Opt to Thrive…for Midlife Women

Dr Corina Sims

Opt to Thrive is a health and wellness podcast designed to support, educate, inspire, empower and motivate midlife women to live their healthiest, happiest most fulfilled lives. Motivated by her own life experiences and challenging midlife transition, Dr Corina Sims created Opt to Thrive. Dr Sims is a rural GP Obstetrician and Menopause Specialist who has a passion for connecting with and empowering other women to be the best version of themselves. Disappointed with the vast amount of contradictory information targeted at menopausal women, Dr Sims also recognised the gap in medicine that has been identified around the globe in managing women going through it.  Dr Dims strives to bring evidence based information to those who are searching for answers. Listen in every week where on one week you’ll find either a short and sweet episode designed to uplift, inspire and give helpful tips to manage your mind and a longer episode the next created to educate and inform. 

  1. 21 HRS AGO · BONUS

    Manage Your Mind Mindful Moment: Leaning In Instead of Quitting (My Personal Story)

    Send a text Over the past week I’ve had some disappointments, heavy stressors, and moments where my brain told me it would be easier to just quit. “You’re failing.” “This is too much.” “Why are you even trying?” Instead of hiding that — or pretending I’ve mastered my mind — I’m sharing what it actually looked like to self-coach through it in real time. In this Mindful Moment, I walk you through: What my brain offered me during a challenging weekThe temptation to pull back from self-care when life feels overwhelmingHow I distinguish between true rest and avoidanceThe non-negotiables I protect to maintain balanceWhy emotional stress quietly drains your energyThe small, grounded decisions that kept me moving forward instead of spirallingThis isn’t about perfection. It’s about practising what we preach. It’s about leaning into self-care, balance, and structure — especially when it would feel easier to withdraw. If you’ve been tempted to quit on yourself lately, I hope this personal story reminds you that you can learn to self-coach through hard weeks — and come out stronger, steadier, and more grounded on the other side. Let’s Stay Connected: Register your interest for the Wellbeing program HereGet your free Midlife Health & Body Reset Guide: HereFind out more about the Midlife Reset Program: HereJoin the Opt to Thrive mailing list: HereFollow Dr. Corina on Instagram: @drcorinasimsopttothriveConnect on Facebook: Opt to Thrive (Dr Corina Sims)Opt to Thrive official websiteIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and share it with a friend who may enjoy it too.🫶

    16 min
  2. 25 FEB

    Hair Loss & Menopause: Why It Happens and What You Can Do About It

    Send a text Hair loss affects nearly half of women at some point in their lives — and for many of us, it can feel deeply distressing. In this episode of Opt to Thrive, I’m unpacking hair loss in women — especially during midlife and the menopausal transition — and explaining what’s really going on beneath the surface. Because while menopause can absolutely play a role, hair loss is not always “just hormones.” Sometimes it can be a sign that something else is happening in your body — from thyroid dysfunction and iron deficiency to medication effects or other underlying health conditions. In this episode, we cover: • Why hair loss can feel so emotionally impactful (and why that matters) • The red flags that mean you should see your GP • The two most common causes of hair loss in midlife women: – Female Pattern Hair Loss (FPHL) – Telogen Effluvium • How stress, illness, dieting, surgery and psychological distress can trigger shedding • What’s happening in the hair growth cycle • How menopause and declining oestrogen affect hair follicles • Whether menopause hormone therapy (MHT) helps • The difference between micronised progesterone and synthetic progestins • Practical treatment options including minoxidil and when specialist input may be needed We also talk about how to recognise when shedding is temporary — and when it may be progressive — and why getting the diagnosis right matters. Hair loss is not “vain” or trivial. Research shows it can significantly affect confidence, relationships, and even career performance. That’s exactly why it deserves thoughtful, evidence-based discussion. If you’ve noticed thinning, increased shedding, or changes in your hair during midlife, this episode will help you understand what might be happening — and what you can do about it. As always, if something in this episode resonates with you or raises concerns, please speak with your GP. And if there’s a topic you’d love me to cover next, send me a message — I love hearing from you 💛 Let’s Stay Connected: Register your interest for the Wellbeing program HereGet your free Midlife Health & Body Reset Guide: HereFind out more about the Midlife Reset Program: HereJoin the Opt to Thrive mailing list: HereFollow Dr. Corina on Instagram: @drcorinasimsopttothriveConnect on Facebook: Opt to Thrive (Dr Corina Sims)Opt to Thrive official websiteIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and share it with a friend who may enjoy it too.🫶

