The Forties Formula | Perimenopause, Lifestyle & Health for Women Over 40

You’ve been in our ears — now get in ours. Send us a voice message and join the chat. Love, Jasmin and Amanda x

Skincare Myths Women Over 40 Still Believe | Dr. Anjali Mato

Spending a fortune on skincare and your skin still looks tired? You're probably not doing anything wrong. Most of us were given the wrong advice, and your skin has changed since your twenties.

In this episode of The Forties Formula, Jasmin and Amanda sit down with UK consultant dermatologist Dr. Anjali Mato to sort out the skin...

You’ve been in our ears — now get in ours. Send us a voice message and join the chat. Love, Jasmin and Amanda x

In this deeply honest conversation, Amanda Lim and Jasmin Dhillon sit down with registered psychotherapist and integrative sex & relationship therapist Cheryl Kennedy McDonald to unpack the invisible process of identity loss in long-term relationships. From self-concept erosion and trauma bonds to gaslighting, narcissistic abuse and the emotional reality of divorce, this episode explores why so many women stay, how toxic relationship patterns develop, and what it truly takes to rebuild your sense of self...

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

Holly Matthews on grief, ADHD and being your weirdest self: actress Holly Matthews lost her husband Ross to brain cancer at 32. She shares how she rebuilt her life, talked to her daughters about death and turned grief into The Happy Me Project.

What happens when your career is playing other people, and real life takes away the script?

In this episode of The Forties Formula podcast, Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim talk to Holly...

This episode might be the most personal conversation we've had on The Forties Formula.

Dr. Christle Gueverra is a sports medicine physician who has been on GLP1 for weight loss herself for four years. She brings both the clinical picture and the personal one, and what she shares here is unlike anything we've heard from a doctor on this topic.

Together we get into why so many women experience weight gain in their 40s suddenly hit a wall with weight despite training hard and eating well, what GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro are...

Breast cancer signs and symptoms every woman should know. Breast surgeon and breast cancer survivor Dr Liz O'Riordan explains how to check your breasts, mammograms and how to lower your risk.

What happens when a breast surgeon finds a lump in her own breast?

In this Breast Cancer Awareness Month episode of The Forties Formula podcast, Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim are joined by Dr Liz O'Riordan, a UK breast surgeon diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer at 40, which has since come back twice.

Liz shares what it was like to go from surgeon...

Motherhood isn't just physically demanding, it's mentally exhausting. Beyond caring for children, many mothers carry the invisible responsibility of managing family schedules, remembering appointments, planning meals, organizing daily life, and keeping everyone on track.

In this clip from The Forties Formula, counselor, walk-and-talk therapist, and fatherhood advocate Simon Parkin shares why this "mental load" often goes unnoticed, how it creates resentment in relationships, and what fathers can do to become more supportive partners.

In this clip:

* Why the invisible mental load affects so many mothers

* Why dads often don't realize how...

What do you want your body to still be able to do at 80?

Strength coach Elizabeth Davies, author of Training for Your Old Lady Body, joins Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim on The Forties Formula to explore strength training for women over 40, confidence and lifelong fitness.

From getting off the floor to carrying your own bags, this conversation shifts the focus towards capability and independence as you age.

Elizabeth shares the story of a 79-year-old beginner and explains how shorter workouts can fit into busy lives. We also discuss mum guilt, caring responsibilities...

Have you ever found yourself questioning your relationship in your 40s... and wondered if something is wrong?

In this clip from The Forties Formula, relationship coach Yana Fry explores why so many women begin reassessing their relationships during midlife. She explains how changing priorities, greater self-awareness, and shifting emotional needs can make women see their relationships through a completely different lens—and why this doesn't necessarily mean the relationship is failing.

Whether you're happily partnered, feeling disconnected, or simply trying to understand yourself better, this conversation offers thoughtful insights into one of the biggest transitions ma...

Can creatine help with perimenopause brain fog? Could an allergy pill ease hot flushes? And why does your body feel different when your weight hasn’t changed?

In this episode of The Forties Formula, Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim reunite in London to unpack five health claims making headlines and circulating on social media. From strength training and heart health to creatine and viral menopause hacks, they explore what’s behind the claims, where evidence is still developing, and what deserves a closer look.

With so much conflicting advice aimed at women over 40, knowing what to b...

In this episode, Jasmin and Amanda sit down with Dr. Lara Morgan, a sports medicine physician who has worked with elite athletes at the Cleveland Cavaliers and USC. Dr. Morgan applies the same evidence-based recovery model used in professional sport to postpartum women — and her position is clear: mothers have been failed by a system that cleared them too early, told them to bounce back, and never gave them the tools to actually rebuild.

This is one of the most important conversations we have had on this show. If you have had children — whether eight weeks ago or e...

