Hormones, Metabolism & Midlife with Peggy Moore

peggy

 If you’re a midlife woman wondering why your energy, metabolism, sleep, and weight suddenly changed, you’re not imagining it, and your body isn’t broken.  Discover Your Personal Power is a podcast for midlife women who want to understand what’s actually happening inside their bodies. Peggy Moore, RN and Functional Medicine Practitioner, explains hormones, metabolism, stress, and energy so you can restore balance, reclaim vitality, and feel like yourself again. 

  1. May 27

    Why Your Brain Won’t Shut Off at Night After 35

    Why Your Brain Won’t Shut Off at Night After 35 Episode Summary Many women notice that sleep changes dramatically in midlife. In this episode, Peggy Moore (RN and Functional Medicine Consultant) explains why your brain feels “tired but wired” after 35 and how hormones, stress physiology, and nervous‑system signals contribute to those restless nights newtab. What You’ll Learn Why sleep feels different in midlife – Your 25‑year‑old brain isn’t the same as your 45‑year‑old brain. Hormonal buffering decreases, making you more sensitive to stress and stimulation newtab. The role of progesterone – Declining progesterone and its calming metabolite allopregnanolone reduce GABA (“slow down” signals) in the brain. This can lead to more nighttime overthinking, anxiety and 2–4 a.m. wake‑ups. Cortisol rhythms matter – Cortisol isn’t the enemy; rhythm is. After years of chronic stress, caregiving and blood‑sugar swings, cortisol stays elevated at night, making you feel exhausted yet wired. Why you wake up at 3 a.m. – Stress hormones, fluctuating blood sugar and a nervous system stuck in “alert” mode often trigger early‑morning awakenings. Nighttime brain filing – Sleep is when your brain reviews the day and consolidates memories. What you focus on before bed (doom‑scrolling, arguing, catastrophizing) is what your brain reinforces overnight. Simple shifts that signal safety – Small habits such as dimming lights, reducing stimulation, journaling, prayer, breathing exercises, stretching, warm music or laughter help your body feel safe enough to power down. Reframing midlife symptoms – Your body isn’t betraying you; it’s adapting. Shifting from “What’s wrong with me?” to “What is my nervous system communicating?” changes how you respond. Key Takeaways You are not broken – Struggling to sleep isn’t a character flaw; it’s physiology newtab. Progesterone decline is real – Early perimenopause often brings lower progesterone, reducing your brain’s calming support. Rhythm over quantity – Cortisol should be high in the morning and low at night. Chronic stress flattens this curve. Your pre‑sleep routine matters – The 30 minutes before bed set the emotional tone for sleep. Avoiding late‑night stressors helps your brain feel safe. Small, consistent actions help – Even 5–10 minutes of calming practices nightly can retrain your nervous system. Be curious, not critical – Midlife isn’t just about hormones; stress load, recovery capacity, blood sugar and safety signals all play a role.   If you found this episode helpful, follow the podcast and share it with a friend who may need it.  Check us out on Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/@peggymoorehealthandwellness Website: www.moorefunctionalhealthandwellness.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Peggy.MooreHealthandwellness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moorehealthandwellness/ Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/peggy-moore-5b295247

