#634 Unlocking the Triathlon Later in Life: Hilary Topper

What if your endurance journey didn't start in your teens… but in your late 40s? In this episode of The Coach Debbie Potts Show, I sit down with Hilary Topper, who began endurance training at 48, started training for triathlons at 53, and built her "why" around one simple mission: to become the best version of herself. Hilary shares the real behind-the-scenes of starting "later," learning new skills from scratch, and building the discipline to show up—especially when it means a 4:00 AM alarm and doing hard things before most people are awake. We also celebrate Hilary's newest project: her recently launched fourth book, Unlocking the Triathlon: The Beginner's Guide to Competing in a Triathlon—Anyone Can Tri, published by Meyer & Meyer Sport. In this episode, you'll hear: Why Hilary started endurance training later in life—and what changed everything for her Whether she was an athlete earlier in life (and how that shaped her comeback story) How hard it was to learn how to swim (and what helped her finally "get it") How 4:00 AM became a habit—without relying on motivation What it really takes to build consistency, confidence, and identity as a triathlete—at any age Connect with Hilary Instagram: @hilarytopper Website: ATriathletesDiary.com

If you're over 40 and doing "everything right" — eating clean, lifting weights, prioritizing sleep — but your metabolism feels slower, hunger feels stronger, and fat loss feels harder… This episode explains why. In this deep-dive rabbit hole, Coach Debbie Potts uncovers the powerful (and often overlooked) connection between bile flow, mitochondrial efficiency, GLP-1 signaling, hormones, and midlife metabolism. Bile acids are not just digestive fluids. They are metabolic signaling molecules that regulate: • GLP-1 and PYY (satiety hormones) • Insulin sensitivity • Fat oxidation • Thyroid receptor expression • Estrogen clearance (the estrobolome) • Microbiome balance • Inflammatory tone • Toxin elimination You'll learn how midlife hormonal shifts — including declining estrogen and testosterone — affect mitochondrial ATP production, bile synthesis, and receptor signaling. When bile signaling weakens, GLP-1 drops, hunger rises, insulin resistance increases, fat oxidation declines, inflammation builds, and metabolism adapts downward. This isn't a willpower problem. It's a signaling problem. High performers often feel this shift first because chronic stress suppresses digestion, weakens vagal tone, reduces stomach acid, impairs gallbladder contraction, and disrupts bile release. In this episode, Debbie connects the dots and explains the midlife cascade: Hormone shift → Mitochondrial decline → Bile signaling weakens → GLP-1 drops → Insulin resistance rises → Fat oxidation slows → Inflammation increases → Thyroid sensitivity declines → Metabolic rate adapts downward. You'll also learn why GLP-1 medications are exploding in popularity — and why restoring upstream physiology may be the more sustainable path. Instead of pushing harder, we sequence smarter. When flow restores, metabolism follows. 👉 Learn more at www.debbiepotts.net Aging is inevitable. Struggling is optional. Educational only. Partner with a qualified practitioner—especially if you're on medications, have gallbladder disease, significant anemia, active IBD, are pregnant, or have complex conditions.  

*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "2c036105-b278-47cc-93ab-5734ed376450" data-testid= "conversation-turn-6" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> In this episode of The Coach Debbie Potts Show, Debbie is joined by Shivani Gupta—Ayurvedic practitioner, turmeric researcher, and author of The Inflammation Code. We explore how Ayurveda can be used as a preventive, modern lifestyle tool to calm chronic inflammation, balance hormones, and restore energy—without restrictive dieting. Dr. Shivani shares what led her to Ayurveda, why turmeric became central to her work, and the key pillars from her new book, including Mental Inflammation™, gut and estrobolome support, and simple daily rituals that actually stick. This conversation is especially powerful for midlife, high-performing women dealing with brain fog, bloat, fatigue, poor sleep, and hormone chaos—who want root-cause solutions that work in real life. 🔗 Learn more: www.theinflammationcode.com www.shivanigupta.com Website 🌐 https://www.shivanigupta.com Book 📘 The Inflammation Code: https://www.theinflammationcode.com Free Resources 🔥 7-Day Inflammation Detox Challenge: https://www.7dayinflammationdetox.com/optin1641313075014 🥗 Anti-Inflammatory E-Cookbook: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ItNJ1DV3XsOn5MwBbSpeTFH8o3KFu2qk/view Social Media 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/dr.shivanigupta 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theshivanigupta ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.shivanigupta 📌 Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/theshivanigupta    

