What if midlife weight changes are an opportunity to look beyond the number on the scale—and start asking bigger questions about our muscle, bone, brain, and metabolic health?

In this episode of Mary is joined by Sharon Lemoine, a nurse practitioner and founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa & Concierge Medicine. With more than 25 years of experience in emergency medicine, Sharon expanded her work to focus on primary care, women’s health, hormone therapy, medical weight management, and wellness. Her approach brings together medical care, health education, prevention, and faith.

After years of seeing patients arrive in crisis, Sharon became passionate about prevention, education, and helping people take a more active role in their health. Her own experience living with Type 1 diabetes has also shaped her perspective on healthcare and the importance of understanding our options.

Together, we explore the confusing world of menopause information, hormone health, GLP-1 medications, and the lifestyle foundations that support long-term well-being. We also discuss the importance of patient advocacy, shared decision-making, and finding a healthcare provider who listens.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why changes in your body deserve a thoughtful investigation rather than dismissal or assumptions.
• Questions to consider around GLP-1 medications, nutrition, and preserving muscle.
• Why strength and physical function matter for longevity, mobility, and quality of life.
• Discussing lab work and individual health concerns with patients.
• Why it is worth asking your healthcare provider about your individual bone-health risks and whether a DEXA scan is appropriate.
• How to ask questions, find reliable information, and work collaboratively with a provider.
• Faith, purpose, and how it fits into better whole-person healthcare.

Connect with Sharon:

• Gig Harbor Medical Spa & Concierge Medicine
• Instagram: @theconciergenp
• YouTube: Health, Hormones and Faith

Let us know if you're liking the show!

Hen's Den Yoga
A serene and cozy home studio nestled in the Comox Valley offering a variety of wellness classes.

Support the show

Meet the host, Mary, a certified Menopause Doula, GGS Coaching Specialist, and corporate educator, helping forward-thinking organizations foster a menopause-friendly workplace. Visit https://emmeellecoaching.com/menopauseatwork

Turn your menopause transition into a transformation with the Menopause Intelligence Course (MQ), an 8-module, self-paced learning experience, empowering you to take agency over your health and make informed decisions with your healthcare team.

Connect with Mary:

• Instagram @menopausedisruptorpodcast
• LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/maryhelenlee/

Disclaimer: Information shared is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional.

Why does maintaining a healthy weight become more challenging in midlife? What role do hormones play in metabolism, energy, and body composition? And how can we shift from treating illness to proactively supporting our health as we age?

In this episode, host Mary Lee welcomes Dr. Aleksandra Gajer, MD., founder of The Gajer Practice, for a conversation about personalized medicine, sustainable weight management, hormone health, and longevity.

With a background in emergency medicine, Dr. Gajer brings a unique perspective to preventive healthcare. After years of treating patients experiencing serious health challenges, she recognized the importance of intervening earlier and helping people make meaningful, sustainable changes before chronic illness takes hold.

Together, Mary and Dr. Gajer explore the intersection of hormones, metabolism, and lifestyle, challenging the notion that midlife weight gain is simply a matter of eating less and exercising more.

Topics explored in this episode:

• The shift from emergency medicine to proactive, personalized healthcare.
• Why metabolism and weight management can change during perimenopause and menopause.
• The relationship between hormonal health, metabolic function, and healthy aging.
• Why sustainable weight management requires more than calorie restriction and willpower.
• The importance of individualized healthcare rather than one-size-fits-all solutions.
• How lifestyle habits can support long-term vitality and resilience.
• Rethinking longevity as healthspan, not simply lifespan.

The Gajer Practice

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Hen's Den Yoga
A serene and cozy home studio nestled in the Comox Valley offering a variety of wellness classes.

Support the show

Meet the host, Mary, a certified Menopause Doula, GGS Coaching Specialist, and corporate educator, helping forward-thinking organizations foster a menopause-friendly workplace. Visit https://emmeellecoaching.com/menopauseatwork

Turn your menopause transition into a transformation with the Menopause Intelligence Course (MQ), an 8-module, self-paced learning experience, empowering you to take agency over your health and make informed decisions with your healthcare team.

Connect with Mary:

• Instagram @menopausedisruptorpodcast
• LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/maryhelenlee/

Disclaimer: Information shared is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional.

Today's episode gives recognition to a chronic pain many women suffer through and chronic pain is the theme this year for World Menopause Day (October 18).

Host Mary talks with migraine advocate and author Alice W. Meadows about living with migraine from childhood, the damage of not being believed, and how finding language for invisible pain can change self-esteem, diagnosis, and care.

Alice shares how early dismissal led her to hide symptoms, dissociate from her body, and later dismiss thyroid cancer treatment emotionally, until perimenopause and menopause helped her reconnect with her body and shift toward self-advocacy. Her experience led to the creation of her first book, an illustrated children’s book, "Mabel and Her Bright, Noisy, Prickly, Dizzy Migraine," which uses characters to represent migraine symptoms so children can communicate and families can build empathy and seek accommodations.

This conversation also covers writing as healing, overcoming fear of publishing, community advocacy, and listening as a first act of support.

Connect:

• Alice's webiste and book preorders: https://www.alicewmeadows.com/

References:

• Christiane Northrop, The Wisdom of Menopause: Creating Physical and Emotional Health During the Change
• Brené Brown, The Man in the Arena Speech

Chapters:

00:00 A Body Not Believed
00:56 Welcome and Guest Intro
03:53 Early Migraine Memories
05:08 Meet Mabel and Symptoms
07:55 Stigma and Hiding Pain
11:03 Menopause Reconnection
14:35 The Great Reveal
17:22 Advocacy and Accommodations
20:43 Writing Through Fear
26:43 Healing Power of Writing
29:19 Mabel’s Mission and Next Books
35:56 Rapid Fire and Final Listen
40:09 World Menopause Day Wrap

Let us know if you're liking the show!

Hen's Den Yoga
A serene and cozy home studio nestled in the Comox Valley offering a variety of wellness classes.

Support the show

Meet the host, Mary, a certified Menopause Doula and Women’s Coaching Specialist. Mary is also a corporate educator, helping forward-thinking organizations foster a menopause-friendly workplace and design policies and accommodations for employees. Click to learn more https://emmeellecoaching.com/menopauseatwork

Turn your menopause transition into a transformation with the Menopause Intelligence Course (MQ), an 8-module, self-paced learning experience, empowering you to take agency over your health and make informed decisions with your healthcare team.

Connect:

• Instagram @menopausedisruptorpodcast
• LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/maryhelenlee/
• Subscribe on Substack @emmeellecoaching

Disclaimer: Information shared is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional.