Last month my video with Dr. Antoniewicz (@drleahatoz) started the discussion about the importance of diagnosing and treating insulin resistance, not only for weight management but for lifelong health and disease reduction. 
Today we are digging more into this really important and complex topic, and highlighting some more details about what IR is, why it’s important, how we diagnose it and how we can treat it with simple concepts surrounding Nutrition, Movement, Rest and Stress (emotional and physical) management. 

If you didn’t catch Part 1, you can find here!  If you struggle with your weight, sugar addiction or just feel stuck, as  Dr. Leah says, "you are not a bad person trying to get good, you are a sick person trying to get well”. While up to 40% of American women suffer with IR (largely undiagnosed) only a small fraction are getting the help that they need. My hope is that the information you will hear today will inspire you on your wellness journey, and we are here to help you. The recipe for success in healing IR is clear, it works for our patients, and it can work for you too!

Drop Belly Fat by Reducing Insulin NOT Calories! with Dr. Antoniewicz - PART 2 | Menopause Solutions

Have  you been as confused as me about all the controversy that you hear about which fats are the healthiest? Which ones we should avoid and which we should consume more of? What does MUFA, PUFA, trans fat or saturated fat mean? Is a  low-fat diet healthy or should we aim for 30% fat or higher? Today I'll go through a basic introduction to the types of fat that are available in foods, which ones appear scientifically to be the most healthy,  and which ones we should avoid.

The Truth About Fats: The Good, The Bad, and The UGLY | Metabolism 101 | Dr. Susan Hardwick-Smith

So much has changed in our understanding of cholesterol and how it affects our risk for heart disease since I was in med school! Until recently we talked about "good cholesterol" and "bad cholesterol" with very little understanding of what those words actually meant. Today I'll attempt to unwind a little bit about what cholesterol does in our body, how to test for the particular lipoproteins that put us at highest risk for heart disease, the importance of ApoB, and most importantly what we can do to reduce our risk of heart disease based on this information.  While this is often a largely forgotten subject for women, it's important to remember that the number one killer of both men and women is cardiovascular disease, and it is critical that we understand our own heart health, and how to optimize it!

Demystifying ApoB and Lipid Panels: Understanding Your Bloodwork Results

Sometimes we have to be our own advocate and ask for the tests that we need since many doctors don't offer very high-level labs that can be critical to maximizing your healthspan and helping you to feel great. Today I'm going to go through a real patient's lab panel and show you what we look for in our office during a hormone consultation. I'll be discussing the difference between "reference ranges" and "optimal ranges" so that you can interpret your own lab values with a critical eye and make sure that you're not missing any opportunities for wellness. I'll include an actual copy of this patient's labs so that you can ask for exactly the same thing when you go to your doctor and you'll be empowered with everything you need to start on your wellness journey! 

LINK - https://completemidlifewellnesscenter.com/private-practice/womens-fasting-panel/ 

If you do get these labs done, we can also discuss them with you virtually -or in person if you find your way to Houston!

Mastering Lab Values: A Vital Handbook for Women in Menopause & Perimenopause

While the safety and benefits of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) are becoming widely accepted, hot debate continues around dosing, delivery methods and how to monitor levels. Advisory boards including the American College of Ob/Gyn and the Menopause Society support the use of (MHT), but much confusion continues regarding ideal blood levels, whether to check blood levels at all, and optimal route of delivery. The dosing of both estradiol and testosterone varies 5-10 fold between methods such as patches, gels, sublingual methods or pellets. Both doctors and patients need to understand the dose that they are prescribing to make an educated decision. Today I will help to shed light on the differences between these options, and why my strong opinion is that blood levels are critical to ensure that levels are not too high or low for your optimal health.

Hormone Therapy for Menopause: A Guide to Doses, Levels, and Delivery Methods

Welcome to a candid conversation where I shed light on a topic often shrouded in secrecy—the nuanced world of soft cock and erectile disappointment. Joining me in this conversation is  none other than the remarkable Michelle Renne from Soft Cock Week. As a dedicated sex educator, Michelle brings a wealth of wisdom and empathy to our exploration, challenging us to reframe our understanding of what it means to navigate softness in a world obsessed with hardness.

In this dialogue, we unravel the layers of stigma and misconception surrounding softness, inviting listeners to challenge societal norms and embrace a new narrative. Together, we navigate the emotional and psychological terrain of soft cock experiences, offering understanding, validation, and hope.

From debunking myths to addressing the complexities of relationships, we explore the importance of open communication, vulnerability, emotional intimacy, and self-compassion in the face of disappointment. This isn't just a conversation—it's a call to action to dismantle societal norms and rewrite the narrative around pleasure and sexual wellness.

So, get ready to shift your perspective, broaden your understanding, and join us in creating a safe space where vulnerability meets empowerment. Let's challenge perceptions and celebrate softness!

