"I really thought I was going to sail through menopause... until I didn't have it all figured out. I started going into early menopause at 42, and that's when everything changed." - Karen Martel

Today, I sit down with hormone expert Karen Martel, to dive deep into the truth about perimenopause, menopause, weight gain, and hormone replacement therapy. 

As a nutritionist who experienced early menopause herself, Karen shares invaluable insights about why the conventional "calories in, calories out" approach fails so many women in midlife. Together, we explore why even health-conscious women who "do everything right" can still struggle with unexplained weight gain, mood changes, and other perimenopausal symptoms.

Karen reveals game-changing information about estrogen's crucial role in metabolic health and why starting hormone replacement at the right time can make all the difference in your journey through menopause.

If you're tired of being told it's "all in your head" or that you need to “eat less and exercise more”, this episode will validate you and arm you with the knowledge you need to take control of your hormonal health.

What you'll learn:

• Why conventional advice about menopause and metabolism is often wrong, especially for women over 40

• The surprising connection between estrogen levels and insulin resistance in midlife 

• How to recognize early signs of perimenopause that most doctors miss

• Why the timing of starting hormone replacement therapy matters more than most realize

• The truth about progesterone dosing and why "more" isn't always better

• How modern environmental factors trigger earlier onset of perimenopausal symptoms

• The role of new medications, like GLP-1s, to support metabolic health in menopause

• Game-changing insights about topical estrogen for skin health and aging

FULL show notes: https://www.jjvirgin.com/hormonecream 

Learn more about Karen Martel: https://karenmartel.com/  

Karen’s over the counter line of bioidentical hormone creams. Use code jj for 10% off: https://karenmartel.com/shop/?wpam_id=18 

Podcast: The Hormone Solution with Karen Martel: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hormone-solution-with-karen-martel/id1438772276 

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Shop Oura Rings: https://ouraring.com/ 

Reignite Wellness™ Collagen Peptides Powder: https://reignitewellness.com/products/all-systems-glow-collagen 

Download my FREE Best Rest Sleep Cheat Sheet: https://jjvirgin.com/sleep 

Tape Measure: https://amzn.to/3wQw4Q2 

Episode Sponsors: 

Try Timeline: https://www.timelinenutrition.com/shop?rfsn=7082975.4b75243 and use code JJ10 for 10% off of all products.

Go to http://qualialife.com/VIRGINWELLNESS to try Qualia risk free for up to 100 days and use code VIRGINWELLNESS for an additional 15% off

Take Karen’s Hormone Quiz and find out which hormones might be stopping you from losing weight 

Use coupon code JJ (or whatever coupon you want to use)  for 10% off your purchase of Karen’s OTC HRT creams