47. Fitness, Nutrition and Wellness: A Conversation with Cynthia Conti
“Healthy aging isn’t about looking younger. It’s about developing habits that help you feel good and have the energy to live your life.”
Most of us know someone who seems to defy aging – a friend or relative who is around our age -- but appears many years younger and who radiates vitality and good health. We look at them with a mix of admiration and, perhaps, envy. For Tina and Tara, that person is their sister, Cindy, who is the healthiest person they know. Her natural beauty is enhanced by her healthy habits and active lifestyle. Cindy has always had a passion for organic foods, natural remedies and overall wellness but she also has a Master’s in Kinesiology (exercise science) and currently works as a nurse.
Tara and Tina thought a conversation with Cindy would be perfect to kick off the first Messy Middlescence episode of 2026. In this age of social media, those of us over 50 are inundated with information about “healthy aging”. However, Tina and Tara believe that listening to the fitness and nutrition routines (and how they have changed with age) from someone they trust could motivate both them and others to make changes in their own routines and lifestyles. The goal here is not just about looking youthful; it is about developing habits which make us feel good, support our health and positively impact our energy and overall well-being.
Topics discussed in this episode include:
• Cindy’s background and interests, including her Master’s in Kinesiology and nursing career
• What “Zone 2” training is and why it becomes increasingly important as we age—especially for women
• Why modifying exercise routines to include more strength and weight training (and less high-intensity cardio) can be beneficial
• The unintentional and intentional changes that occur in our diets as we age
• How cosmetic dermatology procedures can support aging skin, including laser treatments such as IPL and BBL
• Cindy’s skincare and exercise routines
• The significant impact of stress on health and the importance of personalized self-care practices
• Why steady, restorative sleep continues to elude many of us in our 50s
• How evolving research continues to challenge long-held beliefs around nutrition and fitness, such as “low-fat” diets and high-intensity exercise.
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[00:23] Christina Donovan: Welcome to Messy Middlescence.
[00:25] This is a podcast where we talk honestly about the changes, challenges, connections and gifts that come with midlife.
[00:33] Nothing too polished, just real conversations that remind us we're not alone.
[00:39] So let's dive in.
[00:42] This is Christina or Tina Conti Donovan, and I am here with my sister, Tara Conti Bansal. Happy New Year.
[00:52] We here on Messy Middlescence have actually been off on a rather lengthy holiday break,
[00:58] but we are excited to start 2026 with a special treat for our listeners today.
[01:06] We're here with our youngest sister, Cynthia or Cindy Conti to discuss fitness, nutrition and beauty routines in middle age.
[01:15] We figured starting the new year is a terrific time to reevaluate our routines and go.
[01:23] So we're very excited to have Cindy with us.
[01:27] If you know Cindy or if you could see her, this is a podcast so if you don't know her, you won't see her. But you would understand why we wanted to speak with her today.
[01:41] Cindy is gorgeous and some of that is genetics and what she was born with. But a big part of her beauty comes from what is inside.
[01:49] She radiates good health and good living and Cindy is definitely the healthiest person we know and she's also our family's authority on all things related to health.
[02:01] We hope she can share some of her routines and information about health, fitness and nutrition and how things change as we age.
[02:09] So welcome Cindy. We're so excited and happy to have you here today.
[02:14] Tara Bansal: Woo hoo. We are.
[02:17] Cynthia Conti: Wow.
[02:18] Cynthia Conti: Thanks for the introduction Tina. I'm.
[02:21] Cynthia Conti: Do you.
[02:22] Christina Donovan: Do you want to start by giving us some background on yourself?
[02:26] Cynthia Conti: Sure, I'd love to. Yeah.
[02:28] Cynthia Conti: I'm very excited to be here and share a little bit about my story and how taking care of myself has shaped my life.
[02:35] I am the middle child of seven.
[02:38] I have three older sisters and three younger brothers and I'd say I fit the classic middle child description pretty well. I've always kind of beat to my own drum and that independence has guided a lot of my life choices.
[02:51] After graduating from college, I followed my boyfriend out to San Diego and that is where I have been.
[02:58] I live on the west coast. I actually now currently in Eugene, Oregon.
[03:03] But when I moved west that was in San Diego is where I was able to really dive into one of my biggest passions, nutrition and holistic health.
[03:12] I worked at Ocean Beach People's Food Cooperative where I became deeply immersed in organic foods, natural remedies and overall wellness.
[03:21] And that experience gave me a strong foundation and appreciation for how food and lifestyle Impacted my health at the same time.
[03:31] Movement has always been a huge part.
[03:33] Cynthia Conti: Of who I am.
[03:34] Cynthia Conti: I grew up as a competitive swimmer and gymnast and have always loved sports and being active.
[03:39] I originally went to school to become a physical therapist,
[03:43] but ended up earning a master's of science degree in kinesiology, which is basically exercise science.
[03:50] And I specialized in biomechanics.
[03:54] My plan was to continue on to a doctorate in physical therapy, but life had other ideas.
[03:59] Instead, I became a researcher and lab manager at UCSF Orthopedic Institute.
[04:08] Eventually, life led me to then Bend, Oregon, where I made a big career shift and earned my nursing degree.
[04:16] I spent five years as a labor and delivery nurse, and more recently,
[04:21] I just have transitioned into being a post anesthesia recovery nurse. And that is in a hospital setting where I do that recovery nursing.
[04:32] So throughout all these phases of my life,
[04:35] one thing has remained constant, and that is the importance of taking care of myself, both inside and out.
[04:41] That value was instilled in me at a young age by my parents, and it's something I've carried on with me ever since.
[04:48] I love exercising, being outdoors in all seasons, and exploring lots of different ways to stay active.
[04:54] Taking care of my whole self physically, mentally and emotionally has always been a priority, and it's something I'm very passionate about to share with others.
[05:05] Christina Donovan: Wow, Cindy, that was a great summary of your background and expertise.
[05:13] So thank you so much for all that info. We're just going to go ahead and jump right in.
[05:19] I mean, what are some of the things you learned as getting your degree in kinesiology that you've applied to. You feel like your workouts or your fitness routines. Is there anything specific?
[05:34] Cynthia Conti: Well.
[05:37] Cynthia Conti: I think when with kinesiology and that that specific degree,
[05:44] you learn how the body moves, you learn body mechanics. And that's what I specialized in. I got my master's in kinesiology and specialized in body mechanics. So learning.
[05:55] Taking the classes at a rigorous level and learning the mechanics of the body,
[06:01] you learn when you do movements and exercise.
[06:04] Specifically,
[06:06] if you're targeting a certain area of the body, how to do that and the. And the importance of doing like it's positioning, I guess, is. Is an easier way maybe to say it.
[06:20] And that is something. I think that's why a lot of people go to trainers, because, you know, a trainer can actually watch somebody and do an actual movement or like a lunge, you know, and if it's how they're lunging, can actually influence if they're.
