September 8, 2026 Elegantly Unhinged A Few Inches, Part II: You Can't Just Breathe Through It - Chronic Stress, Belly Fat & Metabolism Episode description What happens when you know exactly how chronic stress affects the body… and then find yourself living it? Four and a half months after a car accident, I thought I was doing all the “right” things: working, parenting, going to PT, exercising when I could, trying to process, trying to regulate—and (usually) looking pretty put together. Then four low-tire-pressure warnings broke me. Turns out, it was never about the damn tires. In Part II of A Few Inches, I’m talking about what chronic stress actually looks like from inside the body—and why you can’t simply breathe your way through a life that is genuinely overwhelming. We’ll talk about how sustained stress can affect sleep, appetite, glucose regulation, digestion, body composition and that frustrating shift toward more belly fat in midlife—especially when perimenopause or menopause is already changing the metabolic landscape. But more importantly: what can we actually do about it? We’re talking consistent meals, protein, fiber, carbohydrates, strength training, walking, recovery, sleep, alcohol, connection and small, portable ways to help your nervous system return to regulation in the middle of real life. Because maybe the question isn’t: What’s wrong with my body? Maybe it’s: How long have I been asking one human body to carry this much? And what would happen if, instead of punishing that body, we started supporting it? In this episode: • Why chronic stress can show up in your weight, gut, sleep and metabolism • The problem with “cortisol belly”—and what’s actually more complicated than Instagram would have you believe • Why midlife can change the way stress shows up in the body • Why regulation requires more than breathing exercises • How food and consistent nourishment support a body under stress • Why movement doesn’t have to mean pushing harder • Why your changing body is information—not a moral failure • What it means to stop trying to get to regulation and instead keep returning to it Nourish. Regulate. Expand. 🎧 Listen now, and if this episode makes you think of another woman who is trying desperately to hold it all together, send it to her. Connect with Rima Rima on Instagram Rima on Facebook Rima on Substack Rima on YouTube Subscribe to our Smart Mouth Nutrition newsletter here. Learn more about my Smart Mouth Nutrition Metabolic Reset program here. For questions, contact: rima@smartmouthnutrition.com Disclaimer This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplements, or health routine. Elegantly Unhinged is a podcast for women who look fine on the outside—but are doing deep, brave, disruptive inner work behind the scenes. Hosted by integrative and functional dietitian-nutritionist Rima Kleiner, this podcast explores midlife, body trust, nervous system health, nourishment, identity shifts and what happens when women stop playing small. New episodes drop weekly. 🎧 Subscribe and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. 💛 Learn more, read the blog and download free resources at Smart Mouth Nutrition.
