The Midlife Vitality Project: Where Perimenopause Becomes Your Comeback Story Naturally!

Joanne Willis, RHN
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  • NUTRITION

If you’re a woman over 40 who is tired of feeling tired, foggy, or stuck in a body that doesn’t feel like yours anymore and are looking for a natural approach that will work for YOU to help you start feeling like yourself again, this podcast is for you.  In The Midlife Vitality Project podcast, Registered Holistic Nutritionist, cancer survivor and fellow perimenopause warrier, Joanne Willis, guides you through a real midlife health and life transformation — not one that relies on pills, weight loss injections, HRT or quick fixes, but through understanding your body’s signals and rebuilding your health from the root - naturally - with the power of nutrition! In each episode, Joanne will dig deep into the real reason behind midlife weight gain, mood swings, fatigue, and other wacky and worrying symptoms of perimenopause — and teaches you how to rebalance your metabolism, hormones and blood levels to achieve your best health and lasting vitality through menopause and beyond. Because midlife is not the end my friend — it’s just the beginning of your next chapter - the chapter that's all about you and living your best life! 

  1. Episode 26: Seasonal Affective Disorder or the Winter Blah's Got You Losing Motivation? The 8 Daily Habits to Get Back on Track

    1D AGO

    Episode 26: Seasonal Affective Disorder or the Winter Blah's Got You Losing Motivation? The 8 Daily Habits to Get Back on Track

    Send us your questions & comments Did you head into 2026 feeling hopeful that this would finally be the year things clicked with your health… only to find that a few weeks in, your motivation has quietly dropped off? If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone — and you’re not failing. For many women, this time of year brings a very real dip in energy, mood, and motivation. For some, it shows up as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). For others, it’s the familiar “winter slump” or “winter blahs.” Different names — same underlying experience. In this episode, we explore why motivation so often fades around this time of year, especially for women in midlife, and why this has far more to do with physiology than willpower or discipline. You’ll learn: Why “losing motivation” is often a biological response, not a mindset problemHow seasonal changes, blood sugar swings, stress hormones, and nervous system overload affect consistencyWhy trying harder usually backfires in midlife — and common habits that unknowingly make things worseHow rebuilding foundational daily habits helps calm the body, reduce stress, and move you out of fight-or-flight so real, lasting change can beginI’ll introduce you to the 8 Foundational Daily Habits for Metabolic Balance — simple, supportive anchors designed to steady blood sugar, calm stress hormones, reduce inflammation, and help healthy routines finally stick, even when motivation is low. 👉 You can download the 8 Foundational Daily Habits for Metabolic Balance Checklist here. To help you understand what’s really going on inside your body — and to bring clarity to the many options being talked about right now — I’ve created the Midlife Metabolic Reset Roadmap, a free, video-led, interactive guide. Inside, you’ll be guided through 5 clear steps to help you feel confident, informed, and supported as you take your health back into your own hands. ✨ Download your FREE Midlife Metabolic Reset Roadmap Looking for personal guidance to help navigate your own midlife metabolism? Let's talk about what's going on inside YOUR body and life and I will give you some clear, tangible steps to help you move forward in your health journey. Book your free health goals assessment here. Want to learn more about The Metabolic Balance Program? Discover what everyone is talking about! The world's leading personalized nutrition and hormone-balancing system with the highest global success rate for sustainable weight loss and health transformation without pills, shakes or expensive proprietary foods. One nutrition plan based on YOUR bloodwork. No deprivation. No one-size-fits-all diet. Just real food matched to your own biochemistry for real, lasting results. Watch the information video here.

