How I Mastered Menopause Metabolism with Exercise If menopause metabolism has put pounds on you and or belly fat is an issue no matter what else is going on with weight, this is your read. I’d be willing to bet that most of what you believe – because it’s what you’ve been taught – is part of the problem. In this post I uncover what worked for me, and how I discovered the research that made my “accidental” optimal menopause metabolism formula no accident at all. I stumbled onto something that in any other circumstances I would have completely screwed up. I was in the worst year of my adult life. It started with excitement (doesn’t it always?) that quickly turned to panic, and fear, and tears taking every picture off my walls while others were putting up holiday decorations. I had to sell my house. After having quit my safe, secure job, (I volunteered for that one), having a 10 year relationship fall apart, my son went to college, I was working in isolation feeling “dumb” about all things online. I went from someone who exercised 10 or more hours a week to someone who exercised for 20 minutes a day. I was stressed. And blessed. Because… This Menopause Metabolism Insight Will Surprise You I went from someone who exercised 10 or more hours a week to someone who exercised for 20 minutes a day. And after months of it I barely recognized myself. I looked BETTER. I was leaner, stronger, and healthier looking than when I thought I was in the best shape of my life months before when I’d finished an Ironman. I dug into all the research to figure out what had happened to me… since that was opposite all the dogma about “more exercise, less food” right? I was barely exercising compared to the fitness enthusiast I’d been for 3 decades. At 49… what a time to cut back on exercise, right? Actually…. Exactly RIGHT! What I learned is that I’d been doing it all wrong. And MOST women are doing it all wrong. Most trainers and fitness instructors are doing it all WRONG. The exercise programs they offer have in fact the opposite intended effect for middle-aged women. (and… next on my to-do list is think of much sexier name because frankly, no one really wants to be the middle child, be middle-of-the-road or middle-aged) How would I have screwed it up? I would normally have exercised more and harder to get results if I was gaining weight or feeling less than fit. Hands up… is this you too? It is the answer you’ve heard from your girlfriend, trainer, and even doctor. Exercise more, eat less. You’ve been led to believe calories control your weight. That advice totally ignores that hormones control what’s done with those calories. Do you burn them or store them? Hormones call the shots. Since 1984 I’ve been working as a fitness instructor, trainer, manager, international presenter, health coach, and trainer of trainers in the fitness industry. I’ve seen and heard every single problem women 40-60+ have because women in that demographic are the largest population represented in fitness participants, fitness members, and personal training clients. What the Research Told Me I took all the first-hand primary research and experience I had and began to look for the research studies on women in perimenopause, menopause, and post menopause. I looked at the women who aged most successfully (without the personal chef, maid, or luxurious spa days regularly) and those who didn’t – who struggled. I learned that a very small fraction of research is even done on women in perimenopause, menopause, or post menopause. And that’s important in it’s own right that we separate those because “after 50” programs for “seniors” are usually B.S. programs with a label. They ensure that you’ll be surrounded by peers within 10-20 years age of you (is that even narrow?) but doesn’t ensure the program is created based on research about you. The guidelines or position statements created about exercise or given by the Surgeon General for that matter, don’t address nuances of hormones or yo