In this deep dive rabbit hole episode of The Coach Debbie Potts Show, we unpack the science behind cardiovascular health- and why it matters for high performers, endurance athletes, and driven midlife men and women who want to age strong — not slower. This isn't surface-level wellness advice. You'll learn how Cardiovascular health impacts: ✔ Metabolism ✔ Hormones ✔ Muscle & Mitochondria ✔ Brain & Nervous System ✔ Gut Health ✔ Insulin Sensitivity ✔ Inflammation & Longevity And most importantly — how to connect this to your own FutureYou Blueprint™ using a "Test, Not Guess" approach. If you've been doing all the "right" things but still feel stuck with fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, muscle loss, or metabolic chaos — this episode is for you. This is about understanding your terrain. This is about building resilience. This is about restoring metabolic harmony from the inside out. 🔬 In This Episode We Discuss: • What is really happening under the surface • Clues and correlations to watch for • Upstream vs downstream dysfunction • Why middle age physiology changes the game • Practical strategies to course-correct 📊 Ready to Personalize Your Plan? Learn more about: • PNOĒ Metabolic Testing • Functional Blood Chemistry Analysis • 3x4 Genetics • GI-MAP Gut Testing • The FutureYou Blueprint™ Coaching Visit: www.debbiepotts.net If this episode helped you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Because life is not a race… It's about building your strongest, most resilient Future You.

What if inflammation isn't something to "fight"… but a signal your nervous system can't turn off? In this powerful conversation, I'm joined by Kevin J. Tracey, MD — President and CEO of The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research and a global leader in neuroimmunology and bioelectronic medicine. Dr. Tracey is best known for discovering the inflammatory reflex — the neural circuit through which the vagus nerve actively regulates the immune system. His work changed how we understand inflammation, chronic disease, recovery, and healing itself. And for high-performing, driven, midlife athletes and professionals… this science explains why so many people are stuck. In this episode, we connect Dr. Tracey's groundbreaking research directly into my FLOW Foundation™ framework: 🧠 Free the Nervous System → Lymph & Fascia → Oxygen & Mitochondria → Waste, Bile & Hormone Clearance Because healing doesn't start with supplements, hormones, or harder training. It starts with safety. In this episode, we explore: Why chronic stress keeps the immune system switched "ON" How the vagus nerve senses inflammation — and tells the body when to shut it down Why sympathetic dominance blocks digestion, bile flow, blood sugar stability, and hormone signaling How inflammation becomes chronic when neural regulation is impaired The link between vagal tone, lymphatic flow, oxygen delivery, and waste removal Why many high performers feel wired-and-tired, inflamed, reactive, and stuck despite "doing everything right" How modern medicine is using bioelectronic signals — not drugs — to restore immune balance Kevin J. Tracey, MD President and CEO, The Feinstein (Fine-steen) Institutes for Medical Research (Manhasset, NY) Neurosurgeon | Neuroimmunologist | Pioneer of Bioelectronic Medicine Author of the bestselling book: 📘 The Great Nerve: The New Science of the Vagus Nerve and How to Harness Its Healing Reflexes Dr. Tracey's discoveries revealed that the nervous system directly controls immune function through neural circuits — reshaping medicine's understanding of inflammation and opening the door to bioelectronic therapies that regulate disease at its source. Relevant Links The Great Nerve (Amazon): https://a.co/d/7UbRR6C Feinstein Institutes Website: https://feinstein.northwell.edu/ Dr. Tracey's Research Profile: https://feinstein.northwell.edu/institutes-researchers/our-researchers/kevin-j-tracey-md Center for Bioelectronic Medicine: https://www.northwell.edu/center-for-bioelectronic-medicine Social Personal Twitter/X: https://x.com/KevinJTraceyMD Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinjtraceymd/ Feinstein Institutes LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-feinstein-institutes-for-medical-research Northwell Health: @northwellhealth (Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter

Is cancer prevention really about destroying abnormal cells — or restoring immune surveillance before disease ever develops? In this Part Two deep dive, Coach Debbie Potts explores the emerging paradigm shift in longevity medicine: enhancing Natural Killer (NK) cell intelligence and activated NK cell–derived exosomes to support immune rejuvenation, reduce senescent "zombie" cells, and protect long-term health. If you're 45–60 and doing everything "right" but feeling inflamed, slower to recover, or less resilient, this episode will help you understand why immune precision matters — and why advanced regenerative tools must be layered in the right order. In this episode, you'll learn: • What Natural Killer (NK) cells actually do in daily immune surveillance • What "zombie cells" (senescent cells) are and how they accelerate aging • How NK cells help clear damaged and dysfunctional cells • What activated NK cell exosomes are — and how they function as immune signaling amplifiers • The potential anti-aging and healthspan benefits of improving immune precision • Why immune rejuvenation is about restoring intelligence, not boosting indiscriminately • When advanced regenerative therapies make sense — and when they don't Anti-aging is not about reversing time. It's about preserving adaptive capacity. For high performers, that means: Maintaining muscle. Preserving metabolic flexibility. Protecting cognitive function. Supporting immune intelligence. Not pushing harder — but sequencing smarter. Because advanced therapies are not first-line. They are precision amplifiers once the terrain is ready. Safety first. Then flow. Then rebuild capacity. That's how you create your FutureYou. Learn more about building your personalized FutureYou Blueprint™ at: www.debbiepotts.net Schedule your complimentary discovery call here: https://calendly.com/amanda-fromwithinsb/15-min-discovery-call

