Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone-Dr. Anna Cabeca’s El Camino Experience

When was the last time you really challenged yourself? My guest today is a returning guest, but she's not returning to talk about anything we've covered previously. Not really. She's telling us about a recent challenge. Not recently enough, actually, I might add. I was after her for a long period of time to get her to come in and tell this story. So I am so happy she is finally telling about her journey. To the Camino in Spain. Stay tuned. You're in perimenopause, menopause, or postmenopause, and you're not slowing down, you're just getting started. But the old rules don't apply anymore. The workouts that worked before, they're working against you now. The advice you've been given, incomplete at best. I'm Debra Atkinson, and I'm the founder of Flipping 50, the pioneer in fitness for women in midlife. For more than 40 years, I've been in the trenches with women just like you, and for the last 12, right here on this podcast, and, and the founder of Flipping 50: The Stronger Way app and membership. Welcome to Flipping 50: The Stronger Way, where science meets strength, where you'll find the tools, research, and real talk to build the body and the life you want in your second half. Each week you'll get evidence-based exercise and nutrition strategies, conversations with leading experts, and honest answers to the questions your doctor didn't get answers to in medical school and doesn't have time to answer in an appointment. This is your show. Let's get stronger. There are so many ways that this discussion could have gone, but what we're really doing is just having a girlfriend to girlfriend or girlfriend to girlfriend doctor communication. Just a little chat about her experience because I've not had a chance to actually sit down or stand up, either one, and talk to her about her experience walking the El Camino in Santiago, Spain. And I think you're gonna love this. I've heard other friends talk about their experience, but it's nothing short of Mystical and Magical. And I wanted Dr. Anna to come on and talk a little bit about it. We have touched on this topic very minimally in terms of she knows exercise is so good for her. She does exercise, but she's probably would be the first to admit, by the way, I'm not telling tales out of school, that, you know, there are certain things we know we should do and she doesn't always do. So she enjoys boxing. She is an active woman, but not necessarily strength training quite as much as I'd like her to do on a regular basis. And yet here she did this. And I was like, really? Like, I can't believe that you're doing this, honestly, because it's— I didn't know you were interested. And I want you to understand that you can do something totally out of your usual comfort zone and maybe That is the answer to feeling more alive, more alert, more awake, and more you. My guest is the— welcome back to Dr. Anna Cabeca. She's a bestselling author of The Hormone Fix and Keto Green 16 and Menu Pause. Dr. Anna is a triple board-certified and fellow of gynecology and obstetrics— obstetrics— tripping over my own tongue. Sorry about that. Integrative medicine, and anti-aging and regenerative medicine. She holds special certifications in functional medicine, sexual health, and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. She lectures frequently on these topics and shares the secret behind the ebb and flow of intimacy as she demystifies the fascinating hormonal changes over time. We have had her come on. We've talked about her products as a resource for women with low libido, with painful intercourse, and with pelvic floor issues. You will recognize her, and many of my prior retreat attendees will thank her for bringing them back online and for dipping into their goodie bags for lots of serious support for Hale. For hair, excuse me, for libido, and for lips of all kinds. So in this episode, we're going to talk literally about her experience. It will be the most informal interview that I've ever done with Dr. Anna, but I think that you're going to love it. And stay tuned to the end because I've got a couple questions for you. My favorite doctor in red is in the house, Dr. Anna Cabeca. Hello, hello. Thanks for being here.

Hello, Debra. So good to be with you.

All right, we were talking in the green room and now I'm like, well, I should be mad at you that it's taken this long to do this topic, but you did the Camino walk. And, and if I'm not giving that true justice, let me know. But you did that not last summer but the summer before, and we are here to talk all about it because I've been dying to hear about your experience ever since. But what I really want to know, and maybe describe it first so that everybody listening understands what we are talking about.

