Livia Esterhazy

12/03/2026

FOODIE FRIDAY IS HERE! 🍫

Wired but exhausted lately?

You know that feeling where your body is tired but your nervous system seems to be stuck on high alert — jumpy in the morning, foggy by afternoon, and then wide awake at 2am.

When that happens, I don’t reach for supplements first.

I make chocolate.

Homemade dark chocolate. Five ingredients. Ten minutes.

Cacao is one of the richest food sources of magnesium — a mineral that plays an important role in calming an overloaded nervous system and helping your body shift from “wired but tired” into recovery.

I keep a batch in the fridge and break off a square when I need it.

Not because it’s indulgent.

Because it genuinely helps.

If your nervous system has been feeling overloaded lately, I’ve also written about three signals your nervous system is under too much pressure in this week’s blog.

Sometimes supporting your nervous system can start with something surprisingly simple.

Like one square of chocolate.

And let's face it - it's YUM!

Having a great Easter but wanting a change from shop bought chocolate? Try this super easy and delicious home made chocolate recipe and forego all the extra preservatives and additives!

11/03/2026

My nervous system was a mess. All in one day.

Morning:
My son said my name and I jumped out of my skin.
Heart racing. Hands shaking. Over nothing.

Afternoon:
I sat in a meeting and suddenly couldn’t find my words.
My brain felt like sludge.
I just nodded along, hoping no one would ask me a direct question.

Evening:
Exhausted all day… then wide awake when I finally got into bed.
11pm.
2am.
4am.

Three completely different states.

All in one day.

At the time I thought something was wrong with me.

But what I eventually realised was this:

My nervous system wasn’t just stressed.

It was overloaded.

And during perimenopause, this happens far more often than most women realise.

As estrogen declines, your nervous system loses some of its ability to regulate stress.

Which means you can start cycling between three very specific states.

Most women just think they're burnt out…
or that they’re somehow “not coping” anymore.

But once you understand what’s actually happening inside your body, things start to make a lot more sense.

I wrote a full breakdown of the three nervous system signals that show your system is overloaded, what’s happening biologically, and the tools that help bring it back into balance.

If you’ve ever had a day like this, you might find it helpful.

👇Read the article below

I jumped when my son said my name. My brain couldn't form words in a meeting. By evening, I was exhausted but couldn't sleep—mind racing at 11pm, 2am, 4am. Three different states in one day. All the same root cause: nervous system overload. During perimenopause, your nervous system gets stuck in s...

06/03/2026

One of the quiet traps of midlife is comparison.

You compare yourself to the woman you were ten years ago.

The one who could juggle everything without blinking.

But she had hormonal support that you no longer have.

You compare yourself to younger colleagues.

They still have the buffers you’ve lost.

You compare yourself to men your age.

Their hormones aren’t crashing the way yours are.

And suddenly it feels like you’re the only one struggling.

But you’re not failing.

You’re navigating a different biological operating system.

The question in midlife isn’t:

“Why can’t I keep up?”

It’s:

“How do I adapt intelligently to the body I’m in now?”

If you want to understand where your stress is eroding, check out my new FREE Midlife Edge Audit - Link in bio or comment EDGE and I'll send you the link.

06/03/2026

You’re not dramatic.

You’re amplified.

Same workload.
Same responsibilities.

Different hormonal environment.

And when cortisol lingers longer than it used to, everything feels heavier.

Harder to recover.
Harder to let go.
Harder to reset.

You’re not failing at stress.

You’re navigating altered physiology.

If you want clarity on where your stress load is highest, download the Midlife Edge Audit. Link in Bio or comment EDGE and I'll send the link straight to you.

Because vague overwhelm needs specific assessment.

05/03/2026

You’re not “losing your edge.”

But you are operating without the hormonal shock absorbers you used to have.

And that changes everything.

The woman who could once juggle work, family, deadlines and crisis without flinching now feels at capacity all the time.

