Name: The Menopause Reset
Rating: 4.2 (107 reviews)
Author: Mindy Pelz

What’s in it for me? Challenge the taboo, take back your life: it's time to talk about menopause.

Is menopause dragging you down with frustrating symptoms that make you feel off balance and not quite yourself? It is time to have an honest chat about menopause. It’s not a fleeting illness whose symptoms you can shake off after a week, but a transformative decade in life, full of unexpected twists and turns.

For years, hormone cycles have been by your side, making you feel lively, content, and sharp. Then, almost out of the blue, their comforting presence diminishes. It's as if your hormonal pals decided to take an unplanned sabbatical, and you may be left reminiscing about the good old days.

Sadly, as a society, many keep their menopausal stories to themselves. Why aren't people talking more, sharing experiences, and lifting each other up during this unique phase? Whether you're a woman, non-binary, or anywhere on the spectrum of gender identity, many of these menopausal challenges – be it the sudden hot flashes, unpredictable moods, or weight that seems to sneak up – are shared experiences.

But here's the hopeful part: this transition is more of a signal than a life-long setback. Every symptom, as trying as it may be, is your body's way of communicating. It's trying to tell you something. And if you pause and listen, there's so much you can decipher.

Think of hormones as a beautifully orchestrated symphony. When in harmony, everything sounds just right. But if even one player is off-beat, it can pave the way for bigger health concerns, from heart ailments to certain cancers.

The solution isn't in a magic potion, but in understanding and adjusting your lifestyle. An approach that aligns with your changing body and the ever-evolving world you live in.

Always remember: your body is a wonder. You’ve been designed in incredible ways. With the right knowledge and mindset, you can navigate this unique phase of life with grace and confidence. Menopause is a journey, and while it may have its bumps, together we can ride it out. Everyone deserves to understand and embrace this experience.

A personal journey

Imagine sailing through life without any major hormonal hassles – having a period without a hitch, conceiving a child effortlessly. That was the life of the author Mindy Pelz until her 40s came knocking. Suddenly, the tides shifted. She describes this decade-long detour as a wild hormonal ride, saying, "Overnight, I went from being a joyful, energetic, and kind person to being an emotional, hot mess." It's as if someone else was at the helm of her thoughts, sleep, and well-being.

Despite having a picture-perfect life on paper, complete with an amazing family and a thriving wellness practice, waves of deep and inexplicable depression began to wash over Pelz. These weren't occasional bouts of sadness caused by life's ups and downs. This was a different beast – deep, illogical, and consuming. Add to that nightly hot flashes that had her soaked in sweat, and anxiety that would jerk her awake, causing her mind to race uncontrollably. And the weirdest part? She was just 43 with a regular menstrual cycle. Classic menopause seemed a distant shore, especially with her mother's own breezy experience in her 50s.

Some well-meaning folk pointed to medication, and others to the unavoidable perils of perimenopause, but something didn't sit right. An interaction with a respected OB/GYN, however, threw her for a loop. She said, "I have a practice full of women your age who have those hormonal symptoms, and I honestly don’t know what to do with them. My medical textbooks have failed me." This hit the author like a ton of bricks. If so many were suffering, surely, there was an environmental connection.

This revelation propelled Pelz on a mission to decode the effect of today's toxic world on women's health. Through intensive research, she delved into the potential of the body to detoxify itself using powerful tools like fasting and the ketogenic diet. Her breakthrough? An arsenal of strategies that not only reclaimed her joy, sleep, and sanity but also transformed the lives of countless women.

As Pelz passionately remarks at the age of 50, "I feel powerful and in control. I feel like me again." Her journey offers hope and tangible solutions for those navigating the tumultuous waves of hormonal imbalance. It's a testament to the incredible resilience and adaptability of the human body and spirit, showing that with the right knowledge, we can chart our own course back to wellness

Five steps to a reset

So, the onset of menopause can present many challenges, both physically and mentally. Fluctuating hormones during the transition can lead to disruptive symptoms like hot flashes, difficulty sleeping, weight gain, and just an overall feeling of imbalance. To counteract these symptoms, there are five key steps anyone can take.

Trust your gut

Let's dive deeper into dietary strategies, since they’re so pivotal to wellbeing during the change of menopause. In addition to following a ketogenic diet, intermittent fasting is another key strategy that could help you sail through with more ease. Intermittent fasting means restricting your eating window so you get regular fasting periods. For instance, you could fast for 16 hours, eating only during an 8-hour window.

Why try fasting? Research shows it offers outsized benefits during menopause. During your fasting hours, the body shifts into fat-burning mode. This metabolic state, called ketosis, is great for dropping excess weight.

Tackling stress and sleep

Along with your diet, how you handle stress and sleep can have an outsized impact on your overall wellbeing during menopause. Many feel tired and stressed during menopause – but you shouldn’t just accept it as the new normal. In fact, optimizing your sleep and stress relief can help you feel balanced again.

Let’s start with restful sleep. Be strict about keeping a regular sleep schedule, even on weekends. Set a reminder an hour before bedtime to start winding down. Turn off all screens and dim the lights. Try sipping chamomile tea or taking a warm bath. Consider blackout curtains and a white noise machine if you need them. As one woman shared, “I used to toss and turn all night. But once I committed to a regular sleep routine, I’m sleeping like a baby!”

Talk to the pros

Even if you address your diet, strength, sleep and stress with gusto, there may still be moments when you need to seek medical advice. Navigating this change is much easier when you have the right medical support.

First, get baseline blood work done when you feel your first symptoms of perimenopause to assess your hormone levels. Testing estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone helps identify any deficiencies to address. Discuss testing cortisol and thyroid too, as low levels can exacerbate symptoms.

Key ideas in The Menopause Reset