Vanessa Goldsmith Naturopath

Vanessa Goldsmith Naturopath Naturopath since 2003. Kinesiologist since 2023. Supporting people on their health journey.

Weight Gain in Perimenopause (It’s Not Just About Willpower)If your body suddenly feels different…If the weight seems to...
15/03/2026

Weight Gain in Perimenopause (It’s Not Just About Willpower)

If your body suddenly feels different…
If the weight seems to settle around your middle…
If the things that used to “work” no longer do…

You’re not imagining it.
Perimenopause changes the way your body manages energy.

Here’s what’s happening behind the scenes.

1. Insulin Sensitivity Shifts

During perimenopause, fluctuating estrogen can affect how sensitive your cells are to insulin.

This means your body may:
• Store glucose more easily as fat
• Experience more blood sugar highs and lows
• Feel stronger sugar or carb cravings

Stable blood sugar becomes much more important during this stage.

2. Muscle Mass Naturally Changes

From our late 30s onward, muscle mass gradually declines.

Muscle is metabolically active tissue — it helps burn energy and stabilise blood sugar.

When muscle mass decreases:
• Metabolism slows slightly
• Fat storage becomes easier
• Strength and recovery change

This is why strength-based movement becomes more important than endless cardio.

3. Stress Hormones Play a Bigger Role

Perimenopause also makes the nervous system more sensitive to stress.

When cortisol (our stress hormone) stays elevated:
• Fat storage increases — especially around the abdomen
• Blood sugar becomes less stable
• The body prioritises survival over fat burning

Pushing harder with intense exercise or constant dieting can sometimes make this worse.

4. Inflammation Can Increase

Hormonal fluctuations can increase low-grade inflammation in the body.

Inflammation can:
• Disrupt metabolic signalling
• Increase fluid retention
• Make weight loss feel much harder

This is why supporting the body — rather than fighting it — becomes so important.

The Most Important Thing to Understand

Weight gain in perimenopause is not a failure.

It’s often a signal from the body that the strategy needs to change.

More support.
More regulation.
More nourishment.

Less punishment.

When we work with the body instead of against it, things start to shift again.

—

If your body feels different lately, you’re not alone.
And there are ways to support it through this transition. 🌿

I have some Saturday appointments available this week! Be quick as these fill fast!Wednesday 18th 3pmFriday 20th 10amSat...
15/03/2026

I have some Saturday appointments available this week! Be quick as these fill fast!

Wednesday 18th 3pm
Friday 20th 10am
Saturday 21st 9am 11am

Naturopathy (face to face or online)
Kinesiology (face to face)

www.vanessagoldsmithnaturopathy.com.au

Hair mineral testing (HTMA) looks at minerals stored in your tissues over the past 2-3 months. Unlike blood tests, which...
15/03/2026

Hair mineral testing (HTMA) looks at minerals stored in your tissues over the past 2-3 months. Unlike blood tests, which show what’s happening in the moment, this test gives us a longer term picture of how your body is regulating key minerals.

Minerals influence energy, stress response, thyroid function, hormones and detox pathways. This test helps us understand patterns that may be driving your symptoms, not just isolated deficiencies

If you’d like to book in a HTMA test or find out more about how it can help, please get in touch.

Perimenopause: Why Rest Is Not Optional AnymoreSomewhere in perimenopause, something shifts.The push-through energy that...
14/03/2026

Perimenopause: Why Rest Is Not Optional Anymore

Somewhere in perimenopause, something shifts.

The push-through energy that once worked… suddenly doesn’t.

You feel more tired.
More wired.
Less tolerant of stress.
And your body starts asking for something many women struggle with:

Rest.

But here’s the reframe most of us need to hear:

Rest is not laziness.
Rest is regulation.

During perimenopause, your hormones are changing:

• Progesterone (your calming hormone) is declining
• Estrogen is fluctuating
• Your nervous system becomes more stress-sensitive
• Your body has less tolerance for constant pressure

This means the strategies that used to work — pushing harder, doing more, sleeping less — can actually make symptoms worse.

Things like:
• fatigue
• anxiety
• poor sleep
• irritability
• burnout

This is where a powerful shift becomes necessary.

Recovery becomes more important than intensity.

Your body now thrives on:

• deeper sleep
• slower mornings
• nervous system regulation
• gentle movement
• time outside
• space to reset

Because before the body can optimise, it must first regulate.

And regulation requires safety.
It requires slowing down.
It requires rest.

So if your body is asking you to pause more lately…

Listen.

You are not going backwards.
You are being invited into a new rhythm.

One where rest is productive.

And often… exactly what your body needs to heal.

✨ If perimenopause has left you feeling exhausted, anxious or out of sync, you’re not alone. This is something I support women through every day in clinic.

Appointments available — DM or book via my website

13/03/2026

In true Vanessa form there is unnecessary swearing in this video. 😬🙄

But…I stand by what I say and won’t be taking any further questions at this time. 😂😉😜

The 3am Wake-Up (And Why It Happens)Waking around 3am is one of the most common things women tell me during perimenopaus...
13/03/2026

The 3am Wake-Up (And Why It Happens)

Waking around 3am is one of the most common things women tell me during perimenopause.

You fall asleep fine…
But then suddenly your eyes open and your mind is wide awake.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone — and there are reasons for it.

Here are a few things that may be happening in the body:

1. Cortisol spikes
During perimenopause, your stress hormone cortisol becomes more sensitive.
If cortisol rises too early in the night, it can wake you up and make it hard to fall back asleep.

2. Blood sugar dips
If blood sugar drops overnight, the body releases stress hormones to bring it back up.
This can trigger that sudden 3am alert feeling.

3. Liver detox time
Your liver is very active during the night.
If detox pathways are under extra load, the body can become more alert during this time.

4. A nervous system stuck in overdrive
When the body spends too much time in fight-or-flight, the nervous system struggles to stay in the deep rest state needed for quality sleep.

The good news is there are gentle ways to support your body.

Small shifts can make a big difference:

• Creating a calming evening routine
• Supporting the body with key minerals
• Prioritising nervous system calming before bed
• Stabilising blood sugar in the evening

When we support the nervous system and hormones, sleep often improves naturally.

Because waking at 3am isn’t your body being difficult…

It’s your body asking for support.

✨ If sleep has been a struggle lately, this is something I support clients with regularly.

13/03/2026

You know how they say going to the gym makes you feel amazing?

It’s true!

If you’re not training, especially as a perimenopausal or post menopausal woman, you should be!

Find a buddy, find a gym you like the vibe of (I go to the Commercial Club gym) and get on board.

Your body, heart and mind will thank you!

Perimenopause & RageIf you feel like your fuse has suddenly become very short…You’re not alone.Many women in perimenopau...
12/03/2026

Perimenopause & Rage

If you feel like your fuse has suddenly become very short…
You’re not alone.

Many women in perimenopause notice waves of irritation, frustration, or even rage that seem to come out of nowhere.

But this isn’t you “losing it.”

There are real hormonal and nervous system shifts happening in your body.

During perimenopause:
• Progesterone (your calming hormone) begins to drop
• Estrogen fluctuates up and down
• Your nervous system becomes more sensitive to stress
• Your tolerance for things that once felt manageable becomes lower

So the things you used to quietly tolerate may suddenly feel overwhelming.

You might notice:
• A shorter fuse
• Less tolerance for noise, mess, or other people’s behaviour
• Feeling touched out or overstimulated
• Your boundaries getting louder

And while it can feel uncomfortable… it’s not a flaw.

It’s information.

Often, this phase of life is when the body starts asking for change.

Less over-giving.
Less pushing through exhaustion.
Less putting everyone else first.

Sometimes what we label as “rage” is actually your nervous system and hormones asking for new boundaries, more support, and more care for yourself.

Your body isn’t betraying you.

It’s communicating.

And when we learn how to support hormones, regulate the nervous system, and listen to what the body is asking for — this phase can become incredibly empowering.

You’re not becoming a worse version of yourself.

You’re becoming a more honest one.

✨ If you’re navigating perimenopause and feeling unlike yourself, support can help.

www.vanessagoldsmithnaturopathy.com.au

10/03/2026

I don’t mean to rant on my business page but this s**t is infuriating!