In this episode of The Forties Formula, Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim are joined by coaching psychologist Dr Saba Hasanie to explore an uncomfortable question: how much of what we call “personality” is actually adaptation?

Why does this matter? Because patterns such as people-pleasing, perfectionism, self-sabotage and the need for control may reflect behaviours we learned in childhood. In midlife, we can start questioning whether those patterns still serve us.

Drawing on her book, The Blueprint to Leadership, Dr Hasanie introduces six childhood “fields”—rules, trust, self, belonging, emotions and world—and explores how they influence ad...

In this episode of The Forties Formula, Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim are joined by women's health physician Dr Sital Khistrya to unpack one of the biggest changes in women's health in decades: the proposed renaming of PCOS to PMOS (Poly-Endocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome).

Why does this matter? Because experts now believe we've been treating PCOS as an ovarian condition when it's actually a lifelong metabolic disorder driven primarily by insulin resistance. This shift has huge implications for diagnosis, fertility, pregnancy, perimenopause, menopause, cardiovascular health, and how millions of women are treated around the world.

...

Perimenopause symptoms often present differently in Black, South Asian and East Asian women. South Asian women typically reach menopause between 46 and 48, compared with 50 to 51 in Caucasian women, meaning symptoms can begin in the mid-thirties. Symptoms are more likely to appear as joint pain, body aches, anxiety, insomnia, vaginal dryness and recurrent UTIs rather than hot flushes. Black women in the UK are approximately five times less likely to be prescribed HRT.

In this episode of The Forties Formula, Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim sit down with Dr Shahzadi Harper to explore how perimenopause affects women differently across...

Have you ever wondered why something so small can suddenly push you over the edge?

In this clip from The Forties Formula, psychotherapist and bestselling author Anna Mathur explains the crucial difference between anger and rage and why understanding it can completely change how you respond to overwhelming emotions. She shares why rage isn't a personality flaw, what it's really trying to communicate, and how recognising the warning signs can help you avoid reaching breaking point.

If you've ever thought, "I don't know why I reacted like that," this conversation will help you understand what's...

In this episode of The Forties Formula, Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim sit down with Malissa Sander, founder of Aqua Tula, to challenge the idea that women in their 40s need to train harder to stay fit.

Malissa shares her journey from childhood anorexia and an unhealthy relationship with exercise to rebuilding her body through water-based fitness and strength training. After losing muscle, suffering injuries and developing osteoporosis, she learned to approach movement differently, prioritising strength, recovery and a sustainable relationship with her body.

The conversation explores why the “push harder” approach can be counterproductive in m...

If you are a woman in your 40s and the weight is not moving despite doing everything right, this conversation is for you.

Sara May Garcia is a fitness coach and co-founder of Bootique gym in Singapore. She gained 8kg in two months — eating the same, training the same. She is a professional. She knew exactly what to do. And it still wasn't working.

In this clip from The Forties Formula, Sara shares what was actually happening in her body, why perimenopause weight gain hits differently, and what finally changed — not just physically, but mentally.

In this episode of The Forties Formula, Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim sit down with therapist Sapna Makwana Hanspal to explore the kinds of grief that often go unnamed, the grief that comes with life changing.

For women in their 40s, grief can come from far more than losing a loved one. It can come from a changing identity, a changing body, fertility ending, a dream that didn't happen, a relationship changing, or realising you've outgrown a version of yourself.

The conversation explores how grief can show up as anxiety, burnout, anger and exhaustion, how...

👉 Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/DCJpoPVSd1s

What if your headaches, neck pain, poor posture, and lack of confidence had nothing to do with age or hormones and everything to do with your bra?

In this episode of The Forties Formula, we sit down with professional bra fitting expert Caroline to uncover one of the most overlooked health and comfort issues affecting women today: wearing the wrong bra size.

From shoulder pain and migraines to posture problems and everyday discomfort, Caroline explains how an ill-fitting bra can have a much big...

Your reaction is never about what just happened.

When something small sets you off — a look, a tone, a moment that should not matter — it is rarely about the moment itself. In your 40s, life becomes an explosive combination of change: your body, your relationships, your sense of self, all shifting at once. Conflict is quietly building — with yourself, with the people closest to you, with who you used to be.

This week, Avni Martin — ICF Master Certified Coach, founder of The Martin Institute and author of Happy Ever After — joins Jasmin and Amanda to explain wh...

Can a toxic boss actually make you a better leader?

▶ Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/vmmg3rD_Sh4

In this clip, we explore the story of a founder who worked in a high-pressure corporate environment where extreme expectations were worn as badges of honor. Looking back, those experiences became valuable lessons in empathy, leadership, and building a healthier company culture.

The conversation dives into what separates great leaders from toxic ones, why trust matters, and how the best managers help people grow by lifting them up, not tearing them down.

