On episode 697 of the 40+ Fitness podcast, Allan sits down with Becca Chilzenkowski, a board-certified functional practitioner and hormone specialist, to dig deep into the complex world of hormone health—especially for those of us over 40.
Becca shares her personal journey from years of unhealthy habits and hormonal imbalance to finding wellness through nutrition, sustainable lifestyle changes, and a passion for helping others do the same.
In this conversation, you’ll hear why hormones play such a central role in our energy, metabolism, stress response, and even sleep. Becca breaks down how chronic stress and modern lifestyles are affecting our bodies as we age—particularly for women—and why we often see weight gain, fatigue, and slower recovery as we hit midlife. The episode is filled with practical advice on managing stress, improving sleep, making smart nutrition choices, and the importance of building time for recovery into your workout routine.
Whether you’re struggling with unexplained weight gain, low energy, or just want to unlock your healthiest, happiest self in midlife, this episode is packed with actionable tips, scientific insights, and real-life inspiration.
Time Stamps:
05:46 Mindset Over Stressors
08:19 Chronic Stress and Adrenal Dysfunction
09:48 Stress, Diet, and Metabolism Issues
13:10 Chronic Stress and Blood Sugar Issues
19:10 Cortisol's Impact on Sleep Disruption
21:28 Ranger School Sleep Deprivation Training
25:23 Diet, Gut Health, & Exercise Balance
27:20 Healthy Lifestyle Progression
31:21 The Cost of Feeling Well
34:41 Purpose, Passion, Health: Key to Happiness
37:05 Feast-Famine Eating for Health
The No-BS Guide to Reducing Stress Fast - 40plusfitness.com/becca
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Cardiac Cowboys
The heart was always off-limits to surgeons. Cutting into it spelled instant death for the patient. That is, until a ragtag group of doctors scattered across the Midwest and Texas decided to throw out the rule book. Working in makeshift laboratories and home garages, using medical devices made from scavenged machine parts and beer tubes, these men and women invented the field of open heart surgery. Odds are, someone you know is alive because of them. So why has history left them behind? Presented by Chris Pine, CARDIAC COWBOYS tells the gripping true story behind the birth of heart surgery, and the young, Greatest Generation doctors who made it happen. For years, they competed and feuded, racing to be the first, the best, and the most prolific. Some appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, operated on kings and advised presidents. Others ended up disgraced, penniless, and convicted of felonies. Together, they ignited a revolution in medicine, and changed the world.