Hormones, Health & Faith with Sharon Lemoine Sat, 18 Jul 2026 16:37:18 -0400 en-us © 2026 Hormones, Health & Faith with Sharon Lemoine yes b815b90b-f33c-5d07-b63b-1379605f6327 Sharon Lemoine episodic false Sharon Lemoine is a board-certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine, 25 in emergency care, and over 100,000 patients treated. 

She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State, specializing in hormone optimization, perimenopause and menopause care, weight loss, functional medicine, peptide therapy, and gut health.

As a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and woman navigating surgical menopause, Sharon brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every video. 

She believes using faith as our motivator is key, that your body is a gift from God worth honoring, and that you are in control of your health.

On this podcast you will find straight answers about hormones, weight loss, mental health, chronic fatigue, insulin resistance, and the labs your doctor should be running. 

New episodes weekly.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Sharon Lemoine https://storage.buzzsprout.com/02l99frhdp35sguo5133zz5ur1av?.jpg Hormones, Health & Faith with Sharon Lemoine What 26 Years as a Type 1 Diabetic Actually Taught Me About My Body (That No Doctor Could) What 26 Years as a Type 1 Diabetic Actually Taught Me About My Body (That No Doctor Could) 📌 Book a Consultation: www.gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/

I was diagnosed as a type 1 diabetic at 31, and my first reaction was pure anger. I had done everything right. Twenty six years later, at 57, I am in the best shape of my life, and this diagnosis is one of the biggest reasons why.

In this episode, I'm going to walk you through what 26 years of living with type 1 diabetes actually taught me about eating, training, hormones, and control, and why the numbers never improve first, the habits do.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 What 26 Years as a Type 1 Diabetic Actually Taught Me About My Body (That No Doctor Could)
0:42 My diagnosis story at age 31
2:00 The moment my diagnosis became information
3:00 Why real time feedback changes everything
5:22 Strength training versus cardio for blood sugar
7:00 My exact morning workout routine
8:59 Hormones, hysterectomy, and blood sugar control
9:59 Why women wait for numbers to improve first
13:23 The question that keeps me consistent
15:30 What 26 years actually built in me

❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED


Does exercise affect type 1 diabetes blood sugar? 
Yes, strength training helps stabilize blood sugar because muscle mass absorbs extra glucose without requiring extra insulin, while long distance cardio can cause spikes that require more insulin to balance. Building consistent muscle over years is one of the most reliable long term tools for stable glucose control.

Can hormone imbalances affect diabetes management? 
Yes, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone directly affect insulin sensitivity, muscle recovery, and fat storage, so untreated hormone imbalances can make blood sugar control much harder even with perfect diet and exercise. This is especially true during perimenopause, menopause, or after a hysterectomy, when hormone shifts can quietly undo years of consistent glucose habits.

Why do healthy foods sometimes raise blood sugar? 
Fruit and other healthy carbohydrates can spike blood sugar quickly on their own, but pairing them with a protein or fat slows glucose absorption and prevents the sharp spike. Understanding this pairing principle matters more than counting calories or avoiding entire food groups.

📱 RESOURCES
Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com
Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SharonLemoine-ARNP

🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. 

ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP
Sharon Lemoine is a board certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State, specializing in hormone optimization, perimenopause and menopause care, functional medicine, weight loss, and peptide therapy. As a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and woman navigating surgical menopause herself, Sharon brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every video. She believes your body is a gift worth honoring, and that you are in control of your health.

#Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #FunctionalMedicine

]]> 📌 Book a Consultation: www.gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/

I was diagnosed as a type 1 diabetic at 31, and my first reaction was pure anger. I had done everything right. Twenty six years later, at 57, I am in the best shape of my life, and this diagnosis is one of the biggest reasons why.

