Navigating Body Confidence and Self-Love During Perimenopause and Menopause

Let’s just say it: perimenopause and menopause can throw a serious wrench into how you feel in your own body. One minute you’re powering through your to-do list, and the next you’re wondering why your jeans feel tight, your sleep is shot, and your mood is all over the place. Been there.

This stage of life is messy, beautiful, uncomfortable, empowering, and it doesn’t come with a manual. That’s why I want to talk about it. Not from a clinical, textbook place, but from one woman to another. Because if you’ve been feeling like a stranger in your own skin, I want you to know you’re not alone. And more importantly, it doesn’t have to stay that way.

The Confidence Wobble Is Real
Has your self-confidence taken a hit lately? It’s incredibly common during this transition. The body changes, the energy dips, the emotions—sometimes it feels like you’re walking around in someone else’s body. 

But here’s the reminder I keep coming back to: my body isn’t betraying me. It’s changing, and I need to adapt. Just like it did during puberty, pregnancy, or any other big shift. That doesn’t mean it always feels great, but I need to treat myself like I would a friend—with kindness and compassion. 

Reframing What You See in the Mirror
This isn’t about “bouncing back” or trying to look like you did 10 or 15 years ago. It’s about honoring where you are right now.

Yes, your shape might change. Yes, your energy might dip. Yes, your weight might settle in new places. But none of those things diminish your worth or your strength. Your body is still yours, and it deserves your love, not your criticism.

When I started shifting how I talked to myself—from “Why can’t I fit into those pants anymore?” to “What does my body need from me today?”—that’s when things began to change. Not just physically, but emotionally and mentally too.

Tiny Acts of Self-Love That Actually HelpHere’s what’s helped me and many of the amazing women I work with at AGC Fitness:

• Move in a way that feels good. Not punishment. Not “earning” your food. Just simple, joyful movement that reminds you you’re alive. Walking. Hiking. Strength training. Dancing. Stretching. Moving. Exercising consistently is key.
  
  
• Wear clothes that fit now. You don’t need to squeeze into the old stuff or wait for your “goal body.”  Let go of that mindset and dress for your current body. Shift your mindset and your mood, and focus on confidence and comfort.
  
  
• Be kind to yourself.  Speak to yourself like someone you love. Say some affirmations for self love to boost your self-esteem and promote a positive mindset such as: ”I am enough as I am” and “I love and accept myself unconditionally”.That voice matters. A lot.
  
  
• Fuel your body with care. This isn’t about cutting things out. It’s about tuning in, are you hungry? Nourish your body with foods that support hormonal balance and energy. Eat vegetables at every meal along with protein, fibre and healthy fat. Think hydration along with 7-9 hours of sleep. It’s less about restriction and more about nourishment.
  
  

You Are Important… And You Are Not Invisible.
This chapter of life is not the end of anything. It’s a transition, and with it comes growth and insight. You’ve already lived through so much. You are wise. You’ve supported others, built careers, raised families, had many highs and lows. You’re beautiful. You’re still becoming. And that’s powerful.

You are not invisible. Not to me. Not to your people. And not to the mirror.​

If You’re in This Season Too—You’ve Got Me
AGC Fitness is a space where women can come home to themselves, especially during seasons like this. You don’t have to navigate perimenopause or menopause in silence. There is support. There are strategies. And there is space for all the feelings that come with this transition.

You are important.

Your body may be changing, but you’re adapting.

And you’re doing better than you think.

—Andrea 💛