optimize their health.

She is the CEO and founder of Fusionary Formulas, an Ayurvedic supplement company. She is also the host of the Fusionary Health Podcast.

We discussed:

• What is Ayurveda
• How she improved her sports injury
• Why she developed her line of supplements
• Causes of inflammation and how to prevent it
• Benefits of turmeric
• Improving uterine health and leaky gut syndrome
• Self care for diabetes
• Her podcast called Fusionary Health Podcast

Links and more at our website: Becoming Elli

In episode 132 of the Fit Strong Women Over 50, Jill and Chris talk with 71 year old American Ninja Warrior Ginny MacColl.

Ginny is an actress, dancer, and competitive athlete in both Ninja and swimming. She began her career in NYC as a dancer in the hit Broadway show, Pippin, in 1973; then transitioned into the commercial world and did over 100 national and regional commercials throughout the 70s and 80s.

After a 20-year hiatus to raise her family, Ginny rekindled her acting career recently in Southport, NC in commercials, and film, and began strength training for American Ninja Warrior where she competed Season 9, 10, and most recently Season 15 airing this June (2023).

At 63 years old, she did her very first pull up, inspired by her daughter, Jessie Graff, who has gone farther than any female on American Ninja Warrior. At 71 years old, Ginny continues to compete regionally in ninja competitions and local, state and national swim meets.

You may have seen Ginny featured in the December 2019 issue of AARP. She also appeared as Evelyn, one of Diane Keaton's 8 cheerleaders in the movie POMS; Dorothy in USS Christmas on Hallmark’s Movie and Mysteries channel, Agnes Miller in STARS FELL ON ALABAMA and Beverly in AND JUST LIKE THAT!

Links and more info at our website: BecomingElli.com

In Food Finds with Chris and Jill, they discuss various websites and ideas for food challenges. They talk about what they love to eat in the summer and where they get inspiration. 

For links and more info visit the Becoming Elli website.

In episode 131, Jill and Chris talk with Joanna Bowen, Certified Nutritional Practitioner. She is the founder of the Younger With Food community and creator of The AGEless Method, a program that empowers women to rewind their cellular aging clock by using diet and lifestyle habits so they can reclaim the resilient body, healthy brain, glowing skin, and youthful energy of their prime. 

A graduate of the University of Waterloo, The Institute of Holistic Nutrition and the Functional Nutritional Alliance, Joanna has pursued additional training in culinary genomics, and is a licensed Facelift Diet Coach through the Academy of Beauty Nutrition. 

Author of 3 Genius Hacks to Unlock Inner Youth Without Botox, Fillers or Cosmetic Surgery, Joanna takes an inside-out approach to aging youthfully through the emerging science of epigenetics and “nutrigenomics”.

We discuss:

• Testing for epigenetics and nutrigenomics
• Telemeres
• Finding the best foods for our genetic background
• Supplements 
• Exercise
• Comparing cellular age to actual chronological age
• Improving skin issues
• The AGEless Method

For more info, see our website https://BecomingElli.com

One of our Becoming Elli private Facebook group members, Diane Allen, has been following a program for two years called Original Strength, that she says is making a huge difference to women over 50. She introduced us to Dani Almeyda who owns a local gym and a national certified program.

Dani Almeyda has worked in the health and fitness industry for the last 12 years. Throughout her whole life, health and wellness have had a major influence on her life. Whether it was from her experience as collegiate athlete, as a Director of Campus Recreation, or as a Fitness Professional, her experiences and formal education have provided her with a unique perspective and skillset.

Dani is a co-owner of OS Institute in North Carolina and OSi Online, and has a master’s degree in Exercise Science. She brings an abundance of energy, passion, and an incredible drive to help the world regain its Original Strength.

“You were not meant to be broken. You were intended to be strong, healthy and resilient. You can regain the strength you were supposed to have, the strength that you once had.”

We discuss:

• Pressing RESET to regain balance in the nervous system
• Recovering strength after taking time off
• What she means by minimum effective dose
• How to keep a positive mindset for getting back into routines
• How she inspires her clients and athletes
• The philosophy behind the Original Strength program

For more information visit our website:  BecomingElli.com

Jill and Chris first met Laurie LeBlanc when she joined the Becoming Elli Facebook group last year.

