Not Your Mother's Menopause with Dr. Fiona Lovely | Perimenopause and Menopause Support

If you have ever stood in front of your refrigerator wondering how on earth you are supposed to eat 100 grams of protein a day without turning mealtime into a second job, this episode is for you. In this conversation, Dr. Fiona Lovely welcomes Liz Baker Plosser, former Editor-in-Chief of Women's Health magazine and author of Own Your Morning. Liz has spent more than two decades translating health research for women, and she is here to cut through the noise on protein, essential amino acids, and creatine for midlife.

Liz and Dr. Lovely discuss why our bodies become less efficient at using protein as estrogen declines, and why aiming for 100 grams or more daily is not about diet culture but about protecting muscle, brain function, and overall energy. They break down the distinct roles of essential amino acids for repair and recovery versus creatine for strength and cognitive performance, including new research showing creatine can help sharpen the brain after a broken night of sleep. Liz also shares how she uses a simple morning supplement routine as an insurance policy, allowing her to live flexibly without obsessing over every meal. For any woman who has felt overwhelmed by the conflicting advice on social media or dismissed midlife fatigue as normal, this episode offers a clear, science-backed path forward.

To get the essential amino acid supplement we speak about in this episode go to: getkion.com/lovely to get 20% off!

You can find Liz Baker Plosser on Instagram @lizplosser and on her Substack, Best Case Scenario, at substack.lizplosser.com.

Thank you to our sponsors for this episode:

🌱 Ready to level up your nutrition? Check out AG1 for nutritional insurance on busy days! Visit our partner page here, to discover the ultimate all-in-one nutritional supplement. Plus, our podcast subscribers score exclusive freebies! 💚

💙🌿BEAM Minerals to help with stress related depletion - this is your 2026 pro-health move! Did you know that chronic stress can zap your energy and your minerals? You FEEL better quickly, with this easy to take supplement - replenishing all lost minerals. Give BEAM a try - beamminerals.com and use the code LOVELY for 20% off your first order!

The transition through midlife often brings a frustrating trio of shifts: the stubborn bloating, those unpredictable energy swings, and changes to the midsection that feel completely outside of your control. Harnessing the power of S-Equol, B. breve, and chromium, this formula is uniquely designed to support healthy estrogen signaling and metabolic function. It's about more than just numbers; it's about stabilizing blood sugar, restoring gut comfort, and supporting a healthy body composition so you can feel like yourself again. Go to www.mitoq.com and use code LOVELY10 for 10% off your first order!

How to work with Dr. Lovely:

We get many requests for this info, so here it is! First off, thank you for listening to the NYMM podcast. It's because of your support, we can continue to dispense this information.❤️

Follow Dr. Lovely on IG and TikTok: @drfionalovely

Follow the podcast on Facebook: www.facebook.com/@notyourmothersmenopausepodcast

Please sign up for our newsletter - Fiona's Friday Favourites! This is where we make the first announcements, share course offerings, drop new episodes, blog posts and the coveted 'Fiona's Favourites' column, etc. drlovely.com You can also find some great resources there!

Finally, a humble request:

If you love the podcast, please leave us a review! It helps more people find useful info for a challenging time: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/not-your-mothers-menopause-with-dr-fiona-lovely/id1097326296 Please scroll to the bottom of the page to leave a review. Thank you! 💕🤗

Partnerships by Category3 Media Group

In this episode of Not Your Mother's Menopause, Dr. Fiona Lovely welcomes award-winning journalist Meghan Rabbitt, author of The New Rules of Women's Health. Meghan shares how her own health journey—from dismissing severe symptoms to discovering a uterus full of fibroids—led her to write a comprehensive guide for women. She explains why the old "bikini medicine" approach is insufficient and how conditions like pregnancy complications and severe hot flashes can signal future heart disease risk. Importantly, Meghan reframes menopause as a brain shift, not just an ovarian one, and offers practical tools for navigating medical appointments with confidence.

Episode Highlights:

• Why keeping a "reporter's notebook" of symptoms can transform your doctor's visit.

• The importance of asking for a lifetime breast cancer risk assessment, such as the Tyrer-Cuzick model (find it here.)

• How women's pain is often dismissed and why boasting about high pain tolerance can delay necessary treatment.

• The evolving understanding of hormone therapy, including why many clinicians now prefer the term "menopause hormone therapy."