In this episode, I'm going to walk you through what 26 years of living with type 1 diabetes actually taught me about eating, training, hormones, and control, and why the numbers never improve first, the habits do.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 What 26 Years as a Type 1 Diabetic Actually Taught Me About My Body (That No Doctor Could)
0:42 My diagnosis story at age 31
2:00 The moment my diagnosis became information
3:00 Why real time feedback changes everything
5:22 Strength training versus cardio for blood sugar
7:00 My exact morning workout routine
8:59 Hormones, hysterectomy, and blood sugar control
9:59 Why women wait for numbers to improve first
13:23 The question that keeps me consistent
15:30 What 26 years actually built in me

❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED


Does exercise affect type 1 diabetes blood sugar? 
Yes, strength training helps stabilize blood sugar because muscle mass absorbs extra glucose without requiring extra insulin, while long distance cardio can cause spikes that require more insulin to balance. Building consistent muscle over years is one of the most reliable long term tools for stable glucose control.

Can hormone imbalances affect diabetes management? 
Yes, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone directly affect insulin sensitivity, muscle recovery, and fat storage, so untreated hormone imbalances can make blood sugar control much harder even with perfect diet and exercise. This is especially true during perimenopause, menopause, or after a hysterectomy, when hormone shifts can quietly undo years of consistent glucose habits.

Why do healthy foods sometimes raise blood sugar? 
Fruit and other healthy carbohydrates can spike blood sugar quickly on their own, but pairing them with a protein or fat slows glucose absorption and prevents the sharp spike. Understanding this pairing principle matters more than counting calories or avoiding entire food groups.

📱 RESOURCES
Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com
Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SharonLemoine-ARNP

🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. 

ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP
Sharon Lemoine is a board certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State, specializing in hormone optimization, perimenopause and menopause care, functional medicine, weight loss, and peptide therapy. As a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and woman navigating surgical menopause herself, Sharon brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every video. She believes your body is a gift worth honoring, and that you are in control of your health.

#Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #FunctionalMedicine

]]> Buzzsprout-19473679 Thu, 16 Jul 2026 11:00:00 -0400 987 type 1 diabetes,type 1 diabetic,living with type 1 diabetes,blood sugar management,insulin resistance,diabetes and exercise,strength training blood sugar,hormone optimization,perimenopause,menopause and diabetes,nurse practitioner,functional medicine,bloo full false Can Peptides Help Women Fix Their Gut? Can Peptides Help Women Fix Their Gut? 📌 Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/

You've done the gut work. The elimination protocols, the probiotics, the food logs, and you're still bloated, foggy, and exhausted. That's because the gut wall itself is damaged, and no food protocol repairs a broken wall.

In this episode, I'm going to show you what's actually damaging your gut lining beyond diet, why cleaning up your food only goes so far, and what the peptide BPC 157 does that nothing else can.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 
0:00 You've done the gut work. Here's why it's still not working. 
1:02 What's actually happening inside your gut wall 
2:17 Why eating clean doesn't fix a damaged gut lining 
2:53 4 hidden causes of gut damage that have nothing to do with food 
3:25 How chronic stress is quietly destroying your gut lining 
4:54 Why perimenopause changes your gut (even when your diet hasn't) 
5:21 How common medications silently damage your gut barrier 
6:40 The patient pattern I see in my practice again and again 
9:49 What BPC 157 does that diet, probiotics, and supplements can't 
12:06 What to do next if you've tried everything and still feel stuck

❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Why doesn't diet fix leaky gut? 
Diet reduces irritation to the gut lining but cannot repair the barrier itself. If the lining is structurally damaged, removing inflammatory foods only slows the assault. It does not close the gap.

What is BPC 157 and how does it help gut health? 
BPC 157 is a peptide (a short chain of amino acids) studied for its role in gut tissue repair. It appears to accelerate healing of the gut lining, reduce local inflammation, and support new blood vessel growth in damaged tissue through pathways separate from diet, probiotics, or supplements.

What causes leaky gut besides food? 
Chronic cortisol from ongoing stress directly loosens the junctions between gut cells. Declining estrogen during perimenopause reduces the protective function of the gut lining. Regular use of NSAIDs and antacids are well-documented irritants, and environmental toxins like glyphosate compound that load over time.