Yeah, so the Camino de Santiago, if you haven't heard about it, it's a pilgrimage route. And there are many, there's over 15 different routes. The very classic one is the French route, and I— going through the Pyrenees Mountains. And I did the Portuguese coastal route. I did 100 miles of the Portuguese coastal route, and it was literally transformative. It really is one of the most impactful things that I've done in my And now you can do the full, like depending on all the different routes have different starting points. But I started, you have to walk at least 100 kilometers to get and get stamps, 2 stamps in each city along each town along the way. And in order to get what's called the Compostela de Santiago. So Santiago is for St. James. And in this area in Spain, It's where St. James' bones were buried, and so many miracles, etc., have come there. And so this was a pilgrimage route for— since the Middle Ages, since before the Middle Ages, it's been this pilgrimage route. And, um, it, it's been more made famous by Paulo Coelho's book The Pilgrimage, the movie, Netflix movie The Way, and with Charlie Sheen in it, and so many other— there's really good documentaries on it and other movies on it. But for Catholics specifically, St. James, you know, is one of the original, you know, 12 apostles and very, you know, revered. And so the fact that this was a pilgrimage site, you know, that's part of the journey. But so many people that you meet are doing it for whatever reasons, whatever they are called. And I really say, once you get called to do the Camino de Santiago, You're committed. That's your first step. You've just begun on the walk. And it was, you know, something I thought about in the back of my mind periodically, but then it felt like, you know, I think it was March or April of 2024. And I was like, you know, I'm gonna do the Camino de Santiago and I was gonna do it in July. So I think it was April, 'cause I had May, June to really get ready. And, um, and that was like, oh shoot, you know, here I keep saying I'm going to walk every day, but I'm not walking every day. But I better get walking every day and do that. And, um, and because, you know, you're walking anywhere between 18 to 25 kilometers a day, and, you know, and then you sleep and then you get up and walk again. So you can stay in, um, like hostel type settings, or you can rent a hotel room. I did rent a hotel room on the way and each, each place that I went to.

Okay, good.

Yeah. So I just walked from point A to point B. And so much about this is the journey and the people you meet along the way. And you're walking in silence along the way, your own journey. And, you know, I really wasn't prepared. For everything that I would experience. And it was life, life-changing. It really was life-changing.

Okay, I want you to back up a step. So really, what made you want to do this? Why this and not something else? Was this about like the spiritual thing? Was it the physical thing? Or was it like a doing something alone thing?

Yeah, yeah, all of the above, really. It was a combination of all of the above. I wanted to walk on my own initially. I was going to go with my friend Dr. Angeliki, and, you know, very strong Catholic, and, and she, you know, kept seeding this pilgrimage with me, and then she couldn't go, and I was like, well, you know, okay. And then that was it. And then I kept, kept— it was still in me, and it's like, well, you can go by yourself, that little voice. Well, you get out there and start walking, and you can go, and you can do this. And And I did. And that, it just really pushed me in two ways. Okay, it's a physical challenge. I need to challenge myself as I get older. You know, at that point I'm 58 years old and I'm like, okay, I need to, need to challenge myself. And I was going to be in London the week before for a conference. I was speaking at Global Women's Club. And then I was going to India with my family for our family vacation. My brother was living in India at the time. And so I was like, okay, well, I'll take these days and do the Camino. And then just planned it and committed myself to it. And this is what's really interesting, Debra, because, you know, I do my boxing routine, my workout, but that is not walking in sneakers or whatever, walking shoes, you know, not even, not even 5 miles a day, right? To then commit to 12 miles, you know, a day, essentially. Boy, you know, that would end up sometimes more. That was like, okay, well, what can I really, what can I physically do? And so I challenged myself and I walked around our White Rock Lake, which was a 10-mile walk. It took me maybe 4 hours, but you know, and your legs are sore and you're sweating. It was Texas heat, but it made me realize, you know, this was after I'd warmed up for it, right? Like I'd been walking bits and pieces, maybe an hour once or twice a day. And so I'd really started to warm up to it. And I was like, okay, I can do this. Like, I can do this. Nothing's stopping me. Only mentally would it stop me and say you can't, or you're too old, or you're out of shape, or any of those things. It's like, you know, you do what you can do. And if at any point I have to change plans, I'll change plans, right? And so, but it's interesting, as I asked people, I asked a friend of mine, and he said, you know, you're not trained for it. You can't do that. And by yourself, that could be dangerous. And I asked another friend, and she said, you can do anything you set your mind to do. Just start walking twice a day. Just get out twice a day for walks. Start doing it, and you can absolutely do it. The people you surround yourself with that encourage you, put the wind under your sails, makes all the difference in your life.

