In today's deeply personal episode, I take you through the overwhelming journey that inspired The Meno Collective. I share how that moment when everything stops making sense - from your body to your emotions - isn't just a medical transition, but a complete paradigm shift in a woman's life. Through my own experience and years of working with hundreds of women, I reveal why perimenopause feels like waking up in someone else's body and why the current system often leaves us feeling dismissed and confused.

🔑 Key Moments:
• 00:00:05 - Opening story about the disorienting nature of perimenopause
• 00:02:25 - Validation that you're not losing your mind
• 00:02:55 - The untold truth about perimenopause as an identity crisis
• 00:04:47 - Why medical professionals often struggle to help
• 00:07:25 - The birth of The Meno Collective and its mission
• 00:09:52 - Important message about trusting your inner wisdom
• 00:12:10 - Call to action and community invitation

💡My main takeaway for YOU: 
I want you to remember:

1. You're not broken or crazy - you're experiencing a complex life transition
2. Your body isn't betraying you - it's speaking a new language
3. You don't need more information - you need curation and community
4. This isn't just survival - it's transformation

If you're feeling overwhelmed by perimenopause, know that The Meno Collective is here to be your lighthouse. We focus on:
• Evidence-based solutions
• Personal validation
• Community support
• The ONE method - taking things one step at a time

If you're experiencing perimenopause symptoms or know someone navigating this midlife transition, share this episode. Ready to transform your menopause journey with evidence-based support? Join the Meno Collective waitlist: [HERE].

Remember: You're not just surviving this transition - you're becoming who you're meant to be next. 💪

#Perimenopause #WomensHealth #MenopauseSupport #HormoneBalance #MidlifeWomen #WellnessJourney

CONNECT WITH THE SHOW

All Things Catharine
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @CatharineAdams

🎁 FREE RESOURCES
Symptom Tracker:  

Reset Your Balance and Strength

Self Visualization Guide

💪 Work With Catharine:
1:1 Coaching Waitlist

Meno Collective Membership Waitlist
 

🎧 PODCAST INFO
Listen to Catharine's Other Podcast :

The Macro Mindset with Coach Catharine

⚕️ MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
The content in this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

© 2025 The Meno Collective. All rights reserved.

The Truth About Menopause Weight Gain (It's Not What You Think)

Key Takeaways:

• The SWAN Study shows hormones alone cause only 3-6 pounds of weight gain during menopause
• During perimenopause, the rate of fat gain doubles from around 1% to 1.7% per year
• Muscle loss is actually minimal (0.2% per year) and totally preventable
• Real success requires addressing sleep, stress, movement, and nutrition (The MENO Framework)

In this episode, I'm calling out a major menopause myth: that hormones alone are responsible for significant midlife weight gain. I'm diving into the research-backed reality, sharing what I learned from the SWAN study and from gaining 30 pounds myself during perimenopause—despite doing all the "right things." I'll explain the complete picture behind why your body changes and introduce you to my science-backed MENO Framework, designed to help you finally stop fighting your body and start thriving in midlife.

Time Stamps

00:00-03:21 – Sarah's late-night struggle and introduction of the SWAN study
03:21-05:44 – Deep dive into the research: what's really changing physically
05:44-10:04 – Myth-busting the muscle loss misconception
10:04-14:14 – The complete picture beyond hormones: sleep, stress, nutrition, and movement
14:14-19:21 – My MENO Framework explained (Measure protein & veggies, Energize with strength, Nourish sleep, Optimize daily movement)
19:21-23:55 – Calling out social media myths and sharing real, sustainable solutions

Quick Reference Guide

Here's the MENO Framework breakdown:

M - Measure your protein (25-30g) and veggies with each meal
E - Energize your body with strength training (it doesn't have to be long sessions!)
N - Nourish your sleep (one of the biggest overlooked factors!)
O - Optimize your daily movement (make daily life your movement practice)

Resources Mentioned;

• Free Meno Framework Guide [Download]

