Struggling with belly fat, bloating, or weight gain that wasn't a problem a few years ago?

This week, I’m unpacking exactly what’s going on with your body in perimenopause and menopause that’s making weight loss feel impossible… and how to actually shift that.

We’re breaking down:

• What’s really going on with your hormones and metabolism
• Why visceral fat increases (and why it matters)
• The role of insulin resistance, cortisol, and muscle loss
• Why "eat less, move more" is outdated advice — and what to do instead
• The science-backed ways to actually support fat loss in midlife (hint: it's not starvation)

Plus: I’m talking about the real role of HRT, protein, strength training, supplements, and nutrition — and how to stop fighting your body and start working with it.

This one’s part education, part myth-busting, and all about helping you feel better, get stronger, and finally understand what your body is doing — and why it’s not your fault.

To book an appointment if you're in DE or MD visit:
www.offcoastwellness.com or call/text 302-947-8388

IG/FB: @offcoastwellness / @yourhormoneNP

TikTok: @yourhormoneNP

Fullscript Link for Supplements: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/offcoastwellness/store-start

Referenced Research & Resources:

1. Visceral Fat & Estrogen Decline:
   • Lizcano F, Guzmán G. Estrogen deficiency and the origin of obesity during menopause. BioMed Res Int. 2014. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/757461
2. Insulin Resistance & Menopause:
   • Carr MC. The emergence of the metabolic syndrome with menopause. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2003-030242
3. Cortisol & Adrenal Compensation:
   • Prior JC. Progesterone for symptomatic perimenopause treatment. Endocrine. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-018-1722-4
4. Creatine for Midlife Women:
   • Forbes SC et al. Effects of creatine supplementation on brain function and health. Nutrients. 2021. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13030875
5. Vitamin D & K2 Synergy for Bone Health:
   • Karp JK et al. Vitamin K2: a neglected player in bone health? Front Endocrinol. 2022. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2022.928556
6. Berberine and Blood Sugar:
   • Dong H et al. Berberine in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systemic review and meta-analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/591654
7. Myo-Inositol & PCOS/Insulin Resistance:
   • Unfer V et al. Myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol in PCOS: a review. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2012. https://doi.org/10.3109/09513590.2011.650660
8. Menopause Muscle Loss & Resistance Training:
   • Maltais ML et al. Sarcopenia, muscle function, and resistance training in older women. J Aging Res. 2010. https://doi.org/10.4061/2010/569830

Hormones don’t just affect your period, fertility, or hot flashes. They deeply impact your mood, motivation, mental clarity, and resilience. In this episode, we dive into how hormonal changes — from PMS to perimenopause — can influence anxiety, depression, irritability, and more.

We'll talk about:

• How estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone influence neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA
• Why so many women are prescribed SSRIs when what they may need is hormone evaluation and support
• The mental health toll of hormonal transitions like PMS, PMDD, PCOS, postpartum, perimenopause, and menopause
• The difference between treating symptoms with medications vs. getting to the root cause
• Treatment options, including progesterone, estradiol, and testosterone — and how they can support mood and cognition
• How to advocate for testing and treatment if you’re feeling dismissed or gaslit about your symptoms

Whether you're 25 or 55, this episode gives you the language, validation, and information to take control of your mental and hormonal health.

Resources & References:

• ACOG: Mental Health Conditions Common in Perimenopause
• JAMA Psychiatry (2020): SSRI Prescriptions in Midlife Women
• NIH: Hormones and Mood in Women
• VHA (2024): HRT and Suicide Risk Reduction in Midlife Women
• Endocrine Society: Hormones and Mental Health
• The Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research
• Postpartum Support International
• PMDD: IAPMD - International Association for Premenstrual Disorders

Want to connect?

• Book a Free Discovery Call or Consult if you're in DE or MD at www.offcoastwellness.com
• IG, FB, TikTok: @offcoastwellness

BONUS EPISODE!

After a recent podcast episode featuring Lauryn Bosstick and her guest Shannon went viral for all the wrong reasons, I knew I had to sit down and talk about it — not just to respond, but to educate, advocate, and support the women who deserve better.

We’re breaking down:

• Why positivity does not cure infertility
• The harm in suggesting mindset is the root of fertility struggles
• Why raw milk in pregnancy is a real, evidence-based risk
• Her wild comparison to cavemen and maternal “intuition” (including a reality check on Paleolithic life expectancy)
• A deeper look at hormones, ovulation, and actual fertility physiology
• What to do if you’re struggling to conceive — and how fertility specialists help
• Why women who are doing everything right need compassion, not condescension
• And how to hold space for others, even if you’ve personally been blessed

This episode is passionate, explicit, and deeply honest — because women navigating fertility deserve real information, real support, and real respect.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common yet misunderstood hormonal conditions in women — and chances are, if you’ve been diagnosed, misdiagnosed, or dismissed altogether… you’re not alone.

