Why Am I So Anxious, Overwhelmed & Mentally Exhausted?

What if the problem isn’t that you need another diet, supplement, or protocol? What if you need to change the way you’re approaching your healing in the first place? In this episode of the Pretty Well Podcast, I’m talking with Dane Johnson, naturopathic nutritionist and founder of Crohn’s Colitis Lifestyle, about his experience with severe Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and the foundational shifts he made to help him move from simply surviving to building a life he actually wanted to live. Dane’s story is remarkable. After years of trying restrictive diets, supplements, fasting, and different approaches to healing, his inflammatory bowel disease became so severe that he was hospitalized and told his mother doctors weren’t sure he would make it through the night. But what happened next is what makes this conversation so interesting. Dane didn’t just change what he ate. He changed how he lived. He began journaling, getting outside, walking, reading, meditating, connecting with people, and deliberately creating more moments of joy and hope in his day. And instead of endlessly looking outside himself for the next answer, he started learning how to understand his own body, experiment, observe, and make adjustments. His philosophy can be summed up in one line: Get happy to get healthy. And no, that doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine when you’re sick. It means creating a foundation that makes healthy choices sustainable instead of turning your entire life into one giant healing project. We also talk about why copying someone else’s diet or morning routine doesn’t work, how to create a health plan that actually fits your life, the connection between stress and decision-making, why community matters when you’re dealing with chronic illness, and how to turn the things that feel like sacrifices into investments in the life you want. If you’ve ever found yourself overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information about gut health, supplements, fasting, inflammation, or “the perfect” healing protocol, you’ll want to hear this one. Often the next step isn’t adding more. It’s going back to the foundation. 🔗 Resources & Links:   The Morning Mindset Journal https://lisasmithwellness.com/the-morning-mindset-journal ✨Join the conversation: Share your thoughts with us on social media or in the comments! 🎙 Subscribe, Share & Review: If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people who need these insights. Thanks for tuning in to Pretty Well! See you next week! Contact Dane: https://crohnscolitislifestyle.com  Contact Lisa: Website: www.lisasmithwellness.com  IG: https://www.instagram.com/prettywell_podcast/   Disclaimer:  Nothing in this podcast is to be taken as medical advice, please take informed accountability and speak to your provider before making changes to your health routine. The primary purpose of The Pretty Well Podcast being to educate. This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice nor to take the place of such  advice or treatment from a personal physician. By listening to this content, you agree to consult your own physician or qualified health professional regarding specific health questions. Neither Lisa Smith, The Pretty Well Podcast, nor any guest takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons following the information in this educational content. All listeners of this content, especially those who are pregnant or taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement, or lifestyle program. The Pretty Well Podcast is for private non-commercial use and our guests do not necessarily reflect any agency, organization, or company that they work for. In addition, opinions of interview guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Lisa Smith and/or The Pretty Well Podcast. This content is not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up to date.

Okay… I have to tell you about this conversation. If you’ve ever had that experience where you know something in your body is changing, but you can’t quite put your finger on it, I think you’re going to relate to this. You’re tired. Not I stayed up too late tired. More like… why am I tired all the time? tired. Maybe your brain feels a little slower. Your motivation has taken a hit. Your hormones are changing. You’re noticing things in your body that weren’t there a few years ago. And then you go to your doctor. And your labs are normal. Um… okay. But I don’t feel normal. That’s the conversation I want to have today. What if “normal” isn’t necessarily the same thing as optimal? This is where my conversation with Ken Swartz gets really interesting. Ken is a research scientist who spent years working in radiation and fusion research. And while he was looking for ways to protect himself against radiation, he came across a molecule called carbon 60, or C60. Now, I know. You’re probably thinking, Lisa, what does a molecule discovered in a radiation lab have to do with me being tired? Stay with me. Because Ken’s work eventually took him into some pretty fascinating territory—mitochondria, inflammation, hormones, aging… and the question of whether what we call “normal aging” may actually have more to do with what’s happening at the cellular level. And then there’s his own experience. Ken noticed changes in his energy, his macular degeneration, and his overall health after using C60, which sent him even deeper into trying to understand what might be happening. And because he’s a scientist, he didn’t just say, “Well, I feel better. Case closed.” He wanted to know why. And honestly, that's the part I found so interesting. We talk so much about symptoms. You’re tired, gaining weight, foggy, not sleeping well. And your hormones are changing. What if we started