• Practical advice on using vaginal estrogen and the value of consulting your pharmacist.

You know your body better than anyone. Bring that notebook to your next appointment and ask the questions that matter. For guidance to support those conversations, grab a copy of The New Rules of Women's Health .

Connect with Meghan:

Website: https://newrulesofwomenshealth.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meghanrabbitt/

Thank you to our sponsors for this episode:

If you're noticing fine lines, wrinkles, or sagging skin — thanks menopause —ugh, me too. Menopause can deplete your skin's collagen, speeding up aging. But here's the game-changer: Vitali Skincare has built its entire line on the power of GHK-Cu copper peptides — a proven ingredient that signals your skin's stem cells to produce new, healthy collagen. Head to vitaliskincare.com and use the code LOVELY at checkout for 20% off. Be sure to check out the Vita exosome serum for less saggy, dull skin.

😴 Introducing AGZ from AG1 - the nightly drink for winding down and resting up. It's a melatonin-free formula with clinically-studied ingredients like valerian, ashwagandha, saffron, and magnesium L-threonate to support your body's natural sleep cycle. If you're ready to turn down the stress and focus on the rest, head to drinkag1.com/. You'll get a FREE Frother with your first purchase of AGZ.

How to work with Dr. Lovely:

We get many requests for this info, so here it is! First off, thank you for listening to the NYMM podcast. It's because of your support, we can continue to dispense this information.❤️

Follow Dr. Lovely on IG and TikTok: @drfionalovely

Follow the podcast on Facebook: www.facebook.com/@notyourmothersmenopausepodcast

Please sign up for our newsletter - Fiona's Friday Favourites! This is where we make the first announcements, share course offerings, drop new episodes, blog posts and the coveted 'Fiona's Favourites' column, etc. drlovely.com You can also find some great resources there!

Finally, a humble request:

If you love the podcast, please leave us a review! It helps more people find useful info for a challenging time: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/not-your-mothers-menopause-with-dr-fiona-lovely/id1097326296 Please scroll to the bottom of the page to leave a review. Thank you! 💕🤗

Partnerships by Category3 Media Group

In this episode, Dr. Fiona Lovely welcomes two distinguished guests who are reshaping the conversation around women's pelvic health. Dr. Christine Vaccaro, a double board-certified urogynecologist and reconstructive pelvic surgeon, brings her expertise in clitoral anatomy, interstitial cystitis, and the critical role of both estrogen and testosterone in bladder function. She is joined by Heather Florio, CEO of Desert Harvest, whose decades of research-driven work offer practical solutions for those suffering from chronic bladder pain.

Together, they discuss why conditions like interstitial cystitis are so frequently misdiagnosed as recurrent UTIs, how androgen-blocking medications can have lasting effects on the pelvic floor, and why a thorough, systematic pelvic exam remains the gold standard for accurate diagnosis. The conversation also explores the similarities between male and female anatomy in development (we all begin with a clitoris!), the importance of self-exploration for maintaining intimacy, and the growing need for better clinician education on menopause and sexual medicine.

No matter what you are experiencing, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and a path forward.

Connect with the guests:

Dr. Christine Vaccaro: @drchristinevaccaro on Instagram

Heather Florio: Instagram (@hmflorio) | X (@DesertHarvest) | TikTok (@desertharvest)

Thank you to our sponsors for this episode:

If you're noticing fine lines, wrinkles, or sagging skin — thanks menopause —ugh, me too. Menopause can deplete your skin's collagen, speeding up aging. But here's the game-changer: Vitali Skincare has built its entire line on the power of GHK-Cu copper peptides — a proven ingredient that signals your skin's stem cells to produce new, healthy collagen. Head to vitaliskincare.com and use the code LOVELY at checkout for 20% off.

Women in perimenopause and menopause talk about wanting the same things — less bloating, no afternoon crash after eating, steady energy. MassZymes is perfect for helping your body's ability to actually process what you eat. MassZymes uses a full-spectrum blend of 18 enzymes. That means you're getting more out of the food you eat. Plus, it works across different stomach acid levels, which can really matter as we age. Here's what you get when you go to bioptimizers.com/lovely and use code LOVELY: 15% off your entire order + A free bottle of Masszymes — BiOptimizers' best-selling digestive enzyme — added to your order automatically when you use our exclusive code.