If you're over 45 and training consistently but noticing slower recovery, softer body composition, or declining strength — this episode is for you. In this deep-dive rabbit hole conversation, Debbie breaks down the real science of Muscle Protein Synthesis (MPS) and why protein distribution — not just total protein — becomes critical in midlife. You'll learn why 20–30 grams of protein often isn't enough anymore, why adults 45+ may need 3–4 grams of leucine per meal to fully activate mTOR signaling, and how anabolic resistance changes the muscle-building equation for both men and women. We also explore AMPK vs mTOR balance, chronic fasting and endurance training effects, insulin resistance, stress-driven cortisol interference, and how PNOĒ metabolic testing and genetic insights can personalize your muscle-building strategy. Midlife isn't decline — it's a threshold shift. When you understand the signaling, you can train smarter, fuel intentionally, and protect your metabolism for decades to come. Learn more about personalized testing and The FutureYou Blueprint™ at www.debbiepotts.net

If you're 45, 50, or 60 and doing all the "right" things — training hard, eating clean, optimizing your health — but your body isn't responding the way it used to… this episode is for you. In this solo deep dive, Coach Debbie Potts breaks down what it really means to become fit and healthy from the inside out — at a cellular level. Before we talk peptides, exosomes, stem cells, or advanced regenerative therapies, we need to understand one thing: Your body cannot regenerate in stagnation. Safety turns digestion back on. Flow clears inflammatory noise. And when waste moves, mitochondria increase output. In this episode, you'll learn: • What "restoring cellular trust" actually means • Why mitochondria are the decision-makers of your metabolism • How chronic stress keeps you stuck in protective adaptation • The real role of bile flow, lymphatic drainage, and gut motility • Why immune resilience declines in midlife • The difference between adding more stress vs. rebuilding capacity • The correct order of operations: Safety → Flow → Capacity • How to create your FutureYou Blueprint™ without burning out If you're a high performer who feels inflamed, resistant, or metabolically stalled, this episode will help you understand why pushing harder isn't the solution — and what to do instead. Because your FutureYou isn't built by adding more stress. It's built by restoring cellular trust — in the right order. ✨ Ready to build your personalized FutureYou Blueprint™? Learn more at: www.debbiepotts.net Schedule your complimentary discovery call here: https://calendly.com/amanda-fromwithinsb/15-min-discovery-call

Reclaim Your Vitality: Science-Backed Detoxification with Dr. Haroldo Magarinos What if your fatigue, inflammation, hormone resistance, brain fog, or "detox reactions" aren't because you need more supplements—but because your body can't clear what it's already carrying? In this episode of The Coach Debbie Potts Show, I'm joined by Dr. Haroldo Magarinos, founder of Reclaim Your Vitality, for a grounded, science-backed conversation on what detoxification actually means—and why so many high performers get it wrong. We unpack the missing physiology behind detox programs, hormone optimization, and "biohacking," especially for driven midlife athletes and professionals who are doing all the right things but still feel stuck. This is not about aggressive cleanses or pushing harder. It's about capacity, flow, and order of operations. In this episode, we explore: • Why detox is a biological process, not a product or protocol • How the nervous system, liver, bile, gut, kidneys, and lymph must work together • Why poor bile flow leads to hormone recirculation, histamine overload, and inflammation • The connection between chronic stress, mitochondrial energy, and impaired detox pathways • Why many people feel worse during detox—and how to prevent that • How to rebuild drainage, resilience, and metabolic harmony before adding HRT, peptides, GLP-1s, or intense training • What "science-backed detox" actually looks like in real life Dr. Magarinos brings clarity to the confusion around detoxification by anchoring the conversation in physiology, systems biology, and clinical experience—cutting through fear-based marketing and outdated models. If you've ever said: "I've tried detoxing, but it didn't work." "I react to everything." "My labs look okay, but I don't feel okay." "Hormones and supplements aren't helping." This episode will help you understand why—and what needs to come first. Because real vitality isn't forced. It's restored—by improving flow from the inside out. 🎧 Tune in and learn how to reclaim your vitality by working with your body, not against it. Learn more at: www.debbiepotts.net Educational only. Partner with a qualified practitioner—especially if you're on medications, have gallbladder disease, significant anemia, active IBD, are pregnant, or have complex conditions.