Healing Your Metabolism Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All: What Every Woman Needs to Know in Perimenopause
For most of my adult life, I thought healing my metabolism meant doing more.
Eat clean. Cut carbs. Fast longer. Push harder in the gym.
And for a while, it seemed to work. The scale dropped. My jeans fit better. Friends commented on my “discipline.” But inside, I felt anything but healthy.
I was cold all the time.
My energy swung between wired and exhausted.
I woke up at 3 AM almost every night.
And no matter what I ate—or didn’t eat—I couldn’t stop thinking about food.
By the time I hit my 40s, nothing worked anymore. The harder I tried to control my body, the more it resisted.
It wasn’t until I began to understand female physiology in midlife that it all made sense:
Healing your metabolism isn’t the same at every age, and it’s never one-size-fits-all.
Why Perimenopause Changes Everything
Ask any woman in perimenopause if her body feels the same as it did ten years ago, and she’ll likely laugh. Ask a woman in menopause if her body functions the same as it did during perimenopause, and you’ll probably get the same response.
Hormonal changes in midlife affect so much more than our periods. Estrogen and progesterone play critical roles in regulating blood sugar, thyroid function, muscle mass, and even how we handle stress.
When these hormones begin to fluctuate and eventually decline, your body’s needs change too.
Dr. Stacy Sims explains that “women in midlife lose the protective effects of estrogen, making them more susceptible to insulin resistance, slower recovery, and stubborn fat gain—especially around the abdomen.”¹ The strategies that once felt effective—like intermittent fasting or high-intensity workouts—can now raise cortisol levels and worsen symptoms like fatigue and sleep disruption.
Bio-Individuality Matters
What works for one woman may not work for another.
Your best friend might thrive on early morning workouts and a higher-protein diet. Your mom may have navigated menopause with fewer symptoms than you’re experiencing.
Genetics, stress levels, sleep quality, and even past dieting history all influence how your metabolism responds.
One of my favourite quotes is: “Genetics load the gun, but lifestyle pulls the trigger.”
That’s why cookie-cutter programs fail so many women. Healing your metabolism requires tuning in to your body’s cues, making gradual adjustments, and finding what helps you feel stronger, calmer, and more energized.The Hardest (and Most Important) Work
Here’s the tricky part: most of us were never taught to listen to our own bodies.
We’ve been conditioned to hand over authority to outside voices—the latest influencer, the “perfect” meal plan, the medical system—while silencing our own intuition.
But real healing asks us to do the opposite. It requires us to pay attention, to notice how we feel after certain meals, how our bodies respond to stress, how our sleep changes as we adjust habits. It asks us to take responsibility for our health—not in a punishing, “try harder” way, but in a nurturing, supportive way.
This isn’t easy work, but it’s powerful.
What Helped Me Rebuild My Metabolism
In my own journey, I had to unlearn years of “eat less, move more” conditioning.
I started fuelling my body instead of depriving it.
Balanced meals every 3–4 hours to stabilize blood sugar
Protein-rich foods like beef, eggs, and dairy to preserve muscle
Carbohydrates like fruit, potatoes, and sourdough to support thyroid health and energy
Gentle strength training and walking instead of punishing cardio sessions
The result?
More energy. Better sleep. Improved mood. And yes—better body composition without fighting my body every step of the way.
Start With This
If you’re feeling stuck, know this: your body isn’t broken. It’s doing its best to protect you.
Start by building meals with a simple formula: protein + carb + fat + colour.
One of my favourite hormone-supportive snacks right now? 1/2 C of cottage cheese (or yogurt), 1 medium peach (diced), and a drizzle of honey. Simple, delicious, and supportive.
Healing isn’t about perfection. It’s about creating an environment where your body feels safe enough to thrive.
Ready to stop fighting your body and start supporting it? Learn how inside The Nourished Collective —a community for women who want to heal their metabolism and feel strong, vibrant, and confident in midlife.
References
Sims, S. (2022). Next Level: Your Guide to Kicking Ass, Feeling Great, and Crushing Goals Through Menopause and Beyond.