5 Things I Wish Every Woman Over 40 Knew About Her Hormones (And Her Purpose)

God Designed Your Body to Heal. Here's the Science Behind Why It Stopped.

📌 Book a Consultation: www.gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/ You were made to heal. So why are you getting worse every year? If you are a woman in your 40s or 50s, the answer you have been given is aging. That answer is wrong. In this episode, I'm going to break down the four body systems God designed to heal you, why they stop working, and exactly what to do about it. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS  0:00 God Designed Your Body to Heal. Here's the Science Behind Why It Stopped. 0:37 Your hormones were built to do more than you were told  1:37 Why your body is inflamed and won't stop  3:32 The real reason for unexplained joint pain  4:19 Why eating less stopped working after 40  6:12 The muscle system nobody talks about  7:39 Why diet culture had it backwards  8:18 Reading the signals your body sends  9:56 The four tests to ask your provider for  ❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED  Why do women in their 40s suddenly gain weight without changing their diet?  When estrogen drops, cells stop responding to insulin the way they used to, so glucose cannot move into cells properly. This causes the body to store fat and send stronger hunger signals, even though nothing about the diet has changed. Why does joint pain and brain fog appear during perimenopause with no clear diagnosis?  Estrogen is one of the body's main tools for switching off inflammation once healing is complete. When estrogen drops, that switch stops working, so normal healing information keeps running with nothing to shut it down, showing up as joint pain, gut issues, and brain fog. Does losing muscle actually affect long term health, not just appearance? Yes. Muscle regulates blood sugar, protects joints, produces anti inflammatory compounds, and keeps metabolism running at rest. Women who maintain muscle mass age well, and women who lose it do not. 📱 RESOURCES  Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com  Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SharonLemoine-ARNP 🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. New episodes every week. ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP  Sharon Lemoine is a board certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State, specializing in hormone optimization, perimenopause and menopause care, functional medicine, weight loss, and peptide therapy. As a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and woman navigating surgical menopause herself, Sharon brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every episode. She believes your body is a gift worth honoring, and that you are in control of your health. #Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #functionalmedicine  Sharon Lemoine, ARNP Gig Harbor Medical Spa 11515 Burnham Dr Suite 105, Gig Harbor, WA 98332 (253) 649-3916 https://gigharbormedicalspa.com

What 26 Years as a Type 1 Diabetic Actually Taught Me About My Body (That No Doctor Could)

📌 Book a Consultation: www.gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/ I was diagnosed as a type 1 diabetic at 31, and my first reaction was pure anger. I had done everything right. Twenty six years later, at 57, I am in the best shape of my life, and this diagnosis is one of the biggest reasons why. In this episode, I'm going to walk you through what 26 years of living with type 1 diabetes actually taught me about eating, training, hormones, and control, and why the numbers never improve first, the habits do. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 What 26 Years as a Type 1 Diabetic Actually Taught Me About My Body (That No Doctor Could) 0:42 My diagnosis story at age 31 2:00 The moment my diagnosis became information 3:00 Why real time feedback changes everything 5:22 Strength training versus cardio for blood sugar 7:00 My exact morning workout routine 8:59 Hormones, hysterectomy, and blood sugar control 9:59 Why women wait for numbers to improve first 13:23 The question that keeps me consistent 15:30 What 26 years actually built in me ❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED Does exercise affect type 1 diabetes blood sugar?  Yes, strength training helps stabilize blood sugar because muscle mass absorbs extra glucose without requiring extra insulin, while long distance cardio can cause spikes that require more insulin to balance. Building consistent muscle over years is one of the most reliable long term tools for stable glucose control. Can hormone imbalances affect diabetes management?  Yes, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone directly affect insulin sensitivity, muscle recovery, and fat storage, so untreated hormone imbalances can make blood sugar control much harder even with perfect diet and exercise. This is especially true during perimenopause, menopause, or after a hysterectomy, when hormone shifts can quietly undo years of consistent glucose habits. Why do healthy foods sometimes raise blood sugar?  Fruit and other healthy carbohydrates can spike blood sugar quickly on their own, but pairing them with a protein or fat slows glucose absorption and prevents the sharp spike. Understanding this pairing principle matters more than counting calories or avoiding entire food groups. 📱 RESOURCES Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SharonLemoine-ARNP 🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated.  ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP Sharon Lemoine is a board certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State, specializing in hormone optimization, perimenopause and menopause care, functional medicine, weight loss, and peptide therapy. As a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and woman navigating surgical menopause herself, Sharon brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every video. She believes your body is a gift worth honoring, and that you are in control of your health. #Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #FunctionalMedicine

