#116 - Why I Adopted a Perimenopause Support Cat

Most often, what helps us heal and thrive in midlife is not another supplement, medication, tracker, hack, or protocol… but instead, it's slowing down enough to let joy, clarity in how to best support our female body, and our confidence shine bright.In this deeply personal and unexpectedly powerful episode, Louise, a leading expert for perimenopausal active women and runners, shares the real story behind her “perimenopause support cat” and why it represents something much bigger than adopting a pet. She opens up about burnout as a high achieving woman and runner, nervous system overload, and the hidden cost of being a driven woman for decades. Through honest reflection, she challenges the obsession with data like HRV and the scale, reminding listeners that more numbers do not always mean better health. Also, she challenges you to reflect on what you want out of this stage of life; is it more supplements, meds, and confusion or is it clarify, calm, and confidence in knowing you have control over your longevity in vibrant active living?Louise explores how constant striving and muscling through life can keep women stuck in fight-or-flight, especially in perimenopause. She explains why simplicity, consistency, self-trust, and emotional safety matter more than ever. She also touches on identity shifts, motherhood, alignment, and what it really means to feel calm, present, and alive again.The takeaway is clear: healing and thriving in midlife often starts by choosing softness, presence, and a deep connection to yourself over perfection. You do not need to do more. You likely need to do (much) less, with intention.Join Louise in reflecting on lessons learned and unlocking the best version of your fit, strong, and vibrantly happy active life!Learn with my free nutrition guide and award-winning Academy to thrive through perimenopause with less stress: https://www.breakingthroughwellness.com/Learn about adventure cats: https://www.adventurecats.org/Learn about AffoGATO Cat Cafe: https://affogatocatcafe.com/Link to our FullScript where you can see curated best supplement picks & save 20% off: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/breakingthroughwellness/store-start Take advantage of our podcast listener discount and save 20% off all of Kion’s science-backed clean products: https://www.getkion.com/pages/maximizingEpisode Highlights:(0:00) Intro(3:04) Why a “perimenopause support cat”(5:54) HRV, data obsession, and when tracking backfires(7:38) Why high-achieving women struggle most in perimenopause(10:33) Letting go of the scale and metrics(12:16) Stepping away from comparison and social media(13:13) Identity shifts, ambition, and the hidden cost of success(17:00) Chronic stress, inflammation, and the pace of life(19:22) Choosing calm, joy, and simplicity(27:13) Motherhood, presence, and emotional repair(33:39) Redefining impact and success(41:32) Living more, optimizing less(56:07) Outro Tune in weekly to "Maximizing Hormones, Physique, and Running Through Perimenopause" for our simple female-specific science-based revolution. Let's unlock our best with less stress!I'd love to connect!Email 💬  [email protected]  Please note if you want to be a podcast guest, there is a fee and interview process. This is safe space and curated Community exclusively for women who love to feel, look and run our best without B.S. noise, endless pills, extreme diets or misleading fads.