Menobodies

If the holidays bring you more stress than sparkle, this episode is for you. Today, we’re not talking drills or staple guns (though those might come in handy if you need an excuse to “fix something” and sneak away from family chaos 😅). Instead, we’re talking about a different kind of power tool — one that helps you stay calm, grounded, and sane when life (and Aunt Marge) get intense: the power of mantras.


💬 What You’ll Hear About in This Episode:

• Why the holidays can be emotionally tough — and you’re not alone if you feel that way
• How perimenopause and menopause can add another layer to the holiday pressure
• What mantras are and why they actually work (yes, there’s research!)
• Easy ways to use mantras — out loud, written, or posted on your mirror or steering wheel
• Examples of mantras that can shift your mindset and soothe your stress
• Letting go of people-pleasing and the need to control others’ opinions
• How to handle passive-aggressive behavior without losing your peace (hello, family gatherings!)
• Tips for setting healthy boundaries — and not apologizing for everything
• Special mantras for navigating perimenopause and menopause

🧠 Sample Mantras from the Episode:

• I can do hard things.
• I am more than my mom’s opinion of me.
• It’s okay to ask for help.
• I am allowed to slow down and take care of myself.
• My body is changing, and I am going to love it and work to help it.
• I am more than my symptoms.

These small, powerful statements help retrain your brain — moving you from stress to calm, from negativity to self-compassion.


💡 Takeaway:
Your words matter.
When you change what you tell yourself, you change how you experience the world.
This holiday season, give yourself permission to breathe, let go of perfection, and use your power tool — your mantra — to build peace instead of chaos.

✨ Join the Conversation:
 I want to hear from you!
What’s your personal mantra?
Send me a DM, comment on this episode, or email me at [email protected].
Bonus points if you share the story behind why it works for you.

Let’s make this holiday season one of calm, grace, and a little self-love — Menobodies style.

Connect with Beth:
💌 Email: [email protected] 
📱 Instagram & Facebook: @menobodies
🌐 Tools and Resources: https://www.bethlohman.com/
🗞️Newsletter:subscribe here
🌸 Menobodies: menobodies.com

A little bonus share:
tips on how to handle conversations in social settings

• how to keep conversations going
• how to handle akward silences
• how to have easy outs when needed

Connect with Beth:
💌 Email: [email protected] 
📱 Instagram & Facebook: @menobodies
🌐 Tools and Resources: https://www.bethlohman.com/
🗞️Newsletter:subscribe here
🌸 Menobodies: menobodies.com

Share your perim/menopause funny story via this link Menobodies Humor Stories

Welcome, Menobodies!
Hey there, hey there! Today’s episode is short, sweet, and perfect for the busy holiday season. We’re taking a lighter look at something that usually gets a bad rap — the humor of perimenopause and menopause.

If you’ve ever listened to Dax Shepard and Monica Padman’s Armchair Anonymous, you know their “Funny Friday” stories. Well, this is my version — a “Funny Friday: Menobodies Edition.” 

Because let’s be honest… peri/menopause gives us plenty of material!


💫 In This Episode 
We know menopause symptoms are custom-fit to every person — and the mix of brain fog, bloating, mood swings, and everyday life makes for some truly funny moments.

Beth shares:

• Her own “squeaky walking” story (yes, it’s as funny as it sounds)
• The joys of brain fog and forgetting what you walked into a room for
• The “word block” moments that turn everyday conversations into guessing games
• The mystery of clothing that looked great online but somehow aged us 40 years in the mirror
• And those “orthopedic chic” ads that start following us around the internet 👟

It’s all about finding laughter, community, and self-compassion in this season of life.


💜 A Gentle Reminder 
All the humor comes with a deeper message:

👉 Acceptance.
👉 Self-love.
👉 Grace for the stage you’re in.

You’re not alone — and laughing about it together just makes it all a little lighter.


🗣️ Join the Conversation 
Beth wants to hear your funny menopause or perimenopause stories!
💌 Share anonymously via this link Menobodies Humor Stories
📩 Email: [email protected]
📱 DM: @menobodies on social media
💬 Comment on this episode to keep the laughter going

Who knows? Your story might make it into a future “Menopause Humor” episode!


