Do you have a hormone imbalance? Take my FREE Hormone Symptom Profile Assessment and get your custom evaluation and results.   Hey friend,   Today, I’m talking about FOMO, or more specifically food FOMO.   Because the holiday season is here and that means a lot of food temptations.   If you’re starting to spiral at the thought of holiday cookies and cakes and candy everywhere—at the office, at your hair salon, and even at your gym (the horror!)--and are contemplating either staying at home...

Hey friend,   Today, I’m talking about the #1-holiday gut issue affecting women in perimenopause and menopause and how to curb or prevent a flare-up.   Yep, I’m talking about candida.   I can’t tell you how many women reach out to me every January regarding another yeast infection they’ve tried everything to get rid of…but, like an unwanted family member at Thanksgiving…just keeps coming back!    (🙋🏼‍♀️Been there; got the t-shirt!)    That’s because the holidays are one of the most sugar- and...

Hey friend,   Are you dealing with sudden, out-of-control cravings for sugary, starchy, or carby foods? (like, more than normal?)   …What about bloating, a skin rash, or even sinus issues that won’t go away (even though you’re doing everything to eat right and live a healthy lifestyle?)   …Or maybe you’ve found yourself visiting the Monistat aisle at your favorite drugstore a bit more frequently lately, because, umm, something’s going on “down there” again?   If you’ve been experiencing any...

Hey friend,   It’s National Breast Cancer Month and in today’s episode, we’re talking about breast cancer prevention.   When it comes to breast cancer occurrence, here’s what we know:   ONE in EIGHT women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her LIFETIME.    In North America, a woman dies of breast cancer every 12 minutes.   It’s shocking.    For all of the research and walks and advances in pharmaceuticals, we still don’t have a cure for breast cancer. (Yet.) 🙏   But here’s the good...

Hey friend,   …Ever feel like you just stuck your finger in a light socket… even though you’ve been nowhere near an electrical outlet? 👀   …Or gotten a “whiff” of something funky and wondered, “What is that smell?”... only to realize it’s YOU?!   …Or have you ever gone to scratch or brush away a creepy, crawly bug making its way down your leg…only to realize there's nothing there?    If you’re sitting there nodding, then you may be a card-carrying member of the Crazy Hormones Club. 🤪   In...

Hey friend,   …Have you ever heard a ringing in your ears and blamed it on attending too many Madonna concerts in the 90’s?    …Have you ever felt like someone snuck a piece of Chinese Red Pepper or Carolina Reaper onto your dinner plate when you weren’t looking?   …Have you ever tried to reach for a box of Tide on a grocery store shelf… but could only raise your shoulder as high as the less expensive, store-brand detergent?   Then you may be suffering from tinnitus, frozen shoulder, or...

Hey friend,   Are you dealing with body aches and joint pain that don’t go away, no matter what you do?   Has your chronic pain and inflammation started to impact your mood, your relationships, or even your everyday activities? (Meanwhile, your doctor insists your symptoms are just “part of the aging process"?)   If you’ve been popping Advil lately like their M&M’s just to get through the day, you are not alone!    According to the latest research, nearly 100 million Americans between the...

Hey friend!   Welcome to “Are You There, Midlife? It’s Me, Monica.” This week, I’m sharing another juicy episode of my Hormone Hot Topics series where I discuss all the perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause stories making the news!   I can’t wait to get into all the hot goss on today’s episode, including the following headlines:   Estrogen cream for fine lines & wrinkles: It’s a key ingredient in several new topical, over-the-counter facial products, but can it really help...

Hey friend!    Quick mental health check: Have you felt more anxious, tense, or “on edge” lately? If you’re nodding your head or counting on both hands the number of times you snapped at a loved one this week, you’re not alone!   According to a recent study of 40,000 perimenopausal and menopausal women, nearly 60% reported severe anxiety or depression!!!   Another study reports that one in three of all women going to their doctor for mood swings or other mood-related symptoms of perimenopause...

Hey friend!    Today’s show is all about the liver and how to help your body cleanse and detoxify itself naturally.    I just recently returned from a 2-week Mediterranean cruise where I drank coffee and cocktails all day, stayed up to into the wee hours of the night, and ate “all of the things” in every port we stopped. And, now…my body is on strike!If you’ve recently enjoyed a vacation–or maybe even an entire summer–where you deviated from your regular routine, it can be common to feel out...

Hey friend!    Today’s episode is all about menopause. It was inspired by a very revealing conversation I had on my recent vacation that reminded me how much of a mystery menopause STILL is to so many women.    In the United States, roughly 1.3 million women experience menopause every year. Globally, that number soars to 25 million! HALF of the world's population will go through menopause in their lifetime, yet there are STILL so many myths floating around this very natural midlife transition...

Hey friend,   Today, we are taking a trip back in time.. going deep inside the podcast vault to revisit my very first episode of the pod: Ep. #1: “How Do I Know If I’m in Perimenopause?”   If you already listened to this episode in March, I’m resharing this episode for TWO VERY IMPORTANT REASONS: 1.) First, I’m launching a brand new series of the podcast this month where I’ll be taking a deep dive into more than 26 perimenopause and menopause symptoms–from Anxiety to Zits…and all the letters...

