Life Update: Hormones, Birthdays, Milestones, and Jesus at the Center of It All!

On the new episode of The Strong. Confident. His. Podcast, I’m sharing what I’ve learned about Hormones and Menopause, Birthdays, and Milestones! 

Milestones

The Bible says in Proverbs 16:3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

I just went through a huge Milestone launching my Fit God's Way 30-Day Transformation Course, it was something I had hidden in my heart. It was my big dream, so I feel led to talk to the girl who knows in her bones, that God has called her to do something! 

This is for you. The time is now! Don’t wait anymore. Don’t listen to the world, the enemy, or even your inner critic. It’s time to put a stake in the ground and claim what God has given you. 

So if you’re the girl who’s… like she’s talking to me and you need to put your stake in the ground but you are struggling with doubts or fears, go take my God’s Blueprint for Success Workshop. It will help you know what God says about success and help you step into your calling. https://www.kimdolanleto.com/successworkshop

I know you, girl, because I am you. 

I’m a dreamer. I always have a pull on my heart to grow, first, it was college, and then competing in fitness, and then writing for fitness magazines, getting covers and cover stories, and then helping other moms be fit moms, to walking away from worldly fitness and creating a Christian fitness brand with a workout series. To books, podcasts, devotionals, speaking, and courses.

If you feel like how? Where do I start? I want you to take the Workshop,  because the Bible says, Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

Being vulnerable, you are never going to feel ready or like you completely know what you’re doing, but this is exactly where God wants you because when you commit to the Lord whatever you do, He will establish your plans! 

My dream to have a course felt like just that a dream, but it was taking one faith-filled action step after another.

I took Chalene Johnson’s MIA, and Amy Porterfield’s DCA, I took Masterminds and listened to countless podcasts. 

Oh, and recently I found Jennifer Allwood. Can I just tell you, if you want or have a Christian business, you have to follow her? I feel like she is my sister. Her unapologetic love of makeup, Jesus, serving women, and leaving all the fear behind makes me love her even more.

Prefer Videos? Watch the Live Taping Below!

Next up, Birthdays!

Can you believe the Strong. Confident. His. Podcast is 4 years old?! If you love the podcast, will you give it a birthday gift by liking, sharing, rating, and reviewing the show?

Rate and Review on Apple Podcasts

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Subscribe and Comment on Youtube

And let me know…are there any episodes you want me to do? Tell me in the comments.

I’m here to serve and share and I hope you feel that. You are so valuable to me! 

Psalm 90:17 says, Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!

I pray that over whatever you put your hand to, friend!

Can I just share with all humility that God has established the work of my hands with this podcast?

• 600 5-Star ratings
• 1.5 Million Downloads
•  200 + Episodes

I get to point people straight to Jesus where they need Him. I can’t think of a better or more fulfilling way to serve!

Happy Birthday, Strong. Confident. His!

Last up, Hormones!

Do you all remember when I did my hot mess of a hormone journey podcast? A lot has happened since then!

I wanted to throw a hormone update into the mix because so many of you ask me, "Are you on bioidenticals? Did you get off? What are you doing?" So I’m going to share all the details.

Can I just say that if you’re in the perimenopause journey it will be over one day and that you are in a chapter of your story; this is not the whole book. You will be on the other side of this!

The Bible says “Those who are planted in the house of the Lord Shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing, To declare that the Lord is upright. He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”

I like the still bear fruit and being fresh and flourishing part about aging! I’ll take it.

So here’s my update:

When I went to the Dr., I had 0 Estrogen and 0 Progesterone. I wasn’t sleeping, I felt like a constant state of anxiety, so I tried bioidenticals for a bit but I didn’t like the cancer risk, so I got off of them but went to the lowest dose of progesterone to sleep. That really helped. I did that for a bit and then decided to get off of everything. It’s been years and I haven’t been on anything. 

Everyone’s experience is so different, but here are things I’ve noticed and things that have helped me.

• I traded HIIT for Zone 2 Cardio

I stopped all HIIT training and traded it in for my Zone 2 Cardio with Jesus. I have been walking and worshiping daily, and it is my happy place, my cortisol reducer,  my "me" time that brings peace joy, and sunshine into my life. 

So here’s what happened: I used to love HIIT, but I noticed that I felt like I couldn’t come down from it. Like my sympathetic nervous system was just on overdrive, it ended up making me feel wired and tired, like a little kid who can’t fall asleep because they are overtired! Having unbalanced hormones causes anxiety so I needed to stop. Plus the stress from the HIIT was causing my cortisol to spike. 

If you’re wondering what Zone 2 cardio is, it’s…

• 60-70% of your max heart rate
• It’s also called LISS
• You know you’re in it because you feel like you could go forever and you could talk to a friend
• And it’s said to burn fat, not carbohydrates. Yes, please!

So the benefits are…

• Burns fat and counteracts weight gain during menopause
• Improves your mood 
• Reduces stress
• Improves sleep
• Improves insulin sensitivity
• And countless other benefits!

And I love to do it outside in the AZ sun, so I’m getting Vitamin D.

• Weight Training

I went back to good old body part splits with weight training. 

Aging makes holding onto muscle a top priority, so I’m healthily focused on body composition. As I age, the numbers are just information. I don’t obsess anymore. God has healed me. 

I mix it up between push/pull or an upper, lower, full-body split. I focus on glutes a lot because they are the largest muscle in our bodies.

And I do Pilates. Pilates has been my new love. I train myself and it gets old working at home, and working out at home, so taking a class sure is a nice break. 

Someone said to me the other day that Pilates is too easy for me, and I thought you haven’t taken the classes I go to! It’s hard in a very different way. I love the emphasis on breathing, proper posture, and the fact that you can’t use momentum. 

What I see with weight training is that it boosts my metabolism and I’m happier. Of course, it’s great for bone density, strength, tone, and coordination and so many other benefits! 

• Prioritize Protein and God-made foods!

I build every meal around my protein. I don’t mindlessly eat or snack. I eat with intention. I teach this in my course and books.

Back when Jesus was alive they didn’t have all the processed carbs we have now. The ease of man-made food is a snare! It’s a trap. So during this phase of life, it’s especially important to prioritize protein and whole God-made foods.

This is the time to make the best food choices and take the best care of yourself. Eating sugar, processed foods, and drinking your calories won’t work anymore at all. Your body is so sensitive during this time. And you’ll notice your body doesn’t even like it.

I know someone will feel this, you can’t do what you used to do to get to where you want to be anymore. It won’t work. 

Consistency in Christ brings peace, motivation, and joy!

Before you go, know God is with you on this journey of life. I’ve seen Him do the impossible in my life, and I’m not special. I am a hot mess for Jesus with a willing heart.

“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ”  (Colossians 2:6-9 NKJV)

I hope you enjoyed our heart-to-heart. I’m grateful for you, friend!

Remember You are Strong. Confdient. His.