If night sweats and restless sleep are disrupting your rest, Cozy Earth's bamboo sheets and pajama sets are temperature-regulating and moisture-wicking — designed to sleep several degrees cooler than cotton. Because supporting your body through menopause starts with how you sleep. Visit cozyearth.com and use code LOVELY for 20% off.

How to work with Dr. Lovely:

We get many requests for this info, so here it is! First off, thank you for listening to the NYMM podcast. It's because of your support, we can continue to dispense this information.❤️

Follow Dr. Lovely on IG and TikTok: @drfionalovely

Follow the podcast on Facebook: www.facebook.com/@notyourmothersmenopausepodcast

Please sign up for our newsletter - Fiona's Friday Favourites! This is where we make the first announcements, share course offerings, drop new episodes, blog posts and the coveted 'Fiona's Favourites' column, etc. drlovely.com You can also find some great resources there!

Finally, a humble request:

If you love the podcast, please leave us a review! It helps more people find useful info for a challenging time: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/not-your-mothers-menopause-with-dr-fiona-lovely/id1097326296 Please scroll to the bottom of the page to leave a review. Thank you! 💕🤗

Partnerships by Category3 Media Group

Dr. Fiona Lovely welcomes back Dr. Siobhan Mitchell, Chief Scientific Officer of MitoQ and an expert in nutritional neuroscience, for a conversation that digs deeper into the metabolic shifts women experience at midlife. Dr. Mitchell explains how declining estrogen directly impacts mitochondrial health, which in turn affects everything from energy levels and muscle strength to where the body stores fat. Listeners will learn why the same diet and exercise routines may stop working during perimenopause, and why that stubborn belly fat is not a personal failure but a biological response to changing hormones. Dr. Mitchell discusses the protective role of estrogen, the emerging understanding of the estrobolome, and practical options for support including HRT, phytoestrogens from sources like soy, and the lesser-known compound S-equol. She also shares what she wishes she had known earlier about stress and risk-taking, offering a personal insight that may resonate with many listeners navigating midlife changes.

Episode Highlights:

• How declining estrogen leads to reduced mitochondrial function, affecting energy, muscle strength, and inflammation throughout the body

• Why women gain visceral belly fat during perimenopause even when diet and exercise have not changed

• How the estrobolome, or gut bacteria responsible for recycling estrogen, can be supported to improve metabolic outcomes

• The role of phytoestrogens and S-equol, including why only about twenty percent of Western women can produce this beneficial compound naturally

• How HRT, phytoestrogens, and targeted supplements can work together or separately to support women through the menopausal transition

This episode offers a clear roadmap for women who want to understand what is happening inside their bodies and take informed steps toward maintaining their health through the menopausal transition.

Thank you to our sponsors for this episode:

The transition through midlife often brings a frustrating trio of shifts: the stubborn bloating, those unpredictable energy swings, and changes to the midsection that feel completely outside of your control. Harnessing the power of S-Equol, B. breve, and chromium, this formula is uniquely designed to support healthy estrogen signaling and metabolic function. It's about more than just numbers; it's about stabilizing blood sugar, restoring gut comfort, and supporting a healthy body composition so you can feel like yourself again. Go to www.mitoq.com and use code LOVELY10 for 10% off your first order!

If night sweats and restless sleep are disrupting your rest, Cozy Earth's bamboo sheets and pajama sets are temperature-regulating and moisture-wicking — designed to sleep several degrees cooler than cotton. Because supporting your body through menopause starts with how you sleep. Visit cozyearth.com and use code LOVELY for 20% off.

Dr. Fiona Lovely is a longevity, health and wellness expert with specialties in menopause medicine, functional neurology and functional medicine. She is speaking to the topics of women's health around perimenopause and menopause.

How to work with Dr. Lovely:

We get many requests for this info, so here it is! First off, thank you for listening to the NYMM podcast. It's because of your support, we can continue to dispense this information.❤️

Follow Dr. Lovely on IG and TikTok: @drfionalovely

Follow the podcast on Facebook: www.facebook.com/@notyourmothersmenopausepodcast

Please sign up for our newsletter - Fiona's Friday Favourites! This is where we make the first announcements, share course offerings, drop new episodes, blog posts and the coveted 'Fiona's Favourites' column, etc. drlovely.com You can also find some great resources there!

