Hello Hormones with Dr. Carrie Jones

Many women hit a weight plateau in perimenopause and assume it's about willpower, when the real issue is that the body isn't getting the physiological support it needs during hormonal change. After 40, eating less and pushing harder often puts the body into a protective mode, signaling it to conserve energy by storing fat. We dive deeper into this in the latest Hello Hormones episode with Ashley Koff, RD. We also chat about why fasting often backfires in perimenopause, what actually changes when GLP-1 signaling lasts days instead of minutes, and why gut function, hydration, and stress signals decide whether the body feels safe enough to lose weight. Ashley Koff, RD, is the founder of The Better Nutrition Program and the author of Your Best Shot: The Personalized System for Optimal Weight Health. She is a registered dietitian with over 30 years of experience across private practice, nutrition education, media, and consulting, and serves as Nutrition Course Director for IFMF. What's Discussed: (02:59) How under-eating and over-exercising backfire after 40 (03:21) GLP-1 as hormone replacement and why duration matters more than dose (11:17) Fasting in perimenopause: when it helps and when it hurts (19:32) Food variety, taste receptors, and GLP-1 signaling on the tongue (24:26) Stress, the vagus nerve, and why weight gain can be protective (29:29) The GLP-1 era, weight bias, and why judging bodies misses the point (43:19) What GLP-1 actually does in the body beyond appetite suppression (50:37) Can you stimulate GLP-1 naturally and what actually influences it ✍️ FREE GUIDES: Hormones 101 Cheat Sheet:  www.drcarriejones.kit.com/hormones101  The Perimenopause & Menopause Labs Test Checklist: www.drcarriejones.kit.com/labtestchecklist The Symptoms of The Perimenopausal Transition (WTF…) Ebook: www.drcarriejones.kit.com/perimenopausesymptom  Which Stage of Perimenopause Am I In? Ebook: www.drcarriejones.kit.com/stagesofperimenopause    LETS CONNECT:   Dr. Carrie Jones: Website: www.drcarriejones.com Newsletter: www.drcarriejones.kit.com/newsletter IG: @dr.carriejones  TikTok: @drcarriejones Youtube: @drcarriejones  Ashley Koff, RD: Website: www.thebetternutritionprogram.com Instagram: @ashleykoffapproved Ashley's Upcoming Book: ORDER HERE   Disclaimer: Information provided on this channel is for informational purposes only. This information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product. Do not use the information provided on this channel for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or other supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. Information provided on this channel and the use of any products or services related to this podcast by you does not create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Dr. Carrie Jones. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent ANY disease.  

If you've been doom-scrolling hormone headlines lately, you probably saw the panic around the FDA removing the boxed warning from vaginal estrogen. In this episode, we unpack what actually changed and why low-dose vaginal estrogen never belonged in the same risk category as systemic hormones. I walk you through the real differences between vaginal, transdermal, and oral estrogen and why your bloodstream cares a lot about the how, not just the what. We also look at the research on blood clots and breast cancer without the scary headlines. You'll hear why a tiny vaginal tablet is basically the quiet introvert of hormone therapy, how transdermal estrogen behaves differently once it hits your skin, and why your daily habits can shift these risks more than most people realize. If you've been wondering what's safe, what's shifting, and what all of this FDA chatter really means for your midlife hormones, this episode will leave you with clarity instead of confusion. Come listen. What's Discussed: (03:11) Why removing the boxed warning from vaginal estrogen actually makes sense (04:22) How low dose vaginal estrogen stays local instead of acting systemically (08:24) How the route of estrogen use changes clot risk (09:27) Why transdermal estrogen behaves differently than oral (12:17) What the research really shows about breast cancer risk (14:47) How lifestyle factors shift risk as much as hormone choice ✍️ FREE GUIDES: Hormones 101 Cheat Sheet:  https://drcarriejones.kit.com/hormones101  The Perimenopause & Menopause Labs Test Checklist: https://drcarriejones.kit.com/labtestchecklist The Symptoms of The Perimenopausal Transition (WTF…) Ebook: https://drcarriejones.kit.com/perimenopausesymptom  Which Stage of Perimenopause Am I In? Ebook: https://drcarriejones.kit.com/stagesofperimenopause    LETS CONNECT:  Dr. Carrie Jones: Website: www.drcarriejones.com Newsletter: www.drcarriejones.kit.com/newsletter Instagram: @dr.carriejonesFacebook: @drcarriejonesTikTok: @drcarriejones Youtube: @drcarriejones Pinterest: @drcarriejones ========== Disclaimer: Information provided on this channel is for informational purposes only. This information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product. Do not use the information provided on this channel for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or other supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. Information provided on this channel and the use of any products or services related to this podcast by you does not create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Dr. Carrie Jones. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent ANY disease.  

