Fit Mother Project Podcast number 166 introduces us to Dr. Melissa Mahan. A 59-year-old grandmother of six, higher-ed leader, and certified professional coach from San Antonio who refused to let family history dictate her future. After a routine checkup in early 2024 revealed an A1C of 6.6 with high cholesterol and blood pressure, she chose a structured, natural path over medication—and found the Fit Mother Project. What followed was a systems-driven transformation built on consistent action, community support, and faith.

Within months, Melissa dropped her A1C to ~6.0, normalized her blood pressure, improved her lipid ratios, and lost ~35 pounds—largely by dialing in “protein first,” lifting consistently, and stacking simple habits like morning sunlight walks. She also learned powerful glucose-management strategies through a CGM, discovering how pairing protein/fiber (and avoiding “spike-on-a-spike” combos like soda before pizza) dramatically changed her numbers.

Melissa shares the tweaks that mattered (e.g., swapping coconut milk for almond milk in shakes and adding psyllium husk), along with her mantra of the “relentless return”—not perfection, but always coming back to the next right action. She describes how Fit Mother retreats, small-group coaching, and the in-app sisterhood reinforced mindset shifts, helped her navigate menopause challenges, and kept her on track during celebration-heavy seasons.

Now, just shy of 60, Melissa is training for senior-level cycling events and planning a 500-mile Camino de Santiago ride in Spain—proof that health creates possibilities. Her challenge to listeners: dare to dream, set a meaningful goal, and finish this year strong.

• A1C 6.6 → ~6.0; BP/lipids trending normal
• ~35 pounds down; energy and mood up
• “Protein first” meals; stronger satiety, fewer cravings
• CGM insights; smarter food order and pairing
• Skip soda-before-pizza; avoid “spike on a spike”
• Fiber + protein before carbs; steadier glucose
• Almond milk swap; lower sugar, cleaner shakes
• Psyllium add-in; soluble fiber, better fullness
• Morning sunlight + 20–30 min walk stack
• Strength training 2–4x/week; progressive overload
• Power-meter cycling; targeted endurance gains
• Retreats + small groups; consistent accountability
• Menopause-aware tweaks; sleep and stress prioritized
• “Relentless return” mindset; progress over perfection
• Big goal: 500-mile Camino; senior cycling events

Foundations is a simple, sustainable, and specific weight loss program designed especially for busy women over 40. With short metabolic training workouts, an easy-to-follow meal plan, and an accountability team there for you every step of the way, Foundations can help you lose weight, regain energy and vitality, and live life to the fullest.

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In Episode 165 of the Fit Mother Project podcast, Dr. Anthony Balduzzi sits down with Katie Hess, founder of LOTUSWEI, to explore the gentle but powerful world of flower essences. They open with a clear distinction between flower essences and more familiar plant modalities like herbs and essential oils, then lay out how essences are made and why they’re aimed at shifting the emotional patterns that quietly drive our habits, stress, and sleep.

Dr. Balduzzi and Katie dive into practical use cases for women over 40—calming an overactive mind at night, softening stress responses, easing body-image spirals, and reopening a guarded heart. Katie shares real-world stories from her practice, along with simple “start today” rituals using drops in water or misting, and the intuitive method of selecting a flower you’re naturally drawn to.

The conversation expands into the science-adjacent terrain, touching on forest bathing research and why even short immersions in nature can imprint the nervous system for days. Katie explains how dilution in essence-making is designed to work at the “pattern level,” complementing (not replacing) conventional care and fitting seamlessly alongside nutrition, exercise, and mindset work.

They wrap with a beginner’s roadmap: pick one essence, build a tiny daily ritual around it, and notice shifts in mood, posture, and self-talk over a few weeks. If you’ve been curious about non-pharmaceutical, nature-based support for stress and sleep—or you simply want a gentler way to change stubborn habits—this conversation offers an accessible place to start.

