Michelle talks with Lisa Quait, host of the Real Women's Stories Podcast. Lisa honestly shares her own menopause experience, including initial misdiagnosis and finding the right medication. She discusses how menopause impacted her work life, leading to memory loss and self-doubt, but then how it ultimately became a catalyst for change and transformed her self-belief.

Michelle and Lisa explore the workplace challenges during menopause, the impact on relationships and share realistic advice, including why clear communication and educating others are essential.

Lisa Reveals

• Her initial menopause symptoms
• Why early menopause shook her self-confidence
• Why it’s important to have your HRT treatment tailored to your specific needs
• How stress can mimic menopause symptoms
• Why menopause allowed her to recalibrate and find a renewed purpose
• The importance of communication with partners, family, and colleagues about menopause
• Why during menopause, women should identify and acknowledge all of their feelings
• How to gain workplace confidence during menopause
• Why marriages can break down during menopause

BEST MOMENTS

"I felt like me again and I suddenly thought maybe throughout my life I've had hormone imbalances that have held me back because of the anxiety that you get with a hormone change."

"It's taken me five years through my journey to get to a really good place. HRT is not one fits all. There are so many different types, we absorb differently."

"I'm sharp, I'm there, I'm that powerhouse woman, and all of a sudden I'm a lesser version of myself. My brain has just gone to mush. My forgetfulness is just off the chart."

"Going through the menopause really gave me my self-belief. I'm not the same because I don't think even when I was younger I had the self-belief and self-worth that I've got now."

"When we are stressed and the body doesn't know the difference between real stress or perceived stress your body will prioritise your stress hormones, cortisol, over your sex hormones."

"I would very often come into the office and go, 'I'm really hormonal today, guys. I'm just letting you know I might be snappy.' Because if people don't know how you are feeling, how do they know how to behave around you?"

"I'm now gonna be doing my coaching full-time and my podcasting full-time... once you go through the menopause and you get a hold of it, you have this inspirational light comes out."

"Sit with yourself, acknowledge yourself. Recognise all the good stuff that you've done, and the reasons why you are feeling the way you are feeling. Are they true or are you creating a narrative in your head that's not true?"

EPISODE RESOURCES

lisa@realwoman.coach

www.realwoman.coach

HOST BIO

Michelle is a highly respected Physiotherapist and Menopause Wellbeing Practitioner with over two decades of experience in the health and wellness industry. After experiencing seven years of debilitating symptoms herself before realising it was perimenopause, Michelle has since dedicated her career to helping other women navigate this transformative stage of life. Her personal journey fuels her passion for educating and empowering women, as well as training businesses and health professionals through her specialised menopause and wellbeing workshops. A best-selling author and sought-after speaker, Michelle combines deep clinical expertise with relatable, real-world experience. Through her podcast, "Menopause - The Real Deal," she offers evidence-based guidance, authentic conversations, and practical strategies. Listeners trust Michelle for her empathetic understanding and her commitment to helping women thrive, making her a leading voice in the menopause space.

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/michelle.kimp.9/

Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@michelle_rowlinson

Linkedin www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-rowlinson-38330b21a

Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@MenopauseTheRealDeal

My Book: You, me conquering perimenopause & menopause https://amzn.eu/d/hCcbjag

Website www.panaceapause.co.uk