Self Care Simplified

Lots of things in our lives - both small and large - can affect how our bodies move and feel. For example, everything from something as seemingly simple as poor posture to something as dramatic as a major surgery can create ongoing pain and tightness in your shoulders and chest. What’s the best way to find relief? Listener Jill went through a life-altering surgery, and months later is still feelin...

Let’s say you’d really like to experience some fat loss, because right now you just feel stuck. Maybe you’ve got some healthy habits in place - you’re exercising more, you’re eating better - but you’re just not experiencing the fat loss the way you want. What should you do? Philip Pape - the “physique engineer” - is joining us on the show this week to tackle this very question! He’s helped countle...

Stretching is such an important - and often overlooked - part of a healthy fitness routine. It can prevent injury, improve flexibility and mobility and promote active recovery. But what kind of stretching is best? And when should you do it? Listener Laurie asks: “Hi, Megan. I'm curious to learn, when is it most appropriate to use static stretching versus dynamic stretching? Thank you so much f...

If you’re in midlife, you’ve probably heard that strength training is really important for your overall health. But figuring out what to do and how to get started can feel so daunting! Listener Sherry had this same problem. And her question was so good, I thought it deserved a full-length episode: “Hi, this is Sherry. I'm wondering where to start on a strength training program. I am 53 years o...

Have you ever wondered about omega-3’s? What are they? What do they do? Where do they come from? Are they important and am I getting enough? Listener Jennifer had the same questions: “How do I know if I am getting enough omega-3 fatty acid in my diet? Is it harmful to get too much? I have GERD and I'm afraid of exacerbating that problem. Can you also recommend a good omega-3 supplement?” In th...

We’ve all read about the importance of a good evening wind down routine. You know the drill - maintain a consistent bedtime, turn off your screen, dim your lights, avoid caffeine, etc. But how many nights do we find ourselves tossing and turning long after the lights have gone off? Or waking in the middle of the night unable to drift back to sleep? What you may be missing is a quick bedtime routin...

There are plenty of health concerns out there that start creeping up in midlife. But what about the ones that sneak up on us without us even realizing it? Listener Cami asks: “I just had my first Dexa Scan and it showed Osteopenia and one spot of Osteoporosis on my left femoral neck! What exercises are appropriate for this diagnosis?” In this shortie episode, we’ll talk Osteopenia and Osteoporosis...

If you are a woman, bone health and osteoporosis should be on your radar! Just like muscle mass, bone mass is something you can lose dramatically as you age, severely impacting your quality of life for many years to come. The good news is that Osteoporosis, and its precursor Osteopenia, is NOT inevitable - and you’re NOT doomed if you’ve already been told that you have low bone density. There are...

Lots of things in life can be a “pain in the butt” - but what do you do when you have LITERAL pain in your butt? Long-time listener Kim asks: “What are some good stretches for piriformis pain? I have had a constant ‘pain in the butt’ for years.” If you too wrestle with piriformis pain - or “pain in the butt” - then this quick episode is for you. I’ll teach you where the piriformis muscle is locate...

As a coach and trainer, it’s easy to get so focused on building muscle, tackling body fat and teaching healthy habits that I lose sight of the bigger picture. Until something comes along and puts it all into perspective. Recently I received a text from a client that acted as that wake-up call. It reminded me that, yes, improving our fitness and nutrition is important, but creating lasting habits h...

There are all kinds of supplement options on the market - vitamins, powders, pills, gummies, drinks, shakes, and more. It’s hard to know what you need, what you don’t, what’s recommended, what’s a waste of money, and what’s even safe to use! Laura had questions about one supplement in particular: “What are your thoughts on adding a creatine supplement? I’ve read that it can help improve strength a...

The world of nutrition can be so confusing. And too often online “health experts” make things worse, scaring you about certain foods or ingredients, or convincing you that you need to perfect some dietary gymnastics to see results. Even something as seemingly simple as navigating a nutrition facts label can be bewildering. Yes, checking nutrition labels can be helpful, but what if you’re actually...