Hey friend!   Welcome to “Are You There, Midlife? It’s Me, Monica.” This week, I’m sharing another juicy episode of my Hormone Hot Topics summer series where I discuss all the perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause stories making the news!   I can’t wait to get into all the hot goss on today’s episode, including the following headlines:   Got menopause? Take a cold plunge! What a recent study reveals about cold water submersion and hormonal symptom relief   Age schmage--The...

Hey friend!    Wow! Can you believe that summer is nearly over? One minute you’re doubling down on spray tans so you’re not looking all pasty-white in your shorts and sundresses…And the next minute, you’re getting a notification on your Starbucks App that Fall drinks are back!    What in the pumpkin latte is going on here?!?   I’m actually getting ready to go on vacation and I can not wait to not count calories or macros or steps and just eat, drink, and let my food flag fly!    And that’s...

Hey friend!   Welcome to “Are You There, Midlife? It’s me, Monica.” Today’s episode is part of a special “Hormone Hot Topics” series of the podcast I’m hosting. Every other Thursday, now through the end of summer, I’m bringing you all of the juicy scoop on the perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause topics making the news!… In today’s episode, I’ll sound off on the following stories ripped right from the headline:   Ricezempic, TikTok’s latest Ozempic dupe: Can it really help you lose...

Hey friend!    Are you getting ready to go on vacation this month? Me too! 🙋‍♀️   More than 82% of all US adults–or more than 212 million people–are planning to take a vacation this summer. (That’s a lot of luggage, lol!)    But all that travel can be hard on our hormones.   Because when we travel, our sleep, healthy eating, hydration, and regular exercise routine can all go sideways, in turn, impacting our blood sugar, gut health, and key hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and...

Hey friend! Do you suffer from "food guilt"? If you’ve just come back from a summer vacation where you ate, drank, and maybe indulged a little too much…and are now feeling bad about it…you’re not alone.In fact, according to a recent survey of 2,000 men and women in the US, about 1 in 3 people eat food that makes them feel guilty and 39% of women say those guilt feelings can even ruin their day…not to mention their vacation.While it's true what we eat in perimenopause, menopause, and even...

Hey friend!   Welcome to “Are You There, Midlife? It’s me, Monica.” Hi, I’m Monica and I’m super excited to bring you this week’s episode of “Hormone Hot Topics.” Every other Thursday, now through the end of summer, I’m bringing you the juicy scoop on the perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause stories making the news. In today’s episode, I’ll sound off on the following headlines:   Hormonal Depression: Why women in PERIMENOPAUSE are at a higher risk of developing depression than at any...

Hey friend!    Did you know today is officially the halfway point of summer? Yep! 47 days down and 47 days to go of sun, fun, and celebrating. (And by “celebrating,” I mean drinking.)   If you’re a woman in perimenopause or menopause and you feel like drinking this summer is hitting you a little differently, you may be right.   Research shows that hormonal shifts in mid life can affect the way our body metabolizes alcohol which can decrease our alcohol tolerance, increase our hangover...

Hey friend!    Have you been “celebrating” a lot this summer? (And by “celebrating” I mean drinking.)   “Celebrating” is synonymous with summer. From commemorating summer holidays like Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Father’s Day, and Labor Day weekend–to celebrating kids graduating from high school and college–to weddings, vacations and so much more.   …Many of us have been in “party” mode for the last 3 months!    And there’s nothing wrong with that…UNLESS all that celebrating has taken a...

Hey friend!   Welcome to “Are You There, Midlife? It’s me, Monica.” Hi, I’m Monica and I’m super excited to bring to you the second episode of a brand NEW summer series of the podcast called, “Hormone Hot Topics.” Every other Thursday, now through the end of summer, I’m going to bring you the juicy scoop on the perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause stories making the news. In today’s episode, I’ll sound off on the following headlines:   Can a sleep divorce save your marriage? If...

Hey friend!    Have you ever heard of “summertime sadness?” No, not the Lana Del Rey song…although that is a catchy tune!   I’m talking about seasonal depression, irritability, and even anxiety that can occur during the summer…. especially in women with a hormonal imbalance.    Yes! This is a thing! And it affects more of us ladies in perimenopause through post-menopause than you’d think.    So if you’ve been feeling a little “off” since summer started… this episode is for you!   Today, I’m...

How’s your summer going? Are you getting ready to go on vacation? Or maybe you’re on vacation right now???   Today’s episode was actually inspired by a mini vacay I took to Palm Springs in the spring. It was hot! Not record-breaking 126-degree weather hot like it was over the Fourth of July weekend… But hot enough that I had trouble sleeping.    If you’re in menopause, postmenopause, or even perimenopause, maybe you can relate. Hormonal changes in our 40s and 50s can cause insomnia or...

Hey friend! Welcome to “Are You There, Midlife? It’s me, Monica.” Hi, I’m Monica and I’m super excited to kick off a brand new series of the podcast today called, “Hot Hormone Topics.” Every other Thursday, now through the end of summer, I’m going to bring you the juicy scoop on perimenopause and menopause stories making the news. In today’s episode, I’m sounding off on the following headlines: Should you swap your gym membership for a sauna? A new study on menopause weight gain and insulin...