    18 min

  2. May 20

    Inflammation & the Midlife Brain: Brain Fog, Memory & Hormones After 40

    Why does your brain suddenly feel different in midlife? If you’ve been forgetting words, walking into rooms with no idea why you’re there, struggling with focus, feeling emotionally overwhelmed, or wondering why your patience disappeared overnight… this episode is for you. In this episode of Discover Your Personal Power: Hormones, Metabolism & Midlife, Peggy Moore, RN and Functional Medicine Practitioner, breaks down the real biological reasons behind brain fog, mood swings, poor focus, emotional overload, and memory changes in women over 40. This is not “just aging.”  And you are not losing your mind. Peggy explains how inflammation, stress, hormones, sleep, metabolism, cortisol, and blood sugar all affect the brain — especially during perimenopause and menopause. You’ll learn:  Why the brain has its own immune system  How inflammation affects dopamine and serotonin  Why estrogen plays a major role in memory, mood, and focus  The connection between poor sleep and brain fog  Why midlife women feel mentally exhausted even after sleeping  How blood sugar crashes affect motivation and concentration  What insulin resistance does to brain energy  Why your nervous system feels stuck in “survival mode”  Simple ways to calm inflammation and support brain health naturally Peggy also explains:  The glymphatic system and the brain’s “overnight cleanup crew”  Why stress hormones impact emotional resilience  The relationship between metabolism and cognitive function  Why the brain needs stable fuel to function well  How morning sunlight supports circadian rhythm and brain chemistry  Why calming the nervous system matters for mental clarity This episode is packed with relatable midlife moments, science explained in simple language, and practical strategies to help you feel calmer, clearer, and more like yourself again. Practical Midlife Brain Support Tips Peggy shares easy strategies to help calm inflammation and support brain function, including:  Eating protein and fiber early in the day  Stabilizing blood sugar  Morning sunlight exposure  Creating a “brain shutdown routine” before bed  Supporting deep restorative sleep  Helping the nervous system shift out of chronic stress mode If you found this episode helpful, follow the podcast and share it with a friend who may need it.  Check us out on Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/@peggymoorehealthandwellness Website: www.moorefunctionalhealthandwellness.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Peggy.MooreHealthandwellness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moorehealthandwellness/ Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/peggy-moore-5b295247

    14 min

  3. May 16

    Vitamin D, Fatigue & Midlife: The Reason You Still Feel Exhausted After 40

    Are you exhausted even though your labs are “normal”? Do you feel wired at night, drained during the day, foggy, achy, and wondering what happened to your energy after 40? In this episode of Discover Your Personal Power: Hormones, Metabolism & Midlife, Peggy Moore, RN and Functional Medicine Practitioner, breaks down the surprising connection between Vitamin D, fatigue, hormones, metabolism, circadian rhythm, inflammation, and midlife energy crashes. Peggy explains why Vitamin D acts more like a hormone than a vitamin, why so many women are deficient or functionally low, and why “normal” lab ranges don’t always mean your body is thriving. This episode dives into:  Vitamin D deficiency symptoms in women over 40  Why midlife women often feel exhausted despite normal labs  The connection between Vitamin D, hormones, metabolism, and inflammation  How stress, poor sleep, indoor lifestyles, and hormonal shifts impact energy  Vitamin D and blood sugar regulation  Circadian rhythm and morning sunlight exposure  Why sunlight matters for mood, energy, sleep, and nervous system regulation  The difference between surviving and actually feeling good  Simple lifestyle shifts that support energy naturally Peggy also explains:  Why your body is not broken  Why pushing harder is not the answer  How your body adapts to stress before it crashes  Why small consistent changes matter more than perfection If you’re tired of being told everything is “fine” while still feeling exhausted, this episode will help you better understand your physiology and start supporting your body instead of fighting against it. Mentioned in This Episode  Circadian rhythm  Morning sunlight exposure  Nervous system regulation  Blood sugar stability  Midlife metabolism  Hormonal shifts after 40  Functional medicine approach to fatigue  If you found this episode helpful, follow the podcast and share it with a friend who may need it.  Check us out on Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/@peggymoorehealthandwellness Website: www.moorefunctionalhealthandwellness.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Peggy.MooreHealthandwellness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moorehealthandwellness/ Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/peggy-moore-5b295247

