Nicole Smith

🎃 Halloween & Sugar: The Impact of Sugar on Hormones (and What to Do Instead)

Blood Glucose Regulation /

đŸ« The Story: Why I Used to Dread Halloween Week I love Halloween — the costumes, the parties, the pumpkin everything. But for years, this time of year was my personal sugar battlefield. I’d grab “just one” mini candy bar
 then another. And another. Before I knew it, my energy would crash, I’d feel irritable, […]

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Strength Training Over 40: Why It’s Non-Negotiable

Belly Fat & Body Composition, Fitness for Menopause, Fitness for Perimenopause /

🌾 The Story: When “Healthy Habits” Stop Working I remember a time in my late 30s when I thought I was doing everything right.I was eating clean, running several times a week, and managing work, home, and life — yet I felt constantly tired, my clothes fit differently, and my muscle tone disappeared almost overnight.

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Estrogen and Your Brain: Why Midlife Fog Isn’t “All in Your Head”

Adrenals & Cortisol, Brain Fog & Forgetfulness, Cerebrovascular Health, aka Brain Health, Estrogen, Mood /

🌾 The Story: When the Words Just Wouldn’t Come A few years ago, I was standing in my kitchen trying to think of a simple word — “spatula.” I could picture it. I could describe it. But the word? Gone. I laughed it off at first. “Must be stress,” I told myself. But the truth

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Perimenopause & Mental Health: Why Anxiety, Depression, and Mood Swings May Not Be “All in Your Head

Mood /

It started with Sunday mornings. Michelle used to love slow coffee, a walk with her husband, and reading a book in her favorite chair. But lately, Sundays felt heavy. She couldn’t shake the sense of anxiety and dread that crept in before the week even started. She thought maybe she was burned out from work


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Understanding Your Body’s Natural Rhythms During Menopause

Educational, Estrogen, Fitness for Menopause, Self-Advocacy & Education, Vasomotor Symptoms - Hot Flashes /

Sarah stared at her fitness tracker in frustration. For years, she’d maintained the same 6 AM workout routine with consistent energy and results. But now, at 52, some mornings she felt like she was moving through molasses, while other days she had surprising bursts of energy at 2 PM—right when she used to crash. “Am

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Meal Prep for Busy Women: Easy Hormone-Balancing Meals

Nutrition & Gut Health /

A Story Many Women Can Relate To It’s Sunday night. You’re standing in the kitchen, opening and closing the fridge, wondering what you’re going to eat tomorrow. You had every intention of cooking this weekend, but between kids’ activities, errands, and maybe even a little time to yourself, the hours slipped away. Now, the thought

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Blood Sugar & Insulin Resistance: The Key to Fat Loss & Energy in Midlife

Blood Glucose Regulation /

A Story Many Midlife Women Know Too Well It’s 3:00 p.m., and you’re staring at your computer screen. You’ve already had two cups of coffee, maybe a protein bar for lunch, and you’re debating whether to grab another snack from the breakroom—just to keep yourself going until dinner. Your waistband feels tighter than it used

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Adrenal Fatigue & Burnout: How to Restore Your Energy Naturally

Fatigue /

“Why am I so tired all the time?” Linda asked me during her visit, shoulders slumped and eyes heavy. She was juggling work, kids, and household responsibilities. Despite sleeping eight hours, she woke up groggy, craved sugar in the afternoon, and couldn’t get through her mornings without coffee. Her doctor told her, “You’re fine. Your

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Thyroid Health & Perimenopause: What Every Woman Needs to Know

Thyroid /

🩋 It Started With a Pair of Slippers It was a chilly spring morning when Heather realized something wasn’t right. She’d cranked the heat, wrapped herself in a fuzzy robe, and still felt like her bones were ice. “You’re always cold lately,” her husband said as she slipped on her third pair of wool socks

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Why You Need More Protein in Perimenopause

Nutrition & Gut Health /

“I thought I was doing everything right
” Jen stared at me over Zoom, frustration etched across her face. She had recently turned 43 and had been eating “clean,” exercising several times a week, and trying intermittent fasting like her friends suggested. But something was off. Her belly had slowly expanded. Her energy was tanking. Her

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