Bag of chips. Pint of ice cream. Pick your favorite vice. Ever caught yourself thinking, “I’m not even hungry—so why am I eating this?”

In this episode, I’m joined by Tricia Nelson, founder of Heal Your Hunger and author of Heal Your Hunger: 7 Simple Steps to End Emotional Eating Now. After losing 50 pounds and healing her own relationship with food, Tricia has devoted decades to helping women uncover the real reasons behind emotional eating.

We talk about:

✔️What emotional eating actually is (and how to recognize it)

✔️How it gets more complicated in midlife

✔️The PEP test (Painkiller, Escape, Punishment) and how food plays each role

✔️Why diets fail and what to do instead

✔️Practical steps to break the cycle and find freedom

🎧 Listen in to discover how to stop reaching for food when what you really need is something else entirely.

CHAPTERS:

02:28 What is Emotional Eating?

04:30 Why Do We Turn to Sugar and Carbs?

05:52 Tricia's PEP Test for Understanding Why We Emotionally Eat

09:49 Are Some of Us Predisposed to Emotional Eating?

15:47 Breaking the Cycle of Emotional Eating

19:56 The 3 Things That Drive Emotional Eating

24:21 How To Care For Yourself When You're Emotionally Eating

28:05 Emotional Eating in Midlife

34:59 Tricia's Coaching Program

40:07 Key Takeaways

Connect with Tricia:

➡️ Tricia’s website

➡️ Take Tricia’s Emotional Eating Quiz

I want to hear from you. Send me a text!

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Check out my website: belongwellness.com

Most women are told there are only a handful of options when it comes to hormone therapy for perimenopause and menopause. But what if that’s not the full story?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Peter Koshland, a UCSF-trained pharmacist and founder of Koshland Pharm, San Francisco’s only PCAB-accredited compounding pharmacy. Peter pulls back the curtain on what compounding really is, how safety and testing work, and why it can open up a world of options beyond the standard prescriptions.

We cover:

•Why one-size-fits-all menopause hormone therapy isn't for everyone

•Safe, smart delivery methods for progesterone, estradiol, and testosterone

•What compounding pharmacies do to ensure safety, potency, and precision

•The misunderstood role of progesterone in midlife women’s health

•The potential of low-dose naltrexone for women with autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s

💌 Share this episode with a friend who’s navigating menopause hormones. These conversations aren’t happening enough, and the more we spread the word, the more women will know they have choices.

Chapters:

02:27 Why Peter Is "The Hormone Guy"

06:50 What is a Compounding Pharmacy?

08:55 Who is Best Served by Compounding Pharmacies?

10:23 A Compounded Drug That Helps Hypothyroidism

13:32 Why Don't All Doctors Prescribe Compounded Hormones?

16:26 Compounded Hormones: Safety and Regulation

20:55 Compounded Hormones for Menopause Hormone Therapy

33:26 Why Blood Tests Can Be Misleading

37:13 Peter's Preferred Delivery Methods for Menopause Hormones

41:55 Trends in Menopause Hormone Therapy

45:39 The Importance of Compounding in Hormone Therapy

47:04 Key Takeaways

Connect with Dr. Peter Koshland:

➡️ koshlandpharm.com

➡️ @koshlandpharm

I want to hear from you. Send me a text!

Let's stay in touch:
Join my email list and I will send you my three favorite protein-rich smoothie recipes!

Follow me on Instagram: @belongwellness
Check out my website: belongwellness.com

In today’s minisode, I’m answering one of the most common questions I get: “So… do you love podcasting?”

The short answer? Yes! I love the challenge of learning a new industry, diving into conversations with inspiring midlife women, and spreading science-based information. But I also want to keep it real — it’s not all rainbows and unicorns. Podcasting is a ton of work, and doing it solo while juggling family and life isn’t sustainable forever.

In this short and honest episode, I share:

✔️ Why I love podcasting (and what keeps me going)

✔️ Why defining your sense of purpose matters for health and longevity

✔️ An important reminder for all midlife women

👀 A sneak peek at upcoming episodes

⭐️ If this podcast has brought you new info or inspiration, please leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and help other midlife women find this show. TYSM!

Chapters

01:00 I Need a Break

01:38 Your Question Answered: Are You Loving Your Podcast?

06:03 Midlife Reminder: Schedule Your Annual Exams

07:09 Coming Soon on the Podcast!

🎧 Episode mentioned:

Menopause Hormone Therapy Explained: What Every Midlife Woman Should Know

I want to hear from you. Send me a text!

Let's stay in touch:
Join my email list and I will send you my three favorite protein-rich smoothie recipes!