That is so true. I'll give you, I'll give you an example, and I think I like to think I am that for our Community members. However, sometimes when you are the doctor or when you are the professional, you forget you still need that too. And so you can get complacent, you can get comfortable, like, like healthy enough or fit enough or active enough. But then you forget you actually may have lowered your bar a little bit and realize, wait a minute, you know, I have lost an edge. And I've recently interviewed someone for a podcast, ironically, and he was same age and he's like done 15 Ironman and he just did one after like a 12-year break, you know. I'm like, I so needed to be around you and I didn't even realize it. Like you, you're thirsty for something you didn't even realize. And so important. Okay. You've answered one question that I had because this I may be asking for a friend who, like I was very curious about, like I like a bed, a bath, a toilet, and a coffee maker. Like these are requirements, said this thinking she's very low maintenance person. So you got all the amenities, am I correct?

So yeah, I mean, typically there are plenty of 1-star, 2-star hotels on the way. There may be more, but like all you need, that all I needed was a clean bed and a shower. I didn't stay in the pensiones or the like hostels. I was like, I need, you know, this is my time away. I need a clean bed and I need a shower. I need that. And so I was, I definitely had that pace. Along the journey. And there are companies that can help you pace the journey too. And so that makes it easy. There's a company called Green Walks Portugal for the Portuguese coastal route. Um, there's other Camino, um, uh, companies that can help really guide you on your journey too, to help support you. And then there's also the luck, because I was traveling, remember, from London to, um, but, you know, to Portugal and then Spain and then to India. So I had, believe it or not, a carry-on and I had just like my day pack and the luggage for €7 would go from point A to point B. And I just carried my day pack, you know, for the, you know, however, 4 to 6 hours, sometimes 8 hours of walking. And yeah, it was really, that was really nice. And I did get some blisters, but not bad. I knew how to take care of them. And believe it, you know, there's the moleskin that you can get, you know, things you got to carry with you. I carried my— I had my Jolva Kiss because people say Vaseline. I'm like, I'm not putting petroleum jelly on my body. And so I used my Jolva Kiss on my heel and toe blister and just wrapped it with the moleskin. It was like, it was better. And so, um, that, that tell you that nice hot shower at the end of the day, great, and the clean bed, that, that, yeah, that sealed the deal. Great. Absolutely.

But it also sounds like— so explain this to me— that it sounds like you had rules. Hey, before we go any further here, it's time to have a little heart-to-heart about muscle. Unfortunately, I'm going to start with the 3 little words that none of us loves to hear. As we age, it gets harder to gain muscle, but most importantly, it gets harder to support our mitochondria. Mitochondria are our energy central, and they produce all of the energy so that we can have the effective contractions from the weight training that we're doing. And look, it's not just about muscle size, and it's not just about discipline and doing the work. We have to have effective energy at the cellular level for the muscle to work efficiently so we can get the results effectively. Introducing Mitopure. Timeline developed Mitopure, a supplement containing urolithin A. Urolithin A supports a cellular process called mitophagy. Mitophagy helps the body remove damaged mitochondria. Think Pac-Man, taking out the ones that are damaged so that the good ones can have room to do their work. It recycles cellular components and supports healthy healthier mitochondrial function overall. The benefits can improve your cellular energy, your muscle strength, your recovery— hello, yes please— and therefore healthy aging. Timeline has spent more than 15 years researching mitochondrial health, invested over $50 million in research, and conducted multiple human clinical trials. One study Participants experienced 12% improvement in muscle strength in 4 months with no change in their exercise habits. So I love this as a missing link for many of you doing the work, putting in the discipline, trying the willpower. But listen, it's not you. You just may need a little personal training friend. I love this, and I love personally the gummies, but it's up to you. Timeline's clinically proven formula is now available at a new lower price. Mitopure now starts at $99 with the exact same science and formula, and my listeners can still get 20% off when you go to timeline.com/Flipping50Show. Like, can you not talk?