    42 min
  2. Episode 25: Peptides for Weight Loss, Energy & Anti-Aging? — What Midlife Women Really Need to Know

    6D AGO

    Episode 25: Peptides for Weight Loss, Energy & Anti-Aging? — What Midlife Women Really Need to Know

    Send us your questions & comments  If you’ve been hearing more and more about peptides — especially alongside GLP-1 injections — and feeling unsure about what they actually are, how they work, or whether they’re something you should even be considering… this episode is for you.  Peptides are one of the most talked-about topics in the midlife weight-loss and anti-aging space right now — and also one of the most misunderstood.  In this episode of The Midlife Vitality Project, we slow the conversation down and replace hype with clarity.  You’ll learn:  what peptides actually are, in simple, real-life termshow peptides are different from GLP-1 medications (and why injection doesn’t mean the same thing)the difference between everyday peptides and therapeutic peptides — and why that distinction matterswhich peptides women are most commonly hearing about, and what they’re typically used forhow peptides are taken and accessed safelyand how to think about peptides through a metabolic health lens — not a quick-fix mindset We also talk about why peptides don’t replace the need for a strong metabolic foundation, and why blood sugar balance, nourishment, inflammation, and stress still matter — regardless of which tools you’re exploring.   This episode isn’t about telling you what to do.  It’s about helping you make informed, confident decisions that align with your body, your values, and this season of your life.   I’m also sharing a free Peptides 101 Guide to help you continue the conversation — with clear explanations, safety considerations, and guidance on how to decide what (if anything) makes sense for you.   Looking for personal guidance to help navigate your own midlife metabolism? Let's talk about what's going on inside YOUR body and life and I will give you some clear, tangible steps to help you move forward in your health journey. Book your free health goals assessment here. Want to learn more about The Metabolic Balance Program? Discover what everyone is talking about! The world's leading personalized nutrition and hormone-balancing system with the highest global success rate for sustainable weight loss and health transformation without pills, shakes or expensive proprietary foods. One nutrition plan based on YOUR bloodwork. No deprivation. No one-size-fits-all diet. Just real food matched to your own biochemistry for real, lasting results. Watch the information video here.

    39 min
  3. Episode 24: Is your thyroid the reason you're exhausted and can't lose weight? What every woman in midlife needs to know

    JAN 9

    Episode 24: Is your thyroid the reason you're exhausted and can't lose weight? What every woman in midlife needs to know

    Send us your questions & comments There comes a moment in midlife when you start asking different questions about your health. You’re not just focused on weight anymore. Chances are you’re thinking about energy, hormones, bloodwork, and how you want to feel as you age. And yet… your body feels harder to manage than it used to. In this first episode of Season 2 in The Midlife Vitality Project, we’re talking about one of the most common — and most misunderstood — questions women ask in their 40s and 50s: “What if it’s my thyroid?” In this episode, you’ll learn: what your thyroid actually does and why it matters so much in midlifethe common thyroid symptoms women are told to normalize or ignorewhy thyroid issues are often missed — even when labs are called “normal”which thyroid labs actually matter and what they mean in plain Englishhow thyroid health connects to hormones, stress, blood sugar, and metabolismand the exact next steps you can take if this conversation resonates with youThis is not about diagnosing yourself. It’s about understanding your body, advocating for your health, and replacing confusion with clarity. I’m also sharing a FREE Thyroid Labs Guide to help you take action — including symptom checklists, lab explanations, and scripts to support better conversations with your doctor. Click here to download a PDF printable version of your Free Guide. Click here to make a copy of an online fillable version of your Free Guide. Looking for personal guidance to help navigate your own midlife metabolism? Let's talk about what's going on inside YOUR body and life and I will give you some clear, tangible steps to help you move forward in your health journey. Book your free health goals assessment here. Want to learn more about The Metabolic Balance Program? Discover what everyone is talking about! The world's leading personalized nutrition and hormone-balancing system with the highest global success rate for sustainable weight loss and health transformation without pills, shakes or expensive proprietary foods. One nutrition plan based on YOUR bloodwork. No deprivation. No one-size-fits-all diet. Just real food matched to your own biochemistry for real, lasting results. Watch the information video here.

