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

Hey friend!    Wow! Can you believe that summer is nearly over? One minute you’re doubling down on spray tans so you’re not looking all pasty-white in your shorts and sundresses…And the next minute, you’re getting a notification on your Starbucks App that Fall drinks are back!    What in the pumpkin latte is going on here?!?   I’m actually getting ready to go on vacation and I can not wait to not...

Hey friend!   Welcome to “Are You There, Midlife? It’s me, Monica.” Today’s episode is part of a special “Hormone Hot Topics” series of the podcast I’m hosting. Every other Thursday, now through the end of summer, I’m bringing you all of the juicy scoop on the perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause topics making the news!… In today’s episode, I’ll sound off on the following stories ripped ri...

Hey friend!    Are you getting ready to go on vacation this month? Me too! 🙋‍♀️   More than 82% of all US adults–or more than 212 million people–are planning to take a vacation this summer. (That’s a lot of luggage, lol!)    But all that travel can be hard on our hormones.   Because when we travel, our sleep, healthy eating, hydration, and regular exercise routine can all go sideways, in turn, im...

Hey friend! Do you suffer from "food guilt"? If you’ve just come back from a summer vacation where you ate, drank, and maybe indulged a little too much…and are now feeling bad about it…you’re not alone. In fact, according to a recent survey of 2,000 men and women in the US, about 1 in 3 people eat food that makes them feel guilty and 39% of women say those guilt feelings can even ruin their day…no...

Hey friend!   Welcome to “Are You There, Midlife? It’s me, Monica.” Hi, I’m Monica and I’m super excited to bring you this week’s episode of “Hormone Hot Topics.” Every other Thursday, now through the end of summer, I’m bringing you the juicy scoop on the perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause stories making the news. In today’s episode, I’ll sound off on the following headlines:   Hormonal...

Hey friend!    Did you know today is officially the halfway point of summer? Yep! 47 days down and 47 days to go of sun, fun, and celebrating. (And by “celebrating,” I mean drinking.)   If you’re a woman in perimenopause or menopause and you feel like drinking this summer is hitting you a little differently, you may be right.   Research shows that hormonal shifts in mid life can affect the way our...

Hey friend!    Have you been “celebrating” a lot this summer? (And by “celebrating” I mean drinking.)   “Celebrating” is synonymous with summer. From commemorating summer holidays like Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Father’s Day, and Labor Day weekend–to celebrating kids graduating from high school and college–to weddings, vacations and so much more.   …Many of us have been in “party” mode for...

Hey friend!   Welcome to “Are You There, Midlife? It’s me, Monica.” Hi, I’m Monica and I’m super excited to bring to you the second episode of a brand NEW summer series of the podcast called, “Hormone Hot Topics.” Every other Thursday, now through the end of summer, I’m going to bring you the juicy scoop on the perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause stories making the news. In today’s episod...

Hey friend!    Have you ever heard of “summertime sadness?” No, not the Lana Del Rey song…although that is a catchy tune!   I’m talking about seasonal depression, irritability, and even anxiety that can occur during the summer…. especially in women with a hormonal imbalance.    Yes! This is a thing! And it affects more of us ladies in perimenopause through post-menopause than you’d think.    So if...

How’s your summer going? Are you getting ready to go on vacation? Or maybe you’re on vacation right now???   Today’s episode was actually inspired by a mini vacay I took to Palm Springs in the spring. It was hot! Not record-breaking 126-degree weather hot like it was over the Fourth of July weekend… But hot enough that I had trouble sleeping.    If you’re in menopause, postmenopause, or even perim...

Hey friend! Welcome to “Are You There, Midlife? It’s me, Monica.” Hi, I’m Monica and I’m super excited to kick off a brand new series of the podcast today called, “Hot Hormone Topics.” Every other Thursday, now through the end of summer, I’m going to bring you the juicy scoop on perimenopause and menopause stories making the news. In today’s episode, I’m sounding off on the following headlines: Sh...

Hey friend! How was your 4th of July? Did you enjoy your four days off?  Whether you took a road trip out of state to visit family or friends, jumped into your RV to go camping at the beach, or flew to the nearest all-inclusive resort for some respite, travel causes a shift in your hormones. Today, I’m continuing my “Hot Flash Summer” podcast series on how to beat the heat and keep your hormones i...

Hey friend, Can you believe summer is officially here?!?  To me, summer means long walks on the beach with my furry rescues, Sadie and Elle Woods. Outdoor barbecues, concerts, and lazy days by the pool. And, of course, summer vacation!!! But if you’re in perimenopause, menopause, or even post-menopause, the changing weather can also cause a shift in your hormones....not to mention a change in your...