asking a different question? What’s happening underneath all of that? We get into mitochondria and why they matter so much for energy production. We talk about oxidative stress and inflammation. We talk about hormones and midlife. We even get into skin aging. I’m not going to tell you that C60 is some magical anti-aging molecule because someone has an interesting story. There are some pretty extraordinary claims in this conversation, and some of the research Ken discusses is from animal studies, case reports, and personal experiences rather than large human clinical trials. So listen with curiosity. But also listen with your critical-thinking hat on. And if you want to learn more about the C60 Ken talks about, you'll find the links in the show notes. As always, do your own research and talk with your healthcare provider about whether something like C60 is appropriate for you. 🔗 Resources & Links:   The Morning Mindset Journal https://lisasmithwellness.com/the-morning-mindset-journal   ✨Join the conversation: Share your thoughts with us on social media or in the comments! 🎙 Subscribe, Share & Review: If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people who need these insights. Thanks for tuning in to Pretty Well! See you next week! Contact Lisa: Website: www.lisasmithwellness.com  IG: https://www.instagram.com/prettywell_podcast/   Disclaimer:  Nothing in this podcast is to be taken as medical advice, please take informed accountability and speak to your provider before making changes to your health routine. The primary purpose of The Pretty Well Podcast being to educate. This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice nor to take the place of such  advice or treatment from a personal physician. By listening to this content, you agree to consult your own physician or qualified health professional regarding specific health questions. Neither Lisa Smith, The Pretty Well Podcast, nor any guest takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons following the information in this educational content. All listeners of this content, especially those who are pregnant or taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement, or lifestyle program. The Pretty Well Podcast is for private non-commercial use and our guests do not necessarily reflect any agency, organization, or company that they work for. In addition, opinions of interview guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Lisa Smith and/or The Pretty Well Podcast. This content is not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up to date.

What if your anxiety isn't anxiety? What if your overwhelm isn't a personality flaw? What if your lack of motivation, emotional exhaustion, irritability, racing thoughts, or constant feeling that you're barely keeping it together has less to do with who you are and more to do with what your brain has been missing?   For years, many of us have been taught to interpret these experiences as character flaws. We tell ourselves we're too sensitive, too stressed, too emotional, too reactive, too distracted, or simply not trying hard enough.   But what if the story is more physiological than personal?   In this conversation, I sit down with brain health expert Laurie Hammer to explore a perspective that challenges how we think about anxiety, depression, overwhelm, burnout, focus, brain health, and emotional resilience.   Laurie believes that many symptoms we commonly associate with mental and emotional struggles are actually signals of underlying nutrient depletion and neurotransmitter imbalance—and that supporting the brain with targeted amino acids may help restore balance in ways many people never knew were possible.   Whether you've struggled with anxiety, emotional exhaustion, poor focus, irritability, cravings, burnout, or the feeling that you've somehow lost yourself along the way, this conversation offers a fascinating and hopeful perspective. Sometimes the most powerful question isn't "What's wrong with me?" It's: "What if I've been asking the wrong question?" 🔗 Resources & Links  (As An Amazon Associate I Earn A Small Commission From Qualifying Purchases At No Extra Cost To You):   The Morning Mindset Journal https://lisasmithwellness.com/the-morning-mindset-journal  ✨Join the conversation: Share your thoughts with us on social media or in the comments!   🎙 Subscribe, Share & Review: If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people who need these insights. Thanks for tuning in to Pretty Well! See you next week! Contact Lisa: Website: www.lisasmithwellness.com   IG: https://www.instagram.com/prettywell_podcast/   Disclaimer:  Nothing in this podcast is to be taken as medical advice, please take informed accountability and speak to your provider before making changes to your health routine. The primary purpose of The Pretty Well Podcast being to educate. This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice nor to take the place of such  advice or treatment from a personal physician. By listening to this content, you agree to consult your own physician or qualified health professional regarding specific health questions. Neither Lisa Smith, The Pretty Well Podcast, nor any guest takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons following the information in this educational content. All listeners of this content, especially those who are pregnant or taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement, or lifestyle program. The Pretty Well Podcast is for private non-commercial use and our guests do not necessarily reflect any agency, organization, or company that they work for. In addition, opinions of interview guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Lisa Smith and/or The Pretty Well Podcast. This content is not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up to date.

