Advertise on podcast: Finding Food & Fitness Freedom: An Empowered RX Podcast

Exercise helps a lot of people feel better. It can calm anxiety, improve mood, sharpen focus, and create a sense of confidence in the body. For many, it becomes one of the most reliable ways they’ve ever regulated stress. But when exercise becomes the primary or only way emotions get processed or avoided, it starts to carry more responsibility than it should. In this episode, Leah breaks down why exercise so often turns into an emotional coping strategy, how that pattern shows up differently depending on your nervous system state, and what it actually means to heal your relationship with movement without taking it away. You’ll learn: How fight, flight, freeze, and fawn patterns show up in exercise behaviors Why intensity, restriction, avoidance, or comparison can feel regulating at first How these patterns evolve over time with stress, injury, pregnancy, and burnout What rebuilding trust with movement looks like from a nervous system perspective This episode is educational & physiology-based... It’s for anyone who has ever felt like movement helps… but also feels complicated. If this episode resonated and you want support rebuilding a safer, more sustainable relationship with exercise, you can follow and message Leah on Instagram @leahhantmancoaching or email [email protected] to learn more about working together.

If you exercise regularly, think carefully about food, and genuinely care about your health, this episode is for you. Here we break down why habits that are "healthy" can start to feel stressful, effortful or detrimental over time. Leah walks through what is happening inside the nervous system, with stress hormones and the body's energy regulation when demand stays high and rest/recovery falls behind. You'll learn how sympathetic dominance develops and why rest can feel uncomfortable, how cortisol quietly takes over, and why food noise increases! If you have ever felt like your body requires constant management to function, this episode will help you understand why, and what changes when we give our selves conditions that heal instead of detract. Follow me on instagram @Leahhantmancoaching or shoot me an e-mail [email protected] to chat about what working 1:1 together could look like!

Slowing down is supposed to feel calming. For many women, it does the opposite. In this episode, Leah explains why rest can increase anxiety instead of relieving it, especially for women with a history of dieting, overtraining, chronic stress, or living in constant pressure. You’ll learn how the nervous system adapts to prolonged activation, why movement and productivity can become primary regulation tools, and how rest intolerance develops at a physiological level. Leah breaks down the core education behind Empowered Foundations, including regulation, nourishment, recovery, and capacity building, and explains why forcing rest or “doing less” rarely works without first stabilizing the system underneath. This episode connects the dots between stress hormones, energy availability, training load, recovery debt, and why so many women feel better pushing and worse stopping, even when they are exhausted. If you’ve ever felt restless when you slow down, calmer after pushing yourself, or confused about why rest doesn’t work the way it should, this conversation will help you understand your body with clarity instead of self blame, and show you what actually needs to come first for sustainable change. Empowered Foundations is a 12 week coaching container designed to stabilize health habits, unlearn diet culture, and reset your relationship with food, movement, and rest at the nervous system level. FOLLOW US: Instagram: @LeahHantmanCoaching BOOK a FREE Call to Explore Coachinghttps://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule/c1499aac/appointment/21465598/calendar/5295072?appointmentTypeIds[]=21465598

If food feels loud, rest feels uncomfortable, and movement feels hard to stop, this episode explains part of the reason why. In this conversation, Leah breaks down what is actually driving so many women’s struggles with food, exercise, and health habits beneath the surface. You’ll learn how the nervous system governs regulation, why years of dieting, overtraining, stress, and trauma change the body’s tolerance for hunger, rest, and recovery, and how concepts like energy availability, allostatic load, and recovery debt quietly shape behavior. This episode walks through how bodies adapt to chronic stress, why willpower and discipline fail in dysregulated systems, and what it actually takes to rebuild capacity, resilience, and trust from the ground up. You’ll hear how stabilizing nourishment, recovery, and training allows hunger cues to normalize, rest to feel safer, movement to become supportive, and health habits to finally stick. If you’ve ever felt like you understand what you should be doing but can’t make it sustainable, this episode will help you understand your body with clarity instead of shame, and show you what needs to come first for real, lasting change. If you’re ready to stabilize your health habits, unlearn diet culture, and reset your relationship with food, movement, and rest, our 12 week program Empowered Foundations is designed to help you do exactly that. Follow us on Instagram for education, insight, and ongoing support @empowered_ep Book a call to learn more about joining Empowered Foundations HERE

A 13 minute guided meditation for uncertainty, body image and coming home to yourself. This practice is designed to support anyone who feels disconnected from their body, overwhelmed by emotion, or unsure how to slow down. It offers a safe space to breath, soften and rebuild trust with yourself at a pace that feels grounded and doable.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Emily Everton, PT, DPT, a dedicated Women's Health Doctor of Physical Therapy and founder of Embody Physical Therapy & Wellness, LLC in Hopkinton, MA. Emily brings her expertise in Orthopedic and Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy to the forefront as we dive deep into critical topics such as menstrual health, fertility, and perinatal care. Emily shares her insights on supporting women with Hypothalamic Amenorrhea and irregular menstrual cycles, helping them restore ovulation, regulate their cycles, and achieve natural pregnancies. She also opens up about her own journey through disordered eating, orthorexia, RED-S, Hypothalamic Amenorrhea, and infertility, highlighting how these experiences fuel her passion for empowering women to challenge societal standards, embrace their bodies, and live symptom-free lives. Tune in to hear Emily's expert advice, candid discussions on taboo topics, and her unwavering dedication to helping women find peace with their bodies and achieve their fullest potential. Visit Embody Physical Therapy & Wellness Website: https://www.embodyptwell.com Or follow Emily on Instagram @emilyeverton.dpt

Join us on a journey of empowerment and self-discovery with Amber and Kelsey, as they share their inspiring stories of triumph in motherhood, fitness, and postpartum recovery. From dominating the Panhandle Proving Grounds CrossFit Competition to navigating the challenges of postpartum life, these fierce competitors and Coaches offer valuable insights on body image, self-respect, and finding food and fitness freedom. Don't miss this special episode packed with wisdom and motivation!