• Flower essences = the flower’s energetic imprint in water; different from herbs/oils
• Work on emotional/energetic patterns that drive habits and health choices
• Passionflower essence helps quiet “monkey mind” and support sleep
• Peony softens scarcity/lack; attracts possibility and ease
• Daisy dissolves rigidity/over-seriousness; restores lightness and joy
• Rose opens the heart; supports healing from heartbreak/guardedness
• Jasmine supports self-acceptance and radiance (helpful for body-image ruts)
• Lotus amplifies all essences; accelerates insight and growth
• Forest bathing can lower cortisol and boost immunity with lasting effects
• Making essences: solar/lunar infusion → preserved “mother” → serial dilutions
• Dilution increases depth of action (pattern-level), akin to homeopathic theory
• How to use: 5 drops, 5x/day in mouth or water; mists and anointing oils also work
• Use intuition: we’re drawn to the flowers we most need right now
• Essences complement (not replace) medical care; think “emotional root support”
• Start simple: take the quiz, choose one blend, and build a daily ritual

Website: http://lotuswei.com/fitfamily

• Use discount code FITFAMILY at checkout and receive 10% off your order (one per customer).

Take the Master Flower Quiz to discover your most resonant flower essence. Answer 12 questions to receive a precise reading tailored to your preferences.

https://www.lotuswei.com/pages/master-flower-quiz?sca_ref=9468599.TfBKnRF6zDado1

Podcast: Flower Lounge with Katie Hess https://www.lotuswei.com/pages/podcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lotuswei

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At 56, radiation therapist Babs Freeman shares how the Fit Mother Project helped her turn grief and burnout into strength, community, and joy. After losing close family members and taking time off work to heal, Babs found FMP in May 2024 and finally discovered the consistency and accountability that every other plan lacked. What started as “showing up for an early appointment with Dr. A, Ben, and Kat” became a lifestyle that lights up her mornings and carries momentum through the entire day.

Babs details the nuts and bolts of her routine: five training days per week, strength in the morning followed by incline walking, plus short walks after lunch to keep energy and mood high. She’s dropped 10 pounds, gained visible muscle, and built confidence by mastering form, using smart modifications for a partial meniscus tear, and—yes—tackling Ben’s endless push-up variations. Her longtime favorite? The Apex 10, which jump-started strength and definition and reminded her she can do hard things.

Nutrition was the tougher puzzle. With guidance from FMP coaches (special shoutouts to Amy and Ben), Babs now focuses on simple, nutrient-dense meals, front-loads hydration earlier in the day, and uses lighter evening options—like a protein shake or yogurt with berries—to meet protein goals without disrupting sleep. She’s learned to watch non-scale victories and ignore daily fluctuations: weight loss isn’t linear, and strength, energy, and clothes fitting better tell the real story.

Most of all, this episode is about hope, connection, and motion. Babs’ message to women approaching 60: it’s never too late to start. Move your body. Start small. Keep going. Be a lighthouse for the people you love—show what’s possible by living it every day. And if you need a community that makes early mornings feel fun (bloopers and all), Babs says FMP is the place.

• Consistency through community accountability
• Midday walks to boost mood, NEAT, and recovery
• Apex 10 as a transformative, repeatable staple
• Smart modifications for knee issues; form cues matter
• Hydration earlier in the day to improve sleep
• Light, protein-forward dinners to hit targets without heaviness
• Focus on inches, strength, and energy over scale swings
• “Weight loss isn’t linear”—ride the ebbs and flows
• Morning routine anchored by “showing up” for the team
• Coaching touchpoints
• Community as mental/emotional support, not just fitness
• Be a lighthouse, not a tugboat—lead by example

If you’re on a mission to simplify and accelerate your path to health optimization and feel better now, Troscriptions is where to start. Give it a try at troscriptions.com/FITFAMILY or enter FITFAMILY at checkout for 10% off your first order.

Foundations is a simple, sustainable, and specific weight loss program designed especially for busy women over 40. With short metabolic training workouts, an easy-to-follow meal plan, and an accountability team there for you every step of the way, Foundations can help you lose weight, regain energy and vitality, and live life to the fullest.

Click here to see everything you get when you join FM30X, subscribe to our YouTube Channel, check out our blog, and follow us on