The Pause Life

03/14/2026

I don’t work out to be thin.
I work out as a love letter to my 80-year-old self.
She deserves a strong body, a sharp mind, and a life that feels completely full. And the only way I can give her that is by showing up for her right now. Even on the hard days. Even when I don’t feel like it.
Here’s what I know as a physician: the muscle you build in your 40s and 50s is the muscle that keeps you independent, strong, and vital in your 70s and 80s. Sarcopenia, age-related muscle loss, accelerates through perimenopause and menopause. It is one of the biggest drivers of frailty, falls, metabolic decline, and loss of independence as we age.
Muscle is medicine. Resistance training is not optional. It is one of the most powerful things you can do for your future self right now.
She is counting on you. Show up for her.
What does your movement practice look like right now? Tell me below.

03/13/2026

A single study can influence clinical care for years, especially when complex findings are communicated without context.

On this episode of unPAUSED, I speak with Couric about how interpretation, media amplification, and study design can shape public understanding of women’s health and hormone therapy.

The population studied did not reflect many of the women later affected by the headlines. When results were generalized beyond the data, fear increased, research momentum slowed, and clinical conversations often became more limited than the evidence supported.

This is an example of how translating science into public messaging requires nuance, accuracy, and careful evaluation of who was actually studied and what conclusions can reasonably be drawn.

Understanding context helps patients and clinicians make more informed, individualized decisions about care.

Head to the link in bio to listen to the full episode.

03/12/2026

Presale is LIVE!

Link in bio.

Code: THENEWPERI

Join me for two Live Nation Women events in support of The New Perimenopause!

New York. Los Angeles. I’m coming to you.

03/11/2026

03/10/2026

WHY I CHECK ESTRADIOL LEVELS
Current guidelines say you don't need to check estradiol levels in menopause. I respectfully disagree, and here's why.
The research tells a story that "symptom management" alone does not.
Postmenopausal women with serum estradiol below 5-10 pg/mL have significantly lower bone mineral density and higher fracture risk. Women with levels between 10-25 pg/mL show improved bone density and reduced vertebral fracture. And only women with estradiol at or above 25 pg/mL showed balanced bone formation and resorption markers (Ettinger et al., 1998; Bagur et al., 2004; Rapuri et al., 2004; Jamka et al., 2021).
There is even an optimal range. BMD increases with estradiol up to about 70 pg/mL, after which there is no added benefit (Zhu et al., 2021).
It does not stop at bone. The ELITE trial showed that oral estradiol started within 6 years of menopause significantly slowed carotid artery intima-media thickness progression, a direct marker of atherosclerosis (Hodis et al., 2016). Women with the highest estradiol levels had the lowest prevalence of abdominal aortic calcification (He et al., 2024).
The REPLENISH trial found that higher serum estradiol was significantly associated with lower

03/09/2026

How we consume media directly shapes how we understand health, science, and public policy.

On this episode of unPAUSED, I sit down with Katie Couric ( Couric) to discuss navigating today’s polarized media landscape and why rigorous, thoughtful journalism matters more than ever.

We are living in an era of constant information. Headlines move quickly. Algorithms amplify emotion. Nuance often gets lost. The result can influence how we interpret medical research, public health guidance, and even conversations around women’s health.

Becoming an informed news consumer now requires active engagement. That includes evaluating source credibility, recognizing framing, and seeking balanced perspectives before forming conclusions.

Clear communication and evidence-based reporting are essential to informed decision-making in both healthcare and civic life.

Head to the link in bio to listen to the full episode.

03/06/2026

Media literacy and women’s health are often discussed separately, yet they are closely linked in how information shapes care.

On this week’s episode of unPAUSED, I speak with Katie Couric ( Couric), journalist, author, and founder of Katie Couric Media, whose work has long focused on public understanding of health, science, and policy.

We explore how today’s information environment influences what patients believe, how research findings are interpreted, and why limitations in study design, particularly in women’s health, can carry lasting effects in clinical practice and public perception.

When evidence is incomplete or communication lacks context, it can affect how symptoms are recognized, studied, and treated. Clear reporting and rigorous science both play a role in helping individuals make informed health decisions.

This conversation looks at evidence, interpretation, and the shared responsibility involved in how health information is communicated and understood.

03/05/2026

For many years, much of medical research was designed around male physiology, leaving important gaps in our understanding of women’s health, particularly during midlife and menopause.

As a result, symptoms related to the menopausal transition have historically been underrecognized, under-researched, and often misunderstood in clinical care. That gap is now being addressed through growing research, education, and advocacy focused on improving health outcomes for women in this stage of life.

Advancing care means continuing to build awareness, expand evidence, and ensure women have access to accurate information and appropriate support.

Resources designed to help navigate midlife health are available through the link in bio.

03/05/2026

The Belly G*t Challenge is linked and free.

03/04/2026