Episode 24: The Grief and Relief of Leaving Your Younger Self Behind

There's a strange disorientation that comes with getting older that nobody prepares you for. You still feel young on the inside. You still *mostly* relate to younger people. You still think of yourself as young. And then something reminds you that you're not. That you're actually in the last half, maybe the last third, of your life.In this episode, we get honest about the identity shift that comes with midlife, the grief of saying goodbye to the version of yourself you've always known, and the surprising relief that can come right alongside it. Because entering perimenopause and hitting menopause isn't just a hormonal event. For many women, it's a reckoning with who you've been and who you're becoming.We also talk about HRT. What it is, why we both made the decision to use it to support our transition, and why we don't think it's something every woman should rush into without doing the foundational work first. Because if the foundations aren't in place, you're layering a solution on top of a problem that hasn't been addressed.In this episode:What it feels like to be an "old young" — still identifying with youth while standing in the later chapter of your lifeThe grief that comes with letting go of the identity you've carried since your twenties and thirtiesWhy menopause can also bring unexpected relief and why that's worth talking aboutHow we are using HRT to support our transition through perimenopause and beyondWhy they believe HRT should come after the foundation is built, not instead of itWhat "earning" your HRT actually looks like in practiceThis is one of those episodes that might make you feel a little less alone in what you're going through. If so, we’d love it if you leave a review, share it with a friend in midlife, and follow along for more real talk on health, fitness, and feeling good in your body at every age.Connect With Us:@marcinevin @eats_by_dre_nutrition