Advertise on podcast: Perimenopause Weight Loss and Wellness

Today I’m joined by my client, Fiona Bowler. Fiona is a mum of two, an animal lover with far too many pets, and the co-owner of Kāpiti Coast Towing alongside her husband. After turning 40, Fiona began gaining weight and struggling with irregular periods, hot flushes and poor sleep. She didn’t feel like herself, and the usual advice wasn’t helping. Today, we’re talking about her perimenopause experience, what changed when she got the right support, and how she’s feeling now.

Today I’m joined by Lucy Edwards, a nutritionist, natural health practitioner and founder of Lucy Nutrition on the Kāpiti Coast. Lucy has more than 20 years of experience supporting people with gut health, weight management, energy, hormones and overall wellbeing. She’s also a mum of two, the author of the children’s book The Grumbles, and recently earned her black belt in Taekwondo. Today we’re talking about practical nutrition for the whole family, healthy lunches, fussy eating and that sentence so many parents use: “My kids won’t eat that.”

Today I’m joined by Louise Kerwin, a Naturopath, Clinical Hypnotherapist and Alignment Coach from Australia who works with high-achieving women navigating perimenopause and menopause. Louise believes menopause is about far more than hormones. Her work explores the connection between the nervous system, stress, nutrition, identity and the beliefs we’ve carried for decades. She helps women understand why they no longer feel like themselves and guides them towards feeling strong, confident and connected to the woman they’re becoming. Today we’re diving into the emotional, physical and mental side of perimenopause that often gets overlooked.

Today I’m joined by Yin, a product development technologist with more than 20 years of experience in food, nutrition, and dietary supplements. Originally from China, Yin moved to New Zealand at 19 and has spent her career developing consumer health products backed by science. Like many women, her interest in menopause became personal when she entered perimenopause herself. That experience inspired her to create MenoMora, a brand focused on supporting women through every stage of menopause using evidence-informed nutrition and a holistic approach. Today we’re diving into what the science says, where supplements fit in, and how women can make informed choices without getting lost in all the marketing.

Today’s episode is one every woman over 35 needs to hear.We spend so much time talking about calories, protein and supplements, but how often do we stop and look at what’s actually in the food we’re buying? Food labels can be incredibly confusing. From “natural” and “low fat” to “high protein” and “no added sugar”, there are so many marketing claims that it’s hard to know what’s genuinely healthy, especially during perimenopause and menopause.Today’s guest is Minal Patel, a qualified Naturopath, Medical Herbalist and Food Scientist. Before helping women rebalance their hormones naturally, Minal spent years working in the food industry, giving her a unique understanding of food labels, ingredients, allergens and what really goes into many of the products on our supermarket shelves.Today we’re cutting through the marketing, learning how to read food labels with confidence, understanding which ingredients matter most during perimenopause and menopause, and sharing simple shopping tips that can support your hormones, energy, gut health and weight loss. If you’ve ever stood in the supermarket wondering what to buy, this episode is for you.

Today we’re talking about something that almost every woman notices during perimenopause and menopause, but very few people prepare us for how dramatically our skin can change. Many women suddenly notice dry skin, increased wrinkles, sensitivity, redness, itching, flushing, loss of elasticity, or products they’ve used for years no longer working. Today’s guest is Françoise Krings-Servais, co-owner of Vivéa Skincare, a New Zealand skincare brand created specifically for women in perimenopause, menopause and beyond. What I love about Vivéa is that it was created by women who went through this stage themselves and realised there was a huge gap in the market. The range has already won two Gold Awards from the New Zealand Society of Cosmetic Chemists for innovation, and today we’re going to talk about what really happens to our skin during hormonal change and what women can do to support it.

Today’s guest is Heidi Richardson from Bone & Body Blueprint. Heidi specialises in DEXA bone density and body composition scanning, helping people understand what’s happening inside their bodies long before problems show up. Weight loss medications like Wegovy are changing lives, but there’s an important conversation that isn’t happening enough. Yes, the scales go down but what else are we losing? Today Heidi joins me to talk about muscle loss, body composition and how to lose weight without damaging your long-term health.

One of the biggest mistakes women make during perimenopause is focusing only on losing weight.The scales might go down, but if you’re losing muscle instead of fat, your metabolism slows, you’re more likely to regain the weight, your bones become weaker, your balance declines, and everyday tasks become harder as you age.Today’s guest is Eske Dost from Inspire Change NZ. Eske is a wellbeing professional with expertise in strength and conditioning, nutrition and weightlifting, helping people build stronger, healthier bodies.Today we’re going to unpack why muscle becomes so important after 35, what actually happens during perimenopause, and how building muscle can completely change not only your body composition, but your health, confidence and quality of life for decades to come.

