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Your Bones Are Talking: What Every Woman Should Know Before Osteoporosis

Featuring Dr. Heather Killie | New Hampshire Orthopedic Center

What if your bones are getting weaker long before you ever realize there's a problem?

This week on Faded to Fabulous, Vicki and Kim welcome back the fabulous Dr. Heather Killie, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist, for a conversation every woman should hear about bone health, perimenopause, menopause, and osteoporosis.

Here's the thing: Bone loss doesn't suddenly begin at 65, so why are we waiting until then to talk about it?

As estrogen levels decline, our bones undergo changes that can increase the risk of fractures, often without any noticeable symptoms. But the good news? There are things we can do NOW to protect our bones, maintain our strength, and reduce our risk of future fractures.

Dr. Killie joins us to break down the science, challenge some popular wellness trends, and explain why prevention and early detection matter so much.

In This Episode, We're Talking About:

• Estrogen and bone loss: What's actually happening to our bones during perimenopause and menopause?
• Osteopenia vs. osteoporosis: What's the difference, and does one always lead to the other?
• DEXA scans: Who should get one, when should you start asking, and what do those T-scores actually mean?
• Risk factors: How family history, body composition, medications, and lifestyle affect bone health.
• Strength training: Why resistance exercise is one of our most valuable tools for protecting bones and preventing falls.
• Calcium, vitamin D, and protein: What your bones need and why more isn't always better.
• GLP-1 medications: What women using weight-loss medications should know about maintaining muscle and bone health.
• Osteoporosis treatments: Understanding medication options and why follow-up care is so important.
• Wellness trends: Are weighted vests, vibration plates, and jumping exercises really helping our bones?

And of course, we couldn't let Dr. Killie leave without a little rapid-fire game of "Fabulous, It Depends, or Bull!" Let's just say some popular bone-health advice didn't survive the conversation. 😂

Meet Our Guest: Dr. Heather Killie

Dr. Heather Killie is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine at New Hampshire Orthopedic Center. With nearly two decades of experience practicing in New Hampshire, Dr. Killie is passionate about improving bone health education, identifying osteoporosis risks earlier, and helping patients prevent fractures before they happen.

Interested in learning more about your bone health or scheduling an evaluation?

New Hampshire Orthopaedic Center

Website: https://nhoc.com/

Phone (Call or Text): 603-883-0091

General Email: callcenter@nhoc.com

Bone Health Clinic Email: bonehealth@nhoc.com

Bone Health Clinic Information:
https://nhoc.com/additional-services/bone-health-clinic/

Office Locations:

• Nashua: 17 Riverside Street, Suite 101, Nashua, NH 03062
• Londonderry: 175 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, NH 03053
• Windham: 7 Indian Rock Road, Suite F, Windham, NH 03087
• Bedford: 9 Washington Place, Suite 101, Bedford, NH 03110

If this episode taught you something new, share it with a friend, sister, mother, or anyone who deserves to know more about protecting her bone health.

And tell us: Have you had a bone density scan yet? We'd love to hear from you!

Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider regarding screening, supplements, medications, and treatment decisions.

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This podcast is intended to educate and support women, but it is not a substitute for medical advice. If you're experiencing health concerns, please consult your healthcare provider.

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Guest: Dr. Heather Killie | Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon & Sports Medicine Specialist

Ever wake up feeling like you're 80 years old… even though you're nowhere close? Achy joints, sore muscles, mysterious hip pain, frozen shoulder, or injuries that just won't seem to heal?

You're not imagining it. And it might not be just getting older.

This week on Faded to Fabulous, Vicki and Kim welcome Dr. Heather Killie, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist at New Hampshire Orthopedic Center, to talk about something many women have never even heard of: the musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause.

As estrogen levels decline during perimenopause and menopause, the changes can affect far more than hot flashes and mood. We're talking muscles, tendons, joints, collagen, and bone health. And for some women, those changes may help explain why everything suddenly seems to hurt.

Dr. Killie breaks down the connection between estrogen and musculoskeletal health, why women in midlife may experience more tendon problems and unexplained pain, and what we can actually do about it.

And yes, we're talking about strength training. Because apparently, walking five miles a day isn't the whole answer. Who knew?!

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Why everything hurts: What the musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause is and how declining estrogen may contribute to joint pain, muscle aches, and inflammation.
• Frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, and hip pain: Why certain tendon conditions become more common in midlife.
• The estrogen connection: How hormones influence collagen, tendon repair, and musculoskeletal health, and where hormone therapy may help.
• Muscle loss during menopause: Why maintaining muscle becomes increasingly important as we age.
• Strength training is non-negotiable: Why resistance training matters for strength, mobility, and long-term independence.
• Is walking enough? Why cardiovascular exercise is valuable but doesn't replace resistance training.
• What if exercise hurts? How to recognize the difference between normal soreness and pain that deserves medical attention.
• Starting small: Why five minutes of movement can be a meaningful first step.
• Changing the goal: Why being strong enough to get off the floor at 80 matters more than fitting into a smaller pair of jeans.