[06:37] Cynthia Conti: Working their quadricep or their Hamstring or their quad, you know, or. I mean, the glute. Yes.
[06:43] Christina Donovan: The way they're doing it. Yeah. Yeah.
[06:45] Cynthia Conti: And so I think that in itself.
[06:49] Cynthia Conti: In kinesiology, helped me, within my own practice of exercising, how to focus and how to make sure the way I moved when exercising would influence.
[07:02] Cynthia Conti: Influence my movements.
[07:05] Christina Donovan: I mean, what kind of workouts do you do and what. What kind of workouts do you enjoy?
[07:11] Cynthia Conti: Well, I think, you know, I grew.
[07:16] Cynthia Conti: Up doing athletics like I was a.
[07:19] Cynthia Conti: Swimmer and a gymnast.
[07:22] Cynthia Conti: And I think it was just instilled with being so active and loving to move that, you know, after that all ended and I took it upon my own.
[07:34] I just wanted to keep doing things. And it was.
[07:38] I mean, when I lived in San Diego, I was.
[07:41] I was really. I think it's.
[07:43] Cynthia Conti: It reflects where I've lived, I guess.
[07:46] Cynthia Conti: What kind of things I like to do. Because I remember when I was in San Diego,
[07:50] swimming in the ocean and body surfing and surfing were so important to me.
[07:56] Cynthia Conti: And I focused a lot of my.
[07:57] Cynthia Conti: Intention on being active that way.
[08:01] And then as I.
[08:03] Wherever I moved, depending on the weather and what I could do, really influenced my activity.
[08:09] And then once I did get my two dogs, they were a big influence, and I really got into running.
[08:15] So running is my main way of getting exercise. I would say running and walking nowadays.
[08:27] Cynthia Conti: And my dogs were my big influence with that.
[08:30] Cynthia Conti: And mainly be Matt.
[08:32] Cynthia Conti: That mainly started because I could get.
[08:34] Cynthia Conti: My exercise with my dogs and still be able to work and live.
[08:40] Cynthia Conti: Live the life I lived because it would be too hard to separate my exercise with them.
[08:46] Cynthia Conti: But I think something I've always included in any type of exercise or workout program has been weight resistance.
[08:58] Cynthia Conti: And we learned that from our mom, who got us all into the firm.
[09:03] Cynthia Conti: And Tracy long training.
[09:05] Cynthia Conti: And I still do those. Not as much as I'd say I used to.
[09:11] Christina Donovan: I still do them, too.
[09:13] Cynthia Conti: Yeah, I love them. I mean, and I think she.
[09:16] Cynthia Conti: I mean, you. If you actually pay attention to her.
[09:19] Cynthia Conti: Her instruction, and you know what she's saying, and sometimes you've done it too many times,
[09:25] you don't focus on that. And I think that's part of working out is when you work out, it's easy. If you've done it for so long, you kind of go through the motions.
[09:33] But what you really have to do is your intention has to be like when you're doing a lunch, to feel. Feel it where you want to feel it and to, you know.
[09:42] And I think that is something maybe.
[09:43] Cynthia Conti: I also learned in Kinesiology.
[09:45] Cynthia Conti: Is, is you really need to focus when you're. And again I said it earlier, trainers, they're the ones that can really help.
[09:54] Cynthia Conti: You focus your attention on what you're.
[09:56] Cynthia Conti: Doing at that time.
[09:58] But yeah, I lift weights,
[10:01] I do think.
[10:04] But that's like small weights. I don't go to a gym. I do home workouts that incorporate, you know, movement. Like lunges with weights.
[10:13] Tara Bansal: Yeah.
[10:13] Christina Donovan: And can I just interrupt for a second, Cindy,
[10:17] for those of you that aren't familiar with the Firm or Tracy Long, there are videotapes or DVDs that you can do at home with weights.
[10:26] That's what Cindy was talking about and that our mother started.
[10:31] I don't know.
[10:33] Yeah. In the mid-80s,
[10:35] but they're still available and they're a good all around workout.
[10:40] Tara Bansal: And they were one of the first that like really incorporated weights. Yes.
[10:46] Christina Donovan: During the workout training. Yeah, it's supposed to be like a strength training with cardio.
[10:51] Tara Bansal: I mean Cindy, I'd like to hear like what a typical week of.
[10:58] Christina Donovan: Yeah, that's what I.
[10:58] Tara Bansal: Your workouts you do would look like.
[11:03] Cynthia Conti: Oh wow.
[11:05] Christina Donovan: And I get.
[11:06] Tara Bansal: It varies, you know, to some extent.
[11:08] Christina Donovan: Also the ratio of kind of cardio running to like strength training.
[11:14] Cynthia Conti: So interestingly I try to run. So a typical week I will run six, six days.
[11:26] Cynthia Conti: I'll go three run three days day off than run three days.
[11:30] Tara Bansal: And how far do you run and.
[11:31] Cynthia Conti: That, that's, that's what varies. It depends. It depends. I try to. Some days I'll only run three to four miles.
[11:41] Cynthia Conti: So that's like a 30 to 40 minute. And those are the days I will.
[11:45] Cynthia Conti: Do weight training or do like.
[11:48] Cynthia Conti: And that's it. Like sometimes I'll just do push ups and core work with that and other.
[11:53] Cynthia Conti: Time like I'll just do upper body stuff. On another day I'll just do lower body and do like a four, a four mile run.
[12:02] Cynthia Conti: I have changed things over the years.
[12:05] Cynthia Conti: Because of.
[12:08] Cynthia Conti: With our age and what's supposed to help with menopause and all. And one thing that I have learned is it's more important with running because I used to run and would like how fast can I go and, and tried to make it.
[12:22] It was really all about the aerobic aspect of it and pushing,
[12:27] pushing myself to run harder and faster. And I enjoyed it, you know. Um, but now what I've started to more incorporate with my runs is I try to keep in that target the zone 2 target heart zone.
[12:43] Cynthia Conti: So you're actually.
[12:47] Cynthia Conti: It's, it's, it's just scientifically shown that you will burn more fat in that zone. And as we age we are.
[12:53] Christina Donovan: Can you explain what Zone 2 is?
[12:57] Cynthia Conti: Zone 2 training refers to aerobic exercise performed at an intensity of approximately 60 to 70% of your maximum heart rate or pretty much your maximum aerobic capacity. In this zone,
[13:13] the body primarily will use fat as its fuel source rather than carbohydrates.
[13:20] And so what will, what happens is, is like when I was running at my,
[13:28] running as hard or as fast as I wanted to,
[13:31] I was primarily using carbohydrates at that point. And so the whole point of zone tune training is you are intentionally lowering your intensity which reduces the overall stress on your body.
[13:44] And but I can still get cardiovascular benefits from it. And so from a hormonal perspective, exercising in this zone two helps regulate your cortisone levels and promotes recovery rather than triggering a prolonged stress response.
