Today I’m celebrating by reviewing some basics but often misunderstood facts about menopause, and giving you my four most important tips for not just surviving, but thriving in midlife and beyond! 

Oura ring - https://ouraring.com/ 

Sexually Woke book - https://www.amazon.com/Sexually-Woke-Awaken-Secrets-Midlife/dp/1950934446 

No Bad Parts book - https://www.amazon.com/No-Bad-Parts-Restoring-Wholeness/dp/1683646681

Happy World Menopause Day! | Empowering Midlife Wellness

So frequently when our female patients start feeling better with hormone balance their male partners tell me they need some of what she has! Today I’m talking about options for testosterone replacement for men, including the pros and cons of different delivery methods. I’ll also be getting into details about how hormone pellets are delivered in male patients, including the risks and of course the many benefits!

Testosterone Replacement Is For Men Too! | Empowering Midlife Wellness

All of us know the feeling of having harmful patterns of behavior that seem to repeat over and over again, seemingly out of our control. Perhaps especially in midlife when transition is almost characteristic of every part of our lives, learning how to break these destructive habits is more important than ever. In doing so, we can finally live a life that is peaceful and within our control, and move towards living as the best version of ourselves. Today I’m talking about an incredibly helpful psychological model called “Internal family systems” that can dramatically and quite quickly transform your life and free yourself from repetitive harmful behaviors.

“No Bad Parts” by Richard Schwartz: https://www.amazon.com/No-Bad-Parts-Restoring-Wholeness/dp/1683646681

How to Stop Repeating Destructive Behaviors | Internal Family Systems | Empowering Midlife Wellness

Bone loss accelerates around the time of menopause, which makes it so important to understand if we are at risk for developing significant bone loss or osteoporosis, which increases our risk of serious fractures. Today I’m talking about how to assess our bone health, as well as what interventions we can take to reduce our risk of bone loss and prevent osteoporosis, as well as how to treat osteoporosis if it’s already present.

How to Assess, Prevent & Treat Osteoporosis | Empowering Midlife Wellness

Today I'm sitting down with my dear friend Mary Jo Rapini, who is a clinical psychologist with specialized training in sex therapy for individuals and couples. Mary Jo is an author, speaker, frequent guest on national TV and audio platforms, and also has a fantastic YouTube channel and social media presence focusing on sexual wellness, particularly for women in Midlife. Today we are talking about the importance of connection for rejuvenating sexual energy, either in relationships or individually, and some practical ways that you can truly have the deepest and most connected relationship at any stage or age in life. 

Stay connected with Mary Jo Rapini: www.MaryjoRapini.com

Connection is the Key to Great Sex in Midlife | Empowering Midlife Wellness

As many of you know our "Activating Happiness in Midlife" retreat is coming up soon. Today I'm sitting down with my friend Yaniv Shanti, who has been such a huge inspiration to me on my personal development journey, and will be one of the co-facilitators of this incredible event. After attending one of Yaniv's "Happiness Activation" programs myself, I was so inspired to offer it to others.

Yaniv runs a "Happiness School" in San Jose, Costa Rica and describes himself as a happiness activist! His teachings are purely experiential (meaning try it for yourself and experience what happens), don't require any particular belief system, and are open to all spiritual traditions.

Today Yaniv explains what he will be offering at the retreat, and why these practices can truly transform your life and help to reclaim the happiness that is already inside you. Happiness is our basic nature, and through simple, fun, enjoyable practices we can reconnect with the positive emotions that fill our lives with joy.  His practical four part process starts with intention, activation, inspiration and integration, and we will be immersing ourselves in these throughout our three days together in Costa Rica.

You can connect with Shanti through his website below, and follow the links to sign up for this amazing event, which is limited to only 25 guests and is currently being offered for a special price through the end of August! We can't wait to see you there, November 10-13 in Costa Rica!

Learn more about the Happiness School: https://eldespertadorcr.com

Register here for the Empowering Midlife Wellness retreat: https://tri.ps/J68Pw
View the retreat brochure: http://bit.ly/44Dca74

How to be Happy in Midlife with Yaniv Shanti | Empowering Midlife Wellness

Most of us don't think much about brain aneurysms, but 2-5% of us have an asymptotic brain aneurysm, which is a weakening of the wall of a critical blood vessel, often not detected until it ruptures. Ruptured aneurysms are a relatively common cause of stroke or even sudden death,  but can be quite easily treated in a non invasive way if caught prior to rupture. Today I'm sharing my personal health story following an incidental finding of a significant brain aneurysm,  which was treated last week by Dr. Omar Tanweer at Baylor College of Medicine. Just a few days after the surgery I am back at work and feeling 100% fine!   Educating ourselves and our families about aneurysms is critical and can prevent permanent brain injury and death. This video not only follows my story, but also includes an interview with Dr. Tanweer talking about aneurysm symptoms, risk factors and treatment options, which is something all of us need to know!

My Brain Aneurysm Surgery | The Test that Saved My Life!

It's finally here! Like many of you, I'm a brand new empty nester having sent my last two kids to college this month. 

I've been preparing myself for this moment for years, but now faced with the reality of the situation I have put together some hopefully helpful thoughts about how to not only survive, but thrive in this unique life transition. I'm not going to tell you all the reasons why an empty nest is great and rosy- even though that is also true! Today I'm focusing on some of the difficult moments and recognizing that this can be truly painful at times, and sharing some thoughts that have helped me to feel less alone, at least so far!

