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I am going to share my perimenopause journey and how I didn't even recognize my own symptoms at age 37 (which was around the time this photo was taken).

By my late 30s, I had been working in women's health and functional medicine space for about 7 years. So one would think that I would immediately know this was perimenopause...but I didn't.

Like so many of us, I assumed my increasing anxiety and poor sleep was related to the typical busy life that comes with family and working....

• I knew how to optimize sex hormones
• I knew hormones can create chaos when they are out of balance
• I knew the importance of gut health
• I was eating well, taking the 'right' supplements and doing the 'right' testing

Having worked with so many clients, I was no stranger to the chronic health struggles that women experience.

But I was still struggling with my own anxiety, reflux, and poor sleep particularly a few days before my cycle.

I noticed I couldn't handle stress and I was feeling overwhelmed with simple tasks and projects - when just a few years earlier, I could zip through them with no problem.

It wasn't until I zoomed out that I realized these symptoms were perimenopause. And that no amount of black cohosh, Vitex or DIM could help my fluctuating hormones.

I realized I needed to support my body in a whole different way. And once I leaned into what my body needed, I started turning things around. This wasn't without some troubleshooting and now at 47 yrs old I am still working on things.

It started with the following.....

The gut: it's our hormone recycling center

• The pesky reflux was a symptom of poor stomach acid production and was only getting worse and I wasn't absorbing nutrients or minerals
• I was actually experiencing bile reflux (based on an upper endoscopy) which meant I wasn't breaking down and metabolizing my estrogen

Major Mineral Depletion: minerals nourish the body on a cellular level

• Let's face it - you don't reach midlife without running on stress hormones at some point in your life. I was existing on fumes and even though I didn't feel stressed my minerals told a different story.
• Magnesium was low which impacted my digestion, progesterone production and blood sugar regulation
• Low sodium which impacted my ability to digest foods
• Copper, iron and zinc were out of balance which means my iron recycling system needed support. I needed to get iron out of the tissues so it wasn't increasing my inflammation and oxidation

Initiate HRT: Restore declining hormones

• Initially started taking progesterone orally on the 14th day of my cycle
• I have now layered in topical progesterone
• Currently I take progesterone daily
• Soon I will be bringing in estradiol and testosterone

For me, taking HRT was the right choice. I know this can be difficult decision for some and one must choose what is right for them based on goals both short and long term.

The underlying theme in all these strategies were nourishment, support and replace declining hormones. I wasn't doing a restrictive gut protocol, taking 20+ supplements or doing a cleanse. I started listening to my body to see what it needed. I supported my minerals and gut health.

It's the basics without fancy protocols (I don't have time for that!).

But it does require a special lens and treating the body in a different way. It's not a one-size-fits-all approach. Every woman will experience perimenopause differently.

Our Peri to Post Menopause Roadmap: Nourish, Support & Restore

1. Start with minerals
2. Nourish the body
3. Address the gut - it metabolizes our hormones
4. Support blood sugar balance, sleep, and nervous system
5. Take it slow and methodical. Listen to your body.
6. Mindset work around this powerful transformation

Midlife health requires work otherwise the default is decline.

I continue to do the work just like you and all of our clients.

You are not too complex or too late. You are not broken. You just need the right support for your body at this stage.

We are supporting you all the way!

Margot + PPW Team

​www.perfectlyportionedwellness.com​