Today’s podcast guest, Dr. Jenn Simmons, is a true pioneer in the field of breast health. She’s a breast cancer surgeon turned functional medicine practitioner, and after finding herself with a breast cancer diagnosis a few years ago, her life-changing experience from ‘doctor’ to ‘patient’ really opened her eyes to who she was, and what she believed in. As someone who was surrounded by breast cancer and losing loved ones to this disease while growing up, she knew breast cancer was her life’s purpose. Ultimately, she wanted to pursue health, rather than simply treat illness, and she’s now on a mission to do just that.

I personally have a family history of breast cancer, so this conversation left me feeling empowered, and much more knowledgeable as I navigate my own breast health journey moving forward. Advocating for yourself and choosing to be proactive with your health is vital; at the end of the day, please know that you have to make the best decision for YOU, with the information you have available. This episode will most definitely have you rethinking the ‘typical’ preventative measures when it comes to breast cancer, so I hope you enjoy!

Episode Recap:

• How breast cancer dramatically impacted Dr. Jenn growing up and became her life’s purpose + her own, life-changing experience navigating breast cancer and finding functional medicine {3:54}
• The role your genetics play in regards to breast cancer {14:49}
• Dr. Jenn’s thoughts on testing in estrogenic cancers + how to best approach genetic testing and get the most value from doing so {17:13}
• When patients typically come to work with Dr. Jenn + the alarming rates at which cancer is increasing in the population {22:24}
• The ‘invisible’ toxin that seems to have the greatest detrimental effect on our health today + the cortisol-dominant state most of us are living in {25:13}
• Examples of doing what we’ve been told is best by experts, but has actually negatively impacted our health over time {34:37}
• Lifestyle ways to prevent breast cancer and really optimize your health {37:44}
• Various screening tools used in early detection of breast cancer + understanding that breast cancer is neither linear, nor predictable {46:28}
• Why regular self-breast exams matter + why mammography and MRI shouldn’t be used as the go-to imaging and screening tools for breast cancer {53:14}
• Ultrasound and thermography in breast screening + the 3 instances where breast cancer actually is considered an emergency {58:19}
• Dr. Jenn’s incredible QT imaging experience + why it’s going to change the future of breast cancer screening {1:07:16}

**Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is NOT meant to be taken as individual or medical advice. Please seek the advice of your physician or healthcare provider regarding any medical condition or treatment.

Complete show notes (including all links and resources mentioned in this episode): https://margaretpowell.com/podcast/episode38

Check out Dr. Jenn’s new book (available May 2024): The Smart Woman’s Guide to Breast Cancer

Connect with Dr. Jenn on Instagram @drjennsimmons

Learn more about working with Dr. Jenn by visiting her website

Connect with me on Instagram @margaretannpowell and @fueledandfreenutrition

For questions or suggestions about the podcast, send us an email at fueledandfreepodcast@gmail.com

Today’s podcast guest, Kitty Blomfield, is a force to be reckoned with. She’s a leader in the metabolic space, host of the well-known Weight Loss for Women podcast, and she’s had quite the transformation over the last decade!

Kitty and I discussed a variety of topics in this episode - her journey with poor body image and endless dieting, to finding freedom with food and exercise, and the major mindset shifts she’s had to make along the way. We also dug into learning to train smarter (not harder) when it comes to your workouts, the roles of mechanical tension and progressive overload on the body, benefits of going to a gym versus working out at home, navigating the masculine and feminine energy as they present in your career, pleasure, communication, people-pleasing tendencies, and more.

This was such a refreshing conversation that took a totally different route than I originally thought it would, but I’m so glad it did. I had a blast chatting with Kitty, and I truly appreciated her vulnerability and honesty with sharing everything she’s experienced on her journey. I know this episode will leave you with many ‘aha’ moments, and will encourage you to take some time to explore more about yourself, and who you’re really meant to be!