    36 min
  4. Episode 23: My results so far and my plan for long-term success

    JAN 1

    Episode 23: My results so far and my plan for long-term success

    Send us your questions & comments In Part 13, the final episode of my Journey to Metabolic Balance mini-series, I’m reflecting on where I’m at now — 10 weeks into the program — and tying together everything this journey has taught me. At this point, I’m over 24 pounds down, but the most meaningful changes go far beyond the scale. For the first time in years, my body feels stable. My energy is consistent.My sleep is deeper and more restorative.My brain fog has lifted significantly.My mood feels calmer and more predictable.My digestion is working the way it should.And many of the perimenopausal symptoms I’ve been battling for years — bloating, inflammation, fatigue, emotional ups and downs — have softened dramatically.In this episode, I share: why I created this mini-series in the first place — not to document perfection, but to show what real transformation actually looks likehow the highs and lows of the journey were part of my body recalibrating, not signs of failurewhy none of the challenging moments derailed my progress — and why they didn’t lastwhat made this experience different from everything I’ve tried (and taught) beforethe two key factors that changed everything: personalized nutrition based on bloodwork and simple, consistent metabolic habitswhy weight loss became a side effect of restoring balance — not the goal itselfI also address some of the most common questions women still have when they’re considering making a change: Will this work for me?Is it too strict?Do I have to give up the foods I love forever?What if I don’t have the energy to start?And I explain why this approach meets you where you are — supporting your body instead of fighting it. This episode isn’t about a finish line. It’s about what it feels like to finally trust your body again…  to stop battling food… to move through life with steadier energy and confidence… and to know you have a way of eating and living that actually supports you long term. If there’s one message I hope you take from this entire series, it’s this: Health transformation doesn’t require perfection.  It requires alignment, consistency, and support. And if I can do this — you absolutely can too. If you are ready to start your own Metabolic Balance journey, click here to lock in your $300 discount off the program free by January 4th. Looking for personal guidance to help navigate your own midlife metabolism? Let's talk about what's going on inside YOUR body and life and I will give you some clear, tangible steps to help you move forward in your health journey. Book your free health goals assessment here. Want to learn more about The Metabolic Balance Program? Discover what everyone is talking about! The world's leading personalized nutrition and hormone-balancing system with the highest global success rate for sustainable weight loss and health transformation without pills, shakes or expensive proprietary foods. One nutrition plan based on YOUR bloodwork. No deprivation. No one-size-fits-all diet. Just real food matched to your own biochemistry for real, lasting results. Watch the information video here.

    23 min
  5. Episode 22: Freedom Day! Treat meals, exercise & other exciting changes after Phase 2

    JAN 1

    Episode 22: Freedom Day! Treat meals, exercise & other exciting changes after Phase 2

    Send us your questions & comments In Part 12 of this mini-series, I’m taking you into a pivotal turning point in my journey — the transition from the strict Phase 2 into the next phase of The Metabolic Balance® Program, where more freedom is intentionally reintroduced. I’m sharing this episode on New Years Day of 2026, because it’s the exact moment when many women who are contemplating embarking on significant habit changes may also be asking themselves: Can I really do this? Is this going to take over my whole life? Will I ever be able to eat "normally" again without gaining all the weight back? This episode answers those questions — honestly and in real life. I walk you through what had shifted for me after the first 16 days and how I decided what the next phase would look like for me based on my results so far. You will learn: how I strategically included healthy oils (and why this was such an important shift if I wanted to continue seeing results).how I began to incorporate hormone-supportive exercise, why it had to wait until this particular phase and how I supported my body through recovery.how I approached my first treat meal (including my first alcoholic beverages), what I allowed myself and how I felt the next day.This episode is a powerful reminder that personalization, consistency and structure leads to real food freedom — not long-term restriction. If you’ve ever worried that committing to your health means giving everything up that you love, this episode will help you see what’s actually possible when your body is properly supported. 🌿 Ready to start your own journey? If listening to this has you thinking about what you want this year to feel like — in your body, your energy, and your health — I am currently welcoming new clients into The Metabolic Balance® Program. For a limited time, I’m offering a $300 year-end bonus discount on program enrolment, available until January 4th 2026. 👉 Learn more about exactly how the program works, what you can expect and everything that is included for only $1,197 CAD by clicking here. Looking for personal guidance to help navigate your own midlife metabolism? Let's talk about what's going on inside YOUR body and life and I will give you some clear, tangible steps to help you move forward in your health journey. Book your free health goals assessment here. Want to learn more about The Metabolic Balance Program? Discover what everyone is talking about! The world's leading personalized nutrition and hormone-balancing system with the highest global success rate for sustainable weight loss and health transformation without pills, shakes or expensive proprietary foods. One nutrition plan based on YOUR bloodwork. No deprivation. No one-size-fits-all diet. Just real food matched to your own biochemistry for real, lasting results. Watch the information video here.