Finally, a humble request:

If you love the podcast, please leave us a review! It helps more people find useful info for a challenging time: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/not-your-mothers-menopause-with-dr-fiona-lovely/id1097326296 Please scroll to the bottom of the page to leave a review. Thank you! 💕🤗

Partnerships by Category3 Media Group

In this powerful episode, Dr. Fiona Lovely welcomes back her friend and colleague, Dr. Amie Hornaman—known globally as "The Thyroid Fixer." Dr. Amie is a functional medicine expert, host of the top-rated The Thyroid Fixer podcast, and author of the new book The Thyroid Fix: The No-Nonsense Guide to Reclaiming Your Health. Together, they pull back the curtain on why conventional medicine continues to fail women when it comes to thyroid and hormone health.

Dr. Amie shares her journey of being misdiagnosed and how that fueled her mission to help women stop wishing on a rainbow for their health to improve. She explains why relying solely on TSH and T4 is a dangerous gamble, revealing that the real story lies in free T3 and reverse T3. Listeners will learn why T4-only medication like Synthroid often falls short and how to advocate for proper testing and treatment. The conversation also explores the forgotten thyroid hormone T2, its role in burning fat without losing muscle, and how GLP-1 medications intersect with thyroid function. Dr. Amie provides scripted, respectful language for women to use with their doctors, including a powerful "nuclear option" to ensure their concerns are documented.

Episode Highlights:

• Why TSH is a misleading marker and which two tests truly matter for thyroid health.

• The problem with T4-only medication and why it can backfire.

• How to approach your doctor without overwhelming them—three bullet points, no life stories.

• The fascinating role of T2 in metabolism and weight loss.

• A candid discussion on thyroid nodules, unnecessary surgeries, and patient advocacy.

Tune in to learn how to become the CEO of your own health, because waiting for your doctor to catch up is no longer an option.

Thank you to our sponsors for this episode:

Women in perimenopause and menopause talk about wanting the same things — less bloating, no afternoon crash after eating, steady energy. MassZymes is perfect for helping your body's ability to actually process what you eat. MassZymes uses a full-spectrum blend of 18 enzymes. That means you're getting more out of the food you eat. Plus, it works across different stomach acid levels, which can really matter as we age. Here's what you get when you go to bioptimizers.com/lovely and use code LOVELY: 15% off your entire order AND a free bottle of Masszymes — BiOptimizers' best-selling digestive enzyme — added to your order automatically when you use our exclusive code.

💙🌿BEAM Minerals to help with stress related depletion - this is your 2026 pro-health move! Did you know that chronic stress can zap your energy and your minerals? You FEEL better quickly, with this easy to take supplement - replenishing all lost minerals. Give BEAM a try - beamminerals.com and use the code LOVELY for 20% off your first order!

If you're noticing fine lines, wrinkles, or sagging skin — thanks menopause —ugh, me too. Menopause can deplete your skin's collagen, speeding up aging. But here's the game-changer: Vitali Skincare has built its entire line on the power of GHK-Cu copper peptides — a proven ingredient that signals your skin's stem cells to produce new, healthy collagen. Head to vitaliskincare.com and use the code LOVELY at checkout for 20% off.

Dr. Fiona Lovely is a longevity, health and wellness expert with specialties in menopause medicine, functional neurology and functional medicine. She is speaking to the topics of women's health around perimenopause and menopause.

How to work with Dr. Lovely:

We get many requests for this info, so here it is! First off, thank you for listening to the NYMM podcast. It's because of your support, we can continue to dispense this information.❤️

Follow Dr. Lovely on IG and TikTok: @drfionalovely

Follow the podcast on Facebook: www.facebook.com/@notyourmothersmenopausepodcast

Please sign up for our newsletter - Fiona's Friday Favourites! This is where we make the first announcements, share course offerings, drop new episodes, blog posts and the coveted 'Fiona's Favourites' column, etc. drlovely.com You can also find some great resources there!