No buffer.
No margin.
No slack.

That’s not weakness.

That’s biology.

Your operating system has changed.

And the smartest move now isn’t pushing harder.

It’s adapting strategically.

If you want to assess where your stress capacity is most compromised, download my free Midlife Edge Audit (link in bio) or comment EDGE and I'll send you the link.

Because protecting your edge requires understanding what’s actually happening.

04/03/2026

She lost it over a spoon in the sink.

This is a woman who used to handle genuine crises without breaking a sweat.

Work pressure.
Family stress.
Unexpected problems that needed calm leadership.

Now?

Small things can suddenly feel overwhelming.

And many women quietly ask themselves:

“Why can’t I handle stress the way I used to?”

But this isn’t about weakness or resilience.

In perimenopause, the hormonal systems that once buffered your stress response begin to change.

Oestrogen and progesterone help regulate cortisol and support your nervous system’s ability to recover.

When those buffers fluctuate or decline, the same stress load feels heavier.

Not because you’ve lost your edge.

Because your biology has shifted.

This week on the blog I unpack what’s happening to your stress buffering system — and practical ways to protect your capacity in midlife.

PS: If this feels uncomfortably accurate, I’m building something to help you assess exactly where your stress tolerance is eroding most.

Comment EDGE and I’ll send you first access to the Midlife Edge Audit.

A friend of mine lost it over a spoon in the sink. She used to handle actual crises without breaking a sweat. Now? Small things can send her over the edge. Your stress tolerance hasn't shrunk because you're weak—it's shrunk because perimenopause removed your hormonal shock absorbers. Oestrogen and...

03/03/2026

You’re not suddenly less resilient.

You’re operating without the hormonal shock absorbers you used to have.

And no one explained that would change how stress feels.

This is why something small can tip you over.

Not because you’re weak.
Not because you’re dramatic.

Because your buffering system has shifted.

Most women respond by trying to toughen up.

Handle more.
Push harder.
Prove they still “have it.”

But midlife isn’t about proving capacity.

It’s about protecting it.

This month I’m exploring what actually happens to your stress tolerance in perimenopause — and what strategic adaptation looks like.

If this resonates, comment EDGE and I’ll send you first access to the Midlife Edge Audit I’m building.

Or tell me — what feels heavier lately than it used to?

28/02/2026

Movement can be a form of self-respect.

Not punishment.
Not shrinking.
Not fixing.

But building a body that lets you hike to the top of Double Cove in the Marlborough Sounds.
Kayaking the cove without hesitation.
Slipping into cold water and feeling capable instead of cautious.

This isn’t about aesthetics.

It’s about autonomy.

Respecting your future mobility.
Respecting your nervous system.
Respecting your biology.

Strength doesn’t have to feel aggressive.

It can feel grounding.
Steady.
Capable.

The strongest women I know don’t train to escape their bodies.

They train so they can fully live in them.

27/02/2026

🌟It's 𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐃𝐈𝐄 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐀𝐘!🌟

If you’re dragging yourself through a workout that should feel manageable…

If 3pm hits and you need caffeine just to function…

If recovery feels heavier than it used to…

Before you question your discipline, check your iron.

Low iron is common in perimenopause and menopause — and it quietly affects oxygen delivery, endurance and resilience.

Not because you’re lazy.

Because your muscles can’t perform without raw materials.

This week’s Foodie Friday isn’t about “clean eating.”

It’s about strategic fuelling.

Thai-inspired herb salad with iron-rich chicken livers, fresh mint, basil, lime and chilli.

It delivers:

• Iron that supports oxygen transport (so workouts don’t feel like sludge)
• Protein that preserves muscle and protects bone
• Healthy fats that stabilise blood sugar instead of spiking and crashing
• Fresh herbs that support digestion and reduce that heavy, bloated feeling

It’s bold.
It’s vibrant.
And it supports strength instead of draining it.