Today’s guest is Heidi Richardson from Bone & Body Blueprint. Heidi specialises in DEXA bone density and body composition scanning, helping people understand what’s happening inside their bodies long before problems show up. If you’ve been chasing a number on the scales and wondering why you still don’t feel healthier, this episode is for you. Today Heidi is explaining why body composition tells us far more than body weight ever can.

Have you ever looked in the mirror and wondered, "What’s happening to my body?" A few years back, I was in your shoes. I was a fitness coach, guiding others on weight loss, eating right, and exercising. I thought I had it all figured out. But suddenly, my own body started to change. Weight crept on, no matter how hard I tried. I was eating healthy, working out, and yet, nothing worked. Sound familiar? Many women find themselves in this same frustrating situation. If you’re in your late 30s, 40s, or even early 50s, those changes might be due to perimenopause. It's a transition often overlooked. We learn about puberty and pregnancy but not about this crucial phase that can last for years. Your hormones are fluctuating, causing your body to respond differently. Instead of blaming yourself, it’s time to understand what’s happening. Many women think they’ve failed because they’re not losing weight as before, but the reality is, their bodies have changed. Join me as we explore the hormonal shifts during perimenopause and how they affect everything from weight to mood. You don’t need another crash diet or to punish yourself at the gym. You need a strategy that fits where you are in life right now.

Welcome back to the Perimenopause Weight Loss & Wellness Podcast. Today is a special episode because we’re celebrating one of my incredible clients, Sally. Over the past 12 months, Sally has completely changed her relationship with food, her body, and her health. Yes, she lost weight, although what I’m most proud of is everything she gained along the way. She learned how her body responds to different foods, what helps her feel energised, and what doesn’t work for her anymore. Rather than following another restrictive diet, she built habits that fit her real life. Sally didn’t give up dinners out, celebrations, or time with friends. She made small, sustainable changes that added up over time because having a social life and enjoying life mattered to her. That’s exactly what long-term success looks like. Today’s conversation is about celebrating progress, consistency, and discovering that you don’t need to live on chicken and broccoli or hide away from social events to improve your health. I can’t wait for you to hear Sally’s story because I know so many women will see themselves in it.

Welcome back to the podcast. Today we’re talking about something a little different, but I know it’s a conversation so many women need to hear.When we think about health, we often focus on food, exercise and hormones. They’re all important, but confidence goes much deeper than that. It’s also about how you feel when you walk into a room, how you present yourself, and whether your home and your style reflect the woman you’ve become.Joining me today is Sam McArthur, founder and lead interior designer at Wild Bird Interior Design. Sam specialises in creating beautiful, functional homes across the Wellington region, helping families navigate renovations with confidence and clarity.Before launching her business, Sam spent a decade in advertising and marketing, was a dance teacher, and even choreographed a group that performed at Disneyland. Today she’s also passionate about helping women over 40 build confidence through personal style, colour and showing up authentically in life and business.This conversation isn’t about chasing trends or spending a fortune on your wardrobe. It’s about feeling comfortable in your own skin, dressing for the body you have today, and understanding how confidence can influence every area of your life.

Today we’re talking about something that many women have never even heard of, yet it could make a real difference to how they feel during perimenopause. We spend so much time talking about hormones, nutrition, exercise and sleep, but what about pelvic health? What about scar tissue from C-sections or hysterectomies, chronic tension in the abdomen, lymphatic flow, or how stress gets stored in the body? Joining me today is Pip from Bloom Massage. Pip is a fertility and women’s wellness massage therapist with more than 10 years of clinical experience supporting women through fertility challenges, endometriosis, pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause and menopause. After her own experience with stage 4 endometriosis, she became passionate about helping women find practical, holistic ways to reduce pain, improve wellbeing and feel more connected to their bodies. Today we’re exploring how specialised abdominal and pelvic massage may support women during perimenopause, what the research says, who it’s suitable for, and whether it could be one more piece of the puzzle for women who feel like they’re doing everything right but still don’t feel like themselves.

Today’s guest is Heidi Richardson from Bone & Body Blueprint. Heidi specialises in DEXA bone density and body composition scanning, helping people understand what’s happening inside their bodies long before problems show up. Today we’re talking about something most women never think about until it’s too late, bone health.

Today I'm joined by Kate Twigg, co-owner of O-Studio Wellington. Kate's journey is one of resilience. After facing two cancer diagnoses and undergoing a stem cell transplant, her perspective on health changed completely. That experience inspired her and her husband Sam to create O-Studio Wellington—a space focused on recovery, movement and helping people feel their best, both physically and mentally. Today we're talking about how Kate's experience shaped O-Studio, why recovery deserves as much attention as exercise, and the science behind therapies like infrared sauna, cold plunge, float therapy and recovery lounges. We'll also discuss why recovery becomes even more important during perimenopause and menopause, and how women can use these tools to support their health.