Fit and Fabulous at Forty and Beyond with Dr Orlena

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,...

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...

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&...

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 simply have...

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 pu...

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 simpl...

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,...

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 l...

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, h...

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 indepen...

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 what actually works instead. You...

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 o...

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...

Stop fighting with yourself over Christmas cookies. There's a better way. In this episode, Dr. Orlena shares a powerful client story that changes everything about how we think about holiday eating. Imagine walking into a European patisserie—vanilla and sugar filling the air, pastries glistening behind glass—and genuinely, easily choosing just coffee. No internal battle. No guilt. Just... peac...

Tired of the Holiday Weight Gain Cycle? Here's How to Break Free The festive season doesn't have to mean abandoned health goals and January regrets. In this episode, Dr. Orlena tackles one of the biggest challenges healthy eaters face: social eating during the holidays. Drawing from her own journey—from medical school rejection to eventually becoming a doctor—Dr. Orlena shares a powerful...

Are you doing "reasonably well" with your health but secretly know you need to make real changes? If you're in your 40s, 50s, or beyond and struggling with stubborn abdominal weight, low energy, or that nagging feeling that you're not living your healthiest life—this episode is your roadmap forward. Dr. Orlena reveals why the weight loss strategies that worked in your 20s no lo...

Feeling stuck despite doing "all the right things"? You're not imagining it. In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Orlena reveals why midlife weight loss feels impossible—and it's not about willpower. The culprit? Chronic inflammation that creates self-perpetuating cycles in your body during perimenopause. Discover: Why small steps work better than dramatic overhauls - Learn how Dr....

Are you eating healthy and exercising, but the scale refuses to budge? In this episode, Dr. Orlena reveals why everything that worked in your 20s and 30s suddenly stopped working—and it's not your fault. Your body fundamentally changed, and nobody told you the new rules. Through the story of "Kate," a frustrated 50-year-old who suddenly gained abdominal weight despite living healthi...

Feeling like you're doing everything right, but the weight keeps creeping up? If you're a woman over 40 juggling endless responsibilities and wondering why that glass of wine and "healthy" eating aren't delivering results, this episode reveals what's really going on beneath the surface. Dr. Orlena exposes the hidden culprit behind stubborn weight gain after 40: chroni...

So many women hit midlife and suddenly feel like their body has changed overnight—extra weight, less energy, what used to work doesn’t anymore. In this episode, I dive into: Why menopause changes your hormones, metabolism, and muscle mass. How to break free from the “fat gets fatter” cycle. The 4 pillars of lasting health: nutrition, exercise, sleep, and emotional wellness. This isn’t about quick...

Are you tired of trying every diet and exercise plan, only to feel like you're fighting an uphill battle? In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Orlena reveals why your biggest obstacle to lasting weight loss isn't what you think. Through the inspiring story of Sarah—a teacher who broke free from stress eating, work overwhelm, and body shame—you'll discover the one missing piece that make...

Ready to break free from the scale and finally create lasting change? In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Orlena shares a powerful story about her 90-year-old neighbor that completely changed how she thinks about weight loss—and why you should stop focusing on the number on the scale if you want real, sustainable results. You'll discover the three core insights that will revolutionize your appro...

Are you eating "healthy" but still struggling with weight gain during menopause? You're not alone. In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Orlena reveals the hidden science behind why menopause makes weight management so challenging - and it all comes down to your gut microbiome. Discover why declining estrogen doesn't just affect hot flashes, but fundamentally rewires your digestive...

Are you doing "all the right things" but still not seeing the results you want? This episode is for you if you've watched the healthy eating videos, you're exercising regularly, you're getting decent sleep, but the scale isn't budging and you're feeling frustrated and stuck. Dr. Orlena delivers some necessary hard love by revealing there are only two possible rea...