Lara Briden has a refreshingly honest approach to menopause and all that that encompasses. For me, she has always been a person to offer solid, genuine advice based on knowledge and experience so I was delighted when she agreed to join me on the podcast. You are not broken, you are not deficient and it is not your fault. This is a very important and powerful message that I wish all women could hear from even before Perimenopause all the way through to Post Menopause... and probably for life in general. We cover a vast range of highly relevant and current topics in our conversation including insulin resistance, what metabolism really means, the role of cortisol (the real role!), testosterone for women, HRT and what menopause even is now! Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Women's Health and Menstrual Cycle 02:48 Understanding Female Physiology and Hormonal Differences 05:24 The Role of Cortisol in Women's Health 08:10 Navigating Insulin Resistance and Its Implications 11:11 The Impact of Hormones on Weight Gain 13:51 Addressing Insulin Resistance: Symptoms and Solutions 16:41 Metabolism Myths and Realities 19:21 The Importance of Blood Markers in Health Assessment 22:16 Reversing Insulin Resistance and Improving Health 32:11 Understanding Health Markers 32:43 The Progesterone-Cortisol Connection 35:16 Testosterone's Role in Women's Health 36:33 Navigating Hormonal Replacement Therapy 39:14 Clarifying Menopause Terminology 42:36 Experiences with Hormonal Treatments 49:36 Evolutionary Perspectives on Menopause 52:44 Living Well Through Menopause 56:28 Final Thoughts and Advice You can find Lara at https://larabriden.com and on all platforms as Lara Briden. If you have been feeling flat, low and perhaps a bit lost then drop me a line to rediscover your zest and power. My Life and Performance Coaching appoinments are now open. The Real Menopause Method (strength and nutrition coaching for women) remains alive and well and has 2 slots left for this current season. You can reach me here: https://realmenopausetalk.com and at [email protected] I look forward to hearing from you xoxo.