Have you tried every diet under the sun only to gain the weight back and possibly more than you started with? If the answer is yes, you are not alone.

I’ve been a personal trainer for twenty five years. Over that time, I’ve witnessed too many women over forty struggle with losing weight just to gain it back again. For years they have been told to eat right and exercise. The problem with that advice is that most of them do and it still isn’t working. It can be an uphill battle and very frustrating.

It turns out when our hormones are depleted it can be really difficult or close to impossible to lose weight. And, even if you try an intense restrictive diet you will more than likely have very limited and/or temporary success because intense dieting can further slow your metabolism and negatively affect your hormones.

A few years ago I was using supplements to treat menopausal symptoms. It worked for a while but eventually it stopped working. I found out that masking symptoms is useful for a while but once the body stops making estrogen it’s only a matter of time before the weight gain, body aches, hot flashes, and other symptoms kick in. More importantly, the health risks begin to mount up. A lack of estrogen can negatively affect heart health, bone density, fat burning, blood pressure, brain health, and other health issues.

Since I knew very little about hormone therapy I decided to consult experts and began working with a hormone specialist. Talk about an eye opening experience.

I’m fifty five years old and I’ve been on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for two years now. I sleep better, my belly has reduced in size, I have good heart health, excellent blood pressure, and I rarely deal with brain fog or mood swings. We can all have an off day. That’s normal.

If you are experiencing any perimenopause or menopause symptoms do not hesitate to start addressing them. There is a window of time that you do not want to miss to maximize the health benefits of HRT. Age 45-55 is crucial.

I highly recommend you work with a specialist. While the focus on HRT for women is increasing there is still a lack of knowledge in the medical community and that includes OB/GYN’s. A specialist will do the necessary bloodwork and help you get started in a safe way. Keep in mind that this is a journey so it’s important to follow up with your practitioner so they can monitor your progress and your needs. I work with Midi Health on line and they take insurance.

While the general medical community continues to learn more about HRT, I recommend you start educating yourself. Learn from experts that work with hormone replacement therapy. In July of 2025 the FDA hosted the first meeting regarding menopause in twenty five years. The expert panel is made up of doctor’s that share their knowledge and understanding of the current research. This meeting helped confirm for me why HRT is so important for women’s health and quality of life as we age. I’ve included the link below:

I do not claim to be an expert in HRT, however I know how it’s helped me and how it is helping my clients. That goes for both women and men. HRT is important for both sexes and we should take advantage of what we have available to us to optimize our health and quality of life so that we can age well. The medical world is constantly evolving and it’s so important we stay current on the changes.

Here’s to a healthy, happy, and long life!

Jennifer