She lives in Ontario, Canada and recently retired from a rewarding 35-year career with the Ontario Public Sector. For the last ten years she held various Deputy Minister positions, leading complex departments including the Ministries of Transportation, Training, Colleges and Universities, Municipal Affairs, Housing, and Aboriginal Affairs. She has been the recipient of several awards, including being named one of the top 75 alumni of Carleton University’s school of public policy.

While Laurie enjoyed her career, she is thrilled to now have the chance to enjoy all life has to offer. She has made her own health and wellness her new project. Vowing to be in the best shape of her life when she reaches 60 in two years, she bought a kayak, hiking boots, and a gym membership. She is slowly making progress.

A big part of her journey has been being more deliberate about how and what she eats and is having a great time exploring new cuisines.

For more information, visit our website at Becoming Elli.

In episode 128, Jill and Chris talk with Linda Stephens, a nutrition, health and fitness professional whose primary focus is working with midlife women, over 40/50 and beyond to help them achieve confidence, exude sexiness and feel comfortable in their own skin again.  Her motto is, “midlife should be the bridge to your new life.” 

Linda has developed a comprehensive 6 week program taught virtually to women around the globe called “Midlife Mastery”.  Linda guides women by educating them on how their bodies change in midlife.  Women involved in the program learn cutting edge, science backed data for hormone balance, longevity, mood, libido and weight loss.  

Linda holds her masters degree in nutrition, competed as an IFBB Figure Pro (IFBB stands for International Federation of Bodybuilding ) and is a National Academy of Sports Medicine  NASM certified personal trainer.  Linda writes for Livestrong.com, Darien Magazine, Muscle and Fitness Hers, Oxygen magazine and has contributed to Strong Magazine. She also has her own health and wellness channel on  https://plus.muscleandfitness.com.

Linda is a midlife woman herself, a mom of two children, 18 and 21 years of age.  She currently resides in Fairfield County, Connecticut and has for over 25 years.  

We discuss:

• Bone density, bio identicals and cardio vascular health
• Changing body composition
• Branch chain amino acids
• Strength training and getting back to the gym after a break
• Her 6 week program of Midlife Mastery available on line
• Low inflammatory foods
• Hormones, eating, nutrition, training for women after 50

For more information and links visit our website at BecomingElli.com

In episode 127, Jill and Chris talk with Mary Beth Albright, the author of Eat & Flourish, How Food Supports Emotional Well Being. She is a food expert with broad experience, from food attorney to being a finalist on Food Network Star, where she competed on Iron Chef America. 

Her passion for good food grew from her mentor, Surgeon General C. Everett Koop who she worked with for 15 years. Afterwards, Mary Beth advised on food systems and managed a White House initiative.  She completed L'Academie de Cuisine's two-semester culinary course in Bethesda, MD.

Mary Beth is a writer and editor at the Washington Post. She is also a frequent panel moderator, including for the U.S. State Department and the Smithsonian, and her food-judging expertise is sought regularly, including the time she ate 2,000 foods in three days to judge the Outstanding New Products Awards. She is an elected member of Les Dames d'Escoffier, an esteemed group of women in the culinary professions, which counts Julia Child among its alumnae. 

We discuss:

• How food affects our emotions
• How emotions affects our food choices
• Making better choices when you are under stress or feeling depressed
• Pleasure and eating
• Foods that support emotional well being
• Tips to increase pleasure around eating
• Why eating with others is good for you
• Recipes 

For more information and links, visit our website at BecomingElli.com

In episode 126, Jill and Chris talk with Hope Zvara, a yoga, movement, and lifestyle expert and CEO of Mother Trucker Yoga. She has helped change thousands of lives over the last 20 years using her simple step-by-step strategies and what she calls her "yoga toolbox" encouraging others that they can feel better wherever you are with small simple changes.

She helps truck drivers go from a sedentary lifestyle to feeling good again with small simple changes from the cab of the truck. Although she works with a lot of men, she spent the first 18 years of her career working with women between the ages of 45-65.  And now, even though women only make up 10% of the trucking industry, they are her loyal clients. 

“Showing drivers how they can take care of their bodies, minds, and spirits with small simple changes they can apply to their day every day while living over the road is a huge win for them. With the right tools and strategies, fitness at any age does not have to be complicated. And if women can take their health back from the cab of the truck- then the everyday women can do anything!”

