That stubborn weight that absolutely refuses to budge despite doing "everything right." Energy levels that crash harder than a toddler at naptime, leaving you reaching for your third cup of coffee by 2 PM. And your skin - breakouts plus that dull, tired complexion that no expensive cream seems to fix. Sound familiar? You're not broken, honey - you're probably inflamed.

Feeling like your body is staging a rebellion in your 40s? You're not alone, and you're definitely not broken. In this episode, Primal Sam tackles the topic that blindsides too many women - perimenopause - and provides a practical roadmap to reclaim control during this hormonal transition. Discover why hormone testing matters more than just symptom-checking (especially when perimenopause can start as early as your late 30s), learn to recognize the most common red flags like mood swings, sleep chaos, crushing fatigue, and unpredictable periods, and explore evidence-based solutions including targeted nutrition, ancestral eating principles, HRT options (including testosterone), and emerging research on Kisspeptin-10. Samantha challenges the "just deal with it" mentality and empowers you with actionable strategies during this life stage, helping you navigate perimenopause with grace instead of just white-knuckling through it.

Let's talk about something that might be staring back at you in the mirror – those persistent wrinkles that expensive cream can't seem to touch.

Most skin aging is happening FROM WITHIN. When you've got chronic inflammation, your body is kinda slow-cooking your collagen, elastin, and other structural proteins that keep your skin firm and supple.

Today, we're talking about something that might sound creepy, but it's WAY more common than you think – parasites.

Here's the truth: We get exposed to parasites constantly. That sushi you love? Swimming in lakes? Unwashed produce? Even your pets. Parasites enter our system and set up camp, creating systemic inflammation that affects EVERYTHING.

Think of it like having invisible roommates who eat your groceries, leave trash everywhere, and mess with your thermostat. These microscopic squatters can live in your intestines for years, affecting your hormones, nutrient absorption, and cellular energy production.

Today, we're tackling workout burnout – because sometimes more exercise is like drinking caffeine when you're already jittery.

Here's the truth bomb: Your body doesn't know the difference between running from a bear and running from exhaustion in HIIT class. Both trigger cortisol – your stress hormone.

When cortisol spikes repeatedly from intense workouts, it disrupts insulin sensitivity, making your body store fat for "survival." Your thyroid downregulates to conserve energy. And leptin – your satiety hormone – gets wonky, leaving you ravenous after that CrossFit session.

The result? Your body starts holding onto fat while stealing from muscle. Game over for your weight loss goals.

Let's talk about that frustrating weight loss plateau. Trust me, I've been there – measuring every morsel, sweating through workouts, and still nothing on that digital demon sitting on your bathroom floor.

But here's the thing – what if I told you it's not your fault? What if your body is actually doing exactly what it's designed to do when it thinks it's under attack?

That's right. We need to talk about inflammation – the hidden fire keeping your body in full-on defense mode.

Picture your body as a smart fortress. When inflammation rises, your fortress raises the drawbridge. Your cells go, "Nope! We're not letting go of resources because we're under siege!" And just like that, fat-burning goes into hibernation.