Our Biggest Takeaway

It's time to stop looking at exercise solely as a way to lose weight and start thinking about it as an investment in our future selves.

We want strong muscles. Healthy bones. Bodies that move. And the independence to keep doing the things we love for decades to come.

As Dr. Killie reminds us, strength training isn't about becoming a bodybuilder. It's about staying capable, reducing injury risk, and giving our bodies the support they need through menopause and beyond.

And if you're experiencing unexplained aches and pains? Don't automatically dismiss them as aging. Ask questions, talk to your healthcare provider, and explore what might be contributing.

You don't have to simply accept feeling miserable as part of getting older.

Meet Our Guest

Dr. Heather Killie is a fellowship-trained, board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine at New Hampshire Orthopedic Center. With years of experience treating orthopedic conditions, she has developed a particular interest in the musculoskeletal changes women experience during perimenopause and menopause, as well as bone health.

Find Dr. Killie at:

New Hampshire Orthopedic Center
Website: http://www.nhoc.com/
Phone: 603-883-0091
Locations: Nashua, Londonderry, and Windham, NH

Coming Up Next

We're not done with Dr. Killie yet!

She'll be joining us for another episode dedicated to bone health, including why protecting our bones during menopause is so important.

Join the Conversation

Have you experienced mysterious joint pain, frozen shoulder, tendonitis, or muscle aches since entering perimenopause or menopause?

We want to hear about it! Tell us what changed for you and whether you've found anything that helps.

Because the more we talk about these experiences, the more women realize they're not alone.

Faded to Fabulous — real conversations about midlife, menopause, and everything nobody warned us about.

This episode is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Speak with your healthcare provider about persistent pain, exercise modifications, or hormone therapy.

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This podcast is intended to educate and support women, but it is not a substitute for medical advice. If you're experiencing health concerns, please consult your healthcare provider.

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Think your husband knows a thing or two about menopause? Think again! 😂

This week on Faded to Fabulous, we're putting our husbands in the hot seat! Vicki and Kim welcome Matt Kirby and Michael Sampson (aka Mr. Kim) for a hilarious, eye-opening game of menopause trivia.

Armed with buzzers, a little confidence, and years of firsthand experience living with menopausal women, the guys go head-to-head to see just how much they've actually learned.

From hot flashes and hormone changes to some of the lesser-known symptoms (itchy ears, anyone?), we're testing their knowledge, their listening skills, and just how well they really know their wives.

In this episode, we're talking about:

• The basics of menopause and perimenopause that every partner should know.
• Surprising menopause symptoms that don't get nearly enough attention.
• How hormonal changes affect everything from sleep and mood to brain health and relationships.
• What our husbands know (and don't know!) about our biggest midlife frustrations.
• The importance of patience, understanding, and support during menopause.
• How growing older together can bring unexpected appreciation for one another.

There are plenty of laughs, a little friendly competition, and even a few surprisingly sweet moments as the guys reflect on what they've learned about their wives over the years.

Because menopause may happen to women, but understanding it shouldn't be just our responsibility.

Whether you're navigating menopause yourself or sharing your life with someone who is, this episode is a reminder that a little education, a little empathy, and a good sense of humor can go a long way.

🎧 Tune in, share this one with your partner, and see how many questions THEY can answer!

Help Keep Faded to Fabulous Going! ❤️

We're a self-funded podcast on a mission to help women feel informed, supported, and seen. Our community fundraising campaign is underway, with a goal of raising $6,000 to cover six months of podcast production and help us stay independent and ad-free.

If you love what we're doing, please consider supporting the show. Every contribution makes a difference!

Support the podcast: https://givebutter.com/fadedtofabulous

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This podcast is intended to educate and support women, but it is not a substitute for medical advice. If you're experiencing health concerns, please consult your healthcare provider.

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What happens when you put a bunch of questions about aging, bodies, sex, relationships, food, weight, menopause, and health into a bowl—and answer them without knowing what’s coming next?

You get this episode. 😂

Kim and Vicki are pulling questions at random and talking about the things women think about, Google in private, whisper to their friends—or sometimes avoid asking altogether.

Can you love your body and still want to lose weight? Why do we feel judged for ordering dessert? Are we actually becoming invisible as we age—or are we just caring less about what everyone else thinks? Does sex really get better with age? And what happens when you and your partner have completely different levels of desire?

They also get into the more serious questions: symptoms women tolerate for far too long, when something might be menopause versus something worth investigating, pelvic-floor and vaginal symptoms women are often embarrassed to mention, and why so many women minimize what they're experiencing instead of bringing it up with a healthcare provider.

Plus, Kim and Vicki talk honestly about attraction in long-term relationships, feeling sexy in midlife, body comparison, changing bodies, GLP-1s, emotional eating, mismatched desire, and why loving your partner doesn't mean you're always going to be interested in sex.