We discuss:

• How she helps people who work in small spaces with limited mobility during working hours.
• Tools she has developed for those with aches and pains
• Advice for traveling: how to stretch before, during and after a long trip
• Tools for women over 50
• Hope's 15 minute wellness method
• How she helped one of her clients who lost over 100 pounds, quit smoking and now cooks healthy meals - in the cab of her semi truck.
• Hope's guide to eleven stretches you need to feel good again
• Stiff Mother Trucker - her special pain relief cream - 100% natural, paraben-free, gluten- free, sulfate-free and artificial dye free

For more information, see our website: BecomingElli.com

In episode 125, Chris and Jill talk with Danielle Omar, an Integrative Culinary Dietitian, lifestyle medicine expert, herbalist, and best-selling author of the Super Green Smoothies cookbook.

A passionate food and nutrition educator, her expert advice has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Buzzfeed.com, Fitness, Shape, and Women’s Health magazine, as well as national television, including The Food Network and NBC Primetime.

Through her group-focused nutrition programs and private coaching practice at foodconfidence.com, Danielle has supported thousands of busy women on their journey to becoming their healthiest self.

Her unique approach blends 20+ years of practice-based evidence with nutrition science, positive psychology, and the power of self-regulation. Danielle believes strongly in the heart-mind connection and our innate ability to create harmony in our mind, our emotions, and our body.

We discuss:

• What is Metabolic Mastery
• Helping people with weight loss
• Advice on meal planning
• How do we figure out what foods to eat
• Getting over perfectionism
• Reducing inflammation from foods
• Gut microbes and prebiotic foods
• How she helps clients to think about food by not demonizing food
• The importance of a variety of foods
• How to change behavior around how and what you eat
• Reducing stress and improving sleep
• How to nourish yourself for a healthy weight
• Her cookbook of Super Green Smoothies
• Her Facebook community group

For links visit our website at BecomingElli.com.

In podcast episode 124, we talked with Champion Race Walker Yolanda Holder. We heard her interviewed on a podcast a few years ago and were so amazed by her that we’ve wanted to have her as a guest on our podcast ever since.

Yolanda Holder, 64 years young, is a professional Ultra Marathon Walker. She’s a 2X Guinness World Record holder for the “Most Marathons Completed in a Calendar Years”, finishing 106 marathons/ultras in 2010 and breaking her own record in 2012 finishing 120 marathons/ultras. In 2019 Yolanda became the oldest person to earn a US Race Walk Centurion #94 by race walking 100 Miles in under 24 hours. (23:52:17).

Yolanda is a World & American 35K Race Walk champion, American 6 Day Race champion (413 miles). She’s also the World Champion Pedestrian of the longest certified footrace in the world, the Sri Chinmoy Self Transcendence 3100 Mile Race, finishing in 51 Days, 17 Hours and 13 Seconds.

Yolanda is a wife, mother of two adult children, a grandmother, an inspirational speaker and author.

We discussed:

• How she got started race walking
• What race walking is
• how does she train
• Her thoughts on recovery
• Dealing with the mental aspects of a marathon and ultra marathons
• Her experiences while breaking World and American Records

For more information visit our website: Becoming Elli

Robin Allen is a nutritionist passionate about helping women over 40 understand the best practices for longevity. She is the founder of Necessary Nutrition, Inc and the creator of the Necessary Nutrition brand of Vitamin D3.

She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Las Vegas, Nevada (1996), and her Master’s from the University of Redlands (2001) and an additional nutrition certification from the Global College of Natural Medicine (2008). 

Robin encourages people to see food and nutrition as the way to fight obesity, illness and disease. She has been featured on CNN Headline News, and countless other media outlets sharing her insight on food, nutrition and life.

We discuss:

• Tips to address health and wellness
• The best things we can do, nutritionally speaking, to support longevity and fight disease.
• How chemicals in food change the biochemistry in our bodies
• How to decide which supplements we should be taking
• Vitamin D and Vitamin K
• The keys to her 10 day shred program 
• About her tower gardens - indoor and outdoor

More info: visit our website Becoming Elli

In episode 122, Jill and Chris talk with Shebah Carfagna, an age-defying health, wellness and fitness professional with more than 27 years of training experience.

