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Hot flashes, brain fog, mood swings, stubborn weight… perimenopause is basically puberty’s older, sassier cousin—and she doesn’t come with a manual. 😅
But you’re not losing your mind (or your metabolism). You’re just in a new season—and your body’s asking for a different strategy.
In this powerhouse episode of the FASTer Way Podcast, Amanda Tress teams up with hormone expert Dr. Betty Murray to spill the truth about what’s really going on in your 30s, 40s, and 50s. From birth control fallout to the brain-boosting benefits of estrogen (yep, it’s a thing), they’re breaking it all down.
This is the conversation your doctor didn’t have—but your future self will thank you for. If you’ve ever wondered why your motivation disappeared, why your weight loss stalled, or why your brain feels foggier than ever—this one’s for you. From the truth about birth control and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to shocking insights on dementia prevention, Dr. Betty doesn’t hold back.
What’s Really Going On with Your Hormones?
Dr. Betty gets real about what actually happens to your hormones in your 30s and 40s—and spoiler alert: perimenopause often starts long before your period ends. The traditional medical model rarely explains the nuance of what’s happening hormonally, so many women feel blindsided by symptoms like:
- Brain fog
- Anxiety or irritability
- Weight gain (despite eating healthy and working out)
- Hair loss
- Skin changes and breakouts
- Low libido
- Exhaustion or sleep issues
What’s going on? As Dr. Betty explains, your progesterone often declines first, followed by fluctuations (and eventual drops) in estrogen and testosterone. These shifts affect everything from your energy and metabolism to your mental clarity—and your workouts alone aren’t enough to balance things out.
It’s Not Just About “Working Out More”
Dr. Betty shares her own story—despite being a bodybuilder for years and knowing how to manipulate food and exercise, she suddenly gained 35 pounds and felt like a stranger in her own body. Like many women, she was told to train harder or cut calories, but that approach only made things worse.
This is where the FASTer Way strategy shines: instead of more stress on your body, we focus on working with your hormones using strategic workouts, whole food nutrition, carb cycling, and intermittent fasting—all proven to support metabolic and hormonal health. Dr. Betty’s insights validate the very foundation of the FASTer Way: it’s not about doing more, it’s about doing what works for your body.
The Birth Control Fallout No One Warns You About
Did your doctor ever mention that birth control might affect your hormones long-term—even after you stop taking it? Dr. Betty explains how synthetic estrogen in birth control can bind to your hormone receptors and throw your system off balance for years. Many women are put on hormonal contraceptives to “manage” symptoms in their 20s and 30s… but are never told how that might impact fertility, mood, or perimenopause down the road.
This episode empowers you with the information you never got in the OB-GYN office—so you can make informed decisions and advocate for yourself.
Ablations, Hysterectomies & Informed Consent
Amanda and Dr. Betty dive into procedures like ablations and hysterectomies—highlighting how little women are told about their impact on long-term hormone function. For example, many women aren’t told that cauterizing the uterus or removing ovaries can accelerate menopause or disrupt natural hormone production. That doesn’t mean these procedures are always bad—but it does mean women deserve full transparency before making those decisions.
If you’ve had one of these procedures or are considering it, you’ll walk away with clarity, insight, and options to support your health going forward.
HRT 101: What You Need to Know About Hormone Replacement Therapy
One of the most eye-opening parts of the episode is Dr. Betty’s breakdown of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (HRT). She clears up the confusion around:
- What types of HRT are safest and most effective
- The difference between synthetic vs. bioidentical hormones
- When to start HRT for the best long-term benefits
- Why every woman’s HRT protocol should be personalized
She also shares why she started a telemedicine company (Minerva) to help women access better care nationwide—and how her approach includes lab testing, genetic insights, and real coaching support to help women feel like themselves again.
Dementia, Estrogen & the Brain
Here’s a jaw-dropper: dementia is three times more common in women, and estrogen might be the missing link. Dr. Betty shares cutting-edge research showing that estrogen is protective to the brain—it helps increase blood flow, preserve brain volume, and support memory and focus. When we lose estrogen after menopause, our brain begins to shrink and rewire itself, which can increase risk for dementia.
The good news? Starting HRT early in menopause (with the right kind of hormones) can lower your risk of dementia by up to 34%.
Lifestyle Still Matters: Why FASTer Way Foundations Work
Even with hormone shifts, Dr. Betty emphasizes that lifestyle plays a huge role in how you experience perimenopause and menopause. The FASTer Way’s foundations—intermittent fasting, strength training, carb cycling, whole food nutrition, stress management, and sleep—aren’t just fat loss tools. They are hormone support tools.
By reducing inflammation, balancing blood sugar, and supporting detox pathways, you’re giving your body the best possible environment to thrive through midlife and beyond.
