You’re *over 40, and at some point in this decade, the first hot flash/night sweat occurs and you wonder if it’s just a fluke. Then, their frequency increases, and before you know it, the other symptoms follow (feminine dryness, irregular periods, mood changes, sleep disturbances, depleted energy, brain fog). Shortly thereafter, when your last period was a year ago or more, your doctor announces to you: you’re in menopause.

Menopause is a natural transition for a woman’s body, in which the ovaries stop producing hormones and releasing eggs. At this point, periods cease and a woman can no longer bear children. Sometimes this transition occurs for other reasons, such as a medically necessary oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries) or due to cancer treatments. Unfortunately with this change, some undesirable effects occur such as an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, weakened bones (osteoporosis), loss of lean body mass (muscle), weight gain, and intimate difficulties.

Initially, many women will just endure these changes. However, once the symptoms become less tolerable, some women will reach out to their ob/gyn doctor or endocrinologist for hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Some women decide against this treatment. Either way, many symptoms often persist… including the weight gain, which can occur whether or not a woman chooses HRT. Fortunately, certain diet and lifestyle changes can truly improve quality of life.

In my practice, I routinely help women through menopausal diet and lifestyle changes. With a little guidance and persistence, weight can be managed, bones can be strengthened, muscle mass can be maintained, and energy levels can be improved. I can help make these “over 50” years into a time when you can really thrive!

If you’re struggling with the changes that menopause is bringing to your body, I’d be happy to help. Just drop me a line and I can schedule you for a consultation.

Thank you for reading. Have a wonderful holiday season, a Happy New Year 2025, and I’ll be publishing more monthly posts come January of next year.

*Some women unfortunately enter menopause earlier than expected, but typically women begin with perimenopause in their 40s. The average age of full menopause is 51.