You said no, no, you can't. Okay, it's always even like there— I met this group of, they were, um, 10 couples from, um, El Paso, Texas, and they were there with their priest, and they were all walking as part of our marriage and, um, um, retreat, and they were renewing their vows when they got to the Compostela de Santiago, to the cathedral. Oh, and they were going to renew their vows there, and their priest told them at least you know, 1 hour of your day be in silence. Don't be talking with your partner, other people in the group, at least 1 hour. Now I was like, you know, I'm gonna listen to all my podcasts, catch up on all my online courses that I haven't taken. I'm gonna do all that. And I tell you, I didn't listen to anything. I was completely with my thoughts. I was completely in the moment, you know, in the, either in the streets of the town or in the you know, in the country and the rural paths. And I was completely, you know, not interested in listening to anything. And I met some interesting people along the way. But each day you start out on your own journey, you may cross some of the people that you've already met from one location or see them for dinner. I met a couple of women who were there walking, and they were in their early, late 50s, early 60s. And they were from Massachusetts, Boston. So I saw them a couple times, had dinner with them. And so that was really, really nice. You learn like why people are walking. And yeah, it was, you know, that was interesting and fascinating. And yet you're completely individual. And one of the things when I got to the destination, right? So I've been walking, maybe it was, you know, now 8 days and, you know, 9 days. And I got to the cathedral and it was like this experience I didn't expect. I felt overwhelmed. I felt like, you know, okay, you know, this, it was just this immense emotional, like I was crying. I, you know, really felt like just a release, a release of so much. And that to arrive in this destination and to reflect on the beauty of the journey. Like looking back at the journey that got me here. And I think it's so much in my life specifically, I don't look at the journey. I get from one accomplishment to another accomplishment. I don't celebrate them. And you know, you just keep moving on. And this really helped me reflect on, on the journey and how beautiful it was and the magic of it. Now, so many people, like you see some things in their spiritual, and for your audience, you know, I've lost both my parents. I lost my son, you know, they're all in heaven in their spiritual states. And, you know, thinking, well, maybe this will bring them in some way closer to me. You know, you hear like, maybe there'll be a sign or a miracle along the way. And, you know, I think the entire way is its own miracle, the entire journey, gaining confidence in yourself, being alone with your thought, recognizing like, man, I just walked over 100 miles, you know, I was like, this is powerful. And just that it was on my own effort, right? That we really, that really hit me in a profound way. And of course, then the church service and the ceremony and all of that is incredible to be part of and to be with other pilgrims or other people that have just so much faith. Spiritual growth. And then other, you know, we'd see youth groups along the way, and I saw a disabled group along the way. And, you know, it was just, you know, I saw this old couple. I'll never forget them. They were walking in the rain, their backpacks under their rain jackets, so they looked all like hunchback and everything, and silver hair, and, you know, holding— hey, hey, hey, holding— yeah, no, I got it. It looks beautiful, right? I love it. And they're holding hands, and they literally must have been in their 80s. And they're just walking very, very slow, one step after the other. And isn't it what we say? Just take one next right step after the other. But it was so beautiful to see that. And yeah, different sizes, shapes, ages, athletic abilities, and from all over the world. And just realize you're not alone. Mm-hmm. No, while we have our own path, we're not alone.

Did you have any, any reservations about going alone? Were you ever fearful or have trepidation about being alone, traveling alone, or being approached by somebody while you were out there?

