14 things I learned about menopause weight loss in 2024

What I wish I knew 10 years ago.

There are moments—usually at 3:35 in the morning—when I wish I could hop into Mr. Peabody’s time machine and relive or redo a moment from my past.

👶To snuggle and smell my babies fresh from the bath.
🥴To make better choices in high school (about school, beer, and boys).
👵To learn about perimenopause before it started.

Obviously, there is no time machine, and I can’t change the past. BUT I can help you change your future by sharing everything I’ve learned about my post-menopause body and brain.

In 2022, I was told that I was officially post-menopausal and, apparently, had been in perimenopause for nearly a decade. In hindsight, it all makes sense, but the 43-year-old me could have used a primer because back then, I thought I was going mad.

I had lost so much hair that my stylist suggested I stop brushing it and use a comb once a day instead. The scale shot up 13 pounds in under a year, and my anxiety was through the roof.

But the most alarming thing was that I didn’t feel like myself. I felt hollow and disconnected. My vibrance and energy were gone.

For several years, I sought answers from my doctor, an endocrinologist (it must be my thyroid, right?), a homeopath, and an acupuncturist.

Everyone said there was nothing wrong.

Since I was already doing everything they typically recommend (nutrition, exercise, sleep support, and meditation), I was told it was time to accept that I was “just getting older.”

I spent nearly a decade doing the opposite of that. I fought even harder and continued to fight past menopause.

But then, as so often happens, what used to work stopped working.

The weight came back (fast!), and my hair fell out again. My anxiety nearly paralyzed me. My strength faded. And once more, I lost my spark.

This time, I found the support I needed because it seemed like now everyone was talking about perimenopause and menopause.

I learned that everything I had been going through could be attributed to declining estrogen and testosterone.

I explored different levels and kinds of hormone replacement therapy, and the relief I found was mesmerizing. Slowly, my hair and strength came back, and my anxiety began to drop.

Sadly, the number on the scale didn’t travel in the right direction. It continued to go up.

🌟 It wasn’t until this year that I found out why. And now I’m sharing what I’ve learned about declining hormones and weight loss with you.

14 Things I Learned About Menopause Weight Loss in 2024:

1. Losing the menopause weight is possible.

2. What worked before no longer works.

3. We have to learn what our new bodies need.

4. Seek out female menopause experts.

5. You’ll have to track your food and measure it for a while.

6. Creatine is phenomenal for our menopausal muscles and brains.

7. Our new bodies need different cardio (HIIT, SIT, Zone 2).

8. Weight-bearing exercise and jump training are essential for our bones.

9. Lifting heavy weights can help our estrogen levels.

10. Weight lifting is also how we will fight to keep muscle as we age—it’s not optional. It will require a lifestyle change.

11. Science (not fads) tells us that our muscles also need a lot of quality protein.

12. Our bodies aren’t the enemy. Being unaware of what they need is.

13. Don’t give in. If you’re uncomfortable or unhappy with how you feel, do something about it.

14. Stress and self-loathing are far more painful than learning to lift weights and eat differently.

The journey isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. If I can find my spark again, so can you.

Here’s to feeling vibrant, connected, and like ourselves again. 🥰