Creatine for Brain & Body Health
Toward the end of the episode, Dr. Betty gives a surprising shoutout to one of our favorite supplements: creatine. Not only is creatine great for building and maintaining lean muscle (especially as estrogen declines), it’s also shown to support brain health and cognitive function. It’s one of the few supplements proven to help reduce dementia risk—and it’s 100% safe for women over 40.
Final Takeaway: Knowledge is Power. Action is Everything.
This episode is a must-listen for every woman in her 30s, 40s, and 50s. Whether you’re just starting to feel off or you’ve been told “your labs are normal” but still feel anything but—you are not alone. And you’re not crazy. You’re just in a season where your body needs more support, better answers, and a proven strategy.
Tune in to hear Dr. Betty’s personal journey, expert insights, and empowering tips to help you take charge of your hormones and your future.
🎧 Listen to the full episode on the FASTer Way Podcast.
Listen to the full episode here on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or on your favorite platform—and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.
Related Resources:
- What Actually Works: Breaking Through Fat Loss Resistance After 40
- Menopause Unfiltered: Real Talk, Real Solutions
- Thriving in Perimenopause: Fat Loss, Hormones & Hope with Julie Derr
- Belly Fat, Cortisol, HIIT for Women Over 40—What You Really Need to Know with Dr. Stephen Cabral
Subscribe to our blog
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique.
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Hot flashes, brain fog, mood swings, stubborn weight… perimenopause is basically puberty’s older, sassier cousin—and she doesn’t come with a manual. 😅
But you’re not losing your mind (or your metabolism). You’re just in a new season—and your body’s asking for a different strategy.
In this powerhouse episode of the FASTer Way Podcast, Amanda Tress teams up with hormone expert Dr. Betty Murray to spill the truth about what’s really going on in your 30s, 40s, and 50s. From birth control fallout to the brain-boosting benefits of estrogen (yep, it’s a thing), they’re breaking it all down.
This is the conversation your doctor didn’t have—but your future self will thank you for. If you’ve ever wondered why your motivation disappeared, why your weight loss stalled, or why your brain feels foggier than ever—this one’s for you. From the truth about birth control and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to shocking insights on dementia prevention, Dr. Betty doesn’t hold back.
What’s Really Going On with Your Hormones?
Dr. Betty gets real about what actually happens to your hormones in your 30s and 40s—and spoiler alert: perimenopause often starts long before your period ends. The traditional medical model rarely explains the nuance of what’s happening hormonally, so many women feel blindsided by symptoms like:
- Brain fog
- Anxiety or irritability
- Weight gain (despite eating healthy and working out)
- Hair loss
- Skin changes and breakouts
- Low libido
- Exhaustion or sleep issues
What’s going on? As Dr. Betty explains, your progesterone often declines first, followed by fluctuations (and eventual drops) in estrogen and testosterone. These shifts affect everything from your energy and metabolism to your mental clarity—and your workouts alone aren’t enough to balance things out.
It’s Not Just About “Working Out More”
Dr. Betty shares her own story—despite being a bodybuilder for years and knowing how to manipulate food and exercise, she suddenly gained 35 pounds and felt like a stranger in her own body. Like many women, she was told to train harder or cut calories, but that approach only made things worse.
This is where the FASTer Way strategy shines: instead of more stress on your body, we focus on working with your hormones using strategic workouts, whole food nutrition, carb cycling, and intermittent fasting—all proven to support metabolic and hormonal health. Dr. Betty’s insights validate the very foundation of the FASTer Way: it’s not about doing more, it’s about doing what works for your body.
The Birth Control Fallout No One Warns You About
Did your doctor ever mention that birth control might affect your hormones long-term—even after you stop taking it? Dr. Betty explains how synthetic estrogen in birth control can bind to your hormone receptors and throw your system off balance for years. Many women are put on hormonal contraceptives to “manage” symptoms in their 20s and 30s… but are never told how that might impact fertility, mood, or perimenopause down the road.
This episode empowers you with the information you never got in the OB-GYN office—so you can make informed decisions and advocate for yourself.
Ablations, Hysterectomies & Informed Consent
Amanda and Dr. Betty dive into procedures like ablations and hysterectomies—highlighting how little women are told about their impact on long-term hormone function. For example, many women aren’t told that cauterizing the uterus or removing ovaries can accelerate menopause or disrupt natural hormone production. That doesn’t mean these procedures are always bad—but it does mean women deserve full transparency before making those decisions.
If you’ve had one of these procedures or are considering it, you’ll walk away with clarity, insight, and options to support your health going forward.
