If you're doing everything right — the protein, the lifting, the sleep — and still feel inflamed, foggy, or stuck, this episode is for you. Dr. Mary Pines breaks down what peptides actually are, how they signal your body differently from hormones, and why midlife women who are already on HRT are now looking at peptides as the missing layer. Part 1 of a three-part series. No hype, no shortcuts — just the mechanism and a clear framework for where peptides fit (and where they don't).

00:00:00 – Three-part series intro & why peptides deserve the space.
00:01:14 – Who this is for: doing everything right and still stuck.
00:04:47 – What peptides actually are — and why small protein misses it.
00:10:22 – Peptides vs. hormones: loudspeaker vs. precise text message.
00:13:39 – Why big pharma modified natural peptides to patent them.
00:16:42 – How fast they work and how long a course runs.
00:19:43 – Lifestyle, hormones, peptides — why the order matters.
00:22:29 – Injections, cycles, healing reactions — what to expect.
00:26:58 – Preview: BPC-157, GLP-1s, copper & brain peptides.

Links & Resources

About Dr. Mary, Blog, Shop & more at drmarypines.com

Her signature Better Beyond 40 Formula is designed to help peri/menopausal women (35-65) rebalance their bodies, overcome hormonal symptoms & lose weight using natural, science-based approaches they won't hear about in most doctor's offices or online.

👉Watch the FREE MasterClass to learn more & see if it might be a fit for you.

Join the FREE Community

Instagram @drmarypines

Explore Mary’s creative side and view her artwork at MaryPines-Art.com.

You can watch each episode on YouTube.

Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.

Peptides Mentioned in this Episode:

BPC-157
TB-500 / Thymosin beta-4 fragment 17-23
Thymosin alpha-1
GLP-1 class (semaglutide, tirzepatide, retatrutide)
GHK-Cu / "The Copper Peptide"
Selank + Semax

Connect with Me:

Website: https://drmarypines.com

Newsletter: https://www.drmarypines.com/newsletter

FB: https://www.facebook.com/drmarypines

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmarypines/

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/dr-mary-pines-phd

Shop: https://drmarypines.com/shop

Blog: https://drmarypines.com/blog

____

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not replace the guidance of a licensed healthcare provider and should not be used to diagnose, treat, or inform medication decisions. Consult a qualified professional before starting any new health protocol. This content does not establish a patient-provider relationship with Dr. Mary Pines.

If you've ever been told that hormone replacement therapy is dangerous, or if you've just quietly accepted leaks, dryness, or painful sex as inevitable parts of midlife — this episode is for you.

Dr. Mary Pines sits down with pelvic floor physiotherapist Lindsay Geddes to cut through decades of fear-based misinformation around HRT. They cover why hormones aren't just for reproduction, how the notorious 2002 Women's Health Initiative study was flawed (and later retracted), and why bioidentical hormones are a game-changer.

Dr. Mary also breaks down exactly what vaginal estrogen does — from rebuilding tissue thickness and improving lubrication, to supporting the vaginal microbiome, reducing UTIs, and even improving clitoral sensation. Plus, Lindsay shares her clinical tips on how to actually apply it for maximum benefit.

Armed with this episode, you'll know exactly what to say to your doctor.

In This Episode:

• Why the 2002 Women's Health Initiative study created decades of fear around HRT — and why that fear is now officially outdated

• What vaginal estrogen actually does: rebuilding tissue, improving lubrication, supporting the vaginal microbiome, reducing UTIs, and restoring sensation

• How to have an informed, confident conversation with your doctor about bioidentical hormones and vaginal estrogen

Links & Resources

Learn more about Dr. Mary’s work at DrMaryPines.com and her signature Better Beyond 40 Formula program.

Join my FREE Skool Community

Follow her on Instagram at @drmarypines for day-to-day inspiration, wellness insights, and a behind-the-scenes look at her life and practice.

You can watch each episode on YouTube.

Watch my FREE MasterClass designed to help women 35-65 understand how to rebalance their bodies, overcome hormonal symptoms & lose weight using natural, science-based approaches they won't hear about in most doctor's offices or online.

Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.