Episode Recap:

• Kitty’s story of growing up with poor body image and fad-dieting for most of her adult life, to breaking free and now helping other women restore their metabolisms {5:39}
• How Kitty shifted her mindset from dieting and restriction to actually enjoying food now without guilt or shame + the life-changing results she experienced as a result {14:51}
• The importance of tracking your food while also prioritizing regular movement + moving away from the ‘cheat meal’ mentality {18:56}
• What Kitty’s typical workout/gym routine looks like + learning to train smarter, NOT harder {23:20}
• Mechanical tension and progressive overload on the body + why lifting heavy is necessary in order to build muscle {29:10}
• Finding excitement with weightlifting + the benefits to going to a gym vs. working out at home {33:43}
• Non-negotiables that are now a part of Kitty’s daily routine to improve her health, relationships, and overall life {40:34}
• Navigating the balance of masculine vs. feminine energy + how this can dramatically impact your sex life, relationships, communication and more {52:46}

**Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is NOT meant to be taken as individual or medical advice. Please seek the advice of your physician or healthcare provider regarding any medical condition or treatment.

Complete show notes (including all links and resources I mentioned in this episode):

https://margaretpowell.com/podcast/episode37


Connect with Kitty on Instagram @kittyblomfield

Learn more about working with Kitty by visiting her website

Connect with me on Instagram @margaretannpowell and @fueledandfreenutrition

For questions or suggestions about the podcast, send us an email at fueledandfreepodcast@gmail.com

We’re wrapping up our cycle syncing series with today’s episode featuring ALL the things related to the menstrual phase of your cycle!

For many of us, our actual period is something that can really knock us down - it’s not an optimal, exciting time we look forward to. If this rings true for you, trust me when I say, I felt VERY similarly for a long time. I was completely disconnected from my own cycle for the first decade I was menstruating (thank you hormonal birth control), and I had some extremely difficult periods in the past.

In this episode, I’m discussing what’s normal (and what’s not so normal) when it comes to your period length, heaviness, and pain. I’m also sharing more about how to navigate heavy, ‘clotty’ periods (and why they’re happening in the first place), the role of prostaglandins during your menstrual phase, holistic options that can provide pain relief, some of my favorite period products, and more.

While I wouldn’t say my period is always a walk in the park now, it’s not something that keeps me bedridden, or has me feeling like I can’t make it through the day due to super painful cramps. Whatever your journey currently looks like with your period (and cycle as a whole), I hope this four-part series has given you plenty of valuable tips and tricks to implement into your own life. Ultimately, your menstrual cycle should be something you are in tune with, and should feel incredibly empowered by as a woman!

Episode Recap:

• What’s normal and what’s NOT normal regarding your cycle length, heaviness, blood loss, etc. with your period {4:02}
• What a shorter cycle may actually be linked to {6:10}
• Navigating heavy periods + addressing the root causes as to WHY you’re experiencing an extremely heavy, ‘clotty’ period {7:25}
• The connection between endometriosis and painful periods {10:46}
• The role of adenomyosis, fibroids, and underlying infections in painful periods {13:16}
• What the color of your period blood can indicate of your cycle {14:37}
• What to focus on nutritionally during your period + how your digestion is affected during this time {16:27}
• How to adjust your calendar, work, and overall productivity around your period {21:15}
• Why you should try to avoid refined grains and sugars as much as possible during your period + what prostaglandins are {26:48}
• What you should consider limiting and/or avoiding all together if you’re experiencing high inflammation and painful periods {28:30}
• Holistic options for pain relief during your period {29:14}
• My favorite period products {31:17}
  

**Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is NOT meant to be taken as individual or medical advice. Please seek the advice of your physician or healthcare provider regarding any medical condition or treatment.

Complete show notes (including all links and resources I mentioned in this episode):
https://margaretpowell.com/podcast/episode36

Connect with me on Instagram @margaretannpowell and @fueledandfreenutrition

Learn more about working together by visiting https://fueledandfree.com/

For questions or suggestions about the podcast, send us an email at fueledandfreepodcast@gmail.com