Of all our hormones, cortisol might be the most misunderstood and maligned. We’re told this stress hormone is the culprit behind excess belly fat, high blood sugar, accelerated aging, and a host of menopausal and midlife woes. Menopausal and midlife women sometimes are afraid to exercise too much because they’ve been told it will raise their cortisol, which can already be elevated during this time of life. The problem with this narrative is that it’s one-sided. It paints cortisol as a demon to be avoided at all costs, when actually cortisol is essential to maintain and improve fitness, and frankly for human life. This week we sat down with endocrinologist Dr. Carla DiGirolamo to dive into what cortisol is, what it does, and how menopausal women can manage–even befriend it–to optimize their health, performance, and well-being. Carla DiGirolamo, MD, PhD, is a Double Board Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist and Obstetrician/Gynecologist specializing in infertility and menopausal medicine. She is also a Crossfit Level 1 trainer, Certified Nutrition Coach, and member of CrossFit Health. She is a MedFit Care provider and provides weekly workouts and medical updates at her Substack Athletic Aging. She has most recently become an Endocrine Consultant for Wild Health.  Dr. Carla DiGirolamo’s Athletic Aging blog post on cortisol Follow Us on Instagram: Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause Feisty Media: @feisty_media Selene: @fitchick3 Subscribe to the weekly Feisty Menopause blog: https://www.feistymenopause.com/feistyinbox Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099 Join Level Up - Our Community for Active Women Navigating the Menopause Transition Join: https://www.feistymenopause.com/monthly-membership-1 Leave your questions for Selene: https://www.speakpipe.com/hitplay Get the Free Feisty Women's Guide to Lifting Heavy Sh*t: https://www.feistymenopause.com/liftheavy Support our Partners: The Amino Co: Shop Feisty's Favorite 100% Science-Backed Amino Acid Supplements. Enter code HITPLAY at Aminoco.com/HITPLAY to Save 30% + receive a FREE gift for new purchasers! Previnex: Get 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/ Cool-Jams: Use the code HITPLAY for 15% off all products at https://www.cool-jams.com/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=spotify&utm_campaign=hit-play-not-pause_20230802 Nutrisense: Go to nutrisense.io/hitplay and use the code HITPLAY30 for $30 off any subscription to the CGM program bonkbreaker.com/feistybox