[14:04] Um,
[14:06] this is,
[14:06] I think. Well, we know it's really important during menopause when the body is already dealing with significant hormonal shifts and estrogen.
[14:17] With our decrease in estrogen, we do not have the means to handle.
[14:25] Cynthia Conti: Or.
[14:25] Cynthia Conti: Process the cortisone levels that we used to be able to sort of.
[14:29] Cynthia Conti: So.
[14:31] Cynthia Conti: Exercising in zone 2 actually is not putting as much stress on your body and allowing you to use fat as your main source while exercising. So I guess a practical way to identify zone 2 is by using a heart rate calculations.
[14:57] You will estimate your maximum heart rate by subtracting your age from 220 and then calculating 60 to 70% of that value.
[15:07] So for me,
[15:08] if I take, I would take 220 as my max heart rate minus my age of 54 and that number, I then would take 60 to 70% of that which would be the range for where I would keep my, my heartbeat or my heart rate.
[15:27] So for me it's around approximately 1:25 to 1:35 beats per minute is where I am when I am training in my zone 2.
[15:37] Another sometimes easier way, if you do not have a means to monitor your heart rate,
[15:45] you can also they they this is very common and it's to known to do the talk test which is when you're doing, when you are in your zone two of exercising, you should be able to hold a conversation in full sentences.
[15:58] You can't sing,
[16:02] but you should be able to carry on a conversation. And that indicates that you're at a moderate and you're working at a sustainable effort.
[16:12] So one thing I've noticed by shifting my exercise into Zone 2 training and incorporating that into my runs,
[16:19] I've, I have improved fat metabolism and I notice a better recovery. And I think that's really because I'm not working in that perpetual chronic stress through that high intensity effort.
[16:31] And, and that's something. As we age our bodies, because of our hormonal shifts and you know,
[16:39] moving towards menopause, our, our bodies are not meant to be able to sustain that amount of stress, that chronic stress that we are managing. And that,
[16:49] that me not doing that as much, I've noticed, has helped with me regulating my weight.
[16:55] Tara Bansal: I think it's so interesting that basically you're not supposed to push yourself as hard as you used to and that it helps that you actually burn more fat.
[17:06] Christina Donovan: I find it fascinating too. Like, would you say that,
[17:10] like, for me, when I run, I try to run as fast as I can,
[17:14] you know,
[17:15] and I don't run long distances.
[17:17] So would it be better to maybe take down the intensity and try to increase my distance?
[17:28] Cynthia Conti: Yeah, for sure. Because the longer you're running out of.
[17:31] Christina Donovan: Time, you can do the zone two.
[17:32] Cynthia Conti: Yeah, the zone two. The longer you go, the more that.
[17:37] Christina Donovan: You'Re gonna burn for fat.
[17:38] Cynthia Conti: You're gonna burn. And if that ultimately is what we need to be doing now because we don't have the estrogen levels that we used to have that we could burn fat a lot easier, but we, we don't have like, we like.
[17:53] And so I mean it's, it gets kind of confusing because you think about it as the more we stress our counterintuitive. Yeah, but the more we stress ourselves out because we don't like.
[18:04] So we're doing anything at a high.
[18:07] Cynthia Conti: When you have a high cortisol level.
[18:09] Cynthia Conti: Released in the body,
[18:10] we used to have the estrogen levels that helped us regulate the, our metabolism, help break that and use that fat up. But now we don't have those estrogen levels to be able to utilize that fat correctly.
[18:25] So yeah, we have to now. Oh, don't work so hard. We can't stress your body out as much. And I guess that's just a sign of aging is the body isn't met to handle that much stress for that long.
[18:37] And it's like, oh, we can work at a lower pace and use fat easier now and metabolize it a lot better.
[18:44] Christina Donovan: And you might not be able to answer this, but I mean, is this relatively recent research that has indicated this or found this? I mean, I never really heard this before.
[18:58] Cynthia Conti: Oh, zone two training.
[18:59] Tara Bansal: Yeah.
[19:00] Cynthia Conti: No, I don't know it, no, it's.
[19:03] Christina Donovan: Been, it's been around for a while.
[19:04] Cynthia Conti: It's been around for a while. It's been around for a very long time. Because I think that's part of it too is as athletes, I think we are endurance. Endurance to gain endurance.
[19:15] That's what helps you get like you said even like you can go farther at a hundred and you're. That's kind of heart zone training. Like you can train yourself to go longer and farther and then you might.
[19:26] Cynthia Conti: Even be able to pick up your.
[19:27] Cynthia Conti: Pace at some point. So you're training your heart to work at a lower,
[19:32] at a lower beats per minute. But I do think what is new is that they never paid that much attention to menopause and estrogen levels and how much maybe that had an influence.
[19:44] Tara Bansal: Very interesting. So you run six days a week. And the strength workouts, how often do you do and what different forms does that take?
[19:59] Cynthia Conti: The. Usually I try to do that through three or four depending. And sometimes it, and it can be.
[20:08] Cynthia Conti: If, if I, if I'm not working.
[20:11] Cynthia Conti: I'll do something a little longer.
[20:13] Cynthia Conti: But you know, some days I will.
[20:15] Cynthia Conti: I'll go for a run and then I'll just do push ups and sit ups.
[20:20] Um, and another day I'll go for a run and I, I'll do more of a leg.
[20:27] Cynthia Conti: I'll.
[20:27] Cynthia Conti: I'll like, I'll pick something from a tape that just focuses on legs, you.
[20:32] Cynthia Conti: Know, from Tracy Long.
[20:35] Cynthia Conti: Or I'll just do 20, like the.
[20:36] Cynthia Conti: First 20 minutes of one where I know it's like she has a. The tough tape.
[20:40] Cynthia Conti: That tough tape one where it is.
[20:42] Cynthia Conti: Literally like I'll do, I'll do. You know, it's all just squats and lunges and, and stuff like that. So I will do a day like.
[20:50] Cynthia Conti: That and I try to.
[20:54] Cynthia Conti: Do yeah three or four a week. And I think what I've noticed is.
[21:03] Cynthia Conti: It'S so easy for me just to.
[21:04] Cynthia Conti: Go on a run because I can put on my. For some reason I'd like to get outside. It's. It's a way for me to really just.
[21:13] I don't know.
[21:14] Cynthia Conti: I can listen to music.
[21:15] Tara Bansal: With yourself?
[21:16] Cynthia Conti: Yeah.
[21:16] Cynthia Conti: It's kind of like my happy place. I go to and I think. Cause it can. I feel still connected with my dog because I, my dogs were my really big motivator to do it.
[21:24] So I, I like to do it in that regard. But I noticed obviously we all know as we get older we're losing muscle, that incorporating or doing more weight training is probably better for me because I can still go for walks, you know, and,
[21:40] and I, I struggle with saying, okay, I'm not going to go for a run. I'm going to do the inside weight training kind of work. But I think it's probably better at this point that I do start shifting more to that.
