Perimenopause vs Menopause: What’s Really Happening to Your Body?

Most women are familiar with the word menopause—but few know that perimenopause can start up to a decade earlier and cause just as many symptoms. The two phases are often confused, and the lack of clarity leads many women to feel dismissed, misdiagnosed, or unsupported.

Perimenopause is the transitional period leading up to menopause. Hormone levels fluctuate significantly, which can cause irregular periods, mood changes, stubborn weight gain, sleep disruptions, and fatigue. It’s unpredictable—and it can last anywhere from 4 to 10 years.

Menopause, by definition, begins after you’ve gone 12 consecutive months without a period. Hormone levels stabilize at a lower level, but symptoms may continue or evolve. 

What’s Happening to Your Hormones?

During perimenopause, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone levels shift erratically. These changes can:

• Make fat loss feel impossible (especially around the midsection)
• Disrupt your sleep cycle
• Cause brain fog or emotional sensitivity
• Lower your ability to build or maintain muscle
• Increase stress reactivity and inflammation

Once you reach menopause, hormone levels settle into new baselines, but by then, your metabolism, energy, and muscle mass may have already changed dramatically.

That’s why your old strategies (HIIT, fasting, cutting carbs, endless cardio) stop working—and can sometimes make symptoms worse.

Symptoms You Might Experience (Even Before Menopause)

Perimenopause and menopause symptoms can overlap, but the intensity, timing, and duration vary widely.

Common symptoms include:

• Fat gain around the stomach, hips, or thighs
• Trouble sleeping or staying asleep
• Hot flashes and night sweats
• Mood swings or irritability
• Anxiety or loss of motivation
• Reduced exercise recovery
• Brain fog or forgetfulness
• Bloating or digestion issues
• Joint pain or stiffness

If you're experiencing these symptoms and still have irregular or even semi-regular periods, you're likely in perimenopause, and yes, it’s real.

Why You Need a Different Strategy in Midlife

Most fitness and nutrition advice is designed for women in their 20s and 30s. But when your hormones change, everything else has to change too, from how you train, to how you eat, to how you recover.

At Jensen Fitness, our menopause coaching program is specifically designed for women navigating perimenopause, menopause, and beyond. We combine:

• Strength training that supports hormone balance, not burnout
• Nutrition coaching with our registered dietitian to manage inflammation, energy, and cravings
• Fit3D body scans to track real progress beyond the scale
• Mindset and accountability coaching to rebuild confidence and consistency

Whether you’re dealing with unpredictable cycles or postmenopausal fatigue, we help you understand what’s happening in your body—and give you a strategy to support it. 

Start Supporting Your Body Through Every Phase

Your body isn’t broken; it’s changing. At Jensen Fitness in Calgary, we specialize in helping women in perimenopause and menopause feel strong, lean, and energized again. Our menopause coaching program gives you a proven, personalized approach that respects what your body needs now. Stop guessing, stop googling, and start thriving. Contact us today to get started.