Rooted in Resilience

Cheryl tried everything: keto, vegan, carnivore, general calorie restriction, and like so many women, she kept losing and regaining the same weight over and over again.At nearly 70 years old and starting at 198 pounds, she decided to try something different.In this episode, Cheryl shares how she lost 52 pounds, improved her metabolism, and (most importantly) learned how to maintain her results for life.We talk about:- Why most fat loss approaches fail long-term- The missing piece almost no one teaches: maintenance- How her mindset, confidence, and identity completely shifted- What she actually eats day-to-day (including carbs 👀)- Why it’s never too late to take control of your healthThis is more than a weight loss story: it’s a story about taking ownership of your health, rebuilding your metabolism, and showing up fully for your life.If you’ve ever felt stuck, like nothing works, or like it’s “too late”… this episode is for you.Time Stamps0:00 – Intro1:38 - Meet Cheryl: background, life story & how she found Transform 7:36 - The Importance of Community10:31 - Mindset Shifts and Lifestyle Changes13:26 - Navigating Food Choices and Nutrition16:28 - The Role of Family in Transform19:40 - Overcoming Challenges and Building Confidence22:41 - The Impact of Aging on Health and Wellness25:47 - Self Love and Personal Growth28:22 - Cheryls Encouraging Message41:00 - Full Day of Eating for Cheryl53:00 - Navigating Career Choices and Family Life59:00 - What Cheryl is Empowered to Work on In Life After Transform1:01:54 - Importance of A System and Support1:02 - Why We Don’t Use Meal PlansJoin Transform! https://www.armstrongsisters.com/transform_____________________________________________________________Keep Up With Us!🖥️ Website: https://www.armstrongsisters.com/🗞️ Newsletter: https://www.armstrongsisters.com/newsletter-signup_____________________________________________________________Support Us & Our Mission to Change the food system! Join Nourish Food Club👩🏼‍🌾 Our Farm CoOp, Nourish Food Club: {The highest quality food you can find, delivered directly to your door. Low PUFA chicken and pork, 100% grass-fed beef and lamb, traditional sourdough, raw dog food, & more}https://nourishfoodclub.com/ _____________________________________________________________Follow Us On Social Media➡️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strong.sistas/➡️ X: https://twitter.com/strong_sistas➡️TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@strong.sistas?_t=8oW270Feyz5&_r=1➡️FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083808037077____________________________________________________⭐️ The Transform Fat Loss and Metabolic Restoration Program ⭐️Join 350+ people who’ve lost fat and kept it off, without giving up their favorite foods. This science-backed, metabolism-first program helps you rebuild your foundation, restore energy, and finally achieve fat loss results that last.Next group starts April 6th, learn more and join here:https://www.armstrongsisters.com/transform

They break down why people spin their wheels in fat loss, from program hopping to chasing quick fixes. They spotlight all-or-nothing thinking after one off-plan meal and why new supplements can confuse progress. Practical tracking tips include using photos, measurements, and daily weights to see real trends. The conversation focuses on small consistent habits, clarity of phase, and avoiding reactive calorie slashes.

Most people focus on just calories and macronutrients (protein, carbs, and fat) but ignore the micronutrients that actually allow the body to function. Both macros and micros matter.In this episode, we break down why vitamins and minerals are essential for metabolism, energy production, and overall health.Without adequate micronutrients, the body cannot efficiently convert food into energy, regulate hormones, or support detoxification pathways. Many modern diets provide enough calories but fall short in the essential nutrients needed for optimal health.In this episode we discuss:• Why micronutrients are necessary for metabolic function• How vitamin and mineral deficiencies develop• The limitations of focusing only on calories and macros• Why whole foods provide nutrients in ways supplements cannot replicate• Common micronutrient deficiencies today• How to track your micronutrients using tools like Cronometer• Why “detox” is really about supporting your body with nutrientsThrough the Transform program, we consistently see that individuals who hit their micronutrient targets through whole foods achieve better fat loss results, experience less hunger, and report higher energy levels.Transform helps you dial in both macro and micronutrient targets to support body recomposition, fat loss, and improved metabolic function so you can feel and perform at your best.TIMESTAMPS 0:01:19 Introduction – Why Micronutrients Matter0:02:47 How Vitamins & Minerals Power Metabolism0:06:20 Why You Can’t Survive on Macros Alone0:09:00 The History of RDAs and How They Were Created0:13:40 Why Whole Foods Beat Supplements for Nutrients0:20:00 Calories In vs Calories Out (And Why Nutrients Still Matter)0:26:15 The Most Common Micronutrient Deficiencies Today0:36:15 How to Track Your Micronutrients Using Cronometer0:40:10 Symptoms of Micronutrient Deficiencies1:28:55 Why Micronutrients Matter During Fat Loss1:36:15 The Truth About “Detoxing” Your Liver_____________________________________________________________Subscribe To The Rooted In Resilience Podcast:⭐ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCSpofOL75STGMvUUlD5em7g ⭐ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NTIxm2iqgIdnqI2j2FICr?si=477cfb0440fe40ce⭐ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rooted-in-resilience/id1663060063_____________________________________________________________Keep Up With Us!🖥️ Website: https://www.armstrongsisters.com/🗞️ Newsletter: https://www.armstrongsisters.com/newsletter-signup_____________________________________________________________Support Us & Our Mission to Change the food system! 👩🏼‍🌾 Our Farm CoOp, Nourish Food Club: {The highest quality food you can find, delivered directly to your door. Low PUFA chicken and pork, 100% grass-fed beef and lamb, traditional sourdough, raw dog food, & more}https://nourishfoodclub.com/ _____________________________________________________________Follow Us On Social Media➡️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strong.sistas/➡️ X: https://twitter.com/strong_sistas➡️TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@strong.sistas?_t=8oW270Feyz5&_r=1➡️FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083808037077____________________________________________________⭐️ The Transform Fat Loss and Metabolic Restoration Program ⭐️Join 300+ people who’ve lost fat and kept it off, without giving up their favorite foods. This science-backed, metabolism-first program helps you rebuild your foundation, restore energy, and finally achieve fat loss results that last.Next group starts April 6th, learn more and join the Early Access List here:https://www.armstrongsisters.com/transform

