My 40+ friends, do you feel like you and your body are constantly battling against each other? Like…you’re doing all the things that have worked in the past—lifting weights and watching how you’re fueling your body, but suddenly, you’re battling stubborn belly fat that seems to appear out of nowhere and muscle loss that makes you feel weaker than ever, and your body just feels like it’s in a literal slow down sometimes?

If you’re thinking, “This is me!”, please remember this: You are doing NOTHING wrong!

You do not have a lack of willpower. Your body is naturally evolving probably more than you ever thought possible in your pre-40 years. And in this new season of life, it’s more important than ever that you become the CEO of YOUR health. As my friend Lauren shared recently on my podcast…

“You need to take control and ask the questions. Talk to a couple of different providers if you’re unsure about one because it’s your body. It’s the rest of your life, and that’s all you have.”

When it comes to battling a slower metabolism and muscle loss as we age, it’s time for peptides to enter the chat. So, get comfy, my friends. We’re diving deep so you can have the tools you need to make informed decisions for you and your health.

The Perimenopause Shift: Why Your Workouts Aren’t Working Like They Used To

At around age 40, you might start to notice you’re not getting the same results from your workouts as you have in the past. You might also notice that the number on the scale is slowly creeping up, even with consistent workouts and healthy eating. And it can be so frustrating.

Again, it’s not you. It’s a natural evolution as we get older.

Muscle loss (sarcopenia) begins at around the age of 40, and it continues at a rate of 5-10% every decade from there. In these decades of life, muscle loss can be caused by the “Hormonal Triple Threat”:

• Lower estrogen levels make it more difficult for your body to repair and grow new muscle tissue.
• Higher cortisol levels break down muscle tissue—literally destroying muscle.
• Insulin levels change, creating insulin resistance, which makes it more difficult to build muscle AND maintain a healthy weight.

Here’s the deal: Less Muscle = A Slower Metabolism

So, when you lose muscle, your body burns fewer calories, which means that any excess calories—calories which you might’ve burned so easily before—get stored as fat. That’s the last thing we want at any age!

✨ Transformation Tip: Want to reverse the slowdown? Click here to grab my one-stop guide for how to build muscle after 40. And yes, it’s totally possible!

Besides consistent workouts and healthy eating, peptides can act as a “fast-forward” button for maintaining and even building muscle as we age, keeping that metabolism burning as efficiently as possible.

What Are Peptides? (The Very Short, Non-Boring Explanation)

Peptides are amino acid chains that serve different purposes in your body, including healing and tissue repair, anti-aging, metabolic processes, inflammation, and muscle preservation and recovery. As Dr. Chris Morris, one of my favorite podcast guests and a peptides expert, shared:

“Amino acids are the words in a sentence, and peptides are the whole sentence (that amino acid chain). Combined, they create a result you’re trying to achieve.”

Want to understand the full foundation of how peptides interact with the body? I break it down in Part 1 of this series!

Deep Dive: Peptide & Metabolism Resources from my podcast

Peptides for Muscle Recovery in Women: The Top Options for Metabolism & Repair

When it comes to muscle maintenance and recovery and optimizing your metabolism as you age, here are some peptides and peptide blends to consider:

Wolverine Protocol BPC-157 (a combination of peptides BPC-157 and TB-500) can heal skin, bone, muscle, ligaments, and tendons while preserving lean muscle mass and accelerating recovery after exercise or injury. This can mean less downtime between workouts, allowing you to do those strength training workouts consistently that are crucial for protecting your bones, muscles, and metabolism.

MOTS-c impacts ATP metabolism (the primary “energy currency” of your cells), which can lead to improved metabolic rates. One of the things that I’ve noticed after using MOTS-c is mental clarity (a huge perimenopausal bonus!), and I feel like my metabolism has taken a step from there to here, which is right where I want it to be.

Retatrutide targets your GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptors—all of which serve to regulate your metabolism—to optimize your glucose regulation and stimulate your metabolic rate. It can also help prevent “appetite flattening” (a loss of appetite), which makes it easier to consume the macronutrients you need to protect against muscle wasting. This is so important, ladies!

CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin can help with muscle preservation, sleep quality, skin elasticity, bone density, and workout recovery as well as stimulate hunger if that’s a struggle.

→ Click here to check out my guide to all-things peptides to better understand how peptides can help with other perimenopausal symptoms you might be experiencing.

How to Safely Start Your Peptide Journey

As you begin your peptide journey, please follow these important steps:

• Step 1: Discuss the use of peptides with your healthcare team first. They are the most qualified to help you decide which peptides will work best with your health history, any health issues, and your goals. And remember, you are the CEO of your own health, and it’s 100% okay to search until you find a provider who will listen to you AND work with you.
• Step 2: Only purchase peptides from FDA-monitored compounding pharmacies (503A or 503B), which are overseen by the FDA and state boards of pharmacies to ensure the purity and accuracy of both peptides and dosages. You do not want to buy from the online “gray market,” which can be so dangerous, my friends.
• Step 3: Keep your expectations realistic. Peptides are a slow-burn optimization tool, not an overnight magic pill, so don’t expect immediate results. As with the most important things in life, patience is key here.

You don’t have to accept muscle loss or a sluggish metabolism as an inevitable part of getting older. By becoming the CEO of your own health by incorporating peptides into your perimenopausal wellness plan, you can boost your metabolic rate and keep those beautiful muscles as strong as possible.

Your body is the only one you’ve got—it’s time to take control.

xo,

Related reading:

Macro Tracking in Perimenopause: The Ultimate Guide to Weight Loss Over 40
Sleep and Hormones: Why It’s Important For Weight Loss + Health
What “Transformation” Really Means
Finding Joyful Movement During Perimenopause: The Science Behind Why It’s Time to Play Again

*Please consult with your healthcare team before taking any dietary supplement or beginning a peptide protocol.