Ep. 62 | Menopause Intermittent Fasting: Why It's Backfiring on Your Hormones
You saw it on Instagram. A fitness influencer swearing intermittent fasting changed her life. So you tried it. Skipped breakfast. Pushed your eating window. White-knuckled through the hunger.
And now? More belly fat. More anxiety. Worse sleep. Less energy. Everything the fasting was supposed to fix is getting worse.
That's not a coincidence. Your menopausal body and a 25-year-old's body are running on completely different operating systems. What works for her can actively harm you.
In This Episode, You'll Learn:
The crucial differences between how a younger body and a menopausal body handle fasting — and why the research social media influencers cite doesn't apply to you
How skipping breakfast during perimenopause and menopause triggers a hormonal cascade — spiking cortisol, destabilizing blood sugar, and signaling your body to store fat instead of burn it
Why your stress response system, insulin regulation, and cortisol patterns in midlife make intermittent fasting not just ineffective but potentially harmful
How fasting drains your Response Capacity — adding stress to a system that's already overwhelmed and pushing your body deeper into survival mode
Why breakfast becomes non-negotiable during menopause — and what a hormone-supportive morning meal actually looks like
Practical, hormone-friendly alternatives to intermittent fasting — simple meal timing strategies that work with your changing metabolism instead of against it
Here's what the fasting crowd won't tell you: nourishing your body consistently throughout the day isn't weakness or lack of discipline. During perimenopause and menopause, it's a hormonal necessity. Your body needs to feel fueled and safe before it will release anything — fat, tension, symptoms. That's biology, not opinion.
This is exactly why Phase 2 of my work focuses on learning how to eat with your hormones. Not restricting. Not fasting. Fueling — strategically, consistently, and in a way your midlife body can actually use.
This episode is for you if: You're a woman over 40 in perimenopause or menopause who's been intermittent fasting and getting worse instead of better — or who's been told she should try it and something doesn't feel right. Trust that instinct. Your body is trying to tell you something.
Links & Resources:
🎯 Take the free quiz → What's Really Causing Your Symptoms? https://cindistickle.com/quiz
📅 Book a free Hormone Reset Clarity Call → https://calendly.com/cindistickle/menopause-hormone-clarity-call
🌿 Learn more about It's Not Just Hormones™ System → https://cindistickle.com
🥑 Free Guide → 9 Menopause-Friendly Foods That Reduce Inflammation → https://cindistickle.com
👩💻 Join the free community → It's Not Just Menopause: No-BS Support with Real Answers → https://www.facebook.com/groups/nobsmenopause
📱 Follow on Instagram → @cindisticklenutrition
💬 If this episode spoke to you, please share it with a friend — or leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more women find the root-cause menopause support they deserve.
