Ep. 128 | Why Your Perimenopause Symptoms Feel Random (But Actually Aren't)
It's Not JUST Menopause | Metabolism, Weight Loss & Hormone Solutions for Women in Midlife
Release Date: 02/16/2026
Ep. 128 | Why Your Perimenopause Symptoms Feel Random (But Actually Aren't)
It's Not JUST Menopause | Metabolism, Weight Loss & Hormone Solutions for Women in Midlife
Exhausted one day, wired the next. Brain fog one morning, perfectly clear the next. Snapping at everyone, then fine. If your perimenopause symptoms feel completely random and unpredictable, this episode will change how you see what's happening in your body. I'm breaking down the hidden pattern behind symptoms that feel chaotic — and answering "can menopause cause nervous system dysregulation?" that most doctors never mention. You'll learn why exhaustion, mood swings, brain fog, and weight gain aren't separate problems, what your body is actually doing when it's stuck in survival mode, and...
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Ep. 127 | The One Thing Every Perimenopause Plan Should Start With (But Doesn't)
It's Not JUST Menopause | Metabolism, Weight Loss & Hormone Solutions for Women in Midlife
Why does your body fight every perimenopause solution you try? In this episode, I'm breaking down the one missing step that makes everything else fail — and what to do about it. If you've tried supplements, HRT, diet changes, and workouts but nothing is sticking, the approaches aren't wrong — they're just skipping the foundation. Nervous system regulation must come first, before hormones or metabolism can respond. I'll walk you through why most perimenopause plans fail, what nervous system regulation actually looks like in practice, and how to finally get your body responding again...
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Ep. 126 | When Eating 'Right' Makes Perimenopause Symptoms Worse
It's Not JUST Menopause | Metabolism, Weight Loss & Hormone Solutions for Women in Midlife
Why does your body fight every perimenopause solution you try? In this episode, I'm breaking down the one missing step that makes everything else fail — and what to do about it. If you're eating "clean" and tracking everything but your symptoms are getting worse, you're not failing — the advice is. Restriction triggers your body's threat response, making your metabolism slow down and your hormones more chaotic. I'll walk you through why eating "right" backfires in perimenopause, what your body actually needs (nourishment, not restriction), and how to eat in a way that supports...
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Ep. 125 | The Coffee-Cortisol Trap: Why Caffeine Keeps You Exhausted
It's Not JUST Menopause | Metabolism, Weight Loss & Hormone Solutions for Women in Midlife
Why does your body fight every perimenopause solution you try? In this episode, I'm breaking down the one missing step that makes everything else fail — and what to do about it. If you can't function without coffee in the morning, the problem isn't coffee itself — it's that you're using it to replace what your body actually needs. When you're already running on fumes, caffeine just digs the hole deeper. I'll walk you through the coffee-cortisol trap, why caffeine keeps you exhausted instead of energized, and the Coffee → Calm Swap that supports your adrenals before stimulants hit your...
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Ep. 124 | Why You're Snapping at Everyone, and It's Not Just Hormones
It's Not JUST Menopause | Metabolism, Weight Loss & Hormone Solutions for Women in Midlife
Why does your body fight every perimenopause solution you try? In this episode, I'm breaking down the one missing step that makes everything else fail — and what to do about it. If you've been snapping at people you love or shutting down completely, you're not broken. When your nervous system is overwhelmed, you become reactive instead of resilient. Mood swings aren't moral failings — they're stress signals. I'll walk you through the biology of mood swings, why blood sugar instability equals emotional instability, and the Pause + Breathe Reset that shifts you out of fight-or-flight in...
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Ep. 123 | What 'Feeling Safe' Actually Means for Your Metabolism
It's Not JUST Menopause | Metabolism, Weight Loss & Hormone Solutions for Women in Midlife
Why does your body fight every perimenopause solution you try? In this episode, I'm breaking down the one missing step that makes everything else fail — and what to do about it. If you've been trying to lose weight in perimenopause and nothing is working, your body isn't broken — it's stuck in protection mode. When your body perceives threat, your metabolism literally shuts down to conserve energy. I'll walk you through what "feeling safe" actually means for your metabolism, why eating less and exercising more backfires, and the simple daily practices that signal safety to your nervous...