[21:54] Cynthia Conti: And I try.
[21:55] Cynthia Conti: But again, I'll always just gravitate to want to go for a run.
[22:00] Tara Bansal: What time of day do you usually.
[22:01] Cynthia Conti: Work out in the. Well, I like to work out before work.
[22:08] Tara Bansal: Okay.
[22:09] Cynthia Conti: And so I will.
[22:10] Cynthia Conti: That's part of it is I will, I like to. And I will go for a run in the morning.
[22:17] Um,
[22:18] and then that's what I come home from work.
[22:20] Cynthia Conti: And that's why sometimes I'll, I'll just.
[22:21] Cynthia Conti: You know, I'll do the sit ups and push ups, you know, kind of thing when I get off of work.
[22:26] Um, I usually try to get everything done in the morning on my days off.
[22:31] I will.
[22:32] Cynthia Conti: It all depends what my days, what.
[22:34] Cynthia Conti: I've got planned for the day. Sometimes I'll try and I'll take a. Have a lazy morning and do it mid to late, late morning. Especially with the weather.
[22:43] Cynthia Conti: I, you know, it rains a lot.
[22:45] Cynthia Conti: Here in Eugene, so depending on the weather, that sometimes will have an influence on my days off. And I'll try to beat the rain and not have to have to run in the rain or if it's going to get warmer and sunnier.
[22:56] That will also sometimes influence what time I go.
[23:02] Tara Bansal: Do you set goals for yourself or train for anything in particular?
[23:09] Cynthia Conti: No, I don't. No, there's. I don't have any goals with. My goal is just to.
[23:15] I like to run.
[23:17] I guess I'd say my goal is to run three or. Yeah, six times a week is my main goal. And then get in. Yeah, three to four. Incorporate three to four.
[23:26] So that is my goal.
[23:27] Tara Bansal: Okay. Do you struggle with sleep?
[23:34] Cynthia Conti: Yes,
[23:35] I just started to.
[23:37] It's funny. That's why I went to the doctor to discuss my hormone replacement therapy because I do utilize an estrogen patch, an estradiol patch,
[23:49] and it just recently kind of started.
[23:55] So, yes, I do.
[23:57] But it's not so bad. Like,
[23:59] I will wake up and I'll do a little reading and I'm able to fall asleep. I think the hardest part for me is being woken up and falling asleep. So then when I wake up to get up, I just, I'm just extra tired.
[24:12] Like that happened today.
[24:13] Christina Donovan: Yeah.
[24:14] Tara Bansal: And when you're up for a little bit, how long is that for you?
[24:19] Cynthia Conti: Maybe an hour.
[24:21] Cause I Always I get a little nervous that I might be up for too long. So I'll,
[24:27] I'll. I usually just let myself read for 30 minutes and then usually that helps.
[24:33] Okay.
[24:35] Tara Bansal: Has the patch helped at all or you feel like.
[24:39] Cynthia Conti: Well, I, that's what I, I do think that's why I haven't really had much sleep issues. Cause I started the estradiol patch a year ago and I real. I wasn't having any issues.
[24:54] Cynthia Conti: And then.
[24:56] Cynthia Conti: Now I started to. So that's why I think I'm going to go on a. I'm going to go on a higher dose and see if that helps. And if not,
[25:05] I might add progesterone. And if neither of it works, then it'd probably be insomnia.
[25:11] Not related to hormonal issues,
[25:14] just other things. That's what I would going to determine.
[25:18] Christina Donovan: Yeah.
[25:18] Tara Bansal: Do you have any other symptoms or things that.
[25:24] Cynthia Conti: Bother you related to perimenopause and menopause? Yeah, I think one of the. I think it's a symptom. I'd. Almost everybody I know is going through it.
[25:39] Cynthia Conti: I talk to.
[25:40] Cynthia Conti: It is your. The emotional roller coaster. Sometimes I get so.
[25:50] Cynthia Conti: I don't want to say rage but.
[25:51] Cynthia Conti: Like I can easily get so angry at drivers and I'm like, wow.
[26:02] Cynthia Conti: Yeah. So. So I think.
[26:04] Cynthia Conti: And I, you know, I, I do think there's that and then the, you know, the emotional.
[26:08] I think emotionally I, I feel an influence from my hormones kind of being imbalanced or what I'm going through that I can, I sense that as well.
[26:23] I think those are probably the three biggest things. I definitely get brain fog a little bit and again but that kind of comes and goes. That's not so prominent for me.
[26:32] Tara Bansal: Any hot flashes?
[26:34] Cynthia Conti: No.
[26:37] Cynthia Conti: I, I would call em like.
[26:38] Cynthia Conti: Heat waves sometimes, but I, I don't know if, you know,
[26:43] I, I think I caught. That's kind of my way of having a hot flash because I've always usually been so cold and then sometimes out work I'll be like, why am I so hot?
[26:52] You know, like, I don't get like hot flashes, but I'll get warm. I'll feel really warm.
[26:57] Interesting.
[26:58] Cynthia Conti: Yeah, thanks.
[26:59] Tara Bansal: Thank you for sharing.
[27:01] Cynthia Conti: Yeah.
[27:02] Christina Donovan: I mean, have you made any changes to your diet since turning 50, would you say? Or you still pretty much eat the way you always have?
[27:10] Cynthia Conti: No, I definitely made a lot of changes. Not a lot I shouldn't say, but.
[27:15] Cynthia Conti: I made the biggest change.
[27:16] Cynthia Conti: And I think this is another thing that most people are aware of.
[27:20] I. Or I, I think a lot of people are,
[27:23] is how much protein, more protein we need now as we are aging. And so that is something because I never paid attention,
[27:34] ever paid attention. I mean I was actually pretty much a vegetarian majority of my 20s and 30s and didn't even pay attention how.
[27:48] Cynthia Conti: Well what kind of protein I was.
[27:49] Cynthia Conti: Subsidizing without eating meat. So. So I, I mean, I almost feel like maybe I could have been protein deficient at some point in my life, but.
[27:58] But now that is the one thing that I think I've really started to incorporate and, and pay much attention to with what I'm eating is how much protein I'm getting.
[28:08] Tara Bansal: And how do you incorporate that?
[28:12] Cynthia Conti: Yeah, I, I incorporate it mainly,
[28:17] I would say dairy.
[28:20] Dairy and meat and not, I mean I do everything like daily I eat nuts and I do beef yogurt and I do eggs and I'll do, and I do meat.
[28:32] So I mean, but I tried to, I never pay attention to it, but I make sure I have it at every meal. And sometimes the snack will just be boiled, no, like two hard boiled eggs, you know.
[28:42] But I do, I do eat a lot of eggs. I don't do a lot of red meat.
[28:47] I do a lot of chicken and fish is what I use for my,
[28:52] my like, like my protein source.
[28:55] Tara Bansal: And do you ever like track your calories or points or anything like that?
[29:03] Cynthia Conti: No. No.
