In this engaging episode, Lara and Sarena open up about the often-overlooked realities of perimenopause and menopause. Together, they dive into the physical and emotional symptoms many women experience, from midlife mood swings to the stubborn changes in body composition. Sarena shares her personal journey, from recognising early signs to adapting her nutrition, exercise, and mindset to better support her body through this phase.
They explore why building muscle becomes harder with age, the crucial role of strength training, and how nutrition, portion control, and even intermittent fasting can make a real difference, not just for fitness goals, but for gut health and overall vitality. They also unpack the complexities of menopause hormone therapy (MHT), highlighting the importance of staying informed, advocating for your own health, and embracing midlife as a time to thrive, not just survive.
Whether you’re noticing changes or simply want to be prepared, this conversation is packed with honest insights, practical tips, and plenty of empowerment for women at every stage of the journey.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Perimenopause and Menopause
02:01 Recognising Symptoms of Perimenopause
09:36 The Emotional Journey of Midlife
10:50 Health Changes and Lifestyle Adjustments
17:45 Nutrition and Exercise Strategies
24:11 Coping Mechanisms and Lifestyle Changes
28:35 Building Muscle and Strength Training for Women
32:54 Nutrition and Portion Control Insights
36:00 Intermittent Fasting and Gut Health
38:03 Understanding Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT)
51:55 Advocating for Your Health and Finding the Right Support
Useful Links:
Australian Menopause Society factsheets and scoresheet! https://www.balance-menopause.com/balance-app/
https://www.menopause.org.au/health-info/fact-sheets
https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/gp-hp-resources/diagnosing-menopause?highlight=WyJzY29yZSJd
Diagnosing - www.menopause.org.au
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!