Skinny culture is back, and it’s louder than ever.

In this episode, we talk honestly about the pressure to be ultra-thin (at all costs!) and why chasing that look can quietly wreck your health, your hormones, and your long-term well-being.

Ashley and Sarah share their own stories of growing up in the height of constantly under eating and thinking smaller always meant better. What felt like “discipline” at the time turned into years of physical and emotional consequences, from tanked metabolism to anxiety and body obsession.

We unpack how social media has revived the thin ideal, how extreme low-calorie diets are being normalized again, and how trends like GLP-1 medications are shifting the goal from “healthy” to simply “smaller.”

We also break down what actually happens inside your body during prolonged under-eating, from muscle loss and hormone disruption to immune suppression and poor detox capacity.But this conversation isn’t just about what’s wrong. We talk about what real health looks like: protecting your metabolism, preserving muscle, supporting your hormones, and building habits that are sustainable. We discuss why short, intentional fat-loss phases are very different from chronic restriction, and why strength, nourishment, and resilience matter more than a number on a scale.

If you’ve ever felt caught in the cycle of dieting, comparison, or trying to shrink yourself to feel “enough,” this episode is for you.It’s an honest conversation about breaking the skinny mindset, and building a healthier future for ourselves and the next generation.

Timestamps

0:17 – What Is “Skinny Culture” & Why It’s Trending Again

1:02 – The Return of the Ultra-Thin Ideal

2:33 – Extreme Low-Calorie Diets: What Really Happens

3:43 – How Social Media Glorifies Disordered Eating

5:03 – Ozempic & GLP-1 Drugs: What’s Driving the Shift

6:10 – Real-Life Stories & Consequences

8:22 – The Hidden Dangers Behind “Healthy” Diet Trends

10:47 – Lost Menstrual Cycles & Hormonal Disruption

12:56 – Detox Pathways, Metabolism & Autoimmune Risk

14:27 – Body Dysmorphia & the Psychological Toll

19:16 – Long-Term Recovery: What No One Talks About

25:06 – Why Muscle & Metabolic Health Matter

30:22 – Healthier Alternatives to Skinny Culture

35:47 – The Role of Parents & Culture in Body Image

45:13 – Practical Steps to Raise Healthier Generations_______________________________________________________________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: Low PUFA eggs/chicken/pork, 100% grass-fed beef and lamb, 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 250+ 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 1, learn more and join the Early Access List here:https://www.armstrongsisters.com/transform

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 overload
• Energy production is crucial for healing.
• Vitalism and the body’s innate healing intelligence
• The importance of mental-emotional health
• Food intolerance testing and personalized care
• Dr. Alex’s four pillars of health include detoxification, nutrition, lifestyle, and mental-emotional health.
• Why surrender can be an essential part of healing

If 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!

TIMESTAMPS

• 01:20 Introduction to Naturopathic Medicine and Personal Journeys
• 04:43 The Downfalls of Current Naturopathic Medicine
• 08:38 The Wild West of Naturopathic Practices
• 12:26 Functional Medicine vs. True Holistic Healing
• 16:20 The Importance of Energy in Healing
• 19:39 Addressing the Mental-Emotional Component
• 23:07 The Role of Consistency in Health
• 26:00 Challenging Conventional Medical Perspectives
• 31:53 Understanding Autoimmune Conditions
• 35:39 The Four Pillars of Health
• 42:46 Surrendering to the Healing Process
• 53:45 Lab Work and Food Intolerance Testing

—————————————————

Learn more and work with Dr. Alex Orton:

https://havenholistichealth.com

Dr. Alex Orton on socials:

https://www.instagram.com/havenholistichealth/

https://www.instagram.com/alexorton.nd/

What if cancer is a metabolic problem that can be cured? (Instead of a genetic chronic disease)

In this episode, I’m joined by a repeat guest Georgi Dinkov to explore cancer through the lens of cellular energy, metabolism, and mitochondrial function. Instead of framing cancer as a “war” on tumor cells, we discuss a different paradigm: restoring energy, supporting respiration, and addressing systemic metabolic stress.

We cover:

- Cancer as a reversible metabolic problem, rather than a genetic one

- Glycolysis vs oxidative metabolism and why it matters

- CO₂, lactic acid, pH, and mitochondrial health

- Where Georgi’s views differ from mainstream oncology, and even other researchers (like Dr. Seyfried) who view cancer as a metabolic problem

- Georgi's recent surprising research findings and future cancer study directions

- How to support his ongoing work

This conversation challenges conventional narratives and offers a hopeful, systems-based way of thinking about health, disease, and the future of cancer medicine.

**for educational purposes only, not medical advice. Consult with your doctor for best treatment options**

TIME STAMPS

0:00 - Intro

1:01 - Welcome & life update with Georgi

2:48 - What is Georgi eating these days

6:00 - Diet perfection, stress, and sustainable eating

13:23 - Update on Georgi's cancer studies

20:00 - Cancer as a metabolic disease vs genetic theory

27:00 - Quorum sensing & cellular decision-making

30:00 - Mitochondria, CO2, and lactic acid

36:00 - Radiation, EMFs, and metabolic suppression

40:30 - Why killing cancer cells may be the wrong strategy

49:00 - Warburg effect: glycolysis vs oxidative metabolism

58:55 - Where Georgi disagrees with some other 'metabolism focused' cancer researchers like Dr. Seyfried

1:00:15 - Future studies with Meldonium (Mildronate)

1:10:30 - PUFAs, saturated fat, and tumor resistance

1:12:30 - How to support Georgi’s research

1:16:40 - Closing thoughts: hope, metabolism, and self-healing

_______________________________________________________

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

https://nourishfoodclub.com/

🥚Join waitlist for our low PUFA, corn & soy free, pasture-raised eggs:https://nourishfoodclub.com/pages/why-join-angel-acres-egg-waitlist

_______________________________________________________

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 250+ 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 1, learn more and join the Early Access List here:https://www.armstrongsisters.com/transform

_______________________________________________________

About Georgi Dinkov:

Georgi is a computer scientist, researcher, and biochemist focused on pro-metabolic approaches to health and disease, with an emphasis on mitochondrial function and systemic energy balance.

Link to his blog:

https://haidut.me

Support Georgi’s work at Idea Labs:

https://idealabsdc.com/