Connect with Me:

Website: https://drmarypines.com

Newsletter: https://www.drmarypines.com/newsletter

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/dr-mary-pines-phd

Shop: https://drmarypines.com/shop

Blog: https://drmarypines.com/blog

_______

Disclaimer: The content shared on this channel is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Nothing here is intended to replace the guidance of your physician, licensed healthcare provider, or any information accompanying a product you've been prescribed or recommended. Do not rely on this content to diagnose or treat a health condition, or to make decisions about medication or other therapies.

You're eating well, moving your body, trying to sleep — and yet the weight is creeping up, your moods are unpredictable, and your brain feels like it's running on dial-up. Sound familiar? This isn't a willpower problem. It's a hormone problem, and there's a big difference.

Dr. Mary walks you through the three stages of perimenopause — from the earliest signs (hello, ramped-up PMS and mysterious weight gain) to the chaotic middle years of skipped cycles and 3am wake-ups, all the way to the "almost there" phase just before menopause. You'll learn why progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and even your thyroid all play a role in how you feel — and why the advice you've been given probably wasn't designed with your midlife body in mind.

By the end of this episode, you'll have a clearer map of where you are, what's driving your symptoms, and what to watch for as things continue to shift. This transition is real, it's significant, and it is absolutely navigable — when you know what you're actually dealing with.

In This Episode:

• The three stages of perimenopause — from early signs like ramped-up PMS and mysterious weight gain, through the chaotic middle years, to the phase just before menopause
• Why progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and thyroid all shift during this transition — and how each affects how you feel
• How to identify which stage you're in and what to watch for as your hormones continue to change

Links & Resources

Learn more about Dr. Mary’s work at DrMaryPines.com and her signature Better Beyond 40 Formula program.

Join my FREE Skool Community

Follow her on Instagram at @drmarypines for day-to-day inspiration, wellness insights, and a behind-the-scenes look at her life and practice.

You can watch each episode on YouTube.

Watch my FREE MasterClass designed to help women 35-65 understand how to rebalance their bodies, overcome hormonal symptoms & lose weight using natural, science-based approaches they won't hear about in most doctor's offices or online.

Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.

Connect with Me:

Website: https://drmarypines.com

Newsletter: https://www.drmarypines.com/newsletter

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/dr-mary-pines-phd

Shop: https://drmarypines.com/shop

Blog: https://drmarypines.com/blog

_______

Disclaimer: The content shared on this channel is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Nothing here is intended to replace the guidance of your physician, licensed healthcare provider, or any information accompanying a product you've been prescribed or recommended. Do not rely on this content to diagnose or treat a health condition, or to make decisions about medication or other therapies.

Bladder leaks, urgency, painful sex, and nighttime bathroom trips affect millions of women — yet many feel too embarrassed to talk about them, even with their doctors.

In this episode, Dr. Mary sits down with pelvic floor physiotherapist Lindsay Geddes to unpack what the pelvic floor actually is, how hormonal shifts in perimenopause and menopause affect pelvic tissues, and why symptoms like bladder leaks and discomfort during sex often appear in midlife. Lindsay also breaks down one of the biggest myths in women's health — that Kegels are the answer for everyone — and explains why they can sometimes make symptoms worse.

They explore how injuries, posture, muscle imbalance, and nervous system patterns all influence pelvic floor function, and share simple breathing and movement strategies women can start using today to support pelvic health and regain bladder confidence.

In This Episode:

• What the pelvic floor actually does — and why hormonal shifts in perimenopause directly affect bladder and pelvic tissue

• Why Kegels aren't the answer for everyone (and can sometimes make symptoms worse)

• How posture, breathing, and nervous system patterns influence pelvic floor function — and simple strategies to start restoring bladder confidence today

Links & Resources

Learn more about Dr. Mary’s work at DrMaryPines.com and her signature Better Beyond 40 Formula program.

Join my FREE Skool Community

Follow her on Instagram at @drmarypines for day-to-day inspiration, wellness insights, and a behind-the-scenes look at her life and practice.

You can watch each episode on YouTube.

Watch my FREE MasterClass designed to help women 35-65 understand how to rebalance their bodies, overcome hormonal symptoms & lose weight using natural, science-based approaches they won't hear about in most doctor's offices or online.

Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.

Where to Find Lindsay Geddes

• Follow her on Instagram at @lindsaygeddespt
• Join her Free Facebook Community: Women’s Natural Bladder Support: Leaks, Incontinence, OAB, Urge, Frequency
• And check out her Free Masterclass: The Bladder Confidence Solution

Connect with Me:

Newsletter: https://www.drmarypines.com/newsletter

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/dr-mary-pines-phd

Disclaimer: The content shared on this channel is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Nothing here is intended to replace the guidance of your physician, licensed healthcare provider, or any information accompanying a product you've been prescribed or recommended. Do not rely on this content to diagnose or treat a health condition, or to make decisions about medication or other therapies.

Dr. Mary sits down with Functional Medicine-certified Nutritionist & Health Coach, Danna Levy Hoffman, to unpack gut health, food freedom, and why dieting keeps failing women over 40.

From bloating and migraines to emotional eating and weight struggles, they explore how so many symptoms start in the gut — and why the real path forward isn't restriction. Danna has studied nutrition, psychology, and functional medicine for decades, she's super real, fun to listen to, and offers us practical tips that WORK for midlife women.

In This Episode:

• How gut health connects to bloating, migraines, emotional eating, and weight struggles in midlife women

• Why dieting keeps failing women over 40 — and what functional medicine says to do instead

• Why protein, not restriction, may be the most important nutritional shift for women in perimenopause and menopause

Links & Resources

Learn more about Dr. Mary’s work at DrMaryPines.com and her signature Better Beyond 40 Formula program.

Join my FREE Skool Community

Follow her on Instagram at @drmarypines for day-to-day inspiration, wellness insights, and a behind-the-scenes look at her life and practice.

You can watch each episode on YouTube.

Watch my FREE MasterClass designed to help women 35-65 understand how to rebalance their bodies, overcome hormonal symptoms & lose weight using natural, science-based approaches they won't hear about in most doctor's offices or online.

Where to find Danna Levy Hoffman

• Website: Organilicious.ch
• Podcast: So Frickin’ Healthy
• Podcast: Becoming a Health Coach (with Megan McCrory)

Mentions in this Episode

• Mel Robbins’ book, The “5 Second Rule”
• LMNT (Element) electrolytes

Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.

Connect with Me:

Website: https://drmarypines.com

Newsletter: https://www.drmarypines.com/newsletter

Shop: https://drmarypines.com/shop

Blog: https://drmarypines.com/blog

_______

Disclaimer: The content shared on this channel is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Nothing here is intended to replace the guidance of your physician, licensed healthcare provider, or any information accompanying a product you've been prescribed or recommended. Do not rely on this content to diagnose or treat a health condition, or to make decisions about medication or other therapies.

If you feel like you're always hungry, constantly snacking, or thinking about food, this episode is for you. Dr. Mary unpacks why cravings after 40 aren't about willpower — they're about metabolism, blood sugar, and years of conditioning your body to run on quick fuel.

She explains how insulin resistance, sugar-burning mode, chronic grazing, and stress all amplify food obsession — and what to do instead.

In This Episode:

• Why cravings and food obsession after 40 are a metabolism and blood sugar issue — not a willpower problem

• How insulin resistance, sugar-burning mode, and chronic grazing amplify hunger signals in midlife

• Practical strategies to build metabolic flexibility, calm cravings, and feel genuinely satisfied without extreme dieting or restriction

Links & Resources

Learn more about Dr. Mary’s work at DrMaryPines.com and her signature Better Beyond 40 Formula program.

Join my FREE Skool Community

Follow her on Instagram at @drmarypines

Watch my FREE MasterClass designed to help women 35-65 understand how to rebalance their bodies, overcome hormonal symptoms & lose weight using natural, science-based approaches they won't hear about in most doctor's offices or online.

You can watch each episode on YouTube.

Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.

Mentions in this Episode

The "famous" 7-minute workout video. [Original NYT article here showing the workout in pictures.]

