Wellness with Serena

Serena

If you’re bloated, stuck, or exhausted from trying to lose weight “the right way,” this podcast is for you. Hi, I’m Serena, a qualified clinical nutritionist helping women around the world find healthy weight balance without restriction. Wellness with Serena is where we ditch dieting, food fear, and extremes, and rebuild health through gut support, nervous system regulation, and a Mediterranean-inspired way of eating and living. Each episode explores the real puzzle pieces behind sustainable fat loss and bloat-free living, from digestion and hormones to stress, sleep, mindset, and lifestyle.

Episodes

  1. Apr 16

    #5 Stop Pushing Through: 7 Ways to Eat Your Way Out of Exhaustion and Overwhelm

    If you are exhausted, overwhelmed, and running on empty, this episode is for you. So many women I work with are doing everything right on paper and still feeling completely depleted. The truth is, fatigue and overwhelm are not just about being busy. They are about what is happening inside your body. Your cortisol, your blood sugar, your sleep, your nutrient levels, all of it is connected. And when you understand why you feel the way you do, you can finally do something about it. As a clinical nutritionist, this is one of the topics I care about most. In this episode I am sharing 7 practical tips, the exact things I would tell a client sitting across from me, to help you stay nourished, feel more like yourself, and stop the cycle of exhaustion for good. In this episode we cover: Why your body is biologically wired to reach for sugar and comfort food when you are stressed The cortisol and fatigue cycle and why women are affected so much more than men The key nutrients that directly fight fatigue including iron, magnesium, omega-3s and B vitamins Why sleep and your food choices are far more connected than most people realise The Good Enough Plate, a simple 5 minute framework for eating well even on your worst days How to batch cook and stock your pantry so hard days are already covered Why self compassion, not willpower, is what actually keeps you on track long term This episode is for the woman who is doing her best and still feeling like it is not enough. You deserve to feel well, especially on the hard days.

    31 min
  2. Mar 26

    #4: I Ate Pasta Every Day in Italy and Lost 3kg - Here's the Science Behind Why

    In this episode, Serena shares her personal experience returning from Italy 3kg lighter, without restriction, and unpacks the science behind why the Mediterranean lifestyle is so powerful for women over 30. We dive deep into the role of cortisol in weight gain, bloating, and water retention; how the Mediterranean diet works through gut health, satiety hormones, and anti-inflammatory fats; and why how you eat and live matters just as much as what you eat. You'll leave with practical, evidence-based takeaways to bring this lifestyle into your everyday Australian life. Key Topics Covered: The cortisol-bloating-weight connection: why stress makes you hold onto fat and fluidHow the Mediterranean diet supports the gut microbiome and reduces bloatingGLP-1 and PYY: your natural satiety hormones and how to activate them with foodThe role of healthy fats in hormone balance for women 30+Why HOW you eat (slowly, socially, mindfully) is as important as WHAT you eatThe Mediterranean lifestyle: walking, gardening, rest, connection, community10 practical takeaways to start today Key Takeaways: Switch to extra virgin olive oil as your primary cooking fatBuild plates around plants + protein + whole grainsEat fish 2x per week (salmon, sardines, mackerel)Include legumes 3+ times per weekSlow down at mealtimes, no screens, sit at a table, chew properlyWalk daily, especially after dinnerAddress your cortisol: protect rest, sleep, and downtimeEat at least one shared, unhurried meal per weekShop seasonal and local when possibleRelease the diet mentality, nourishment over restriction References in Comments.

    45 min
  3. Feb 27

    #3: Low Fat vs Low Carb: The Truth No One Is Explaining Properly

    Low fat vs low carb is one of the most polarising debates in modern nutrition. For decades the narrative has swung between blaming dietary fat and blaming carbohydrates, leaving women stuck in cycles of restriction, hunger and frustration. In this episode, Serena breaks down what the highest quality long term randomised controlled trials actually show about fat loss, appetite regulation and bloating. Key Topics Covered: The real findings from long term low fat vs low carb research Why weight loss differences between the two are often modest How appetite regulation predicts success more than macro ratios The physiology of gastric emptying and why very low fat meals may not keep you full Satiety hormones including GLP 1, peptide YY and cholecystokinin How refined carbohydrates influence glucose dips and hunger rebounds The truth about metabolic advantage claims Why carbohydrates are not classified as essential in strict biochemical terms How moderate lower carbohydrate approaches can improve glycaemic stability The early fluid shift that explains rapid “de bloating” How to apply a Mediterranean framework for metabolic stability Practical Strategies You Can Implement Today: Protein first sequencing to blunt glucose spikes Creating one intentional lower carbohydrate window daily The Mediterranean pause to improve digestion and reduce stress driven bloating. This episode is designed for women who want to slim down, reduce bloating and stabilise their appetite without extreme dieting. Instead of chasing trends or restrictive dieting, Serena explains how to focus on protein adequacy, plant diversity, unsaturated fats and carbohydrate quality in a way that supports long term metabolic health. If you found this episode helpful, make sure you subscribe to Wellness with Serena, leave a review and share it with a friend who needs clarity in the world of nutrition. For more Mediterranean inspired, evidence based education, follow Serena on Instagram.

    22 min

About

If you’re bloated, stuck, or exhausted from trying to lose weight “the right way,” this podcast is for you. Hi, I’m Serena, a qualified clinical nutritionist helping women around the world find healthy weight balance without restriction. Wellness with Serena is where we ditch dieting, food fear, and extremes, and rebuild health through gut support, nervous system regulation, and a Mediterranean-inspired way of eating and living. Each episode explores the real puzzle pieces behind sustainable fat loss and bloat-free living, from digestion and hormones to stress, sleep, mindset, and lifestyle.