Have you ever been told, “Your labs are normal! Just stress less, eat healthy, and maybe try this medication”, yet you still feel exhausted every single day?
Just because your doctor says your labs are “normal” doesn’t mean nothing is wrong and that you should dismiss your fatigue as nothing serious.
When you hear things like:
“Just get more sleep.”
“Try to relax.”
“Take a vacation.”
Sound familiar?
Women in midlife are constantly dismissed by their doctors when they’re struggling with real fatigue.
One of my clients, Sarah, came to me after hearing exactly that from her doctor.
She was struggling with debilitating fatigue – dragging herself through the day, barely making it to dinner before crashing on the couch.
She knew something was off, but every time she got blood work done, she was told everything looked fine.
Her doctor’s advice? “Eat healthy.”
But what does that even mean?
For Sarah, it had been starting her mornings with oatmeal and fruit, grabbing a low-fat granola bar as a snack, and choosing whole wheat toast or a bagel with avocado.
All things we’re told are “healthy,” right?
But here’s what wasn’t being addressed: her blood sugar rollercoaster, her stress levels, and the deeper root causes of her fatigue.
I see this all the time.
So many women in midlife are exhausted, but because their labs are “in range”, they’re dismissed.
And while medications have their place and can be life-saving, they aren’t always the answer to chronic ongoing fatigue.
During peri-menopause and menopause, our bodies go through massive shifts.
Our hormones start to decline, our mitochondria – the super-powered energy factories of our cells that give us energy – slow down, and stress takes an even bigger toll.
Add poor sleep, blood sugar swings, and nutrient deficiencies to the mix, and no wonder we feel like we’re running on empty!
Here’s what helped Sarah – and what I guide my clients through:
Balance blood sugar first thing in the morning – We swapped her carb-heavy breakfasts for a protein-rich meal with healthy fats, some fruits and fiber, keeping her energy stable all day.
Support stress and nervous system health – Instead of just “stressing less” (easier said than done!), we implemented simple strategies like deep breathing, mindfulness and movement breaks.
Dig deeper with the right testing – Functional lab testing showed underlying imbalances that traditional blood work missed.
Sarah’s transformation?
Within weeks, she wasn’t reaching for coffee all afternoon, her brain fog lifted, and she finally felt like herself again.
If you’re struggling with relentless fatigue, just know one thing: you’re not crazy, and you’re not alone.
Your body is actually sending you signals, and there are answers beyond “just eat healthy.”
What’s one small change you can make today to support your energy?