Finally, a humble request:

If you love the podcast, please leave us a review! It helps more people find useful info for a challenging time: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/not-your-mothers-menopause-with-dr-fiona-lovely/id1097326296 Please scroll to the bottom of the page to leave a review. Thank you! 💕🤗

Partnerships by Category3 Media Group

In this episode, Dr. Fiona Lovely welcomes back friend Andrea Donsky, the nutritionist, author, podcaster and seven-time published menopause researcher known to her 350,000 TikTok followers as the "Menopause Educator and Researcher." Did you know there are 103 documented menopause symptoms? Andrea shares groundbreaking updates to her peer-reviewed research published in the Journal of Menopause, including the stunning finding that hot flashes are no longer even among the top ten most common symptoms (and yet, medicine guidelines still use it as the benchmark for when a woman is in menopause.)

Andrea and Dr. Lovely discuss medical dismissal, the surprising reality of phantom smells like burning toast, and why under-eating actually raises cortisol and increases belly fat.

Finally, we talk about Andrea's new book: Nourishing Menopause, is available now from Simon and Schuster.

Listeners are encouraged to visit wearemorphus.com to contribute to her ongoing research and help change the conversation for women everywhere.

Follow Andrea on TikTok and Instagram @andreadonsky and @wearemorphus to learn more.

Episode Highlights:

- Why hot flashes fell from number ten to number eleven on the symptom list

- The shocking average of thirty-one symptoms per woman, many of them brain-based (especially the top ten!)

- How phantom smells affect nearly three quarters of women

- Why being gentler with yourself is essential for managing stress

Andrea's new book, Nourishing Menopause, is available now from Simon and Schuster. Listeners are encouraged to visit wearemorphus.com to contribute to her ongoing research and help change the conversation for women everywhere.

Follow Andrea on TikTok and Instagram @andreadonsky and @wearemorphus to learn more.

TikTok: @andreadonksy and @wearemorphus

Instagram: @andreadonsky and @wearemorphus

Thank you to our sponsors for this episode:

🌱 Ready to level up your nutrition? Check out AG1 for nutritional insurance on busy days! Visit our partner page here, to discover the ultimate all-in-one nutritional supplement. Plus, our podcast subscribers score exclusive freebies! 💚

✨Did you know that estrogen actually helps to protect our heart? When estrogen starts to diminish as we head to menopause, we have more oxidative stress on our arteries. Thankfully, MitoQ has a special anti-oxidant Mitoquinol that boosts our mitochondria and limits that stress. Even better they have a new product called Hormonal Metabolic Control that is specifically for us women. You can check it out at MitoQ.com. Use LOVELY10 for 10% off your first order.

Dr. Fiona Lovely is a longevity, health and wellness expert with specialties in menopause medicine, functional neurology and functional medicine. She is speaking to the topics of women's health around perimenopause and menopause.

How to work with Dr. Lovely:

We get many requests for this info, so here it is! First off, thank you for listening to the NYMM podcast. It's because of your support, we can continue to dispense this information.❤️

Follow Dr. Lovely on IG and TikTok: @drfionalovely

Follow the podcast on Facebook: www.facebook.com/@notyourmothersmenopausepodcast

Please sign up for our newsletter - Fiona's Friday Favourites! This is where we make the first announcements, share course offerings, drop new episodes, blog posts and the coveted 'Fiona's Favourites' column, etc. drlovely.com You can also find some great resources there!

Finally, a humble request:

If you love the podcast, please leave us a review! It helps more people find useful info for a challenging time: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/not-your-mothers-menopause-with-dr-fiona-lovely/id1097326296 Please scroll to the bottom of the page to leave a review. Thank you! 💕🤗

Partnerships by Category3 Media Group

In this episode of Not Your Mother's Menopause, Dr. Fiona Lovely welcomes back Caroline Alan, co-founder of BEAM Minerals and author of the upcoming book "The Mineral Reset". Caroline, known affectionately as "The Mineral Geek," shares her personal healing journey from debilitating gut inflammation, adrenal fatigue, and chronic infections to vibrant health—all through the power of plant-based humic and fulvic minerals. She explains why minerals are the structural foundation of the human body and the essential fuel for cellular energy production. Listeners will learn why modern farming practices have left soil severely depleted, making it impossible to obtain necessary minerals from food alone. Caroline breaks down the remarkable roles of humic acid as nature's janitor for detoxification and fulvic acid as nature's cellular delivery system—the only molecule on earth that can change its polarity to drop nutrients directly into cells. Dr. Lovely and Caroline explore why perimenopause symptoms like sleep disturbances, mood swings, and brain fog often mirror mineral deficiency symptoms, and how replenishing minerals can help women navigate this transition with greater ease.

