Are You There, Midlife? | Perimenopause, Weight Loss, Fatigue, Brain Fog, Hormone Imbalance, Balance Hormones Naturally

75 | Trying to Lose Weight in Perimenopause? What to Know Before Intermittent Fasting

Still Not Sure What’s Behind Your Hormone Symptoms? Take the first step to balance your hormones naturally with my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Skipping breakfast? Swigging coffee ‘til noon and calling it “intermittent fasting”?

You’re not alone….But that strategy? It might be backfiring.

In fact, if you’re a woman in perimenopause trying to lose weight, your “fast” might actually be spiking your cortisol, crashing your blood sugar, and slowing your metabolism—meanwhile your jeans just keep getting tighter.:<

Here’s the thing: intermittent fasting can be a game-changer for midlife weight loss, insulin resistance, and even hormone balance...but only if your hormones are on board.

Because what helped your bestie drop 15 pounds might be the exact thing causing your sleep issues, sugar cravings, and hormonal weight gain.

In today’s episode, Trying to Lose Weight in Perimenopause? What to Know Before Intermittent Fasting, I’m spilling the tea on intermittent fasting—what it is, what it’s not, and how it can impact your hormones–AND weight loss–after 40.

In this episode, we’ll unpack:

✅ Does intermittent fasting work for women in perimenopause?

✅ What if I’m not hungry in the morning—is that intermittent fasting?

✅ Is skipping breakfast really that bad for hormones?

✅ Does fasting affect my thyroid?

✅ How does fasting impact cortisol and stress levels?

✅ Can intermittent fasting affect sleep?

✅ Why am I gaining weight while intermittent fasting?

If you’ve ever fasted all morning and ended up hangry by 3pm in a pile of shredded cheese—this episode is for you. 🎧
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Episodes Mentioned:

EP 74 | Are You Eating Enough? 3 Ways Eating Less Backfires in Perimenopause: https://pod.fo/e/2d7f66

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Next Steps:

Take the First Step to Balance Your Hormones Naturally With My FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment!: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Tired all the time? Can’t lose weight? Fine one minute…losing it the next? Book a FREE Quick Fit Clarity Call to find out if my Master Your Midlife Hormones program can help you stop the guesswork and feel like “you” again.: https://bit.ly/quickfitcall

Become a Podcast Insider + Subscribe to The Hot Flash–Weekly hormone hacks, recipes, and lifestyle tips—no spam, no fluff, just science (with snacks:.): https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

Email Me: monica@monicalanetopete.com
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*Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. I share the strategies that have worked for me, and you are advised to do your own research and speak to your medical provider for care.

 

74 | Are You Eating Enough? 3 Ways Eating Less Backfires in Perimenopause

Still Not Sure What’s Behind Your Hormone Symptoms? Take the first step to balance your hormones naturally with my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

You’re eating like a bird, but still can’t button your jeans.:<

If skipping snacks, counting macros, or cutting carbs is supposed to help us lose weight…why does it feel like nothing is changing, even when you do?

Here’s the truth: so many of us in midlife are undereating, overstressed, and totally confused why we’re gaining weight on fewer calories than a toddler snack pack.

But weight gain in perimenopause isn’t about willpower—it’s about hormones.

Because once estrogen starts to drop, perimenopause metabolism changes too—and the weight loss playbook that worked in our 20s and 30s no longer does.

In today’s episode, Are You Eating Enough? 3 Ways Eating Less Backfires in Perimenopause, I’m breaking down the connection between hormonal weight gain, blood sugar spikes, and why traditional diet rules are failing women over 40.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✅ How does blood sugar affect weight gain in perimenopause?

✅ Can under-eating lead to weight gain in midlife?

✅ How many calories should a woman over 40 eat to lose weight?

✅ Does eating too little cause weight gain in perimenopause?

✅ What is the connection between insulin resistance and menopause?

✅ Does cortisol contribute to belly fat in midlife women?

✅ How do stress and cortisol levels impact weight gain during menopause?

✅ Do hormonal changes affect appetite after 40?

