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Handling the frustrations of perimenopause
without fighting your body
For a long time, perimenopause has been spoken about in whispers.
Something confusing.
Something frustrating.
Something to “just get through.”
But the truth is… we need to understand it better.
And when you do, everything changes.
So, what actually is perimenopause?
Perimenopause is the transition phase before menopause.
It can start in your late 30s or 40s and last several years. During this time, hormones like estrogen and progesterone don’t just decline… they fluctuate.
And that fluctuation is what creates the experience.
Not a steady change.
A moving one.
This is why it can feel unpredictable.
One week you feel strong, energised, clear.
The next, everything feels heavier.
What you might notice
Perimenopause doesn’t look the same for everyone.
Some women barely feel it.
Others feel like they don’t recognise their body anymore.
You might experience changes in energy, sleep, mood, recovery, body composition, or motivation.
And here’s the important part:
None of this means something is wrong.
It means your body is adapting.
Let’s clear a few myths
There’s a lot of noise around this phase. Most of it doesn’t help.
-Perimenopause does not mean your metabolism is “broken.”
-It does not mean you can’t build strength.
-It does not mean fat gain is inevitable or uncontrollable.
-And it definitely does not mean you should train less or stop challenging yourself to avoid ´stress.´
What it does mean is that your body may need a different kind of support.
How perimenopause can affect training
This is where we see most frustration.
Progress feels slower.
Recovery feels different.
Some sessions feel great… others feel like a struggle.
Hormonal fluctuations can impact:
-Energy levels
-Strength output
-Recovery time
-Sleep quality
-Stress tolerance
Which means your training might not feel as consistent as before.
And that can be hard… especially if you’re used to pushing through.
What to do about it
This is not about doing more.
It’s about doing smarter.
Strength training becomes even more important in this phase. It supports bone density, muscle mass, metabolic health, and overall resilience.
But the approach matters.
You want to focus on consistency over intensity.
Good technique over chasing numbers.
Recovery as part of the plan, not an afterthought.
Listening to your body stops being optional. It becomes the strategy.
Some sessions you push.
Some sessions you maintain.
Others you focus on mobility or control.
All are progress.
Support your body, don’t fight it
There are things that can help:
-Prioritising sleep, even when it feels harder to get
-Eating enough protein to support muscle and recovery
-Managing stress levels outside of the gym, not just physically but mentally
-Keeping movement regular, even on low-energy days
-Small things. Done consistently. Not perfectly.
And then… the part no one talks about enough
There will be moments where you do everything “right”…
And it still feels off.
This is where the shift happens.
Because not everything in this phase is controllable.
And trying to force your body back into what it used to be often creates more frustration than progress.
Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is not push harder…
But accept where you are.
Work with your body instead of against it.
This phase is not the end of progress
It’s a different way of experiencing it.
Slower, maybe.
Less linear, definitely.
But still there.
You are not starting from scratch.
You are evolving.
And with the right support, you can come out of this phase stronger, more aware, and more connected to your body than before.
For a long time, perimenopause has been spoken about in whispers.
Something confusing.
Something frustrating.
Something to “just get through.”
But the truth is… we need to understand it better.
And when you do, everything changes.
So, what actually is perimenopause?
Perimenopause is the transition phase before menopause.
It can start in your late 30s or 40s and last several years. During this time, hormones like estrogen and progesterone don’t just decline… they fluctuate.
And that fluctuation is what creates the experience.
Not a steady change.
A moving one.
This is why it can feel unpredictable.
One week you feel strong, energised, clear.
The next, everything feels heavier.
What you might notice
Perimenopause doesn’t look the same for everyone.
Some women barely feel it.
Others feel like they don’t recognise their body anymore.
You might experience changes in energy, sleep, mood, recovery, body composition, or motivation.
And here’s the important part:
None of this means something is wrong.
It means your body is adapting.
Let’s clear a few myths
There’s a lot of noise around this phase. Most of it doesn’t help.
-Perimenopause does not mean your metabolism is “broken.”
-It does not mean you can’t build strength.
-It does not mean fat gain is inevitable or uncontrollable.
-And it definitely does not mean you should train less or stop challenging yourself to avoid ´stress.´
What it does mean is that your body may need a different kind of support.
How perimenopause can affect training
This is where we see most frustration.
Progress feels slower.
Recovery feels different.
Some sessions feel great… others feel like a struggle.
Hormonal fluctuations can impact:
-Energy levels
-Strength output
-Recovery time
-Sleep quality
-Stress tolerance
Which means your training might not feel as consistent as before.
And that can be hard… especially if you’re used to pushing through.
What to do about it
This is not about doing more.
It’s about doing smarter.
Strength training becomes even more important in this phase. It supports bone density, muscle mass, metabolic health, and overall resilience.
But the approach matters.
You want to focus on consistency over intensity.
Good technique over chasing numbers.
Recovery as part of the plan, not an afterthought.
Listening to your body stops being optional. It becomes the strategy.
Some sessions you push.
Some sessions you maintain.
Others you focus on mobility or control.
All are progress.
Support your body, don’t fight it
There are things that can help:
-Prioritising sleep, even when it feels harder to get
-Eating enough protein to support muscle and recovery
-Managing stress levels outside of the gym, not just physically but mentally
-Keeping movement regular, even on low-energy days
-Small things. Done consistently. Not perfectly.
And then… the part no one talks about enough
There will be moments where you do everything “right”…
And it still feels off.
This is where the shift happens.
Because not everything in this phase is controllable.
And trying to force your body back into what it used to be often creates more frustration than progress.
Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is not push harder…
But accept where you are.
Work with your body instead of against it.
This phase is not the end of progress
It’s a different way of experiencing it.
Slower, maybe.
Less linear, definitely.
But still there.
You are not starting from scratch.
You are evolving.
And with the right support, you can come out of this phase stronger, more aware, and more connected to your body than before.
