Strong + Unfiltered: Perimenopause, Hormones, Gut Health + Hormone Optimization

EP 251: The Truth About HRT: Blood Clots, Cancer Risk, Pellets + Perimenopause Symptoms

Welcome back to Strong + Unfiltered. Today's episode is a solo Q&A all about hormone replacement therapy, perimenopause, progesterone, estrogen, blood clot myths, and the massive amount of misinformation women are still being fed about hormones. We're diving into the REAL differences between birth control and bioidentical HRT, what the WHI study actually did (and didn't) show, why some women are safer ON estrogen than off of it, and why "just wait until menopause" is outdated advice that's keeping women suffering unnecessarily. I also break down pellets, PCOS and HRT, cyclic estrogen dosing, how I monitor hormones in practice, and why symptoms like anxiety, rage, fatigue, sleep issues, brain fog, joint pain, and "not feeling like yourself" may absolutely be connected to perimenopause long before your periods disappear. If you've ever been told your labs are "normal" while you feel exhausted, anxious, inflamed, ragey, wide awake at 2am, or completely unlike yourself… this episode is for you. Get your FREE 9 HRT Myths Debunked ebook here [https://www.empoweredmedicine.co/myths] Book an Empowered Medicine consult call here [https://l.bttr.to/qv2lK] Book a Hormone Strategy Session here [https://l.bttr.to/iMb1I] Enter the GIVEAWAY to win a FREE brick here [https://forms.gle/9eAJTKNVxHRAgeBo7]

EP 250: Doing Everything Right But Not Losing Weight? Here's Why

If you feel like you're doing everything right… eating "clean," working out constantly, tracking your macros… and still not losing weight, this episode is going to hit. Danielle is breaking down your biggest questions around weight loss resistance, metabolism, under eating, and overtraining, and calling out the habits that are quietly keeping you stuck. We're talking about why chronic dieting, low calorie intake, and doing too much cardio can actually slow progress, and what to do instead if you want real fat loss, better body composition, and a stronger metabolism. You'll learn how to think about reverse dieting, when to use tools like macro tracking or food scales (and when to stop), and why eating more might actually be the thing your body needs. This is your reminder that your metabolism isn't broken… but the way you've been taught to approach weight loss might be. Enter the Brick Giveaway here! [https://forms.gle/Ls5KGfEewPAGRbzu7] Get your Labs Freebie Here! [https://www.empoweredmindbody.co/labs] Learn more about working with me [https://www.empoweredmindbody.co/individualofferings] Shop my masterclasses (learn more in 60-90 minutes than years of dr appointments) [https://www.empoweredmindbody.co/store] Follow me on IG [https://www.instagram.com/danielle.kepics] Follow Empowered Mind + Body on IG [https://www.instagram.com/empowered.mind.body/]

EP249: Are Your "Healthy Habits" a Red Flag? The Truth About Orthorexia + Endurance Training

Danielle sits down with Becca Murphy to unpack her personal experience with orthorexia, disordered eating, and how "doing all the right things" can quietly spiral into underfueling, overtraining, and hormonal imbalance. We're talking about the sneaky, socially acceptable behaviors that get praised in fitness culture but are actually massive red flags, especially for high-performing women navigating endurance training, weight loss, and metabolic health. From obsessive tracking with apps like MyFitnessPal, to chronic dieting, to using exercise as a coping mechanism, this episode connects the dots between control, trauma, and the way we use "health" to avoid what's really going on underneath. We also break down how low energy availability, RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport), and chronic underfueling can show up as fatigue, poor recovery, hormone issues, and stubborn body composition changes. If you've ever felt wired and tired, stuck in rigid routines, anxious about missing a workout, or unsure how to stop tracking calories and macros… this episode is for you. Enter the Brick Giveaway here! [https://forms.gle/Ls5KGfEewPAGRbzu7] Learn more about working with me [https://www.empoweredmindbody.co/individualofferings] Shop my masterclasses (learn more in 60-90 minutes than years of dr appointments) [https://www.empoweredmindbody.co/store] Follow me on IG [https://www.instagram.com/danielle.kepics] Follow Empowered Mind + Body on IG [https://www.instagram.com/empowered.mind.body/] Follow Becca on IG [https://www.instagram.com/beccabluerose/]

EP 249: Fix Your Gut, Fix Your Hormones? What Your Conventional Doctor is Missing ft. Dr. Cassie Smith

In this episode, Danielle sits down with Dr. Cassie Smith, author of Fix Your Gut, Fix Your Hormones, to break down the real connection between gut health, hormones, and why so many women still feel off despite "doing all the right things." They dive into the labs most conventional doctors are missing, why looking at symptoms and your full story matters just as much as your lab results, and how things like poor sleep, chronic stress, and over-scheduling are quietly wrecking your health. If you've been bouncing between gut protocols, hormone fixes, and still don't feel like yourself, this episode will help you connect the dots and understand what's actually missing. Learn more about working with me [https://www.empoweredmindbody.co/individualofferings] Shop my masterclasses (learn more in 60-90 minutes than years of dr appointments) [https://www.empoweredmindbody.co/store] Follow me on IG [https://www.instagram.com/danielle.kepics/] Follow Empowered Mind + Body on IG [https://www.instagram.com/empowered.mind.body/] Get Dr. Cassie Smith's book here [https://www.modern-endocrine.com/fix-your-gut-fix-your-hormones/] Follow Dr. Cassie on IG [https://www.instagram.com/modernendocrine_/]

EP 248: You're Not Weight Loss Resistant… You're Just Not Doing This

In this episode, Danielle breaks down one of the most overused phrases in women's health and weight loss: weight loss resistance. If you feel like you're doing everything right but not losing weight, or you're worried your metabolism or hormones are the problem, this episode is for you. Danielle gets honest about why most women are not actually dealing with true weight loss resistance, and what's really getting in the way of fat loss. She walks through the foundational habits that must be consistent before blaming your hormones, including strength training, calorie intake, daily movement, and protein. You'll also learn when weight loss resistance is real, how to tell if your metabolism has adapted, and when it's time to look deeper at things like hormones, stress, gut health, and sleep. If you're stuck, frustrated, or feel like nothing is working, this episode will help you understand what's missing and what to do next. Get your Labs Freebie here! [https://empowered-mind-body.kit.com/labschecklist] Join Mindset. Movement. Metabolism here! [https://l.bttr.to/RYwpS]