In this episode of The Forties Formula, Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim sit down with Leila Foster, Behaviour Change Strategist and Wellness Architect, to explore why lasting change can be so difficult, even when we genuinely want it.

They explore why our brains return to familiar patterns, how chronic stress affects our ability to change, why expectations create resentment, and how to recognise when a trigger isn't actually about you.

Finally, Leila shares her 40s formula: stop doing what you're told, make micro-adjustments, know your season, hold your paradox, ask for help, and never outsource...

Watch the full episode to know more about the Uranus opposition, a significant astrological event occurring around age 40-42 that impacts everyone. This period often initiates a deep personal growth journey, prompting reflection on midlife purpose and identity. Understanding these zodiac signs and planetary influences can provide insights into these life changes. In this episode:

In this episode of The Forties Formula, Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim are joined by podiatrist Paul Macaulay to explore one of the most overlooked aspects of women's health: foot health in midlife.

From pregnancy and perimenopause to years of wearing the wrong shoes, our feet go through enormous changes that can affect everything from plantar fasciitis and bunions to knee pain, hip pain, back pain, balance, and long-term mobility.

Paul explains why most women are wearing the wrong shoe size, how hormones change our tendons and ligaments, why "comfortable" shoes aren't always the healthiest...

https://youtu.be/qNEVAR_R4VY This episode is for every woman who has ever felt like motherhood changed her more than she expected. And for anyone trying to understand why so many mothers are struggling silently behind the scenes. Because maybe the problem isn’t that women are failing motherhood. Maybe the expectations were impossible to begin with. We talk about: • Why motherhood can feel emotionally overwhelming even when you “wanted this” • What matrescence actually means; and why more women are finally talking about it • The invisible identity shift that happens after having children • Why so many women feel isolated...

What happens when you wake up one day and realise you've lost yourself inside your relationship?

In this deeply honest conversation, Amanda Lim and Jasmin Dhillon sit down with relationship and divorce coach Cheryl Kennedy McDonald to unpack the invisible process of identity loss in long-term relationships. From self-concept erosion and trauma bonds to gaslighting, narcissistic abuse and the emotional reality of divorce, this episode explores why so many women stay, how toxic relationship patterns develop, and what it truly takes to rebuild your sense of self.

Cheryl explains why leaving isn't simply about willpower...

If you’re raising a daughter, working with young people, or simply trying to understand the pressures girls face today, this episode will shift how you see it all.

This episode explores the significant impact of social dynamics and group dynamics on girls during adolescence. We discuss how peer relationships carry immense emotional weight and how social influence shapes teen behavior. Understanding these relationships is crucial for supporting healthy identity development in young women.

We have covered:

The subtle signs your daughter may be struggling (that are easy to miss)

Why pu...

In this episode of The Forties Formula, Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim are joined by obesity medicine physician Dr. Christle Gueverra to unpack one of the most polarising topics in women's health today: GLP-1 medications.

Are drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro simply "weight loss injections" or are they finally treating a biological problem that millions of women have been blamed for their entire lives?

Drawing from both her medical expertise and her own personal experience using GLP-1 therapy, Dr. Christle explains why so many women in their 40s suddenly struggle with weight, appetite and...

This episode explores the challenges of maintaining a rigid self-image and how it impacts our emotional resilience. We discuss the importance of cultivating self awareness and recognizing that true self-worth comes from within. Ultimately, finding inner peace requires letting go of inflexible self-perceptions, encouraging personal growth and valuable life lessons. 💛

In this episode of The Forties Formula, Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim are joined by women's health physician Dr. Sheetal Sastrawala to unpack one of the biggest changes in women's health in decades: the proposed renaming of PCOS to PMOS (Poly-Endocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome).

Why does this matter? Because experts now believe we've been treating PCOS as an ovarian condition when it's actually a lifelong metabolic disorder driven primarily by insulin resistance. This shift has huge implications for diagnosis, fertility, pregnancy, perimenopause, menopause, cardiovascular health, and how millions of women are treated around the world.

<...

The discussion about diet culture and the weight loss industry highlights its pervasive influence as a multi-billion dollar business, often shaping our "social norms." We explore how this "diet trend" can contribute to harmful "eating disorders" and impact our relationship with "food culture." This conversation emphasizes the deep societal embedding of these ideas.

