Underwear, Estrogen & Ultras with Lauren Puretz, DO (episode 222)
We’ve got a grab-bag of gynecological goodness for you this week, as we sat down with elite ultrarunner, gynecologist, and Paradis pro ambassador Dr. Lauren Puretz. We dive into her running life, including how she navigates elite ultra training with two kids and a medical practice; the common gynecological issues she helps peri and menopausal women navigate, how to find quality care, and of course, what makes a good pair of performance underwear.Lauren Puretz, DO, is a gynecologist dedicated to helping women especially during transitions in life. She’s an elite ultra runner, a mom of two, and recently opened up a private practice in Colorado Springs, CO. Last year, at age 41, Lauren finished third at the 2024 Javelina Jundred, running 100 miles in 15:00:50, the ninth-fastest time by a woman on the course. She came in 3rd at the Black Canyon 100k, securing a Golden Ticket for the Western States 100, which she competed in later that year. She also won the 2024 World Masters Mountain Running Championship. Lauren is also a pro ambassador for Paradis Sport, performance underwear by and for women. You can read more about her and her work in her ambassador profile here. Subscribe to the Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feistymedia.ac-page.com/feisty-40-sign-up-page Follow Us on Instagram:Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099 Support our Partners:Hettas: Use code FEISTY20 for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Midi Health: You Deserve to Feel Great. Book your virtual visit today at https://www.joinmidi.com/ Nutrisense: Go to nutrisense.io/hitplay and use code: HITPLAY to get 30% off Previnex: Get 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/ Paradis Sport: Use code: FEISTY20 for 20% off any single item at https://paradissport.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy
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53:47
The Nervous System, Hormones & Trauma with Paula Rastrick (Episode 221)
If you’ve ever felt like your mood has a mind of its own during PMS, pregnancy, or perimenopause, you already know that hormones like estrogen and progesterone don’t just affect your body — they shape your entire sense of well-being. And if you’ve lived with trauma or neurodivergence, like ADHD, you also know how reactive the nervous system can be. What happens when all of that collides during midlife and menopause…and hormone therapy gets added to the mix? For some women, the results are anything but balanced. This week’s guest, trauma therapist Paula Rastrick, knows that firsthand. She opens up about her harrowing experience with high-dose hormone therapy — an intervention that nearly unraveled her — and shares what she’s uncovered about the deep, complex relationship between hormones, nervous system sensitivity, trauma, and stress. Paula Rastrick is a trauma therapist, author and creator of The Brain-Body Method, an integrated trauma-informed and neurodiverse approach to hormonal sensitivity. She is a BSc (Hons) in Sport & Exercise Psychology; has postgraduate certification in Psychological Trauma, Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing (EDMR) Trauma Therapy, is a Safe and Sound Protocol Practitioner and has training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), pain science, and integrated kinetic neurology. She’s also done trauma-informed continuing professional development work in yoga therapy, applied polyvagal theory in yoga, vagus nerve integration, HRV training, performance psychology, and somatic psychology. You can learn more about her work at www.thebrainbodymethod.com and check out her e-book at https://subscribepage.io/hormonal-sensitivity-els-trauma-pdfSubscribe to the Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feistymedia.ac-page.com/feisty-40-sign-up-page Follow Us on Instagram:Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099 Support our Partners:Hettas: Use code FEISTY20 for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Midi Health: You Deserve to Feel Great. Book your virtual visit today at https://www.joinmidi.com/ Nutrisense: Go to nutrisense.io/hitplay and use code: HITPLAY to get 30% off Previnex: Get 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/ Paradis Sport: Use code: FEISTY20 for 20% off any single item at https://paradissport.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy
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1:03:01
Why Toughing Out Perimenopause Isn’t the Answer Carrie Tollefson (Episode 220)
Many women, like this week’s guest Olympian runner and broadcaster Carrie Tollefson, suffer through perimenopause for far too long because they know they’re tough and they can handle things. But you don’t need to suffer, and you shouldn’t just tough it out. You can get back to feeling better and living more fully by getting the help and care you need as soon as you need it. This week we talk all about Carrie’s challenging seven-year journey through perimenopause, her new running goals now that she finally feels like herself again, and what we all can learn from her experience. Carrie Tollefson is an elite middle distance runner from St. Paul, Minnesota. She was a 13-time state champion (eight in track and five in cross country) and five-time NCAA champion at Villanova. In her post-collegiate career, Carrie was a three-time national champion and represented the U.S. at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. Carrie is now a broadcaster for major marathons, podcast host, motivational speaker, and fitness advocate. Living in Minnesota with her husband and three children, she empowers others to pursue active, healthy lifestyles, encouraging everyone to “Get After It!” You can learn more about her and her work at www.ctollerun.comSubscribe to the Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feistymedia.ac-page.com/feisty-40-sign-up-page Follow Us on Instagram:Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099 Support our Partners:Hettas: Use code FEISTY20 for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Midi Health: You Deserve to Feel Great. Book your virtual visit today at https://www.joinmidi.com/ Nutrisense: Go to nutrisense.io/hitplay and use code: HITPLAY to get 30% off Previnex: Get 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/ Paradis Sport: Use code: FEISTY20 for 20% off any single item at https://paradissport.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy
