Nouriched: Eat, Move and Rest Your way to Wellness

Perimenopause: where to even start? One minute, you’re cruising through life, and the next, your body decides to throw you a curveball (or five). This transitional phase before menopause can start in your late 30s or 40s, as your ovaries slowly begin to retire. Estrogen and progesterone levels start fluctuating unpredictably, and well—let’s just say your body keeps you on your toes.

I want you to be prepared about what’s to come, so I’ve compiled a countdown based on some of the wildest stories women in my community have shared with me about their perimenopausal systems.

5 Surprising Things That Happen During Perimenopause

5. Your Joints Start Acting Like They Have a Vendetta
You used to bounce out of bed, but now your knees sound like a creaky door in a horror movie. Thanks to declining estrogen, which helps keep inflammation in check, joint pain can become a daily (and highly annoying) reality. Yoga, stretching, and staying active can help keep things moving—literally.

4. You Might Develop “Teenage” Acne Again
Just when you thought breakouts were behind you, perimenopause says, “Think again!” Estrogen is your skin’s best friend, and as it declines, testosterone gets a little too comfortable—leading to oilier skin and those dreaded pimples.

3. Sleep? What’s That?
Falling asleep, staying asleep, or even feeling rested in the morning becomes a luxury. Lower progesterone levels (which help with relaxation) and those infamous night sweats can turn bedtime into an unpredictable adventure.

2. Mood Swings Like a Soap Opera
One minute you’re laughing, the next you’re crying over a commercial about puppies. Estrogen influences serotonin (your happy hormone), so when it fluctuates, your emotions can feel all over the place. Deep breaths, mindfulness, and chocolate can help.

1. Palpitations—Heart ah beat buhdum buhdum
Ever feel like your heart is doing an impromptu drum solo for no reason? Or if you’re a spicy 80’s baby, once those palpitations hit, you start singing General Degree’s “Boom, Boom”. Fluctuating estrogen levels can make your heartbeat feel irregular or extra noticeable. While usually harmless, it can be unsettling. Deep breathing, hydration, and cutting back on caffeine can help.

Bonus: Your Libido Becomes a Mystery Novel
Will she? Won’t she? The plot twists in your sex drive could rival a best-selling thriller. One day, you’re ready to audition for a romance novel cover, the next, you’re more interested in binge-watching true crime documentaries. Hormonal changes can play games with your desire, but hey, at least it keeps things interesting!

Wrap Up

I had fun writing this one. If you are going through perimenopause, please comment with the fun symptoms have you been experiencing. I really want to know! And listen, I have more perimenopause content coming: A deep dive, personal look into my journey as I prepare for perimenopause, and the parallel journey of a Jamaican woman in the middle of thriving with perimenopause. Why? Because I believe once we are prepared for the transition, and have a toolkit to help us through it, we won’t dread it. Instead, we’ll navigate second puberty masterfully.

Who’s ready to journey with me?