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In this episode of Empower Your Menopause, James and Juli are joined by Sharon Lemoine, an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner and founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State.

Sharon brings years of clinical experience to a conversation many women over 40 will recognise immediately: what happens when you know something has changed, but you’re not getting the time, context or clarity you need to understand what’s going on.

We talk about why midlife health is rarely about one isolated issue, and why better conversations matter when changes in energy, sleep, weight, mood, appetite, confidence, stress tolerance and hormones all start jostling for attention like badly behaved toddlers in a supermarket.

This episode explores what more joined-up assessment can look like, why women are so often told their experience is “just ageing,” and what needs to be considered before jumping straight to diet advice, hormone therapy, weight-loss medication or another quick-fix solution.

You’ll hear us discuss:

• Why the standard short appointment often falls short for women in midlife
• What a proper hormone and health conversation should include
• How menopause-related changes can overlap with sleep, stress, blood sugar, thyroid, gut health and lifestyle factors
• Why weight gain after 40 deserves better assessment than “eat less and move more”
• How women can advocate for clearer answers without needing to become their own unpaid medical research department

This is a conversation about helping women understand what may be happening in their body, ask better questions, and make informed decisions with more confidence and less confusion.

Connect with Sharon Lemoine:

Website: https://gigharbormedicalspa.com/

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SharonLemoine-ARNP

Find out more about Fabulous Beyond 40:

Website: https://fabulousbeyond40.com/

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In this episode of Empower Your Menopause, we explore why your gut health affects so much more than just digestion. Yes, bloating matters, but it's often just the most obvious sign that something else is going on beneath the surface. We unpack five surprising ways your gut may be influencing how you feel after 40, including brain fog, persistent fatigue, mood swings, skin changes, cravings, and those frustrating energy crashes that seem to come out of nowhere.

We also explain why these issues can become more noticeable during the menopause transition, how your gut communicates with your brain, immune system, and hormones, and why looking after your gut doesn't have to mean giving up everything you enjoy. As always, we focus on practical, realistic strategies that fit into real life rather than adding another complicated wellness routine to your to-do list.

If today's episode resonated with you and you'd like a simple first step, our High Protein Playbook is designed to help you support your gut health with 52 high-protein recipes, meal plans, shopping lists, and our Digital Protein Gap Coach to help you put everything into practice.

Find out more at https://playbook.fabulousbeyond40.com/

And if you recognised several of the signs we discussed and are ready for a deeper approach, our 4-week Gut Health Reset is designed specifically for women over 40 who want to improve their digestion, energy, mood, and overall wellbeing by addressing the root causes of poor gut health.

Learn more at https://gutresetcourse.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share it with another woman who might benefit from hearing it. And until next time, stay strong and stay fabulous.

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In this episode of Empower Your Menopause, we tackle one of the biggest nutrition challenges we see in women over 40: not understanding that protein matters, but knowing how to eat enough of it consistently in real life.

We call it the Protein Gap — the gap between knowing what you should do and actually doing it. We explore why protein becomes more important as we age, how it supports muscle, metabolism, energy, recovery, healthy ageing, and appetite regulation, and why so many women unintentionally under-eat it despite trying their best to make healthy choices. We also discuss the link between protein, cravings, afternoon energy crashes, strength training, and long-term independence, along with practical ways to increase your intake without tracking every gram or turning your life upside down.

If you've ever found yourself thinking, "I know I should eat more protein, but I don't know how," this episode is for you.

Grab The High Protein Playbook

To help make protein simple, practical, and achievable, we've created the High Protein Playbook. It includes 52 high-protein recipes, two weeks of done-for-you meal plans, shopping lists, and our Digital Protein Gap Coach, which helps you turn good intentions into actual breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and shopping lists. It's not another recipe book — it's a practical bridge between knowing and doing.

Find out more at: https://playbook.fabulousbeyond40.com/

And as always, if you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe, and share it with another woman who could benefit from hearing it. Stay strong and stay fabulous.