And yes, before any of that, they have to talk about the three-second clip that reached 1.7 MILLION views and accidentally started an internet war over Hummels, china, and crystal. 😂

In this episode:

• Loving your body while still wanting to change it
• The things no one prepares you for about getting older
• Weight, body image, GLP-1s, and judgment
• Menopause symptoms vs. symptoms that need further investigation
• Why women minimize or normalize symptoms
• Pelvic health and painful sex
• Food guilt and why everyone suddenly has an opinion when a woman orders dessert
• Feeling sexy and confident in midlife
• Attraction after decades together
• Sex as we age
• Mismatched desire in relationships
• Why communication matters when intimacy changes
• And plenty of questions Kim and Vicki weren't exactly prepared to answer 😅

But the episode ends with a question for you:

If you could anonymously put ONE question in the bowl—about sex, aging, food, your body, relationships, menopause, or health—what would you ask?

Nothing is too awkward. Nothing is too weird. And chances are, another woman is wondering the exact same thing. Pasted text

🎧 Listen now, and come ask the questions we probably should've been talking about all along.

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This podcast is intended to educate and support women, but it is not a substitute for medical advice. If you're experiencing health concerns, please consult your healthcare provider.

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Ever feel like you’re doing everything “right” — eating less, staying active, maybe even taking a GLP-1 — and suddenly the scale just… stops?

Before you blame yourself, there may be something else going on: metabolic adaptation.

In this episode of Faded to Fabulous, Vicki and Kim break down what happens when your body adjusts to weight loss, why plateaus are a normal physiological response, and why the answer may NOT be to eat even less.

For women who grew up surrounded by diet culture and the idea that 1,200 calories was somehow the gold standard, this can be a major mindset shift.

We’re talking about:

• What metabolic adaptation actually means
• Why weight loss can slow or plateau over time
• How GLP-1 medications fit into the conversation
• Why chronically undereating can work against you
• The importance of resistance and strength training in midlife
• Why your workouts need to evolve as you get stronger
• Protein, muscle preservation, and lean body mass
• Why your body needs enough energy — even when weight loss is the goal
• Using body composition and other data to look beyond the number on the scale
• Letting go of the “I must be doing something wrong” mentality
• Shifting the goal from skinny to strong

And yes, we also talk about the emotional side of all of this — because wanting to feel strong and healthy AND wanting your pants to fit again can both be true.

Most importantly, a plateau isn’t proof that you’ve failed. Your body is responding to change, and understanding why can help you decide what comes next without immediately falling back into restriction.

We also share an update about the Faded to Fabulous Community Campaign and why we’re asking our community to help us continue creating honest, evidence-informed conversations for women navigating midlife.

If this episode makes you think of a friend, send it her way. And keep sending us your questions and episode ideas — we’re listening.

🎧 Faded to Fabulous
Real conversations about menopause, midlife, health, nutrition, hormones, and becoming stronger — not smaller.

Topics: Metabolic adaptation | Weight-loss plateau | GLP-1 medications | Menopause | Midlife weight loss | Strength training | Resistance training | Protein | Muscle loss | Lean body mass | Diet culture | Women’s health

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This podcast is intended to educate and support women, but it is not a substitute for medical advice. If you're experiencing health concerns, please consult your healthcare provider.

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In this on-the-road episode of Faded to Fabulous, Vicki Kirby (nurse practitioner and menopause specialist) and Kim Lovely (registered dietitian and certified life coach) explore midlife stress hormones and nervous system regulation, sharing how perimenopause/menopause can intensify feeling overstimulated, wired-but-tired, anxious, irritable, and unable to sleep. They break down the autonomic nervous system (sympathetic vs parasympathetic), why the goal is flexibility rather than constant relaxation, and how poor sleep can drive a vicious cycle of cravings, skipped workouts, and heightened cortisol patterns. They discuss practical basics like box breathing, nourishing meals, reducing late-night sugar, appropriate exercise intensity, and when menopause hormone therapy (especially progesterone for sleep and stabilizing estrogen) may help, while noting that persistent dysregulation may also involve mental health or unprocessed trauma. The episode includes a field trip to a Himalayan salt cave Bien Soigne in Salem, New Hampshire, where the owner, Kay Charron, explains respiratory and relaxation benefits and upcoming touchless wellness additions, and the hosts wrap by teasing a two-part series.

00:00 Road Trip Podcast Setup
00:28 Morning Routines and Supplements
02:38 Skincare and Hotworx Plans
03:23 Podcast Intro and Disclaimer
04:44 Birthday Yum and Catch Up
06:07 Midlife Stress Field Trips
08:15 Nervous System Basics
09:29 Why Midlife Feels Harder
11:56 Sleep and Dysregulation Cycle
13:43 Sleep Apnea Surprise
14:47 Cortisol Myths and Reality
16:22 Building Stress Resilience
19:47 Breathwork Box Breathing
22:20 Hormone Therapy and Mental Health
24:12 Rethinking Self Care
26:01 Pause Before Saying Yes
26:47 Cold Plunge Debate
27:17 Breathwork That Fits You
28:52 Adrenal Cocktail Myths
29:28 Magnesium and Menopause
30:35 Food Pillars for Calm
31:54 Blood Sugar and Sleep
32:52 Exercise for Dysregulation
33:12 Salt Cave Visit Begins
34:12 Why Regulation Matters
36:12 Salt Cave Health Benefits
38:14 Touchless Wellness Expansion
41:02 Magnesium in Himalayan Salt
43:38 Did the Salt Cave Help
44:46 Wrap Up and Part Two

Bien Soign

350 North Broadway
Salem, NH 03079

(603) 890-3244

https://biensoigne.com/

Support the show

✨ Join the Faded to Fabulous Community

💝 Support Our Mission! Click here🖥️ Website: https://www.fadedtofabulous.biz/
📲 Instagram: @fadedtofabulous
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🎥 YouTube: Faded to Fabulous

This podcast is intended to educate and support women, but it is not a substitute for medical advice. If you're experiencing health concerns, please consult your healthcare provider.

