You finally crawl into bed after a long day. You fall asleep without much trouble… and then, like clockwork, your eyes fly open at 3:07 a.m.
Your mind starts racing. You think about work. Your kids. That email you forgot to send. The laundry. Your growing to-do list. Before you know it, you’ve been awake for an hour, staring at the ceiling and wondering why your body suddenly seems incapable of sleeping through the night.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
Read MoreFor many women, perimenopause feels less like a hormonal transition and more like their entire nervous system suddenly changed overnight. One day you tolerate stress well, sleep normally, enjoy a glass of wine, and eat foods without thinking twice.
Read MorePerimenopause is commonly associated with hormonal fluctuations, particularly changes in estrogen and progesterone. However, many of the most disruptive symptoms—anxiety, sleep disturbance, irritability, and reduced stress tolerance—are more accurately explained by changes in the nervous system.
Read MoreThere comes a moment for many women in perimenopause where things start to feel… different.
Your body doesn’t respond the way it used to.
The workouts that once worked suddenly don’t.
The motivation that felt automatic now feels like effort.
Read MoreOne of the most common things I hear from women in their early-to-mid 40s is this:
“I’m doing the same things I’ve always done, but my body is responding completely differently.”
Read MoreIntermittent fasting is frequently promoted as a solution for weight gain, metabolic health, and longevity. Many women enter perimenopause or menopause believing that fasting is the next logical step when their body starts responding differently to food.
Read MoreWhen it comes to weight loss, macro tracking — counting protein, carbohydrates, and fats — is often promoted as the most effective approach. While tracking macros can be helpful for short-term awareness, in my work as a functional medicine practitioner at Denver Holistic Medicine, I’ve found that sustainable weight loss is rarely just about numbers.
Read MoreIf you’re in perimenopause or menopause and feeling exhausted, foggy, inflamed, gaining weight more easily, or struggling with mood and sleep, you’re not imagining it — and it’s not “just aging.”
One of the most overlooked drivers of hormone symptoms during this transition is mitochondrial health.
At Denver Holistic Medicine, we see this every day: when we support mitochondria, hormone balance becomes far more achievable.
Read MoreEndometriosis is far more than a “bad period.” It’s a chronic, hormone-driven, inflammatory condition in which tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus. It thrives on estrogen, scar tissue forms, pain develops, and fertility may be challenged. Many women with endometriosis also struggle with what’s called progesterone resistance— a silent but significant barrier to healing.
Read MoreOne of the most common concerns women share with me during perimenopause is: “Why can’t I think clearly anymore?” Many describe it as brain fog, forgetfulness, or difficulty concentrating. While frustrating, these changes are not “all in your head”—they have a true physiological basis.
Read More