Follow me on Instagram: @belongwellness
Check out my website: belongwellness.com

If you’ve hit your 40s and suddenly feel like your body got swapped out for someone else’s…I’m right there with you. For many midlife women, uninvited menopause belly fat shows up overnight, brain fog makes you lose your train of thought mid-sentence, and you’re wide awake at 3am pondering disasters that will probably never happen.

In this episode, I’m joined by Barbara Sobel, a board-certified nutritionist with a master’s in clinical and functional medicine nutrition. Barb specializes in midlife and menopause nutrition and helping women in perimenopause and menopause figure out what actually helps us feel better at this stage of life.

We dive into:

•The truth about protein for women in perimenopause and menopause

•What to eat to steady blood sugar and reduce menopause belly fat

•What to do if you are pre-diabetic or have high cholesterol (both common in midlife)

•Nutrition tips to support your strength training

•How nutrition and lifestyle shifts can improve sleep in midlife women

•Key nutrients for perimenopause brain fog, hair thinning, and hormone changes

•Intermittent fasting in midlife: Yay or Nay?

Barb’s approach is refreshingly real: no rigid diet rules, no gimmicks, and no shame. Just practical, doable ways to feel like yourself again—even when your hormones have other plans.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

02:18 Nutrition Advice for Perimenopause

06:17 You Don't Have to Stick to One Diet ALL the Time

08:55 Use the Plate Visual

11:46 Are Dairy Foods Considered Protein or Fat?

14:54 How Much Protein Should Midlife Women Eat?

18:57 What to Do If You Are Pre-Diabetic or Have High Cholesterol

23:20 Nutrition Tips for Brain Fog, Hair Thinning and Sleep

27:31 Nutrition for Midlife Symptoms

27:48 Nutrition to Support Strength Training

31:26 What to Do About Menopausal Belly Weight

38:57 Intermittent Fasting in Midlife: Yay or Nay?

41:21 Key Takeaways

🎧 Other Episodes You Might Enjoy:

5 Habits That Improved My Sleep in Perimenopause

5 Protein Recipes for Midlife Women Who Don’t Want to Eat Chicken All Day

Connect with Barbara:

barbsobel.com

@barbarasobel_nutrition

➕If this conversation inspired you, please follow the podcast and leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple or Spotify. It helps other smart, sassy midlife women just like you find the show and feel connected to others on the same rocky boat ride.

I want to hear from you. Send me a text!

Let's stay in touch:
Join my email list and I will send you my three favorite protein-rich smoothie recipes!

Follow me on Instagram: @belongwellness
Check out my website: belongwellness.com

In this episode, I’m sharing five foods I used to eat all the time that just don’t have a place in my life anymore. And no, this isn’t about demonizing food or creating rules. It’s about noticing how my choices have shifted as I’ve moved through midlife and perimenopause, and celebrating the small but powerful changes that support my hormone health and energy now.

You’ll hear me talk about:

✔️Why I broke up with breakfast cereal after decades of eating it on the regular

✔️The hardest thing I’ve ever given up and the freedom it has given me

✔️How a clean-eating challenge made me start actually reading ingredient labels

✔️Why Wheat Thins feel like a total “waste of sugar” to me now

✔️The reason I choose pasture-raised meat and eggs when I can, and how that supports midlife hormone balance

This conversation isn’t really about cereal or crackers — it’s about noticing the ways we evolve and giving ourselves credit for the progress we’ve made.

✨ Now it’s your turn: What’s one food you used to eat all the time that you don’t anymore? Tell me in a written review on Apple, or in the comments on Spotify or Instagram. I can’t wait to hear what you share!

Chapters:

01:23 The "Why" Behind This Episode

02:43 Breakfast Cereal

05:27 Coffee and Coffee Mate

08:25 Energy/Protein Bars

10:46 Wheat Thins

12:16 Conventional Meat and Eggs

14:12 Wrap Up

I want to hear from you. Send me a text!

Let's stay in touch:
Join my email list and I will send you my three favorite protein-rich smoothie recipes!

Follow me on Instagram: @belongwellness
Check out my website: belongwellness.com

Perimenopause doesn’t have to feel like the end of your fire. In Ayurveda, this stage of life is actually called your Golden Goddess era.

In this episode, Jessica talks with Heather Grzych, Ayurvedic doctor-level practitioner, bestselling author of The Ayurvedic Guide to Fertility, and former president of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association. Heather explains how Ayurveda sees midlife as a shift from the fiery stage of life into the air and space stage — a transition that brings both challenges and new possibilities.