You look in the mirror one morning and think, **Wait… what happened?** You’re more tired than you used to be. Your waistline seems to have changed. You’re waking up at 3 or 4 AM. Your brain feels a little foggier. You’re having afternoon energy crashes. And somehow, your face looks more tired, too. So you go to your doctor. Your labs are “normal.” And that’s when things get really frustrating. Because you know you don’t feel the way you did five years ago. You haven’t suddenly started eating junk food or stopped exercising. You’re actually doing a lot of the things you’ve always done. So why do you feel like you’ve aged overnight? Here’s the interesting part: You probably didn’t. A lot of these changes can be building underneath the surface long before they show up on a standard blood test—or in the mirror. And one of the pieces I want you to understand is something we don’t hear nearly enough about: Insulin Not just blood sugar. Insulin. Your fasting glucose and HbA1c can look perfectly fine while your body is working harder and harder to keep them that way. And if nobody is looking at what insulin is doing, you can miss an important piece of the puzzle. And this is where the aging conversation gets really interesting. In this episode, I’m walking you through the connection between insulin, metabolism, inflammation, belly fat, cravings, energy crashes, brain fog, and why you feel like you’re suddenly aging much faster than everyone around you. And then I’m giving you a very simple seven-day experiment you can start tomorrow morning. Just one change to your breakfast—and then paying attention to what happens to your cravings, energy, and focus over the next week. If you’ve been thinking, "Maybe this is just what getting older feels like,” I want you to listen to this one before you decide that’s the answer. Sometimes what looks like aging is actually your body telling you that something is struggling to stay in balance. If you're loving the Pretty Well Podcast, would you do me a quick favor? Follow the show, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. And if you want some protein-rich breakfast ideas to go along with the seven-day experiment, send me the word **BREAKFAST** and I’ll get you the recipes. I love having you here. See you next week on Pretty Well. 🔗 Resources & Links: The Morning Mindset Journal https://lisasmithwellness.com/the-morning-mindset-journal ✨Join the conversation: Share your thoughts with us on social media or in the comments! 🎙 Subscribe, Share & Review: If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people who need these insights. Thanks for tuning in to Pretty Well! See you next week! Contact Lisa: Website: www.lisasmithwellness.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/prettywell_podcast/   Disclaimer: Nothing in this podcast is to be taken as medical advice, please take informed accountability and speak to your provider before making changes to your health routine. The primary purpose of The Pretty Well Podcast being to educate. This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice nor to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. By listening to this content, you agree to consult your own physician or qualified health professional regarding specific health questions. Neither Lisa Smith, The Pretty Well Podcast, nor any guest takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons following the information in this educational content. All listeners of this content, especially those who are pregnant or taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement, or lifestyle program. The Pretty Well Podcast is for private non-commercial use and our guests do not necessarily reflect any agency, organization, or company that they work for. In addition, opinions of interview guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Lisa Smith and/or The Pretty Well Podcast. This content is not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up to date.

Have you ever caught yourself thinking: "It runs in my family...so I guess there’s not much I can do." I hear that all the time. And… it bugs me. That's what made this conversation with Dr. Sam Shay so fascinating. He has a way of taking really complicated science and making it feel surprisingly practical. We talked about the difference between genetics and epigenetics, why your genes aren't necessarily your destiny, and how your everyday choices influence a lot more than you realize.   One thing I especially loved is that this conversation isn't about fear or perfection. It's about understanding where you actually have influence—and where you don't. If you've ever wondered: "Am I stuck with the health problems that run in my family?" "Should I get genetic testing?" "Can stress, nutrition, sleep, or gut health really affect my genes?". This conversation might completely change the way you think about your genetics. I think you’re really going to like this one. ✨Join the conversation: Share your thoughts with us on social media or in the comments! 🎙 Subscribe, Share & Review: If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people who need these insights. Thanks for tuning in to Pretty Well! See you next week! Contact Dr. Sam Shay: https://drsamshay.com  https://fitgenesusa.com   https://thednadecoded.com Use GOLD100 for $100 discount.   Contact Lisa: Website: www.lisasmithwellness.com   IG: https://www.instagram.com/prettywell_podcast/    Disclaimer:  Nothing in this podcast is to be taken as medical advice, please take informed accountability and speak to your provider before making changes to your health routine. The primary purpose of The Pretty Well Podcast being to educate. This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice nor to take the place of such  advice or treatment from a personal physician. By listening to this content, you agree to consult your own physician or qualified health professional regarding specific health questions. Neither Lisa Smith, The Pretty Well Podcast, nor any guest takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons following the information in this educational content. All listeners of this content, especially those who are pregnant or taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement, or lifestyle program. The Pretty Well Podcast is for private non-commercial use and our guests do not necessarily reflect any agency, organization, or company that they work for. In addition, opinions of interview guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Lisa Smith and/or The Pretty Well Podcast. This content is not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up to date.  