✨ Connect & Close 
Until next time, Menobodies — may your day be filled with peace, acceptance, and lots of laughter.

Connect with Beth:
💌 Email: [email protected] 
📱 Instagram & Facebook: @menobodies
🌐 Tools and Resources: https://www.bethlohman.com/
🗞️Newsletter:subscribe here
🌸 Menobodies: menobodies.com

Happy Holiday Season, Menobodies! Whether you celebrate all the holidays, just one, or none at all — this episode is for you. Because no matter what’s on your calendar, there’s one thing we all have to deal with this time of year: communication.

Let’s be honest — it’s way easier to spot bad communication than to practice healthy communication. You know the drill:

• Yelling, sarcasm, or the silent treatment
• Bottling things up until you explode
• Talking about someone instead of to them
• Passive-aggressive comments
• Or just plain pretending everything’s fine when it’s not

Sound familiar? Yeah… we’ve all been there.

In today’s episode, we’ll talk about what healthy communication really looks like — and why it’s a game-changer for your emotional wellbeing, your relationships, and your sanity this holiday season.

💬 What You’ll Learn:

• The two key parts of communication:
  1. How you choose to communicate
  2. How you respond to others’ communication choices
• Why healthy communication helps you feel calmer, more connected, and less guilty
• How to respond instead of react
• When (and how) to stop taking responsibility for other people’s emotions

🍲 Real-Life Example:
“Is Dinner Ready?” Beth walks us through one simple question that can go very wrong — or very right — depending on how we communicate.

• In the poor communication version, assumptions, exhaustion, and guilt lead straight to conflict.
• In the healthy communication version, curiosity and respect open the door to understanding — and maybe even takeout.

❤️ Key Takeaways:

• You are not responsible for reading minds.
• If someone says they’re “fine” but clearly isn’t — you can check in once or twice, but then let it go.
• When others communicate passively or expect you to guess their needs, it’s okay to set a boundary: “I can’t fix what I don’t know.”
• You don’t have to apologize for how someone feels. You can simply acknowledge their emotion without taking the blame.

🎄 Applying It to the Holidays:
From your partner to Great Aunt Maya and her famous plum pudding, these same principles apply.

• You can empathize without fixing.
• You can clarify without assuming.
• And you can choose to walk away from uncomfortable conversations — politely.

Quick exit ideas:

• Excuse yourself to the bathroom
• Make a quick call or check-in
• “So nice catching up with you!” (then glide away gracefully)

Or, if you want to keep things rolling, have a few go-to questions ready:

• “What did you do today?”
• “How’s your week going?”
  Then listen, ask a follow-up, and avoid the temptation to “one-up.”

🌟 Final Thoughts:
This season, let’s let go of guilt, stop carrying other people’s emotional loads, and practice healthy communication that feels calm, clear, and kind. If you’ve got a communication conundrum, Beth would love to hear from you — and maybe even share it (with permission, of course) to help other Menobodies learn, too!

Newsletter Link:
Link to register for the Menobodies Newsleter: https://www.menobodies.com/newsletter 

Connect with Beth:
💌 Email: [email protected] 
📱 Instagram & Facebook: @menobodies
🌐 Tools and Resources: https://www.bethlohman.com/
🗞️Newsletter:subscribe here
🌸 Menobodies: menobodies.com

Welcome, Menobodies and all who are listening!
Beth here — and guess what? It’s our first snowfall of the season! Still technically fall, but that walk today with chilly air and a few flakes falling got me really looking at the trees. The colors were still hanging on — and that bright, vivid red? I decided to name it “Alive Red.” You know that color that can’t quite be captured by camera, crayon, or marker? It’s vibrant, full of life, and totally stands out. And that “Alive Red” got me thinking about us — about the phases we go through in peri- and menopause.

Because just like that tree, we go through seasons:

🍂 Winter: When symptoms hit hard, energy drops, and things feel dry or dull.
🌱 Spring: Tiny sparks of improvement — some energy, some relief — but it’s unpredictable, like spring weather.
🌞 Summer: Feeling good again, symptoms managed, life humming along.
🍁 Fall — the “Alive Red” phase: Fully thriving. Not just surviving menopause, but owning it. Starting new things, reconnecting with people, feeling powerful and grounded. I’m somewhere in my “spring” season — managing symptoms, noticing little improvements — but also dealing with tiredness, grumpiness, and the occasional desire for a sabbatical (probably for the people around me more than me!). The truth is, we can allow all of it: the fatigue, the frustration, the ups and downs. Acceptance with action.
Because each of us is finding our own “solution cocktail” — and it’s different for everyone, sometimes even day by day. That’s why I created Menobodies — to talk about what’s normal, what’s not, what helps, and to make sure you never feel alone on this ride.

