Fit and Fabulous at Forty and Beyond with Dr Orlena

Ever hit 3pm and suddenly need something sweet — even though you had lunch a couple of hours ago? You're not lacking willpower. In perimenopause and menopause, your body becomes more sensitive to cortisol and more resistant to insulin, and that combination makes sugar cravings hit harder than ever.

In this episode, Dr. Orlena breaks down exactly what's driving that energy slump and how to make it disappear — often almost...

Does exercise feel a little more complicated now that you're in perimenopause or menopause?

Maybe the things you used to do aren't giving you the same results. Maybe you're wondering whether you should be lifting weights, doing HIIT, walking more, working on your bones—or somehow finding time to do all of it!

The good news? You don't need seven different workouts or hours in the gym.

In this episode, I’m breaking down the ...

Is skinny always healthy after menopause? Stop relying on the scale as your only health indicator and learn why being fit matters more than thin.

Many people equate being thin with being healthy, but this is a dangerous misconception. This episode breaks down the reality of body composition versus weight, specifically addressing why being slightly heavier but physically active often leads to better health outcomes than being...

Ever been told exercise is good for you and thought... yeah, yeah, I know? In this episode, Dr Orlena tackles the real reason so many women quietly give up on healthy habits: they're waiting to see results that don't show up fast enough, and it feels like it's not worth the effort.

She unpacks why the evidence on exercise is some of the most unanimous in all of health science — cutting your risk of premature death by up to 30%...

If you've ever found yourself saying, "I'll start again on Monday," this episode is for you.

So many women believe they lack motivation or willpower when the truth is something completely different.

In this episode, I share the stories of two clients who transformed their health—even through some of life's biggest challenges—and reveal why they succeeded where so many diets and health plans fail.

You'll discover:

✨ Why heal...

Why You're Not Losing Weight in Menopause — And What to Actually Do About It

If you've ever felt like you were doing everything right — eating well, exercising, living healthily — only to watch your body change in ways you didn't ask for, this episode is for you.

Dr. Orlena is joined by Dr. Michelle Gordon, a former general surgeon turned board-certified obesity medicine specialist, who brings a frank, science-first...

Are you tired of starting over every Monday?

In this episode, I'm sharing the story of Kathy — one of my clients who recently finished Positively Healthy You — and the conversation we had when she told me she was ready to fly on her own.

When Kathy first came to me, she was doing all the "right" things: going to the gym, watching what she ate, even taking weight loss medication. And yet she felt defeated, inconsistent, an...

You wake up tired. You push through the day tired. You go to bed tired. And everyone tells you to rest more — but that's not actually helping, is it?

In this episode, I'm sharing what's really behind perimenopause fatigue, why it's not about willpower or age, and the four shifts that help women feel strong and energised again. We go all the way down to the cellular level — don't worry, I'll keep it simple — and com...

Have you ever been told that bladder leaks, painful sex, or pelvic floor problems are “just part of getting older”?

In this eye-opening episode, I’m joined by pelvic floor expert and “Vagina Whisperer” Dr. Sarah Reardon to talk about the symptoms so many women experience… but hardly anyone talks about.

We discuss:
• Why pelvic floor issues are incredibly common — but not something you sim...

Feeling like you're doing everything right — and still not seeing results? This episode might be the permission slip you didn't know you needed.

In this episode, Dr. Orlena — physician turned health coach — reveals something her clients discover again and again: the breakthrough doesn't come from doing more. No more restrictions, no more white-knuckling through cravings, no more punishing gym sessions you dread. Th...

Is your body more fertile than you've been told?

If you've been handed a discouraging diagnosis, told your options are limited, or simply feel like time is running out — this episode is for you.

Today, Dr. Orlena sits down with Sonia Ribas, fertility coach and founder of The Fertility Solution, who has helped over 700 babies come into the world — many born to women who were told it simply wasn't possible. Working with wom...

Why everything you've been told about losing weight after 40 is wrong — and what actually works

If you've ever eaten less, counted every calorie, and still watched the weight creep on — this episode is for you.

Dr. Orlena cuts through the noise to reveal why calorie restriction is the wrong tool for women over 40, and what the science of your gut microbiome tells us about weight, energy, and long-term health instead. Insi...

What if the cosy crackling fire you love is doing the same damage as a cigarette?

In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Orlena is joined by Dr. Elizabeth Wan — a London-based doctor and air quality campaigner — to tackle one of the most overlooked health risks hiding in our homes and neighbourhoods: wood smoke.

We know cigarettes are deadly. But here's what most people don't know: burning a log produces nearly identical toxic ...

Why won't the weight budge — even when you're doing everything right?

If you've been eating well, moving your body, and still feeling frustrated by the number on the scale, there's a piece of the puzzle most people completely overlook: stress.

In this episode of Fit and Fabulous, Dr. Orlena breaks down the powerful — and often invisible — relationship between chronic stress, hormones, and weight gain, with a special...

What if the most important health decision you make in midlife isn’t about dieting… but about getting stronger?

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Lynette Ewart — GP and strength coach — explains why lifting weights might be the most underrated intervention for women in the second half of life.

This episode goes far beyond body shape or fat loss. We talk about:

• Why strength is the key to independence as we a...

If you’ve ever felt like your body changed overnight after 40…
If abdominal fat appeared even though you “didn’t change anything”…
If you’ve been told it’s just about eating less and moving more…

This episode will change the way you see your body forever.

In this powerful conversation, we unpack why the traditional weight-loss narrative fails women in midlife — and ...

Have you noticed that what used to work… suddenly doesn’t anymore?

You’re eating the same, moving the same, doing your best — yet your body feels different. Softer. Heavier around the middle. Less responsive. And quietly frustrating.

In this episode of Fit and Fabulous, I’m unpacking one hormone that changes everything in midlife: oestrogen.

We’ll explore:

• Why oestrogen affects far more than fer...

Feeling confused about plant-based eating, protein, meat, and all the noise online? You’re not alone.

In this episode, Dr Orlena is joined by naturopathic doctor and nutrition myth-buster Dr Matthew Nagra for a calm, science-led conversation that cuts through the confusion around vegan, plant-based, and meat-heavy diets.

Together, they explore what the research actually tells us — not influencer opinions, diet trends, or ...

Are you doing everything "right" but your body stopped responding? You're not broken—the rules just changed.

If you've found yourself wondering "What's wrong with me?" or "Why can't I do this anymore?"—this episode is your permission slip to stop blaming yourself.

Dr. Orlena reveals why weight loss and energy management feel so much harder after 40, and spoiler alert: it has nothing to do with willpower, discipline, or la...