Do You Have A Hormone Imbalance? Take my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

One of the biggest mistakes women make in perimenopause is assuming that everything we’re experiencing is “normal.”

But just because these symptoms are common doesn’t mean they’re something you have to live with.

Today, we’re continuing my new series, The Perimenopause Reset,” where we cut through all the misinformation and cookie-cutter advice and focus on what actually works in perimenopause.

In this episode, I’m peeling back the curtain on what’s normal in perimenopause…and what’s not…and six signs that your shifting hormones may actually be a hormone imbalance.

I’ll also address some of your most commonly Googled questions, including:

✅ How do I know if I’m in perimenopause or if something is wrong with my hormones?

✅ What symptoms are normal in perimenopause—and what’s not?

✅ How do I know if my symptoms are stress or hormones?

✅ What does a hormone imbalance feel like in midlife women?

✅ Why do my labs look normal but I still feel awful?

✅ Why can’t I sleep through the night anymore after 40?

✅ Is it normal to feel exhausted all the time in perimenopause?

✅ Why am I gaining weight in my 40s even though I haven’t changed how I eat?

✅ How can I tell which hormone is causing my symptoms?

If you woke up recently feeling like you’re living in someone else’s body, this episode is for you.

—

NEXT STEPS:

Do You Have A Hormone Imbalance? Take my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Become a Podcast Insider + Subscribe to The Hot Flash–Hormone hacks, recipes, and lifestyle tips I don’t share anywhere else!: https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

Tired of Tossing and Turning? Grab my FREE “Better Sleep After 40” Supplement Cheat Sheet: https://monicalanetopete.kit.com/sleepbetter

—

*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.

Do You Have A Hormone Imbalance? Take my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Studies show women spend an average of six years shrugging off perimenopause symptoms before realizing what’s actually going on.

Six. Years.

Now, I’m no mathlete, but that’s six years of wasted time, money, and energy spent second-guessing our bodies… for relief that feels temporary at best.

Today, we’re kicking off my new series, The Perimenopause Reset”— where we cut through the noise and focus on what actually works in perimenopause.

In this episode, I’m peeling back the curtain on the habits, beliefs, and outdated strategies I want every woman in perimenopause to leave behind in 2025 and address your most commonly Googled questions, including:

✅ Why am I gaining weight in perimenopause even though I’m eating less?

✅ Can you have a hormone imbalance even if your blood work is normal?

✅ Why do I have so many symptoms at the same time?

✅ Is too much cardio bad for hormones in perimenopause?

✅ How does caffeine impact your hormones?

✅ Should I be counting macros after 40?

✅ Why can’t I sleep through the night in perimenopause?

If you’re starting the new year more exhausted than motivated, this episode is for you.

— NEXT STEPS:

Do You Have A Hormone Imbalance? Take my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Become a Podcast Insider + Subscribe to The Hot Flash–Hormone hacks, recipes, and lifestyle tips I don’t share anywhere else!: https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

Tired of Tossing and Turning? Grab my FREE “Better Sleep After 40” Supplement Cheat Sheet: https://monicalanetopete.kit.com/sleepbetter

—

*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.

Do You Have A Hormone Imbalance? Take my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Lately, have you noticed your patience disappearing faster than a plate of holiday cookies?

According to The North American Menopause Society, mood swings and emotional volatility are among the top reported symptoms during perimenopause—right behind poor sleep and stubborn weight gain.

Today, we’re continuing my Countdown to the New Year series with a replay of one of the most popular episodes of the year:

“Is Your Anxiety, Overwhelm, or Depression a Hormone Imbalance in Disguise?”

In this episode, I’m peeling back the curtain on three hormone imbalances that commonly masquerade as a mental health issue—and what to ask your doctor before blindly taking an SSRI.

In this episode, we‘ll address your most commonly asked questions, including

✅ Why do I feel anxious for no reason in my 40s?

✅ Can a hormone imbalance cause depression?

✅ Is anxiety in perimenopause normal?

✅ Why do antidepressants stop working in midlife?

✅ What hormones cause mood swings in perimenopause?

✅ What’s the difference between hormonal anxiety and real anxiety?

✅ Why does my doctor say my labs are normal when I feel awful?

If you’ve ever thought, “Maybe it’s not me…maybe it’s my hormones,” this episode is for you.

— NEXT STEPS:

Do You Have A Hormone Imbalance? Take my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Become a Podcast Insider + Subscribe to The Hot Flash–Hormone hacks, recipes, and lifestyle tips I don’t share anywhere else!: https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

Tired of Tossing and Turning? Grab my FREE “Better Sleep After 40” Supplement Cheat Sheet: https://monicalanetopete.kit.com/sleepbetter

—

*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.

Do You Have A Hormone Imbalance? Take my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

If you’ve been popping Advil lately like it's M&M’s just to get through the day, you are not alone!

According to the latest research, nearly 100 million Americans between the ages of 20 and 64 suffer from chronic pain. And, up to 70% of all chronic pain sufferers are women (no surprise there!)