    14 min

  4. May 5

    Sauna for Women Over 40: How Heat Therapy Supports Hormones, Stress & Fat Loss

    If you’re a midlife woman dealing with fatigue, stubborn belly fat, poor sleep, or feeling like your body just isn’t responding the way it used to… 👉 This is not a discipline problem.  👉 This is a physiology problem. In this episode of Discover Your Personal Power: Hormones, Metabolism & Midlife, Peggy Moore, RN and Functional Medicine Practitioner, breaks down the science-backed benefits of sauna therapy and why it may be one of the most overlooked tools for supporting your hormones, metabolism, and nervous system after 40. You’ll learn how sauna use impacts:  Cortisol and chronic stress  Blood sugar stability and cravings  Cardiovascular health and circulation  Nervous system regulation and resilience  Fat loss (without pushing harder) This episode goes beyond “self-care” and explains how sauna works as a biological input—helping your body shift out of survival mode and into a state where healing, energy, and fat loss can actually happen. 👉 Because your body isn’t broken… it’s responding. And once you understand how to work with it—you change everything. 🔥 What You’ll Learn in This Episode  Why sauna mimics a cardiovascular workout (without exercise)  How heat exposure supports hormone balance in midlife  The connection between cortisol, stress, and weight gain  Why your metabolism slows under chronic stress  How sauna helps retrain your nervous system  The truth about “detox” and what your body actually needs  How to use sauna safely and effectively (simple guidelines) 🧠 Key Takeaway Fat loss, energy, and hormone balance don’t come from pushing harder… 👉 They come from creating an internal environment where your body feels safe enough to function properly. Laukkanen, T., et al. (2015). Association Between Sauna Bathing and Fatal Cardiovascular Events. JAMA Internal Medicine. Laukkanen, T., et al. (2017). Sauna Bathing and Risk of Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. Age and Ageing. Pilch, W., et al. (2013). The Influence of Sauna Bathing on Hormonal and Physiological Responses. Journal of Human Kinetics. If you found this episode helpful, follow the podcast and share it with a friend who may need it.  Check us out on Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/@peggymoorehealthandwellness Website: www.moorefunctionalhealthandwellness.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Peggy.MooreHealthandwellness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moorehealthandwellness/ Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/peggy-moore-5b295247

    11 min

  5. Apr 26

    The Shoulds → Signals Shift: Why Trying Harder Isn’t Working in Midlife

    This episode is dedicated to all my clients who told me they were disappointed in themselves this week because they "should" be doing XYZ.   Why does trying harder not work in midlife?  In this episode, we explore “the shoulds”—the internal thoughts like “I should eat less” or “I should work out more”—and how they may be creating stress signals in your body that lead to fatigue, weight resistance, and poor sleep.  You’ll learn how to shift from pressure-based thinking to understanding what your body is actually responding to.    This episode is for you.  Because those “shoulds” might actually be part of what’s keeping your body stuck.  In midlife, your hormones, metabolism, stress response, and gut all shift—and if you’re still trying to follow old rules, your body may push back instead of respond.  In this episode, I break down:  ✨ Why “the shoulds” are just learned thoughts—not facts  ✨ How pressure-based thinking creates stress signals in the body  ✨ The connection between your thoughts, cortisol, and metabolism  ✨ Why trying harder often backfires in midlife  ✨ How to shift from “what should I do?” to “what is my body responding to?”  This is one of the biggest patterns I’m seeing with women inside my 12-Week Midlife Metabolism Reset—and once you see it, everything starts to make sense.   💛 FREE DOWNLOAD: Grab your free Shoulds Reset Guide to start shifting from pressure → support today: 👉 The "Shoulds" Reset Guide  And if this episode felt like it was describing you…  👉 that’s usually not random.  You don’t have to figure this out alone.  👉 Schedule a call with me here: https://tinyurl.com/chatwithpeggy 💛 Free download: The Shoulds Reset Guide    If you found this episode helpful, follow the podcast and share it with a friend who may need it.  Check us out on Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/@peggymoorehealthandwellness Website: www.moorefunctionalhealthandwellness.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Peggy.MooreHealthandwellness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moorehealthandwellness/ Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/peggy-moore-5b295247

