Menopause: Your Midlife Power Shift (And How to Win at Life Now)

Introduction: The Chapter No One Prepares You For

Menopause. One little word, packed with so much weight. For some, it’s whispered about like a curse. For others, it’s brushed aside as something you just “get on with.”

But here’s the truth: menopause is not a cliff you fall off, nor the end of your vibrant, joyful, sensual life. It’s a transition. A transformation. A power shift.

When I look back at where I was just a year ago, I can hardly believe how far I’ve come. I moved into my own home, rebuilt my life from the ground up, and began standing taller and stronger than ever before. And here’s what I’ve realised: menopause isn’t the end — it’s the call to reinvent, to choose yourself, and to build the life you want with new strength and purpose.

Part 1: What Menopause Actually Is (And Why It Feels So Hard)

Menopause is a natural biological process, usually occurring between the ages of 45 and 55, when your ovaries gradually stop producing oestrogen and progesterone.

I remember when my own symptoms started creeping in — the sleepless nights, waking at 3am with a racing heart, the foggy mornings when my brain just wouldn’t cooperate. At first, I thought something was seriously wrong with me. It was a relief, in a way, to finally have a name for what was happening — but also terrifying, because no one had ever told me it could feel like this.

Common symptoms include:

• Hot flushes and night sweats

• Weight gain (especially around the middle)

• Insomnia and poor sleep

• Anxiety, low mood, depression

• Brain fog and poor concentration

• Loss of libido or painful sex

• Dry skin, thinning hair

• Joint pain and fatigue

Knowing the why behind the chaos was the first step in me shifting from fear to empowerment.

Part 2: The Big Mindset Shift — From Fear to Power

Menopause is not a story of decline. It’s a re-education, a reminder that the body you’ve lived in for decades is asking for new care and attention.

It’s the chance to flip the script — from “I’m losing myself” to “I’m rebuilding myself.”

For me, the mindset shift came when I realised I could no longer force my body to perform with the same fuel and the same training I used in my 20s and 30s. Instead, I started asking: What do I need now? That question became the compass for everything that followed.

Part 3: The Pain Points We Don’t Talk About Enough

1. Body & Health

Midlife brings changes we can’t ignore. Weight gathers differently, muscle disappears faster, and energy feels harder to find.

• Muscle loss: In our 40s and 50s, resistance training is not optional. It’s essential. Picking up weights gave me back energy, shape, and confidence.

• Hot flushes and sleep: I’ll never forget teaching a class while suddenly feeling like I’d stepped into a sauna fully clothed. Layers, breathwork, and cutting caffeine and wine became survival strategies.

• Alcohol and caffeine: Even one glass of wine started wrecking my sleep. Strong coffee made me jittery instead of productive. I learned to adapt: green tea instead of a second coffee, alcohol only occasionally, and my body thanked me.

2. Heart & Mind

Some mornings, I couldn’t get out of bed. Not because I was tired — but because I felt heavy inside. That wasn’t “me.” It was hormones, stress, and lack of recovery colliding.

Low mood and anxiety are common in this chapter, but they are not permanent. Protein at breakfast, morning walks, therapy, and eventually HRT gave me back my joy.

3. Life Transitions

Menopause often collides with major life events.

• Divorce & relationships: Menopause didn’t cause my marriage breakdown, but it magnified the cracks. It forced me to face truths and ultimately rebuild on my own terms.

• Bereavement & loss: Grief felt heavier because my body was already stretched thin. But I also discovered a new depth of resilience.

• Career & purpose: Brain fog and fatigue made me doubt myself professionally. But it also lit a fire to create something new — and The Goddess Academy was born.

4. Sensuality & Relationships

For a while, I thought my sensual side had vanished. Painful sex, no desire, feeling switched off. But when I started talking openly and experimenting with new ways to connect, I discovered something powerful: sensuality in midlife isn’t gone. It’s evolving.

Dating after divorce was daunting, but also empowering. I finally knew my worth. Dating became less about being chosen and more about choosing.

5. Community & Connection

The most healing shift I experienced came when I spoke out loud. “This is happening to me.” The moment I shared it with girlfriends, clients, or my community, the shame dissolved.

6. Movement & Joy

I used to hammer my body with cardio, believing it was the only way to stay slim. But menopause laughed at that.

My breakthrough? Movement as joy, not punishment.

• Strength training = feeling powerful

• Yoga = nervous system reset

• Walking the dogs = moving meditation

• Kitchen dancing = therapy

7. Money & Midlife Security

Too many women reach midlife without a safety net. After my divorce, I had to rebuild financially too.

Here’s what I’ve learned:
💰 Know your numbers — pensions, savings, investments
💰 Create a wellness fund — supplements, retreats, therapies are part of thriving
💰 Build wealth that supports freedom, not just survival

Part 4: How to Reframe Midlife — My 5 Pillars

Menopause doesn’t have to be the story of decline. My work — and my healing — is built on 5 pillars that carry women forward:

• Nourish – Fuel with protein, colour, and hydration.

• Train – Resistance work to build strength inside and out.

• Recover – Prioritise sleep, rituals, stress management.

• Reframe – Rewrite the story of who you are and what’s possible.

• Repeat – The secret sauce: small, consistent steps = transformation.

Read more about this in my Blog : How to Reframe Midlife — My 5 Pillars

Part 5: Q&A — The Questions Every Woman Asks

Q: How do I train to build muscle in midlife?
💪 2–3 resistance sessions per week
💪 Focus on compound moves: squats, lunges, deadlifts, push-ups
💪 Progressively increase weights

It’s not about bulk. It’s about resilience.

Q: What impact does alcohol have on my body now?
Even one glass disrupted my sleep and mood. I’m not alcohol-free, but I’m alcohol-aware. Choosing carefully makes a world of difference.

Q: What does caffeine do in the body now?
Coffee became anxiety in a cup. Now I keep it to mornings, swapping later cups for green tea or matcha.

Q: Why do I feel so low all the time — is this my new normal?
Low mood is common, but not permanent. Hormones, stress, and recovery gaps play a role. Protein, strength training, therapy, and (for me) HRT lifted me out of the fog.

Q: Hot flushes — what helps?
Layers, fans, less caffeine and wine, and nervous system calming tools. Breathwork became my secret weapon.

Conclusion: Your Midlife, Your Power Shift

Yes, menopause is challenging. Yes, it can knock you sideways. But it is not the end of your story — it’s the invitation to write a new one.

I’ve lived this. I’ve sat in the dark nights, sweating through sheets, crying at the kitchen table, wondering if I’d ever feel like myself again. And I’ve also risen — stronger, clearer, freer, and more alive than ever.

You are not broken. You are not invisible. You are not finished.

This is your time to rebuild, reclaim, and reinvent.
And if you don’t know where to start — begin here: Nourish. Train. Recover. Reframe. Repeat.

Ready to thrive through menopause? Join the Not Just Hormones Group on Facebook or explore the SHIFT Happens Project — because midlife is the time to rise.