Energized with Dr. Mariza

Ever feel a quiet kind of panic creeping up in midlife? The feeling that even though you’re showing up for everything, you feel empty inside?  This episode is a powerful reminder that you don’t have to live with this feeling forever… better yet, it’s absolutely reversible.  We’re diving into how lifestyle medicine and cellular energy (hello, mitochondria!) are at the epicenter of how you feel, think, and show up every day.  You’ll learn why those mood shifts, energy crashes, and feelings of overwhelm actually make sense — and more importantly, what to do about them.  Then, we’re going back to the basics as I’m sharing my top 10 foundational lifestyle adjustments to help you rebuild energy and vitality without extreme plans or pressure.  If you’re ready to feel like yourself again, start with one simple change and press play — your midlife health reset begins here!  IN THIS EPISODE Navigating the drastic changes in ALL aspects during midlife  What those little powerhouses– the mitochondria– really do How to track metabolic trends before they spiral out of control The benefits of efficient cycle and symptom tracking  The best ways to stabilize your blood glucose and insulin levels  Why strength training, movement, and protein are a MUST  Choosing the RIGHT supplements to support your body  Considering HRT as a beneficial support in midlife  Why your sleep matters more than you think  How to get started with these simple lifestyle must-dos  QUOTES “Lifestyle medicine is mitochondrial medicine. The reason why lifestyle habits like nutrition, sleep, movement, circadian rhythm optimization, even stress support actually work is because they nourish your mitochondria and they optimize your cellular energy.” “What is one simple lifestyle shift you can make that will help your mitochondria produce more energy tomorrow? Choose one. Commit to it for 7 to 10 days and watch what shifts.” RESOURCES MENTIONED Sign up for my 7-day Hormone & Metabolism Jumpstart https://drmariza.com/jumpstart Order my newest book: The Perimenopause Revolution https://peri-revolution.com/ RELATED EPISODES  710: Kickstart Your New Year: How One Simple Habit Can Transform Your Life, Health, and Mindset 704: Hormone Intelligence for Women in Midlife: How to Thrive Through Perimenopause with Dr. Aviva Romm 690: The Perimenopause Revolution: Why midlife isn’t the end — it’s the beginning of your most energized, powerful, and vibrant self 686: Your Second Puberty Explained: What’s Really Happening to Your Body in Perimenopause

Believe it or not, but there is as much cardiovascular risk associated with smoking as there is with the drop in estrogen in perimenopause and menopause.  But don’t worry–  I’ve brought the hilarious, talented, and brilliant Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj onto the podcast to dive into why midlife is a uniquely important—and often overlooked—window for cardiometabolic health, and what you can do about it.  In this entertaining episode, Dr. Bhojraj breaks down why the drop in estrogen matters just as much as traditional risk factors and why so many women’s concerns are missed in conventional care.  We also reframe hormone therapy not as symptom management, but as a powerful tool for optimization, longevity, and long-term heart and metabolic health.  With humor and clarity, this conversation reminds you that you don’t need to overhaul your entire life —small, strategic changes truly add up. Tune in here to learn how to simply and efficiently boost your health, starting with your heart!  Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj is an interventional cardiologist and Institute for Functional Medicine–certified physician who bridges conventional cardiology with functional and lifestyle medicine. He spent 20 years treating disease with procedures and medications, but then shifted his focus toward uncovering root causes to help patients reverse chronic cardiometabolic conditions through food, sleep, stress optimization, and lifestyle change. Dr. Sanjay is the founder of the Well12 program and host of The Curious Cardiologist podcast, where he explores the science of longevity, inflammation, and human performance. His passion is helping people reclaim their health through simple, lasting changes. IN THIS EPISODE How Dr. Bhojraj moved into functional cardiac medicine  What age to start paying closer attention to cardiovascular health Advocating for yourself and what labs you should be asking for  Why taking care of your cardiovascular health is crucial during midlife hormonal changes  Looking at your metabolic health before starting HRT  Metabolic markers to pay attention to in midlife  Non-negotiable small tweaks to improve your heart health  How bringing joy to your life can be the best tool for your health  QUOTES “We need to talk about sleep, we need to have an intelligent discussion about diet and what that means. And we need to think about hormones too, because hormonal health is so central to cardiovascular health, and that is just not something that we talk about in cardiovascular training.” “It's like contributing to your 401k in your twenties, right? Like $200 doesn't seem like a lot, but when you're 65, you're now retiring a millionaire– depending on how well you invest, because you made those small, little, little habits, those little changes. So that decade of the forties becomes super important, particularly because in women, that's when perimenopause starts to happen, right?” “The point is that I think first of all, start with something that you can do, right? Again, it's 1% shifts. You don't have to change a thousand different things.”RESOURCES MENTIONED Order my new book: The Perimenopause Revolution https://peri-revolution.com/ Check out Dr. Sanjay’s Signature Well12 Metabolic Program HERE! https://lagunamedicine.com/well12 Dr. Sanjay’s Website Dr. Sanjay on Instagram Dr. Sanjay’s Podcast: The Curious Cardioloist Dr. Sanjay on Facebook RELATED EPISODES  704: Hormone Intelligence for Women in Midlife: How to Thrive Through Perimenopause with Dr. Aviva Romm 690: The Perimenopause Revolution: Why midlife isn’t the end — it’s the beginning of your most energized, powerful, and vibrant self 678: How to Turn Perimenopause Into Your Metabolic Window of Opportunity + My Simple Daily Protocol To Feel Amazing #451: Why Do Women Have a Higher Cardiometabolic Mortality Rate Than Men? With Dr. Sara Gottfried

