02/24/2026
HRT Is not magic. You don’t start taking it and fat melts off your body and you all a sudden have super human strength in training. It is to help perimenopausal symptoms be more bearable. It is not fully replacing the hormones your body stops producing. It adds back a small percentage of the hormones your body makes during your fertile years. It’s a drop in bucket compared to where your levels were in your 20-30s.
Yes it can create an environment where maybe you can show up better. But it’s not doing the work for you. It’s not going to change what you choose to put in your body. If you choose to not eat protein, eat in a surplus, or drink alcohol every weekend. It’s not going to build muscle without consistently going to gym and still pushing self to failure. I’ve worked with plenty of clients on HRT that do not look like they work out or pay attention to their nutrition. That is a learned skill that takes discipline, practice, and lots of repetition.
I have only gained weight and watched my body decline and lose some strength since being on HRT. Not because I think it’s done me wrong, but I was probably at my fittest self in my early to mid 40s before I felt the changes on my body. I’ve had an improvement in perimenopausal symptoms, but not complete reversal. I still struggle. I still have to force myself to do things that I know are good for my body. I assume that without it, I’d feel much worse.
I get these comments from time to time, but I also see other midlife women who have been instilling good habits for years get them. Don’t discredit the work that has been done with or without it. I know not everyone can or wants to take HRT, but I do wish those not on it could understand the reality of being on it. It’s still not easy breezy, it’s a lot of trial and error and perimenopause is moving target.
Hang in there midlife friends!
🩷SC