📱 RESOURCES 
Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com 
Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SharonLemoine-ARNP

🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. New episodes every week.

ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP 
Sharon Lemoine is a board-certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State, specializing in hormone optimization, perimenopause and menopause care, functional medicine, weight loss, and peptide therapy. As a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and woman navigating surgical menopause herself, Sharon brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every episode. She believes your body is a gift worth honoring, and that you are in control of your health.

#Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #FunctionalMedicine

Sharon Lemoine, ARNP
Gig Harbor Medical Spa
11515 Burnham Dr Suite 105, Gig Harbor, WA 98332
(253) 649-3916
https://gigharbormedicalspa.com

]]> 📌 Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/

You've done the gut work. The elimination protocols, the probiotics, the food logs, and you're still bloated, foggy, and exhausted. That's because the gut wall itself is damaged, and no food protocol repairs a broken wall.

In this episode, I'm going to show you what's actually damaging your gut lining beyond diet, why cleaning up your food only goes so far, and what the peptide BPC 157 does that nothing else can.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 
0:00 You've done the gut work. Here's why it's still not working. 
1:02 What's actually happening inside your gut wall 
2:17 Why eating clean doesn't fix a damaged gut lining 
2:53 4 hidden causes of gut damage that have nothing to do with food 
3:25 How chronic stress is quietly destroying your gut lining 
4:54 Why perimenopause changes your gut (even when your diet hasn't) 
5:21 How common medications silently damage your gut barrier 
6:40 The patient pattern I see in my practice again and again 
9:49 What BPC 157 does that diet, probiotics, and supplements can't 
12:06 What to do next if you've tried everything and still feel stuck

❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Why doesn't diet fix leaky gut? 
Diet reduces irritation to the gut lining but cannot repair the barrier itself. If the lining is structurally damaged, removing inflammatory foods only slows the assault. It does not close the gap.

What is BPC 157 and how does it help gut health? 
BPC 157 is a peptide (a short chain of amino acids) studied for its role in gut tissue repair. It appears to accelerate healing of the gut lining, reduce local inflammation, and support new blood vessel growth in damaged tissue through pathways separate from diet, probiotics, or supplements.

What causes leaky gut besides food? 
Chronic cortisol from ongoing stress directly loosens the junctions between gut cells. Declining estrogen during perimenopause reduces the protective function of the gut lining. Regular use of NSAIDs and antacids are well-documented irritants, and environmental toxins like glyphosate compound that load over time.

📱 RESOURCES 
Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com 
Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SharonLemoine-ARNP

🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. New episodes every week.

ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP 
Sharon Lemoine is a board-certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State, specializing in hormone optimization, perimenopause and menopause care, functional medicine, weight loss, and peptide therapy. As a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and woman navigating surgical menopause herself, Sharon brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every episode. She believes your body is a gift worth honoring, and that you are in control of your health.

#Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #FunctionalMedicine

Sharon Lemoine, ARNP
Gig Harbor Medical Spa
11515 Burnham Dr Suite 105, Gig Harbor, WA 98332
(253) 649-3916
https://gigharbormedicalspa.com

]]> Sharon Lemoine Buzzsprout-19439465 Thu, 09 Jul 2026 11:00:00 -0400 832 Gig Harbor,Gig Harbor WA,Concierge Medicine,Gig Harbor Medical Spa,Gig Harbor Med Spa,peptides for gut health,BPC 157 leaky gut,peptide therapy women,gut healing women over 40,leaky gut symptoms,BPC 157 gut repair,perimenopause gut problems,hormones and g full false Gig Harbor Hormone Specialist for Menopause (What You Need to Know) Gig Harbor Hormone Specialist for Menopause (What You Need to Know) 📌 Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/

You went to your doctor. Labs came back normal. And you still feel like something is wrong.

You are not imagining it. And you are not alone. The standard lab ranges most doctors use are designed to detect disease, not optimize health. A woman can be well below her optimal hormone levels and still fall inside the so-called normal range. Her doctor sees the number, tells her she is fine, and sends her home. She is not fine.

