Let's have a little chat about your bones, shall we? Not to be all doom and gloom, but as we cruise into perimenopause and beyond, our skeletons are staging a quiet rebellion. While we're busy dealing with hot flashes that make us want to stick our heads in freezers and mood swings that have our families installing panic rooms, our bones are silently getting more porous than that expensive Swiss cheese in your fridge.

If you've stepped into the arena of your 40s or 50s and found yourself tangled in changes with your body or mood that feel like unsolved puzzles, remember, you're not alone. The voyage into menopause, along with the warm-up act known as perimenopause, can strew a myriad of physical and emotional trials across your day-to-day existence.

You used to be able to carry all the groceries in one trip, and now lifting a gallon of almond milk feels like an Olympic event. What gives? Well, blame it on menopause. Yep, just when you thought hot flashes and mood swings were the grand finale

You wake up one morning, reach for your coffee mug, and—ouch! Your shoulder feels like it’s been superglued in place. Welcome to the not-so-fun world of frozen shoulder, where even the simplest tasks turn into an Olympic event. And guess what? Menopause just happens to be one of its favorite times to strike.

There’s a dirty little secret about menopause that no one tells you: the fatigue is real. It’s not the “I need a quick nap” kind of tired—it’s the “who replaced my blood with molasses?” level of exhaustion. And just when you think you’ve conquered the mood swings and negotiated a peace treaty with hot flashes, fatigue shows up like the uninvited guest who refuses to leave.

Just when you think you’ve mastered the hot flashes and made peace with the mood swings, joint pain decides to RSVP to the party uninvited. If your knees sound like a bag of popcorn every time you stand or your shoulders are auditioning for the role of the Tin Man, you’re not alone.

You’re at a party, feeling fabulous, when someone asks your age. The moment you answer, their face morphs into that concerned, pitiful look you’ve come to despise. “Oh, you look great… for your age!” they say, as if you’ve somehow defied the natural order by showing up with style, wit, and zero visible cat hairs on your dress.

(Spoiler: They Might Just Be Your New Best Friend)

Hot flashes, mood swings, fatigue, brain fog… the list goes on. If you’ve found yourself Googling, “Is this normal, or am I just losing it?” you’re not alone.

Menopause—the word alone can send shivers down your spine. Not because of the hot flashes (though they’re intense enough to make you question your life choices), but because it marks a chapter filled with unpredictable changes.

Hot flashes can feel like a firestorm sweeping through your body, leaving you flushed, overheated, and uncomfortable. If you’re experiencing them, you’re certainly not alone—about 75% of women going through perimenopause and menopause face this notorious symptom.

Ever been in the middle of a crucial meeting, only to find your mind pulling a disappearing act? Or walked into a room only to wonder why exactly you're there? If you're nodding along, you're certainly not walking this path alone. 

Let’s get one thing straight: menopause is not the end of your fabulousness. It’s not a life sentence to hot flashes, mood swings, and frumpy sweaters. It’s a transition—a powerful, transformative, and yes, sometimes annoying phase of life that can be your gateway to a whole new level of badassery.