Shebah is well known for her commitment to her clients and their lifelong wellness journey.

Shebah has been a loyal fitness devotee for many years as a means to manage life stress and the responsibility of raising a special needs child. Realizing the importance of exercise as medicine for her autistic son and other special needs constituents, Shebah founded Panache Fitness Company in 2005 to offer these groups health and wellness opportunities.

Today, Panache Fitness Company offers traditional fitness services while still serving the needs of clients with specific health conditions and chronic diseases. Shebah encourages clients to think beyond their exercise program and to manage their habits to achieve a more healthy lifestyle and increased longevity. She has enjoyed significant success with her clients in both personal training and group classes.

Shebah holds professional fitness certifications: Spin, Pilates, BOSU, Boot Camp, TRX and Group Fitness and is the founder of the “AGELESS WORKOUT” presented by Panache Fitness Company. She is devoted to helping people achieve harmony between their fitness journey and a sustainable lifestyle.

We discussed:

• What is a Sustainable Lifestyle
• Developing her fitness company and having a flexible schedule
• What she means by the ageless workout method
• Her online classes where wellness through movement is stressed
• The research she is preparing for the next publication of her book in the spring of 2023
• How she works out and what her idea of a great workout is
• Stumbling blocks to managing physical fitness and mental fitness
• How she came back from a total hip replacement in 2018

More info at our website: BecomingElli.com

In episode 157, Jill and Chris talk with Elaine Glass, author, speaker and personal coach.

For over a decade, Elaine has helped countless people unlock their truest selves. She works with them to find purpose, peace, and self-empowerment.

Elaine’s newest book, Get Quiet: 7 Simple Paths to the Truth of Who You Are, is a guide to healing and transforming yourself inspired by the classical form of the labyrinth.

For more information, see our website at BecomingElli.com.

In this episode, Chris and Jill reflect on 2022, books read,inspiring podcast guests interviewed and healthy eating tips mentioned throughout the year.

We discussed a variety of topics including:

Glucose Revolution by Jessie Inchauspe

Our number 2 ranking in the 15 best Women’s Fitness podcasts article.

Food prepping ideas and recipes to get more protein.

Ideas from of the inspiring guests we talked with during 2022.

To get links and find out more, visit our website at Becoming Elli.

Jill and Chris met Brenda Bland in the Becoming Elli Facebook group and knew she should be on the podcast.

Brenda Bland is an endurance athlete who has been running, hiking and biking most of her life. She took up running longer (for fun) in the late 90’s while helping her teenage daughter get more fit and healthy. Running her first ultra in 2003 at age 44, Brenda has run dozens of ultras all over the US, which is one of her favorite types of road tripping.

Brenda considers herself an average runner and has worked hard to build and maintain her health though diet, physical and yogic exercises. During a long journey of varying degrees of joint pain, GI issues as well as Seasonal Affective Disorder, she continues to research better ways of having a longer HealthSpan than is currently thought possible.

As Brenda continues to grow in her 60’s, she plans to keep enjoying the great outdoors as long as possible.

During this podcast we discussed:

• Running the Leadville 100 at the age of 50
• Completing the 80-mile self-supported Tuscobia Winter Ultra sled pull at the age of 62.
• Fat Ass style runs
• solo mountain hiking in Colorado
• How she trains for all these events - exercise and fueling
• Better ways of having a longer health span
• What motivates her

More information at www.becomingelli.com

In episode 119, Jill and Chris speak with Dina Griffin, a Sports Performance Dietitian with a passion for optimizing women's health and providing personalized nutrition to endurance athletes.

Dina Griffin, MS, RDN, CSSD is the owner and founder of The Nutrition Mechanic, a nutrition coaching and resource company based out of Boulder, Colorado.

As a Sport and Performance Dietitian, Dina works with all levels of adult endurance athletes to optimize health, vitality, and performance. She blends science-based and evidence-informed strategies along with “real life” considerations to devise personalized and sustainable nutrition plans.

Dina has a particular passion for working with women’s health, peri- and post-menopause, masters and ultra athletes, and supporting individuals who have a metabolic condition.

Dina is also the co-host of the Inside Sports Nutrition podcast, which covers a wide array of topics on all things related to “real life" sports nutrition.

