Midlife Advice | Perimenopause, Hormones and Midlife Women’s Health
You're a woman over 40, you're in the thick of perimenopause or menopause, and lately you keep coming back to the same thought: I just don't feel like myself anymore.
You're doing everything right. Showing up for your family, your work, everyone who needs you. But you feel exhausted in a way that sleep doesn't fix. Work feels harder and less fulfilling than it used to. Your relationship feels distant. Your body is changing. You’re overwhelmed with the neverending decisions. And no matter what you do, you just feel off. Disconnected from yourself.
Midlife Advice is the podcast for intelligent midlife women who are ready to stop white-knuckling through life and feel next-level good.
Each week, host Jessica Long brings you honest conversations about navigating perimenopause and menopause, hormones, overwhelm, relationships, confidence, and the identity shift nobody warned you was coming. Not as a patient. Not as a problem to be solved. As a woman who deserves to actually feel GREAT again.
Jessica is a holistic health coach, certified menopause coaching specialist, breathwork facilitator and fellow midlife woman navigating all of this right alongside you.
If you've ever searched:
- "Why am I so exhausted all the time?"
- "Why does work feel so hard lately?"
- "Why do I feel so disconnected from my partner?"
- "Why can't I relax even when I have time?"
- "Why don't I feel like myself anymore?"
- “Is this perimenopause or something else?”
This podcast was made for you.
✨For more midlife musings, follow me on Instagram @midlifeadvicepodcast and @heyjessicalong
💌 Join my email list for personal stories, recipes, favorite products, podcast updates, and early access to my special offers! https://belongwellness.myflodesk.com/g7gzq0mtnl
💛 Ready to actually feel good again? Learn about working with me. https://www.belongwellness.com/
Midlife Advice | Perimenopause, Hormones and Midlife Women’s Health
54: Why Dieting Backfires and Metabolism Is Key in Perimenopause
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Eating less and exercising more does not help with weight gain in perimenopause. It can actually backfire. Here’s what works instead.
In this episode, I talk with registered dietitian and holistic nutritionist Betsy Markle about why traditional dieting stops working in perimenopause and what actually supports metabolism during midlife. We unpack why the old “calories in calories out” advice fails so many women, how fluctuating hormones impact blood sugar, cravings, sleep, and weight gain, and why restriction often makes everything worse.
We also talk about what a metabolism-first approach looks like in this phase of life, including balanced meals, stabilizing blood sugar, reducing stress hormones, and making mindset shifts that feel supportive instead of punishing.
If you’ve noticed new belly fat, stubborn weight gain, low energy, joint pain or intense cravings despite healthy habits, this episode will help you understand what’s going on and how to work with your body instead of against it.
In this episode, we cover:
•Why dieting backfires in perimenopause
•What metabolism actually means in midlife
•How hormones affect blood sugar, cravings, and fat storage
•Why restriction increases stress hormones
•How balanced meals support energy and mood
•When women typically start feeling better
Connect with Betsy: SunshineWellnessInstitute.com | @betsywellness
⭐️ If this episode helped you, please follow the show, leave a 5-star rating, and write a quick review on Apple Podcasts. It helps me bring on more badass guests like Betsy with so much wisdom to share!
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💌 If you’re a midlife woman navigating perimenopause, hormone shifts, personal growth, and just not feeling like yourself, you’ll fit right in to my community. Join my email list where I share personal stories, favorite products, high-protein recipes, book recs and exclusive discounts. I’ll send you my 3 favorite smoothie recipes to get you started!
✨For more midlife advice on perimenopause, hormone health, nervous system regulation, and living with purpose in your 40s and 50s follow me: @midlifeadvicepodcast | @heyjessicalong
⚡️Ready to feel centered, energized, and like yourself again? Learn more about working together at belongwellness.com.