Perimenopause and menopause are often hailed as gateways to wisdom, yet for many women, this transition comes with unexpected physical and emotional roadblocks. Maybe you’ve prided yourself on knowing how to stay fit and healthy, only to be blindsided by sudden weight gain, brain fog, mood swings, and an overwhelming sense that your body isn’t responding the way it used to. You’re not alone.
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Fitness and reinvention expert Natalie Jill, as shared in her candid conversation with Dr. Betty Murray on the Menopause Mastery Podcast, experienced this firsthand. Despite decades spent empowering others to achieve “8-pack abs,” she found herself struggling with unexplained weight gain, plummeting energy, and a host of symptoms she simply couldn’t out-exercise or out-diet. For many, midlife isn’t just a time of change—it’s a call to become your own health detective.
When the Expert Hits a Wall: Natalie Jill’s Midlife Wake-Up Call
If you’ve ever felt like you suddenly lost control of your body—despite knowing all the “right” things to do—Natalie Jill’s journey will resonate. What started as mysterious midlife thickening and mood shifts escalated until she landed in the hospital with a severe blood sugar crisis. And while she initially tried to double down on all her expert habits (stricter diet, harder workouts, more personal development), nothing worked.
The real shift came when she learned to dig deeper, addressing gut health, hidden toxins, and factors far beyond calories and willpower. Her experience led her to the powerful realization: Every woman in midlife needs to become their own health detective.
The Secret Saboteurs: Parasites, Toxins, and Gut Health
When Natalie’s health didn’t improve with conventional strategies, she was finally tipped off by a close friend (and fellow functional health expert) about the possible role of hidden parasites. While this may sound far-fetched, the reality is that parasites and poor gut health are more common than we think.
Why are these issues so prevalent?
- In most countries, annual deworming is standard, but in the U.S., we rely on extreme sterilization, cleaning, and spending more time indoors—ironically weakening our natural defenses.
- Our modern environments don’t challenge or support our gut the way they should, making it easy for parasites or imbalances to take root, especially if we have existing toxins (like dental amalgams or breast implants).
- Parasites often “clean up” toxins, but at a heavy price: they steal nutrients, disrupt hormones, and leave us tired, foggy, and inflamed.
Lesson: Even so-called “healthy” foods (think raw greens or sushi) can introduce unwanted guests into a gut that’s not resilient—reinforcing that it’s not just about what you eat, but what your body can process and eliminate.
The Order of Operations: Creating Your Midlife Health Roadmap
For so long, the prevailing advice was a juggling act—fix your hormones, go low-carb, do more cardio, embrace affirmations. But as Natalie discovered, there’s a smarter and more effective order of operations:
1. Start with Gut Health:
- If your digestive system is compromised, nothing else works optimally.
- Addressing parasites, bacterial imbalances, and leaky gut is foundational.
2. Optimize Thyroid Function:
- If your thyroid isn’t working, metabolism and mood suffer—even if you “eat right.”
3. Balance Hormones—But Not First:
- Throwing estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone at a stressed, toxic system rarely solves the problem.
- Get the basics right first, then fine-tune your hormone strategy for your body, not a generic target.
4. Detox and Reduce Toxin Exposure:
- Address heavy metals (such as amalgam fillings) and consider the effect of things like breast implants or environmental exposures.
5. Genetics and Personalization:
- Use tools like DNA testing to uncover individual sensitivities, metabolism quirks, and where your risks lie—so you can tailor your approach.
Rethinking Weight Loss: It’s Not Just About Diet and Exercise
One of the most common—and demoralizing—experiences for women at midlife is suddenly gaining weight for no clear reason. Both Natalie and Dr. Murray shared how, after years as fitness professionals, they were blindsided by changes that had nothing to do with “eating clean” or “hitting the gym.”
What’s going on?
- Shifting hormones change everything from where and how you store fat to how well your metabolism responds to food.
- Chronic stress, gut imbalances, and toxic burdens can derail even perfect routines.
- Some “healthy” approaches, like keto or aggressive fasting, can actually backfire for women in perimenopause and menopause.
If your old formula isn’t working, it’s time to stop blaming yourself—and start exploring deeper root causes.
Embracing the Power of Reinvention
Midlife doesn’t have to be the end of vitality. Both Dr. Murray and Natalie Jill emphasize the critical importance of reinvention—led by curiosity, empowerment, and a willingness to question old assumptions.
Here’s how to get started:
- Decide what you want: Your “why” is the engine that powers your progress—don’t skip this step.
- Become your own advocate: Gather information, work with a supportive care team (not just one “expert”), and trust your lived experience.
- Don’t settle for one-size-fits-all answers: Whether it’s gut health, hormones, or medications like GLP-1s, find the dose and approach that fits your body.
- Make foundational changes before advanced fixes: Address stress, sleep, nutrition, and detox before reaching for more complex interventions.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)—The Custom Approach
For women suffering with hot flashes, sleep disruption, and cognitive changes, bioidentical hormone replacement can be transformative. Natalie unapologetically advocates for HRT—but always as part of a personalized plan.
Best Practices:
- Work with a knowledgeable clinician who understands midlife women’s unique needs.
- Use the lowest effective dose to reach functional, not “youthful” levels.
- Support detoxification if your genetics reveal sluggish estrogen metabolism (think leafy greens, broccoli sprouts, and targeted supplements).
- Combine with lifestyle practices for the best long-term outcome.
The Takeaway: You’re in the Driver’s Seat
Midlife is both a challenge and an opportunity—a time to re-evaluate, get curious, and take radical ownership of your health. The old rulebook doesn’t work here. Instead, listen to your body, connect with community, and let trusted guides show you the complexity (and promise) of this new chapter.
Remember: With the right information, support, and willingness to dig deeper, you can thrive—body, mind, and spirit—through perimenopause and beyond.