As health practitioners our job is to support people with their health, not make them feel like a fu***ng inconvenience!

If you’ve felt like this, I’m sorry. If you have an amazing GP, let me know who it is so I can spread the word. If you’d like someone to support you with your health that actually cares, and you like my vibe, you can book a consult by visiting my website at www.vanessagoldsmithnaturopathy.com.au

Why Anxiety Increases in PerimenopauseIf you’ve suddenly started feeling more anxious, overwhelmed, or on edge… you’re n...
09/03/2026

Why Anxiety Increases in Perimenopause

If you’ve suddenly started feeling more anxious, overwhelmed, or on edge… you’re not imagining it.

For many women, anxiety is one of the first signs of perimenopause — even before hot flushes or missed periods.

Here’s why it happens:

Progesterone starts to drop
Progesterone is often called the calming hormone. It helps support relaxation, sleep, and a steady nervous system.
When progesterone declines, the body can feel more wired, restless, and sensitive to stress.

Estrogen fluctuates
During perimenopause, estrogen doesn’t just decline — it goes up and down unpredictably. These hormonal shifts can influence mood, brain chemistry, and emotional stability.

Blood sugar becomes less stable
Hormonal changes can make blood sugar harder to regulate.
Blood sugar dips can trigger symptoms that feel just like anxiety:
• shakiness
• irritability
• racing heart
• feeling on edge

The adrenals pick up the slack
As ovarian hormone production changes, the body leans more on the adrenal glands.
If you’re already dealing with stress, busy life demands, or poor sleep, the adrenals can become overloaded.

Your nervous system becomes more sensitive
Many women notice their stress tolerance decreases during this time. Things that once felt manageable can suddenly feel overwhelming.

Your body isn’t failing you.
It’s asking for more support, more rest, and better regulation.

Supporting the nervous system through:
• blood sugar balance
• stress reduction
• quality sleep
• gentle movement
• nervous system regulation tools

can make a significant difference.

You’re not crazy.
You’re transitioning.

And with the right support, your body can find balance again.

✨ If your body has been feeling “off”, support is available.
Appointments available — DM or book via the link below

www.vanessagoldsmithnaturopathy.com.au

I’ve got a busy week coming up and only one appointment available.There’s often shuffling so if you’d like to go on a ca...
08/03/2026

I’ve got a busy week coming up and only one appointment available.

There’s often shuffling so if you’d like to go on a cancellation list send me a DM.

If you feel like your energy, motivation, and ability to cope with exercise has suddenly changed…you’re not imagining it...
06/03/2026

If you feel like your energy, motivation, and ability to cope with exercise has suddenly changed…
you’re not imagining it.

And you’re definitely not lazy.

During perimenopause, your hormones are shifting in ways that can completely change how your body feels day to day.

What used to work for you might suddenly feel exhausting.

Here’s why.

Your body may experience:

• Energy crashes
Hormonal fluctuations can affect blood sugar, sleep, and cortisol levels — leaving you feeling drained even after a full night’s sleep.

• Motivation shifts
When estrogen and progesterone change, brain chemistry changes too. Dopamine (your motivation chemical) can fluctuate, making things that once felt easy suddenly feel harder.

• Different exercise tolerance
Workouts that once energised you may now leave you depleted. Your body may need more restorative movement rather than constant high intensity training.

• A greater need for recovery
Your nervous system becomes more sensitive during this phase. Rest, sleep, and recovery become essential — not optional.

This is not a sign that your body is failing you.

It’s a sign your body is asking for a different kind of support.

When you learn to work with your hormones instead of pushing through them, things begin to feel easier again.

More energy.
More balance.
More understanding of your body.

You’re not lazy.
You’re transitioning.

And your body deserves support through it.

✨ If this sounds like you, you don’t have to navigate it alone.

Appointments available — DM or book via my website at
www.vanessagoldsmithnaturopathy.com.au

Address

2/594 Hovell Street
Albury, NSW
2640

Opening Hours

Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 1pm
Saturday 9am - 1pm

Telephone

+61415193535

Website

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