You don’t have to overhaul your life with your New Year's Resolutions. Small habits, when done consistently, can completely change your health trajectory– changing your LIFE.  In today’s episode, I’m flipping the script on midlife health—because you don’t need another restrictive plan or pressure-filled protocol to feel better.  Instead, I’m sharing my top five simple yet powerful habits that can truly shift your energy, metabolism, and mindset in midlife.  These are realistic, supportive practices designed to meet you where you are, not demand more discipline or perfection.  You’ll also hear how you can build real momentum alongside thousands of women in my FREE 7-day Metabolism & Hormone Jumpstart Challenge. In just one week, you can reignite your energy, reset your metabolism, and start feeling like yourself again—without willpower battles or crash diets.  Tune in here for a science-backed, supportive reset that actually works! IN THIS EPISODE Overcoming the post-holiday season fatigue and burnout  The reset you need to start the new year right Looking at your own habits that make your life run smoother My top 5 go-to habits to boost energy and metabolism  How consistency with even ONE of these habits is life-changing All about my FREE 7-day Hormone & Metabolism Jumpstart  QUOTES “The holiday season– it's a lot. It's a lot on our nervous system. It's a lot on our metabolism, it's a lot on our hormones. And [all the] while midlife, perimenopause, and menopause are playing behind the scenes.” “Here's the thing, you don't need to do all the things, but choose one habit. And committing to it can change your entire health trajectory, and that changes your life.” “You need a jumpstart that honors your body and nervous system right now. This isn't about perfection; it's about momentum. This isn't about restriction, it's about support. It's about wins. So let's do this together.” RESOURCES MENTIONED Sign up for my 7-day Hormone & Metabolism Jumpstart https://drmariza.com/jumpstart Order my newest book: The Perimenopause Revolution https://peri-revolution.com/ RELATED EPISODES  707: Before You Plan 2026, Ask Yourself This: 12 End-of-Year Questions to Realign Your Energy, Goals, and Hormones 704: Hormone Intelligence for Women in Midlife: How to Thrive Through Perimenopause with Dr. Aviva Romm 690: The Perimenopause Revolution: Why midlife isn’t the end — it’s the beginning of your most energized, powerful, and vibrant self 686: Your Second Puberty Explained: What’s Really Happening to Your Body in Perimenopause