No, I didn't have any concerns. No, I listened to a lot of people, um, you know, some podcasts of people that had walked and everything they felt very safe. And I've been to Europe before, I've been to Portugal before, and I know that the way— there are some really remote areas you might be like, okay, I'm here alone. But, um, and I was not at a very popular season, so there wasn't too many. There, like, there was sometimes I didn't see any other pilgrims for most of the day. And so, you know, you really are walking alone, and The only time I got a little nervous when I entered one of the cities really late at night and I was a little disoriented and lost. I wasn't sure where I was going. And so that was the only time. And it was like, go, I was going through this industrial area. Like I didn't see anyone. And, um, but yeah, no, that I was like, yeah, if something was going to happen, it could happen now. No one would find me. And so, um, there was that, there was that instant thought. I just walked a little faster. But, you know, I quickly got out of my, like, what's real versus what's perceived. What do you know to be true right now? Look around you. You're safe. You're confident. You're strong. And just keep going. And so, yeah, I had that experience too.

Yeah, I love that. Okay, so I have to ask, and I hate to ask because it changes the mood a little bit, but it's 2026, or it was 24. So did you have cell reception? Did you use it? Did you need it for the mapping to get to your hotel? Did you take pictures? Did you leave it in your pocket? What, what happened there?

Yeah, yeah, I actually did, um, pictures along the way. So I had my phone, I did some pictures along the way, and at the end of the day I did a video, um, for my family. But, and I, and I then would send it to them. And they're like, you should post this. So I posted each day of my journey along the way on my social media and my YouTube channel. And, um, and there's GPS, but you don't want to follow the GPS on your phone because it's not going to give you the, the Camino de Santiago. It's not going to give you the actual way. You have to look for those, those blue and yellow signs, the blue and yellow signs that tell you you're going in the right direction. And then it'll also give you the kilometers left to Camino de Santiago, depending on the route you're on. So you look, you start getting really careful about not missing those signs because I did miss it once or twice.

So when you were kind of running into people and maybe you'd see them again, so your entry and exit, like at the beginning of the day and the end of the day, I would imagine are different, or is that not true? Yeah, everybody was kind of coming in and off at their own This is their plan, their GPS. Yes. Okay. Okay. So I want to ask this. So I have a good friend, and I think, gosh, it's been probably 15 years ago, Mark LeBlanc, who maybe will listen to this. First met him from National Speakers Association, and he did this for the first time. And then I know he's gone back multiple times because it was that life-changing. And he wrote a book about it, Never Be the Same Again. What for you will never be the same again?

I think one of the things that shifted really is my confidence in my commitments. Like, if I commit to doing something, I'm going to do it and see it through. I have that confidence. I'll do my best ability to do that. So to not sell myself short to trust my inner voice and not be influenced by outside voices. So I would say that. Excuse me. Tseeslik. Tseeslik. Bless you. And I would say too that it is a spiritual experience along the way when you realize like how these towns were developed, you know, the original thinking about the original pilgrims and in faith and, you know, I would say that redirected me back a lot to my faith and to my prayer practice and to my meditations and spiritual practice. So I think that strengthened, that strengthened that. And also, the other piece too is not to expect less of anyone else because again, sizes, shapes, ages, all of that. It's like, okay, encourage others to do the same. Encourage others to reach their dreams, to not sell themselves short. So there's that piece, that piece as well. I, I loved it and I plan to go for my 60th birthday one way or another. Might do horseback because my girls are like, oh, we're not walking, but we'll ride the horse. I'm like, okay, we'll see what we do. And, um, but you know, I, I definitely will do a different you know, maybe the same route or a different route again. And I really want to keep doing it for the rest of my life, honestly. And other pilgrimages like that. And relying on yourself, being out in nature, you're your best mode of transportation, you set your pace. So a lot of those life lessons, I really think go to all areas of our lives. And it's like, you know, at times we want to stay comfortable and Maybe we're getting smaller or more isolated, and I really am committed to not allowing that to happen in my life.

You commented that you kind of did a video at the end of every day. Did you also journal or write?

Oh, absolutely.

Yeah. Is there a book coming?

Oh, I don't know. Maybe, maybe in my next book I'll incorporate certain aspects, but I really, I really did make an effort every night, as exhausted as I might have been, to journal. And to write down my thoughts and, you know, what I had thought about along the way. And yeah, people I met and discussions we had. So yeah, I really— I would make some— I'm going to go back and look at my notes. Yeah, for sure.

