139. My Tips for Navigating Perimenopause: Prioritizing Protein, Building Muscle, Energy Balance, and More

Today’s episode is covering a couple of different topics that are important to me, especially as I’m currently navigating perimenopause!

I feel like I’m in the ‘thick of it’ with perimenopause, and am really struggling with certain changes. Lately, I just don’t recognize my body. Sure, my body *looks* fine, and it could all just be in my head. But..I feel like my muscle is leaving my body, deteriorating, and things are changing in ways I wasn’t quite prepared for.

I’ve learned that being proactive with my health is incredibly important - I’m not going to sit around and wait for a medical provider to tell me when they *think* I’m in perimenopause! 

As always, I’m adjusting and pivoting where I need to on this journey. There are a few things I have been doing, BUT, I wish I would have prioritized even more before perimenopause.

I’ll be sharing more about why prioritizing protein and building muscle matters (regardless of whether you’re in perimenopause or not), why energy balance is crucial and can vary SO much per person, how macronutrient storage, gut health, and metabolism play a significant role in the body’s ability to utilize energy, and more.

The truth of the matter is, if nothing changes, we ARE going to change - whether we like it or not.

My goal is to be as transparent as possible with what I’m sharing here; I hope this episode gives you a glimpse into what my perimenopause journey has been like so far, and what I plan to do going forward. I’ve learned that the more you know what to focus on + put into practice when it comes to your health, the better!!

In today’s episode, we cover:

• My experience with perimenopause so far + things I wish I would have focused on sooner
• The benefits of protein during perimenopause (and beyond)
• What the energy balance process looks like
• How macronutrients (aka macros) are stored in the body
• A breakdown of energy expenditure 
• What happens to your skeletal muscle + adipose tissue as you age
• Things I’m implementing NOW to support me in perimenopause

Links/Resources:

• Check out Winona
• 1st Phorm Clear Protein
• Join FIT CLUB, my monthly membership with workouts you can do at home or the gym
• PRIVATE COACHING is my 1:1 program (choose 3 or 6 month option)
• Connect with me on Instagram @kristycastillofit and @unfuckyourfitnesspodcast so we can keep this conversation going-be sure to tag me in your posts and stories!
• Join my FREE Facebook group, Unf*ck Your Fitness
• Click HERE for my favorite fitness & life things!