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Perimenopause is a significant transition for many women, bringing with it a series of hormonal and physical challenges, including often-unexplained weight gain, particularly around the midsection. Health expert Chemaine Linnie, a certified hormone specialist and fitness coach, offers valuable insights from her own 165-pound weight loss journey and years of guiding women through this hormonal shift.
Rock Bottom to Transformation
Chemaine’s personal journey began at her lowest point as a teenage mother in Dublin, weighing 280 pounds. A pivotal moment—her sister cutting her out of a dress—ignited her resolve: “That was my rock bottom. That’s when I promised myself I would never go back”. Through discipline, education, and a new passion for fitness, she transformed her life, eventually moving to Canada and becoming a respected wellness figure. However, as she and her clients aged, new obstacles emerged.
The Real Culprit
Contrary to popular belief, Chemaine emphasizes that perimenopausal weight gain isn’t solely due to estrogen or a slowing metabolism. Instead, she points to adrenaline dominance and blood sugar imbalances as the primary culprits. Symptoms like irritability, sleep disturbances, rage, low libido, hot flashes, and night sweats are often indicators of high adrenaline and low progesterone, not just estrogen. The demanding modern lifestyle, especially in places like Canada, exacerbates these issues, with women juggling numerous responsibilities and feeling guilty about managing stress.
Sleep: Your Secret Weapon
Before diving into complicated protocols, Chemaine always starts with one thing: sleep. Not just any sleep, but deep, restorative sleep that allows your hormones to reset.
Her approach is surprisingly simple. Screens off before bed. Magnesium supplementation. High-dose GABA – 1,500 mg or more. Create a quiet wind-down ritual that signals to your nervous system that it’s safe to rest. When you sleep better, everything else falls into place. You make better food choices. You have energy to move your body. You feel more in control instead of constantly reacting.
The next step is hormone balance. Bioidentical progesterone – what Chemaine calls “the hormone of vitality and sanity” – often plummets before estrogen does. When it’s restored, you get better sleep, fewer cravings, stable moods, and even restored libido.
Small Wins, Big Results
Weight gain during perimenopause isn’t your body betraying you. It’s your body sending up flares, asking for support. The solution isn’t another restrictive diet or punishing workout routine. It’s about understanding what your body actually needs.
Chemaine’s philosophy is refreshingly realistic. Forget dramatic transformations and all-or-nothing approaches. Focus on small wins: improving one meal at a time, adding a 30-minute walk, aiming for just one pound per week. It’s not flashy, but it’s sustainable.
As Chemaine puts it: “We deserve to live again.” Your forties and fifties aren’t about accepting decline – they’re about reclaiming your vitality with wisdom you didn’t have in your twenties.
In this podcast you’ll learn…
- Why willpower doesn’t work for weight loss in perimenopause (and what to do instead)
- Why most women aren’t getting real rest—and the sleep protocol that changes everything
- How bioidentical progesterone can restore your sense of self
- Why small, consistent changes beat dramatic overhauls every single time
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