Have you ever wondered why your body reacts so strongly to stress on days that should feel completely normal?  In this episode, we're joined by naturopathic doctor and educator Dr. Leah Hollon to explore how early stress, family patterns, and even the pregnancies we grew in can shape our hormones decades later. We talk about cortisol patterns, histamine overload, immune shifts, stubborn weight changes, and why so many women hit perimenopause already running a nervous system that's been on high alert for years. And yes, we get practical. Think nervous system resets, smart cortisol support, histamine-calming strategies, and the small daily practices that genuinely start to retrain your stress response. Dr. Leah Hollon is a naturopathic doctor, international speaker, and author of Unwinding the Imprints of Disease. She teaches integrative medicine, pharmacogenomics, and epigenetics at multiple universities and co-owns Richmond Natural Medicine.  It's a grounded, eye-opening look at how stress imprints show up in midlife hormones and what you can do to shift the system starting today.    What's Discussed: (02:00) What intergenerational trauma is and how it affects hormones (08:09) How PTSD flattens cortisol and shows up in perimenopause (11:46) The link between ACEs and autoimmunity, allergies, and migraines (15:24) What famine studies teach us about metabolism and weight (17:49) Why chronic stress makes weight loss harder and cardio tricky (20:23) How your birth story shapes stress, immunity, and hormone patterns (39:36) Why histamine flares, sleep issues, and wired-tired energy connect (41:22) Tools that regulate the nervous system and support midlife hormones   Thank You To Our Sponsor:  Timeline Nutrition: If you're feeling tired, foggy, or drained during perimenopause, Timeline's Mitopure Gummies support your energy from the inside out. Powered by clinically proven Urolithin A, they help your cells clean out damaged mitochondria and build new, stronger ones. If you'd like to give it a try, visit timeline.com/drcarrie and get 20% off. LVLUP Health: If you're in perimenopause, menopause, or just feel like your digestion and hormones are ganging up on you, try Ultimate GI Repair from LVLUP Health. You can grab it at lvluphealth.com and use my code DRJONES for 15% off your first order.   ✍️ FREE GUIDES: Hormones 101 Cheat Sheet:  https://drcarriejones.kit.com/hormones101  The Perimenopause & Menopause Labs Test Checklist: https://drcarriejones.kit.com/labtestchecklist The Symptoms of The Perimenopausal Transition (WTF…) Ebook: https://drcarriejones.kit.com/perimenopausesymptom  Which Stage of Perimenopause Am I In? Ebook: https://drcarriejones.kit.com/stagesofperimenopause    LETS CONNECT:  Dr. Carrie Jones: Website: www.drcarriejones.com Newsletter: www.drcarriejones.kit.com/newsletter IG: @dr.carriejones  TikTok: @drcarriejones Youtube: @drcarriejones  Dr. Leah Hollon, ND, MPH: Website: www.drleahhollon.comIG: @leah.hollonYoutube: @DrLeahHollon ========== Disclaimer: Information provided on this channel is for informational purposes only. This information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product. Do not use the information provided on this channel for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or other supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. Information provided on this channel and the use of any products or services related to this podcast by you does not create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Dr. Carrie Jones. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent ANY disease.  