Why Don't I Feel Like Myself Anymore? The Midlife Conversation Every Woman Needs to Hear Can I tell you about a conversation with Dr. Christina Enzmann that completely changed the way I think about midlife? Actually...it started with a question I hear from women all the time. "Lisa...I just don't feel like myself anymore." Whenever a woman tells me that, I know she's not talking about one symptom. She's talking about this feeling that somewhere along the way, her body started playing by a completely different set of rules. Maybe she's exhausted even though she's sleeping… or maybe she's not sleeping. Maybe she's gained weight without changing anything. Or maybe she's anxious, forgetful, dealing with heart palpitations, waking up at three in the morning, or wondering why hormone therapy helped her friend but made her feel worse. It all feels disconnected. And that's exactly what makes it so frustrating. Every appointment seems to focus on one tiny piece of the puzzle. One doctor talks about hormones. Another talks about stress. Someone else tells you,  "Well...you're getting older."   That's why I was so excited to sit down with Dr. Christina Enzmann. First of all, she's just fun to talk to. She's incredibly smart, but she has this gift for explaining complicated science in a way that suddenly feels obvious. Every few minutes she said something that made me stop and think, "Wait...why has nobody ever explained it like that before?"   Those are my favorite interviews—the ones where I'm learning right alongside you. Christina shared one perspective that completely reframed the way I think about menopause. It wasn't dramatic. It wasn't gimmicky. It just...made sense.   And once she said it, I thought - “Every woman needs to know this.”   We ended up talking about everything from hormones and the gut microbiome to insulin resistance, sleep, stress, recurrent UTIs, heart palpitations, vaginal health, and why so many women feel like their body has turned against them in midlife.   But what I loved most is that she never looked at those as separate conversations. She connected the dots. If you've ever found yourself wondering... Why don't I feel like myself anymore? Why am I so tired all the time? Why am I gaining weight when nothing has changed? Why did hormone therapy work for someone else but not for me? Is there something my body is trying to tell me? ...I know you're going to love this conversation.   Connect with Dr. Christina Enzmann: drchristinaenzmann.com #Perimenopause #Menopause #Hormones #GutHealth #FunctionalMedicine #Microbiome #HealthyAging #Fatigue #Anxiety #Inflammation #Metabolism #BrainHealth #Longevity #WomensHealth   ✨Join the conversation: Share your thoughts with us on social media or in the comments! 🎙 Subscribe, Share & Review: If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people who need these insights. Thanks for tuning in to Pretty Well! See you next week. Contact Lisa: Website: www.lisasmithwellness.com  IG: https://www.instagram.com/prettywell_podcast/   Disclaimer:  Nothing in this podcast is to be taken as medical advice, please take informed accountability and speak to your provider before making changes to your health routine. The primary purpose of The Pretty Well Podcast being to educate. This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice nor to take the place of such  advice or treatment from a personal physician. By listening to this content, you agree to consult your own physician or qualified health professional regarding specific health questions. Neither Lisa Smith, The Pretty Well Podcast, nor any guest takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons following the information in this educational content. All listeners of this content, especially those who are pregnant or taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement, or lifestyle program. The Pretty Well Podcast is for private non-commercial use and our guests do not necessarily reflect any agency, organization, or company that they work for. In addition, opinions of interview guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Lisa Smith and/or The Pretty Well Podcast. This content is not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up to date.