Send us Fan Mail

In this on-the-road episode of Faded to Fabulous, Vicki Kirby (nurse practitioner and menopause specialist) and Kim Lovely (registered dietitian and certified life coach) explore midlife stress hormones and nervous system regulation, sharing how perimenopause/menopause can intensify feeling overstimulated, wired-but-tired, anxious, irritable, and unable to sleep. They break down the autonomic nervous system (sympathetic vs parasympathetic), why the goal is flexibility rather than constant relaxation, and how poor sleep can drive a vicious cycle of cravings, skipped workouts, and heightened cortisol patterns. They discuss practical basics like box breathing, nourishing meals, reducing late-night sugar, appropriate exercise intensity, and when menopause hormone therapy (especially progesterone for sleep and stabilizing estrogen) may help, while noting that persistent dysregulation may also involve mental health or unprocessed trauma. The episode includes a field trip to a Himalayan salt cave Bien Soigne in Salem, New Hampshire, where the owner, Kay Charron, explains respiratory and relaxation benefits and upcoming touchless wellness additions, and the hosts wrap by teasing a two-part series.

00:00 Road Trip Podcast Setup
00:28 Morning Routines and Supplements
02:38 Skincare and Hotworx Plans
03:23 Podcast Intro and Disclaimer
04:44 Birthday Yum and Catch Up
06:07 Midlife Stress Field Trips
08:15 Nervous System Basics
09:29 Why Midlife Feels Harder
11:56 Sleep and Dysregulation Cycle
13:43 Sleep Apnea Surprise
14:47 Cortisol Myths and Reality
16:22 Building Stress Resilience
19:47 Breathwork Box Breathing
22:20 Hormone Therapy and Mental Health
24:12 Rethinking Self Care
26:01 Pause Before Saying Yes
26:47 Cold Plunge Debate
27:17 Breathwork That Fits You
28:52 Adrenal Cocktail Myths
29:28 Magnesium and Menopause
30:35 Food Pillars for Calm
31:54 Blood Sugar and Sleep
32:52 Exercise for Dysregulation
33:12 Salt Cave Visit Begins
34:12 Why Regulation Matters
36:12 Salt Cave Health Benefits
38:14 Touchless Wellness Expansion
41:02 Magnesium in Himalayan Salt
43:38 Did the Salt Cave Help
44:46 Wrap Up and Part Two

Bien Soign

350 North Broadway
Salem, NH 03079

(603) 890-3244

https://biensoigne.com/

Support the show

✨ Join the Faded to Fabulous Community

💝 Support Our Mission! Click here🖥️ Website: https://www.fadedtofabulous.biz/
📲 Instagram: @fadedtofabulous
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This podcast is intended to educate and support women, but it is not a substitute for medical advice. If you're experiencing health concerns, please consult your healthcare provider.

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On this episode of “Faded to Fabulous”, the hosts share a “yuck and yum” before discussing decluttering in midlife and the reality that adult children often don’t want inherited collections. One host describes suddenly managing her mother’s Alzheimer’s-related crisis after a fall, including clearing out a two-bedroom condo and car, which prompted her to purge her own stored holiday items. Guest Paula Whittier, co-founder of Home Shifters and a longtime memory-care professional, explains how she and partner Kim Cyr help seniors and families declutter, prepare moves, coordinate sales, and support clients with dementia, including assessments, quotes, and staged decisions (donate, trash, consign, auction, keep). They discuss emotional and family conflict dynamics, the importance of proactive planning (POA, clear directives, mediation), practical tips like moving the person first to assisted living, and offer contact information and free senior-care resource support.

00:00 Sneak Peek

01:45 Welcome and Yuck Yum

02:30 Gray Hair Fixes

03:26 Decluttering Midlife

04:39 Meet Organizer Paula

06:04 Why Kids Want Less

08:43 Balancing Sentiment

11:12 How They Start Jobs

14:02 Midlife Client Stories

16:22 Paperwork and Flood

17:51 Storage Then Sort

19:08 Psychology of Stuff

20:25 Grief and resentment

21:29 Starting tough talks

23:23 Family conflict and money

24:38 Proactive planning tools

27:18 Mediating with facts

29:23 Holiday visits and guilt

29:59 Moving day priorities

33:13 Adult kids dumping stuff

34:35 How to reach Home Shifters

37:58 Final thanks and wrap

For more information on decluttering, organizing, or helping your loved one transition to the next stage of life reach out to:

HomeShifters LLC

Paula Whittier 📍 603-305-3305

Kim Cyr 📍 603-494-0196

Support the show

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This podcast is intended to educate and support women, but it is not a substitute for medical advice. If you're experiencing health concerns, please consult your healthcare provider.

