What "Feeling Safe" Actually Means for Your Metabolism in Perimenopause
This is going to sound kind of woo-woo at first — but stick with me.
Because this is the missing piece for almost every woman I work with in perimenopause and menopause.
We're talking about what it means for your body to feel safe.
And no, I'm not talking about your emotional state or your mindset.
I'm talking about your physiology.
Because when your body doesn't feel safe — when it thinks it's under threat — your metabolism literally shuts down.
And no amount of calorie counting or "clean eating" is going to change that.
Why Your Metabolism Feels Broken in Perimenopause (It's Not)
If you've been trying to lose weight in perimenopause — or even just trying to feel good in your body again — and nothing is working, I want you to hear this:
It's not because you're not trying hard enough.
It's not because you're lazy or undisciplined.
It's because your body is stuck in protection mode.
And when your body is in protection mode, it's not trying to lose weight.
It's trying to survive.
What Protection Mode Actually Looks Like
Here's what happens when your nervous system is dysregulated:
Your body perceives stress — whether that's skipping meals, over-exercising, under-sleeping, or just the chaos of daily life — and it thinks: We're in danger. We need to conserve energy.
So it slows your metabolism.
It holds on to fat — especially around your middle.
It shuts down digestion.
It stops responding to insulin the way it should.
It makes you crave sugar and carbs because your body thinks it needs quick fuel to survive.
This is called a threat response.
And it's the exact opposite of what you need to lose weight, feel energized, or have your hormones work properly.
Because when your body is in threat response, it's not focused on thriving.
It's focused on not dying.
The Shift: Your Metabolism Isn't Broken — It's Protecting You
So here's what you need to understand: your metabolism isn't broken.
It's protecting you.
And the way to "fix" it isn't to eat less or exercise more.
It's to help your body feel safe again.
Because when your body feels safe, everything changes.
Your metabolism speeds up.
Your hormones start responding.
Your digestion improves.
Your energy stabilizes.
Your body finally lets go of the weight it's been holding on to.
This is what I mean when I say nervous system regulation is the missing step.
How to Signal Safety to Your Metabolism
So how do you signal safety to your body?
It's simpler than you think — but it requires you to stop doing the things you've been told to do for weight loss.
Here's what safety actually looks like:
1. Eat Consistently
Skipping meals or going long stretches without food signals famine to your body.
Instead, eat within an hour of waking, and don't go more than 4-5 hours without fuel during the day.
2. Prioritize Protein and Fat
These macronutrients stabilize your blood sugar and tell your body: There's plenty of food. You don't need to hoard energy.
3. Stop Over-Exercising
If you're doing intense workouts and feeling worse — more exhausted, more inflamed, more stuck — your body is perceiving that as stress.
Scale back. Try walking, stretching, or strength training instead.
4. Sleep at Consistent Times
Your circadian rhythm is a huge part of metabolic health in perimenopause.
Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day signals stability to your nervous system.
5. Add Minerals Before Caffeine
A pinch of sea salt in water, or electrolytes, first thing in the morning supports your adrenals and reduces the stress load before stimulants hit your system.
These Aren't Hacks — They're Survival Signals
These aren't "hacks."
They're foundational signals that tell your body: You're safe. You can relax. You can let go.
And when your body believes that? Your metabolism wakes up.
What This Looks Like in Real Life
I worked with a woman who'd been doing everything "right" for years.
Low-carb. High-intensity workouts. Intermittent fasting.
And her weight wouldn't budge.
She was exhausted, bloated, and frustrated.
When we started working together, the first thing I had her do was stop all of that.
We added breakfast.
We slowed down her workouts.
We added more carbs back in — yes, carbs.
And within a month, her jeans were looser.
Not because she "tried harder."
Because her body finally felt safe enough to let go.
Why This Works When Everything Else Doesn't
In perimenopause and menopause, your body is already dealing with:
Declining estrogen and progesterone
Disrupted cortisol rhythms
Blood sugar instability
Metabolic slowdown
Adding more restriction, more intensity, more pressure doesn't help.
It makes your body hold on tighter.
Because your body interprets restriction as danger.
And danger means: Don't let go of anything. We might need it.
The Pattern You Need to Recognize
Here's what most women are doing in menopause:
Eat less → Exercise more → See no results → Restrict even more → Exercise harder → Body shuts down further → Gain more weight
Sound familiar?
This is the threat response cycle.
And you can't discipline your way out of it.
You can only signal your way out of it.
By showing your body: We're safe. There's enough. You can let go.
Ready to Unlock Your Metabolism?
If you want to understand how to get your metabolism working for you again — not against you —
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 signs your body is stuck in overdrive — and what to do about it.
This is the foundation that makes everything else work.
Not Ready for the Workshop? Start Here:
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The bottom line:
Your metabolism isn't broken.
It's protecting you.
And the solution isn't more restriction.
It's more safety.