What— has it changed anything about your commitment to physical activity since you've been back?

Yeah, I keep walking. I keep walking. Um, definitely not as if I'm training for the Camino, but I'll do some longer walks, couple hour walks, and also changing terrain. Because in my area in Dallas, we got a couple hills, but to really walk up and down stairs or to, you know, reach, you know, to walk up and down mountains and to do challenging terrain, because the next time I go, we'll definitely choose more challenging terrain.

What, what do you think is the most important part? Is it the, the history and the evolution of that particular walk, or is it choosing any challenging kind of reach, physical reach, that, that also is maybe in nature? What's— what do you think was the most impactful?

I think, like, for me, I know that I need a challenge. I need to put something on the calendar and I need to commit to it. So that's where I can fall off. But I would say physically, I've been doing a lot more weight training and functional training. I know, right? About time. I always do my boxing, but really trying to do some more weight training and, um, and to be as fit as I can be so that I can keep doing this, right? And so, and, and whatever other challenge I decide to do, if it's horseback riding for days or whatever it it may be. And, um, and so I think the having something on my calendar that's a challenge that I work towards and then accomplish is hugely rewarding for me and motivating. Like, because you could have told me to walk, you know, just walk every day, and I'm like, yeah, no, let me do my squats, let me do my whatever, but I'm not going to go out and walk. And, you know, it's 100 degrees here in Dallas. But, um, but when I put that on my calendar and I had just a few weeks to get going, I was walking every day, sometimes twice a day, and taking, you know, challenging paths, wearing my weighted vest and really challenging myself and committed to do it. I didn't miss a day of walking. And so that really helped me, you know, with discipline and motivation and then having an accomplishment too. So the definitely, you know, there's a physical challenge to that, For sure.

What's— having not been there, what is it that I haven't asked you that was a surprise? Really? Okay, say more.

So, you know, because you're walking through, you know, European town, you're walking through, uh, um, you know, Spanish towns, Portuguese and then Spanish towns to get the Camino de Santiago, to get to the Compostela de Santiago, which is the cathedral. Like, along the way there's fresh vegetable and fruit stands. There's great restaurants, great wine, great seafood. Again, I was on the Portuguese coastal route, so, and, and I'm half Portuguese, so I was very inclined to eat everything. And it was, um, so that was very, that was amazing too. The food, I remember stopping along one of the stands along the way and getting a tomato and just eating this tomato that was so good, like an heirloom, absolutely an heirloom tomato, and it was just so fresh, so good.

And yeah, and there's something about, number one, I think being outdoors, being active, and just the appreciation for the simplicity of the food and the flavor. And I'm sure it was actually, you know, far greater in micronutrient density than something sitting at the grocery store for weeks. But amazing, amazing. And otherwise, did the blisters then heal, dissipate? You got over them?

Yeah, yeah. You don't even think— like, I didn't even think— I was really fortunate, I tell you that. Gelva Kiss on a blister, it works, it works. And, um, it, it, you know, it really healed very— like, you go to bed sore, but you wake up and you're like, I'm ready to go. And so support, support stockings, leggings, you know, good, um, layers. That's important. A rain jacket. That's important. Um, those are, uh, you know, it was really useful and, and you realize you really don't need a lot. You really do not need to bring a lot. You need to bring your, yourself, your willpower, water bottle for sure, or two. And, but there's always a place that, you know, with, at least for me, at a certain distance I could refill my water. But there's cafes you stop and other pilgrims are there and you have coffee and something. It was really, it was amazing because you see the world come together with a common mission in a way, on a common pilgrimage. And so there's that universality and that compassion and that kindness and the camaraderie. And That was, that was really beautiful to witness.

Amazing.

That was really beautiful to witness. I highly recommend it, Debra. And so many people say, I'll go with you on your next one. I'm like, I really liked going alone.

I was just going to say, yeah, hindsight.

But I'm going to take my girls.

Okay.

Okay.

Yeah.

