loader from loading.io

Ep. 86 | Why Cortisol-Not Calories-is Keeping Your Body Stuck in Menopause Survival Mode

It's Not JUST Menopause

Release Date: 06/09/2025

Ep. 109 | The Calm Before the Holiday Storm: Why Calm Has to Come First in Menopause show art Ep. 109 | The Calm Before the Holiday Storm: Why Calm Has to Come First in Menopause

It's Not JUST Menopause

Episode #109 — The Calm Before the Holiday Storm: Why Calm Has to Come First in Menopause If the holidays leave you feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, bloated, or “on edge” every year — it’s not that you can’t handle stress anymore. It’s that your menopause nervous system can’t absorb pressure the same way it used to. In this episode, we break down why stress hits harder in midlife, how it impacts your hormones and metabolism, and what you can do right now to create the grounded, steady energy your body is craving before the holiday chaos begins. This isn't about perfection,...

info_outline Ep. 108 | Cravings Aren’t About Willpower — They’re About Cortisol show art Ep. 108 | Cravings Aren’t About Willpower — They’re About Cortisol

It's Not JUST Menopause

If you keep blaming yourself for sugar cravings, afternoon crashes, or late-night snacking — this episode is your wake-up call. Menopause changes how your body handles stress, blood sugar, and hunger signals, and no amount of “willpower” can outsmart cortisol. In this episode, Cindi breaks down the real science behind stress-induced cravings and shows you how to stabilize your energy, calm your nervous system, and stop feeling out of control around food. You’ll learn why stress and cortisol are the missing pieces behind constant hunger, energy dips, and stubborn belly fat — and the...

info_outline Ep. 107 | The Holiday Stress Trap: Why “Pushing Through” Backfires in Menopause show art Ep. 107 | The Holiday Stress Trap: Why “Pushing Through” Backfires in Menopause

It's Not JUST Menopause

If you’re already feeling the weight of holiday stress — the endless to-dos, the travel, the expectations — and wondering why your body just can’t handle it the way it used to, this episode is for you. In menopause, your stress response changes. What once felt like “manageable chaos” can now send cortisol soaring, disrupt your sleep, and stall your metabolism. In this episode, Functional Nutrition Practitioner and Certified Menopause Specialist Cindi Stickle breaks down exactly why “pushing through” no longer works — and what your body is actually asking for instead. You’ll...

info_outline Ep. 106 | The Only Way Menopause Results Actually Last show art Ep. 106 | The Only Way Menopause Results Actually Last

It's Not JUST Menopause

If you’ve ever felt like your progress disappears the moment life gets stressful — you’re not alone. Most “solutions” for menopause aren’t built to last. Diets, detoxes, and 30-day resets push your body harder
 instead of helping it heal. In this episode of It’s Not Just Menopause, I’m breaking down the real reason results fade — and what it takes to finally make progress that sticks. You’ll learn: Why short-term fixes trigger long-term setbacks How stress and cortisol sabotage metabolism and hormones Why you can’t rebuild results on an unregulated nervous system ...

info_outline Ep. 105 | You're Not Failing, You've Been Misled show art Ep. 105 | You're Not Failing, You've Been Misled

It's Not JUST Menopause

You’re Not Failing — You’ve Been Misled If you’ve been doing everything “right” — eating clean, working out, tracking macros — and still feel stuck, exhausted, or frustrated with your body
 you’re not failing. You’ve been misled. In this episode of It’s Not Just Menopause, I’m breaking down why the “eat less, move more” advice doesn’t work for women in menopause — and how decades of outdated, one-size-fits-all guidance have set women up to fail. You’ll discover: Why traditional weight-loss advice backfires for women in menopause How stress, cortisol, and...

info_outline Ep. 104 | The Stress-Symptom Spiral: Why Relief Starts with Your Nervous System show art Ep. 104 | The Stress-Symptom Spiral: Why Relief Starts with Your Nervous System

It's Not JUST Menopause

The Stress–Symptom Spiral: Why Relief Starts with Your Nervous System Are you doing everything “right” — eating well, exercising, taking supplements — yet still feel bloated, exhausted, and stuck? You’re not broken. You’re caught in what I call the Stress–Symptom Spiral. In this episode of It’s Not Just Menopause, I break down the hidden cycle that keeps women in survival mode — where stress makes symptoms worse, and those symptoms create even more stress. You’ll learn: What the “stress–symptom spiral” is and how it keeps you stuck Why cortisol steals from your...

info_outline Ep. 103 | Menopause Isn't a Willpower Problem - Here's What's Really Going On show art Ep. 103 | Menopause Isn't a Willpower Problem - Here's What's Really Going On

