Dr. Anjali Dsouza, a board certified integrative and functional medicine doctor who specializes in women’s health and hormones joins the show to discuss optimizing metabolic health from the reproductive years to perimenopause and beyond.

We get into why only 12% of Americans are metabolically healthy and how even those at a “normal” weight may be unknowingly dealing with insulin resistance or chronic inflammation. If you’ve ever felt confused about cholesterol, intermittent fasting, or how to prevent metabolic disease, this conversation will give you clarity, confidence, and action steps you can start using today.

We cover:

• • Optimal metabolic health through the phases of motherhood
  • What you need to know about biomarkers like glucose, insulin, triglycerides, HDL ratio, A1C, and hsCRP
  • What to eat to stabilize blood sugar and lower inflammation
  • The truth about intermittent fasting, low-carb diets, high-protein intake and fiber
  • How stress, sleep, and HRV impact metabolic and hormonal balance
  • Supplements that support metabolic health goals
  • Understanding cholesterol, LDL particles, ApoB, and genetic risk markers
  • How community and relationships support long-term well-being
  • Dr. Dsouza’s personal self-care practices using habit stacking to maximize time as a busy physician and mom

• This conversation is your complete guide to taking proactive control of your metabolic health as a woman—through every stage of the motherhood journey.

  Join the waitlist for a free health coaching session with Helene here

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  Follow Dr. Dsouza on Instagram @anjalidsouzamd, and send her a DM to join her free monthly newsletter—a practical, action-oriented resource for women ready to take charge of their health.

  Episode show notes here

  This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice.

In today’s episode, we’re diving into a topic that so many busy moms struggle with—how to build a consistent workout routine, stay motivated, and finally start seeing real results. Whether your goals are physical, mental, or a combination of both, this episode will guide you through practical steps to create a routine that actually sticks and leads to change.

From battling exhaustion and self-doubt to finding time in your unpredictable schedule, we cover it all—plus the mindset shifts, strategies, and accountability tools that will support your wellness journey long-term. You’ll leave this episode feeling empowered to build a fitness routine that works for your life, body, and goals.

What you’ll learn in this Episode:

-How to define your personal fitness goals—without self-judgement or external pressures

-Why motivation must come first, how to cultivate it and feel excited to workout

-How to determine if a new workout or fitness routine is a good fit for you

-Practical strategies for creating a workout schedule that works with mom life

-How to overcome common consistency hurdles like childcare, exhaustion and hectic schedules

-The role of mindset and real talk about how to move through self-doubt

-Guided exercise and journaling practice for how to set authentic and aligned workout goals

-How to track your progress and know if your routine is working

-Troubleshooting consistent workout routines that are not leading to results

-How to tweak your workout routine to improve your results

This episode will help you to hit the ground running with a workout routine that can help you finally achieve the results you both desire and deserve!

Join the waitlist for a free health coaching session with Helene ⁠here⁠

Connect with ⁠Helene⁠ and the ⁠Mind Body Mother Community⁠!

This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice.

In today’s episode, Psychodynamic Therapist, Friendship Educator and toddler mom Blake Blankenbecler joins me for an honest conversation on all things friendship in motherhood. We discuss how to both maintain existing friendships and cultivate new aligned relationships as a busy mom. Blake shares her journey of moving around a lot, going through infertility and how to navigate friendships through challenging seasons of life.

Whether you struggle with balancing time for friends with the overwhelm of motherhood or are desperately craving building community and connection with other moms, this episode is packed with valuable insights and next steps!

We discuss:

• Tips for balancing time for your primary relationships and friendships

• How to find aligned friends in motherhood

• Blake’s top two criteria for identifying healthy, supportive friendships

• What research says your “inner circle” should look like

• How to figure out when a friendship is worth the effort

• Navigating conflict and hard conversations

• Handling unsolicited advice and comparison

• The truth about vulnerability in friendships

• Finding friends in a new city or new season of life

• Friendship through infertility, grief, and challenging times

This conversation is full of insight on cultivating and nourishing relationships with the friends who are truly aligned with your most authentic self!

Skip the waitlist and become a Function Health member testing 100+ biomarkers and receiving interpreted results from top doctors, use code: HTRAGERKUSMAN10 or click here.

Connect with Helene and the Mind Body Mother Community!

Learn more about Blake and Fig Holistic Therapy

Check out Blake’s friendship deck and gather friends to play together!

This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice.