Not Your Mother's Menopause with Dr. Fiona Lovely

In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Fiona Lovely welcomes Wade Lightheart, a certified sports nutritionist and co-founder of BiOptimizers, for a deep dive into a topic that rarely gets the attention it deserves: digestion. Wade brings a remarkable personal story—after losing his sister to Hodgkin's disease and later experiencing a mysterious 42-pound weight gain in just 11 weeks, he discovered he had learned to build his body from the outside in, not the inside out. He explains that humans are the only species that cooks their food, destroying the enzymes naturally present in what we eat, which places enormous strain on the body's own enzyme production. For women in midlife, this matters enormously: when protein cannot be broken down into amino acids, the consequences ripple outward into muscle loss, stubborn weight gain, mood disruption, and fatigue. Wade walks through the five stages of digestion, offers a simple at-home baking soda test to check stomach acid, and explains why protein timing and digestive support are essential for women navigating menopause. This episode is a masterclass in why digestion is the foundation of hormonal health, metabolism, and vitality. Episode Highlights: Why cooking food depletes enzymes and burdens the pancreas, liver, and gallbladder The five stages of digestion and where things typically go wrong A simple baking soda test to determine if you need more stomach acid Why "it's not what you consume, it's what you digest, absorb, and utilize" The critical link between gut health, serotonin production, and carbohydrate cravings Why women should prioritize protein early in the day, not just at dinner If you've been eating all the right things but still feeling depleted, this conversation will change how you think about every meal. Thank you to our sponsors for this episode: 🌱 Ready to level up your nutrition? Check out AG1 for nutritional insurance on busy days! Visit our partner page here, to discover the ultimate all-in-one nutritional supplement. Plus, our podcast subscribers score exclusive freebies! 💚 😴Support for Deeper Sleep with BIOptimizers: We talk a lot about hormone and nervous system balance, and quality sleep is foundational to both. Most supplements rely on just one cheap form of magnesium, but Magnesium Breakthrough Advanced now includes ten essential forms to truly nourish your nervous system and support deep, restful sleep. BIOptimizers has spent over two decades in their own lab perfecting this blend. Get 15% off your order: Visit bioptimizers.com/lovely and use promo code LOVELY at checkout. 🥱 Dr. Fiona Lovely is a longevity, health and wellness expert with specialties in menopause medicine, functional neurology and functional medicine. She is speaking to the topics of women's health around perimenopause and menopause. How to work with Dr. Lovely: We get many requests for this info, so here it is! First off, thank you for listening to the NYMM podcast. It's because of your support, we can continue to dispense this information.❤️ Follow Dr. Lovely on IG and TikTok: @drfionalovely Follow the podcast on Facebook: www.facebook.com/@notyourmothersmenopausepodcast Please sign up for our newsletter - Fiona's Friday Favourites! This is where we make the first announcements, share course offerings, drop new episodes, blog posts and the coveted 'Fiona's Favourites' column, etc. drlovely.com You can also find some great resources there! Finally, a humble request: If you love the podcast, please leave us a review! It helps more people find useful info for a challenging time: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/not-your-mothers-menopause-with-dr-fiona-lovely/id1097326296 Please scroll to the bottom of the page to leave a review. Thank you! 💕🤗 Partnerships by Category3 Media Group

In this lively and wide-ranging conversation, Dr. Fiona Lovely welcomes back Dr. Carrie Jones, a naturopathic physician and internationally recognized expert in women's health and hormones. Known as the "Queen of Hormones," Dr. Jones brings over two decades of clinical experience to a discussion that moves seamlessly from the deeply clinical to the delightfully personal. The two explore how the definition of perimenopause has been far too narrow, with symptoms often beginning in a woman's thirties—years before most doctors think to look. Dr. Jones also highlights a significant shift in the field: new position papers from international menopause societies now recommend that women who reach menopause before age 45 be treated differently, with hormone replacement positioned as protection for the brain, bones, and heart, not merely symptom relief. Beyond the clinical, the conversation celebrates the friendships that sustain women through this transition and challenges the notion that menopause should be endured in silence. Dr. Jones shares her own experience of moving through the "I don't care" era with newfound peace, and she offers candid reflections on everything from Korean skincare to strength training. Listeners will walk away informed, encouraged, and reminded that the wisest years are still ahead. Connect with Dr. Carrie Jones: IG: @dr.carriejones Tiktok: @dr.carriejones Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@drcarriejones Spotify: Hello Hormones w/ Dr. Carrie Jones Apple Podcast: Hello Hormones w/ Dr. Carrie Jones Website: www.drcarriejones.com Thank you to our sponsors for this episode: 💙🌿BEAM Minerals to help with stress related depletion - this is your 2026 pro-health move! Did you know that chronic stress can zap your energy and your minerals? You FEEL better quickly, with this easy to take supplement - replenishing all lost minerals. Give BEAM a try - beamminerals.com and use the code LOVELY for 20% off your first order! 😴 Support for Deeper Sleep with BiOptimizers: We talk a lot about hormone and nervous system balance, and quality sleep is foundational to both. Most supplements rely on just one cheap form of magnesium, but Magnesium Breakthrough includes all seven essential forms to truly nourish your nervous system and support deep, restful sleep. BiOptimizers has spent over two decades in their own lab perfecting this blend. Visit bioptimizers.com/lovely and use promo code LOVELY at checkout. How to work with Dr. Lovely: We get many requests for this info, so here it is! First off, thank you for listening to the NYMM podcast. It's because of your support - listening and sharing the episodes and using our product links, we can continue to dispense this information.❤️ Thank you! 🙏🏼 Follow Dr. Lovely on IG and TikTok: @drfionalovely Follow the podcast on Facebook: www.facebook.com/@notyourmothersmenopausepodcast Please sign up for our newsletter - Fiona's Friday Favourites! This is where we make the first announcements, share course offerings, drop new episodes, blog posts and the coveted 'Fiona's Favourites' column, etc. drlovely.com to sign up to the email list and get our 5 brain health tools for menopause guide! Finally, a humble request: If you love the podcast, please leave us a review! It helps more people find useful info for a challenging time: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/not-your-mothers-menopause-with-dr-fiona-lovely/id1097326296 Please scroll to the bottom of the page to leave a review. Thank you! 💕🤗 Partnerships by Category3 Media Group

In this powerful episode, Dr. Fiona Lovely welcomes back her friend and colleague, Dr. Amie Hornaman—known globally as "The Thyroid Fixer." Dr. Amie is a functional medicine expert, host of the top-rated The Thyroid Fixer podcast, and author of the new book The Thyroid Fix: The No-Nonsense Guide to Reclaiming Your Health. Together, they pull back the curtain on why conventional medicine continues to fail women when it comes to thyroid and hormone health. Dr. Amie shares her journey of being misdiagnosed and how that fueled her mission to help women stop wishing on a rainbow for their health to improve. She explains why relying solely on TSH and T4 is a dangerous gamble, revealing that the real story lies in free T3 and reverse T3. Listeners will learn why T4-only medication like Synthroid often falls short and how to advocate for proper testing and treatment. The conversation also explores the forgotten thyroid hormone T2, its role in burning fat without losing muscle, and how GLP-1 medications intersect with thyroid function. Dr. Amie provides scripted, respectful language for women to use with their doctors, including a powerful "nuclear option" to ensure their concerns are documented. Episode Highlights: Why TSH is a misleading marker and which two tests truly matter for thyroid health. The problem with T4-only medication and why it can backfire. How to approach your doctor without overwhelming them—three bullet points, no life stories. The fascinating role of T2 in metabolism and weight loss. A candid discussion on thyroid nodules, unnecessary surgeries, and patient advocacy. Tune in to learn how to become the CEO of your own health, because waiting for your doctor to catch up is no longer an option. Thank you to our sponsors for this episode: Women in perimenopause and menopause talk about wanting the same things — less bloating, no afternoon crash after eating, steady energy. MassZymes is perfect for helping your body's ability to actually process what you eat. MassZymes uses a full-spectrum blend of 18 enzymes. That means you're getting more out of the food you eat. Plus, it works across different stomach acid levels, which can really matter as we age. Here's what you get when you go to bioptimizers.com/lovely and use code LOVELY: 15% off your entire order AND a free bottle of Masszymes — BiOptimizers' best-selling digestive enzyme — added to your order automatically when you use our exclusive code. 💙🌿BEAM Minerals to help with stress related depletion - this is your 2026 pro-health move! Did you know that chronic stress can zap your energy and your minerals? You FEEL better quickly, with this easy to take supplement - replenishing all lost minerals. Give BEAM a try - beamminerals.com and use the code LOVELY for 20% off your first order! If you're noticing fine lines, wrinkles, or sagging skin — thanks menopause —ugh, me too. Menopause can deplete your skin's collagen, speeding up aging. But here's the game-changer: Vitali Skincare has built its entire line on the power of GHK-Cu copper peptides — a proven ingredient that signals your skin's stem cells to produce new, healthy collagen. Head to vitaliskincare.com and use the code LOVELY at checkout for 20% off. Dr. Fiona Lovely is a longevity, health and wellness expert with specialties in menopause medicine, functional neurology and functional medicine. She is speaking to the topics of women's health around perimenopause and menopause. How to work with Dr. Lovely: We get many requests for this info, so here it is! First off, thank you for listening to the NYMM podcast. It's because of your support, we can continue to dispense this information.❤️ Follow Dr. Lovely on IG and TikTok: @drfionalovely Follow the podcast on Facebook: www.facebook.com/@notyourmothersmenopausepodcast Please sign up for our newsletter - Fiona's Friday Favourites! This is where we make the first announcements, share course offerings, drop new episodes, blog posts and the coveted 'Fiona's Favourites' column, etc. drlovely.com You can also find some great resources there! Finally, a humble request: If you love the podcast, please leave us a review! It helps more people find useful info for a challenging time: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/not-your-mothers-menopause-with-dr-fiona-lovely/id1097326296 Please scroll to the bottom of the page to leave a review. Thank you! 💕🤗 Partnerships by Category3 Media Group