If you’re between 40 and 70, chances are you’ve noticed your body changing in ways you didn’t expect—or maybe didn’t sign up for. Perimenopause and menopause can bring more than hot flashes. Think: restless nights, brain fog, mood swings, stubborn weight gain, and energy that just doesn’t feel the same.
Here’s the good news: while these changes are normal, they don’t have to define you. Experts like Dr. Stacy Sims (Next Level) and Dr. Mary Claire Haver (The New Menopause) remind us that this stage of life is a powerful opportunity to reset how we move, eat, and care for ourselves. With a few key strategies, you can feel more vibrant, resilient, and strong than ever.
7 Nutrition & Exercise Tips to Help You Thrive
1. Make Protein Your Friend
As estrogen declines, your body naturally loses muscle at a faster rate—a process called sarcopenia. The best way to fight back is to prioritize protein. Aim for 25–30 grams at each meal, and try to spread it evenly throughout your day. Think eggs for breakfast, salmon or chicken at lunch, and beans, lentils, or tofu at dinner. This not only supports muscle but also helps regulate appetite, energy, and even blood sugar. Pairing protein with strength training makes the benefits even greater.
2. Lift Heavy (For You)
Strength training is the most powerful tool you have in midlife. It protects bone density, improves posture, keeps joints healthy, and even boosts metabolism. You don’t have to lift like a bodybuilder—just challenge your muscles with resistance 2–3 times a week. That might mean squats with dumbbells, push-ups, resistance band rows, or Pilates reformer sessions. The key is progressive overload: adding weight, reps, or resistance over time so your body continues to adapt and grow stronger.
3. Mix Up Your Cardio
Cardio is still important, but the way you do it matters. Long, steady sessions can sometimes leave you feeling drained, especially when hormones are shifting. Instead, try mixing moderate-intensity activities (like brisk walking, cycling, or swimming) with short bursts of higher intensity (like hill sprints or intervals). Research shows this combination supports heart health, preserves brain function, and helps manage weight—without overstressing your system. And the best part? You don’t need long sessions—20–30 minutes is often plenty.
4. Keep Blood Sugar Steady
Shifting hormones can make your body more sensitive to blood sugar swings, which show up as fatigue, irritability, and even more intense hot flashes. Build meals around protein and fiber, then add healthy fats like avocado, nuts, or olive oil. Limit refined carbs and added sugars, but don’t cut out carbs altogether—your body needs them for energy and recovery. Instead, choose complex carbs like quinoa, oats, sweet potatoes, or berries that digest slowly and keep you steady. Even small shifts, like pairing fruit with nuts, can make a big difference.
5. Love Your Gut (and Fiber)
Your gut is home to trillions of bacteria that influence everything from mood to hormone balance. Fiber feeds the good bacteria while also supporting digestion and heart health. Women in midlife should aim for 25–30 grams of fiber daily. The best sources of fiber come from fruits, vegetables and whole grains including leafy greens, beans, chia seeds, apples, brussel spouts, sweet potatoes and raspberries. A diverse, fiber-rich diet also helps regulate estrogen metabolism, which can smooth out symptoms like bloating and mood swings. Probiotic-rich foods like yogurt, kefir, or sauerkraut can give your gut an extra boost, too.
6. Protect Your Sleep
Sleep is often one of the first things to get disrupted in perimenopause, thanks to night sweats, racing thoughts, or shifting hormones. But quality sleep is crucial for hormone regulation, memory, and recovery. Create a calming wind-down routine—stretch, meditate, or read before bed. Keep your room cool and dark, avoid alcohol close to bedtime, and if possible, get outside in natural light during the morning. Strength training and cardio also support deeper sleep, but keep intense workouts earlier in the day. If sleep continues to be elusive, consider magnesium supplementation or gentle nighttime yoga.
7. Hydrate & Replenish
Estrogen plays a role in fluid balance, so hydration needs to shift during this stage of life. Aim for regular water intake throughout the day, and consider adding electrolytes if you sweat heavily or exercise often. Minerals like magnesium, calcium, and vitamin D are especially important now—magnesium supports sleep and mood, calcium and vitamin D protect bones, and together they all help keep muscles and nerves functioning properly. Food sources are great (leafy greens, nuts, dairy, fortified foods), but supplements can help fill the gaps if needed. Even small steps, like starting your day with water and a pinch of sea salt, can make a difference.
This is a New Beginning, Not the End
It’s easy to feel like midlife means slowing down, but that’s far from the truth. With the right tools, this season can be a time of strength, clarity, and self-discovery.
That’s why we’re so excited to invite you to our upcoming Women’s Wellness Workshop: Navigating Perimenopause, hosted by Awake Pelvic Health and Flostate Fitness.
Saturday, September 27th
9:30 – 11:30 am
700 Commerce Drive #130, Woodbury, MN 55125
$79 per person or $120 for two tickets
Click here to purchase workshop tickets
What to Expect:
- LEARN: Dr. Hannah Strom will bring clarity on perimenopause—covering hormones, pelvic floor, bone health, sleep, mood, and lifestyle tips. Dietitian Rachel will share how nutrition can support your hormones, gut, energy, and long-term health.
- MOVE: A 60-minute yoga practice with Alice, blending pelvic floor-friendly movement, breathwork, and strength, followed by journaling and reflection.
- CONNECT: Time to share snacks and conversation with women who get it—leaving you refreshed, understood, and empowered.
Space is limited to 12 participants, so reserve your spot today! If tickets are sold out, email us at info@theflostate.com to join the waitlist.