If you’ve ever said, “But I’m barely eating—why am I gaining weight?”or skipping meals to “save calories” (and ending up face-first in the pantry!)—this episode is for you. 🎧
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Episodes Mentioned:

EP 73 | Can’t Lose Weight? The Truth About GLP-1 for Weight Loss in Perimenopause & Beyond: https://pod.fo/e/2d4b1f

EP 72 | 10 Stupid Things Women Do To Mess Up Our Metabolism in Perimenopause and Menopause: https://pod.fo/e/2d16b2

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Next Steps:

Take the First Step to Balance Your Hormones Naturally With My FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment!: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Tired all the time? Not sleeping through the night? Weight won’t budge? Book a free Quick Fit Clarity Call to find out if my Master Your Midlife Hormones program can help you stop the spiral and feel like you again.: https://bit.ly/quickfitcall

Become a Podcast Insider + Subscribe to The Hot Flash–Weekly hormone hacks, recipes, and lifestyle tips—no spam, no fluff, just science (with snacks:.): https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

Email Me: monica@monicalanetopete.com
—

*Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. I share the strategies that have worked for me, and you are advised to do your own research and speak to your medical provider for care.

73 | Can’t Lose Weight? The Truth About GLP-1 for Weight Loss in Perimenopause & Beyond

Still Not Sure What’s Behind Your Hormone Symptoms? Take the first step to balance your hormones naturally with my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Weight won’t budge? Want to lose 10 (or 20) pounds before summer so you can feel good in your skin again—and without hiding under a caftan. 👀

Enter wonder drug GLP-1—which, according to industry research, is projected to surpass $100 billion by 2030. In fact, prescriptions for Ozempic, Wegovy, and other semaglutide-based meds have exploded in the past two years—and not just among your favorite Real Housewives.

But if you're in perimenopause or menopause and have been contemplating jumping on the injectables bandwagon, GLP-1s may actually do you more harm than good.

In today’s episode, "Can’t Lose Weight? The Truth About GLP-1 for Weight Loss in Perimenopause & Beyond," I’m peeling back the curtain on hormonal weight gain, GLP-1 meds, and what women in midlife need to know before going all in on this ‘miracle shot.’

In this episode, we'll discuss:

✅ Does GLP-1 work for hormonal weight gain—or is it just masking a deeper issue?

✅ The unexpected effects of GLP-1, including the risks no one talks about

✅ What really happens when you stop taking semaglutide for weight loss

✅ Why most women gain weight after stopping GLP-1

✅ How GLP-1 and hormones interact in midlife—and why the risks may hit harder in perimenopause and beyond

If you’ve ever considered trying Ozempic "just for a few months"—this episode is for you. 🎧

Episodes Mentioned:

EP 72 | 10 Stupid Things Women Do To Mess Up Our Metabolism in Perimenopause and Menopause: https://pod.fo/e/2d16b2

EP 15 | Hypothyroidism And Weight Gain: 3 Healthy Hacks To Help Shed Those Extra Pounds: https://pod.fo/e/240c5f

EP 22 | Weight Gain, Belly Fat, and What To Expect In Menopause: https://pod.fo/e/24c740

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Next Steps:

Take the First Step to Balance Your Hormones Naturally With My FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Tired all the time? Not sleeping through the night? Weight won’t budge? Book a free Quick Fit Clarity Call to find out if my Master Your Midlife Hormones program can help you stop the spiral and feel like 'you' again.: https://bit.ly/quickfitcall

Become a Podcast Insider + Subscribe to The Hot Flash–Weekly hormone hacks, recipes, and lifestyle tips—no spam, no fluff, just science (with snacks:.): https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

Email Me: monica@monicalanetopete.com
—

*Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. I share the strategies that have worked for me, and you are advised to do your own research and speak to your medical provider for care.

72 | 10 Stupid Things Women Do To Mess Up Our Metabolism in Perimenopause and Menopause

Still Not Sure What’s Behind Your Hormone Symptoms? Take the first step to balance your hormones naturally with my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

The average woman starts dieting at age 17.

By the time we hit 45, we’ve dieted at least 61 times.

Sixty-one. Diets.

And yet somehow we’re still being told to just “eat less and move more” to lose weight (as if we haven’t been trying that since dial-up internet.) 😜😤

But midlife metabolism isn’t about willpower—it’s about biology.

And after years of dieting, stressing, skipping meals, and surviving on caffeine and car snacks, our bodies are waving the white flag.

In today’s episode, I’m breaking down “10 Stupid Things Women Do To Mess Up Our Metabolism in Perimenopause and Menopause” including the go-to habits we’ve always relied on—but that no longer work in midlife.

