Rooted in Resilience

Meet Coach Keli Arendec in the first episode of our new Meet the Transform Coaches series! Keli shares how she went from years of restrictive dieting and struggling with perimenopause to discovering the power of strength training, balanced nutrition, and consistent coaching through the Transform program.

Sarah and Keli discuss navigating menopause, overcoming gym intimidation, building muscle as a beginner, and staying consistent through life's challenges. Keli also opens up about her hip replacement recovery, the importance of accountability, and why sustainable progress doesn't require perfection. Her journey from Transform participant to coach shows...

Whitney shares how she went from struggling with Long COVID, severe fatigue, and exercise intolerance to losing 21 pounds, building muscle, and feeling stronger through the Transform program. Sarah, Coach Tyler, and Coach Samantha discuss overcoming mental barriers, finding consistency with nutrition, gradually increasing training capacity, and learning to fuel the body properly. They also explore body recomposition, sustainable fat loss, and why progress isn't always reflected on the scale. Whitney's journey shows how patience, support, and small, consistent steps can lead to lasting change.

⭐️ The Transform Fat Loss and Metabolic Restoration Program ⭐️

Gabe shares how he lost about 30 pounds while maintaining muscle and how he feels better than he did in his twenties. They discuss. moving beyond rigid food rules, finding a more balanced approach to nutrition, making tracking manageable, and getting results with less time in the gym. Your best years may still be ahead...

⭐️ The Transform Fat Loss and Metabolic Restoration Program ⭐️Join 550+ 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 th...

Our Next Round Starts October 5th! Click here to join the Waitlist:https://www.armstrongsisters.com/pl/2...Laura’s Transform journey shows how a balanced, sustainable approach can lead to real progress. After years of conflicting advice and all-or-nothing habits, she lost over 20 pounds, built muscle, and learned to eat, train, and recover in a way that fits her life.Laura, Coach Samantha, and Tyler discuss how tracking helped her make informed nutrition changes, why two strength-training days a week worked better for her, and how rest, sleep, sunlight, and a flexible mindset supported her progress.A practical conversation ab...

⭐️ The Transform Fat Loss and Metabolic Restoration Program ⭐️Join 150+ 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 Transform group starts October 5th, learn more and join the Early Access List here:https://www.armstrongsisters.com/transform

Steven shares how Transform helped him stop yo-yo dieting, eat for performance, build strength & muscle, and create sustainable habits. Joined by Sarah, Tyler, and Kathleen, he discusses training twice a week, pl...

Everyone seems to be talking about heavy metals, detoxes, microplastics, reverse osmosis water, and “toxic” products.

But how much of that fear is actually grounded in good science?

In this episode of the Rooted in Resilience Podcast, Ash sits down again with Kaleigh (Nutrition Elements) to discuss where heavy metals actually come from, how the body naturally detoxifies, why nutrient status matters more than most detox protocols, and how fear-based health messaging often distracts us from the fundamentals that actually improve health.

We also disc...

Most conversations about menopause begin and end with one conclusion:

Low estrogen is the problem. And hormone replacement therapy is the solution.

But what if the story is more complicated than that?

In this episode, Ashley sits down with nutritionist and author Kate Deering to explore the bioenergetic perspective on estrogen, menopause, metabolism, and women’s health.

Together, they discuss why declining estrogen may not be the whole story, how stress physiology and energy production influence menopausal symptoms, what cu...

You worked hard to lose the fat. Now comes the part almost nobody prepares you for… Keeping it off.

In this episode, Ashley and Kathleen walk through exactly how they help clients transition out of a fat loss phase without immediately regaining weight. Ashley also shares about how she has maintained her 10+ lb fat loss from earlier this year, now 4 months later, using the Transform method.

You’ll learn why maintenance is actually harder than dieting, how to slowly increase calories without unnecessary fat gain, why your hunger hormones take months to normalize, what reverse diet...

Most people don’t fail because they’re doing the wrong things, they fail because they don’t do the right things long enough. The physique they want often requires more time, consistency, and effort than they realize.