📨 Join the Menobodies Newsletter
Want to stay connected and get extra support? Sign up for our biweekly newsletter at menobodies.com/newsletter. 

You’re not alone, friends. We’re moving toward our “Alive Red” season together. Until next time, visualize your “Alive Red” — and let it guide you through even the hardest days. ❤️

Connect with Beth:
💌 Email: [email protected] 
📱 Instagram & Facebook: @menobodies
🌐 Tools and Resources: https://www.bethlohman.com/
🗞️Newsletter:subscribe here
🌸 Menobodies: menobodies.com

Welcome, Menobodies!
Hi there, hi there! I’m so glad you’re here today — because we’re diving into one of my favorite topics: Chameleoning.

Now, I don’t have a copyright on that term (at least not yet, ha!), but I might’ve come up with it! So what does chameleoning mean?

👉 Definition: being a different version of yourself in different situations.
Not lying, not pretending — but shifting energy, expression, and focus depending on where you are and who you’re with.

For example:

• When I’m with friends who love a cocktail and a good laugh — I’m right there, laughing along.
  
  
• When I’m with friends who are calm, reflective, and not big drinkers — I match that quieter energy.
  
  

It’s not about faking it. It’s about reading the room.

And that “read the room” phrase? I actually use it at home. Picture me rushing around getting ready for a sports game and someone asks where their stuff is — my quick response: “Read the room!” Meaning — notice what’s going on, sense the energy, and respond accordingly.

But — and this is a big one — chameleoning isn’t the same as people-pleasing.
When it turns into anxiety, when you’re guessing what others think or changing to avoid conflict, that’s not healthy adaptation — that’s fear.

True chameleoning is about self-awareness.
You’re observing, choosing how to show up, and staying grounded in who you are.Think of it like this:

• A firefighter can’t show up timid and scared to a fire.
  
  
• But that same firefighter shouldn’t bring that high-adrenaline energy to comfort their 5-year-old whose pet ladybug just died.
  
  
• A salesperson who crushes big presentations can’t bring that same pitch energy into a quiet night with their partner.
  
  

Different energy for different spaces — that’s healthy.

💡 When is chameleoning not good?
When it makes you lose your sense of self — when your behavior or beliefs shift to fit in, not to connect.

💡 When is it good?
When you adapt to what’s appropriate — showing up with empathy, timing, and awareness.
When you know that holding back or speaking up both have their moments.
When you’re able to meet others where they are without abandoning yourself.

So how do we build this skill?

• Talk less, observe more.
  
  
• Notice what others expect from you in the moment.
  
  
• Afterward, reflect: Did I like how I showed up? Did I stay true to my values?
  
  
• If you keep feeling misaligned, ask why you’re still in that space. Maybe it’s time to leave it — or speak up.
  
  

🌿 Chameleoning and Menopause

During peri/menopause, our energy, emotions, and patience fluctuate — a lot.
We show up differently depending on the day, the hormones, the exhaustion.

And that’s okay.

We can:

• Give ourselves permission to show up imperfectly.
  
  
• Take more social rest.
  
  
• Apologize when we need to.
  
  
• Check in with our emotional limits before diving into social events.
  
  
• Find safe people who can hold space for all our versions — the tired, the funny, the snappy, and the wise ones.
  
  

That’s the heart of Menobodies.
It’s your place to show up as you are — no filters, no shame.
Your stories, your struggles, your humor — all welcome here.

I’d love to hear from you:
💬 How do you “chameleon”?
💗 Who’s your menopause support person?