I've had the chance to interview a lot of incredible experts over the years, and every now and then something lands on my radar that makes me stop and say, "Okay...I need to learn more about this." That's exactly what happened here. When I first heard about a molecule called Carbon 60, I'll admit it—I wasn't convinced. There are plenty of products that promise more energy, healthier aging, and better everything. Most don't live up to the hype. But instead of dismissing it, I started digging into the research. The more I learned, the more curious I became. So I decided to try it myself. I wasn't expecting some dramatic overnight change. Honestly, I expected...well...not much. But after using it consistently for a while, I started noticing some exciting changes I wasn't expecting. And my next thought was, "Okay...why?" That's when I knew I wanted to have this conversation. So I invited Chris Burres onto the show. Chris has spent years researching Carbon 60 and studying its potential role in mitochondrial health and oxidative stress.  In this episode, we unpack what C60 is, what it does in the body (that nothing else can do), and why healthy mitochondria may play a much bigger role in how we slow aging more than we've realized. We also have a really honest conversation about something I deeply appreciate: there are no magic bullets. Sleep, nutrition, movement, and mindset still come first.  But if you've ever wondered whether there's something new on the horizon that's actually worth paying attention to, I think you'll love this conversation. What I learned has completely changed the way I think about aging and mitochondrial health. If You've Ever Wondered: Why do I feel older than I actually am? Why am I still tired even when I'm sleeping well? What exactly do mitochondria do? Can oxidative stress make us age faster? What's the connection between mitochondria and slowing aging? Why is everyone suddenly talking about mitochondrial health? Is there really anything new in anti-aging science that's worth paying attention to? If you're curious about mitochondria, healthy aging, reducing oxidative stress, or simply understanding why you don't quite feel like yourself anymore, I think you'll really enjoy this conversation. 🎙And if you're loving the Pretty Well Podcast, would you do me a quick favor? Follow the show, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who's been wondering why they feel so different these days. You never know whose life it could change, and I truly appreciate your support. 🔗 Resources & Links: $30 off coupon for first-time orders of ESS60 from My Vital C. http://myvitalc.com/prettywell  ✨Join the conversation: Share your thoughts with us on social media or in the comments! Contact Lisa: Website: www.lisasmithwellness.com   IG: https://www.instagram.com/prettywell_podcast/  Disclaimer:  Nothing in this podcast is to be taken as medical advice, please take informed accountability and speak to your provider before making changes to your health routine. The primary purpose of The Pretty Well Podcast being to educate. This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice nor to take the place of such  advice or treatment from a personal physician. By listening to this content, you agree to consult your own physician or qualified health professional regarding specific health questions. Neither Lisa Smith, The Pretty Well Podcast, nor any guest takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons following the information in this educational content. All listeners of this content, especially those who are pregnant or taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement, or lifestyle program. The Pretty Well Podcast is for private non-commercial use and our guests do not necessarily reflect any agency, organization, or company that they work for. In addition, opinions of interview guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Lisa Smith and/or The Pretty Well Podcast. This content is not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up to date.