In today’s episode, I’m peeling back the curtain on how perimenopause and menopause can accelerate inflammation in our bodies–plus, the exact 3-step protocol I take my clients through to nourish, detoxify, and optimize their hormones and ease pain naturally.

In this episode, I‘ll address your most commonly Googled questions, including:

✅ Why do my joints hurt more in perimenopause or menopause?

✅ Can a hormone imbalance cause joint pain and body aches?

✅ Why am I suddenly stiff and sore even when I haven’t worked out?

✅ Why does my body hurt even though my labs are “normal”?

✅ What’s the connection between cortisol, inflammation, and chronic pain?

✅ Can low estrogen cause joint pain or arthritis symptoms?

✅ Why does pain flare when I’m stressed, tired, or not sleeping well?

If you’re 1 in 5 of all women suffering from chronic pain, this episode is for you!

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EPISODES MENTIONED: EP 8 | Do Hormone Balancing Supplements Work?: https://pod.fo/e/233fc7

EP 14 | Is Estrogen Dominance Causing Your Hormonal Weight Gain? 3 Quick Tips To Move The Scale: https://pod.fo/e/23e32f

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

EP 17 | The Hidden Cause of Hormonal Weight Gain in Women Over 40: Adrenal Fatigue: https://pod.fo/e/24389

EP 20 | Menopause, Sleeping Problems, and Post Menopausal Weight Gain: Is Low Estrogen to Blame?: https://pod.fo/e/248b3b

EP 36 | Hormone Hot Topics: Got Menopause? Take A Cold Plunge!; The 30-Minute-A-Day Habit That Can Increase Your Life Expectancy; PLUS Actress Jenny Garth Blames Her Arthritis on Perimenopause: https://pod.fo/e/2656cd

—

FREE RESOURCES:

Do You Have A Hormone Imbalance? Take my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Become a Podcast Insider + Subscribe to The Hot Flash–Hormone hacks, recipes, and lifestyle tips I don’t share anywhere else!: https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

Tired of Tossing and Turning? Grab my FREE “Better Sleep After 40” Supplement Cheat Sheet: https://monicalanetopete.kit.com/sleepbetter

—

*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.

Do You Have A Hormone Imbalance? Take my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

What if sugar cravings in perimenopause aren’t about sugar at all?

What if they’re our body’s way of asking for something else—and we’ve just been answering the wrong question?

In today’s episode, I’m peeling back the curtain on what sugar cravings really mean in perimenopause—and how to calm them without cutting carbs.

In this episode, I‘ll address your most commonly Googled questions, including:

✅ Why am I craving sugar so much in perimenopause?

✅ Why do sugar cravings get worse in midlife?

✅ Why do I crave sugar even when I’m not hungry?

✅ How does hormone imbalance contribute to sugar cravings?

✅ Do carbs cause sugar cravings?

✅ Why do cravings get worse when I cut carbs?

✅ How does blood sugar affect sugar cravings?

✅ Can stress cause sugar cravings?

✅ How do I stop sugar cravings without cutting carbs?

If you’re craving sugar even when you’re not hungry (or you’re cutting carbs but still dealing with intense cravings), this episode’s for you.

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EPISODES MENTIONED: 104 | Are Carbs Killing Your Metabolism? The 3 Protein Rules That Fuel Fat Loss in Perimenopause: https://pod.fo/e/35ea0c

105 | The 4 Biggest Metabolism Mistakes You’re Probably Making in Perimenopause (And How to Fix Them):https://pod.fo/e/362da4

— FREE RESOURCES:

Do You Have A Hormone Imbalance? Take my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Become a Podcast Insider + Subscribe to The Hot Flash–Hormone hacks, recipes, and lifestyle tips I don’t share anywhere else!: https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

Tired of Tossing and Turning? Grab my FREE “Better Sleep After 40” Supplement Cheat Sheet: https://monicalanetopete.kit.com/sleepbetter

—

*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.

Do You Have A Hormone Imbalance? Take my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

When did weight loss become a full-time job?!!!

Here’s what no one ever bothered to tell you about weight loss and perimenopause:

Gaining weight in midlife isn’t just about calories. It’s driven by multiple hormonal and biological shifts that change how our bodies store fat, use fuel, and slow down our metabolism.

In today’s episode, I’m breaking down the four biggest metabolism mistakes you’re probably making in perimenopause—and how to start to fix them.

In this episode, I‘ll address your most commonly Googled questions, including:

✅ Why am I gaining weight even though I haven’t changed anything?

✅ Is weight gain during perimenopause hormonal?

✅ Why is it harder to lose weight after 40?

✅ I’m eating less—so why am I still gaining weight?

✅ Why am I not losing weight with intermittent fasting?

✅ How does muscle loss affect metabolism in women?

✅ How often should women over 40 eat to lose weight?

✅ What’s the best exercise for weight loss after 40?

✅ I’m eating more protein—so why is my metabolism still slow?