Kathleen Stewart, a coach and nutrition expert who runs Transform’s fat-loss and metabolic programs. She and Ashley break down a 5-week, 10-pound fat-loss phase. Short phases, building maintenance first, protecting muscle with protein and strength work, tracking steps and micros, and strategic cardio and refeed planning all come up.

A reflective conversation about choosing the word “surrender” for 2026 and what that shift means. Topics include the hidden mental load of entrepreneurship and why control feels necessary. They explore how information overload and fear block letting go. Practical reframes for releasing pressure and applying surrender to health and healing are highlighted.

They examine the comeback of the ultra-thin ideal and how social media and GLP-1 trends are fueling it. They describe physical harms from chronic under-eating like muscle loss, hormone disruption, and immune risks. They contrast short, intentional fat-loss phases with lifelong restriction and highlight protecting metabolism, building sustainable habits, and modeling healthier body messages for the next generation.

Has modern naturopathic medicine lost its way? In this episode of Rooted in Resilience, we sit down with Dr. Alex Orton to explore an uncomfortable but important question: as naturopathic medicine has grown in popularity, has it quietly begun to resemble the very conventional system it once sought to challenge?Dr. Orton shares his personal journey into naturopathic medicine, which began after his own health crisis in college. What started as panic attacks and poor lifestyle habits ultimately led him to discover the powerful impact of nutrition, sunlight, meditation, and foundational health practices, and to pursue a career rooted in holistic healing.Together, we unpack common misconceptions around naturopathic and functional medicine, including the assumption that “holistic” automatically means whole-person care. Dr. Orton describes the naturopathic landscape as a kind of “Wild West,” where differing philosophies can leave patients confused and overwhelmed. He also highlights a concerning shift toward lab-driven, supplement-heavy approaches, what he calls “green allopathy”, and explains why this mindset can miss the body’s innate healing intelligence.At the heart of this conversation is the philosophy of vitalism: the belief that the body knows how to heal when given the right conditions. Rather than treating the body like a machine to be fixed, Dr. Orton emphasizes supporting energy production, mental-emotional health, and the foundational pillars of wellness. We also discuss food intolerance testing, the importance of mindset in healing, and why surrender, not force, often plays a key role in recovery.This episode is a thoughtful invitation to rethink what true holistic care looks like, and to reconnect with the body’s natural capacity for healing.Topics covered include:Has naturopathic medicine become too conventional?The rise of “green allopathy” and supplement overloadEnergy production is crucial for healing.Vitalism and the body’s innate healing intelligenceThe importance of mental-emotional healthFood intolerance testing and personalized careDr. Alex’s four pillars of health include detoxification, nutrition, lifestyle, and mental-emotional health.Why surrender can be an essential part of healingIf you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by protocols, confused by conflicting health advice, or disconnected from your body in the healing process, this conversation offers a refreshing and grounded perspective!TIMESTAMPS01:20 Introduction to Naturopathic Medicine and Personal Journeys04:43 The Downfalls of Current Naturopathic Medicine08:38 The Wild West of Naturopathic Practices12:26 Functional Medicine vs. True Holistic Healing16:20 The Importance of Energy in Healing19:39 Addressing the Mental-Emotional Component23:07 The Role of Consistency in Health26:00 Challenging Conventional Medical Perspectives31:53 Understanding Autoimmune Conditions35:39 The Four Pillars of Health42:46 Surrendering to the Healing Process53:45 Lab Work and Food Intolerance Testing—————————————————Learn more and work with Dr. Alex Orton: https://havenholistichealth.comDr. Alex Orton on socials: https://www.instagram.com/havenholistichealth/https://www.instagram.com/alexorton.nd/ 

Georgi Dinkov, a computer scientist-turned-biochemist researching pro-metabolic cancer approaches. He explores cancer as a reversible metabolic problem, mitochondrial health, CO2, lactate and pH dynamics. They debate glycolysis versus oxidative metabolism, discuss meldonium and other metabolic interventions, and challenge conventional cell-killing treatments in favor of restoring systemic energy balance.

Discover the true meaning of metabolic health and how to restore it effectively. Learn about the importance of insulin sensitivity for cellular energy production and debunk myths surrounding carbohydrates and insulin resistance. Explore a dual approach involving micronutrients and strength training to improve metabolism. Gain insights from real-world experiences and actionable strategies for sustainable health, including a gradual reintroduction of carbohydrates and personalized dietary tracking for optimal results.

Explore how your diet can reshape your personality, revealing startling links between low energy and psychological shifts. Discover the effects of semi-starvation on mood, leading to increased introversion, anxiety, and even hypochondria. The conversation connects findings from the Minnesota Starvation Experiment to modern dieting struggles, emphasizing the hidden costs of calorie deficits. Learn about the brain's response to undernourishment and the importance of proper nutrition for mental well-being.