In this episode, Ashley, Tyler, Kathleen, and Sarah (Team Transform) have an honest conversation about the gap between expectations and reality when it comes to body composition change. They break down why the lean, healthy physique many people aspire to requires more consistency, more daily effort, and more time than social media often suggests. There are no quick fixes, and me...

In this episode of Rooted in Resilience, Ashley sits down with Dr. Alex Orton to challenge one of the most common beliefs in modern health: that getting sick is always a bad thing.

What if occasional illness is actually a sign of a resilient, functioning body?

Together, they explore how acute illness fits into the bigger picture of metabolic health, why suppressing symptoms may do more harm than good, and how your body’s ability to mount a response (like a fever) is directly tied to your energy production an...

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...

Why do so many people spin their wheels with fat loss, despite trying so hard?

In this episode of the Rooted in Resilience podcast, Ashley, Sarah, Kathleen, and Tyler break down the most common reasons people fail in a fat loss phase: from program hopping and chasing the “secret sauce” to all-or-nothing thinking, supplement distractions, and misreading the scale.

After helping hundreds of people improve metabolism, lose fat, and keep it off, we’re sharing the patterns we see over and over again, and the mindset shifts that actually move the needle forward.

If you...

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 me...

In this episode of Rooted in Resilience, Ash is joined again by Kathleen Stewart to break down my recent 5-week fat loss phase, where I lost about 10 pounds while maintaining muscle mass and lifts in the gym.

We walk through exactly what I did, why it worked, and how we approach fat loss differently inside Transform, so you can use these principles on your own or join us inside the program.

We cover why we don’t believe in jumping straight into a calorie deficit, the importance of building maintenance calories first, and why short, st...

In this solo episode of the Rooted in Resilience Podcast, Ashley shares the word she’s carrying into 2026: surrender.

For many of us who care deeply about our work, our health, and the people around us, it’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to control everything. We overthink decisions, carry responsibilities that aren’t ours, and constantly search for the next solution.

But what if the answer isn’t pushing harder? What if it’s learning to surrender?

In this vulnerable and reflective episode, Ashley explores the difference between giving up and sur...

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 revive...

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...

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...

In this conversation, we break down what true metabolic health actually means, and how to restore it. We explore how metabolism becomes dysregulated, what truly improves insulin sensitivity, and why many common “health” approaches unintentionally make the problem worse.

Drawing from both the science and our hands-on experience working with 200+ individuals inside the Transform program, we share the core lifestyle and nutrition principles we use to help people regain energy, stabilize blood sugar, and rebuild metabolic flexibility. This includes practical, actionable steps around food, movement, recovery, and stress (without hacks, extremes, or quick fixes.)

Your personality changes based on what you eat. And your constant worry about your health, food obsession, and low energy may not just be “in your head”... they can be direct, physiological symptoms from a Low Energy Availability (LEA) state.In this episode, we dive deep into Chapters 40 & 41 of the Minnesota Starvation Experiment: one of the most revealing studies on what happens to the human mind under LEA, not eating enough food for the body's needs.We break down the shocking data on how semi-starvation systematically changed the subjects' personalities, leading to hypochondria, depression, hysteria, and more.The MSE is a...

In this honest and eye-opening episode, we unpack the myths surrounding menopause and the confusion so many women face when trying to care for their health during this stage of life. Ash and Sarah Armstrong are joined by Julie and Keli (who went through the Transform program and are now Transform coaches) who share their personal experiences navigating menopause, unlearning misinformation, and rebuilding trust in their bodies. 

Together, they talk about the impact of chronic dieting, food rules, and societal pressure on women’s health. And how shifting toward intentional eating, strength training, and sup...

Your personality changes based on what you eat. And your constant worry about your health, food obsession, and low energy may not just be “in your head”... they can be direct, physiological symptoms from a Low Energy Availability (LEA) state.

In this episode, we dive deep into Chapters 40 & 41 of the Minnesota Starvation Experiment: one of the most revealing studies on what happens to the human mind under low energy availability (LEA) - not eating enough food for the body's needs.

We break down the shocking data on how semi-starvation systematically changed the subjects' personalities, leading to h...