An under-desk walking pad or exercise bike

If you're interested, some powerful breath practices:

• Box (or equal ratio) breathing
• 4-7-8 breath
• Kapbalabhati breath

Lab Markers & Testing

• Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c / A1c) – 3-month average blood sugar marker
• Fasting Insulin – less commonly run, but critical for assessing insulin resistance
• Fasting Glucose
• Triglycerides
• Cholesterol markers
• Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) – now available over the counter

Disclaimer: The content shared on this channel is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Nothing here is intended to replace the guidance of your physician, licensed healthcare provider, or any information accompanying a product you've been prescribed or recommended. Do not rely on this content to diagnose or treat a health condition, or to make decisions about medication or other therapies.

If you've ever been told "it's just your hormones," this episode is for you. Dr. Mary breaks down what your hormones are really trying to communicate — and why balance, not perfection, is the key to feeling like yourself again.

She explains how estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, thyroid, and insulin work together like an orchestra, what happens when one instrument falls out of tune, and how factors like inflammation, liver detox, blood sugar, and gut health all play a role. You'll also learn simple, evidence-based ways to support your hormones naturally through movement, sleep, nutrition, and stress management.

In This Episode:

• How estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, thyroid, and insulin work together — and what happens when one falls out of balance

• The role of inflammation, liver detox, blood sugar, and gut health in hormone regulation after 40

• Simple, evidence-based ways to support your hormones through movement, sleep, nutrition, and stress management — no prescription required

Links & Resources

Learn more about Dr. Mary’s work at DrMaryPines.com and her signature Better Beyond 40 Formula program.

Follow her on Instagram at @drmarypines for day-to-day inspiration, wellness insights, and a behind-the-scenes look at her life and practice.

Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.

You can watch each episode on YouTube.

Mentions in this Episode:

• “Blood Tests All Women Need” - Free PDF download
• Oura Ring — Track sleep, readiness, and recovery data to understand your body.
• Rethinking Hypothyroidism by Dr. Antonio C. Bianco

Dr. Mary Pines breaks down the truth about why most midlife wellness advice fails women over 40 — and what actually works instead. In this essential episode, she unveils the four key pillars of her Better Beyond 40 Formula — Sync, Recalibrate, Soothe, and Satisfy — to help women understand their shifting hormones, beat fatigue and inflammation, and finally feel at home in their bodies again. It's the science, strategy, and compassion your doctor never had time to explain.

In This Episode:

In This Episode:

• Why most midlife wellness advice is designed for younger bodies — and why it stops working after 40

• The four pillars of the Better Beyond 40 Formula: Sync, Recalibrate, Soothe, and Satisfy

• How shifting hormones drive fatigue, inflammation, and weight gain — and what evidence-based strategies actually address the root cause

Links & Resources

Links & Resources

Learn more about Dr. Mary’s work at DrMaryPines.com and her signature Better Beyond 40 Formula program.

Join my FREE Skool Community

Follow her on Instagram at @drmarypines for day-to-day inspiration, wellness insights, and a behind-the-scenes look at her life and practice.

Explore Mary’s creative side and view her artwork at MaryPines-Art.com.

You can watch each episode on YouTube.

Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.

Watch my FREE MasterClass designed to help women 35-65 understand how to rebalance their bodies, overcome hormonal symptoms & lose weight using natural, science-based approaches they won't hear about in most doctor's offices or online.

Mentions in this Episode:

• Yuka App — Scan food and skincare products to check for toxins and additives.
• MyFLO® Cycle Syncing App by Alisa Vitti — Learn how to align your habits with your hormone cycle.
• Dr. Stacy Sims — Exercise and nutrition science for women.
• Dr. Mary Claire Haver — Menopause education and the creator of The Galveston Diet.
• Dr. Andrew Huberman — Neuroscience-backed performance and wellness education.
• Dr. Peter Attia — Longevity and health optimization.
• Oura Ring — Track sleep, readiness, and recovery data to understand your body.
• Ultrahuman Ring — A metabolic fitness tracker focused on glucose and recovery.
• RingConn — A no-subscription health tracking ring for sleep, heart rate, and recovery.

_______

Disclaimer: The content shared on this channel is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Nothing here is intended to replace the guidance of your physician, licensed healthcare provider, or any information accompanying a product you've been prescribed or recommended. Do not rely on this content to diagnose or treat a health condition, or to make decisions about medication or other therapies.