Gig Harbor Hormone Specialist for Menopause (What You Need to Know)

📌 Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/ You went to your doctor. Labs came back normal. And you still feel like something is wrong. You are not imagining it. And you are not alone. The standard lab ranges most doctors use are designed to detect disease, not optimize health. A woman can be well below her optimal hormone levels and still fall inside the so-called normal range. Her doctor sees the number, tells her she is fine, and sends her home. She is not fine. In this episode, I'm going to show you exactly what a real hormone evaluation looks like, why so many women in Gig Harbor go undiagnosed for years, and what actually changes when you get the right workup. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS  0:00 Gig Harbor Hormone Specialist for Menopause (What You Need to Know) 0:47 What perimenopause actually is and when it starts  1:56 Why your labs look "normal" but you still feel terrible  2:28 What a full hormone panel actually tests  2:56 Body composition: muscle mass, body fat, and visceral fat  3:22 What a thorough consultation involves  3:46 Treatment options: bioidentical HRT, pellet therapy, supplementation  4:19 Real patient case: chronic fatigue, low libido, "normal" labs  7:12 Results after 3 months of pellet therapy ❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED What does a hormone specialist for menopause actually test?  A thorough workup goes beyond basic labs to include estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, cortisol, thyroid function, fasting insulin, and a full metabolic panel. It also includes a body composition assessment measuring visceral fat, which directly drives inflammation and hormone-related symptoms. Why do women with hormone symptoms get told their labs are normal?  Standard lab ranges are built to detect disease, not optimize health. A woman can fall inside the "normal" range and still be well below her optimal hormone levels. The number looks fine on paper because the test was never designed to catch what is actually wrong. What is pellet therapy and how does it work for menopause?  Pellet therapy delivers bioidentical hormones slowly under the skin, maintaining steady levels over several months. Bloodwork is repeated every few months and the dose is adjusted until levels reach a therapeutic range, not just a "not sick enough to treat" range. 📱 RESOURCES  Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com  Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SharonLemoine-ARNP 🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. New episode every week. ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP  Sharon Lemoine is a board-certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State, specializing in hormone optimization, perimenopause and menopause care, functional medicine, weight loss, and peptide therapy. As a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and woman navigating surgical menopause herself, Sharon brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every episode. She believes your body is a gift worth honoring, and that you are in control of your health. #Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #FunctionalMedicine Sharon Lemoine, ARNP Gig Harbor Medical Spa 11515 Burnham Dr Suite 105, Gig Harbor, WA 98332 (253) 649-3916 https://gigharbormedicalspa.com

Can Peptides Help Women Fix Their Gut?