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In this episode of Faded to Fabulous, midlife experts Vicki Kirby and Kim Lovely focus on the “top of the sandwich” in the sandwich generation: aging parents—and the wake-up call it creates for planning our own futures. They stress being proactive before a crisis (like a fall) and share practical conversations to have early, including wills, living wills, healthcare proxies, account access, bill-paying, and clear wishes around long-term care. They discuss common barriers like resistance, fear, and cognitive decline, plus hard topics such as driving safety, complicated parent relationships, and caregiver stress. The hosts share cost realities for nursing homes, assisted living, and in-home care, explain Medicaid spend-down and the five-year look-back, and encourage boundaries about what adult children can realistically provide.

00:00 Proactive Care Talks
00:16 Podcast Welcome
01:36 Sandwich Generation Focus
02:44 Yuck and Yum
03:31 Online Criticism Stories
06:13 Aging Population Stats
07:21 Start the Hard Conversations
08:37 Key Planning Questions
09:26 Handling Parent Resistance
11:44 Small First Steps
13:45 Costs and Care Options
14:37 Home Care Reality Check
15:30 Medicare and Money Talk
15:44 Medicaid Spend-Down Rules
16:52 Planning Your Own Aging
17:11 Wills and Healthcare Proxies
18:12 Trusts and Power of Attorney
19:24 Retirement and Long-Term Care
21:31 Stubborn Parents and Decluttering
22:21 When Seniors Should Stop Driving
22:58 Dementia and Safety Decisions
26:11 Tough Family Dynamics
27:24 Setting Boundaries and Wrap-Up

Support the show

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This podcast is intended to educate and support women, but it is not a substitute for medical advice. If you're experiencing health concerns, please consult your healthcare provider.

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On Faded to Fabulous, host interviews women’s financial coach and educator Pam Richardson about “Money in Midlife,” focusing on why many women feel fear and avoidance around finances at 50 as retirement approaches alongside responsibilities like children, aging parents, divorce, or sudden widowhood. Pam shares her personal money recovery story after overspending, debt, and multiple inheritances, and explains how shame and underlying emotions drive avoidance, including resistance to wills and estate planning. The conversation covers student loan burdens, the common fear of running out of money, and how money habits differ by personality. Pam advises younger women to protect themselves with “yours, mine, and ours” accounts and recommends regular “money dates,” open family discussions, and planning to balance future security with living now. She highlights financially confident behaviors: negotiating, assembling a financial “dream team,” tracking numbers, and learning from risks.

Find Pam at: Pam@moneymasterywithpam.com

00:00 Midlife Money Wakeup
01:32 Meet Pam Richardson
02:16 From Inheritance to Recovery
04:27 Why 50 Feels Scary
05:57 Avoidance and Money Shame
07:29 Owning Financial Power
08:45 Widowhood and Preparedness
10:28 Aging Parents and Passwords
11:02 Wills Trusts and Inheritance
13:38 Debt and College Loans
15:45 Fear of Spending in Retirement
16:06 Debt Personality Test
18:06 Advice for Younger Women
18:35 Separate and Joint Accounts
20:12 Money Dates and Vision
21:27 Balancing Saving and Living
22:54 Now Not Then Mindset
25:12 Habits of Confident Women
26:59 Weekly Bills and Scarcity
27:56 Closing and Contact Info

Support the show

✨ Join the Faded to Fabulous Community

💝 Support Our Mission! Click here🖥️ Website: https://www.fadedtofabulous.biz/
📲 Instagram: @fadedtofabulous
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This podcast is intended to educate and support women, but it is not a substitute for medical advice. If you're experiencing health concerns, please consult your healthcare provider.

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Faded to Fabulous Episode 25: Cheers to 25! Listener Voices, Real Stories

Vickie and Kim celebrate the 25th episode of Faded to Fabulous with reflections on creating the podcast, gratitude for listeners, family, Studio Labs, and behind-the-scenes producer Keegan as she leaves for her first full-time job, and they welcome Megan to help with marketing and production. They invite feedback, tease a possible women’s retreat next year, and emphasize their mission to share accessible midlife care and education worldwide. Guest Shellie Rand shares how the podcast feels relatable, her active life, caring for family, and her menopause journey. Guest Tammy describes long-term stability in marriage and work, using GLP-1s alongside strength training, navigating perimenopause, and the importance of advocating.