Hey friend, Today, I’m super excited to share this bonus episode about weight gain, belly fat, and what to expect in menopause. It’s from a recent discussion I had with Robin Rhine McDonald, host of the Vision Driven Health podcast, for a 6-week series on healthy hormones.  This juicy episode is jam-packed with answers to the questions I get asked most about menopause and hormonal changes…includin...

Hey friend, For the last 6 weeks, I’ve been discussing the 7 most common hormonal imbalances that cause weight gain in perimenopause and beyond. Today, I want to share one last sneaky saboteur of weight loss–especially in women over 40–that has a little to do with hormones and a lot to do with metabolic function. Age-Related Insulin Resistance often occurs in menopause and post-menopause due to so...

Hey friend, Today, I’m concluding my “6 Weeks To Summer” podcast series where I unpack the 7 most common hormonal imbalances in perimenopause and menopause and how they contribute to hormonal weight gain. Are you OVER trying to do “all the things” to lose weight while the scale keeps going up and up...and up? Do you REFUSE to shop for bigger clothes and just want to fit back into your favorite LBD...

Hey friend, Happy National Sex Day!!! Did you celebrate it? In case the date completely slipped your mind (blame it on perimenopause brain fog)...Or, like me, you never knew the day existed (and to be honest, do we really need the extra pressure of a NATIONAL sex day???....) National Sex Day was observed on June 9th to commemorate the importance of sexual intimacy in relationships. But for couples...

Hey friend, Today, I’m continuing my “6 Weeks To Summer” podcast series where I unpack the 7 most common hormonal imbalances in perimenopause and menopause and how they contribute to weight loss resistance. If you’ve never heard of PCOS or thought it was only something that affects women in their 20s or 30s, think again! It is this and other myths about PCOS that have earned it the nickname, “the...

Hey friend, Today, I’m continuing my “6 Weeks To Summer” podcast series where I unpack the 7 most common hormonal imbalances in perimenopause and menopause and how they contribute to weight loss resistance. In today’s episode, I take a deep dive into High Cortisol and Adrenal Fatigue. While many functional medicine practitioners consider adrenal fatigue to be the most common hormonal imbalance for...

"I’ve had a long day. I'm just too tired."  "I'm too stressed out right now. I have so much on my mind." "I need a shower.” I’m feeling bloated.” “Can we just cuddle instead?”   Sound familiar? If your low libido or lack of desire to have sex has started to become a more frequent thing….If your lack of intimacy or connectedness with your husband or partner is impacting the quality of your relation...

Hey friend, Today, I’m continuing my “6 Weeks To Summer” podcast series where I unpack the 7 most common hormonal imbalances in perimenopause and menopause and how they contribute to weight loss resistance. In today’s episode, I’m taking a deep dive into Hypothyroidism. While some studies suggest up to 40% of the population suffers from at least some level of underactive thyroid, women are actuall...

Hey friend, Today, I’m continuing my “6 Weeks To Summer” podcast series where I unpack the 7 most common hormonal imbalances in perimenopause and how they contribute to weight loss resistance. In today’s episode, I’m taking a deep dive into Estrogen Dominance. The most common hormone imbalance in women in perimenopause, Estrogen Dominance affects an estimated half of all women in the U.S. over age...

Hey friend, Can I call you ‘friend”? Cuz I already feel like we’re friends in my head. So just between us…. …How’s your sex life?  No, I mean really….How Is Your Sex Life?  If your answer on a scale of 1-10 is somewhere between 5 and non-existent, girl, you are not alone! On today’s episode, I’m joined once again by my husband, Rick, as we continue our special “Love & Hormones” Spring Series (...

Hey friend, Pop quiz: What comes first: hormonal imbalance or weight gain? According to the latest research, 99% of all weight loss resistance in women can be traced to a hormonal cause. Today, I’m kicking off my “6 Weeks To Summer” podcast series and unpacking the connection between hormones and weight gain in perimenopause. In today’s episode, you’ll learn: How do hormones cause weight gain? Wha...

Hey friend, Summer’s just 6 weeks away! So, in anticipation of sundresses and sleeveless shirt weather, I’m pulling back the curtain on the three biggest mistakes I made trying to balance my hormones and lose hormonal weight.  From lab results to symptom management to calorie restricting and over-exercising, I’m stirring the tea on what NOT to do–along with 3 very important lessons I learned–on th...