If calorie counting, cardio, and "doing more" used to work—but don't anymore—this episode explains why.

In this episode of the 40s Forward Podcast, Dr. Betsy Greenleaf breaks down the real biology of midlife metabolism and why traditional weight-loss advice fails after 40. Your metabolism isn't broken—it has changed. And fighting it only makes things worse.

After 40, muscle loss, hormonal shifts, insulin resistance, elevated cortisol, poor sleep, and inflammation all change how your body processes food and stores fat. This episode explains what's actually happening—and how to reset your metabolism using science-backed strategies that work with midlife physiology, not against it.

• Why metabolism changes after 40
• The critical role of muscle in fat loss and energy
• Why calories-in/calories-out fails in midlife
• How stress and cortisol drive fat storage
• The powerful connection between sleep and metabolism
• The 5 biggest metabolic saboteurs after 40
• Why eating less and doing more cardio backfires

Dr. Greenleaf introduces a smarter approach to midlife metabolism that focuses on:
• Protein-first nutrition
• Muscle-building as medicine
• Cortisol-aware exercise
• Hormone optimization
• Gut health and inflammation repair

"Your metabolism isn't broken—it has changed."
"Hormones decide what happens to calories, not math."
"Muscle is the metabolic engine."
"Midlife bodies don't need less—they need smarter."

This episode is essential for anyone navigating weight gain, low energy, stubborn fat, or metabolic frustration after 40.

• Learn more about hormone, metabolism, and vitality optimization at PauseInstitute.com
• Explore pelvic and sexual wellness products at the Pelvic Floor Store
• Discover the Muse Headband for stress and nervous system support
• Download Insight Timer and search for DrBetsyGreenleaf

🎧 Subscribe to the 40s Forward Podcast for weekly conversations on hormones, metabolism, energy, and thriving after 40.

Because life doesn't decline after 40 — it evolves.

If your labs are "normal" but your symptoms aren't…
If you're confused, frustrated, or afraid of hormones…

This episode will change how you understand your body.

In this episode of the 40s Forward Podcast, Dr. Betsy Greenleaf explains why hormone therapy fails so many people — and why the problem is not your hormones, but the outdated, incomplete way hormones are treated.

Hormones are chemical messengers that influence energy, metabolism, mood, sleep, libido, cognition, confidence, and aging. Treating hormones in isolation — without addressing stress, gut health, inflammation, and lifestyle — often leads to disappointing results.

• Why "normal labs" don't always mean optimal
• Why estrogen alone doesn't fix menopause
• Why testosterone alone doesn't fix libido
• How stress, gut health, and inflammation sabotage hormones
• The truth behind common hormone myths affecting women and men over 40

Dr. Greenleaf introduces a smarter, integrative framework that views hormones as interconnected systems, not isolated numbers — and shares real examples of what changes when the root cause is addressed.

• Understand what comprehensive hormone testing should include
• Learn how to recognize hormone therapy done incorrectly
• Stop fearing hormones and start understanding them
• Trust your symptoms — not just lab ranges

• Learn more about hormone, metabolism, and vitality optimization at PauseInstitute.com
• Explore pelvic and sexual wellness products at the Pelvic Floor Store
• Discover the Muse Headband for stress and nervous system support
• Download Insight Timer and search for DrBetsyGreenleaf

🎧 Subscribe to the 40s Forward Podcast for weekly conversations on hormones, metabolism, libido, energy, and living fully after 40.

Because life doesn't decline after 40 — it evolves.

Have you ever looked in the mirror after 40 and thought,
"Why isn't anything working the way it used to?"

You're eating well.
You're exercising.
You're doing "all the right things."
And yet your energy is lower, your sleep is off, your weight is harder to manage, your stress feels heavier, and your libido may not feel like you anymore.

In this episode of 40s Forward, Dr. Betsy Greenleaf breaks down why everything changes after 40 — and more importantly, how to get it back.

This is not about aging, willpower, or discipline.
It's about biology, hormones, metabolism, stress, and how your body recalibrates in midlife.

You'll learn why traditional diet and exercise advice stops working, how hormone shifts quietly affect everything from confidence to desire, and what actually supports vitality, strength, and performance after 40 — in life, at work, and in the bedroom.

If you've felt frustrated, confused, or told "this is just part of getting older," this episode will change how you think about your body — and what's possible next.

• Why your metabolism, sleep, and energy shift after 40

• The hidden role hormones play in weight, mood, and libido

• Why stress affects your body differently in midlife

• Why doing more is often the wrong strategy

• How to work with your biology instead of fighting it

• What it really takes to feel vibrant, confident, and alive again

This episode sets the foundation for everything we'll explore on 40s Forward — because midlife isn't a decline.

It's a recalibration.

And when you understand the rules, everything changes.

Learn more about hormone and vitality optimization at PauseInstitute.com
Explore pelvic and sexual wellness tools at the Pelvic Floor Store

The holidays are supposed to be joyful — but for many people over 40, they can feel overwhelming, exhausting, and quietly stressful.

In this special episode of 40s Forward, Dr. Betsy Greenleaf breaks down why the holidays hit harder after 40 and how to protect your energy, hormones, metabolism, and emotional well-being without guilt or perfectionism.

You'll learn why your body responds differently to stress, sugar, alcohol, late nights, and family dynamics in midlife — and how to navigate the season with grace, strategy, and self-leadership instead of burnout.

This episode is not about restriction, detoxes, or "starting over in January."
It's about enjoying the holidays, supporting your biology, and setting yourself up for a New Year that actually sticks.

• Why holiday stress feels more intense after 40

• How cortisol, sleep disruption, and blood sugar affect your mood, weight, and energy

• Simple ways to enjoy holiday food without metabolic sabotage

• Alcohol, hormones, and why intention matters more than avoidance

• Supportive movement vs. punishment-based exercise

• Why New Year's resolutions fail — and what works instead

• How to create biology-aligned goals that last beyond February

If you've ever felt like the holidays derail your health — or that January becomes a season of punishment — this episode will change how you approach both.

Learn more about hormone, metabolism, and vitality optimization at PauseInstitute.com
Explore pelvic and sexual wellness products at the Pelvic Floor Store
Discounted Muse Headband at Muse
Insight Timer and look for DrBetsyGreenleaf

Because life doesn't decline after 40 — it evolves.