We discussed:

• peri and post menopause
• how nutritional needs vary for women over 50
• nutrition for female endurance athletes
• how much protein to eat based on your body size
• metabolic efficiency
• testing for women over 50 available at her website
• supplements
• recipes and food plans

For more information see our website: Becoming Elli.

In episode 118, Jill and Chris talk with Brian Keane, an online personal trainer, nutritionist and best selling author. Over the past seven years, Brian has gone from working full time as a school teacher to one of Ireland's and the UK’s leading thought leaders on all things health, fitness and nutrition.

Brian is the author of two best sellers: The Fitness Mindset and Rewire Your Mindset.   On top of his ever-growing social media platforms, with over half a million followers, he also hosts one of the world’s top health podcasts which is regularly featured #1 on the iTunes Health Charts.

He has spoken at major wellness events around the world such as Wellfest Ireland, Mefit Dubai and was a Keynote speaker at Google HQ in Dublin for their 2018 wellness event.

Among his many fitness and athletic achievements, Brian has transitioned from a professional fitness model to ultra endurance athlete running through the Sahara, the Arctic, and completing a 100 mile ultra marathon.

We discussed topics of fitness, health and mindset:

• Finding the best diet to fit a lifestyle and schedule
• Improving the relationship with food
• Setting clear goals for fat or weight loss
• Building a mindset of mental toughness
• Looking at fitness in a holistic way
• Nutrition for weight or fat loss

More info at Becoming Elli Website

In episode 117 Jill and Chris talk with Traci Fisher, the  Founder and Chief Creation Officer of The Wellness Coach, LLC.  She is a certified Health and Wellness Coach, motivational speaker, corporate wellness trainer, frequent media guest, managing director of two health and wellness companies based in Cleveland, Ohio, and a mother of three.

Traci began her leadership training as a cadet at West Point, The United States Military Academy. She is a former US Army captain & helicopter pilot.  

After leaving the military she started her career in the fitness and wellness industry. She created Live Active, a total-body workout series with Cleveland Clinic doctors; is a coauthor of Lean Body, Smart Life, and creator of The Wellbeingness® Model.

More info at our website: Becoming Elli.

Jill and Chris talk with Dr. Ellen Britt, an intermittent fasting expert. Ellen is the co-founder and principal writer of The Intermittent Fasting Insider, a bimonthly newsletter that brings her audience the most compelling developments in intermittent fasting as well as innovation in practices that can be stacked with IF.

She also co-facilitates with her colleague Denise Wakeman an 1800 member free Facebook group for entrepreneurs interested in intermittent fasting, as well as their latest paid membership project, The Longevity Experience.

Ellen has over two decades of experience as a PA in emergency and occupational medicine. She holds a doctorate (an Ed.D.) in biology, as well as a Master’s in Clinical Psychology. Ellen lives and works just south of Atlanta, Georgia.

During this episode we discussed:

• Various types of intermittent fasting
• Research findings concerning the health benefits of intermittent fasting
• Which type she recommends for women over 50
• Medical reasons for not doing an intermittent fasting regime
• How to get started with intermittent fasting
• The easiest hours to do an intermittent fast
• How long to do an intermittent fast
• Using intermittent fasting with other eating plans like paleo, keto, or vegan

More information at our website: Becoming Elli

In episode number 115, Chris and Jill speak with Lisa Swanson, a sought-after expert who helps women over 50 crush their weight loss goals in a naturally progressive way that boosts metabolism, burns belly fat and keeps it off. 

Through her signature B.A.S.E. model, combining fitness, nutrition and mindset, women over 50 get the results they have been struggling to get on their own without deprivation diets or hours in the gym.

She teaches her clients how to enjoy the journey and let go of limiting beliefs that may hold them back.;

Lisa is a Certified Health Coach, personal trainer, orthopedic exercise specialist, (ACE American Council on Exercise) and nutritionist (Precision Nutrition & AASDN American Academy of Sport Dietitians and Nutritionist) and has 35 years of experience.

• We discussed:
• How does menopause affect our bodies
• What weight and fitness problems are linked to menopause
• How she handles fitness, nutrition and mindset with her clients
• How she helps her clients stay motivated
• The value of goal setting
• What she recommends for cardio and weight training for women over 50
• The metabolic framework
• Her morning routine

See links at our website: Becoming Elli.