In this episode of *Finding Food & Fitness Freedom: An Empowered RX Podcast*, we're thrilled to welcome two of our incredible members, Margot and Sarah. They share their inspiring experiences at the recent PR for Puppies weightlifting meet, diving into topics such as the importance of recovery, the unique challenges of weight class sports, and the experience of wearing a singlet. These women have worked tirelessly to achieve their goals, and we couldn't be prouder of their accomplishments. Tune in to hear their empowering stories and gain insights into what it means to be part of the Empowered RX community. To learn more about Empowered RX head to Website: www.empoweredrx.org Instagram: EmpoweredRX

Amber Satterfield is a Functional Medicine Consultant, best selling author and CEO of Feel Good Nourishment, LLC a health and wellness telehealth clinic. She specializes in helping people with gut health issues and Autoimmune Diseases find healing in their body so that can find symptom relief and achieve optimal health. Her desire for this work comes from her own health journey where she was able to reverse four Autoimmune Diseases, Diabetes and cancer in her own body.  Freebie: www.feelgoodnourishment.com/smoothie Course: www.feelgoodnourishment.com/aw Book a free call: www.feelgoodnourishment.com/book

Join us with special guest, Haleigh Fisher as we kick off SEASON 6 of Finding Food & Fitness Freedom. Haleigh Fisher is a LPC, founder of Trail Head Counseling DFW, Mom, Distance Runner and ED warrior residing in the state of Texas. In today’s episode she shares her personal journey as a high level track athlete in high school/college while battling an Eating Disorder. Her lived experiences along with her passion for running drove her to create a unique niche in her career: Helping Runners with ED Recovery and Mindset. She gives us direct tips on how to handle comparison, fueling struggles and more! This episode is for you if: - You are a runner - You have an ED - You are an athlete that feels pressure - You struggle with body image and comparison - You are a Therapist - You struggle with exercise addiction FIND Haleigh at https://www.trailheadcounselingdfw.com/about OR on Instagram at: @trailheadcounselingDFW

Welcome to "Finding Food & Fitness Freedom”, an Empowered RX Podcast! Join us as we delve into the inspiring journey of CrossFit athlete Chandler Garlow. From her youth and gymnastics days to overcoming disordered eating through treatment, Chandler shares her path to becoming a competitive CrossFit Games athlete. Balancing recovery and intense training, she embodies determination, patience, introspection, and the power of vulnerability. A former nurse turned CrossFit coach, Chandler's resilience shines through as she opens up about her experiences. Join us in celebrating this badass woman's strength, both in mind and body, as she shares her story.

Unhealed trauma can affect your life in many ways. Our guest, Quinn Padilla, knows this both personally and professionally. Join Leah and Quinn in this episode of Finding Food and Fitness Freedom where Quinn shares her story about overcoming childhood trauma, assault and domestic violence/relationship abuse (TW). She has combined her personal experience with a strong clinical education to start her own business, Rella Wellness, where she helps her clients find healing after trauma. Quinn uses a variety of tools in her work such as EMDR, Brain spotting, EFT, IFS and talk therapy. She is resilient, brave and influential woman who we are so glad to know. To find Quinn head to: Instagram @itsquinnpadilla or head to her website: www.rellawellness.com

In this episode Leah discusses women’s health, shedding light on the powerful connection between fat intake, hormone balance and mental health. We debunk diet-culture myths and explore how embracing nutrient-rich fats can empower women to nourish in both mind and body.

Join Empowered Coach Haley and guest Kate Whetsel as they dive deep! Kate Whetsel is a dedicated fitness enthusiast and co-owner of Resolve Fitness, located in the vibrant city of Seattle, Washington. As a Certified Personal and Health Coach, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her clients, helping them achieve their fitness and wellness goals. Kate's commitment to her craft is evident through her impressive certifications, including CrossFit Level 1 and Precision Nutrition Level 1 Coach. In 2022, she furthered her expertise by completing Stacy Sim's Menopause for Athletes Course, demonstrating her dedication to addressing the unique needs of her clients at every stage of life. Kate's life journey has been marked by adaptability and resilience, as she proudly identifies as a Military Spouse. Alongside her military service commitment, she takes on the role of a devoted mom to two teenagers and two cherished fur babies, embodying the balance between family and personal growth. One of Kate's fitness passions is kettlebell training, where she showcases her expertise in mastering this versatile tool to enhance her clients' strength and overall well-being. Her dedication to helping others shines through in her work, both in-person at Resolve Fitness and online through her social media presence. You can connect with Kate and discover more about her fitness journey and coaching by reaching out to her at [email protected] or following her on Instagram at @reallifefitbykate.

Tune in to this amazing episode with recovery warrior Jackie. Jackie has been our client for about a year and we are so very proud of her as she celebrates 1 year of full recovery from disordered eating and 3 years of recovery from self-harm. Listen to her story of resilience and strength as she overcomes childhood trauma, navigating a Broken Foster System, mental health struggles and more. Jackie tells all and explains how important it is to have the right supports in place on the road to recovery.