Episode Highlights:

- Why 97 percent of people show multiple mineral deficiencies

- The difference between hydration and irrigation—and why salt-based electrolyte products may backfire

- How humic and fulvic work together to deliver minerals into cells while removing toxins

Tune in to discover why tending your own internal fire with mineral replenishment might be the simplest and most profound shift you make for your health. Caroline's book, The Mineral Reset, is available now at mineralresetbook.com

Learn more about Caroline here:

Website | Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn | Facebook | Youtube

Thank you to our sponsors for this episode:

✨Did you know that estrogen actually helps to protect our heart? When estrogen starts to diminish as we head to menopause, we have more oxidative stress on our arteries. Thankfully, MitoQ has a special anti-oxidant Mitoquinol that boosts our mitochondria and limits that stress. You can check it out at MitoQ.com. Use LOVELY10 for 10% off your first order.

🛌If night sweats and restless sleep are disrupting your rest, Cozy Earth's bamboo sheets and pajama sets are temperature-regulating and moisture-wicking — designed to sleep several degrees cooler than cotton. Because supporting your body through menopause starts with how you sleep. Visit cozyearth.com and use code LOVELY for 20% off. These are the softest, coolest, most comfortable sheets you have ever slept on!

Dr. Fiona Lovely is a longevity, health and wellness expert with specialties in menopause medicine, functional neurology and functional medicine. She is speaking to the topics of women's health around perimenopause and menopause.

How to work with Dr. Lovely:

We get many requests for this info, so here it is! First off, thank you for listening to the NYMM podcast. It's because of your support, we can continue to dispense this information.❤️

Follow Dr. Lovely on IG and TikTok: @drfionalovely

Follow the podcast on Facebook: www.facebook.com/@notyourmothersmenopausepodcast

Please sign up for our newsletter - Fiona's Friday Favourites! This is where we make the first announcements, share course offerings, drop new episodes, blog posts and the coveted 'Fiona's Favourites' column, etc. drlovely.com You can also find some great resources there!

Finally, a humble request:

If you love the podcast, please leave us a review! It helps more people find useful info for a challenging time: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/not-your-mothers-menopause-with-dr-fiona-lovely/id1097326296 Please scroll to the bottom of the page to leave a review. Thank you! 💕🤗

Partnerships by Category3 Media Group

In this solo episode of the Not Your Mother's Menopause Podcast, Dr. Fiona Lovely tackles the question women ask her the most: why is weight gain happening at midlife when nothing else has changed? She explains that this experience is not just a failure of willpower. Instead, it is a sign of a profound biochemical shift. Dr. Lovely reframes perimenopause not just as a reproductive transition, but as a metabolic transition. She breaks down the science of how declining estrogen leads to insulin resistance, explaining why the body begins storing fat as visceral fat around the midsection and why losing muscle mass naturally slows the metabolic engine. The episode moves beyond the frustration of tight pants to focus on protecting the heart and restoring energy. Listeners will learn a tactical toolkit that moves away from restriction and toward nourishment, including the importance of protein and fiber, the game changing order of eating food on a plate, and why skipping meals can backfire for midlife metabolism.

Episode Highlights:

• Why estrogen is a massive protector of the metabolic system and how its decline creates insulin resistance.

• The shift from storing fat in the hips to storing inflammatory visceral fat around the organs.

• A tactical nutrition toolkit including 100+ grams of protein, 25+ grams of fiber, and the correct order of eating.

• Why skipping meals and intermittent fasting may worsen cortisol spikes and muscle loss at midlife.

• The truth about GLP1 medications, muscle loss, and why resistance training remains the real metabolic magic.

(If you would prefer an alternative to the prescription GLP 1, we recommend the data backed CaloCurb! Use code LOVELY10 for a discount!)

Tune in to learn why nourishing your body is the only way forward and how to finally work with your metabolism, not against it.

Thank you to our sponsors for this episode:

💊Women often talk about wanting the same things — less bloating, no afternoon crash after eating, steady energy. MassZymes is perfect for helping your body's ability to actually process what you eat. MassZymes uses a full-spectrum blend of 18 enzymes. That means you're getting more out of the food you eat. Please visit bioptimizers.com/lovely and use code LOVELY for 15% off your entire order.