[29:06] Christina Donovan: Do you feel like you're eating less now that the older you are or do you feel like in terms of the amount you eat is still the same?
[29:17] Cynthia Conti: I feel like the amount I eat.
[29:18] Cynthia Conti: Is still the same.
[29:20] Cynthia Conti: I think what's different is I almost.
[29:24] Cynthia Conti: If I'm going to be brutally honest, I think I used to eat a.
[29:27] Cynthia Conti: Lot of empty calories or a lot more carbs.
[29:30] Cynthia Conti: I guess so I used to eat a lot of carbs. And that's something that's changed too is I've dropped the amount of carbs I'm eating.
[29:38] I love bread and I love pasta, but I don't incorporate, I don't eat as much as I used to.
[29:46] So.
[29:49] Tara Bansal: When you do, does your body react to having a lot of carbs?
[29:55] Cynthia Conti: A little bit. I think I can tell. I can tell my body isn't used to it or might not like it so much.
[30:04] I mean,
[30:05] it's funny, there's that whole thing that, you know, maybe I have a little of a gluten intolerance or you know, maybe because I don't eat it enough.
[30:13] Um,
[30:14] but I also like, I have,
[30:17] I cut out onions and garlic in my diet so when I eat those, I even get a little aggravated from that.
[30:24] Tara Bansal: How come you cut those out?
[30:26] Cynthia Conti: I cut them out just because my. I would feed my dogs what I eat,
[30:31] and dogs can't have it. And so that makes sense. Yeah. Cause I would feed them a lot of my leftovers when I would cook. And so,
[30:40] I mean, I've started to. I.
[30:42] I can do it, but I do feel it's. Sometimes it's. It's a little much for me, or, you know, it's just my sense, my system is sensitive to it.
[30:49] But. Yeah, going back to switching my, like, how much I ate. I think I used to eat a lot of car. A lot more carbs and a lot more empty calories.
[31:00] Where now I feel like I'm not eating as much, but I think it's so much more dense,
[31:04] so I don't.
[31:06] My appetite isn't as. Maybe strong as it was because I was filling myself with a lot more empty calories, if that makes sense. Yeah.
[31:16] Tara Bansal: And that's what they say with the protein. That helps you.
[31:19] Christina Donovan: Yeah.
[31:19] Tara Bansal: Yeah.
[31:22] Cynthia Conti: Do you got. What do you got? Do you guys eat? Have you noticed that you are eating more?
[31:27] Christina Donovan: I feel like I eat a lot less than I used to. I would say in the last 10, 12 years, I definitely eat less than I used to.
[31:37] Cynthia Conti: Do you eat more protein or is that the same?
[31:41] Christina Donovan: I think I'm paying more attention to protein, but I'm not actually sure I'm eating that much more.
[31:48] But I am more careful with carbs like you are.
[31:52] And I've made a conscious effort to really try to not eat processed food,
[31:58] which limits the.
[32:00] What you can eat. You know, I mean, I still eat processed food, but I've tried to really cut down on how much processed food,
[32:07] which has been easier once my children were out of the house.
[32:11] Cynthia Conti: Yeah.
[32:12] Christina Donovan: I'll be honest. If it's not in the house, you can't eat it.
[32:16] Cynthia Conti: Yeah, that's true. Yeah.
[32:19] Tara Bansal: I'd say I'm pretty similar to you, Cindy. I don't feel like I eat less, but I definitely eat a lot less carbs.
[32:26] Cynthia Conti: Carbs, yeah.
[32:28] Tara Bansal: And pay more attention to the protein than I used to.
[32:31] Cynthia Conti: I think that's interesting. I mean, is it something. Because we've all been told about it. Cause it is, you know, is. Or is it.
[32:39] Is it because of our age? Is it. You know, I just wonder.
[32:42] Christina Donovan: I think it's both.
[32:44] Tara Bansal: Yeah. I mean, we grew up. We. I always tell my boy, I mean, we ate a lot of pasta and a lot of.
[32:51] Christina Donovan: But where we Grew up in the 80s. That's what they told you, everybody.
[32:56] Cynthia Conti: Yeah, yeah, it was.
[32:57] Tara Bansal: It wasn't high in fat. It was.
[32:59] Christina Donovan: Yeah, like, you know. No, that was how you want because it's low in cholesterol and fats and, you know, fats were bad when we were young.
[33:11] Cynthia Conti: It's so funny.
[33:12] Cynthia Conti: And, yeah, like, yeah, you weren't supposed to eat. You weren't supposed to have butter. And now butter's like, so good. Things have changed.
[33:22] Christina Donovan: Can you describe your skincare routine?
[33:26] Cynthia Conti: I got turned on to taking care.
[33:27] Cynthia Conti: Of my skin when I was in my late 30s.
[33:33] And coincidentally, I went to a cosmetic dermatologist for the sake of wanting to get laser hair removal.
[33:43] And when I went to see her for the consultation,
[33:46] she talked to me about my skin and she.
[33:50] What. She just told me what she recommended and thought I could really benefit from. So she.
[33:55] Tara Bansal: Were you in Southern California at this time?
[33:57] Cynthia Conti: I was. No, I was in San Francisco. I went to San Francisco. I was living in. I was living in Humboldt, going to. I was living. Okay to going to Humboldt State.
[34:08] But I had a friend that recommended for me to go down for the laser hair.
[34:14] Cynthia Conti: And so when I went and saw.
[34:15] Cynthia Conti: Her, she,
[34:17] this cosmetic dermatologist recommended for my skin care what she thought would be beneficial. And at that time,
[34:28] she immediately said. And I think it's become. Because this was back what this was almost 20 years ago.
[34:35] Cynthia Conti: I mean, it was like 20 or like, I guess it was about 16.
[34:38] Cynthia Conti: Years ago.
[34:41] Cynthia Conti: To everybody need to be.
[34:43] Cynthia Conti: On Retin a once they, you know, once they got into their 30s.
[34:47] And so she put me on Retin a as, you know,
[34:50] as just a skin part of my skincare routine. So I started that in my late 30s.
[35:00] And at that time, too, I. I mean, I lived in San Diego. I had a lot of sun damage.
[35:06] Cynthia Conti: She recommended too, that I start a.
[35:11] Cynthia Conti: Vitamin C on my face and then to do skin to work on my hyperpigmentation,
[35:19] which said that. And the company was Obagi, and they're still pretty popular.
[35:25] They use the hydroquinone,
[35:27] which is the skin bleaching.
[35:29] And so there was this whole route. Yeah, like, I had, like, each bottle. I mean, this was like, bottle, you know, like you went through the different things to put on your face, through the layers.
[35:39] And in the evening I always put Rene on.
[35:42] And that was kind of what started my whole skin care. And from there I've just deviated. And of course, things have changed as I've aged,
[35:54] but I have always. Regularly, I try to see a dermatologist at least once or twice a year to either get a treatment. Like I really am into laser treatments.