In episode 114, Jill and Chris talk with Katie Orlando, a professional tennis player. Katie played college tennis at the University of Akron where she was All MAC Conference in 1993 and now is in the University of Akron’s Sports Hall of Fame.

In August 2022, she was inducted into the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) Midwest Hall of Fame. Katie was also named the 2019 USPTA Midwest Professional of the Year.

She is currently the Tennis Director at Towpath Tennis Center in Akron, Ohio. Katie is sponsored by Wilson for racquets. She has won numerous awards for her volunteer work in tennis.

More information at our website: BecomingElli.com

In episode 113, Jill and Chris interview certified running coach and personal trainer Jill Angie.

Jill Angie is the author of the book, Not Your Average Runner; Why You’re Not Too Fat to Run and the Skinny on How to Start Today. She has also published 5K and Half Marathon training plans for beginning runners. 

She hosts the "Not Your Average Runner" podcast and website to show that runners come in all shapes, sizes, and speeds.  Jill and her coaches help women to start running or to improve their running. 

See more at our website: Becoming Elli.

In episode 112, Chris and Jill answer frequently asked questions from listeners and women over 50 in the Becoming Elli Community.

In this episode we discuss:

• Getting started with Strength Training
• The importance of Light and Sleep
• Recipes for Sheet Pan Dinners, Instant Pot, Grilling
• Summer Exercise

For links referenced in our discussion, visit our website at Becoming Elli.

The Power of Pushing Limits at Any Age with Gwendolyn Bounds

Gwendolyn Bounds is an award-winning journalist and author of NOT TOO LATE: The Power of Pushing Limits at Any Age.

A few months shy of her 47th birthday, author and journalist Gwendolyn Bounds asked herself, “How is it possible to become good at something when you are already far behind and time isn’t on your side?”  

Her intimate story takes us from playgrounds and gyms, where Bounds trains among children and athletes half her age, to far-flung Spartan Race courses – including the vast desert of the Middle East. 

As she moves from the back of the pack to eventually become a podium finisher in her age group, Bounds captures the humility, challenge and elation of pursuing something bold and new amid the realities of midlife: caring for elderly parents, a demanding job, and a body no longer in its prime. 

More information at our website: Becoming Elli.

In episode 111, Taking Responsibility for Your Life, Jill and Chris talk with Coach Renée Suzanne about self love, persistence, and self confidence. Her coaching principles for improved dating reach into many areas of life.

Renée Suzanne helps women over 40 start dating better men immediately so they can meet and marry the man of their dreams. She is the creator of the COURTED method, a process that helps women date in order to create the lasting connection they really want.

More info and links at our Becoming Elli website.

In episode 110. Jill and Chris talk with Colette Harris about how she transformed her health and body with nutrition and lifestyle changes.

After she was diagnosed with Lipoedema and Fibromyalgia, Colette searched for recovery beyond pain medications. She made a series of daily habit changes over the course of several years to eliminate refined carbohydrates and sugar.

She tells about her experience in reducing inflammation, eliminating pain and finding a healthy lifestyle.

"Making small habit changes each day add up to BIG change."

Colette is a health coach who lives in Lochwinnoch, Scotland and helps others with sugar detox and lifestyle transformations. She was in the U.S. Navy Reserves and enjoys traveling the world.

More information: Becoming Elli website.

In episode 109, Jill and Chris speak with Carol Simpson. Even at well past 70, she continues to rock climb and practice yoga.

She's overcome several health issues and is an inspiration to many women over 50.

More info at our website: Becoming Elli.

In episode 108, Jill and Chris talk with Deirdre Hewitson, who says ‘yes’ to pretty much any opportunity or adventure that comes her way.

Deirdre Hewitson is a freelance photographer, editor, and writer who lives in Cape Town, South Africa. We learned about her because one of our Becoming Elli members (who lives in Norway) posted that Deidre is her hero.

Over the years. Deirdre has taken up scuba diving, bicycle racing, water skiing, paragliding, white water rafting, and running. Now, at 61, and about ten marathons later, she has added trail running, climbing, hiking and yoga to the mix of regular activities.

"Say yes more often than you say no, and try pretty much everything at least once – ‘pretty much’ because some things – those that will harm you – aren’t worth trying." These are the words Deirdre lives by.

Links at our website show notes: Becoming Elli