And please remember: You're not broken. You're not lazy. You're not alone. You're navigating a chapter of life no one prepared you for, and we're rewriting these outdated narratives together. 🩷 ~ Catharine

#MenoCollective #Perimenopause #WomensHealth
#MenopauseWeightGain #SWANStudy #HormoneHealth
#MidlifeWellness #PerimenopausalNutrition
#MenopauseMyths #WomenOver40 #MenopauseSupport
#StrengthTraining #SleepHealth #HormoneBalance
#MidlifeTransformation

CONNECT WITH THE SHOW

All Things Catharine
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @CatharineAdams

🎁 FREE RESOURCES
Symptom Tracker:  

Reset Your Balance and Strength

Self Visualization Guide

💪 Work With Catharine:
1:1 Coaching Waitlist

Meno Collective Membership Waitlist
 

🎧 PODCAST INFO
Listen to Catharine's Other Podcast :

The Macro Mindset with Coach Catharine

⚕️ MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
The content in this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

© 2025 The Meno Collective. All rights reserved.

Welcome to the premiere episode of The Meno Collective Podcast: where science meets sisterhood and midlife wellness gets real.

Welcome to the very first episode of The Meno Collective Podcast, where I'm cutting through the confusion and giving you real, evidence-based strategies (no detox teas or supplements here!) to finally reclaim your health, strength, and sanity in midlife.

In this episode, I'll share my own perimenopause story: gaining weight despite clean eating and macro tracking, tossing and turning all night, feeling anxious, and being totally gaslit by doctors who told me "it's just aging." Yep, even though I was already a certified coach and nutritionist, I still felt lost.

You'll hear exactly how I flipped the script by diving into the research, experimenting with evidence-based strategies, and ultimately creating The Meno Collective Framework —a simple, four-part system that's now helping women everywhere take back control of their bodies, minds, and lives.

Here's what you'll learn in this episode:

• Why the old "eat less, move more" advice can totally backfire in perimenopause
• How shifting hormones impact fat storage, sleep quality, and your body's recovery
• The four key pillars of The Meno Collective Framework:
  1. Roadmap: Figuring out your personal hormone journey
  2. Nourish: Sustainable nutrition without extremes or fads
  3. Move: Exercise that's supportive, not punishing
  4. Flourish: Mindset, stress management, and daily lifestyle strategies
• The truth about what's really happening with your metabolism in your 40s and 50s
• Plus, I'll introduce you to Claire, a real client who transformed her health simply by shifting her focus to protein-first eating and ditching restrictive rules.

Key moments you'll want to listen for:

00:32 – My closet struggles, sleepless nights, and wondering, "Am I going crazy?"
01:47 – My real story: clean eating, tracking macros, and STILL gaining weight
02:38 – Doctors dismissed me, my symptoms ignored, and that shame spiraled
03:30 – Why "eat less, move more" doesn't work anymore
04:15 – Introducing the four pillars of my Meno Collective Framework
06:15 – Claire's amazing transformation: From exhausting fasted cardio to protein-powered strength
07:41 – Remember—You're not broken, you're adapting (and now you're empowered!)
08:45 – Thriving through perimenopause IS possible, and it starts right here

Resources mentioned:

🎁 Free Download: Perimenopause Symptom Decoder (link in the show notes!)

And remember, you're not broken. You're not lazy. You're navigating something no one prepared you for, but I'm here to help you thrive through it. 🩷 ~ Catharine

CONNECT WITH THE SHOW

All Things Catharine
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @CatharineAdams

🎁 FREE RESOURCES
Symptom Tracker:  

Reset Your Balance and Strength

Self Visualization Guide

💪 Work With Catharine:
1:1 Coaching Waitlist

Meno Collective Membership Waitlist
 

🎧 PODCAST INFO
Listen to Catharine's Other Podcast :

The Macro Mindset with Coach Catharine

⚕️ MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
The content in this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

© 2025 The Meno Collective. All rights reserved.