Learning about the different body types - and discovering yours specifically - can be a total game changer! Suddenly so many things about how your body moves and responds start to make sense. But is your body type, or somatotype, fixed or can it change over time? Cheryl had this very question: “Can your body type change? When I was a teen, I would have identified as an ectomorph, very skinny. Now,...

Wrestling with anxious thoughts and feelings is not uncommon. But did you know that in midlife those feelings can be stronger than ever? Your 40s, 50s, and 60s are full of changes and transitions. And in the midst of all those shifting internal and external dynamics, you might start to feel restless, anxious, irritable, and discontent - it can feel like you’re having a “midlife crisis”. Joining us...

Everywhere you look these days people are touting the benefits of Ozempic or semaglutide for diabetes treatment or weight loss. But is it really the “magic bullet” everyone seems to think it is? Listener Katie has a lot of question: “Hi, Megan, I would love to hear your thoughts on the new drug Ozempic. Do you feel there are some areas when it's okay for someone to take it? And I wonder how ma...

Do you have persistent, nagging back pain? Not totally debilitating, but it’s just there. Maybe you’ve tried everything - getting a new mattress, changing your sleeping position, doing more yoga or seeing a chiropractor - but nothing helps and you’re beginning to feel frustrated and discouraged. How could you be doing everything right and still be in pain? If back pain has got you down, then this...

Sometimes the most frustrating part of making healthy changes is figuring out how to measure them. There are seemingly a million different tests and measurements out there, but which ones really matter? Listener Bobbi Jo had the same question: “What is the best indicator of health? BMI? The scale? Or is it something else completely???” If you’ve ever been confused or discouraged by all the differe...

Maybe this summer hasn’t looked exactly the way you had hoped. Vacations, kids home from school, looser schedules, and just LIFE often get in the way of our healthy routines and best intentions. But with the end of summer on the horizon, the idea of a new season can feel like a fresh start. But while restarting a routine is a great goal, HOW you restart a routine really matters. On today’s podcast...

Of all the questions I get asked online, the most common is usually related to joint health and those pesky sounds joints make. It’s typically something like this from listener Shay: “Hey Megan, sometimes my shoulder or hip pops when doing exercises. It’s not painful, but it sounds terrible! Is there a point at which I should be concerned?” All that snap, crackle and pop can really sound like a pr...

Whether it’s your morning coffee - light and sweet, please - a handful of candy mid-afternoon, or that late-night bowl of ice cream, sugar has a way of sneaking into our daily diet. In fact, according to the American Heart Association, Americans consume an average of 17 teaspoons of added sugar every day. But is having a sweet tooth really that bad? In this episode we’re going to take a deep dive...

“Make sure you clean your plate.” “You don’t want to waste food, do you?” “There are starving children in the world who wish they had that food.” Any of these sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. “Hi, Megan, this is Sue. I'm wondering about those of us who have been part of the “Clean Plate Club” or the “Never Waste Food” group. There are starving children somewhere in the world, right? I&...

Sometimes the biggest obstacle to making healthy changes is just getting started. Standing at the starting line and seeing the long road ahead can feel so daunting - it feels like it’s going to require so much energy, effort and motivation. And right now you have NONE. So where do you start?? Today’s episode is probably the encouragement you need right now. This is a conversation I had with my goo...

Hormone Replacement Therapy, or what’s now being referred to more often as MHT, is rising in popularity. But who should take it? Which hormones is it replacing? Who is eligible? How does it help? So many good questions! Listener Amy had another good question: “Hi, Megan, I had a hysterectomy about five years ago. I'm being told that some women take progesterone, and I'm wondering if that&#...

At some point, all of us wrestle with knee pain. Whether we’re squatting down to pick up a kid, taking long walks or simply climbing the stairs, knee pain can seem to come out of nowhere and can completely disrupt your life. In fact, approximately 25% of adults struggle with frequent knee pain - the kind that can limit function, reduce mobility and dramatically impair your quality of life. But it...

At some point, aches and pains feel like a fact of life - and some can be more disruptive than others. Take foot pain, for example. What do you do when every step you take hurts? Listener Lize has this very struggle: “I have noticed that I am getting aches and pains in and around my heels. Is it plantar fasciitis? Tendonitis? What should I do about this?” In this shortie episode, we dive into all...