00:00 25th Episode Kickoff
01:03 Gratitude for Listeners
03:11 Thanking Keegan
04:10 Meet Megan
04:47 Kim’s Thank Yous
07:25 Next 25 and Retreat Tease
08:15 Introducing Shellie Rand
10:19 Podcast Impact and Body Acceptance
12:04 Menopause Journey and HRT
15:41 Midlife Mindset and Boundaries
17:45 Advice to Younger Self
19:02 Closing Thanks and Yoga Talk
19:37 Yoga Wisdom Moment
19:50 Namaste and Third Eye
20:00 Meet Tammy Episode 25
21:25 Tammy Life and Stability
22:09 Food Struggles and GLP-1
24:09 Strength Training and Menopause
25:05 Hot Flash Wake Up Call
27:47 Starting Hormone Therapy
31:48 Talking Intimacy and Partners
35:17 Podcast Ahas and No Naked Carbs
37:27 Advice to Younger Self
39:09 Gratitude and Farewell

Support the show

✨ Join the Faded to Fabulous Community

💝 Support Our Mission! Click here🖥️ Website: https://www.fadedtofabulous.biz/
📲 Instagram: @fadedtofabulous
📘 Facebook: Faded to Fabulous
🎥 YouTube: Faded to Fabulous

This podcast is intended to educate and support women, but it is not a substitute for medical advice. If you're experiencing health concerns, please consult your healthcare provider.

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Finding Yourself Again One Adventure at a Time with Tracy Miller

On this episode of Faded to Fabulous, Kim and Vicki interview holistic health and life coach Tracy Miller, founder of the Women’s Wellness Exchange and creator of Adventures Within. Tracy shares how she reinvented her work over 20 years and, during COVID after being laid off, began hosting nature-based retreats that emphasize safe, optional adventure for women—especially 50-plus—such as snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and whitewater rafting, plus travel experiences like France. She discusses common barriers women face, including busyness, guilt about leaving family, and fear of trying new activities, and stresses giving oneself permission and removing pressure. The conversation explores midlife identity shifts, grief and letting go, vulnerability, and using discomfort as a signal for growth, with Miller advising women to “shake things up,” seek silence, and create space through solo time or travel. She directs listeners to adventureswithin.us and mentions future trips and ideas like mother-daughter retreats and destinations such as Patagonia and Peru.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
01:29 Tracy’s Coaching Journey
02:27 Adventures Within Origins
03:52 Retreats and Safe Adventure
05:21 Barriers and Permission
09:29 Midlife Identity Shifts
13:51 Letting Go and Grief
17:38 Shake Things Up Reset
21:04 Solo Travel and Ripple Effects
22:41 How to Join and Closing

To start your own adventure please visit: https://adventureswithin.us/

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Swiping, Healing, Hoping: Dating After Divorce in Midlife

In this “Faded to Fabulous” episode on dating after divorce, the hosts share SurveyMonkey results and discuss “gray divorce” (divorce increasingly common ages 45–60, roughly doubled since the 1990s), noting that one in four divorces involve adults over 50 and women initiate 65–70% of divorces. Survey respondents were largely from long-term marriages (mostly 10–20+ years); common hardest parts included managing kids, finances, custody time, loss of the family home for gatherings, judgment, and starting over. Reported divorce reasons included marrying too young, alcoholism, abuse, infidelity, emotional neglect, and growing apart. Dating topics included fears (rejection, trust, body image, blending families), app fatigue, and “icks” like fish photos, poor communication, sexting, old photos, and unsolicited explicit pictures, plus red flags such as love bombing and lying; many emphasized knowing what they want, being picky, and learning independence, with a positive story of finding love at 64.

00:00 Biggest Dating Icks
00:28 Podcast Intro and Topic
01:31 Why Survey Anonymously
02:42 Gray Divorce Explained
05:16 Remarriage Stats and Trends
06:49 Divorce Realities and Survey Results
10:29 Dating After Divorce Questions
11:39 Modern Dating Terms
12:07 Ghosting Breadcrumbing Intentions
13:37 Catfishing and Online Risks
13:47 Catfishing Cautionary Tale
15:17 Survey Dating Status
16:17 Fears and Insecurities
16:55 Upsides of Midlife Dating
17:48 Apps and Profile Icks
19:23 What I Wish I Knew
20:21 Red Flags and Love Bombing
21:05 Lessons and Community Support
22:10 Age Gaps and Lifestyle Match
24:43 Hopeful Love Story Ending

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This podcast is intended to educate and support women, but it is not a substitute for medical advice. If you're experiencing health concerns, please consult your healthcare provider.

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From Stiff to Strong: Mobility meets motivation

In this episode of Faded to Fabulous, the hosts welcome Emily Boynton, owner of The Fit in Derry, personal trainer, longtime student of women’s nutrition, and aspiring certified life coach, who shares how women’s health became central to her life after losing her mom to health issues. Emily describes The Fit as a co-ed, safe, supportive gym focused on strength, conditioning, mobility, flexibility, injury prevention, and programming that helps people move better. She discusses her past struggles with body image, why tying worth to looks is risky as standards change, and encourages women to “wear the bathing suit” and live without constant self-scrutiny. Emily explains why resistance training is non-negotiable (“badass and bone density”), emphasizes it’s relative and accessible, and offers strategies for moving from knowledge to action, managing discomfort, shutting down negative self-talk, and building self-trust through safe, purposeful challenge and fun, gamified workouts.