Are you "boring" or are you just in a low energy state? Constantly tired, irritable, and obsessed with food on your diet? It might not be a lack of willpower, it might be physiological starvation. In this episode, we again dive deep into the Minnesota Starvation Experiment (MSE) to uncover the shocking psychological effects of prolonged calorie deficits that mirror modern restrictive diets.

We break down chapters 38 & 39 of the MSE, revealing how under-eating leads to:

• Crashing sex drive & strained relationships

• Loss of humor, motivation, and social initiative

• Intense food obsession and bizarr...

Join us for a dynamic roundtable as we debunk common fat loss myths and dive into the real complexities of shedding body fat. We break down the fundamentals of calories in versus calories out, the importance of tracking food intake, and how adherence plays a bigger role than many realize.

We explore the unique challenges women face during menopause, the pros and cons of rapid fat loss versus prolonged calorie deficits, and the critical roles of muscle mass, micronutrients, and hormonal health in sustainable fat loss.

Drawing on insights...

Struggling with constant food thoughts, fatigue, and irritability? The Minnesota Starvation Experiment reveals that our personality and psychology is impacted by our energetic state.

Always irritable and tired? You might be in a state of physiological starvation (Low Energy Availability - LEA), even with food abundance.We break down how chronic under-eating (often created from diet dogma and extreme diets) leads to:

• Obsessive food focus & "food noise"

• Loss of joy, increased anger & apathy

• A crashed metabolism & hormonal chaos

The shocking truth? Your diet may be the reason you feel broken...

After a long break, Ash and Sarah are back for a brand-new season of Rooted in Resilience! In this candid, cozy conversation, the sisters catch up on life updates — from moving homes and building the family compound to lessons learned from one of their hardest (and most growth-filled) years yet.

Then, they dive into a big topic stirring up conversation online: Why keto and carnivore diets aren’t working for everyone.
 

They discuss what happens when “it works until it doesn’t,” how dogma takes over the wellness space, and why even some of the bigg...

In today’s world, normal habits aren’t serving our health. From processed food to blue light overload, staying healthy means going against the grain—and that can be isolating. In this honest and relatable episode, we talk about what it means to embrace being different, set boundaries, navigate social situations with grace, and support loved ones without judgment. Whether you're dealing with chronic health issues or simply prioritizing wellness, this one’s for you.

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Feeling lost in the maze of hot-flashes, “low-estrogen” headlines and carb confusion after 40?  Functional health coach Kate Deering (author of How to Heal Your Metabolism) joins this episode to bust menopause myths—and explain why carbs, not chronic keto, may be the missing lever for hormone balance, thyroid health and lean body-composition.

Whether you’re perimenopausal, post-menopausal, this deep dive gives you actionable tools to regulate blood sugar, restore progesterone, improve sleep and feel strong—without fearing fruit or sourdough.

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In this deep-dive episode, Ashley and Sarah sits down with Mike Fave — fertility and metabolic health coach — to unpack the overlooked foundations of male fertility and testosterone.

Mike shares how he and his wife are preparing to start a family, the key labs they ran before trying to conceive, and what really drags testosterone down today — plus how to fix it naturally.

They discuss why excess body fat disrupts hormone balance, how gut health secretly affects sperm quality, and why modern dairy isn’t always your friend.  They also cover the...

Is Infertility Actually the Man’s Fault? Did you know male fertility plays an equally important role in conception and pregnancy success? In this powerful and eye-opening episode, we dive into the hidden half of the fertility equation: male sperm health. 

Learn how modern lifestyle, diet, and environmental factors are silently impacting testosterone, sperm quality, and even miscarriage rates.

From estrogen-like compounds in your food to the real effect of PUFAs and EMFs, we're breaking down 6 overlooked causes of male infertility—and exactly what you can do about them. Wheth...

In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with Frank von Hippel to uncover the dark history of pesticides—from the Irish Potato Famine to modern-day endocrine disruptors. We explore how chemicals like DDT, glyphosate, and neonicotinoids are wreaking havoc on fertility, metabolism, and child development. Plus, practical tips to detox your home, avoid obesogenic chemicals, and protect your family. If you care about food, health, or the future of our planet, don’t miss this deep dive!