[36:12] The non invasive, you know, that you can do laser. And I'm really interested in doing a chemical peel.
[36:17] But I've done the laser treatments on my face.
[36:21] Tara Bansal: And what does the laser treatment do?
[36:23] Cynthia Conti: There's three that I've done.
[36:26] One is the ipl,
[36:30] which is the intense pulse. Is it the intense pulse light.
[36:34] Then there's the vbl which is the broadband light and then there's a V beam.
[36:42] And so the intense pulse and the broadband, they.
[36:46] They are pretty much the same type of laser treatment except the broadband is much. Is a little stronger and goes a little deeper with the laser.
[36:54] Cynthia Conti: And the laser is.
[36:56] Cynthia Conti: Targets the different pigmentation of your skin and helps bring it to the surface to then slough off. So what you end up is with.
[37:05] Cynthia Conti: A much more even skin tone and.
[37:08] Cynthia Conti: Removal of hyperpigmentation,
[37:12] skin damage,
[37:13] rosacea. Like it can get rid of red marks. Like people can have, you know, just red. Any type of discoloration that people get with aging or just being out in the sun.
[37:27] The big thing with the broadband, which is the.
[37:30] Goes a little deeper than the IPL is.
[37:35] It actually is known to have more of an anti aging effect because it can actually stimulate your cells to make more collagen and elastin because it works with gene expression.
[37:57] So it goes in and affects your cells that way to cause your cells to want to make more collagen.
[38:06] So you get firmer and your wrinkles get lighter or are diminished. So and that.
[38:14] But that is one that I don't. I've only do one,
[38:19] usually one in a series. Like they'll. They'll try and promote that. People need three or four. Three or four treatments, you know, and it can be quite. It is expensive,
[38:29] I think. $400 for a treatment.
[38:32] Have you guys ever thought of doing that?
[38:35] Christina Donovan: Only after listening to you.
[38:37] Tara Bansal: I know looking at your skin and.
[38:43] But I have never wanted like I ha.
[38:46] Putting anything on my skin. Like I've never had a facial.
[38:49] It almost like creeps me out of like having anything touch my face.
[38:54] Cynthia Conti: Oh, wow.
[38:55] Tara Bansal: Yeah.
[38:56] Cynthia Conti: That's kind of interesting.
[38:57] Cynthia Conti: So that's kind of. Do you put lotion or do you put moisturizer on your face?
[39:02] Tara Bansal: I do, but it took me till probably I turned 50. Could I force myself to do it every day? Because I hate how it feels so much.
[39:11] Cynthia Conti: Yeah.
[39:12] Cynthia Conti: Wow.
[39:13] Cynthia Conti: But you did retina A. I did.
[39:15] Tara Bansal: Retin A for my bad acne when I was a teenager and when I Went to the dermatologist. She gave me the retin a to start putting on again. I'm.
[39:25] I don't know, I'm too lazy.
[39:28] And now looking at your skin and looking at my skin on the screen, I'm kind of like, oh,
[39:34] I think.
[39:34] Cynthia Conti: You guys are showing that you guys both have. Your skin is. Both looks similar. The same as mine?
[39:42] Tara Bansal: No, not at all. Your skin look very tight,
[39:46] and I'm getting like, dark, like age spots and freckles and stuff and way more wrinkles. Like,
[39:53] I don't feel like you have wrinkles, Cindy.
[39:56] Cynthia Conti: I do, I guess.
[39:58] Christina Donovan: I mean, how do you find a cosmetic dermatologist? Like, are they. They're different from a regular dermatologist?
[40:07] Cynthia Conti: They are, because they specialize in cosmetic cosmetics.
[40:12] So what's interesting too, is back when I first went to one, it was nurses that used to work with the cosmetic,
[40:23] doing the cosmetic procedures.
[40:25] Now nobody wants to pay the price for a nurse. So it's a lot of.
[40:30] So now nowadays you can. It's become very, very popular, I think, even because of the fillers and Botox that most cosmetic dermatologists usually have. Like, they call it a spa because.
[40:48] Or even dermatologists will have.
[40:52] Cynthia Conti: A little in their office.
[40:54] Cynthia Conti: In their office, a sp. Special stuff just to do with. Just to deal with cosmetics. And it's. It's mainly. Estheticians are now trained to do it,
[41:04] to do all those kind of procedures. I think nurses still have to do the fillers and they may have to do the chemical peels.
[41:12] But a lot of the people that do the laser treatments are just like estheticians that have been treated, trained to do that.
[41:23] And even plastic surgeons, I think it's very common for them to now get into the whole skin care realm and treatments.
[41:33] Christina Donovan: Yeah.
[41:35] Cynthia Conti: Tina, do you use.
[41:36] Cynthia Conti: Use a moisturizer? Right.
[41:38] Christina Donovan: I have super dry skin. So for me, it's not even a choice. Like, it's. It's painful if I don't use a moisturizer.
[41:47] Cynthia Conti: Yeah.
[41:48] Christina Donovan: Because my face just. It hurts, like, because it's so dry.
[41:52] Cynthia Conti: What.
[41:53] Tara Bansal: How many different things do you put on your skin, Cindy, now, like, regularly?
[41:58] Cynthia Conti: Well, I wash my face morning and night.
[42:01] Oh, yeah, I, Yeah, I do.
[42:04] And then I put in the morning a vitamin C serum.
[42:09] And so I, I used to do a lot more.
[42:12] And then it depends how I'm feeling. Sometimes I'll put like,
[42:15] another serum.
[42:18] Tara Bansal: To.
[42:19] Cynthia Conti: Help with collagen production. Serum that's different than the vitamin C. And then I just do a light moisturizer in the day.
[42:27] Cynthia Conti: And then in the evening I wash.
[42:29] Cynthia Conti: Oh and I put, I put eye.
[42:32] I put eye cream on under my eyes and around.
[42:35] And then in the evening I do wash my face again.
[42:42] And it depends, I alternate between.
[42:45] I'll use hydroquinone cream or Retina A. So it depends what night I alternate between those two.
[42:56] And then I use a pretty heavy moisturizer with. And then I cream and of course I use, I have to use sun protection too. I put that on top. Someday I.
[43:08] Some days if I know I'm not going outside at all,
[43:11] I'll just do a moisturizer with it and like if I'm working and I know I'm going to be indoors but if I know I'm going to be outside, I will do a light moisturizer and then do one specific.
[43:21] Just like a 50 block that is specific, that's separate on top.
[43:27] I think that's the one thing I hate the most is learning how often you even have to reapply sun protection. And especially because I do like to be outside a lot.
[43:38] I try to be really vigilant and that's. I have a really hard time but I do like I try every two hours I'll reapply, doesn't matter because that's what everybody that I've seen is like.
[43:49] No, you have to reapply.
[43:50] And I get really.
[43:53] It's hard. I don't like that aspect of it.
[43:58] Tara Bansal: What else health wise would you recommend or changes you've made for yourself?