You’re not alone, friend. I’m here for you — and I’ll be back next week with another conversation for the Menobodies community. 💜

Connect with Beth:
💌 Email: [email protected] 
📱 Instagram & Facebook: @menobodies
🌐 Tools and Resources: https://www.bethlohman.com/
🗞️Newsletter:subscribe here
🌸 Menobodies: menobodies.com

Welcome, Menobodies!
Hey, hey — it’s another day and another Menobodies podcast episode! We’re exploring what it means to pause, how to do it, and why it’s so powerful—especially in the busier, more exhausting seasons of life, like peri/menopause.

💭 In This Episode

We’ll dive into:

• What it really means to pause
• Why pausing helps your body, mind, and emotions
• How it resets your nervous system and helps you regain control
• Three types of pauses: physical, mental, and emotional
• Practical tools you can start using today to calm your system and think clearly

🧘‍♀️ Why Pause?
When we pause—literally or figuratively—we give our nervous system a signal to slow down. It’s not about getting rid of stress or anxiety completely, but about regaining clarity and calm so we can make wiser choices.

Pausing helps us:

• Avoid saying things we’ll regret
• Double-check our plans and reactions
• Calm our body’s fight-or-flight response
• See the reality of a situation more clearly (like when someone turns on the lights in a haunted house!)

When we pause, our nervous system gets the message: You’re safe. You can relax.

🧠 How to Pause: 3 Ways

 1️⃣ Physical Pause

• Try deep breathing patterns like 3x3x3, 4-7-8, or box breathing
• Stand still and breathe—or move! Stretch, take a walk, or focus on something simple at your desk
• Regular short pauses train your body to find calm faster when stress hits

2️⃣ Mental Pause

• Notice when your thoughts start spiraling
• Use movement or distraction to stop the “thought train”
• Replace unhelpful thoughts with truth statements:
  “I was a good partner.”
  “I am loved and valued.”
  “Hindsight is 20/20.”
• Sometimes you need to move first (like a run or dance break) to let your brain reset

3️⃣ Emotional Pause

• When emotions feel intense, pausing helps you feel without reacting
• Remember: emotions last about 90 seconds unless we feed them
• Shift focus—listen to music, watch a show, call a friend
• Recognize triggers and speak truth into the moment:
  “I’m safe.”
  “This is not happening again.”

🔄 When All Systems Fire at Once
 Ever felt your body, mind, and emotions all react together—like after a near car accident? That’s your nervous system protecting you, even when there’s no real danger.
Pausing helps you check reality, breathe, and calm your system so it learns to respond differently next time.

💬 Beth’s Tip: Practice Your Pause
Even two minutes of calm breathing every morning trains your body to return to peace faster during chaos. Meditation, mindfulness, or quiet stillness—it’s all practice for real-life moments.

💌 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
 How do you pause and reset your physical body, mind, or emotions throughout your week?
I’d love to hear from you!
DM me on social, comment on this episode, or email me.
If this episode helped you, share it with a few friends and help grow our Menobodies community. And don’t forget to sign up for the Menobodies Newsletter — it comes out twice a month and gives you early access to tools, insights, and resources before anyone else.

Link to register for the Menobodies Newsleter: https://www.menobodies.com/newsletter 

🕊️ Final Thought
Before you go… pause for you.
Take a breath. Feel your feet. Let your nervous system know—it’s safe here. Until next time, Menobodies and all who listen,
Pause for you! See you soon.

Connect with Beth:
💌 Email: [email protected] 
📱 Instagram & Facebook: @menobodies
🌐 Tools and Resources: https://www.bethlohman.com/
🗞️Newsletter:subscribe here
🌸 Menobodies: menobodies.com

Happy Halloween — or not! In this week’s episode of Menobodies, Beth shares how a floating ghost in a tree triggered a reflection on cultural expectations — from Halloween to menopause. What happens when you realize you don’t have to love what everyone else does? Or dress, act, and age the way society says you should? This episode dives into finding joy in doing things your own way — whether that means skipping the scary stuff, embracing elastic-waist freedom (or not!), or starting something completely new in midlife.

In This Episode:

• 👻 Why Beth’s Halloween “boo” moment turned into a bigger realization about choice
• 💀 The truth about giant skeletons and cultural pressure
• 💪 How menopause mirrors Halloween — everyone expects you to feel a certain way
• ✨ Why it’s never too late to rewrite the “rules” of aging
• 🛼 New hobbies, new moves — roller skating, weightlifting, and loving your body differently
• ❤️ Learning to take care of yourself from a place of love, not punishment

Takeaway:
You don’t have to follow the script. Whether it’s Halloween, menopause, or midlife expectations, the freedom to live joyfully — on your terms — is the real treat.