In this episode, you will learn:

✔ The connection between undereating and fat storage

✔ Why overdoing cardio can backfire on your hormones

✔ How protein, sleep, and stress impact our ability to burn fat

✔ Why “eating clean” can still mess with your metabolism if you're missing this key nutrient

✔ The #1 exercise mistake women over 40 make when trying to lose weight

If you’ve ever thought, “Wait…am I eating too little?”—this episode is for you. 🎧

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Next Steps:

Take the First Step to Balance Your Hormones Naturally With My FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment!: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Become a Podcast Insider + Subscribe to The Hot Flash–Weekly hormone hacks, recipes, and lifestyle tips—no spam, no fluff, just science (with snacks:.): https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

Master Your Midlife Hormones In Less Than 90 Days. Apply To Work With Me: bit.ly/fixmyhormonesnow

Have a Question About Hormone Balance? Get It Answered On The Podcast: https://www.speakpipe.com/AreYouThereMidlife

Email Me: monica@monicalanetopete.com

*Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. I share the strategies that have worked for me, and you are advised to do your own research and speak to your medical provider for care.

71 | Ask AI: 5 Things ChatGPT Can't Tell You About Balancing Hormones in Perimenopause and Menopause

Still Not Sure What’s Behind Your Hormone Symptoms? Take the first step to balance your hormones naturally with my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

The average woman spends six years searching for relief from hormone symptoms. 

AI can’t speed that up.

Sure, it can plan your vacation, rewrite your resume, and even suggest a pretty good taco recipe.:)

But when it comes to balancing your hormones? That’s way above its pay grade.

Because while ChatGPT can piece together generic hormone-balancing tips from online surveys, TikTok trends, blogs, and whatever else it can scrape from the internet and present as a “tailor-made” solution, it doesn’t understand your health history, your lifestyle, or the root cause of your symptoms.

(And that’s a pretty big problem when you're trying to navigate hormones that can shift daily!)

In today’s episode, I’m breaking down "5 Things ChatGPT Can’t Tell You About Balancing Hormones in Perimenopause and Menopause."

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✔ Why generic advice could be sabotaging your hormone healing

✔ Why your hormones need personalization, not algorithm-sourced solutions

✔ What AI completely misses when it comes to your stress levels and hormone health

✔ Why what worked last year (or even last week) may not be working now (and why that's normal!)

✔ What actually creates lasting hormone balance (hint: it's not a copy-paste wellness plan)

If you’re tired of getting health advice from a robot who has no clue what a hot flash actually feels like, this episode is for you. 🎧

Next Steps:

Take the First Step To Balance Your Hormones With My FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment!: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Become a Podcast Insider + Subscribe to The Hot Flash–Get weekly hormone hacks, recipes, and lifestyle tips—no spam, no fluff, just science (with snacks:.): https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

Master Your Midlife Hormones In Less Than 90 Days. Apply To Work With Me: bit.ly/fixmyhormonesnow

Have a Question About Hormone Balance? Get It Answered On The Podcast: https://www.speakpipe.com/AreYouThereMidlife

Email Me: monica@monicalanetopete.com

*Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. I share the strategies that have worked for me and you are advised to do your own research and speak to your medical provider for care.

70 | Are You Guilty Of This?: The Daily Habit Hijacking Your Hormones In Perimenopause And Menopause

Still Not Sure What’s Behind Your Hormone Symptoms? Take the first step to balance your hormones naturally with my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Become a Podcast Insider + Subscribe to The Hot Flash–Weekly hormone hacks, recipes, and lifestyle tips—no spam, no fluff, just science (with snacks:.): https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

 

We do it every 8 minutes.
(And no, it’s not peeing, although that might also be true.:)

This week, we’re talking about something that might be secretly sabotaging your hormones every single day.

It’s not your diet.
It’s not your wine.
It’s not even your overflowing to-do list.

👉 It’s your screen.
Or more specifically… the scroll.

Because while social media might seem harmless (or even helpful, depending on who you follow), it could be raising your cortisol, tanking your progesterone, and sending your sleep, mood, and metabolisminto a full-blown hormone spiral.

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on how your phone habits may be contributing to hormone imbalance in perimenopause and menopause—and what you can do to interrupt the scroll without hurling your iPhone into a lake.

If your idea of “unplugged” is charging your phone in another room, this episode is for you. 🎧

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Next Steps:

Take the First Step To Balance Your Hormones With My FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment!: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Become a Podcast Insider + Subscribe to The Hot Flash: https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

Master Your Midlife Hormones In Less Than 90 Days. Apply To Work With Me: bit.ly/fixmyhormonesnow

Get Your Question About Hormone Balance Answered On The Podcast: https://www.speakpipe.com/AreYouThereMidlife

Email Me: monica@monicalanetopete.com

*Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. I share the strategies that have worked for me and you are advised to do your own research and speak to your medical provider for care.