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Ep. 122 | Perimenopause Mistakes I Made 15 Years Ago That Kept Me Stuck (And How To Fix Them)
It's Not JUST Menopause | Metabolism, Weight Loss & Hormone Solutions for Women in Midlife
If you're in perimenopause dealing with mild symptoms—or struggling with unexpected weight gain and metabolism changes—this episode is for you. Mild symptoms don't mean you can wait. They mean your hormones are starting to shift, and the choices you make now will show up later when your body needs that foundation most. I'm sharing the perimenopause mistake I made 15 years ago that I'm still dealing with now—and what you can start doing TODAY so you don't end up in the same position. We're talking about muscle loss, metabolism changes, and why the work you do in perimenopause is what...
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Ep. 121 | The Real Reason You Wake Up Exhausted (Even When You Sleep 8 Hours)
It's Not JUST Menopause | Metabolism, Weight Loss & Hormone Solutions for Women in Midlife
Why does your body fight every perimenopause solution you try? In this episode, I'm breaking down the one missing step that makes everything else fail — and what to do about it. If you're getting enough sleep but still waking up exhausted, with a clenched jaw and tight shoulders, your body is stuck in stress mode. Sleep can't be restorative when your nervous system never gets to rest. I'll walk you through why your cortisol rhythm is thrown off, how hidden stress keeps your body on high alert even while you sleep, and the one morning routine shift that resets everything. Introduction to...
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Ep. 120 | Why Your Body Fights Every Perimenopause 'Fix' You Try
It's Not JUST Menopause | Metabolism, Weight Loss & Hormone Solutions for Women in Midlife
Why does your body fight every perimenopause solution you try? In this episode, I'm breaking down the one missing step that makes everything else fail — and what to do about it. If you're eating clean, exercising, taking supplements, and maybe even on HRT but still struggling with exhaustion, weight gain, mood swings, and brain fog — you're not broken. Your body is just stuck in protection mode. I'll walk you through why nervous system regulation is the foundational step most perimenopause advice skips, what happens when your body feels safe again, and 5 simple shifts you can start today...
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EP. 119 | GLP-1 and Menopause: Why I Finally Said Yes (And What's Happening So Far)
It's Not JUST Menopause | Metabolism, Weight Loss & Hormone Solutions for Women in Midlife
GLP-1 and Menopause: Why I Finally Said Yes (And What's Happening So Far) Today's episode is a little different. I'm sharing something I've been thinking about for a while—and honestly, something I wasn't sure I'd talk about publicly. But transparency matters. And if I'm asking you to trust me with your health, then I owe you the whole story. So here it is: I'm on GLP-1. I'm a functional nutrition practitioner with two holistic nutrition certifications, two macro nutrition certifications, I'm menopause-certified, and I've been doing this work for seven years. I know what works for...
info_outlineExhausted one day, wired the next. Brain fog one morning, perfectly clear the next. Snapping at everyone, then fine. If your perimenopause symptoms feel completely random and unpredictable, this episode will change how you see what's happening in your body.
I'm breaking down the hidden pattern behind symptoms that feel chaotic — and answering "can menopause cause nervous system dysregulation?" that most doctors never mention. You'll learn why exhaustion, mood swings, brain fog, and weight gain aren't separate problems, what your body is actually doing when it's stuck in survival mode, and why hormone balance and metabolism after 40 won't improve until you address the real driver.
Perfect for women over 40 in perimenopause who are tired of feeling like their body is working against them.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Free Workshop: It's Not Just Hormones™! Why Nothing's Working in Perimenopause February 17th (yes there is a replay)
Register at: https://cindistickle.com/its-not-just-hormones-workshop
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
01:10 Common Perimenopause Symptoms
02:04 Understanding the Root Cause
05:08 The Role of the Nervous System
10:25 Why Doctors Miss the Signs
16:11 Steps to Regulate Your Nervous System
23:16 Invitation to the Free Workshop
24:50 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Check out the show notes and full resources at: https://cindistickle.com/podcast/ep-128-why-your-perimenopause-symptoms-feel-random-but-actually-arent
Connect with Cindi:
What's Really Behind Your Menopause Symptoms? Quiz — https://cindistickle.com/quiz
Book a Menopause Hormone Clarity Call — https://calendly.com/cindistickle/menopause-hormone-clarity-call
Come hang out in my Facebook Group — https://www.facebook.com/groups/nobsmenopause