That was— if you know, if it like always trust, like I said, the Camino is a calling. If there's that voice in you and it's saying, okay. Come walk with me. And there is magic along the way. There are experiences that you have that, you know, like you won't expect— emotions, thoughts, you know, past experiences that will come up that's time to release and let go of. And the thoughts of other people and praying— it's such an emotional and physical journey because imagine your body's exhausted. And so you're moving on your mind in so many aspects. And it's your perspective, you know, where do I see love today? You know, where am I loving? What am I grateful for? And really just keep you moving forward and say, okay, I've got my destination. And then it was almost like, okay, you've reached the cathedral and the experience and you're, you know, you have that amazing, I had this amazing release And then you're like, okay, what next? How do I keep this alive within me? I think it is the spiritual practice, the journey, you know, keeping on my weighted vest walks till I can get out there again and challenging myself for another challenge. Okay, that's one challenge. Now what's your next one? And getting that on the calendar is really important. Yeah, but if you're called to do it, Debra, you got to do it.

Beautiful. I love it. Thank you for sharing that so, so much. Tell everybody where they can find you, and of course we will be watching for the book release or the movie.

Oh my gosh, all right. Oh yeah, you know, and it, it's, it's really, yeah, it's really amazing. And, um, well, I just want to tell, you know, we're in midlife and, and we think we have to define ourselves, but it really, like, what I really recognized on the You know, it's a refinement process. Like every day we're refining, we're redefining, we're challenging ourselves, we're reinventing ourselves, and we're really creating this most extraordinary version of ourselves should we accept the challenge to do so. So yeah, so easy to find me at dranna.com. So D-R-A-N-N-A dot com, D-R-A-N-N-A dot com, and on social media @thegirlfrienddoctor. And so that's where you guys can find me. Me. Definitely, if you're interested in my daily videos, there's a playlist on my YouTube channel at Dr. Anna Cabeca, and it is, um, you'll see the playlist on the Camino. There's, I think, 10 videos. And so, yeah, it was, it was really just snippets of, of the journey, but it was powerful. So, you know, we think about it and we just keep putting one step in front of the other. And growth happens when we do hard things. So keep challenging yourself and you're never too old. So, excellent.

Thank you so much for being here and congratulations.

Oh, thank you. Okay. Let me know when you're going.

Okay. As promised, I'm back and it is after this probably more thought-provoking podcast episode that we've had for a very long time that I think I'm going to ask those questions and I'd love a follow-up from you. Have you, if you were extremely honest about it, been really challenging yourself or are you just playing out a list of shoulds, things that you should be doing but maybe aren't drawn to do or not really motivated to do because there's no real deadline? There's no real final exam coming at the end where you have to check in. What would it be if you put something on your calendar that would excite you? And let me tell you my definition of excite: it makes you excited and a little bit nervous. Then it's a big enough goal to really matter. Every time that I've done a marathon, It's been that every time that I've registered for an iron distance triathlon. It's been that. Maybe I would maybe have to add to the last one or two, I didn't take it all that seriously because I knew that I'd done it and I didn't really have anything to prove. So I may not have been as ready for those latter Ironmans as I was at first. So maybe it is time for me for a different kind of a goal. But what I'd love to is what is it for you? What would you be so proud to say that you've done? And there is no silly answer. There is no wrong answer. So whatever the answer is, if it excites you, it motivates you, and you'd be so proud to have said you'd done it, and the only one you're talking to is in the mirror, what would that thing be? What was that goal? That you feel called or compelled to do that some little voice inside of you says, but can you really? Should you really? Do you really want to do that? What is yours? I'm working on mine over here. You show me yours, I'll show you mine. I'd love to hear from you. You can put it right in comments if you see a post about the podcast on Facebook or Instagram. Or you can DM me behind the scenes in Instagram. I see all of those. The information shared on Flipping 50 the Stronger Way is for educational and informational purposes only and not intended as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or qualified healthcare provider before beginning any exercise program, making changes changes to your diet or adjusting any medications or supplements. Individual results may vary. Debra Atkinson and Flipping 50 are not responsible for any injury or adverse outcomes resulting from information presented on this podcast.