Movement that feels good doesn’t only start in the gym.

It starts in the kitchen.

And if you want a simple, menopause-specific structure to pair with it, my free Strength Starter Guide is available to download, link in the bio.

Midlife strength isn’t about pushing harder.

It’s about fuelling smarter.

This is a beautifully vibrant, protein- and iron-rich salad that supports steady energy, muscle recovery and overall resilience — especially during perimenopause. I love how fresh and alive this recipe feels. It’s packed with nutrient-dense chicken liver, bright herbs, healthy fats and mineral-r...

25/02/2026

If your workouts feel harder than they used to…

It’s not because you’ve lost discipline.

And it’s not because you’re “getting soft.”

But if you keep training like your body hasn’t changed, you will start to feel like you’re failing.

That’s the part no one warns women about.

Menopause is already a high-stress physiological state.

Sleep becomes unpredictable.
Recovery takes longer.
Cortisol is less forgiving.

And instead of adjusting, most women double down.

More intensity.
More pushing.
More “I just need to try harder.”

Then the exhaustion builds.
Consistency slips.
Self-trust erodes.

That’s not laziness.

That’s depletion.

Movement that feels good isn’t about doing less.

It’s about doing what actually works in this stage of life.

Strength that supports your bones.
Training that matches your energy.
Consistency that lasts for years — not six weeks.

I’ve unpacked this more deeply in this week’s blog.

You don’t need a harder workout.

You need a fun one!

I really tried to love running. My friends raved about it. I made progress with Couch to 5K. And I hated every single minute of it. Then I discovered strength training and step classes (yes, it's 1995 again) and realized: movement you dread creates stress before you even start. Discover why joy isn'

23/02/2026

But if you keep training like your body hasn’t changed…

You’ll feel like you are failing!

And that’s where most women start shrinking their expectations.

Not because they’re incapable.

Because no one told them the rules shifted.

Your energy fluctuating isn’t a weakness.
It’s physiology.

The solution isn’t to do less.

It’s to train smarter for this stage. Work with your energy. With no guilt!!

If you want to start strength training without extremes - download my free Strength Starter Guide for Menopause.

It’s free.

It’s specific.

And it’s built for women exactly like you

LinkedIn bio and in the first comment.

19/02/2026

🌟Foodie Friday is HERE! 🌟Inspired by my 79-year-old mum who has bones like a 30-year-old. This is what she eats.

In this weeks blog I told you about my mum's incredible bone density—how doctors were shocked that at 79, her bones are as strong as a 30-year-old's.

Her secret? Forty years of lifting garment boxes as a fashion designer. And this fish curry.

She's an incredible cook—Indian and Thai cuisine are her specialty.

And for decades, she's been making this curry without realising it was building her bones with every bite.

Here's what makes it work:
- Fish —packed with vitamin D your bones need to actually absorb calcium, plus the protein that builds bone matrix.
- Coconut milk—loaded with magnesium that helps lock minerals into your bones.
- Turmeric and spices—fighting the inflammation that breaks bones down.
- Greens - providing calcium, Vitamin K and magnesium

She wasn't "eating for bone density." She was just cooking what inspired her.

But here's what I learned writing this week's blog: You can't supplement your way to strong bones.

Pills give you raw materials.
Exercise tells your body to use them.
And food like this? It delivers everything in a form your body actually recognises.

This curry does more for your bones than a bottle of calcium tablets ever will. And it tastes a hell of a lot better.

Recipe below in comments👇

Make this tonight. Your bones (and your taste buds) will thank you.

Haven't read this week's blog about fighting menopause bone loss? Link in bio.

My 79-year-old mum has bones like a 30-year-old. This fish curry is one of her secrets. Mum is an incredible cook - particularly of Indian and Thai. For decades, she's been cooking up this Indian staple—not knowing it was protecting her bones with every bite. Turns out, the best bone-building nut