    59 min
  6. Episode 21: My first social event without alcohol during Phase 2

    12/30/2025

    Episode 21: My first social event without alcohol during Phase 2

    Send us your questions & comments In Part 11 of this mini-series, I’m sharing what it was really like navigating my first social event without alcohol while following The Metabolic Balance® Program during Phase 2, the most structured and important part of the metabolic reset. This episode takes place around Day 12, at a point where I had already lost 10 lbs in less than two weeks and was feeling motivated to protect the progress I was making — even as real life continued to happen. For many women, alcohol feels like one of the hardest things to navigate socially. It’s often tied to relaxation, connection, celebration, and stress relief. So choosing not to drink — even temporarily — can bring up a lot of mental resistance. In this episode, I talk about: how I approached my first night out without alcohol and what I was most concerned about beforehandthe mindset shift that made saying no feel calm and intentional instead of restrictivewhat surprised me most about how the evening actually felt — physically and emotionallyhow clarity around why I was doing this made the choice feel easier than expectedand why this experience strengthened my confidence that this program fits real lifeThis episode is for anyone who worries that prioritizing their health means sacrificing enjoyment, connection, or fun. It’s a reminder that Phase 2 is temporary — just 16 days — and learning how to navigate these moments is what makes long-term success feel realistic and sustainable and once the metabolic reset is complete, we can again enjoy our favourite glass of wine or our favourite holiday cocktail in a more balanced way without undoing all of our hard work :) Looking for personal guidance to help navigate your own midlife metabolism? Let's talk about what's going on inside YOUR body and life and I will give you some clear, tangible steps to help you move forward in your health journey. Book your free health goals assessment here. Want to learn more about The Metabolic Balance Program? Discover what everyone is talking about! The world's leading personalized nutrition and hormone-balancing system with the highest global success rate for sustainable weight loss and health transformation without pills, shakes or expensive proprietary foods. One nutrition plan based on YOUR bloodwork. No deprivation. No one-size-fits-all diet. Just real food matched to your own biochemistry for real, lasting results. Watch the information video here.

    27 min
  7. Episode 20: How I navigated my first restaurant experience on The Metabolic Balance Program

    12/30/2025

    Episode 20: How I navigated my first restaurant experience on The Metabolic Balance Program

    Send us your questions & comments In Part 10 of this mini-series, I’m taking you into my experience eating out at a restaurant while following The Metabolic Balance® Program during Phase 2, the most structured part of the metabolic reset. This episode takes place on Day 10, at a point where I had already lost 10 lbs and could clearly see that what I was doing was working. I was motivated but also very aware that eating out can feel like a major hurdle when you’re trying to stay consistent with your new habits. In this episode, I share: how I planned ahead before going to the restaurant so I didn’t feel stressed or caught off guardthe simple way I navigated the menu to decide what to eat and how to build my mealhow I approached portion sizes without measuring, obsessing, or feeling restrictedwhat surprised me most about how easy and natural it actually felt and the "Plan B" I gave myself to allow permission and flexibility to enjoy the meal without guilt if things didn’t go perfectly.This episode is for anyone who worries that starting a structured program means they won't be able to enjoy life they way they used to if they want to stay committed to a life-long health transformation strategy. By the end of this episode my hope is that you will have let go of that fear and limiting belief and are feeling empowered to get started on your own personalized nutrition plan with me by your side :) From December 15th 2025 to January 4th 2026 I am accepting new clients into The Metabolic Balance Program with a special year-end bonus discount of $300 off the program enrolment fee. To find out more about the program, click here. I hope to see you on the inside soon!  Looking for personal guidance to help navigate your own midlife metabolism? Let's talk about what's going on inside YOUR body and life and I will give you some clear, tangible steps to help you move forward in your health journey. Book your free health goals assessment here. Want to learn more about The Metabolic Balance Program? Discover what everyone is talking about! The world's leading personalized nutrition and hormone-balancing system with the highest global success rate for sustainable weight loss and health transformation without pills, shakes or expensive proprietary foods. One nutrition plan based on YOUR bloodwork. No deprivation. No one-size-fits-all diet. Just real food matched to your own biochemistry for real, lasting results. Watch the information video here.