Wonder If Your Supplements Are Working? With Reed Davis of Functional Diagnostic Nutrition® You don't feel any different after taking them. So...how do you know if your supplements are actually working? It's a question millions of people ask—but according to Reed Davis Founder of Functional Diagnostic Nutrition® (FDN), it may not be the first question you should be asking. In this episode of the Pretty Well Podcast, Reed and I dive into why so many people continue chasing symptoms while the real problem quietly gains traction beneath the surface. He calls it metabolic chaos—the slow, invisible breakdown that can begin years before you're diagnosed with diabetes, heart disease, an autoimmune condition, or another chronic illness. The scary part? Metabolic chaos doesn't announce itself. It quietly churns beneath the surface until one day, it's affecting your life in a big way. We also explore why supplements aren't a substitute for understanding what's really happening inside your body, why masking symptoms (even with supplements) can delay healing, and how functional lab testing can help uncover what's driving your fatigue, digestive issues, inflammation, hormone imbalance, brain fog, and other chronic symptoms. Reed also shares his D.R.E.S.S.® framework—Diet, Rest, Exercise, Stress Reduction, and Supplementation—and explains why getting these foundations right is essential if you want to stop guessing and start making meaningful progress. If you've ever wondered: -Are my supplements doing anything for me? -Why don't I feel any different even though I'm doing all the right things? -Is there a hidden reason I don't feel my best? ...this episode is for you. Timestamps 03:42 How do you know if your supplements are working? 11:18 The hidden danger of metabolic chaos 22:51 Food sensitivities vs. food allergies 35:07 Why pain is a message—not the problem 46:35 Stop chasing symptoms and start asking better questions 🎙️ If you're loving the Pretty Well Podcast, would you do me a quick favor? Follow the show, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend or family member. It means so much to me—and you never know whose life it could change. Contact Reed: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/FunctionalDiagnosticNutrition/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fdntraining/ You Tube - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7xDnEKCe9gKeWZ2vbE3C8w Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/san-diego-natural-heal Contact Lisa: Website: www.lisasmithwellness.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prettywell_podcast/   Disclaimer:  Nothing in this podcast is to be taken as medical advice, please take informed accountability and speak to your provider before making changes to your health routine. The primary purpose of The Pretty Well Podcast being to educate. This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice nor to take the place of such  advice or treatment from a personal physician. By listening to this content, you agree to consult your own physician or qualified health professional regarding specific health questions. Neither Lisa Smith, The Pretty Well Podcast, nor any guest takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons following the information in this educational content. All listeners of this content, especially those who are pregnant or taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement, or lifestyle program. The Pretty Well Podcast is for private non-commercial use and our guests do not necessarily reflect any agency, organization, or company that they work for. In addition, opinions of interview guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Lisa Smith and/or The Pretty Well Podcast. This content is not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up to date.  

He Lost 80 Pounds (and Not How You Think). Ben Azadi Spills the Tea. Metabolism is about so much more than the number on the scale. It's the foundation of your energy, brain function, hormones, and long-term health. When it's working well, you feel energized, focused, and resilient. When it's not, it can feel like you're doing everything "right" but still struggling with fatigue, stubborn weight, and frustrating symptoms. My guest today, Ben Azadi, understands that journey firsthand. After losing 80 pounds and reclaiming his own health, he dedicated his career to helping others improve their health and metabolism through nutrition, fasting, lifestyle changes, and education. In this episode, we dive into what metabolic flexibility really means, why it's one of the biggest predictors of long-term health, and how fasting and ketogenic nutrition can support metabolism when used appropriately. Ben also shares important considerations for women, common mistakes people make when trying to improve their metabolic health, and practical strategies you can begin implementing today. Whether your goal is more energy, better blood sugar balance, improved brain function, or simply feeling better in your own body, this conversation is packed with practical takeaways you can start using right away. Ben also just released the updated edition of his bestselling book, Keto Flex, this week. If you're looking for a deeper dive into metabolic health, fasting, and ketogenic nutrition, be sure to check it out. In this episode, we discuss: -What metabolic flexibility is—and why it matters -The connection between metabolism, energy, and longevity -How fasting can support metabolic health -What mental obesity is -Important differences in how women respond to fasting and keto -Simple habits that have the biggest impact on metabolic health -Ben's mission to help reverse type 2 diabetes on a global scale About Ben Azadi Ben Azadi is a bestselling author, educator, and the founder of Keto Kamp. For more than 16 years, he has been teaching people how to improve their metabolic health through evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle strategies. He is the host of the Metabolic Freedom Podcast and the author of several bestselling books, including the newly released Keto Flex. Ben's mission is to educate one billion people about metabolic health and help reverse type 2 diabetes in one million individuals through education and lifestyle medicine.   Listen & Follow New episodes of Pretty Well drop every week. If this episode resonates, follow the show, share, and leave a review — it helps more women find conversations like this one. Get Ben's new book + free bonuses: ketoflexbook.com Contact Lisa: Website: www.lisasmithwellness.com   IG: https://www.instagram.com/prettywell_podcast/    Disclaimer:  Nothing in this podcast is to be taken as medical advice, please take informed accountability and speak to your provider before making changes to your health routine. The primary purpose of The Pretty Well Podcast being to educate. This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice nor to take the place of such  advice or treatment from a personal physician. By listening to this content, you agree to consult your own physician or qualified health professional regarding specific health questions. Neither Lisa Smith, The Pretty Well Podcast, nor any guest takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons following the information in this educational content. All listeners of this content, especially those who are pregnant or taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement, or lifestyle program. The Pretty Well Podcast is for private non-commercial use and our guests do not necessarily reflect any agency, organization, or company that they work for. In addition, opinions of interview guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Lisa Smith and/or The Pretty Well Podcast. This content is not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up to date.  