In this episode, I'm going to show you exactly what a real hormone evaluation looks like, why so many women in Gig Harbor go undiagnosed for years, and what actually changes when you get the right workup.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 
0:00 Gig Harbor Hormone Specialist for Menopause (What You Need to Know)
0:47 What perimenopause actually is and when it starts 
1:56 Why your labs look "normal" but you still feel terrible 
2:28 What a full hormone panel actually tests 
2:56 Body composition: muscle mass, body fat, and visceral fat 
3:22 What a thorough consultation involves 
3:46 Treatment options: bioidentical HRT, pellet therapy, supplementation 
4:19 Real patient case: chronic fatigue, low libido, "normal" labs 
7:12 Results after 3 months of pellet therapy

❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

What does a hormone specialist for menopause actually test? 
A thorough workup goes beyond basic labs to include estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, cortisol, thyroid function, fasting insulin, and a full metabolic panel. It also includes a body composition assessment measuring visceral fat, which directly drives inflammation and hormone-related symptoms.

Why do women with hormone symptoms get told their labs are normal? 
Standard lab ranges are built to detect disease, not optimize health. A woman can fall inside the "normal" range and still be well below her optimal hormone levels. The number looks fine on paper because the test was never designed to catch what is actually wrong.

What is pellet therapy and how does it work for menopause? 
Pellet therapy delivers bioidentical hormones slowly under the skin, maintaining steady levels over several months. Bloodwork is repeated every few months and the dose is adjusted until levels reach a therapeutic range, not just a "not sick enough to treat" range.

📱 RESOURCES 
Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com 
Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SharonLemoine-ARNP

🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. New episode every week.

ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP 
Sharon Lemoine is a board-certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State, specializing in hormone optimization, perimenopause and menopause care, functional medicine, weight loss, and peptide therapy. As a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and woman navigating surgical menopause herself, Sharon brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every episode. She believes your body is a gift worth honoring, and that you are in control of your health.

#Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #FunctionalMedicine

Sharon Lemoine, ARNP
Gig Harbor Medical Spa
11515 Burnham Dr Suite 105, Gig Harbor, WA 98332
(253) 649-3916
https://gigharbormedicalspa.com

]]> 📌 Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/

You went to your doctor. Labs came back normal. And you still feel like something is wrong.

You are not imagining it. And you are not alone. The standard lab ranges most doctors use are designed to detect disease, not optimize health. A woman can be well below her optimal hormone levels and still fall inside the so-called normal range. Her doctor sees the number, tells her she is fine, and sends her home. She is not fine.

In this episode, I'm going to show you exactly what a real hormone evaluation looks like, why so many women in Gig Harbor go undiagnosed for years, and what actually changes when you get the right workup.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 
0:00 Gig Harbor Hormone Specialist for Menopause (What You Need to Know)
0:47 What perimenopause actually is and when it starts 
1:56 Why your labs look "normal" but you still feel terrible 
2:28 What a full hormone panel actually tests 
2:56 Body composition: muscle mass, body fat, and visceral fat 
3:22 What a thorough consultation involves 
3:46 Treatment options: bioidentical HRT, pellet therapy, supplementation 
4:19 Real patient case: chronic fatigue, low libido, "normal" labs 
7:12 Results after 3 months of pellet therapy

❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

What does a hormone specialist for menopause actually test? 
A thorough workup goes beyond basic labs to include estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, cortisol, thyroid function, fasting insulin, and a full metabolic panel. It also includes a body composition assessment measuring visceral fat, which directly drives inflammation and hormone-related symptoms.

Why do women with hormone symptoms get told their labs are normal? 
Standard lab ranges are built to detect disease, not optimize health. A woman can fall inside the "normal" range and still be well below her optimal hormone levels. The number looks fine on paper because the test was never designed to catch what is actually wrong.