    20 min
  8. Episode 18: How a short-lived histamine reaction told me everything was going according to plan

    12/28/2025

    Episode 18: How a short-lived histamine reaction told me everything was going according to plan

    Send us your questions & comments In Part 8 of this mini-series, I’m sharing a very real — and very short-lived — experience I had early on in my journey that ended up becoming one of the most empowering moments of all. Around day 6 on my plan (about 4 days into Phase 2), I noticed a brief histamine-type reaction. And instead of feeling worried or discouraged, I felt curious — because by this point, my body was already showing clear signs that something positive was happening. At this stage, I had: experienced a noticeable lift in my energystarted sleeping more deeply and consistentlyfelt clearer mentally and more grounded emotionallyand lost 7 lbs in just 6 daysIn this episode, I talk about: what the histamine reaction felt like and why it can be common during a natural metabolic reset and detoxificationwhat was actually happening inside my body at this point — and why this kind of response can be a healthy sign of healingwhat I had eaten that day and how connecting those dots helped me understand my body’s unique responses more clearlyhow quickly the symptom passed once I supported my body appropriatelyand why learning to interpret symptoms as information — rather than problems — completely changed my confidence moving forwardThis episode highlights one of the most important long-term skills I teach: Learning your body’s language. When you understand how your body responds to certain foods, stressors, and changes, you stop feeling at the mercy of symptoms — and start feeling in control of your health again. Symptoms may come and go - but when you know how to listen and respond, you know how to pivot — calmly and confidently — with your nutrition and lifestyle to give your body what it’s asking for. This was another moment in my journey that confirmed I was finally on the right path and I just needed to trust the process. Ready to learn more about how you can get your own bloodwork-driven, personalized nutrition plan? Click here to find out more about The Metabolic Balance Program and get $300 off the program enrolment fee when you sign up before January 4th 2026. Looking for personal guidance to help navigate your own midlife metabolism? Let's talk about what's going on inside YOUR body and life and I will give you some clear, tangible steps to help you move forward in your health journey. Book your free health goals assessment here. Want to learn more about The Metabolic Balance Program? Discover what everyone is talking about! The world's leading personalized nutrition and hormone-balancing system with the highest global success rate for sustainable weight loss and health transformation without pills, shakes or expensive proprietary foods. One nutrition plan based on YOUR bloodwork. No deprivation. No one-size-fits-all diet. Just real food matched to your own biochemistry for real, lasting results. Watch the information video here.

    17 min
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About

If you’re a woman over 40 who is tired of feeling tired, foggy, or stuck in a body that doesn’t feel like yours anymore and are looking for a natural approach that will work for YOU to help you start feeling like yourself again, this podcast is for you.  In The Midlife Vitality Project podcast, Registered Holistic Nutritionist, cancer survivor and fellow perimenopause warrier, Joanne Willis, guides you through a real midlife health and life transformation — not one that relies on pills, weight loss injections, HRT or quick fixes, but through understanding your body’s signals and rebuilding your health from the root - naturally - with the power of nutrition! In each episode, Joanne will dig deep into the real reason behind midlife weight gain, mood swings, fatigue, and other wacky and worrying symptoms of perimenopause — and teaches you how to rebalance your metabolism, hormones and blood levels to achieve your best health and lasting vitality through menopause and beyond. Because midlife is not the end my friend — it’s just the beginning of your next chapter - the chapter that's all about you and living your best life! 

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