171: Travel + Retreats with Dr. Courtney Downes

What if the reset you’ve been craving doesn’t come from a new planner or perfectly aligned schedule… but from a plane ticket? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Courtney Downes, a full-time ER doc and the founder of Prescription to Travel MD. We talk about something a little different than our usual programming—travel, especially solo travel. If you're a high-achieving woman who’s been putting off rest or waiting for the “right time” to go on that dream trip, this conversation is for you. We’re diving into what holds so many of us back from traveling (hint: it’s not just logistics), and how creating intentional pauses in your life can be one of the most powerful things you do—not just for yourself, but for everyone around you. Dr. Courtney Downes is an Emergency Medicine physician, avid traveler, and the founder of Prescription to Travel MD. Through her podcast, platform, and personalized strategy sessions, she helps physicians and busy professionals—maximize rewards, prevent burnout, and make meaningful travel more accessible. When she’s not working in the ER or traveling with her family, she’s teaching others how to stop leaving points on the table and start booking luxury travel without the luxury price tag.   Resources:  Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/171 Dr. Courtney Downes’s Links: Website: https://prescriptiontotravelmd.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prescriptiontotravelmd/  Join us at The Unstoppable Retreat: https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/retreat Learn more: https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/group 

Summer doesn’t have to be the season of sabotage. In this episode, I’m pulling one of my favorite (and most strategic) episodes from the archives to answer a question I get every single year: Can I enjoy summer and still lose weight? Spoiler: Yes. But only if you drop the myth that weight loss has to feel like deprivation. If you’ve ever felt like you have to press pause on your goals during summer vacations, holidays, and weekends, this episode is your invitation to think differently. I’ll walk you through the exact skills that let my clients enjoy trips, connect with family, and lose weight—all at the same time. Let’s rewrite the story of summer success.   Resources:  Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/170 Learn more: https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/group  Get the Hormones Training: https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/hormones

Ever wonder if that constant hum in your brain around food — the what, when, should I, can I — is just part of life now? This episode is going to challenge that idea in the best way possible. Recorded from a hotel room in Toronto, I’m diving into a powerful, unscripted conversation about food chatter, dopamine, overachievement, and the real reason we over-snack, overthink, and overdo. If you’ve ever felt like your brain is constantly buzzing about food, and you’re tired of it, this conversation is for you. I’ll take you through a totally new way of understanding food noise, from hormone shifts to habit loops, and help you see that freedom is possible — not through willpower, but through strategy, science, and soul.   Resources:  Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/169 Learn more: https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/group  Get the Hormones Training: https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/hormones

Sometimes life throws a curveball, and this week, that meant a surprise mom duty moment for me. But rather than skip a podcast episode (which I never do), I’m sharing a gem I’ve never released here before. This episode walks you through exactly how to evaluate your weight loss results like a rockstar, without drama, guilt, or throwing in the towel when the scale doesn’t budge. If you’ve ever told yourself, “It’s just not working” or spiraled into shame after a pound crept up, this episode is your antidote. I’m breaking down why overachievers tend to avoid evaluation, how to flip discouragement into data, and why this ONE weekly habit might be the most important meeting on your calendar.   Resources:  Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/168 Learn more: https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/group  Get the Hormones Training: https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/hormones

Ever wonder why, despite being so successful in other parts of your life, sustainable weight loss still feels out of reach? In this episode, I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes look at a recent coffee chat where I broke down exactly why so many high-achieving women struggle to lose weight—and keep it off—no matter how hard they work. I’ve taken everything I know, from my own journey as a busy physician and mom who lost over 60 pounds to the science-backed strategies I use with my clients, and wrapped it into a five-part recipe that’s designed to help you stop winging it and start seeing real, lasting results.   Resources:  Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/167 Learn more: https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/group  Get the Hormones Training: https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/hormones

In today’s episode, I’m sharing an incredible conversation with my client, Dr. Kara Geoghegan—a fellow OBGYN, busy mom of four, and total rockstar. Kara opens up about what it was really like to juggle her demanding career, family responsibilities, and a desire to finally prioritize her health. She shares how she overcame overwhelm, shifted her mindset, and created a process that’s changed her life, and her family’s too. If you’re feeling like there’s never enough time to lose weight, Kara’s story will show you it’s possible to break free—and actually enjoy the process.   Resources:  Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/166 Learn more: https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/group  Get the Hormones Training: https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/hormones

In this inspiring episode, I’m having a conversation with real client Dr. Hazel Abinsay, a busy pediatrician and mom of two who transformed her wellness journey with one simple mindset shift. From feeling like she was constantly “just trying to survive” to creating a sense of time freedom and losing 20 pounds in three months, Hazel’s story is a powerful testament to the impact of mindset, habit change, and coaching support.   Resources:  Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/165 Learn more: https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/group  Get the Hormones Training: https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/hormones

What happens when a seasoned OBGYN reclaims her time, her health, and her joy, without giving up her purpose? In this raw and energizing conversation, I have my dear friend and powerhouse physician, Dr. Shieva Ghofrany, to talk about the courage it takes to pivot professionally, the nuance behind boundaries, and the real, messy truth about loving your body in a world full of noise. Dr. Ghofrany brings deep honesty, hilarious realness, and a refreshing take on self-worth, success, and navigating a medical career while putting herself last for too long. This episode is a must-listen for every professional woman who’s ever felt like she has to do it all, and do it perfectly.   Resources:  Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/164 Connect with Dr. Shieva Ghofrany: https://www.instagram.com/drshievag/  Learn more: https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/group  Get the Hormones Training: https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/hormones

Welcome to the first episode of our brand-new Coffee Chat Series: a special collection of candid, strategic conversations designed to help high-achieving women break free from the hidden mental blocks standing between them and their dream body goals. In this kickoff chat, I’m unpacking one of the most sneaky yet expensive thought habits that keeps so many smart professional women stuck: the belief that “it’s not working.” And no, this isn’t about willpower or discipline. This is about thought currency.   Resources:  Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/163 Join our next Coffe Chat: http://www.burnstressloseweight.com/coffeechat  Learn more about the group: https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/group 

In this deeply honest and unfiltered episode, I'm sharing something I originally recorded just for my clients inside The Unstoppable Group: how I navigated a massive epic fail on a recent family trip to India. I'm pulling back the curtain on exactly what went wrong, what I used to believe in these moments, and the specific mindset and strategy shifts that helped me turn it all around without the usual spiral. If you've ever felt like one off-track moment means you've "ruined everything," this episode is for you. I walk through the real-life breakdown, the uncomfortable truth about gut health and fried food (yup, we go there), and the five-question retrospective that changed everything.   Resources:  Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/162 Learn more about the group: https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/group