This Meal By Design, Ann Arbor, MI (2026)

▫️Strategies for 40+ women struggling with menopause, hormonal imbalance, fatigue, + weight gain.
▫️Certified Peri/Menopause Women’s Health Specialist through IWHI
▫️Holistic Nutritionist + Health Coach
▫️Metabilism Mastery Online Program

06/09/2026

When women enter perimenopause, it's easy to assume every symptom is a hormone problem.

The weight gain.
The fatigue.
The bloating.
The cravings.
The disrupted sleep.
The stubborn belly fat.

Hormones absolutely play a role, but hormones don't operate in isolation.

Your metabolism is influenced by blood sugar regulation, digestion, nutrient absorption, stress resilience, liver function, inflammation, sleep, and more.

That's why simply chasing hormone levels or looking for a single supplement rarely creates lasting change.

When we support blood sugar balance, improve digestion, strengthen adrenal resilience, and optimize liver function, hormone health often improves naturally as a result.

This is why I take a systems-based approach with my clients.

Instead of focusing on symptoms one at a time, we connect the dots to uncover what's really driving them.

And while I fully support HRT, it's not the entire picture.

Supporting blood sugar, digestion, stress resilience, sleep, and liver function helps create the foundation for your hormones and your HRT to work as effectively as possible.

Because the path to better energy, easier fat loss, and feeling like yourself again during perimenopause is often found by supporting the whole system, not just the hormones.

06/07/2026

6 daily practices for women over 40 that will support blood sugar regulation and fire up your metabolism

1. Eat within an hour of waking, start your day with water, then enjoy your coffee. (of course there are nuances to this if you exercise early... a small snack with protein and carbs before your workout will work too)

2. Every single meal and snack should include protein, fiber and healthy fats.

3. Daily rhythm: breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack. That snack can be between breakfast and lunch OR between lunch and dinner.

4. Support diversity of your microbiome with a variety of colors. Aim for 5+ colors daily and veggies with every meal.

5. Protein... 30+ grams in every meal. Also include protein in your snack.

6. Hydrate: adding electrolytes or minerals to your water helps to absorb the water you drink into your cells.

Follow for meal ideas, strategies to thrive through perimenopause and FIRE up your metabolism.

03/04/2026

5️⃣ reasons to add chia seeds to your routine in perimenopause and menopause

Tiny seeds, powerful support for metabolism and hormones.

Just 2 tablespoons of chia seeds provide:

➡️ 10 g fiber → supports gut health, detox pathways, and fullness
 ➡️ Antioxidants + polyphenols → help calm inflammation and oxidative stress
 ➡️ Minerals for bone health → calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus support bone density
 ➡️ Blood sugar stability → the fiber, fat, and ~4 g protein help slow glucose spikes

➡️ Complete plant protein → contains all 9 essential amino acids to support muscle and metabolic health

🧑‍🍳 Simple ways to use them: Add to smoothies, yogurt, oatmeal, or make chia pudding.

Small habit. Big metabolic health support

02/27/2026

For women over 40, we are bombarded with the advice..

“Eat more protein.”

And yes, protein matters.

But if you’re lifting weights, eating clean, and focusing on protein, yet the scale isn’t moving, you’re not doing it wrong.

And it’s not because you’re not trying hard enough.

It’s because there are deeper layers to metabolism in perimenopause and menopause.

After 40, we naturally see:
• Lower stomach acid�• Reduced digestive enzymes�• Shifts in the gut microbiome�• Higher cortisol from chronic stress�• Disrupted or lighter sleep

And this changes how your body processes protein and whether it prioritizes fat burning or fat storage pathways.

If you are experiencing:
• Bloating�• Reflux or constipation�• Increased inflammation�• Energy crashes�• Stubborn belly fat

Your body is not broken.
It’s communicating.
Your symptoms are information.

Here’s where I focus with my clients in addition to targeted nutrition:
✔ Support stomach acid with lemon water, bitters, slowing down before meals�✔ Strengthen digestion and improve microbiome balance�✔ Regulate the nervous system before eating so you’re not in fight or flight�✔ Pair strength training with true recovery�✔ Prioritize deep, restorative sleep

And when cortisol is regulated, sleep is restorative, digestion is optimized and detox pathways are open, our metabolism fires back up again.

Fat burning pathways are turned on.

Muscle mass increases.

If this resonates, comment METABOLISM and I’ll send you the details on how we approach metabolism differently after 40.

You don’t need more restrictions and rules to follow.

You need a strategy designed for your midlife body.

12/11/2025

Today inside the Metabolism Mastery Membership, and available for all if my clients, we’re doing something a little different… and so needed. ✨

We’re welcoming Ita from Ita Yoga Studio for a gentle Yoga Nidra experience — a 20-minute guided relaxation practice to help your body shift out of stress mode and into deep calm.

No equipment.
 No yoga experience needed.
 Just a quiet space to sit or lie down and let your nervous system exhale.

If you’ve been feeling scattered, tired, or “on” all the time… this is your reminder that rest is not a luxury — it’s a metabolic tool.

🧘‍♀️ Members, check your portal for today’s call link.
 I can’t wait to see you there!

Address

Ann Arbor, MI
48103, 48104, 48105, 48106, 48107, 48108, 48109, 48113

Website

https://thismealbydesign.com/

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