00:00 Worth Beyond Looks
00:21 Podcast Welcome
00:50 Meet Emily Boynton
02:27 What Makes The Fit Different
04:00 Body Image Journey
06:08 Wear The Bathing Suit
06:35 Badass And Bone Density
09:58 From Knowing To Doing
12:16 Let It Be Hard
13:18 Getting Back In
14:22 Come As You Are
16:16 Quieting Negative Self Talk
17:06 Try Fail Grow
18:28 Trusting Future You
20:02 Coaching With Joy
20:47 Games That Make Fitness Fun
22:08 Gratitude And Sendoff

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This podcast is intended to educate and support women, but it is not a substitute for medical advice. If you're experiencing health concerns, please consult your healthcare provider.

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Through Menopause Together: Marriage, Mood Swings and Menopause

On Faded to Fabulous, Vicki welcomes guest "Farah Faucet" and Kim’s husband Michael for a conversation about menopause, support, and partnership. Kim shares how menopause-related hair thinning led her to invest in extensions, boosting her confidence and reinforcing her mantra that women don’t have to live with fixable issues. She recounts receiving little menopause care from providers and feeling isolated, anxious, and mood-dysregulation, with heavy frequent cycles until Michael urged her to find support. Michael describes being naive about menopause, “turtling” during conflict, and learning that men can feel isolated too. They discuss improved communication post-menopause, practical teamwork in daily life, advice for partners not to take symptoms personally, and the value of education and treatment plans.

00:00 No Menopause Support
00:16 Podcast Welcome
00:33 Hair Extensions Reveal
02:57 Doing It for Me
03:56 Meet Michael
04:47 Kim’s Menopause Highs
05:40 Low Point and Advocacy
06:45 Isolation and Mood Swings
07:42 Michael’s Perspective
09:40 Partners Need Education
11:54 Family Menopause History
13:05 Who’s Coming Downstairs
14:08 Midlife Changes and Parenting
15:18 Owning Confidence at 61
15:43 Michael as the Caboose
16:59 When Communication Broke Down
18:39 Quieter Season Together
20:53 Advice for Menopause Partners
24:38 Hormones and the Goldilocks Zone
25:22 Favorite Things and Pride
28:09 Wrap Up and Call to Action

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This podcast is intended to educate and support women, but it is not a substitute for medical advice. If you're experiencing health concerns, please consult your healthcare provider.

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Hormone Therapy Updates: GLP-1s, Progesterone Intolerance, Patch Shortages & Better Menopause Care

In this Fated to Fabulous episode, the hosts revisit hormones to address women’s confusion from too much conflicting information and share updated insights from Vicki’s practice. They discuss how hormone therapy can affect other medications, including the need to recheck thyroid labs after starting estrogen, and clarify that hormone therapy isn’t a weight-loss solution, though GLP-1s may help midlife weight gain—while potentially requiring progesterone dose adjustments to protect the uterus. They highlight overlooked care in women in their 50s and 60s, including painful sex, chronic UTIs, and the need for vaginal estrogen, and emphasize nuanced perimenopause treatment beyond “just an antidepressant.” The episode covers progesterone sensitivity vs intolerance, alternative delivery options, estradiol patch supply shortages, frustration from inconsistent clinician guidance, and the importance of realistic expectations and patient, individualized care.

00:00 Welcome Back
01:22 Hormones Revisited
02:32 Girls Trip Yums
05:18 Medication Interactions
06:38 GLP-1 Weight Reality
09:18 Menopause Care In 60s
11:45 Perimenopause Nuances
14:02 Progesterone Intolerance
18:36 Patch Shortage Options
20:10 Conflicting Clinician Advice
24:09 Realistic Expectations
27:34 Wrap Up And Next Steps

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This podcast is intended to educate and support women, but it is not a substitute for medical advice. If you're experiencing health concerns, please consult your healthcare provider.

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If you’ve ever stood in your kitchen wondering “what should I eat?” this episode is for you.

We’re breaking down how to simplify meal planning, reduce decision fatigue, and build balanced meals that actually support your body in midlife, without overcomplicating it.

We also tackle one of the biggest misconceptions online right now: the fear of fruit. Whole fruit isn’t the problem—and we explain why.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why fruit is not the enemy 🍎
• How meal planning reduces stress + saves money
• A simple formula for balanced meals (protein + fiber + veggies + “glue”)
• Why planning just 3 dinners per week works
• Easy strategies: leftovers, sheet pan meals, freezer staples
• How to use tools like ChatGPT to plan meals from what you already have
• Real-life tips to make this sustainable

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🎧 Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome and Topic Tease
01:27 Stop Fearing Fruit
03:50 Meal Planning Made Easy
04:27 Why Planning Matters
06:48 Start With One Meal
08:03 Lunch Formula and Add Ons
09:18 Three Dinners Mindset
11:35 Sheet Pan Meal Playbook
12:52 Simple Food Wins
13:18 Saturday Planning Routine
13:48 Weather Based Planning
14:01 Recipe Inspiration Sources
14:31 Three Meals A Week
14:51 Girl Dinner Reality
15:36 Linner And Big Lunch
16:11 Simplify The Pressure
16:43 Shortcuts And Freezer Staples
17:24 Whole Foods Family Meals
18:36 Mindset And Routine Reset
20:13 Tech Help With ChatGPT
23:12 Meal Sharing With Friends
24:00 Tool Link And Donations
25:18 Wrap Up And Goodbye

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This podcast is intended to educate and support women, but it is not a substitute for medical advice. If you're experiencing health concerns, please consult your healthcare provider.

