
My early menopause story and what I wish I’d known sooner
I want to share something really personal with you today. It’s something that for years I didn’t fully understand myself, even though my body was screaming at me that something wasn’t right.
In my early 40s, I started feeling completely exhausted — not the “I’ve had a big week” kind of tired, but the bone-deep exhaustion that makes everything harder.
I went to the doctor a few times and had blood tests, hoping for answers. But each time, I was told some version of the same thing: “You’re just getting older. You’re probably stressed.”
But deep down, I knew it wasn’t just stress. I felt different.
By 42, things had got worse. I’d gained weight without changing how I ate or moved. I had intense leg cramps every night. My migraines had ramped up. I remember sitting in my GP’s office and saying, “Something isn’t right. My mum went through menopause early. I think something’s going on with me too.”
That conversation was the turning point. I was referred to Rod Baber, a menopause specialist in Sydney.
He sent me for a range of tests, including ovary function tests, and then sat me down and confirmed what I’d suspected: I was in early menopause.
I started on HRT (hormone replacement therapy), and I actually began to feel better — my leg cramps eased, and the tiredness lifted a little.
But I had that nagging voice in my head — the one so many of us have heard — telling me HRT was “bad,” that it “caused cancer.” I got scared, so I came off it.
And then I battled on.
Still tired.
Still stressed.
Still overweight.
Still grumpy.
Still feeling like I was dragging myself through each day.
Then I launched Zing Wellbeing, and everything shifted.
I began to truly learn about menopause - not the old-school, fear-filled version of the story, but the real science.
From our nutritionists, dietitian and hormone specialist team, I learnt how crucial nutrition is. I learnt that HRT isn’t the enemy - in fact, for many women, especially those of us who go through menopause early, it can be protective for our bones and our heart.
I started educating myself properly. I asked our nutrition team to create menopause meal plans. I made my hormones, bones, weight, stress, gut health and heart health a priority - not an afterthought.
I also made the decision to go back on HRT, but this time, I did it with knowledge, not fear.
That’s when everything started to change.
I lost over 10 kg.
I built lean muscle.
My gut health improved dramatically.
My sleep became deeper and more restorative.
And my menopause symptoms - the cramps, the exhaustion, the brain fog - started to ease.
What changed wasn’t just what I was doing — it was how I saw my health. I stopped accepting feeling terrible as my “new normal.”
And yes I lost the weight too which has been great but honestly I feel SO MUCH better and so much stronger - both physically and mentally and before I could barely do a few mini push ups and now I can do 40 in a row and have got so much lean muscle in my body - and that feels great and is GREAT for ageing too!
You can see a day on my plate here of what I eat here
9 Early Signs You Could Be in Early Menopause
If you’re reading this and wondering whether what you’re feeling might be more than “just stress,” here are some of the early signs I ignored for too long:
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Persistent fatigue or exhaustion
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Unexplained weight gain or body composition changes
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Worsening migraines or headaches
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Muscle cramps (especially at night)
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Hot flushes or night sweats
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Irregular or changing periods
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Brain fog or forgetfulness
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Mood swings, irritability, or anxiety
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Poor sleep or waking through the night
My biggest piece of advice
If any of these symptoms sound familiar — don’t brush them off.
Don’t let anyone make you feel like it’s “just getting older.” Trust yourself. Advocate for yourself. Go and see a menopause-informed doctor or specialist who will listen and guide you.
Menopause isn’t the end of your vitality. For me, it’s been the start of taking my health seriously - and honestly, I’ve never felt stronger or more empowered.
If you’re in this stage of life, know that you’re not alone.
There are ways to feel better again - and it starts with understanding your body, not ignoring it.
Zing Wellbeing and menopause
We have an enormous amount of perimenopause and menopause recipes and meal plans and we also have workouts created to build lean muscle and strength - perfect for women at this stage of life.
We also have lots of resources around this topic and a menopause support group - you can watch some of our podcasts on menopause below.
You can also join the Zing Wellbeing program here