Episode 308

Q & A: Women Over 40

Published on: 25th June, 2025

Are you ready to tackle the unique challenges of wellness after 40? In this empowering episode of Salad with a Side of Fries, Jenn Trepeck hosts a comprehensive Q&A explicitly designed for women navigating midlife. From boosting energy to balancing hormones and thriving through menopause, Jenn covers it all, starting with a deep dive into key hormones like estrogen and progesterone and how they affect weight loss, energy, and fat distribution.

Jenn explores the realities of menopause and perimenopause, including changes to the menstrual cycle, shifts in fertility, and the importance of protein for muscle and bone health. You’ll learn how phytoestrogens may offer symptom relief, how gut health and the parasympathetic nervous system impact mood and nutrient absorption, and how better sleep can help reduce brain fog and fatigue. Whether you're adjusting your routine or looking for expert-backed tips to feel your best, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you navigate midlife with confidence and clarity.

The Salad With a Side of Fries podcast is hosted by Jenn Trepeck, who discusses wellness and weight loss in real life, clearing up myths, misinformation, and bad science surrounding our nutrition knowledge and the food industry. Let’s dive into wellness and weight loss for real life, including drinking, eating out, and skipping the grocery store.

IN THIS EPISODE: 

  • (01:19) Jenn shares her professional relationship with Christine
  • (06:13) Jenn discusses estrogen, progesterone, fat removal and weight management
  • (13:07) How age affects menopause, menstrual cycle, fertility and estrogen levels
  • (19:45) What is the role of protein over 40, and how to maintain muscle and bone health
  • (25:36) Discussion of hormones to support weight loss, energy, and phytoestrogens
  • (30:46) Your gut, nutrient absorption, and the parasympathetic nervous system
  • (36:24) Improving sleep quality and managing fatigue and brain fog. What about nap time
  • (42:17) Discussion of signs and treatments for menopausal symptoms and supplements
  • (48:13) Common health risks for women in their late 30s and 40s, and related medical tests
  • (51:39) What ingredients are most effective for aging skin, adjusting the skin care routine
  • (57:50) Reducing fine lines, wrinkles and age spots

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • The challenge with weight loss after age 40 is primarily due to the decline of estrogen and progesterone production, which reduces insulin sensitivity, impairs sleep, and alters fat distribution, making fat removal (not just weight loss) slower and more difficult. Sustainable fat loss prioritizes health over rapid results.
  • Low estrogen and progesterone levels can impact mood, sleep, and appetite, leading to an increased desire for comfort foods. Phytoestrogens (e.g., wild yam, black cohosh) and fiber-rich foods (e.g., cruciferous vegetables) support hormone metabolism and mood stability.
  • Women over 40 need ~1 gram of protein per pound of body weight daily (4-6 ounces per meal, 2-3 ounces per snack) to maintain muscle and bone health. Resistance training, weight-bearing exercise, and minerals (e.g., magnesium) are critical.
  • Low estrogen levels can cause skin dryness and wrinkles. Hydration, vitamin C, retinol, and hyaluronic acid improve skin appearance. Consistent skincare routines (cleanse, tone, treat, moisturize) reduce the appearance of age and Gua Sha massage may reduce menopausal symptoms like hot flashes.

QUOTES:        

(06:25) "There is fast weight loss at any age, provided you don't care how long it lasts or what happens to your health." - Jenn Trepeck

(08:20) "Estrogen, the presence of estrogen and increased estrogen when we're younger in life, keeps us more insulin sensitive. It keeps us more metabolically fit." - Jenn Trepeck

(21:27) "We want to aim for a gram of protein for every pound of body weight." - Jenn Trepeck

(27:01) "We have less wiggle room. That estrogen was our cushion and when you eliminate the cushion, you've got less wiggle room." - Jenn Trepeck

(31:00) “Bottom line, your gut is responsible for nutrient absorption and communicating all over the body.” Jenn Trepeck

RESOURCES:

Become A Member of Salad with a Side of Fries

Jenn’s Free Menu Plan

A Salad With a Side of Fries

A Salad With A Side Of Fries Merch

A Salad With a Side of Fries Instagram

Hormones and Body Composition (feat. Ashley Fillmore)

Nutrition Nugget: NAD

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About the Podcast

Salad With a Side of Fries Nutrition, Wellness & Weight Loss
What to eat and when to cheat! Let's decipher between all the “diets” out there. You know what to do but it itsn't working. In fact, your diet could be making you fatter.

Ever wondered if cryo-freezing your fat cells would really work? Should you try acupuncture? A hypnotist? If you do, how do you know if someone’s good?

Salad with a Side of Fries is the podcast that will answer all these questions and more! Talking wellness and weight loss for real life, because most of us are going to drink, eat out, skip the grocery store and who wants a life without fries or dessert?! Host Jenn Trepeck’s expertise as an optimal health coach, in practice for over a decade, along with experts in various modalities will clear up the myths, mis-information, bad science and marketing to reveal the truth of HOW TO EAT and HOW TO CHEAT!*



*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This podcast, its content and guests are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

About your host

Profile picture for Jennifer Trepeck

Jennifer Trepeck

“My passion for nutrition and helping others stems from “kicking my food issues” with my own weight management saga.” ~ Jenn

I believe that the greatest accountability is paying it forward! That’s why I teach the nutrition education we are all supposed to know but no one ever taught us, along with the science behind food, fitness, and health.

After I graduated from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, I founded Better Life Now LLC while working full-time in hedge funds. In 2019, I took my practice from side-hustle to full-time self-employment and launched my podcast, Salad With a Side of Fries. On the show, we offer science-based tips and tricks for how to achieve wellness and weight loss for real life – because who wants a life without fries or dessert?!

Topics we tackle on the podcast include debunking fad diets, food myths, misinformation in marketing, bad science, and general nutrition. I encourage guests whose expertise is different from my own focus on weight management to bring their unique, fact-based perspectives to talk about subjects they are educated in and passionate about.

Due to my decade-long experience of working with clients, I have gained insight into the health and food industry and the how-tos of building a business.

Some specific health and wellness topics I can speak to include debunking fad diets, exposing the BS we are fed by the food and diet industry, how the people around us can positively and negatively impact our health journey, and shifting mindsets in order to overcome inappropriate barometers of success to instead achieve happy, healthy, and meaningful change.

On the subject of business, I can help you by teaching my critical pieces every entrepreneur should know, how to make your side-hustle into your full-time job, ways to sustainably achieve success without burning out, contemporary networking, and how to prioritize wellness while pursuing your projects.

When I find some free time, I’m typically working out at Physique57, discovering hidden gem restaurants in NYC, or traveling to spend time with friends and family.

I’d love to have an in-depth conversation with you, whether it’s leveling up in business or debunking food myths!