05/05/2026
Perimenopause can be shocking.
And confusing.
Our bodies go through so much change — which means our workouts, our nutrition, and our recovery need to change too.
If you are in this season, here are some things to keep in mind...
After 35, your hormones shift. Estrogen drops. Cortisol — your stress hormone — rises. And your body starts holding onto fat, especially around your middle, as a protective response.
Here's what this means for training:
Long cardio sessions spike cortisol(I'm not talking strategically placed HIIT sessions — I mean the chronic, long, steady-state cardio so many of us were told was the answer.) They can make the problem worse.
Strength training 3x a week tells your body it is safe. It builds metabolism, balances hormones, maintains bone density and muscle mass, and makes daily life feel easier.
Eating less and less slows your metabolism. Your body thinks there's a famine.
Eating enough protein — aim for 25-30g per meal — gives your body what it needs to build muscle and burn fat.
Skipping rest days keeps your body in a stress state.
Recovery is part of the program. Sleep, walking, and stress management are not optional extras.
And here's one more thing we don't talk about enough...
We have to adapt our workouts to our own energy levels and hormone fluctuations.
Some days we are ready to lift heavy and push hard. Honor that.
Other days our bodies are asking for something gentler — a lighter session, a walk, intentional rest. Honor THAT too.
Our hormones are constantly shifting. Insulin and glucose regulation, cortisol patterns, sleep disruptions, hot flashes — all of it affects our energy. And our workouts need to respect that.
View this not as weakness but wisdom.
The women I work with — in person in Petoskey and online — stop fighting their bodies and start working with them. And that's when everything changes.