[44:07] Cynthia Conti: I think it's super important with health to incorporate like we know it's mind, body, spirit and,
[44:15] and I think,
[44:18] I don't think we realize or people we are starting to realize how stress on so many levels has such an influence on,
[44:29] on our health.
[44:30] And,
[44:31] and I guess I think that's what's important is to realize what you know, if you,
[44:36] if you are in touch and you know what's stressing you out, what can you do?
[44:40] What kind of self care is going to be right for you? Because it could be completely different what I need than what Tina may like for her self care or what you would like for yourself and knowing truly.
[44:51] But I think it's also that's what's kind of fun.
[44:55] I mean especially as people have more time now as they get older. And I know finances are always tricky but it's important to take care of yourself and it's just finding out what that is that's gonna, you know, that's what is really gonna do that for you.
[45:13] Whatever that is, you Know, like, it's an investment in. Yeah, it really is. I mean, it's investment in your health where.
[45:20] Yeah, you'll. You'll be happier, longer and healthier and be able to do more that you love to do.
[45:27] Like, I do, like I used to.
[45:28] Cynthia Conti: Be, and I still am.
[45:30] Cynthia Conti: I mean, if I could do it all, I would do it all. But I think massage is such a great thing. I mean, I've always been a big.
[45:36] Cynthia Conti: Proponent of that, and right now I'm really.
[45:38] Cynthia Conti: I've switched out of massage, and I'm really into acupuncture, and that's just been really, really wonderful for me.
[45:46] And again, like, it helps me with my stress so much. But I do think finding something and some people could just be even going, you know, if it's going for a run or going for a walk or, you know, knitting.
[45:59] Christina Donovan: Yeah.
[45:59] Cynthia Conti: Yeah. Like, I have a friend that favorite thing in the world to do is knit, you know, and if that's what keeps, you know, it's what helps her with her stress.
[46:07] I mean, I think being a nurse, we are really.
[46:11] It's really ingrained in us that we do have to find something. I think I was already doing that. But nurses really deal with a lot of stress in different ways.
[46:22] And to just be able to figure out how to take care of yourself, because we take care of so many people going through so many things that we can take on a lot of that, that learning how to manage your own stress is really important.
[46:38] So I think that is, I think, something that's super important.
[46:43] I would also say drink water, and you never can drink enough.
[46:47] I mean, I think that's a huge proponent of being healthy and something that I. I strive, really strive hard to do.
[46:56] Because even if I think I've had enough, you can, like, you always need another glass of water. I mean, and I just. I see that you see that everywhere. You see that in patients.
[47:05] Like, we're all. We're almost always all running dehydrated. And I think that has a big influence on how affects your health and your skin. I mean, it's huge proponent to skin health and.
[47:16] But all functions in their body.
[47:19] But again,
[47:21] you want to drink water, and if you exercise a lot, you need to replace your electrolytes or you need to be getting your minerals, because just drinking water itself is not giving you also the minerals that you need for your.
[47:34] For your body.
[47:36] Um,
[47:37] and sleep, I think we all know sleep. Those I would say are like, yeah.
[47:41] Tara Bansal: Sleep'S like the miracle drug.
[47:43] Cynthia Conti: It is. It. I Mean, I don't think I feel.
[47:45] Tara Bansal: Like that's what's been the hardest for me in midlife, is just like, my sleep is terrible.
[47:51] Cynthia Conti: Yeah.
[47:51] Cynthia Conti: Does hormone, the hormone replacement help or.
[47:54] Tara Bansal: No, not really.
[47:56] Cynthia Conti: Yeah. Have you tried anything else? I mean, I'll.
[48:00] Tara Bansal: After a certain number of nights, I'll take a unisom and do that.
[48:04] Cynthia Conti: Does that work?
[48:05] Tara Bansal: It does work, but I don't love how I feel after.
[48:09] Cynthia Conti: Yeah, it makes you feel kind of funny, so. Yeah.
[48:12] Cynthia Conti: Cause no, that's the.
[48:14] Cynthia Conti: What is it? Have you tried Benadryl instead?
[48:17] Tara Bansal: No, I have not tried Benadryl.
[48:19] Cynthia Conti: Tried Benadryl, maybe.
[48:21] Because that's a. I, I, I would try Benadryl. There's 25 milligrams of Benadryl.
[48:26] I would try that.
[48:28] And then if the 25 is too much, cut the tablet, the capsule in half. Yeah.
[48:33] Because I know Benadryl is a really helpful one to sleep.
[48:38] I mean, it's kind of like unison, but it's, it's only.
[48:42] It's just Benadryl, so.
[48:44] Tara Bansal: Yeah. My problem isn't falling asleep, it's staying asleep.
[48:47] Cynthia Conti: Well, but I do, I do think that you would. You might wake up, but you might fall back asleep. Okay. I would, I would try that magnesium.
[48:57] Tara Bansal: Yeah, I've tried that.
[48:58] Cynthia Conti: I didn't do any.
[49:01] Oh, and this is. I mean, you. We could do a whole show. If you want to talk about sugar. I mean, inflammation and sugar, I mean, those are like, that's, you know, that's understandable, too.
[49:11] Nobody. I mean, I think.
[49:13] And that's part of the whole stress. Like,
[49:16] everybody. The more stressed you are, the inflammation you cause in the body. But one thing that is a huge trigger of inflammation is sugar.
[49:25] So the least amount of sugar,
[49:28] it's processed sugar.
[49:30] That is so bad. And I think we're fortunate enough that we didn't grow up around much sugar.
[49:35] I didn't feel like. Don't you. I don't know.
[49:38] Tara Bansal: I love dessert. And that's one thing that's changed for me. I didn't used to like sweets as much as I do now.
[49:45] Cynthia Conti: Yeah.
[49:46] Tara Bansal: And I don't know if that's my diabetes or, like. But I used to not.
[49:50] Cynthia Conti: Oh, it probably is.
[49:51] Tara Bansal: I used to be, like, more. Way more, like, all about salty, and now I like sweet.
[49:57] Cynthia Conti: I feel like it's changed a little for me that I, I didn't, I didn't used to like sweets at all, but.
[50:04] But I feel like I eat sweets and I can feel how yucky it makes me, you know, like, I I. It makes me feel yucky. And that's something I think is super important, is being in tune.
[50:15] You know, when you can eat something and tell how it makes you feel.
[50:18] Tara Bansal: Yeah. Pay attention to your body.
[50:21] Christina Donovan: I think that's a really common thing at our age is people,
[50:25] they.
[50:26] They change what they eat. Not because necessarily. I mean, it's probably better for them, and there's all these benefits, but it's ultimately because of the way it makes them feel.
[50:36] Either it makes them feel awful, or it makes them feel good. And I think that listening to that, I think most people are forced to in some way just because I think it happens more as you get older, but you're more sensitive to things.
[50:50] Cynthia Conti: But I know.