💙If you're noticing fine lines, wrinkles, or sagging skin — thanks menopause —ugh, me too. Menopause can deplete your skin's collagen, speeding up aging. But here's the game-changer: Vitali Skincare has built its entire line on the power of GHK-Cu copper peptides — a proven ingredient that signals your skin's stem cells to produce new, healthy collagen. Head to vitaliskincare.com and use the code LOVELY at checkout for 20% off. Be sure to check out the Vita exosome serum for less saggy, dull skin.

🛌If night sweats and restless sleep are disrupting your rest, Cozy Earth's bamboo sheets and pajama sets are temperature-regulating and moisture-wicking — designed to sleep several degrees cooler than cotton. Because supporting your body through menopause starts with how you sleep. I LOVE the bamboo sheets! 🎋Visit cozyearth.com and use code LOVELY for 20% off.

Dr. Fiona Lovely is a longevity, health and wellness expert with specialties in menopause medicine, functional neurology and functional medicine. She is speaking to the topics of women's health around perimenopause and menopause.

How to work with Dr. Lovely:

We get many requests for this info, so here it is! First off, thank you for listening to the NYMM podcast. It's because of your support, we can continue to dispense this information.❤️

Follow Dr. Lovely on IG and TikTok: @drfionalovely

Follow the podcast on Facebook: www.facebook.com/@notyourmothersmenopausepodcast

Please sign up for our newsletter - Fiona's Friday Favourites! This is where we make the first announcements, share course offerings, drop new episodes, blog posts and the coveted 'Fiona's Favourites' column, etc. drlovely.com You can also find some great resources there!

Finally, a humble request:

If you love the podcast, please leave us a review! It helps more people find useful info for a challenging time: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/not-your-mothers-menopause-with-dr-fiona-lovely/id1097326296 Please scroll to the bottom of the page to leave a review. Thank you! 💕🤗

Partnerships by Category3 Media Group

In this fun and rousing roundtable discussion, Dr. Fiona Lovely sits down with two of her favorite podcast hosts and Meno Besties: Zora Benhamou from Hack My Age and Karen Martel from The Hormone Solution. Together, they navigate a conversation on the nuances of hormone therapy, the hidden complexities of the thyroid, and the often-unspoken landscape of female desire in midlife. They even discuss the wildly popular Heated Rivalry show!

The conversation dives deep into the necessity of testing hormone levels during perimenopause, with Karen making a compelling case for why "test, don't guess" is a vital rule—especially when thyroid issues can so easily mimic hormonal symptoms. From there, the trio courageously pivots to sexual health, reframing low libido not as a flaw, but as a complex experience often rooted in stress, trauma, and a nervous system stuck in survival mode. They wrap up with a beautiful, anthropological look at menopause as a spiritual promotion, referencing cultures that revere the post-reproductive woman as a wise leader and healer.

• The Hormone Testing Debate: A nuanced look at why testing in perimenopause is essential and how thyroid health can be the hidden culprit behind your symptoms.

• The Truth About Desire: An honest conversation about midlife libido, exploring why certain narratives captivate women and the role of ancestral trauma in feeling safe enough for intimacy.

• The Nervous System Connection: Understanding how a survival-mode response impacts your hormonal transition.

• Menopause as a Second Spring: Rejecting the Western narrative of decline in favor of a model of gained wisdom, authority, and spiritual power.

Want to feel less alone in your experience? Tune in to hear three friends remind you that you aren't broken—you're just becoming the most powerful version of yourself.

The conversation doesn't end here. Keep the education going with Zora and Karen on their own shows or sign up to learn more about my Menopause Doula Certification where you can be the one supporting women!

Listen to Hack My Age by Zora Benhamou

Learn more about Zora: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube

Listen to The Hormone Solution with Karen Martel

Learn more about Karen: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube

Thank you to our sponsors for this episode:

💙🌿BEAM Minerals to help with stress related depletion - this is your 2026 pro-health move! Did you know that chronic stress can zap your energy and your minerals? You FEEL better quickly, with this easy to take supplement - replenishing all lost minerals. Give BEAM a try - beamminerals.com and use the code LOVELY for 20% off your first order!

