Fit and Fabulous at Forty and Beyond with Dr Orlena

Why You're Not Losing Weight in Menopause — And What to Actually Do About It
If you've ever felt like you were doing everything right — eating well, exercising, living healthily — only to watch your body change in ways you didn't ask for, this episode is for you.
Dr. Orlena is joined by Dr. Michelle Gordon, a former general surgeon turned board-certified obesity medicine specialist, who brings a frank, science-first perspective to one of the most frustrating experiences of midlife: unexplained weight gain and stubborn visceral fat.
This conversation goes well beyond the usual advice. Here's what you'll discover:
The visceral fat vicious cycle. Visceral fat isn't just stored energy — it's an active inflammatory organ. Dr. Gordon explains how it floods your body with inflammatory signals, disrupts your hunger hormones, and creates a biological loop that can make you feel hungry even when you're significantly overweight. And menopause is precisely the time it's most likely to take hold.
Why "calories in, calories out" fails midlife women. When you cut calories, your metabolism slows — and your body fights back. Add the hormonal turbulence of perimenopause, a drop in daily activity you probably don't even notice, and the fact that hunger is a brain signal rather than a conscious choice, and you begin to understand why 80–85% of dieters fail to maintain their results long term. It is not a discipline problem.
Treating weight gain as a chronic disease — and breaking the shame spiral. Dr. Gordon makes a compelling case that obesity and significant weight gain need to be treated with the same clinical seriousness as high blood pressure or diabetes. She and Dr. Orlena also explore the real role of HRT (it's not a weight loss drug, but it matters more than you think), the truth about GLP-1 medications, why strength training is non-negotiable, and how the shame spiral keeps women trapped — and what it takes to step out of it.
Whether you're navigating perimenopause, post-menopause, or simply want to understand what's happening in your body, this episode will leave you with clarity, compassion for yourself, and a far more useful picture of what your options really are.
Find Dr. Michelle Gordon at drgordon.me or on Substack at drmichellegordon.substack.com. Follow her on IG: https://www.instagram.com/doctormichellegordon/ 
Watch Stop Dieting Start Thriving: https://www.drorlena.com/stop-dieting 
Sign up for the Stop Dieting and Start Thriving Video: 
https://www.drorlena.com/stop-dieting
Looking for support? Book a free call with Dr Orlena: 
https://www.drorlena.com/book-a-call-dr-o

Are you tired of starting over every Monday?
In this episode, I'm sharing the story of Kathy — one of my clients who recently finished Positively Healthy You — and the conversation we had when she told me she was ready to fly on her own.
When Kathy first came to me, she was doing all the "right" things: going to the gym, watching what she ate, even taking weight loss medication. And yet she felt defeated, inconsistent, and completely at the mercy of the number on the scales. Sound familiar?
Fast forward a few months, and she's lifting heavier, sleeping better, genuinely enjoying exercise, and — most importantly — she trusts herself. Not because everything went perfectly. But because she finally understood what real transformation actually involves.
In this episode, I walk you through the three lessons I drew from Kathy's journey:
Why consistency will always beat perfection — and how a tiny course correction early on can change where you land years from now
Why support isn't a luxury, it's a strategy — and what happens to your progress when you try to white-knuckle change alone
What it really means to transform — hint: it's not just about the weight, and it doesn't end when the programme does
Whether you're just starting out or you've been stuck in the same loop for years, this episode will help you see that the path forward isn't about doing more — it's about doing the right things, consistently, with the right support around you.
Come and listen. This one might just be the reset you've been waiting for.
Watch Stop Dieting Start Thriving: https://www.drorlena.com/stop-dieting 
Sign up for the Stop Dieting and Start Thriving Video: 
https://www.drorlena.com/stop-dieting
Looking for support? Book a free call with Dr Orlena: 
https://www.drorlena.com/book-a-call-dr-o

You wake up tired. You push through the day tired. You go to bed tired. And everyone tells you to rest more — but that's not actually helping, is it?
In this episode, I'm sharing what's really behind perimenopause fatigue, why it's not about willpower or age, and the four shifts that help women feel strong and energised again. We go all the way down to the cellular level — don't worry, I'll keep it simple — and come back up with practical steps you can actually use.
Perimenopause isn't a sentence to feeling exhausted. Your body knows how to feel strong. Let me show you how to work with it.
Watch Stop Dieting Start Thriving: https://www.drorlena.com/stop-dieting 
Sign up for the Stop Dieting and Start Thriving Video: 
https://www.drorlena.com/stop-dieting
Looking for support? Book a free call with Dr Orlena: 
https://www.drorlena.com/book-a-call-dr-o

Have you ever been told that bladder leaks, painful sex, or pelvic floor problems are “just part of getting older”?
In this eye-opening episode, I’m joined by pelvic floor expert and “Vagina Whisperer” Dr. Sarah Reardon to talk about the symptoms so many women experience… but hardly anyone talks about.
We discuss:
• Why pelvic floor issues are incredibly common — but not something you simply have to put up with
• The huge impact perimenopause and menopause have on vaginal and pelvic floor health
• Why topical vaginal estrogen can be life-changing for many women
• How pelvic floor exercises really work (and why Kegels alone aren’t the whole story)
• What women can start doing today to feel stronger, more confident, and more comfortable in their bodies
This conversation is empowering, practical, and full of hope — especially if you’ve ever thought:
“Is this just what happens as we get older?”
Spoiler alert: no, it isn’t.
If you’re a woman over 40 who wants to feel strong, healthy, confident, and informed about your body, this episode is a must-listen.
Connect with the Vagina Whisperer:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thevaginawhisperer 
IG: https://www.instagram.com/the.vagina.whisperer/ 
Website: https://thevagwhisperer.com/ 
Vhive app: https://thevagwhisperer.com/membership/ 
Watch Stop Dieting Start Thriving: https://www.drorlena.com/stop-dieting 
Sign up for the Stop Dieting and Start Thriving Video: 
https://www.drorlena.com/stop-dieting
Looking for support? Book a free call with Dr Orlena: 
https://www.drorlena.com/book-a-call-dr-o

Feeling like you're doing everything right — and still not seeing results? This episode might be the permission slip you didn't know you needed.
In this episode, Dr. Orlena — physician turned health coach — reveals something her clients discover again and again: the breakthrough doesn't come from doing more. No more restrictions, no more white-knuckling through cravings, no more punishing gym sessions you dread. The real transformation starts when you stop.
Dr. Orlena walks you through five surprisingly common behaviours that are quietly keeping women over 40 stuck — from the emotional eating that has nothing to do with hunger, to the daily scale habit that's wrecking your motivation before breakfast.
In this episode, you'll discover:
Why your cravings and emotional eating are two different problems — and how to tackle each one at the root
How ditching the obsession with the scale (and measuring what actually matters) unlocks real, lasting fat loss
Why building systems instead of relying on discipline is the game-changer most women never hear about
If you've ever thought "I know what to do, I just can't stick to it," — this episode is for you. Dr. Orlena will change the way you think about health, willpower, and what it really means to look after yourself after 40.
Hit play. Your future self will thank you.
Watch Stop Dieting Start Thriving: https://www.drorlena.com/stop-dieting 
Sign up for the Stop Dieting and Start Thriving Video: 
https://www.drorlena.com/stop-dieting
Looking for support? Book a free call with Dr Orlena: 
https://www.drorlena.com/book-a-call-dr-o