Peptides/GLP-1 and Menopause: A Functional Practitioner's Honest Experience (Week 3 Update)
I'm on peptides.
Specifically, injectable GLP-1/GIP with B12.
And I'm documenting the whole thing — the good, the unexpected, and everything in between.
Why?
Because I'm a functional nutrition practitioner with seven years of experience, multiple certifications in holistic and macro nutrition, and I'm menopause-certified.
I teach women how to regulate their nervous systems, balance their blood sugar, and work with their hormones instead of against them.
And despite knowing all of this — despite teaching all of this —
My body was still stuck.
So if you've ever felt like you're doing everything "right" and your body still isn't responding in perimenopause or menopause...
If you've wondered whether peptide therapy like GLP-1 is something you should consider...
Or if you've felt shame about needing medical support —
Keep reading.
Because here's what nobody tells you: knowledge doesn't override physiology.
The Part Nobody Talks About: When Your Body Stops Playing by the Rules
Let me paint you a picture.
Early 40s, pre-perimenopause: I did Nutrisystem and lost 20 pounds in 8 weeks. Easy.
Fast forward to menopause.
Two years ago, I started strength training — five days a week, eating enough protein, managing stress, sleeping well, on bioidentical hormone therapy.
After seven months of doing everything right?
10 pounds.
That's 0.7 pounds per month.
And I wasn't just winging it. I have:
Hashimoto's hypothyroidism (with a multinodular goiter)
A history of gestational diabetes from both pregnancies
Likely insulin resistance that's been brewing for 30 years
My metabolism wasn't just slow.
It was essentially shut down.
And no amount of "trying harder" was going to wake it up.
Why I Finally Said Yes to Peptides/GLP-1
About a year ago, I tried oral GLP-1 — the dissolvable pills.
Nothing happened. Zero results.
But I kept watching my glucose levels stay elevated despite perfect blood sugar balancing habits. I kept gaining weight even when I was consistent with strength training.
And I got tired.
Not just physically tired.
Tired of struggling against my own physiology.
So I made a decision: injectable peptides (GLP-1/GIP with B12), microdosed.
Here's why:
1. Longevity and Metabolic Health
Emerging research shows GLP-1 peptides can support cardiovascular health, reduce inflammation, and lower chronic disease risk.
With Hashimoto's and gestational diabetes in my history? I want every longevity advantage I can get.
2. Hormonal Support in Menopause
Even with bioidentical hormone therapy, my body is operating with less estrogen and progesterone than it had for decades.
That affects everything: metabolism, insulin sensitivity, inflammation, fat storage.
Could peptides help my body adapt to this new hormonal reality? That's what I wanted to find out.
3. Breaking Through Insulin Resistance
My glucose levels were higher than I wanted despite doing all the "right" things.
GLP-1 peptides improve insulin sensitivity — which means your body can finally use food for energy instead of storing it as fat.
That's not just about weight loss. That's about long-term metabolic function.
4. Real, Sustainable Weight Loss in Menopause
I was done losing 0.7 pounds a month.
Carrying extra weight in menopause — especially around the midsection — increases risk for heart disease, diabetes, and metabolic dysfunction.
I wanted to see if peptide therapy could help my body actually respond to all the work I was already putting in.
What I'm Actually Doing: The Full Protocol
Here's what matters most:
Peptides aren't replacing anything. They're amplifying everything.
I'm not just injecting GLP-1 and hoping for magic.
I'm still doing the root-cause work. Here's the real protocol:
The Peptide: Injectable GLP-1/GIP with B12, microdosed, once weekly
Nutrition:
25-35g protein per meal (critical for preserving muscle in menopause)
Healthy fats daily (avocados, olive oil, fatty fish, nuts)
Blood sugar balancing at every meal
Movement:
Strength training with progressive load (compound movements, not bodybuilding)
Pilates (defines muscles I didn't know existed)
Slower-paced treadmill walking 30 min/day, 3-4x/week (no cortisol spikes)
Nervous System Work:
Morning and evening routines that calm my system
Breathwork throughout the day
Sleep anchors (because dysregulated sleep = dysregulated everything)
Why This Matters:
GLP-1 peptides can suppress your appetite so much that you start under-eating — especially protein.
