The One Thing Every Perimenopause Plan Should Start With (But Doesn't)

I'm going to tell you the one thing every menopause plan should start with — but almost none of them do.

And once you understand this, everything else you've been trying starts to make sense.

Why some things worked for a minute and then stopped.
Why other things never worked at all.
Why you've been spinning your wheels for months — or even years.

It all comes down to this one missing step.

Let's talk about it.

You've Tried Everything — And Nothing's Sticking

If you've been trying different approaches to menopause for a while now, you've probably tried a lot of things.

Maybe you started taking magnesium.
Maybe you added strength training.
Maybe you went on HRT or tried seed cycling or started drinking bone broth.

And some of it helped… for a little while.

But nothing stuck.

Or worse — nothing worked at all.

And now you're frustrated, confused, and starting to wonder if your body is just broken.

Let me tell you: your body is not broken.

The approaches are just missing a step.

Why Most Menopause Plans Skip the Foundation

Here's what most menopause advice does:

It goes straight to hormones.

HRT. Supplements. Seed cycling. Adaptogens.

Or it goes straight to metabolism.

Eat less. Move more. Cut carbs. Track macros.

And all of those things can help.

But only if your nervous system is regulated first.

Because when your nervous system is stuck in overdrive — when your body thinks it's under constant threat — it doesn't matter what supplements you take or how clean you eat.

Your body isn't listening.

It's too busy trying to survive.

The Missing Foundation: Nervous System Regulation

So here's the one thing every menopause plan should start with:

Nervous system regulation.

Not hormones.
Not metabolism.
Not meal plans or workout routines.

You have to help your body feel safe first.

Because when your body feels safe, everything else starts working.

Your hormones can respond to HRT.
Your metabolism can respond to food and movement.
Your energy stabilizes.
Your mood evens out.
Your digestion improves.
Your sleep gets better.

This is the missing step.

What Nervous System Regulation Actually Looks Like

So what does nervous system regulation actually look like?

It's simpler than you think.

It's eating breakfast within an hour of waking.
It's adding minerals before coffee.
It's slowing down your workouts if they're leaving you exhausted.
It's going to bed at the same time every night.
It's taking five deep breaths when you feel tension rising.

These aren't "hacks."

They're safety signals.

And when you stack them together, your body finally gets the message: We're okay. We can relax. We can let go.

What This Looks Like in Real Life

Let me give you an example of how this plays out.

I had a client who came to me after trying everything.

She'd been on HRT for six months. No change.
She'd cut out gluten and dairy. No change.
She'd started taking a dozen supplements. Still nothing.

She was exhausted, bloated, and gaining weight.

When we started working together, we didn't add anything new.

We just focused on nervous system regulation.

Breakfast within an hour of waking.
Minerals before coffee.
Gentle walks instead of intense workouts.
Consistent bedtime.

That's it.

And within three weeks, she texted me: "I finally feel like my body is responding again. I have energy. My clothes fit better. I'm not constantly on edge."

Her HRT started working.
Her supplements started working.
Her body started working.

Because we laid the foundation first.

Why This Changes Everything in Perimenopause and Menopause

In perimenopause and menopause, your body is already dealing with:

  • Fluctuating estrogen and progesterone

  • Disrupted cortisol rhythms

  • Blood sugar instability

  • Metabolic slowdown

Your nervous system is already maxed out.

So when you add supplements, change your diet, start new workouts, or begin HRT — your body can't respond.

Not because those things don't work.

But because your nervous system isn't in a state to receive them.

It's like trying to download a file on a computer that's frozen.

The file is fine. The computer just can't process it.

You have to restart the system first.

And nervous system regulation is how you do that.

The Pattern You Need to Recognize

Here's what most women are doing:

Try HRT → No change → Add supplements → Still nothing → Change diet → Get frustrated → Try harder → Body shuts down more

Sound familiar?

This is the "skipping the foundation" cycle.

And you can't supplement your way out of it.

You can't diet your way out of it.

You can only regulate your way out of it.

Ready to Learn the Full System?

If you want to go deeper — if you want to understand exactly how to regulate your nervous system and why this is the key to everything else —

Join me for my free workshop on February 17th at 2pm Central.

"It's Not Just Hormones! Why Nothing's Working in Menopause"

I'm walking you through the three biggest symptoms that show up when your nervous system is stuck in overdrive:

  1. Exhaustion before the day even starts

  2. Mood swings and irritability

  3. Running on coffee and willpower

You'll learn:

  • Why your body fights every approach you try

  • The simple daily practices that reset your nervous system

  • How to finally get your body responding again — without more supplements, more restrictions, or more effort

Save your spot →

Not Ready for the Workshop? Start Here:

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The bottom line:

Nervous system regulation is the foundation.

Not hormones.

Not metabolism.

Not supplements or meal plans.

Get this right first, and everything else starts working.

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When Eating 'Right' Makes Perimenopause Symptoms Worse