Perimenopause has a way of showing up with little surprises. One month I'm sleeping through the night, feeling fine. The next I'm wide awake at 3 AM or losing a brilliant idea the moment I open a new tab. If your body has been pulling these tricks too, you are in good company. In this episode, I share the five things that help me feel more grounded as I move through my own perimenopause. You'll hear how I support my sleep, how I train, the supplements that stay in my routine, the labs I check, and the hormone choices I'm using right now. You'll get a better sense of what your body might be doing and some practical tools that make this phase a little easier to navigate day to day. If you've ever wondered what a hormone doctor relies on when she goes through perimenopause herself, this episode lays it out in a clear and simple way. Come listen.   What's Discussed: (00:01) The first signs I noticed in my own perimenopause (00:46) Brain glitches, sleep changes, and the strange symptoms no one talks about (02:15) How my ocular migraines started and what helped me understand them (03:10) The sleep and stress habits that keep me more regulated (05:31) Why I lifted heavier, added jumping, and changed how I move (07:49) My progesterone journey and the formula that finally worked for me (10:03) What a continuous glucose monitor revealed about my symptoms (12:50) The supplements that anchor my routine and support digestion, sleep, and energy   Thank You To Our Sponsor:  Timeline Nutrition: If you're feeling tired, foggy, or drained during perimenopause, Timeline's Mitopure Gummies support your energy from the inside out. Powered by clinically proven Urolithin A, they help your cells clean out damaged mitochondria and build new, stronger ones. If you'd like to give it a try, visit timeline.com/drcarrie and get 20% off. LVLUP Health: If you're in perimenopause, menopause, or just feel like your digestion and hormones are ganging up on you, try Ultimate GI Repair from LVLUP Health. You can grab it at lvluphealth.com and use my code DRJONES for 15% off your first order.   ✍️ FREE GUIDES: Hormones 101 Cheat Sheet:  https://drcarriejones.kit.com/hormones101  The Perimenopause & Menopause Labs Test Checklist: https://drcarriejones.kit.com/labtestchecklist The Symptoms of The Perimenopausal Transition (WTF…) Ebook: https://drcarriejones.kit.com/perimenopausesymptom  Which Stage of Perimenopause Am I In? Ebook: https://drcarriejones.kit.com/stagesofperimenopause    LETS CONNECT:  Dr. Carrie Jones:  Website: www.drcarriejones.com  Newsletter:https://drcarriejones.kit.com/newsletter IG: @dr.carriejones   TikTok: @drcarriejones Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@drcarriejones    Disclaimer: Information provided on this channel is for informational purposes only. This information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product. Do not use the information provided on this channel for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or other supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. Information provided on this channel and the use of any products or services related to this podcast by you does not create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Dr. Carrie Jones. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent ANY disease.

What if your perimenopause cravings weren't about discipline at all but a hormone conversation your body is trying to have with you? In this episode of Hello Hormones, I sit down with Dr. Sarah Kennedy from Calocurb to break down why so many women hit perimenopause and suddenly feel hungrier, snackier and way more tempted by everything in the pantry. We walk through the hormones that run your appetite, how the gut brain axis shapes satiety and why falling estrogen can make those signals go quiet. We also cover GLP-1, CCK and PYY in the simplest way possible, why your hindbrain can hijack your best intentions and how bitter receptors in the gut can naturally support your fullness signals. If your cravings have been louder, if chocolate calls your name at night or if your appetite feels "different," this episode will help everything click and give you practical ways to support your hunger hormones today. Sarah Kennedy is the CEO of Calicurb. She has led major health and agricultural organizations and now brings that experience into the science of gut brain signaling and natural satiety support. Listen now!   What's Discussed: (03:19) The Hunger Hormones Behind Your Appetite (05:47) How the Gut Brain Axis Shapes Cravings and Fullness (08:20) What Synthetic GLP-1 Medications Do to Your Natural GLP-1 (11:16) The "Valley of Death" When Coming Off GLP-1 Injectables (14:22) How Bitter Receptors in the Gut Trigger Natural Satiety (22:55) What Human Trials Reveal About Hunger, Cravings and Calicurb (31:56) Why Calories In vs Calories Out Fails Women in Perimenopause   Thank You To Our Sponsor:  Timeline Nutrition: If you're feeling tired, foggy, or drained during perimenopause, Timeline's Mitopure Gummies support your energy from the inside out. Powered by clinically proven Urolithin A, they help your cells clean out damaged mitochondria and build new, stronger ones. If you'd like to give it a try, visit timeline.com/drcarrie and get 20% off. LVLUP Health: If you're in perimenopause, menopause, or just feel like your digestion and hormones are ganging up on you, try Ultimate GI Repair from LVLUP Health. You can grab it at lvluphealth.com and use my code DRJONES for 15% off your first order.   ✍️ FREE GUIDES: Hormones 101 Cheat Sheet:  https://drcarriejones.kit.com/hormones101  The Perimenopause & Menopause Labs Test Checklist: https://drcarriejones.kit.com/labtestchecklist The Symptoms of The Perimenopausal Transition (WTF…) Ebook: https://drcarriejones.kit.com/perimenopausesymptom  Which Stage of Perimenopause Am I In? Ebook: https://drcarriejones.kit.com/stagesofperimenopause    LETS CONNECT:  Dr. Carrie Jones: Website: www.drcarriejones.com  Newsletter:https://drcarriejones.kit.com/newsletter IG: @dr.carriejones   TikTok: @drcarriejones Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@drcarriejones  Dr. Sarah Kennedy: Website: www.calocurb.comInstagram: @calocurbFacebook: @calocurbGLOBAL   Disclaimer: Information provided on this channel is for informational purposes only. This information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product. Do not use the information provided on this channel for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or other supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. Information provided on this channel and the use of any products or services related to this podcast by you does not create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Dr. Carrie Jones. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent ANY disease.