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In this groundbreaking episode, Georgi Dinkov shares astonishing updates on his cancer research that directly challenges the mainstream cancer treatment model. We dive deep into the real role of estrogen and androgens in cancer development, why modern treatments may be doing more harm than good, and how Georgi’s self-funded studies are showing tumor regression — without relying on toxic therapies. If you're interested in true root-cause healing, bioenergetics, and the future of cancer therapy, this conversation is a must-listen. Stay tuned for how vitamins, aspirin, pregnenolone, progesterone, and a different perspective on energy metabolism are changing everything we thought we k...

In this empowering follow-up to their previous episode on breast milk, Sarah and Ashley take a deep dive into how the modern diet has transformed the fatty acid composition of breast milk—and what that means for a child’s lifelong health. From allergies and immune suppression to metabolic issues, cognitive development, and even cancer risk, the girls explore how polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) are impacting babies from day one. But it’s not all doom and gloom. They break down the science behind breast milk composition, share real studies, and most importantly, offer practical, hopeful strategies for how moms (and fu...

In this powerful episode, Ashley and Sarah dive deep into the science behind breast milk and how a mother’s nutrition—*before and during pregnancy*—can shape the gut health, cognitive development, and immune system of her baby. From Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) to the rise of PUFAs (polyunsaturated fatty acids) in modern diets, they explore how we got so far from nature, and what we can do to get back.Discover why breast milk composition isn't fixed, how the fatty acids in your body impact your child, and what recent research is saying about the connections between diet, autism...

In this episode of *Rooted in Resilience*, we welcome our first guest of the season—health coach and bioenergetic researcher Jay Feldman—for a deep dive into the world of ice baths, hormesis, and stress-driven health trends. From the truth about fat burning and cold exposure to how our metabolism adapts (or shuts down) under chronic stress, we unpack the biochemical realities behind popular biohacks. We also explore how short-term boosts might come at the cost of long-term metabolic health—and what a truly sustainable health approach looks like.Whether you’re a cold plunge fan or someone navigating the afte...

In this episode of the Rooted in Resilience podcast, we dive deep into the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement. We explore the tension between top-down government policies and bottom-up grassroots action, the real story behind food fortification, the dangers of seed oils, and how regenerative agriculture can shift the future of health and sustainability. From politics and USDA corruption to personal empowerment and local food systems—this is a must-listen for anyone rethinking what it means to be healthy in America today.______________________________________________________________________Subscribe To The Rooted In Resilience Podcast:⭐ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCSpofOL75STGMvUUlD5em7g ⭐ Spotif...

In this episode of Rooted in Resilience, sisters Sarah and Ashley go deep into the world of raw dairy—a topic that stirs up plenty of passion, confusion, and controversy. They unpack the history and science behind pasteurization, explore the nutritional differences between raw and processed milk, and reveal what most food labels aren’t telling you.

Whether you’re dairy-sensitive, raw-curious, or already hooked on the cream-top life, this episode is filled with info to help you navigate the world of milk with confidence. From ancient practices to the hidden ingredients in fortified milk, nothing is off...

In this episode of the Rooted in Resilience podcast, Ash & Sarah return after a few months off with updates on their lives, business ventures, and what's next. They discuss life transitions, including Sarah’s path toward starting a family and possibly buying a house, and reflect on their journey building Nourish Food Club and running Angel Acres. From the realities of homesteading and animal care to the dream of creating a family compound, they share the highs, lows, and everything in between. The sisters also open up about redefining what “functional” and “funny” farming means to them, the challenges of running...

In this episode, Ash & Sarah sit down with Kathleen Stewart to discuss how Sarah lost 20lbs for her wedding. They discuss when to enter a fat loss phase, how fat loss can help your hormones & PMS, being under-muscled, & reverse dieting. _______________________________________________________________ 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 👩🏼‍🌾 Our Farm CoOp, Nourish: https://nourishcooperative...

In this episode, Ash & Sarah sit down with Kathleen to discuss Ashley's recent fat loss phase. They discuss when fat loss is healthy, how to lose fat successfully & how to keep the fat off. _______________________________________________________________ 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 👩🏼‍🌾 Our Farm CoOp, Nourish: https://nourishcooperative.com/ {The highest quality food you can find, delivere...