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EMDR, Trauma & Menopause: Calming the Nervous System in Midlife with Sarah Benoit

On Faded To Fabulous, the hosts interview licensed psychotherapist and trauma specialist Sarah Benoit about EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and why nervous system regulation and trauma work are especially important for women in midlife. Sarah explains how EMDR uses bilateral stimulation to help “unstick” traumatic memories so they no longer feel like they’re happening in the present, outlines what clients can expect in an EMDR process, and clarifies “big T” versus “little t” trauma. She shares how perimenopause/menopause can intensify anxiety, depression, and old programming, including body image and relationship triggers, and discusses identity shifts and grief in this season. Sarah also introduces her 90-day online Integrated Menopause Care Model launching March 20 and shares how to find her on Instagram (@scbenoit720).

https://sarahcbenoit.com/

00:00 Welcome and Topic Setup
01:37 What EMDR Is
02:11 How EMDR Works
03:11 Menopause Program Launch
03:51 Her Menopause Wake Up Call
05:26 Calming the Nervous System
06:07 Identity and Grief Shift
07:49 HRT Fears and Unlearning
09:42 Menopause Anxiety Misread
11:55 Why EMDR Helps Midlife
13:11 EMDR Session Walkthrough
16:59 Body Image Reprocessing
19:28 Gen X Beauty Standards
20:12 Beauty Standards Pressure
20:37 Beyond The Body
22:04 Guilt In Relationships
23:21 Friendship Exclusion Triggers
24:53 Second Puberty Feelings
25:46 Book Announcement
26:10 Big T Vs Little T
28:36 Encouraging Therapy Support
30:08 Worthiness And Advocacy
31:44 Program Details And Access
33:14 Final Thanks And Wrap

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This podcast is intended to educate and support women, but it is not a substitute for medical advice. If you're experiencing health concerns, please consult your healthcare provider.

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In this episode, Kim and Vicki talk about the mental load many midlife women carry... the constant planning, remembering, and managing of everything behind the scenes of daily life. From meals and schedules to vacations and family logistics, being the household “project manager” can quietly lead to burnout.

They unpack why phrases like “just make me a list” can add to the burden, how perimenopause and shifting hormones can amplify stress and resentment, and the signs that your mental load may be overflowing.

You’ll also hear practical ways to lighten the load like sharing full ownership of tasks, making invisible work visible, and recognizing that your energy is finite.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by everything you carry in your head, this episode will help you feel seen—and give you tools to start sharing the load. 💛

🎧Timestamps

00:00 Welcome and Topic Setup
01:23 What Mental Load Means
03:05 The “Make Me a List” Trap
04:59 Pandemic Grocery List Breakdown
07:12 Hormones, Perimenopause & Resentment
09:01 Letting Go and Sharing Tasks
10:09 Burnout Signs and Freeze Mode
12:32 Moms Need Real Time Off
14:32 Practical Ways to Unload
16:10 Nova Scotia Packing Lesson
18:22 Sitting With Discomfort & Making Work Visible
20:19 The Finite Energy Cup Analogy
21:21 Final Encouragement and Wrap Up

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This podcast is intended to educate and support women, but it is not a substitute for medical advice. If you're experiencing health concerns, please consult your healthcare provider.

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Together, we break down what the pelvic floor actually is (and why it’s more than “just Kegels”), how it connects to incontinence, back and hip pain, sexual function, and athletic performance, and why strength training and biofeedback are game changers. We also discuss gaps in postpartum care, hormone therapy support, overtraining in midlife, and why most women need less HIIT — and more smart, progressive strength.

In this episode of Faded to Fabulous, Kim is joined by Meghan Rohde, PT, DPT, PhD, SCS and Leah Mycofsky, PT, MS, DPT, CSCS, founders of Revolution Wellness Collective, a practice focused on holistic wellness, prevention, and performance. Their mission is to move beyond symptom management and address root causes through strength-based, evidence-driven care.

Website: Revolution Wellness Collective

Instagram: Revolution Wellness Collective

🎧 Episode Timeline
00:00 Welcome and Guests
01:26 How They Met
02:37 Pelvic Floor Basics
04:00 Start Thinking Early
06:18 Postpartum Care Gaps
07:27 Midlife Symptoms
08:40 Estrogen and Advocacy
10:57 Kim’s Pelvic Floor Story
13:24 What a PT Visit Looks Like
16:19 Strength Training Approach
17:20 Biofeedback in the Gym
19:04 Common Fitness Mistakes
21:15 HIIT Stress Hormones
22:09 Strength With Pelvic Floor
23:06 Trampoline Pee Mystery
24:56 Rebounder Class Hype
26:20 Why Kegels Fail
28:28 Breathing and Yoga Bandhas
31:27 Find Them Online
32:16 Midlife Top Three Tips
37:05 Final Takeaways

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This podcast is intended to educate and support women, but it is not a substitute for medical advice. If you're experiencing health concerns, please consult your healthcare provider.