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58:46
Menopausal Hormone Therapy: Managing Side Effects with Carla DiGirolamo, MD, PhD (Episode 219)
Women go on hormone therapy to manage peri/menopause symptoms and feel better. But sometimes to their surprise, they feel worse. Or some symptoms go away while others pop up. That’s because of the hormones! We have hormone receptors all over our body and whenever we switch up the signals they’re receiving, whether through the menopause transition itself or through the hormones we use, they’re going to respond to those changes, and sometimes not in the way we want. Most side effects are manageable with time or by dialing in delivery methods and/or doses. It’s just important to know what to expect. We talk all about it this week with our resident menopause specialist Dr. Carla DiGirolamo.Carla DiGirolamo, MD, PhD, is a Double Board Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist and Obstetrician/Gynecologist specializing in infertility and menopausal medicine. She is also a Crossfit Level 1 trainer, Certified Nutrition Coach, and member of CrossFit Health. She is a MedFit Care provider and provides weekly workouts and medical updates at her Substack Athletic Aging. She is an Endocrine Consultant for Wild Health. Most recently, she has launched her own private practice specializing in helping active and high-performing women reach their performance potential from puberty through menopause. Dr. DiGirolamo is now seeing patients for virtual consultations for menopausal care and performance optimization. Visit her website www.drcarlad.com to learn more about her services and schedule an appointment.Subscribe to the Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feistymedia.ac-page.com/feisty-40-sign-up-page Follow Us on Instagram:Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099 Support our Partners:Hettas: Use code FEISTY20 for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Midi Health: You Deserve to Feel Great. Book your virtual visit today at https://www.joinmidi.com/ Nutrisense: Go to nutrisense.io/hitplay and use code: HITPLAY to get 30% off Previnex: Get 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/ Paradis Sport: Use code: FEISTY20 for 20% off any single item at https://paradissport.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy
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59:30
Building Strength & Pushing Limits after 40 with Steph Gaudreau (Episode 218)
Many of us have spent a lifetime trying to shrink ourselves. We grew up being told you could never be too thin. As athletes, especially in endurance sports, smaller, lighter, faster was the ethos of the day. That is changing as we see athletes, especially women, discover that being fueled and strong yields even better performance–and longevity. This week’s guest, trainer and nutrition coach Steph Gaudreau embodies that journey through both her personal and professional life. She shares how, for 40+ women especially, growing muscles is the key to better energy and performance in sport and life, and how strength training is the gateway to midlife self-acceptance. Steph Gaudreau, CISSN, CPT, helps athletic women over 40 fuel themselves better, get stronger, increase their energy, and perform better in the gym. She’s a sports nutritionist and strength coach with multiple certifications including USA Weightlifting coach, Menopause Health & Fitness Specialist, Girls Gone Strong Women’s Coaching Specialist, and Intuitive Eating Counselor. She shares her advice on building strength, proper fueling, and much more as the host of the Fuel Your Strength Podcast. You can learn more about Steph and her work at www.stephgaudreau.comSubscribe to the Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feistymedia.ac-page.com/feisty-40-sign-up-page Follow Us on Instagram:Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099 Support our Partners:Hettas: Use code FEISTY20 for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Midi Health: You Deserve to Feel Great. Book your virtual visit today at https://www.joinmidi.com/ Nutrisense: Go to nutrisense.io/hitplay and use code: HITPLAY to get 30% off Previnex: Get 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/ Paradis Sport: Use code: FEISTY20 for 20% off any single item at https://paradissport.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy
Perimenopause and menopause hit active women differently. We have a different lifestyle and different goals. And we know our bodies. Whether you run and hike or do CrossFit and ski (or a little of everything!), you’ve had a way of eating and exercising that worked…until the menopause transition, when it all goes out the window as body composition changes, fatigue, body aches, sleepless nights, hot flashes, brain fog, mood swings, and low mojo blindside you out of the blue—despite doing everything right. Your doctor may (or may not) help with hormone replacement therapy. But what about all the active stuff you love? You’re already exercising and eating well. What you want is to feel and perform like you used to. That doesn’t mean fasting, swearing off carbs for life, or just slowing down. It means adjusting your nutrition, training, recovery, and mindset to work with your changing physiology as you hit this phase of life. And we’re here for it.
At Hit Play Not Pause, we know the potential of women in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond, because we talk to elite athletes and everyday active women who are still hitting personal bests along with world-renowned sports dietitians, researchers, medical and menopause specialists to help you understand what’s happening under the hood during the menopause transition and more importantly, what you can do about it—from hormone therapy to heavy lifting and everything in between—to feel and perform your best.
Host Selene Yeager is a health and science journalist with 30 years’ experience and more than two dozen books to her name. She also lives an active life as a former Ironman triathlete and professional mountain bike racer who still rides, runs, paddles, hikes, lifts, and through her work at Feisty Menopause helps others do the same.
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