About this episode

Dr. Fiona Lovely and Sarah Kennedy discuss the challenges of weight management during menopause and the biological factors at play.

This episode is a re-airing of a listener-favorite (and for good reason), Dr. Fiona Lovely welcomes back Sarah Kennedy, founder and CEO of Calocurb, for a candid look at why weight management during perimenopause and menopause feels like an uphill battle. The truth is, the average woman gains around 22 pounds during the menopause transition—and being told to simply "eat less" completely ignores the physiological storm happening beneath the surface. Sarah breaks down how dropping estrogen levels alter fat distribution, slow metabolism, and increase insulin resistance, making midlife weight gain a biological reality, not a personal failure. The conversation cuts through the myth that hunger is a matter of willpower. Sarah explains that eating is a primal drive controlled by the hypothalamus, and factors like stress, poor sleep, and alcohol can easily override even the most determined frontal lobe. She also highlights the critical importance of maintaining muscle mass during this stage of life to prevent sarcopenia and frailty, emphasizing that adequate protein intake and resistance exercise are non-negotiable—especially for those using weight-loss medications. Sarah shares her…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Fiona Lovely

Guest: Sarah Kennedy

Topics covered

• menopause
• weight loss
• perimenopause
• hormonal changes
• appetite modulation
• muscle mass
• health

Keywords

• menopause
• weight management
• estrogen
• insulin resistance
• sarcopenia
• protein intake
• resistance exercise
• yo-yo dieting
• appetite control

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Calocurb

More episodes of Not Your Mother's Menopause with Dr. Fiona Lovely

• Ep. 228 - The Upgrade: What Awaits You on the Other Side of Menopause with Dr. Louann Brizendine · July 21, 2026 · 1h 2m
• Ep. 226: Mental Health and Iron, what's the connection with Dr. Fiona Lovely · July 7, 2026 · 30 min
• Ep. 225 - Menopausal Medicine Update with NP Shelby Sheppard · June 30, 2026 · 1h 27m
• Ep. 224 -Patriarchy Stress Disorder and Menopause with Jeffrey Tambor · June 23, 2026 · 1h 17m
• Ep. 223 - Nervous System Regulation for Menopausal Health with Dr Navaz Habib · June 16, 2026 · 1h 19m
• Ep. 222 - Protein, Aminos, and Creatine for Midlife with Liz Baker Plosser · June 9, 2026 · 1h 11m

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