6 Strategies to Thrive in the Empty Nest  | Empowering Midlife Wellness

This week I have my dear friend Meg Ellis back, and we are chatting about the science of creating the life that you want! Meg is a Conscious Life Coach and Neurolinguistic Programming Expert, as well as a co-facilitator for our upcoming midlife wellness retreat taking place November 10-13th in Costa Rica.

In this fascinating conversation, we talk about how to create the environment to make your best life possible. Understanding our own psychology we can create the energy which makes positive outcomes more likely. I will tell you how I've used these techniques in my own life and watched my children do the same, and have truly found these practices transformational! Meg also shares what she will be offering at the retreat,  and we're so excited to be co-hosting another fantastic event!

Register for the Empowering Midlife Wellness Retreat: https://tri.ps/J68Pw

Take the Enneagram test:
https://www.truity.com/test/enneagram-personality-test

Lucky Girl song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWBnxd6pRAE

FREE Manifesting 101 Masterclass:
https://manage.kmail-lists.com/subscriptions/subscribe?a=SgjejZ&g=UYLvD7

TEDXTalk - What I learned from 100 days of rejection by Jia Jiang
https://youtu.be/-vZXgApsPCQ?si=uWIjdjAzLsHE0MdT

The Truth About Lucky Girl Syndrome with Meg Ellis -
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ep97-the-truth-about-lucky-girl-syndrome/id1589873893?i=1000613486457


Connect with Meg Ellis!

Check out Meg’s website:
www.letscreateyourfate.com

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@letscreateyourfate

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/letscreateyourfate/

Creating the Life You Want with Meg Ellis | Empowering Midlife Wellness

Science is pretty clear about this one thing. To have a long, healthy life, the MOST important intervention is exercise, and specifically weight-bearing exercise. 
Today I have my dear friend, Kelley Workman, master personal trainer, and midlife woman herself back with me. As many of you know, Kelley is my personal trainer and has improved my health dramatically with some very simple lifestyle changes that she will discuss today. Not only does exercise improve things that might sound obvious like osteoporosis, high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes; but we are now learning that exercise is also very important in decreasing the risk of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases, as well as many cancers. 
By maintaining and building muscle mass, as well as protecting our cardiovascular system, we simply get fewer diseases and live longer. Kelley will also explain the importance of eating enough protein in order to support all muscles and how small changes in your daily nutrition plan can make a dramatic difference to not only how you feel now- but to  long and how well you will live in the later decades of life. Kelley is also a co-facilitator at our upcoming retreat in Costa Rica in November!

Learn more about Kelley:
http://kelleymoves.com/

Register for the Empowering Midlife Wellness Retreat: https://tri.ps/J68Pw

The MOST Important Thing for Improving Longevity | Empowering Midlife Wellness

When most people hear about GLP-1 medications like semaglutide or tirzepatide, they immediately think about diabetes or weight loss. In this video, I share a different perspective: the potential role of GLP-1 receptor agonists at microdoses in conditions where chronic inflammation is central to disease progression. 
We know that inflammation underlies many disorders — from autoimmune disease to neurodegenerative conditions. While there are currently no large-scale clinical studies on microdosing GLP-1s for these indications, there are intriguing reasons to consider their potential. GLP-1 medications have been shown to influence metabolic pathways, reduce systemic inflammation, and even demonstrate neuroprotective properties in some research settings. 
That’s why I’m interested in whether carefully supervised, very low doses of these drugs might offer benefits in conditions such as: Autoimmune disease Chronic pain syndromes PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) 
Mood and mental health issues Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline Cardiovascular and heart disease 
I want to be clear: this is an area of clinical curiosity, not established science. We don’t yet have the studies to guide us. But under the right medical supervision, there may be a safe way to explore whether microdosing could help patients who struggle with inflammation-driven diseases and have not found relief elsewhere. 
At Complete Midlife Wellness Center, my team and I welcome patients who are interested in innovative, science-informed approaches to health. If this conversation resonates with you, I’d be glad to explore whether GLP-1 microdosing might be an option for your unique situation. 

👉 Learn more or schedule a consultation: CompleteMidlifeWellnessCenter.com

Microdosing GLP-1: A New Approach to Inflammation-Driven Diseases

Meet Dr. Susan, a renowned Board-Certified Gynecologist and Certified Menopause Practitioner through the Menopause Society (former NAMS), focused on hormone optimization, sexual wellness, and longevity. She's the pioneering force behind the Complete Midlife Wellness Center in Houston, TX, and the best-selling author of "Sexually Woke." Tune into her engaging podcast, "Empowering Midlife Wellness," for insightful conversations. Boasting numerous accolades, including the Texas Super Doctor award and being consistently rated among Houston's top gynecologists, Dr. Susan combines her medical expertise with her passion as an ICF-certified life and leadership coach. Outside the clinic, she's a fitness enthusiast, marathon runner, Ironman triathlete, and mother of three young adults. Join her YouTube channel for empowering wellness strategies designed for midlife and beyond.

Content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your health care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical or mental health condition, and before undertaking any diet, dietary supplement, exercise, or other health program.

Microdosing GLP-1: A New Approach to Inflammation-Driven Diseases

Empowering Midlife Wellness with Dr. Susan