At 51, Losing Weight in Perimenopause Has Never Been Easier — Until Now

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If you had told me even five years ago that losing weight at 51 would feel easier than it did in my 30s or 40s, I would not have believed you.

Back then, weight loss meant restriction.
Control.
White-knuckling my way through hunger and exhaustion.

Now?
It looks like support.

Perimenopause changed my body.
But it also forced me to change my approach.

Once I stopped fighting my physiology and started working with it, everything changed.

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My Turning Point: The December That Changed Everything

My real turning point came in December — and that matters, because December is inarguably the hardest month of the year to lose weight.

I found myself hungrier than usual, even though I wasn’t doing anything extreme.
No crash dieting.
No excessive workouts.
Just persistent hunger that didn’t make sense.

Instead of ignoring it or pushing through, I reached out to a close friend who is a registered dietitian and asked one simple question:

What am I missing?

She made two recommendations.
I was skeptical — but I trusted her.

Recommendation #1: Balance Greens Before My Two Biggest Meals

She recommended that I drink Balance Greens before my two largest meals of the day — not to suppress appetite, but to support blood sugar, digestion, and micronutrient intake.

The goal wasn’t eating less.
The goal was blood sugar stability.

Recommendation #2: Switch From Traditional Coffee to Mushroom Adaptogen Coffee

Her second recommendation surprised me.

She suggested I switch from traditional coffee to mushroom adaptogen coffee to help regulate cortisol and support my nervous system.

I remember thinking:

There’s no way coffee is making this much of a difference.

But perimenopause had already taught me one thing:
What used to work doesn’t always work anymore.

So I did it anyway.

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The Results Were Immediate

Within weeks:

• My hunger leveled out
• My energy felt calmer and more consistent
• I stopped feeling wired but exhausted
• My cravings softened

And most notably:

I lost 10 pounds in December.

December.

Holiday meals.
Social events.
No extremes.

That was the moment I knew this wasn’t about discipline or willpower anymore.

It was about supporting my body correctly.

That experience led me to explore additional tools from Bravenly — not as magic fixes, but as daily support layered on top of real food and consistent habits.

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The Big Shift: Why Weight Loss Stops Working the Old Way in Perimenopause

In perimenopause, weight gain is rarely about willpower.

It’s about biology.

As estrogen and progesterone fluctuate, the body becomes far more sensitive to:

• Blood sugar swings
• Cortisol spikes
• Nervous system dysregulation
• Poor sleep
• Chronic stress

When the body feels unsafe, it holds on to weight — especially around the midsection.

So instead of asking:

“How do I eat less and work out more?”

I started asking:

“How do I help my body feel safe enough to let go?”

That question changed everything.

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How I Regulate Blood Sugar Now (The Foundation of Everything)

Blood sugar regulation is the foundation of weight loss in perimenopause. Full stop.

Unstable blood sugar drives:

• Fat storage
• Cravings
• Energy crashes
• 3 a.m. wakeups
• Cortisol production

Here’s what I do consistently — not perfectly, but consistently:

• Protein at every meal
• Fiber-forward plates
• Slow-burn carbohydrates (not carb fear)
• No skipped meals
• Balance Greens before my two largest meals

Balance Greens provide fiber, minerals, and plant nutrients that help blunt glucose spikes, support digestion, and calm hunger signals — which directly impacts cravings and belly fat.

I layer in additional blood sugar and metabolic support with:

• Ignite Metabolism Support to support glucose utilization and metabolic efficiency
• Burn Extreme, not as a stimulant or quick-fix fat burner, but as support for insulin sensitivity, appetite regulation, and metabolic signaling — especially important in midlife
• Hydrate, because dehydration and mineral depletion quietly increase cravings and blood sugar instability

Instead of telling my body to eat less, I signal:

You’re safe. Food is coming. No need to store fat.

That signal matters more than calories ever did.

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How I Support My Nervous System (Because Stress Weight Is Real)

Perimenopause itself is a stressor.

Add years of dieting, over-exercising, and under-eating — and the nervous system stays stuck in fight-or-flight.

A dysregulated nervous system will block fat loss, no matter how “perfect” your plan looks.

So I actively support mine.

That looks like:

• Regular meals instead of pushing hunger
• Walking instead of punishment workouts
• Predictable routines
• Consistency over intensity
• Brew mushroom adaptogen coffee instead of traditional coffee

Brew Mushroom Coffee gives me calm, focused energy without the cortisol spike that traditional coffee can create — especially in a midlife body already under hormonal stress.