    8 min

  6. Apr 22

    8 Signs Your Body is Struggling (before your labs show it)

    You’ve been told your labs are “normal”…  So why do you still feel exhausted, foggy, and out of sync with your body?  In this episode of Discover Your Personal Power: Hormones, Metabolism & Midlife, Peggy Moore—Registered Nurse and Functional Medicine Practitioner—breaks down the early signs of insulin resistance that often show up years before blood sugar or A1C levels change.  If you’ve ever experienced:  ✔ That 2–4PM energy crash  ✔ Intense sugar cravings  ✔ Brain fog after meals  ✔ Waking up at 3AM  ✔ Stubborn weight gain (especially in the midsection)  …your body may be sending signals—not failing.  This episode connects the dots between hormones, metabolism, stress, and blood sugar, helping you understand what’s really happening beneath the surface.  💡 You’ll learn:  • What insulin actually does in your body  • Why “normal labs” don’t always mean optimal health  • Early warning signs of metabolic dysfunction  • Simple, foundational steps to support your metabolism  Your body isn’t broken—it’s communicating.  And when you understand the signals, you can start working with your body instead of against it.   📚 Research Referenced   Petersen MC & Shulman GI. (2018). Mechanisms of insulin resistance. The Lancet.  Czech MP. (2016). Insulin action and hyperinsulinemia. Cell.  Arnold SE, et al. (2020). Insulin resistance and brain metabolism. Nature Reviews Endocrinology.   If you found this episode helpful, follow the podcast and share it with a friend who may need it.  Check us out on Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/@peggymoorehealthandwellness Website: www.moorefunctionalhealthandwellness.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Peggy.MooreHealthandwellness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moorehealthandwellness/ Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/peggy-moore-5b295247

    8 min

  7. Apr 12

    Why Ultra-processed Foods Send Stress Signals to Your Body

    If you’ve been dealing with fatigue, brain fog, cravings, blood sugar crashes, or feeling “off,” this episode will help you understand what’s actually happening inside your body—and what to do about it.  In this episode of Discover Your Personal Power: Hormones, Metabolism & Midlife, Peggy Moore, RN and Functional Medicine Practitioner, breaks down how ultra-processed foods send stress signals through your body—and why midlife can make those signals louder.  Using her signature “dance floor” analogy, Peggy explains how your gut, metabolism, and hormones are designed to work in rhythm… until modern food disrupts the beat.  You’ll learn:  ✨ Why ultra-processed foods create inflammation and energy crashes  ✨ How your gut microbiome impacts metabolism and hormones  ✨ Simple, realistic shifts to support energy, digestion, and balance  ✨ Why your body craves consistency—not perfection  This isn’t about restriction. It’s about restoring rhythm.  Because your body isn’t failing…  👉 it’s adapting to the signals you give it.  🎧 Tune in and start working with your body—not against it.   If you found this episode helpful, follow the podcast and share it with a friend who may need it.  Check us out on Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/@peggymoorehealthandwellness Website: www.moorefunctionalhealthandwellness.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Peggy.MooreHealthandwellness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moorehealthandwellness/ Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/peggy-moore-5b295247

    7 min

  8. Apr 9

    Why Your Body Feels Bloated, Tired and Kind of like a Fluffy Marshmallow

    If you’ve been feeling bloated, tired, inflamed, and just not like yourself in midlife… this episode explains why. In this episode of Discover Your Personal Power: Hormones, Metabolism & Midlife, Peggy Moore, RN and Functional Medicine Practitioner, breaks down chronic inflammation — the hidden driver behind weight gain, fatigue, brain fog, poor sleep, and hormonal changes after 40. You’ll learn the difference between acute and chronic inflammation, how estrogen decline, stress, sleep disruption, and blood sugar impact your body, and why your labs may still look “normal” even when you don’t feel right. Most importantly, you’ll understand how inflammation affects your metabolism, hormones, and energy — and what simple steps can help calm your system without extreme dieting. If you’re a woman over 40 wondering why your body feels different, this episode will help you understand your biology so you can stop fighting your body and start working with it. References:  Cybulska, et al, (2025).  Systemic inflammation...  https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17172885  Lephart, E. D. (2026).  Assessing the roles of Aging.... https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27031239 McCarthy, M., & Raval, A. P. (2020). The Perimenopause in a woman's life...  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-020-01998-9    If you found this episode helpful, follow the podcast and share it with a friend who may need it.  Check us out on Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/@peggymoorehealthandwellness Website: www.moorefunctionalhealthandwellness.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Peggy.MooreHealthandwellness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moorehealthandwellness/ Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/peggy-moore-5b295247

    8 min
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About

 If you’re a midlife woman wondering why your energy, metabolism, sleep, and weight suddenly changed, you’re not imagining it, and your body isn’t broken.  Discover Your Personal Power is a podcast for midlife women who want to understand what’s actually happening inside their bodies. Peggy Moore, RN and Functional Medicine Practitioner, explains hormones, metabolism, stress, and energy so you can restore balance, reclaim vitality, and feel like yourself again. 

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