Menopause, the Talk of the Town. Finding Balance During Midlife
Menopause has quietly become the talk of the town.
Among my girlfriends.
With my clients.
Even in conversations with strangers I’ve just met.
For years, it lived in the shadows, whispered about, dismissed, or endured. But suddenly it’s everywhere. Podcasts. Doctors’ offices. Group texts, late-night conversations over wine.
Menopause is having its overdue moment! And honestly? I’m grateful.
For too long, women’s health symptoms have been brushed aside or misunderstood. Despite how universal menopause is, many physicians have had only minimal training in guiding women through this complex biological transition. Historically, when women reported fatigue, mood swings, brain fog, or strange new symptoms, the response too often implied that the problem lived somewhere in their imagination rather than their body. It's been so dismissive.
Thankfully, that narrative is shifting. Yet, still, menopause today feels a bit like the wild west of wellness.
There is an overwhelming amount of information. Hormones. Supplements. Functional medicine. Lifestyle protocols. Biohacking.
Every week, someone sends me a new “miracle solution.”
But the more I listen, the more I confirm something important:
There is no universal formula for menopause.
Our bodies are far too unique for that.
The Problem I Didn’t Realize My Body Had
For me, the experience looked a little different. I had a partial hysterectomy years ago, which meant I no longer had periods to signal if things were shifting or what stage of “the pause” I might be in.
Still, I’m pretty convinced menopause walked into my life in the spring of 2022, right after my lengthy marriage ended. The stress and grief of that time were enormous, and almost immediately, my body responded. It exploded with all sorts of feelings and symptoms.
Night sweats. Brain fog. Confusion. All the things that arrive when two major life transitions happen at once.
Sometimes it felt like my body and my life were changing in the very same breath.
When the menopause conversation started appearing more frequently in my circles, I noticed something interesting.
Every woman’s story sounded different.
One friend struggled with sleep.
Another with sudden anxiety.
Another with inflammation she couldn’t explain.
Brittle hair.
Dry skin.
Unwarrented frustration.
The common thread wasn’t the symptoms.
It was the feeling of confusion.
Many women said the same thing:
“I knew something was off… but I couldn’t quite explain it.”
And historically, that uncertainty hasn’t always been met with curiosity in medicine.
Women’s symptoms have often been minimized or misunderstood, which leaves many of us learning to become our own researchers, advocates, and translators of our bodies.
It’s exhausting.
But it’s also empowering.
Because once you start paying attention, patterns begin to appear. Patterns matter.
How I Discovered This Product (No Hype)
Honestly, I don’t have a miracle product or hypey solution to hand you here. I’m still figuring it out myself, just like many of you.
Tomorrow I’m meeting with my practitioner to review my blood panels and gut microbiome test so we can build a protocol tailored to what my body actually needs right now. Hormones, peptides. We’ll see where the data leads. Sigh.
Menopause seems to require a bit of patience and a lot of curiosity.
Yes, get curious about you!
One area I do feel confident about is my skin routine. Like menopause, it’s always evolving. What worked a few years ago isn’t necessarily what my skin wants today.
But there are a few daily staples that have earned their place lately, small things that are quietly working for me right now.
Here are some of my current must-haves.
Cleanser
iSClinical Warming Honey Cleanser
Toners
iSClinical Copper Firming Mist
Scrub/Exfoliators/Peels
iSClinical Cleansing Complex Polish
iSClinical Tri-Active Exfoliating Masque
Serums/Balms/Face Oils
Skin Authority Turmeric Brightening Oil
Moisturizers
FHF Facial Mousse w/Peptides & Retinol
SPF
iSClinical Tinted Protect Bronze
Body
How I Updated My Workout Routine
My routines take less than an hour. They always have.
Wake up. Pray. Make my bed. Scrape tongue.
Brew coffee.
Before my Monday–Friday weight training, I drink lots of water and take 5 grams of creatine, amino acids, and about 10 grams of protein. This small shift has made a noticeable difference in my body.
At the gym, my schedule is simple:
Two leg days, three upper-body days (biceps, triceps, chest, back and shoulders) with a mix of core.
I always finish with 12–15 minutes on the treadmill at a slight incline. Two minutes walking, two minutes speed walking, two minutes sprinting, repeated two or three times.
A few minutes in the steam room for face and body lymphatic drainage finished with a deep gua sha sculpting pass to lift and drain the face.
Cold shower to rub up the engine!
Then it’s home for a full protein shake, a power bar I’m currently loving, and Superseed gluten-free toast from LePain Quotidien.
Lunch is usually a big salad with meat and avocado.
Dinner happens before 6 pm, followed by a walk, the simplest way I know to reset, clear my head, and help my body digest.
What Actually Changed Over Time
The changes weren’t dramatic overnight transformations.
And honestly, I wouldn’t trust anything that claimed to be.
Instead, the shifts are gradual.
Sleep feels more settled.
My mood feels more even.
That strange sense of internal chaos many women describe during menopause began to soften.
The biggest surprise?
I feel more like myself again.
Not a new version.
Just a calmer, steadier return to center.
And in midlife, that feeling alone is worth a lot.
Questions People Quietly Wonder About
Is menopause really that different for every woman?
1000%. Hormones, genetics, stress, and lifestyle all influence the experience.
Do I need a functional medicine doctor?
Not necessarily, but many women appreciate practitioners who spend more time exploring patterns and root causes.
All that to say
Menopause isn’t a problem to “fix.”
It’s a transition to understand.
It's a curious welcoming.
And the more we talk about it openly, the more empowered women become to find what works for their body, not someone else’s formula.
You, we are uniquely fabulous! Get curious, advocate for you. Above all, breath and love you!
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