We cover:

✔️How Ayurveda defines the stages of a woman’s life — from “juicy” childhood through the spaciousness of midlife

✔️Why perimenopause can feel like too much fire (hot flashes) or too much air and space (anxiety, dryness) — and how to rebalance

✔️Why oils are considered grounding and calming, and which ones are best for midlife women

✔️How disrupted sleep creates “ama” (toxic buildup) in the body, and gentle ways Ayurveda clears it

✔️How Ayurveda looks at food as qualities (warm, cooling, dry, oily) rather than calories — and what that means for hot flashes, mood, and metabolism

✔️Why routines, rituals, and steady movement like Pilates or yoga bring stability during this stage

✔️Why Ayurveda doesn’t hand out a single perimenopause protocol — because every woman’s transition looks different

Heather reminds us that this isn’t about powering through symptoms or finding the “one right supplement.” It’s about learning how your body is shifting, and working with it instead of against it — so you can move through perimenopause with more steadiness, clarity, and even a little goddess glow.

Connect with Heather:

heathergrzych.com

Wisdom of the Body podcast

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Get $75 off your first consultation (use code: BELONG)

CHAPTERS

00:00 Episode Intro

01:30 Listener Shout Out 🎉

03:09 What is Ayurveda?

07:29 Perimenopause through the Lens of Ayurveda

15:49 How to Treat Perimenopause Symptoms Using Ayurveda

27:54 Heather's Top Tip for Perimenopause

33:17 What Worked For Your Friend Might Not Work For You

34:18 Conclusion

35:01 Key Takeaways

I want to hear from you. Send me a text!

Let's stay in touch:
Join my email list and I will send you my three favorite protein-rich smoothie recipes!

Follow me on Instagram: @belongwellness
Check out my website: belongwellness.com

When Julie Parana had a hysterectomy at 42, she expected relief from years of pain—which she got. What she did not expect was the immediate launch into menopause a decade earlier than planned. Even with her ovaries intact, Julie found herself dealing with symptoms like brain fog, forgetfulness, and sleep struggles that were affecting her work. But, it wasn’t until the hot flashes showed up that she connected the dots.

In this episode, Julie shares how she pieced together the truth, why most doctors aren’t trained to recognize or treat menopause effectively, and how the experience inspired her to become The Menopause Occupational Therapist — helping women and employers navigate this transition with confidence.

We cover:

✔️How early menopause can happen after a hysterectomy—even when your ovaries are left intact

✔️The surprising gaps in menopause education for healthcare providers

✔️What to do when your menopause symptoms are affecting your work

✔️Why nervous system regulation is essential for symptom relief and long-term health

Connect with Julie:

➡️ themenopauseot.com

➡️ Instagram | YouTube

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction

01:24 Listener Shout Out

02:49 Julie's Menopause Story

07:51 Why Julie Educated Herself About Menopause

14:27 Julie's Advice for Those Having Surgery

19:54 Navigating Work During Menopause

24:07 How to Discuss Menopause with Your Boss

29:19 Supporting Women in the Workplace

36:51 What Julie Wishes Everyone Knew About Menopause

37:58 Key Takeaways

I want to hear from you. Send me a text!

Let's stay in touch:
Join my email list and I will send you my three favorite protein-rich smoothie recipes!

Follow me on Instagram: @belongwellness
Check out my website: belongwellness.com

In this episode, I’m joined by Heather Nelson to discuss her very personal story that sheds light on a topic that feels like a black box to many of us—surrogacy.

Heather is a mother, wife, business coach and podcaster who became a surrogate five years ago. Now at 43 and navigating perimenopause, she’s preparing to do it again.

Her story offers a rare, honest look at the emotional and logistical realities of surrogacy—from hormone shots to heart-expanding moments to what it means to grow a baby with the full intention of letting go.

In this episode, we cover:

✔️Why Heather became a surrogate (and why she’s doing it again)

✔️The extensive medical, emotional, and psychological screening process

✔️What makes a good match between surrogate and intended parents

✔️What it’s like to carry a baby that isn’t yours

✔️How she talks to her husband, kids and even strangers about surrogacy

✔️Postpartum recovery without a baby

✔️Compensation, contracts, and the questions everyone wants to ask

✔️Why the world needs more surrogates—and how to explore it

If you’re anything like me, Heather’s story will leave you both inspired and a little choked up.

Links and Resources:

➡️ Follow Heather on Instagram: @heathernelson.life

➡️ Listen to Heather’s podcast: Life Conversations with a Twist

➡️ Learn more about her coaching work at theconnectionhive.co

Like what you hear?

➕ Follow Belong Wellness for more super smart and slightly sassy midlife conversations that blend science, intuition, and zero BS.

⭐️ If this episode inspired you, please share it with a friend and leave a 5-star review!

Other Episodes You Might Enjoy 🎧:

• Your Body Isn’t the Problem—A Midlife Health Reframe
• Perimenopause (Jessica’s Version)

I want to hear from you. Send me a text!

Let's stay in touch:
Join my email list and I will send you my three favorite protein-rich smoothie recipes!

Follow me on Instagram: @belongwellness
Check out my website: belongwellness.com