In this episode, I break down:

• What PCOS actually is — and what it isn’t
• How the diagnosis is made
• Why insulin resistance is the most under-addressed root cause
• What your LH:FSH ratio and progesterone levels reveal
• The real risks of untreated PCOS: metabolic syndrome, NAFLD, heart disease, and more
• Why birth control can help symptoms but doesn’t fix the root
• How to approach treatment beyond prescriptions — and build a real plan
• And yes — why you can have PCOS even if your labs are “normal”

In DE or MD? Book a free 15 minute discovery call: www.offcoastwellness.com

TikTok, IG & FB: @offcoastwellness

Resources:

https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/pcos/conditioninfo/diagnosed

https://www.nichd.nih.gov/sites/default/files/publications/pubs/Documents/PCOS_Factsheet.pdf

https://pcosaa.org

https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/90/7/3867/2836642

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1179558120913035

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960076019302110

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7094182/

https://aasldpubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hep.30986

https://rbej.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1477-7827-6-38

https://academic.oup.com/edrv/article/41/4/538/5826467

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/cen.13398

In 2002, the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) triggered mass panic over hormone therapy — claiming it caused breast cancer, blood clots, and heart disease. The media jumped on it. Providers backed away. And women? They suffered

This episode is for every woman who was told to just deal with it — and every provider who needs to catch up.

Resources & References:

• JAMA Oncology – Vaginal Estrogen Use & Mortality
• PubMed – HRT Safety in Breast Cancer
• Climacteric – Bioidentical HRT
• CA: Cancer Journal for Clinicians – WHI Breast Cancer Data Reanalysis
• Balance Menopause – WHI Fallout Overview
• RealHealthMD – HRT After Breast Cancer
• NIH RePORTER – Gender Disparities in Research Funding
• Fortune – Erectile Dysfunction Market
• NAMS 2022 Position Statement on HRT

Book a 15-minute discovery call (if you're in DE or MD):
www.offcoastwellness.com

Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult with a qualified provider before making any changes to your medication or treatment plan.

If your sex drive has disappeared and you feel like you’re the only one wondering “what’s wrong with me?” — this episode is for you.

This week on You Good, Hormones? we’re getting real about libido — how it changes through your 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond, and why it’s not your fault if it’s gone missing.

We also unpack:

• Why libido shifts happen (it’s not just “getting older”)
• What breastfeeding, birth control, and stress do to sex drive
• Why women are constantly dismissed when they bring this up
• The massive funding gap between male and female sexual health
• What treatment options actually work (and how to get them)
• Real ways to talk to your partner when this gets hard
• Common side effects, delivery options, and where to start safely

This is your no-shame, no-fluff, all-facts conversation about sex, hormones, and what’s possible when you stop settling.

🔗 Links & Resources:

• 💻 Book a free 15-minute discovery call if you're in MD or DE: www.offcoastwellness.com
• 📲 Follow on IG, FB, and TikTok: @offcoastwellness
• 📚 Source: Erectile Dysfunction Market Report – Fortune Business Insights
• 📚 NIH Funding Database: NIH RePORTER
• 📚 JAMA Article: “Sexual Health in the U.S.: The Neglected Female Libido” (2021)
• 📄 Addyi Prescribing Info: FDA.gov

If you’ve ever been told “it’s just stress,” “maybe try an antidepressant,” or “you’re probably just aging” — this episode is for you.

In this most-requested episode of You Good, Hormones?, we’re diving deep into Perimenopause 101 — what it actually is, when it starts (spoiler: earlier than you think), and why so many women are misdiagnosed with everything from anxiety to ADHD instead of getting real answers about their hormones.

I’m breaking down:

• What perimenopause feels like (beyond hot flashes)
• When it really starts (hint: often before your doctor thinks it does)
• 10 common conditions women are misdiagnosed with in perimenopause
• The hormone + mental health connection
• A powerful stat: Women prescribed HRT between ages 40–64 had a 47% lower suicide rate (2024 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Report)
• How to track your symptoms and advocate for real support

This is the episode that finally makes it all click.

What you’ll learn:
The real signs of perimenopause (even if your period is still regular)
Why so many women are told it’s “just anxiety”
The role of estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol in mood, sleep, and cognition
What labs to ask for (and why symptoms still matter more)
How perimenopause affects mental health — and what we can do about it

Links & Resources:

• Book a free 15-minute discovery call if you're in DE or MD: www.offcoastwellness.com
• Follow on Instagram, FB & TikTok: @offcoastwellness
• 2024 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Report: https://tinyurl.com/bdby8fem

HRT Q&A – Your Top Questions Answered
Ever wonder if hormones could be behind your exhaustion, mood swings, brain fog, or stubborn weight gain?

In this episode, I'm answering the 10 most common questions about BHRT — Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy — and clearing up the myths, the fear, and the confusion.

We’re breaking down:

• What BHRT actually is (and what it’s not)
• Who it’s really for (hint: it’s not just postmenopausal women)
• What it can help with (sleep, libido, energy... um, yes please)
• What you should know before starting

If you’re ready to stop feeling dismissed and start feeling empowered, this episode is for you.

Listen now and let’s get your hormones good again.

If you're in DE or MD you can book a consultation or free discovery call at www.offcoastwellness.com

FB, IG, TikTok: @offcoastwellness

Sources:

1. North American Menopause Society (NAMS) – Position Statement on Hormone Therapy 2022
2. International Menopause Society (IMS) – Global Consensus Statement on Menopausal Hormone Therapy 2016
3. The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) – Outcomes of hormone therapy (reassessed newer interpretations)
4. Functional Medicine approach sources – Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), practitioner references
5. Peer-reviewed studies – Journals like Climacteric, Menopause, and Maturitas on BHRT safety, efficacy, and quality-of-life outcomes