This week’s episode is the one piece of advice I’d give anyone approaching midlife, dealing with it, or coming out the other side: be prepared.

We almost always wait until we’re in a situation to educate ourselves about it. We’re sitting in a pool of night sweats, googling what causes them. We’ve gained the weight, then we search for fat loss. We’ve lost 10 pounds of muscle, then we look up muscle loss with age. It’s like getting marriage advice in the middle of a divorce. The information doesn’t stick, because you’re too deep in it to take it in.

In this episode:

• Why preparing early is a strength. It applies to health, money, relationships, and parenting.
• My timeline. Perimenopause started around 44 with a “nagging voice” at a gas station in Malibu. At 47 came the night sweats. Then came menopause at 51-52.
• The panic attack. Even with 30+ years of coaching experience, I thought I was having a heart attack. I filled the animals’ bowls and wrote letters to my mum and dad. It shows how much being in the moment clouds your thinking, and how fast the toolkit came out once I recognised what it was.
• The life pivot. Ten days after moving to Idaho at 50, I had emergency surgery. My hormones crashed and I lost about 15 pounds of muscle, and my legs just disappeared. Because I’d built so much muscle beforehand, I was ahead of the curve.
• Amateur vs. master. Knowing a little gets you a good week. Mastering something gets you ease.
• Why I didn’t gain the 35 pounds many women gain. It wasn’t luck. I understood insulin and cortisol long before I needed to.
• Why going it alone is the hardest way. When you’re already in it, support from a coach, a group, or a medical professional is priceless.
• This isn’t just for women. The signs in men are subtle (sadness, isolation, body changes) and often ignored.

One action you can take this week: If you’re in your late 30s, 40s, or 50s, get your baseline blood work done. You’re probably fine right now, but when things change (and they will), you’ll have your numbers to compare against.

Want to be a guest? I’m setting up a monthly (or bi-monthly) video podcast where I interview someone about their journey through life. If you’d like a 30 to 45 minute chat, reply to this email and let’s set it up. We can all learn from each other’s experiences.

Everything I talked about in this episode, the preparation, the implementation, and the accountability, is what we do inside Mastering Midlife. We cover the six hormones that shape your body composition, how to control insulin and cortisol, protecting your muscle and bone, and how to follow along with my own workouts and meal plans (I’ve never offered that before).

⏰ Early Bird Special ends October 20. Save over $100.

👉 Join Mastering Midlife at www.midlifemonth.com

You don’t have to figure this out alone, and you don’t have to wait until you’re in the middle of it. The life pivots are coming for everyone. Be ready for yours.

Questions? Just reply to this email or write to hello@joannelee.com.

To your strength, Joanne

P.S. I detest promoting my programs, but I love coaching them. If you’ve ever said “I’ll deal with it when it happens,” this is your nudge to deal with it now.

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