HRT 101: What You Need to Know About Hormone Replacement Therapy
One of the most eye-opening parts of the episode is Dr. Betty’s breakdown of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (HRT). She clears up the confusion around:
- What types of HRT are safest and most effective
- The difference between synthetic vs. bioidentical hormones
- When to start HRT for the best long-term benefits
- Why every woman’s HRT protocol should be personalized
She also shares why she started a telemedicine company (Minerva) to help women access better care nationwide—and how her approach includes lab testing, genetic insights, and real coaching support to help women feel like themselves again.
Dementia, Estrogen & the Brain
Here’s a jaw-dropper: dementia is three times more common in women, and estrogen might be the missing link. Dr. Betty shares cutting-edge research showing that estrogen is protective to the brain—it helps increase blood flow, preserve brain volume, and support memory and focus. When we lose estrogen after menopause, our brain begins to shrink and rewire itself, which can increase risk for dementia.
The good news? Starting HRT early in menopause (with the right kind of hormones) can lower your risk of dementia by up to 34%.
Lifestyle Still Matters: Why FASTer Way Foundations Work
Even with hormone shifts, Dr. Betty emphasizes that lifestyle plays a huge role in how you experience perimenopause and menopause. The FASTer Way’s foundations—intermittent fasting, strength training, carb cycling, whole food nutrition, stress management, and sleep—aren’t just fat loss tools. They are hormone support tools.
By reducing inflammation, balancing blood sugar, and supporting detox pathways, you’re giving your body the best possible environment to thrive through midlife and beyond.
Creatine for Brain & Body Health
Toward the end of the episode, Dr. Betty gives a surprising shoutout to one of our favorite supplements: creatine. Not only is creatine great for building and maintaining lean muscle (especially as estrogen declines), it’s also shown to support brain health and cognitive function. It’s one of the few supplements proven to help reduce dementia risk—and it’s 100% safe for women over 40.
Final Takeaway: Knowledge is Power. Action is Everything.
This episode is a must-listen for every woman in her 30s, 40s, and 50s. Whether you’re just starting to feel off or you’ve been told “your labs are normal” but still feel anything but—you are not alone. And you’re not crazy. You’re just in a season where your body needs more support, better answers, and a proven strategy.
Tune in to hear Dr. Betty’s personal journey, expert insights, and empowering tips to help you take charge of your hormones and your future.
🎧 Listen to the full episode on the FASTer Way Podcast.
Listen to the full episode here on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or on your favorite platform—and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.
Related Resources:
- What Actually Works: Breaking Through Fat Loss Resistance After 40
- Menopause Unfiltered: Real Talk, Real Solutions
- Thriving in Perimenopause: Fat Loss, Hormones & Hope with Julie Derr
- Belly Fat, Cortisol, HIIT for Women Over 40—What You Really Need to Know with Dr. Stephen Cabral
Subscribe to our blog
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique.
From Bloat to Brain Health: The Truth About Perimenopause, Dementia & HRT
Hot flashes, brain fog, mood swings, stubborn weight… perimenopause is basically puberty’s older, sassier cousin—and she doesn’t come with a manual. 😅
But you’re not losing your mind (or your metabolism). You’re just in a new season—and your body’s asking for a different strategy.
In this powerhouse episode of the FASTer Way Podcast, Amanda Tress teams up with hormone expert Dr. Betty Murray to spill the truth about what’s really going on in your 30s, 40s, and 50s. From birth control fallout to the brain-boosting benefits of estrogen (yep, it’s a thing), they’re breaking it all down.
This is the conversation your doctor didn’t have—but your future self will thank you for. If you’ve ever wondered why your motivation disappeared, why your weight loss stalled, or why your brain feels foggier than ever—this one’s for you. From the truth about birth control and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to shocking insights on dementia prevention, Dr. Betty doesn’t hold back.
What’s Really Going On with Your Hormones?
Dr. Betty gets real about what actually happens to your hormones in your 30s and 40s—and spoiler alert: perimenopause often starts long before your period ends. The traditional medical model rarely explains the nuance of what’s happening hormonally, so many women feel blindsided by symptoms like:
- Brain fog
- Anxiety or irritability
- Weight gain (despite eating healthy and working out)
- Hair loss
- Skin changes and breakouts
- Low libido
- Exhaustion or sleep issues
What’s going on? As Dr. Betty explains, your progesterone often declines first, followed by fluctuations (and eventual drops) in estrogen and testosterone. These shifts affect everything from your energy and metabolism to your mental clarity—and your workouts alone aren’t enough to balance things out.
It’s Not Just About “Working Out More”
Dr. Betty shares her own story—despite being a bodybuilder for years and knowing how to manipulate food and exercise, she suddenly gained 35 pounds and felt like a stranger in her own body. Like many women, she was told to train harder or cut calories, but that approach only made things worse.