    28 min
  3. 28 JAN

    What Your Wearable Can And CANNOT Tell You About Your Health

    Send a text Wearables are everywhere — watches, rings, bands — tracking your sleep, recovery, stress, heart rhythm… and making a lot of women wonder: Should I trust this? In this episode, I break down what your tracker can tell you… what it can’t… and the mistakes I see all the time in clinic when people treat the numbers like a diagnosis. You’ll discover: The real reason sleep tracking can look convincing… but still be wrongWhy “deep sleep” is the metric that causes the most confusion (and anxiety)The hidden problem with sleep scores (and why your score can change depending on the app)HRV and “recovery” scores: what they’re trying to measure — and why comparing yours to others is a trapThe atrial fibrillation/irregular rhythm feature that can accidentally freak you out (and a setting you might need to change)When wearable data is a helpful nudge… and when it can actually make sleep worseIf you’ve ever woken up, checked your sleep score, and decided how tired you’re going to feel… this one is for you. 🎧 Hit play and let’s make wearables useful — not stressful. Other helpful episodes mentioned in the show you may be interested in: Episode 7: 8 Top Tips for a Better Night's SleepEpisode 44: The Silent Bone Crisis Affecting Midlife WomenLet’s Stay Connected: Get your free Midlife Health & Body Reset Guide: HereFind out more about the Midlife Reset Program: HereJoin the Opt to Thrive mailing list: HereFollow Dr. Corina on Instagram: @drcorinasimsopttothriveConnect on Facebook: Opt to Thrive (Dr Corina Sims)Opt to Thrive official websiteIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and share it with a friend who may enjoy it too.🫶

    43 min
  4. 14 JAN

    Hot Flushes in Menopause: Why They Happen and What Really Helps

    Send a text Hot flushes are one of the most common — and most disruptive — symptoms of menopause. For some women they’re mild and fleeting. For others, they interfere with sleep, mood, confidence, and quality of life. In this episode of Opt to Thrive, Dr Corina Sims explains why hot flushes happen, what’s actually going on in the brain and body, and what truly helps — separating evidence-based options from myths and misinformation. In this episode, we cover: What hot flushes are and why they feel so intenseHow declining oestrogen disrupts the body’s temperature control systemThe impact of hot flushes on sleep, brain fog, mood, and wellbeingCommon triggers and practical strategies to reduce symptom severityMedical treatment options — hormonal and non-hormonalWhat the evidence really says about “natural” and complementary therapiesWhy some popular treatments don’t work — and may not be safeKey takeaway: Hot flushes are real, common, and treatable. You don’t need to wait, push through, or suffer in silence — and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Let’s Stay Connected: Get your free Midlife Health & Body Reset Guide: HereFind out more about the Midlife Reset Program: HereJoin the Opt to Thrive mailing list: HereFollow Dr. Corina on Instagram: @drcorinasimsopttothriveConnect on Facebook: Opt to Thrive (Dr Corina Sims)Opt to Thrive official websiteIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and share it with a friend who may enjoy it too.🫶

    34 min
5
out of 5
26 Ratings

About

Opt to Thrive is a health and wellness podcast designed to support, educate, inspire, empower and motivate midlife women to live their healthiest, happiest most fulfilled lives. Motivated by her own life experiences and challenging midlife transition, Dr Corina Sims created Opt to Thrive. Dr Sims is a rural GP Obstetrician and Menopause Specialist who has a passion for connecting with and empowering other women to be the best version of themselves. Disappointed with the vast amount of contradictory information targeted at menopausal women, Dr Sims also recognised the gap in medicine that has been identified around the globe in managing women going through it.  Dr Dims strives to bring evidence based information to those who are searching for answers. Listen in every week where on one week you’ll find either a short and sweet episode designed to uplift, inspire and give helpful tips to manage your mind and a longer episode the next created to educate and inform. 

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