About Michelle: Michelle Renee (she/her), is an intimacy guide based in San Diego, California, offering human connection ranging from platonic nurturing touch as a professional cuddler, to surrogate partner therapy, a modality where she works with clients in conjunction with their talk therapist, to support them in working through their difficulties around emotional and physical intimacy. Her passion is working with clients with a history of trauma and supporting them in establishing safety in themselves and others. In addition to her one-on-one hands-on support, in 2022 she launched SoftCockWeek.com, a week of education, normalization, and celebration of the flaccid phallus. This year she’s added podcasting to her resume, as the host of The Intimacy Lab as well as The Soft Cock Week Podcast.
Websites:  meetmichellerenee.com and humanconnectioncoach.com
Instagram: @meetmichellerenee
Twitter: @thetrojankitten
Facebook: facebook.com/meetmichellerenee
TikTok: @meetmichellerenee
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/meetmichellerenee

WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/NJqSWqiw4p0

----
About Sex Ed for the Modern Bed: Meet Taara! A sex educator, podcaster, and somatic sex educator, Taara is on a mission to help people discover their authentic sexual selves. With a passion for supporting individuals to embody consent and boundaries in their bodies, Taara provides non-judgmental sexual education to all who seek it. Since 2014, Taara has been working as a non-monogamous educator and podcaster with her partner. But in April 2021, she decided to take her knowledge to the next level and enrolled in school to become a certified Somatic Sex Educator and Sexological Bodyworker. As an advanced student with The Institute for the Study of Somatic Sex Education and a certified "Like a Pro" graduate with the School of Consent, Taara has dedicated her life to helping others explore their sexuality in a safe and supportive environment. When she's not educating others, Taara can be found spending time with her furry friends, experiencing the pleasure of nature, and always learning more about sex, sexuality, and relationships. Join Taara on her journey towards discovering your authentic sexual self - you won't regret it! www.sexedforthemodernbed.com/

---
WORK WITH ME:
https://www.sexedforthemodernbed.com/services

---
SAY HI ON SOCIAL:
Twitter: twitter.com/sxuninterrupted
Instagram: www.instagram.com/sexedforthemodernbed/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sexuninterrupted/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/sexuninterrupted

Music Credit: Shake - Anno Domini Beats (Theme Music)
© SU Lifestyle Media Inc.

Season 2

Episode 27: Embracing Softness: Redefining Erectile Disappointment

This past two decades has brought so much confusion about menopausal hormone replacement and breast cancer risk, but we now are entering a modern time with a much better understanding of how all this works. 

Today I'm going to review how this controversy ever started and what the modern understanding is regarding estrogen and breast cancer. You may be surprised that we are now flipping the script and realizing that estrogen not only has no effect on increasing breast cancer risk, but actually reduces the risk of dying from breast cancer if it's started early. Not only that, but estrogen also undeniably reduces the risk of colon cancer, osteoporosis, and particularly cardiovascular disease when it is started shortly after menopause. 

We no longer recommend taking hormone replacement only for treatment of hot flashes and night sweats, or stopping it after any defined time period. The health benefits of starting it as soon as possible after menopause and taking it for life outweigh any risks for most women.

~ Dr. Susan

Estrogen and Breast Cancer: A Contemporary Perspective

Many people have strong opinions about compounding pharmacies, although few people know what they really are, how they are regulated and what the difference is between one type of compounding pharmacy and another. There is a perception that compounded drugs are not FDA approved, not regulated or somehow not safe or reliable. Today I'm going to explain what these pharmacies are, why we might choose to use them (or not) and why the perception that compounding is inferior or not safe is quite inaccurate.

Compounding Pharmacies Explained: Safety, Regulations & Misconceptions

The most common killer of both men and women is heart attack, so understanding how to reduce our risk could not be more important. Since the 1980's, studies have consistently shown that menopausal hormone therapy (particularly estrogen) reduces the risk of heart disease in women. The now infamous Women's Health Initiative study surprised the medical community in 2002 by suggesting that hormone therapy increased the risk of heart attack in a small subset of women. After 22 years of gathering more data,  multiple large studies have now confirmed what we previously understood, which is that estrogen has a highly beneficial effect for the heart if it's started in the first 10 years after menopause, and benefit seems to be negligible if it's started later (but not harmful). We no longer recommend taking the lowest dose for the shortest time, but rather suggest starting menopausal hormone therapy as early as possible and continuing it long term. For the great majority of patients the benefits far outweigh any potential risks.

Heart Health & Menopausal Hormone Therapy: What Women Need to Know

We all know that alcohol is a toxin with numerous effects on our health - from weight gain, to sleep and mood disruption as well as causing multiple cancers, diabetes, heart disease, gut dysbiosis, liver damage and dementia - even at "socially acceptable levels." Many of us drink in moderation and don't consider it to be a "problem"- but today I'm discussing an interesting way of reframing your relationship with alcohol and being very clear about where it might be causing problems in your life. 

I came across an amazing community called "One Year No Beer" (link and tag on social) and joined their 28 day alcohol free challenge. This challenge is supported with emails, videos and connecting with others on the same journey, and invites you to experience how you feel without alcohol for a prolonged period.  Like me- a break from drinking  makes most people realize that we are being held back by alcohol, and without it many things improve!  My personal goal is to be someone who drinks "as much as I like as often as I like"- which will amount to very little, and not very often.

Is alcohol holding you back?

What are people doing to have better sex with their partners?  Or themselves? Who goes to sex parties? How do threesomes work? Why is your sex drive low?

Sex is in a state of rapid progression. Relationships, sexualities, and genders are detaching from cultural norms and these changes are empowering people to design the sex life they crave.

Join Taara Rose (from the podcast formerly known as Sex Uninterrupted) as they bring a fresh perspective to sex, dating and relationships and discuss what modern love can look like. Their training as a Somatic Sex Educator coupled with experience in ethical non-monogamy helps openminded folks cultivate personal expansion and uncover how to experience pleasurable and fulfilling sex.

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.

New tracks tagged #sexualwellness