One story that comes to mind is that of my client Jill, an executive who found success in most of her goals — like her professional life — through hard work and determination. (Sound familiar?) She was frustrated that her “tried and true” exercise routine was no longer working for her. Pounds began to creep on, and she couldn’t budge the scale.
Jill was overwhelmed and exhausted and found her confidence waning. What she didn’t realize was that her perimenopausal body needed different care from what she had practiced in years past. Instead, she needed a new approach to her calendar, food, sleep, stress, and exercise routine that honored her 45-year-old body.
She first wanted to focus on her exercise and knew she could commit to consistency. I suggested a strength training program tailored to her needs and schedule, yet also one incorporating movements that would “shock” her system. While she was skeptical in the beginning, she followed a consistent practice of quality, achievable, training. Along the way, she gained confidence in the program and herself.
After just a few weeks, Jill began to feel at home in her body again. She told me her new movement mindset enabled her to become the best and strongest version of herself. She learned what serious strength looks and feels like. This was the catalyst for further change. She then took on stress resilience and how she approached her calendar — her time. Her transformation was awesome to watch!

I am a midlife wellness expert who found my life’s work during my time as a strength and nutrition coach. I owned a successful strength training gym and would often work with women aged 40 and older who struggled to feel good in their bodies. Most were exhausted, overworked, and despite their best diet and exercise efforts, unable to lose unwanted pounds or reverse their fatigue.
At the same time, I was also in my mid-40s, the mother of twin toddlers, and, unbeknownst to me, in the throes of perimenopause. I was exhausted from the lack of rest, mostly from waking up drenched in sweat and then dealing with the 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. worry that made it impossible to return to sleep. I was constantly overwhelmed, in large part because my calendar — which I now understand reflects our core values and purpose — was designed to serve everyone but me. On top of it all, I had a belly that wouldn’t budge, despite cutting calories and regular intense cardio sweat sessions.
I worked harder and harder at reducing calories and increasing exercise, convinced this was the way to produce the results I desperately wanted. Yet the never-ending days and lack of progress left me feeling stressed and hopeless.
My epiphany and defining moment came when a friend suggested I see a menopause specialist. Within five minutes, she explained I was in “deep perimenopause.” Together, we began to build a path for my wellness.
After this revelation, I noticed similarities between my personal experience and what I was seeing my clients struggle with daily . I knew there had to be a better way for women to experience midlife, perimenopause, and menopause.
I developed my proprietary Wellness Wheel to illustrate the importance of and the interrelation among sleep, stress resilience, calendar management, movement, and food. Since then, I have used the strategies of my Wellness Wheel to help thousands of women not just survive — but thrive — during midlife.