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Crazie Auntie Ann (Instagram DJ)

Join the Conversation:
What’s your “against-the-grain” dream right now? Share it with us on Instagram @MenobodiesPodcast or in the comments wherever you listen.


Connect with Beth:
💌 Email: [email protected] 
📱 Instagram & Facebook: @menobodies
🌐 Tools and Resources: https://www.bethlohman.com/
🗞️Newsletter:subscribe here
🌸 Menobodies: menobodies.com

Hey Menobodies! In this calming and practical episode, Beth tackles a topic that affects everyone—especially during perimenopause and menopause—the nervous system and how to reset it.

If you’ve been feeling anxious, on edge, or constantly “on,” this episode is for you. Beth explains what the nervous system is, how stress keeps it stuck in overdrive, and why learning to reset it can transform both your mental and physical health.

In this episode, Beth covers:

• The basics of the nervous system and what “resetting” really means
  
  
• The body’s survival modes: fight, flight, freeze
  
  
• How chronic stress affects your body—especially during perimenopause
  
  
  • Elevated cortisol
    
    
  • Weight gain around the midsection
    
    
  • Blood sugar imbalances and insulin resistance
    
    
  • Increased anxiety and fatigue
    
    
• The difference between stress challenges and mental health disorders
  
  
• Simple ways to bring your system back to baseline
  
  

Reset strategies you can try right now:

• Breathwork: Slow, intentional breathing to activate the parasympathetic system
  
  
• Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR): Scan your body and consciously release tension
  
  
• Mantras: “I am safe.” “It will be okay.”
  
  
• Movement: Gentle exercise to release stuck energy and boost endorphins
  
  
• Talking it out: Share your worries to release mental load
  
  
• Nutrition check-ins: Fuel your body so it can support your mind
  
  

Beth’s takeaway:
Your body already knows how to find calm—it just needs reminders. Practice your resets even when you feel fine, so your body learns what peace feels like and can find its way back faster next time.

Until next time, Menobodies—take a breath, find your calm, and know you’re safe right where you are.

Connect with Beth:
💌 Email: [email protected] 
📱 Instagram & Facebook: @menobodies
🌐 Tools and Resources: https://www.bethlohman.com/
🗞️Newsletter:subscribe here
🌸 Menobodies: menobodies.com

Welcome back, Menobodies! In this episode, Beth dives into a topic she often talks about in her therapy sessions—spiraling thoughts. You know that mental tornado that starts with one worry and suddenly sweeps you into worst-case scenarios? Whether it’s about sleep, weight, or everyday stress, Beth breaks it down with her signature mix of humor, heart, and practicality.

In this episode, Beth covers:

• What spiraling thoughts actually are (and why they hit harder during perimenopause and menopause)
• How anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and black-and-white thinking feed the spiral
• Her “tornado” visual—how one thought builds into chaos
• Why midlife changes, hormones, and stress make the mental chatter even louder

Then she introduces her favorite tool: “doorstops.”
Simple, realistic ways to pause your thoughts before they spin out of control.

Examples Beth shares:

• Forgetting breakfast → imagining you’ll end up in the hospital → using a doorstop like deep breathing, logic, or reassurance
• Feeling bloated or noticing weight gain → spiraling into shame → using a doorstop like body kindness, a walk, or ditching the clothes that don’t fit today

Practical doorstops you can try:

• 3x3x3 breathing
• A personal mantra or affirmation
• Calling a trusted friend
• Journaling or jotting down quick thoughts
• Taking a short break—walk, snack, or reset moment

Beth’s takeaway:
You can’t always stop intrusive thoughts from showing up, but you can keep them from running the show. With awareness and a few “doorstops,” you can calm the storm before it spirals.

Until next time, Menobodies—take a deep breath, be kind to yourself, and remember: you’re stronger than the storm.

Connect with Beth:
💌 Email: [email protected] 
📱 Instagram & Facebook: @menobodies
🌐 Tools and Resources: https://www.bethlohman.com/
🗞️Newsletter:subscribe here
🌸 Menobodies: menobodies.com