Ready for a judgment-free conversation about GLP-1 agonists and what they can truly offer midlife women seeking better energy, metabolic health, and longevity? In this podcast, hormone and nutrition expert Ashley Koff joins me to break down the noise and misinformation around GLP-1s, reframing them as one possible tool—not a magic fix—within a much bigger picture of whole-body health.  Ashley shares how to advocate for yourself as an empowered patient, ask better questions, and partner more effectively with your healthcare provider with confidence.  We also dive into why nutrition and lifestyle are essential foundations for optimizing hormones, whether you’re using GLP-1s or not. Most importantly, we emphasize listening to your body and making informed choices that support long-term vitality.  If you’re curious about GLP-1s and want clear, compassionate guidance for midlife health, this is a must-listen episode! Ashley Koff, RD Ashley Koff is the founder of The Better Nutrition Program (BNP), the Nutrition Course Director for UC Irvine’s Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute's Integrative and Functional Medicine Fellowship, and a faculty member at the Integrative and Functional Nutrition Academy (IFNA), where she teaches “An Integrative and Functional Nutrition Approach to Obesity and Weight Management.” She’s also the author of the upcoming book, Your Best Shot. As a practitioner for over 25 years, Koff has been recognized as one of CNN’s Top 100 Health Makers, featured in InStyle as “Hollywood’s Leading Dietitian,” and selected as Westin’s Global Nutrition Ambassador. RESOURCES MENTIONED Order my new book: The Perimenopause Revolution https://peri-revolution.com/ Ashley’s Book: Your Best Shot GLP-1 Optimization Assessment The Better Nutrition Program Website Ashley on Instagram IN THIS EPISODE Ashley’s personal experience with GLP-1s and their success   Addressing the judgment around GLP-1 usage in society  Overcoming the hurdles regarding accessibility to GLP-1s  Looking at trends in current women’s health and in children  How to reset certain hormones naturally for optimal performance  How to cut through the conflicting nutrition advice in the media  Why hormones like GLP-1s need to be a part of the midlife conversation  About Ashley’s new book and The Better Nutrition Program! QUOTES “That means your weight-health hormones are going to be impacted. And let's look at this whole thing systemically– I think there's a lot of ways we can go in this, but one of the things I'm very concerned about is the way that people are being judged.” “I think in that way the biggest answer I would have for you is for us to stop blaming the medication for working the way the medication is supposed to work. And this is where I think the physician and dietician collaboration, comes in and says, actually, these are all the things that we need to experiment with or we need to explore, investigate if this is what your outcome is on the medication.” RELATED EPISODES #621: The Truth About Metabolic Health, Hormones and GLP-1s with Tyna Moore #647: Hormone Optimization Therapy (HOT) Isn’t Your Mom’s HRT + It’s One Of The Best Strategies For Longevity with Dr. Amy Killen #605: Breaking the HRT Confusion: The Truth Behind Hormone Replacement Therapy for Perimenopausal Women with Karen Martel 656: The Dangers Of NOT Prescribing Bioidentical HRT + Migraines, Testosterone and Mitigating Inflammation with Dr. Louise Newson

Perimenopause and menopause can feel like a time of massive change.  Because it IS! And with physical and hormonal changes comes the need for a big upgrade to your exercise and wellness routine. That’s why I’ve brought expert Brian Keane onto the podcast to offer insight on optimally evolving your healthy habits to move with you through this wonderful season of life.  We dive into why restriction or an all-or-nothing approach to exercise can completely backfire in perimenopause and what to focus on instead for strength, energy, and longevity.  Brian also shares the most overlooked opportunities for building sustainable, effective wellness habits in midlife.  If you’re ready to lean into this powerful season of life with confidence (and less frustration), this episode is for you! Tune in now.  Brian Keane Brian Keane is a 3x bestselling author, certified strength and conditioning coach, sports nutritionist, and the host of the top podcast, The Brian Keane Podcast. Brian has been a featured speaker at prominent wellness events, and was a Keynote speaker at Google HQ for their 2018 wellness event. Outside of business, he’s completed some of the world’s most grueling feats, including six consecutive marathons through the Sahara Desert, a 230km trek through the Arctic, and multiple ultra-marathons—highlighted by a 100-mile race through the desert in Nevada. IN THIS EPISODE Why your nutrition and exercise routine must change in midlife  Adjusting your mindset for optimal strength and resilience  Top strength and exercise recommendations for midlife women  The benefit of consistency in fitness vs. an all-or-nothing approach  Some of the most overlooked opportunities for healthier fitness and nutrition habits in midlife Non-negotiable force-multipliers for a healthier you Why sleep is the best thing you can do for your health Debunking certain health and wellness myths seen in the media  QUOTES“You don't judge a tree for its leaves falling off in autumn– don't judge yourself for moving into a new season of life.” “We can sometimes fail to see that the small things make a massive difference, whereas in other areas of life, you will do small things with your partner, with your son, with your daughter, and you know that they compound– putting them to bed, reading the story, having that time, you know that these small little things add up to building up that relationship and making it stronger. But with exercise, it's very easy to take an all or nothing approach.” RESOURCES MENTIONED My Newest Book: The Perimenopause Revolution  https://peri-revolution.com/ Connect with Brian HERE! Brian on TikTok Brian on Instagram Brian on Facebook Brian Keane Fitness on YouTube  RELATED EPISODES  #546: How to Stay Lean, Energized and Strong By Working With Your Physiology, Not Against It with Dr. Stacy Sims 684: The 5-Minute Workout That Boosts Metabolism, Energy & Reverses Aging with Ulrich Dempfle 657: How to Prevent, Manage, and Even Reverse Osteoporosis Naturally: The Hormone-Bone Health Connection Every Woman Needs to Know with Dr. Doug Lucas  #616: Jump-Start Your Metabolism and Put Your Body into a Thermogenic Fat-Burning State with Stu Schaefer