You finally decide to do it. You're going on HRT. You're so excited to feel better. And then… Nothing changes. —or— Everything gets worse. Like, way worse.   More anxiety. More bloating. More mood swings. Or no response at all.  So you try a different dose or a different formulation, but nothing gets better.   So now you’re left wondering: 👉 Is it me? 👉 Is this just how it’s going to be? 👉 Why does this work for everyone else—but not for me? This episode gets to the root of what's happing — but not in the way you expect.   🔥 Why This Episode Is a Must-Listen This isn’t another conversation about adding more hormones. It’s about why your body might not be responding to what’s already there.   And once you see this piece, a lot of confusion starts to make sense, fast. Especially if you’re in perimenopause or menopause and things are feeling more intense, less predictable, and harder to “figure out” than they used to be.   ⏱️ Timestamps You’ll Want to Bookmark [00:01:00] – The question that changes how you think about hormones [00:03:00] – What’s actually happening in perimenopause (that no one explains clearly) [00:05:00] – Why your symptoms can feel amplified, messy, and unpredictable [00:08:30] – The two patterns so many people fall into with hormone therapy [00:11:00] – The hidden layer that determines whether hormones help… or backfire   🧠 The Shift That Changes Everything Most conversations stop at: 👉 “You need more hormones.” 👉 “You need a different dose.”   But what if the real issue isn’t what you’re taking but how your body is handling it?   There’s a difference between: Having the right inputs And your body actually using them And when that gap exists, it creates symptoms that feel confusing, unpredictable, and incredibly frustrating.   🚩 If This Sounds Like You, Press Play: 👉Hormone therapy made you feel worse instead of better 👉You’ve tried different forms or doses with no real change 👉Your symptoms feel stronger or more chaotic than expected 👉You’re being told your hormones are “declining”… but your body feels anything but calm   There’s a reason for that and it’s not random.   FAQs: Why doesn’t hormone replacement therapy work for some women? Because the issue may not be hormone levels—it may be how the body processes, responds to, and uses those hormones. Why do I feel worse on estrogen therapy? In some cases, underlying imbalances can amplify the body’s response, making symptoms feel more intense. Why do I feel nothing on hormone therapy? The body may not be properly responding to or registering the hormones at a cellular level.   🎯 The Real Takeaway This isn’t about forcing your body into balance. It’s about understanding why it’s not responding the way you expected so you can finally work with it instead of against it.   💬 Final Thought When something doesn’t work, it’s easy to assume it’s the wrong solution. Sometimes… it’s just the wrong starting point. 🔗 Resources & Links:   The Morning Mindset Journal https://lisasmithwellness.com/the-morning-mindset-journal ✨Join the conversation: Share your thoughts with us on social media or in the comments! 🎙 Subscribe, Share & Review: If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people who need to know they're not alone and there is hope. Thanks for tuning in to Pretty Well! See you next week! Contact Lisa: Website: www.lisasmithwellness.com  IG: https://www.instagram.com/prettywell_podcast/   Disclaimer:  Nothing in this podcast is to be taken as medical advice, please take informed accountability and speak to your provider before making changes to your health routine. The primary purpose of The Pretty Well Podcast being to educate. This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice nor to take the place of such  advice or treatment from a personal physician. By listening to this content, you agree to consult your own physician or qualified health professional regarding specific health questions. Neither Lisa Smith, The Pretty Well Podcast, nor any guest takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons following the information in this educational content. All listeners of this content, especially those who are pregnant or taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement, or lifestyle program. The Pretty Well Podcast is for private non-commercial use and our guests do not necessarily reflect any agency, organization, or company that they work for. In addition, opinions of interview guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Lisa Smith and/or The Pretty Well Podcast. This content is not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up to date.