📌 Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/ You've done the gut work. The elimination protocols, the probiotics, the food logs, and you're still bloated, foggy, and exhausted. That's because the gut wall itself is damaged, and no food protocol repairs a broken wall. In this episode, I'm going to show you what's actually damaging your gut lining beyond diet, why cleaning up your food only goes so far, and what the peptide BPC 157 does that nothing else can. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS  0:00 You've done the gut work. Here's why it's still not working.  1:02 What's actually happening inside your gut wall  2:17 Why eating clean doesn't fix a damaged gut lining  2:53 4 hidden causes of gut damage that have nothing to do with food  3:25 How chronic stress is quietly destroying your gut lining  4:54 Why perimenopause changes your gut (even when your diet hasn't)  5:21 How common medications silently damage your gut barrier  6:40 The patient pattern I see in my practice again and again  9:49 What BPC 157 does that diet, probiotics, and supplements can't  12:06 What to do next if you've tried everything and still feel stuck ❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED Why doesn't diet fix leaky gut?  Diet reduces irritation to the gut lining but cannot repair the barrier itself. If the lining is structurally damaged, removing inflammatory foods only slows the assault. It does not close the gap. What is BPC 157 and how does it help gut health?  BPC 157 is a peptide (a short chain of amino acids) studied for its role in gut tissue repair. It appears to accelerate healing of the gut lining, reduce local inflammation, and support new blood vessel growth in damaged tissue through pathways separate from diet, probiotics, or supplements. What causes leaky gut besides food?  Chronic cortisol from ongoing stress directly loosens the junctions between gut cells. Declining estrogen during perimenopause reduces the protective function of the gut lining. Regular use of NSAIDs and antacids are well-documented irritants, and environmental toxins like glyphosate compound that load over time. 📱 RESOURCES  Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com  Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SharonLemoine-ARNP 🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. New episodes every week. ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP  Sharon Lemoine is a board-certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State, specializing in hormone optimization, perimenopause and menopause care, functional medicine, weight loss, and peptide therapy. As a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and woman navigating surgical menopause herself, Sharon brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every episode. She believes your body is a gift worth honoring, and that you are in control of your health. #Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #FunctionalMedicine Sharon Lemoine, ARNP Gig Harbor Medical Spa 11515 Burnham Dr Suite 105, Gig Harbor, WA 98332 (253) 649-3916 https://gigharbormedicalspa.com

Why Eating Less Isn't Working for Christian Women Over 40 (And What Your Body Actually Needs)

📌 Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/ You are eating less than you ever have. Smaller portions, no dessert, tracking every label. And you are still gaining weight. Most providers will not say this out loud, but after 40, eating less can actively make the problem worse. In this episode, I'm going to show you exactly why calorie restriction backfires for women over 40, what is really driving the weight gain, and the one test to ask for this week. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS  0:00 Why Eating Less Isn't Working for Christian Women Over 40 (And What Your Body Actually Needs) 1:02 Where the "eat less, move more" advice actually breaks down  2:00 How estrogen decline shifts fat storage to your midsection  2:59 Why calorie restriction spikes cortisol and locks in belly fat  3:59 What it really looks like to do everything right and still gain weight  5:43 Two hidden causes that derail metabolism in women over 40  6:13 How insulin resistance stalls fat loss even on a small diet  7:04 Why under-eating causes muscle loss and shrinks your metabolism  7:55 The test that changes everything: fasting insulin explained  8:53 What to ask your doctor about hormone levels right now ❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED Why am I gaining weight even though I'm eating less?  After 40, declining estrogen changes where your body stores fat, and calorie restriction spikes cortisol, which signals your body to hold onto fat, especially around your midsection. Eating less is often compounding the problem rather than solving it. What is a fasting insulin test and why does it matter for weight loss?  A fasting insulin test shows whether your cells are responding properly to insulin. If your fasting insulin is above 10, your body is likely storing glucose as fat instead of burning it, even on a small diet. Most standard panels do not run this test. What hormone tests should women over 40 ask for?  Ask your provider for fasting insulin, estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone, not just a vague "everything looks normal." These specific numbers tell you where your hormones are relative to where they should be for how you feel and function well. 📱 RESOURCES  Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com  Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SharonLemoine-ARNP 🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. New episodes every week. ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP  Sharon Lemoine is a board-certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State, specializing in hormone optimization, perimenopause and menopause care, functional medicine, weight loss, and peptide therapy. As a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and woman navigating surgical menopause herself, Sharon brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every episode. She believes your body is a gift worth honoring, and that you are in control of your health. #Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #FunctionalMedicine Sharon Lemoine, ARNP Gig Harbor Medical Spa 11515 Burnham Dr Suite 105, Gig Harbor, WA 98332 (253) 649-3916 https://gigharbormedicalspa.com