✨Did you know that estrogen actually helps to protect our heart? When estrogen starts to diminish as we head to menopause, we have more oxidative stress on our arteries. Thankfully, MitoQ has a special anti-oxidant Mitoquinol that boosts our mitochondria and limits that stress. You can check it out at MitoQ.com. Use LOVELY10 for 10% off your first order.

Dr. Fiona Lovely is a longevity, health and wellness expert with specialties in menopause medicine, functional neurology and functional medicine. She is speaking to the topics of women's health around perimenopause and menopause.

How to work with Dr. Lovely:

We get many requests for this info, so here it is! First off, thank you for listening to the NYMM podcast. It's because of your support, we can continue to dispense this information.❤️

Follow Dr. Lovely on IG and TikTok: @drfionalovely

Follow the podcast on Facebook: www.facebook.com/@notyourmothersmenopausepodcast

Please sign up for our newsletter - Fiona's Friday Favourites! This is where we make the first announcements, share course offerings, drop new episodes, blog posts and the coveted 'Fiona's Favourites' column, etc. drlovely.com You can also find some great resources there!

Finally, a humble request:

If you love the podcast, please leave us a review! It helps more people find useful info for a challenging time: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/not-your-mothers-menopause-with-dr-fiona-lovely/id1097326296 Please scroll to the bottom of the page to leave a review. Thank you! 💕🤗

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If you have tried every diet, every supplement, and every stress management trick only to find yourself still battling bloating, brain fog, or unexplained anxiety, this conversation is for you. In this re-air of a listener-favorite episode, Dr. Fiona Lovely welcomes Tina Anderson, a former pharmaceutical insider who left the world of conventional medicine to build something different. After witnessing firsthand how the system prioritizes disease management over true health, Tina and her husband created a company rooted in a radical idea: real wellness starts in the gut.

Tina and Dr. Lovely explore the often misunderstood connection between the microbiome and mental health, revealing how inflammation, leaky gut, and even joint pain can trace their roots back to digestive imbalances. They challenge the toxic "Stress Badge of Honour" that so many women wear, arguing that feeling peaceful is not a luxury but a biological necessity. The discussion covers how supporting gut health can build genuine resilience, improve mood, and offer new tools for managing the anxiety and depression that frequently accompany perimenopause and menopause—areas where conventional medicine has often fallen short. For anyone struggling with persistent digestive issues, chronic inflammation, or mental health challenges that won't budge, this episode offers a fresh, science-informed path forward rooted in the wisdom of the microbiome.

You can find out more about Tina Anderson and Just Thrive on Instagram @justthrivehealth or their website justthrivehealth.com and if you use code LOVELY, you get 15% off!

You can find the original episode and shownotes here: Probiotics, Immunity and Gut Health with Tina Anderson

Thank you to our sponsors for this episode:

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💙If you're noticing fine lines, wrinkles, or sagging skin — thanks menopause —ugh, me too. Menopause can deplete your skin's collagen, speeding up aging. But here's the game-changer: Vitali Skincare has built its entire line on the power of GHK-Cu copper peptides — a proven ingredient that signals your skin's stem cells to produce new, healthy collagen. Head to vitaliskincare.com and use the code LOVELY at checkout for 20% off. Be sure to check out their Vita serum - zero age exosomes to really move the needle on your skin aging...in reverse!

Dr. Fiona Lovely is a longevity, health and wellness expert with specialties in menopause medicine, functional neurology and functional medicine. She is speaking to the topics of women's health around perimenopause and menopause.

How to work with Dr. Lovely:

We get many requests for this info, so here it is! First off, thank you for listening to the NYMM podcast. It's because of your support, we can continue to dispense this information.❤️

Follow Dr. Lovely on IG and TikTok: @drfionalovely

Follow the podcast on Facebook: www.facebook.com/@notyourmothersmenopausepodcast

Please sign up for our newsletter - Fiona's Friday Favourites! This is where we make the first announcements, share course offerings, drop new episodes, blog posts and the coveted 'Fiona's Favourites' column, etc. drlovely.com You can also find some great resources there!

Finally, a humble request:

If you love the podcast, please leave us a review! It helps more people find useful info for a challenging time: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/not-your-mothers-menopause-with-dr-fiona-lovely/id1097326296 Please scroll to the bottom of the page to leave a review. Thank you! 💕🤗

Partnerships by Category3 Media Group