Loving Your Body Through Life’s Changes: Perimenopause and Menopause – Part 2

 
Middle-aged woman in athletic wear smiling confidently inside a private gym, standing beside a squat rack—highlighting strength, wellness, and empowerment during perimenopause and menopause.
 

If you're in your 40s or 50s and starting to feel… different, you're not imagining things. Sleep might be elusive. Your clothes may feel tighter, even if your routine hasn’t changed. Your moods could swing from calm to anxious without warning. These shifts are more than “getting older.” They’re signs that your body is navigating a deeply personal and powerful transition: perimenopause or menopause.

This blog is part of our ongoing series, Loving Your Body Through Life’s Changes, where we explore what real women experience—physically and emotionally—at different life stages. (If you missed it, Part 1 covered pregnancy and postpartum.)

On this blog, we're talking honestly about perimenopause and menopause—what they are, how they show up, and what it means to support your body through them.

What’s Happening in Perimenopause and Menopause?

Perimenopause is the transition period leading up to menopause. It often starts in your 40s but can begin earlier. Hormone levels fluctuate (especially estrogen), and symptoms can be unpredictable: brain fog, hot flashes, changes in menstrual cycles, fatigue, and more.

Menopause is officially marked by 12 consecutive months without a period. But the symptoms don’t start or stop on that date. For many women, this is a multi-year experience that affects everything from mood to metabolism.

While the timing and intensity vary, the common thread is change—and it’s a change many women aren’t fully prepared for.

How to Love Your Body Through This Life Change

Perimenopause and menopause aren't problems to fix. They’re seasons to move through with intention and care.

Here are a few ways to support yourself:

  • Shift the focus from weight to strength. As hormones change, muscle mass becomes more difficult to maintain. Prioritizing strength training helps support bone health, stability, and metabolic health—all while making you feel more grounded in your body.

  • Allow for rest—and don’t apologize for it. Fatigue can hit differently now. Instead of pushing harder, this is the time to listen more. Sleep hygiene, gentle movement, and stress management aren't luxuries—they're essential.

  • Talk about it. You’re not the only one feeling it. The more we share about perimenopause and menopause, the more we normalize it—and the less alone women feel.

  • Eat and hydrate to support your hormones. This might mean more protein, fewer processed foods, and a steadier, less extreme approach to nutrition overall. Hydration matters, too. Staying properly hydrated can improve flexibility, keep joints lubricated, maintain muscle elasticity, and help prevent stiffness or cramping. It also supports mental clarity—something that can feel foggy in this season.

  • Reframe your relationship with your body. You’re not “losing” your youth—you’re gaining wisdom, clarity, and power. It just might look and feel different now.

When You’re Ready, Eden Is Here

This transition isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what’s right for you.

Eden Fitness Studio was created with this exact chapter in mind. Privacy. Safety. Support. Whether you’re ready to work with a trainer who gets what you’re going through, or you just want a place where you can move without being stared at or judged—we’re here.

Not everyone talks about this season. But we do.

And next in the series? We’ll be talking about Recovery After Injury or Surgery—Part 3, coming August 11.

This article is meant to inform, inspire, and support your wellness journey, not to replace professional medical advice. Please consult with your licensed healthcare provider before making any changes to your health or fitness routine.
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Loving Your Body Through Life’s Changes: Pregnancy and Postpartum – Part 1