69 | Am I Depressed…Or Is It My Hormones? 3 Questions To Ask Before Taking An SSRI in Perimenopause Or Menopause

✨ Take the First Step To Balance Your Hormones Naturally With My FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

 

You’re not crying in traffic because you’re crazy.

You’re not snapping at your family because you’re unstable.

You’re just living in a body that’s shifting—and no one explained what that would feel like.

 

Let’s be honest: Doctors are trained to treat clinical depression.

 

But most were never taught how perimenopause and menopause can impact our mood—or how symptoms of hormone imbalance like sadness, irritability, and emotional overwhelm can overlap with what looks like mental health issues.

 

Maybe you recently saw your GP, and she gave you a prescription for an SSRI without ever talking about your hormones.

Or maybe you’ve been taking an antidepressant for a while and are wondering if it’s actually helping.

 

If you’ve been medicating your mood but not seeing real healing, it’s time for a deeper look.

 

In this episode, you will learn:

✔How hormone changes in midlife can mimic depression (and why your doctor may miss it)

✔ What SSRIs are actually designed to treat—and what they’re not

✔ How symptoms like brain fog, exhaustion, and night sweats are related to emotional health

✔ What no one’s asking in your doctor’s office—but absolutely should

✔ The 3 red flags that your prescription might be masking a hormone imbalance

✔ Why your bloodwork might say “normal” even when everything feels off

✔ The sneaky difference between coping and healing (and how to tell which you’re doing)

✔ What to ask before refilling your SSRI (that your doctor may have missed the first time)

 

Plus, learn how Hormone Symptom Profiling can uncover the hormonal root cause of your emotional symptoms.

 

If you’ve ever said, “I just don’t feel like me anymore” or are wondering why you’re still struggling…even though you’re on an antidepressant…this episode is for you!

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Next Steps:

 

Take the First Step To Balance Your Hormones With My FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment!: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Master Your Midlife Hormones In Less Than 90 Days. Apply To Work With Me: bit.ly/fixmyhormonesnow

Episodes Mentioned:

EP 1 | How Do I Know If I'm In Perimenopause?: https://pod.fo/e/2297e9

EP 40 | Feeling Anxious? The REAL Reason Your SSRI Isn't Working, Plus 5 Tips to Reduce Anxiety Naturally [Perimenopausal Symptoms: From A-Z]: https://pod.fo/e/26f30e

Connect With Me:

 

Never Miss A Single Episode! Become An AYTM Podcast Insider: https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

 

Have a Question About Hormone Balance? Get It Answered On The Podcast: https://www.speakpipe.com/AreYouThereMidlife

 

Email Me: monica@monicalanetopete.com

 

*Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. I share the strategies that have worked for me and you are advised to do your own research and speak to your medical provider for care.

68 | Your 3pm Crash Isn’t Normal—It’s Hormonal: What’s REALLY Zapping Your Energy In Perimenopause and Menopause?

✨ Take the First Step To Balance Your Hormones With My FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Dragging by 3pm—even after a “clean” lunch and your second coffee?

It’s not your schedule.

Or your age.

Or even those 10 pounds that won’t budge.

It’s your hormones.

Even if your doctor says everything looks “normal,” that mid-day crash could be a hormone red flag—one even your labs might be missing.

In today's episode, I’m peeling back the curtain on what’s really going on with your energy in perimenopause and menopause—and what you can actually do to start getting your energy (and your afternoons) back.

In this episode you will learn:

✔ The real reason why you can power through your morning—but then crash like clockwork by afternoon

✔ Why the same snacks that used to give you a boost are now leaving you drained

✔ The hidden connection between midlife inflammation and can’t-keep-your-eyes-open fatigue

✔ Why your blood sugar behaves differently in midlife—and the impact on your energy, mood, and focus

✔ Why more rest isn’t a solution if your hormones are out of sync

If you have a drawer full of energy snacks and a Starbucks order every barista in a 10-mile radius knows by heart, this episode is for you. 🎧

—

Next Steps:

Take the First Step To Balance Your Hormones With My FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment!: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Master Your Midlife Hormones In Less Than 90 Days. Apply To Work With Me: bit.ly/fixmyhormonesnow

Never Miss A Single Episode! Become An AYTM Podcast Insider: https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

Want to Connect? Email Me: monica@monicalanetopete.com

Have a Question About Hormone Balance? Get It Answered On The Podcast: https://www.speakpipe.com/AreYouThereMidlife

*Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. I share the strategies that have worked for me and you are advised to do your own research and speak to your medical provider for care.