Hosted by Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim

Connect with Amanda & Jasmin: https://www.instagram.com/thefortiesformula/

Jasmin Dhillon - https://www.instagram.com/eat.with.jasmin

Amanda Lim - https://www.instagram.com/coachamandalim

In this episode of The Forties Formula, we explore why midlife can become a turning point for relationships. We unpack how changing priorities, emotional needs, resentment, intimacy, communication, motherhood, and self-worth all influence the decisions women make during this stage of life.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why so many women begin questioning their relationships after 40

• How perimenopause can influence emotions, identity and relationships

• The hidden resentment that quietly builds over the years

• Why communication, not compatibility, is often the real issue

• Marriage, motherhood and the invisible mental loa...

summary

In this clip of The Forties Formula, Amanda and Jasmin explore the nuances of conscious parenting, emotional regulation, and repairing family relationships. They share personal stories, challenge stereotypes, and offer practical insights for mindful parenting and self-compassion.

conscious parenting, emotional regulation, repair relationships, tiger mom, self-compassion, family dynamics, parenting tips

Is gentle parenting just letting your kids do whatever they want? A parenting educator explains why conscious parenting still needs a hierarchy — and why apologising to your children when you get it wrong builds more trust than never getting it wrong at al...

Have you ever completely lost your temper… and then immediately wondered, "What's wrong with me?"

If you're finding yourself more irritable, more reactive, or snapping at the people you love in your 40s, you're not alone… and it may have far less to do with your personality than you think.

This week, we're joined by psychotherapist, bestselling author and host of The Therapy Edit podcast, Anna Mathur, to unpack why so many women experience anger, overwhelm and rage during midlife. Together, we explore the hidden emotional load women carry, how perimenopause changes our stress response, why...

Why do so many women stay quiet… even when they don’t agree?

In this 5-minute clip from The Forties Formula, we explore how early conditioning, cultural norms, and workplace dynamics shape the way we communicate — and why so many of us hold back, even when we have something important to say.

Featuring global communication expert Heather Hansen, this conversation breaks down the hidden patterns behind confidence, voice, and visibility — especially for women navigating midlife and leadership.

What you’ll learn:

• How childhood conditioning shapes the way we use our voice • Why confidence...

Most women are told they’re “cleared” at six weeks postpartum. But according to sports medicine physician Dr. Morgan Lee, that clearance has very little to do with true recovery.

In this episode of The Forties Formula, Dr. Morgan explains why so many women continue to struggle with pelvic floor dysfunction, diastasis recti, back pain, weakness, injuries, and exercise setbacks years after having children—and why these symptoms are often dismissed as “just getting older.”

Drawing on her experience working with elite athletes, Dr. Morgan shares why mothers should be treated like athletes during recovery, how pregnanc...

The Power of Hormones, Lifestyle & Self Compassion in Women's Health in Their 40s This is a clip from The Forties Formula in Focus with hosts Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim with @drolivialesslar .

It focuses on navigating women's health in midlife, especially addressing hormonal changes during perimenopause, the influence of lifestyle, and the importance of self-compassion. Challenge outdated narratives and highlight practical strategies to thrive in your 40s and beyond.

In this episode:

- How hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has evolved and its neuroprotective benefits

- Common misconceptions around HRT and breast...

In today’s episode of The Forties Formula, Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim sit down with counselor, walk-and-talk therapist, and self-described "Dad in Progress," Simon Parkin.

Motherhood isn't just exhausting because of sleepless nights. It's exhausting because of the invisible load—the planning, organizing, remembering, and emotional labor that keeps families running behind the scenes. While many fathers are showing up more than ever before, many mothers still find themselves carrying responsibilities that often go unseen and unacknowledged.

In this honest Father's Day conversation, Simon shares what emotionally available fatherhood really looks like, why communication ofte...

content type

Interview

primary goal

Educational

summary

In this episode, we explore the critical health risks women face during menopause and how lifestyle medicine can help prevent and manage these issues. Our expert discusses the six pillars of health—nutrition, movement, sleep, stress management, social connections, and reducing harmful substances—and provides practical tips for women in their forties.

keywords

menopause, women's health, lifestyle medicine, bone health, heart health, mental health, nutrition, menopause symptoms, aging, wellness

key topics

Health risks of meno...

In today’s episode of The Forties Formula, Jasmin Dhillon and Amanda Lim sit down with attorney, healthcare privacy expert, entrepreneur, and mother of three, Lauren.

In this conversation, we explore:

• The hidden risks women should understand before starting birth control in midlife

• Why women's health research still leaves many unanswered questions

• The emotional impact of chronic illness and losing your former identity

• How Lauren went from a wheelchair to rebuilding her independence

• Integrative medicine, recovery, and finding answers beyond conventional care

• The role of therap...

If you’ve been relying on melatonin or considering sleeping pills, this episode challenges everything you think you know about fixing insomnia. We dive into Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), a science-backed, first-line treatment recommended by leading sleep organizations.

You’ll learn why sleep issues in midlife aren’t just about hormones and why most women are never told about this powerful alternative. This episode breaks down how your thoughts, habits, and behaviors may be keeping you awake and how to reset them.

If you’re tired of being tired, this is where things change.<...