[50:51] Cynthia Conti: And that's what's concerning is, like, most.
[50:53] Cynthia Conti: Of the patients that are in their, like, 70s that I deal with, they're like, yeah, just wait. It gets worse.
[51:01] Cause I'm like, yeah, I can't eat what I used to. Yeah, just wait. It gets worse.
[51:05] Tara Bansal: That's funny. Yeah.
[51:06] Christina Donovan: Well, it's been wonderful to talk to you, Cindy. You have lots of good information and lots of great advice, and I know. I learned a lot.
[51:15] Tara Bansal: Me too. Yeah. What's. Do you have a favorite thing about getting older?
[51:24] Cynthia Conti: Does anybody.
[51:26] Tara Bansal: I don't know how to put it into words, but, like, it's not that I don't care what people think, but I don't care as much as I used to when I was younger what people think and a little bit more secure in, like, myself and just, like, this is who I am and accepting that for me.
[51:50] Cynthia Conti: Yeah.
[51:51] Tara Bansal: And I just, like a little more confidence than I definitely had in my younger days.
[51:56] Cynthia Conti: I say I would agree with all those.
[51:58] Cynthia Conti: I think the big thing for me would be I trust more in myself. And.
[52:03] Cynthia Conti: And I think what I like about.
[52:05] Cynthia Conti: Being older is the deeper connections that you have.
[52:09] Cynthia Conti: Like, I feel like, oh, my gosh.
[52:10] Cynthia Conti: I've had my sisters with me now.
[52:12] Cynthia Conti: For, like, you know, for, like, 50.
[52:14] Cynthia Conti: Years or just even friends that you've had along. Like, you just. The. The relationships you build are so much deeper, and they just get more and more meaningful, I think. I mean, I feel like.
[52:24] I mean, it happens.
[52:26] Cynthia Conti: I think it's.
[52:26] Cynthia Conti: You know, to me, it's like, that's what I kind of like about getting older is, is those relationships just get more and more,
[52:32] you know.
[52:33] Yeah,
[52:35] yeah, yeah. And just the memory. You have more memories and more laugh, you know, and just.
[52:40] I think that I really. I like that about getting older is that. And. And just what you Said, I definitely feel like I don't care so much what anybody thinks anymore, you know, or as much, you know,
[52:53] and I, you know, and I trust myself way more.
[52:57] And I think that's just with, you know, with experience,
[53:00] you know, it's part of.
[53:02] Part of being older and just.
[53:04] Cynthia Conti: Yeah.
[53:04] Cynthia Conti: Knowing. I guess that's trust yourself. Knowing yourself better. Knowing what I want, what I don't want, you know? So what about you, Tina?
[53:14] Christina Donovan: Oh, I think everything you guys said is true. Yeah.
[53:18] Tara Bansal: Anything you would add?
[53:19] Cynthia Conti: No. No.
[53:21] Tara Bansal: I feel like it's a good thing to end on. I love Cindy, how you brought up the relationships, because that's our theme for this season,
[53:28] is around connections and relationships. So I just feel like that's a perfect way to end.
[53:34] Christina Donovan: Way to end.
[53:35] Tara Bansal: Yeah. Yeah. Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom. Like, I don't know, you may get me to try some cosmetic dermatology.
[53:46] Cynthia Conti: You should.
[53:48] Cynthia Conti: I would.
[53:49] Cynthia Conti: I know.
[53:49] Cynthia Conti: I'll help you find somebody. I mean, that's what I think it is. You gotta find the right person. And that's. Honestly, that's. I mean, I shouldn't end it on this note, but you can have somebody that's really good, you know, and it's.
[54:02] It's best always to go. Somebody that's been doing it for a long time than to find somebody that's, you know, they're cheaper, but. Oh, they've only been, you know, they just started.
[54:10] Yeah.
[54:10] Cynthia Conti: They don't have the experience, and I.
[54:12] Cynthia Conti: You know, like that kind of stuff. Experience goes a long way, and it's worth it.
[54:16] Tara Bansal: And that's something that gets better with age, too.
[54:20] Cynthia Conti: That's true. It's very true.
[54:23] Tara Bansal: All right, well, thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Cindy.
[54:25] Christina Donovan: Thank you, Cindy. It was great.
[54:27] Tara Bansal: Yeah. Yeah.
[54:28] Christina Donovan: Thank you, guys.
[54:31] We hope you had as much fun listening to our conversation with our sister Cindy as Tara and I had doing it.
[54:39] Tara and I both learned a lot,
[54:41] and although many of the things that Cindy discussed we had heard of before,
[54:47] it was super helpful to talk about them with Cindy and have her give us background and additional information.
[54:57] Tara and I are both inundated by health and fitness information on social media,
[55:03] but for us, talking to someone we know and trust had way more impact.
[55:09] So our connection challenge this week is to initiate a conversation, preferably with someone you trust,
[55:16] about changes they have made in their diet, fitness, or lifestyle as they have aged.
[55:22] The idea here is to discuss with an actual person versus scrolling Facebook or Instagram,
[55:30] and to actively listen to things that either have or have not worked for them and see if there is any resonance in your own life and maybe perhaps share things that you have done as you have aged that have either had a positive or negative impact.
[55:52] And again,
[55:54] the key here is discussing with an actual person versus watching or listening to someone on a screen.
[56:06] Tara Bansal: Thank you for joining us today on Messy Middlescence. You can always find more about us plus the transcript or show notes at our website,
[56:17] www.messymiddlesence.com.
[56:22] m E S S Y M I D D L E S C e n c e.com and if you liked.
[56:31] Christina Donovan: What you heard, please subscribe or share.
[56:34] Tara Bansal: This episode with a friend. See you next time.
[56:45] Cynthia Conti: Sam.
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Zone 2 Information:
IPL Information:
Tracy Long Fitness DVD’S
https://www.longtrainingstudios.com/dvds/
The Firm DVD’s
The Firm(TM) DVD’s can be bought used on such sites as Amazon and ThiftBooks. Below is a link to one of our favorites:
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We hope you had as much fun listening to our conversation with our sister Cindy as Tara and I had doing it.
Tara and I both learned a lot and although many of the things that Cindy discussed we had heard of before, it was super helpful to talk about them with Cindy and have her give us background and additional information.
Tara and I are both inundated by health and fitness information on social media, but for us, talking to someone we know and trust had way more impact.
So our connection challenge this week is to initiate a conversation, preferably with someone you trust, about changes they have made in their diet, fitness, or lifestyle as they have aged.
The idea here is to discuss with an actual person versus scrolling Facebook or Instagram, and to actively listen to things that either have or have not worked for them and see if there is any resonance in your own life.
You may also want to share things that you have done as you have aged that have either had a positive or negative impact.
And again, the key here is discussing with an actual person versus watching or listening to someone on a screen.
Please let us know what changes you have made to your diet and/or lifestyle that have had a positive impact. We would love to hear from you!