This is where the FASTer Way strategy shines: instead of more stress on your body, we focus on working with your hormones using strategic workouts, whole food nutrition, carb cycling, and intermittent fasting—all proven to support metabolic and hormonal health. Dr. Betty’s insights validate the very foundation of the FASTer Way: it’s not about doing more, it’s about doing what works for your body.
The Birth Control Fallout No One Warns You About
Did your doctor ever mention that birth control might affect your hormones long-term—even after you stop taking it? Dr. Betty explains how synthetic estrogen in birth control can bind to your hormone receptors and throw your system off balance for years. Many women are put on hormonal contraceptives to “manage” symptoms in their 20s and 30s… but are never told how that might impact fertility, mood, or perimenopause down the road.
This episode empowers you with the information you never got in the OB-GYN office—so you can make informed decisions and advocate for yourself.
Ablations, Hysterectomies & Informed Consent
Amanda and Dr. Betty dive into procedures like ablations and hysterectomies—highlighting how little women are told about their impact on long-term hormone function. For example, many women aren’t told that cauterizing the uterus or removing ovaries can accelerate menopause or disrupt natural hormone production. That doesn’t mean these procedures are always bad—but it does mean women deserve full transparency before making those decisions.
If you’ve had one of these procedures or are considering it, you’ll walk away with clarity, insight, and options to support your health going forward.
HRT 101: What You Need to Know About Hormone Replacement Therapy
One of the most eye-opening parts of the episode is Dr. Betty’s breakdown of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (HRT). She clears up the confusion around:
- What types of HRT are safest and most effective
- The difference between synthetic vs. bioidentical hormones
- When to start HRT for the best long-term benefits
- Why every woman’s HRT protocol should be personalized
She also shares why she started a telemedicine company (Minerva) to help women access better care nationwide—and how her approach includes lab testing, genetic insights, and real coaching support to help women feel like themselves again.
Dementia, Estrogen & the Brain
Here’s a jaw-dropper: dementia is three times more common in women, and estrogen might be the missing link. Dr. Betty shares cutting-edge research showing that estrogen is protective to the brain—it helps increase blood flow, preserve brain volume, and support memory and focus. When we lose estrogen after menopause, our brain begins to shrink and rewire itself, which can increase risk for dementia.
The good news? Starting HRT early in menopause (with the right kind of hormones) can lower your risk of dementia by up to 34%.
Lifestyle Still Matters: Why FASTer Way Foundations Work
Even with hormone shifts, Dr. Betty emphasizes that lifestyle plays a huge role in how you experience perimenopause and menopause. The FASTer Way’s foundations—intermittent fasting, strength training, carb cycling, whole food nutrition, stress management, and sleep—aren’t just fat loss tools. They are hormone support tools.
By reducing inflammation, balancing blood sugar, and supporting detox pathways, you’re giving your body the best possible environment to thrive through midlife and beyond.
Creatine for Brain & Body Health
Toward the end of the episode, Dr. Betty gives a surprising shoutout to one of our favorite supplements: creatine. Not only is creatine great for building and maintaining lean muscle (especially as estrogen declines), it’s also shown to support brain health and cognitive function. It’s one of the few supplements proven to help reduce dementia risk—and it’s 100% safe for women over 40.
Final Takeaway: Knowledge is Power. Action is Everything.
This episode is a must-listen for every woman in her 30s, 40s, and 50s. Whether you’re just starting to feel off or you’ve been told “your labs are normal” but still feel anything but—you are not alone. And you’re not crazy. You’re just in a season where your body needs more support, better answers, and a proven strategy.
Tune in to hear Dr. Betty’s personal journey, expert insights, and empowering tips to help you take charge of your hormones and your future.
🎧 Listen to the full episode on the FASTer Way Podcast.
Listen to the full episode here on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or on your favorite platform—and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.
Related Resources:
- What Actually Works: Breaking Through Fat Loss Resistance After 40
- Menopause Unfiltered: Real Talk, Real Solutions
- Thriving in Perimenopause: Fat Loss, Hormones & Hope with Julie Derr
- Belly Fat, Cortisol, HIIT for Women Over 40—What You Really Need to Know with Dr. Stephen Cabral
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Ready to Take Back Control of Your Hormones and Health?
Our 6-Week Program is more than just workouts and macros. It’s a proven, science-backed lifestyle designed to support your metabolism, balance your hormones, and help you build lean muscle that lasts. You’ll get:
- Daily workouts tailored to your goals (just 30 minutes!)
- Whole-food-based, macro-balanced meal guides—gluten-free, dairy-free, and delicious
- Expert coaching to guide you every step of the way
- Education that actually empowers you to understand your body and what it needs
- Community support with women just like you who are in it for the long haul
This isn’t a crash diet or a one-size-fits-all plan. It’s a complete reset designed to help you fuel your body, feel stronger, sleep better, and finally thrive through midlife and beyond.
