Lost Yourself in Menopause? Why Midlife Could Be a Homecoming | Lisa Barwise

What if feeling like you've lost yourself in menopause doesn't mean you're disappearing, but that you're beginning to uncover who you are now?

Many women reach midlife feeling as though something has shifted beyond the physical symptoms of menopause. We may find ourselves questioning things we've accepted for years, feeling differently about our bodies and relationships, or wondering why we no longer recognise the woman we've become.

My guest today is Lisa Barwise, a wellness alchemist, fitness feminist and author of Unarmoured and Burned. After reaching a point in her own life when she realised she could no longer keep pushing through, Lisa began to look more deeply at what women carry with them into midlife and what can happen when we begin to put some of it down.

Together, we explore menopause through a much wider lens than symptoms alone, looking at identity, health, strength, ageing and the expectations women can accumulate over a lifetime. We also discuss why this stage can be incredibly difficult, while at the same time becoming a point at which we begin to question what we want, what still fits and how we want the next part of our lives to look.

LISA REVEALS

• What she means by “armour weight”, the different forms it can take and why some of what women carry in midlife has nothing to do with calories or the number on the scales.
• Why she describes menopause as a “homecoming”, and how questioning some of the identities and expectations we've accumulated can help us reconnect with ourselves.
• How the “inner mean girl” can influence our confidence and self-trust, and why learning to recognise those deeply ingrained messages matters.
• What Lisa means by “sacred strength”, and why becoming stronger physically can also change how we see ourselves and what we believe we're capable of.
• Why she believes ageing and decline aren't the same thing, and why it's never too late to become stronger, change our habits or discover what works for us.

BEST MOMENTS

“We can make things happen, we can push on, but at what cost?”

“Menopause isn't something to fix. It's just a transition. It's just part of who we are.”

“Self-trust is the doorway to your intuition.”

“I think that it can be our strongest era when we start to do the shifts... to realise the potential that we have.”

EPISODE RESOURCES

Enter the Saga: https://thewarriorgoddesssaga.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/lisa_barwise

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000241260393

Website: thewarriorgoddesssaga.com

ABOUT MICHELLE

Michelle Rowlinson is the founder of Panacea Pause, a Senior Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist, Menopause and Wellbeing Practitioner, best-selling author, and host of the Menopause - The Real Deal podcast.

After spending seven years searching for answers to debilitating symptoms that were eventually recognised as perimenopause, Michelle made it her mission to help other women understand what is happening to their bodies and navigate menopause with confidence.

Today, she delivers evidence-based education for women, workplaces and healthcare professionals through her CPD-accredited training, workshops and public speaking. Combining over two decades of clinical experience with her own lived experience, Michelle is passionate about translating complex science into practical, honest conversations that help women make informed decisions about their health.

Through her podcast, Michelle explores the latest evidence, challenges outdated misconceptions, and asks the questions that many women, and increasingly healthcare professionals, are asking about menopause today.

CONNECT WITH MICHELLE

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michelle.rowlinson.official/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michelle_rowlinson

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-rowlinson-38330b21a

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MenopauseTheRealDeal

My Book: You, me conquering perimenopause & menopause https://amzn.eu/d/hCcbjag

Website: www.panaceapause.co.uk