It's Not JUST Menopause

Episode Title: Menopause Isn’t a Willpower Problem — Here’s What’s Really Going On Are you eating less, exercising more, and still not seeing results in menopause? You’ve probably been told it’s a willpower problem — but that advice is flat-out wrong. In this episode of It’s Not Just Menopause, I break down why “trying harder” backfires in midlife, why your symptoms aren’t a sign of weakness, and what your body actually needs to reset. Here’s what you’ll learn: Why calorie restriction and over-exercising fuel stress hormones instead of fixing them How cortisol,...

info_outline Ep. 102 | Gaslighting With A Stethoscope: Why Midlife Women Deserve Better Menopause Care show art Ep. 102 | Gaslighting With A Stethoscope: Why Midlife Women Deserve Better Menopause Care

It's Not JUST Menopause

đŸŽ™ïž Gaslighting with a Stethoscope: Why Midlife Women Deserve Better Menopause Care Episode 102 — It’s Not Just Menopause Podcast You’re not crazy. You’re not weak. And no — it’s not “just stress” or “just getting older.” If you’ve ever walked out of a doctor’s office feeling dismissed, misunderstood, or worse — gaslit — this episode is for you. In today’s no-BS conversation, I’m pulling back the curtain on how midlife women are routinely ignored, overmedicated, and sent home without real solutions during one of the most pivotal transitions of their...

info_outline Ep. 101 | What Every Menopause Plan Leaves Out - And Why It’s the First Thing Your Body Actually Needs show art Ep. 101 | What Every Menopause Plan Leaves Out - And Why It’s the First Thing Your Body Actually Needs

It's Not JUST Menopause

đŸŽ™ïž Episode 101 – What Every Menopause Plan Leaves Out And Why It’s the First Thing Your Body Actually Needs If you’re doing everything “right” but your menopause symptoms are still getting worse—not better—it’s time to look deeper. In this episode, Certified Menopause Specialist and Functional Nutrition Practitioner Cindi Stickle reveals the missing piece in most menopause protocols: nervous system regulation. Whether you’re dealing with weight gain, exhaustion, mood swings, or brain fog, this root-cause step is essential—and it’s the first thing your body actually...

info_outline Ep. 100 | Stress, Menopause, and the Burnout Trap with Christy Nichol show art Ep. 100 | Stress, Menopause, and the Burnout Trap with Christy Nichol

It's Not JUST Menopause

  Stress, Menopause, and the Burnout Trap (with Christy Nichol) Are you stuck in survival mode during menopause? In this episode of It’s Not Just Menopause, I sit down with Christy Nichol, burnout recovery coach and stress expert, to unpack how stress impacts midlife women — and why it may be the hidden root cause of your toughest menopause symptoms. Why Stress Makes Menopause Symptoms Worse Chronic stress isn’t just “in your head.” It drives hormonal chaos that leaves women dealing with: Brain fog and memory struggles Weight that won’t budge no matter what you try Mood...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

đŸŽ™ïž Episode – Why Cortisol—Not Calories—is Keeping Your Body Stuck in Menopause Survival Mode

If you’ve been cutting carbs, working out harder, and doing everything “right”—but the scale still won’t budge—this episode is for you.

In this no-fluff deep dive, Cindi Stickle, Functional Nutrition Practitioner and Certified Menopause Specialist, reveals the real reason weight gain is so common during the menopause transition: cortisol.

Instead of blaming willpower or calories, Cindi explains how chronic stress keeps your body locked in survival mode—making fat loss, energy, and relief feel impossible until you address the root.

What You’ll Learn

⚡ Why cortisol spikes in midlife (even when you think you’re managing stress)
đŸš« How hidden stressors—like overexercising or skipping meals—backfire
🧠 What your body is really trying to do when it stores fat and drains energy
🌿 The exact first steps to shift out of survival mode and finally feel better

Because it’s not about eating less—it’s about helping your body feel safe again.

Mentioned in This Episode

👉 Join the 8-week group program: The Hormone Reset – Starts June 24 (only 10 beta spots available!)
👉 Want to understand your own stress patterns? Take the Menopause Stress Quiz

Resources & Connect with Cindi

🌐 Website → cindistickle.com
đŸ“± Instagram → @cindisticklenutrition
đŸ‘„ Join the free community → It’s Not Just Menopause: No-BS Support with Real Answers (Facebook Group)
📅 Book a free Hormone Reset Clarity Call → Schedule here

💬 Leave a Review
If this episode resonated, please follow It’s Not Just Menopause and leave a review—your support helps more women find the no-BS, root-cause support they’ve been searching for.