If you've been blaming stress, aging, or "just not trying hard enough" for the weight gain, the bad sleep, and the feeling that your body is working against you — this episode is about to reframe everything.

I sat down with Stephanie Traver, a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, and founder of Vital Menopause in Colorado. Stephanie has built her entire practice around one mission: making sure women have access to real, evidence-based care in perimenopause and menopause. And she is a wealth of knowledge.

In this episode, we get into the biology of what's actually happening in your body during perimenopause — and why the old playbook (cut calories, work out more, push through it) just doesn't work anymore. We also talk about hormone therapy, who's a good candidate, and the myths that are still circulating even though the research has moved on. Plus, Stephanie shares the nutrition and lifestyle pillars she builds her entire practice around.

What you'll learn:

📌 Why perimenopause can start as early as 35 — and the very first sign most women miss
📌 The lesser-known symptoms that are almost always hormonal
📌 Exactly what's happening biologically with belly fat — the insulin resistance and estrogen connection explained clearly
📌 Who is (and isn't) a good candidate for hormone therapy, and how to have that conversation with your doctor
📌 The three nutrition foundations Stephanie tells every single patient
📌 How mindset is part of the clinical picture

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Vital Menopause (Stephanie's Practice)

Your Next Steps:

Work with Me
Change your mindset in perimenopause
Connect on Social

Register for the FREE workshop, How To Lose Weight In Perimenopause. April 8th at 6 pm MT (replay will be sent, but you have to register!)

TAP HERE to grab your spot!

Tired of trying to make habits that never stick? Maybe you've tried every meal plan, workout program, and healthy habit out there, only to watch everything fall apart within days?

You're not alone, and more importantly, it is not your fault. (That's good news!)

In this episode of The Family Fork, we're diving deep into the real reason healthy habits feel nearly impossible to build in midlife. Spoiler alert: it has nothing to do with your willpower, discipline, or motivation. It has everything to do with the way your brain is wired.

In this episode:

📌 Why the all-or-nothing approach to healthy habits is working directly against your brain, plus the simple mindset shift that changes everything
📌 The surprising truth about how long it actually takes to build a new habit (hint: it's not 21 days)
📌 Why your brain is secretly scanning for evidence that your new habit won't work, and exactly how to interrupt that pattern
📌 Why buying the new yoga pants, downloading another meal plan, or joining a new gym isn't the answer (and what actually is)
📌 The three concrete solutions you can start using this week to finally build healthy habits that last

You're capable of building new habits that stick, but you need a new strategy for doing that. Listen to this episode to get the full strategy, and to start building healthy habits today!

More Support For You:

🙋‍♀️ Work with Me
⭐️ Connect on Social
🥑 How I Cook Just 3 Nights/Week
🧠 Change your mindset and thrive in perimenopause with this unique approach

You worked hard to feel good before your trip. Don't let vacation undo all of your progress!

It's time to look at why restricting before vacation sends you into overindulgence mode once you get to your destination. It's a cycle that repeats itself...but once you recognize it you can learn what to do so that you can come home from vacation feeling better than when you left. (Coming home feeling relaxed?! It's possible!)

In this episode:

📌 Why "vacation is the goal" mindset primes you for the crash-and-overindulge cycle
📌 How perimenopause makes your body more reactive to food choices on vacation
📌 How to set a simple pre-vacation intention that supports your progress
📌 A meal-by-meal framework for navigating all the vacation food without feeling deprived
📌 How to be intentional (not restrictive) about alcohol on vacation

Vacation should be a rest and reset for your body, not a source of guilt and shame. This episode gives you a realistic, practical framework designed for moms in midlife, so that you can return from vacation with a true pep in your step!

Links & More Support For You

✈️ Eating Anti-Inflammatory On-The-Go Guide
📆 21-Day Anti-Inflammatory Meal Plan
🙋‍♀️ Work with Me
⭐️ Connect on Social
🥑 How I Cook Just 3 Nights/Week
🧠 Change your mindset and thrive in perimenopause with this unique approach