I was invited to attend the Los Angeles screening of the new documentary The M Factor, which is raising awareness about menopause.

This Friday is World Menopause Day.

• Perimenopause - the years leading up to menopause where estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone begin fluctuating.  Progesterone is the first hormone to start falling, impacting sleep and mood and making cycles shorter.
  
• Menopause - occurs when a woman goes 12 months without a period. The average age of menopause is 51.

What stood out to me is how little is understood about how to care for women in this second chapter of life.  Less than 20% of doctors have any training in menopause.

The film mainly focused on hormone replacement therapy as the way to treat the symptoms of menopause and aging.

While hormone replacement therapy is a lifeline for some women, it may not work for others for various reasons.

I believe you can't out hormone poor lifestyle choices.  

What stood out to me was there was no conversation about using nutrition and lifestyle changes to support women's health as we age.

The producers' decision to exclude nutrition and lifestyle from the conversation about menopausal symptoms and aging felt like a massive oversight to me and a disservice to women.

I meet women in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s who tell me they want to travel, go back to school, take up a new hobby, start new work, spend time with their kids and grandkids, and have energy and vitality.  

Gen X and Baby Boomer women want to age well, feel good, and have energy and vitality. 

I'm sure you want to avoid things like type 2 diabetes, cancer, dementia, heart attack, and stroke.

These diseases are directly related to poor metabolic health and nutrition, stress, and lack of exercise and movement.

Menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, and weight gain are rooted in poor blood sugar and stress, as well as hormonal changes.

Hormones will not save you from a poor diet, too much stress, lack of exercise, or lack of sleep.

As you age, you can use food (notice I didn't say dieting) as a foundation for great health.

I asked a 60-something Pilates client how she wanted to feel, and she said, "I want this to be my rock star year."

I want that for you, too.  

How do you want to enter 2025? I'd love to help you have your version of a rock-star year!

You can set up a call with me here.

If you want to hear me talk about menopause and aging, I was a guest on the Mixst Messages Podcast with beauty industry veteran Tara Cohen. You can listen here. 

I follow Ann Marie McQueen of Hotflash Inc on Substack.  She's a journalist who does a great job sorting through all the noise in the menopause space.  I highly recommend this article on hormone replacement therapy.  You can find it here.

If you're a Costco shopper, you can see my recommendations on this Instagram Reel here.