I also support nervous system regulation with:

• Gold Immuno-Skin Tea as a calming daily ritual
• Hydrate, because dehydration is a hidden stressor that raises cortisol

When the nervous system feels safe, the body becomes responsive again.

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Lowering Cortisol Instead of Trying to Burn It Off

Here’s the truth no one told us:

You can’t out-exercise cortisol.

In perimenopause, excessive cardio, intense workouts, chronic under-eating, and poor sleep often raise cortisol — especially in bodies already navigating hormonal change.

So instead of trying to burn stress off, I focus on lowering it.

What helps me most:

• Walking (especially after meals)
• Strength training without exhaustion
• Adequate sleep
• Evening protein to prevent overnight blood sugar crashes
• Targeted adaptogen and metabolic support

In addition to Brew, I also use Burn Extreme — and this is where it’s often misunderstood.

I don’t use Burn Extreme as a stimulant.
I use it because chronically elevated cortisol and unstable blood sugar block fat loss.

Burn Extreme supports:

• Cortisol balance
• Metabolic signaling
• Appetite regulation
• Stress-related fat storage

I also layer in:

• Drift Hot Cocoa in the evening to calm the nervous system and support deeper sleep
• Reset Gut Health, because gut inflammation feeds directly into cortisol production

When cortisol comes down, belly fat follows — not through force, but through support.

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Supporting Hormones Instead of Fighting Them

Perimenopause isn’t a failure of discipline.
It’s a hormonal transition.

I don’t try to override my hormones anymore.
I support them.

That means:

• Eating enough
• Prioritizing protein
• Avoiding extremes
• Supporting digestion and detox pathways
• Sleeping consistently

Helpful tools for this season:

• Reset to support gut health and hormone metabolism
• Glow Collagen Gummies for connective tissue and skin resilience
• Balance Greens to provide micronutrients needed for hormone processing – IF I COULD RECOMMEND ONE PRODUCT TO START WITH, IT IS BALANCE GREENS BEFORE MY TWO BIGGEST MEALS OF THE DAY! THIS WAS THE BIGGEST GAME CHANGER FOR ME.

Weight loss now comes from creating the right internal environment — not forcing an outcome.

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Which Bravenly Product Supports What?

This is how I personally think about these tools — by system, not hype.

Concern / Goal	What It Supports	Bravenly Product
Stuborn Fat + Anxiety	Vagus Nerve, Cortisol Production, Subcutaneous Fat	pHix
Blood sugar stability	Fewer spikes & crashes, calmer hunger	Balance Greens
Metabolic efficiency	Glucose utilization, energy production	Ignite
Cortisol balance	Stress hormones, belly fat resistance	Burn Extreme, Brew Coffee
Nervous system regulation	Calm energy, reduced fight-or-flight	Brew Coffee
Appetite regulation	Stress eating, insulin signaling	Burn Extreme
Sleep support	Nervous system downshifting	Drift Hot Cocoa
Gut health	Inflammation, hormone metabolism	Reset
Hydration & minerals	Electrolyte balance, reduced fatigue	Hydrate
Skin & connective tissue	Hormonal resilience	Glow Gummies
Calming daily ritual	Gentle relaxation	Gold Tea

Read this not as:

“I need everything.”

But as:

“Which system in my body needs the most support right now?”

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Why This Feels Easier at 51

This works because:

• I’m no longer at war with my body
• I don’t rely on motivation
• I don’t chase short-term results
• I focus on daily signals of safety

Weight loss now feels calmer.
More predictable.
More sustainable.

And ironically — more effective.

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A Gentle + Medical Disclaimer (From Me to You)

This article reflects my personal experience navigating perimenopause and what has worked for my body. It’s shared for educational and informational purposes only.

I am not a doctor, and this is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, and individual results will vary.

Perimenopause affects every woman differently. What feels supportive for one body may not be appropriate for another — especially if you are managing medical conditions, taking medications, or under the care of a healthcare provider. Always consult with a qualified medical professional before making changes to your nutrition, supplements, or wellness routine.

I also believe this deeply:
Wellness is not about copying someone else’s plan.
It’s about learning how to listen to your body and finding the support it needs in this season of life.

Supplements don’t replace real food, sleep, movement, or medical care — they simply support the body alongside them.

You deserve guidance that honors both your biology and your individuality.

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Final Thought

At 51, I’m not losing weight because I’m stricter.

I’m losing weight because I stopped fighting my body and started listening to it.

Support works.
Safety matters.
And your body is not broken.

— Valarie 🤍

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