Today we’re talking about:

Why women mysteriously stop growing leg hair as they age

Why your estrogen patch might feel like it “stopped working”

And why Taco Bell Supreme has sent my client to the ER every single time she eats it

This is not a shock-value episode.

At some point — usually late 30s or 40s — many women notice:

No stubble

No sandpaper phase

Weeks go by… and nothing grows

It feels convenient.

Leg hair growth is driven by androgens (testosterone + DHT)

As ovarian and adrenal hormone output declines, the signal weakens

Hair follicles are signal-dependent, not loyal

Growth slows → hair gets finer → follicles go quiet

This process is called follicular miniaturization.

Same biology as scalp hair thinning — just a very different emotional reaction.

Hair growth is a non-essential function.

When your body stops prioritizing hair growth, it’s often signaling:

Lower thyroid output

Reduced circulation

Insulin resistance

Hormonal downshifts

Which is exactly why “I lift weights and eat protein” is not enough to build muscle in midlife.

(Yes — Muscle Month teaches exactly that. More on timing below.)

This came up within an hour of recording.

You start HRT → feel great → months later → bloodwork drops → symptoms creep back → “My patch isn’t working anymore.”

Here’s the truth:

Hormones are keys.

If the lock stops responding, it doesn’t matter how many keys you send.

Active decision-makers

Highly responsive to variation

Easily bored by repetition

When you place your estrogen patch in the same spot over and over, receptors can:

Downregulate

Reduce absorption efficiency

Become less responsive locally

Rotate thoughtfully:

Lower abdomen → opposite side

Upper outer glute → opposite side

Change regions every 2–3 months

This respects receptor biology, not just convenience — and many women see steadier bloodwork as a result.

This one’s funny… until it isn’t.

My client:

Eats Taco Bell Supreme

Vomits violently

Ends up in the ER

Repeats the cycle

This is not food poisoning.

Processed meats, cheese sauces, tomatoes, seasoning blends

Common trigger in midlife, estrogen-dominant women

Worse with gut permeability issues

Symptoms can include:

Nausea

Vomiting

Dizziness

Rapid heart rate

ER-level reactions

(If wine suddenly wrecks you now — same category.)

Soybean oil, canola oil, stabilizers

Increase gut permeability

Let things into the bloodstream that don’t belong there

Your immune system sees that and hits the panic button.

Even without celiac:

Gluten increases zonulin

Zonulin loosens gut lining

Onion/garlic powders + spices irritate an already inflamed gut

This can trigger mast cell activation and full-body reactions.

Estrogen slows bile release

High-fat meals require strong bile flow

Sluggish bile → nausea → vomiting

So no — it’s not Taco Bell.

They all point to the same truth:

Midlife isn’t about being fragile —

You can’t ignore:

Receptor biology

Gut health

Hormonal context

Metabolic signals

And you definitely can’t eat like a 22-year-old with a bulletproof liver anymore.

Muscle Month has been postponed.

Not because I don’t love it — but because it requires:

Me at home

My full gym

My full attention

And I refuse to run programs half-present and stressed.

👉 New target start: end of March

(You now have extra time to decide if building muscle properly — not accidentally losing it — matters to you.)

New website: joannelee.com

Supplements are live on the site

Programs are always rotating — check what’s open

You can always email me: [email protected]