And if you're not intentional? You lose muscle instead of fat.
That's the opposite of what we want in menopause.
So I'm tracking my intake to make sure I'm eating enough even when I'm not hungry.
Week 3 Results: What's Actually Happening
Here's where I'm at as I write this:
✅ Glucose levels started dropping in week one
✅ 5.4 pounds lost (vs. 0.7/month before)
✅ Zero side effects (no nausea, no digestive issues, nothing)
But the numbers don't tell the whole story.
Here's what I'm noticing:
My appetite is naturally regulated.
I'm not thinking about food constantly. I eat when I'm hungry, stop when I'm full. It feels... normal.
Energy is stable throughout the day.
No 2pm crashes. No reaching for coffee or sugar just to function. My blood sugar is clearly stabilizing.
I'm sleeping more soundly.
Whether it's the peptides or the glucose stability — I don't know. But I'll take it.
My body feels less inflamed.
Less puffy, less bloated, less "heavy." Inflammation is coming down.
What I'm Learning About Peptides and Menopause
My body was stuck in insulin resistance — even with "perfect" habits.
All the blood sugar balancing work I was doing? My body was still resisting insulin.
GLP-1 peptides are improving my insulin sensitivity, which means my metabolism can finally use food for energy instead of storage mode.
My metabolism was more suppressed than I realized.
Years of Hashimoto's, menopause, under-eating, and over-exercising had essentially shut my metabolism down.
The peptides are helping wake it back up.
This is what "support" actually looks like.
I spent years thinking I had to do everything on my own — that needing help meant I'd failed.
But sometimes your physiology needs support.
And that's not a failure. That's honesty.
What I'm Monitoring Going Forward
I'm tracking:
✅ Glucose stability — are levels continuing to improve?
✅ Weight loss pace — does this continue or plateau?
✅ Muscle mass — am I maintaining or losing? (hence the protein obsession)
✅ Energy patterns — is this steady energy sustainable?
✅ Appetite regulation — am I still eating enough?
Because here's the thing: GLP-1 peptides are powerful.
And if you're not intentional, you can under-eat, lose muscle, and tank your metabolism.
That's why I'm documenting this — so you can see what works, what doesn't, and what to watch for.
The Honest Truth About Peptides, Menopause, and Support
Peptides/GLP-1 are a tool.
Not cheating.
Not a shortcut.
Not a failure.
Just like bioidentical hormones. Just like thyroid medication. Just like any intervention that helps your body function properly.
If you're doing everything "right" and your body still isn't responding —
You're not broken.
Sometimes physiology — Hashimoto's, insulin resistance, menopause, cortisol dysregulation — needs extra support.
Choosing that support doesn't mean you failed.
It means you're honest about what your body needs.
Why I'm Sharing This Peptide Journey Publicly
I'm documenting this because transparency matters.
Not because I think peptides are the answer for everyone.
But because if my story helps you make a more informed decision about your own body — it's worth it.
I don't want you to feel:
Shame about needing support
Guilt about choosing medication
Like you've failed because your body isn't responding
You haven't failed.
Your body is playing by different rules now.
And sometimes you need help learning those rules.
What I'm Still Learning (And What I'll Share)
Going forward, I want to answer:
✅ How do peptides work WITH nervous system regulation and nutrition?
Do they amplify results or work independently?
✅ How do they affect women with Hashimoto's, insulin resistance, and menopause specifically?
There's not enough real-world data from functional practitioners.
✅ What's the real, unfiltered experience?
The good, the hard, the unexpected — all of it.
✅ How can I guide my clients with evidence, not just theory?
So many women are asking about peptides. I want to give honest answers based on real experience.
Want to Understand What's Really Happening in Your Body?
If you're struggling with weight gain, exhaustion, or feeling like nothing works in perimenopause or menopause — it's not just hormones.
Join my free workshop: "It's Not Just Hormones! Why Nothing's Working in Perimenopause"
February 17th at 2pm Central
You'll learn:
Why your body stopped responding to what used to work
The missing step that comes before hormones, diet, or exercise
Simple practices that give you real, sustainable energy