If your metabolism feels slower than your family volunteering to clean the dishes after Christmas dinner, this episode’s for you.

—

FREE RESOURCES:

Do You Have A Hormone Imbalance? Take my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Become a Podcast Insider + Subscribe to The Hot Flash–Hormone hacks, recipes, and lifestyle tips I don’t share anywhere else!: https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

Tired of Tossing and Turning? Grab my FREE “Better Sleep After 40” Supplement Cheat Sheet: https://monicalanetopete.kit.com/sleepbetter

—

*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.

Do You Have A Hormone Imbalance? Take my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Most midlife women think carbs are the enemy… but the real problem isn’t the carbs—it’s protein (or a lack of it.)

Because once we hit our 40s, those same bagels and banana bread we inhaled in our 20s suddenly hit our metabolism a lot harder once our hormones start to shift.

In today’s episode, I’m breaking down the three simple protein-timing rules that stabilize blood sugar, support your hormones, and get your metabolism working for you again—even in a carb-heavy season.

In this episode, I‘ll address your most commonly Googled questions, including:

✅ Why does my metabolism seem slower in my 40s?

✅ Do carbs slow metabolism?

✅ Why does the scale jump whenever I eat carbs?

✅ Why do I crave carbs so much in perimenopause?

✅ How do I stabilize my blood sugar in perimenopause without giving up carbs?

✅ Why do I crash every afternoon in perimenopause — even when I eat breakfast?

✅ How much protein do midlife women actually need to lose weight?

If every holiday carb you consume seems to go straight to your stomach, this episode’s for you.

— FREE RESOURCES:

Do You Have A Hormone Imbalance? Take my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Become a Podcast Insider + Subscribe to The Hot Flash–Hormone hacks, recipes, and lifestyle tips I don’t share anywhere else!: https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

Tired of Tossing and Turning? Grab my FREE “Better Sleep After 40” Supplement Cheat Sheet: https://monicalanetopete.kit.com/sleepbetter

—

*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.

Do You Have A Hormone Imbalance? Take my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Most midlife women think they’re “managing” their stress… but that’s only because we’ve gotten used to feeling overwhelmed.

The reality?

We’re running on cortisol autopilot—multitasking, under-sleeping, and juggling 47 tabs in our brain—while our hormones are quietly freaking out in the background.

According to the American Psychological Association, more than half of us ages 35 to 55 report chronic stress symptoms like trouble sleeping, unexplained fatigue, brain fog, digestive issues, and yes, even weight gain—even though we don’t feel stressed day to day.

And chronically elevated cortisol has been directly linked to increased abdominal fat, blood sugar swings, and weight that refuses to budge in perimenopause.

In today’s episode, I’m sharing how everyday stress can silently stall weight loss in perimenopause—plus my 10-minute morning reset to calm your cortisol and get the scale moving again.

In this episode, I‘ll address your most commonly asked questions, including:

✅ Why can’t I lose weight in perimenopause even when I’m eating healthy?

✅ How does stress cause weight gain during perimenopause?

✅ Why am I gaining weight even though I don’t feel stressed?

✅ What are signs my cortisol is too high in perimenopause?

✅ What morning habits help reduce cortisol?

✅ How do I know if cortisol is stalling my weight loss?

If you’ve ever wondered why the scale won’t budge—and why nothing you’re doing seems to work—this episode finally connects the dots between stress, cortisol, and stubborn fat.

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“WHAT I WISH I KNEW AT 40” SERIES

101 | The Clean-Eating Trap: 5 Surprising Foods That Can Wreck Your Metabolism in Perimenopause [What I Wish I Knew Series]: https://pod.fo/e/350c50

100 | Perimenopause Weight Gain? The #1 Hormone Imbalance That Makes Losing Weight Feel Impossible [What I Wish I Knew Series]: https://pod.fo/e/34aa7c

99 | What Your Perimenopause Blood Tests Mean—& How to Actually Interpret Them [What I Wish I Knew Series]: https://pod.fo/e/345ce3

98 | When “Normal” Labs Lie: What Doctors Miss About Hormones in Perimenopause & Menopause [What I Wish I Knew Series]: https://pod.fo/e/3419f8

97 | When Anxiety, Anger, or Depression Is a Hormone Imbalance in Disguise [What I Wish I Knew Series]: https://pod.fo/e/33d3f1

96 | 5 Perimenopause Symptoms I Ignored at 40…And Why You Shouldn’t [What I Wish I Knew Series]: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

FREE RESOURCES:

Do You Have A Hormone Imbalance? Take my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment: https://bit.ly/takemyhormonequiz

Become a Podcast Insider + Subscribe to The Hot Flash–Hormone hacks, recipes, and lifestyle tips I don’t share anywhere else!: https://areyoutheremidlife.com/

Tired of Tossing and Turning? Grab my FREE “Better Sleep After 40” Supplement Cheat Sheet: https://monicalanetopete.kit.com/sleepbetter

—

*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.