What is pellet therapy and how does it work for menopause? 
Pellet therapy delivers bioidentical hormones slowly under the skin, maintaining steady levels over several months. Bloodwork is repeated every few months and the dose is adjusted until levels reach a therapeutic range, not just a "not sick enough to treat" range.

📱 RESOURCES 
Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com 
Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SharonLemoine-ARNP

🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. New episode every week.

ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP 
Sharon Lemoine is a board-certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State, specializing in hormone optimization, perimenopause and menopause care, functional medicine, weight loss, and peptide therapy. As a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and woman navigating surgical menopause herself, Sharon brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every episode. She believes your body is a gift worth honoring, and that you are in control of your health.

#Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #FunctionalMedicine

Sharon Lemoine, ARNP
Gig Harbor Medical Spa
11515 Burnham Dr Suite 105, Gig Harbor, WA 98332
(253) 649-3916
https://gigharbormedicalspa.com

]]> Sharon Lemoine Buzzsprout-19435127 Thu, 09 Jul 2026 11:00:00 -0400 507 hormone specialist Gig Harbor,menopause specialist near me,perimenopause treatment Gig Harbor,bioidentical hormone therapy,pellet therapy menopause,hormone optimization women over 40,estrogen progesterone testosterone menopause,perimenopause symptoms fati full false Why Eating Less Isn't Working for Christian Women Over 40 (And What Your Body Actually Needs) Why Eating Less Isn't Working for Christian Women Over 40 (And What Your Body Actually Needs) 📌 Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/

You are eating less than you ever have. Smaller portions, no dessert, tracking every label. And you are still gaining weight. Most providers will not say this out loud, but after 40, eating less can actively make the problem worse.

In this episode, I'm going to show you exactly why calorie restriction backfires for women over 40, what is really driving the weight gain, and the one test to ask for this week.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 
0:00 Why Eating Less Isn't Working for Christian Women Over 40 (And What Your Body Actually Needs)
1:02 Where the "eat less, move more" advice actually breaks down 
2:00 How estrogen decline shifts fat storage to your midsection 
2:59 Why calorie restriction spikes cortisol and locks in belly fat 
3:59 What it really looks like to do everything right and still gain weight 
5:43 Two hidden causes that derail metabolism in women over 40 
6:13 How insulin resistance stalls fat loss even on a small diet 
7:04 Why under-eating causes muscle loss and shrinks your metabolism 
7:55 The test that changes everything: fasting insulin explained 
8:53 What to ask your doctor about hormone levels right now

❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Why am I gaining weight even though I'm eating less? 
After 40, declining estrogen changes where your body stores fat, and calorie restriction spikes cortisol, which signals your body to hold onto fat, especially around your midsection. Eating less is often compounding the problem rather than solving it.

What is a fasting insulin test and why does it matter for weight loss? 
A fasting insulin test shows whether your cells are responding properly to insulin. If your fasting insulin is above 10, your body is likely storing glucose as fat instead of burning it, even on a small diet. Most standard panels do not run this test.

What hormone tests should women over 40 ask for? 
Ask your provider for fasting insulin, estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone, not just a vague "everything looks normal." These specific numbers tell you where your hormones are relative to where they should be for how you feel and function well.

📱 RESOURCES 
Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com 
Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SharonLemoine-ARNP

🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. New episodes every week.

ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP 
Sharon Lemoine is a board-certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State, specializing in hormone optimization, perimenopause and menopause care, functional medicine, weight loss, and peptide therapy. As a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and woman navigating surgical menopause herself, Sharon brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every episode. She believes your body is a gift worth honoring, and that you are in control of your health.

#Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #FunctionalMedicine

Sharon Lemoine, ARNP
Gig Harbor Medical Spa
11515 Burnham Dr Suite 105, Gig Harbor, WA 98332
(253) 649-3916
https://gigharbormedicalspa.com

]]> 📌 Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/

You are eating less than you ever have. Smaller portions, no dessert, tracking every label. And you are still gaining weight. Most providers will not say this out loud, but after 40, eating less can actively make the problem worse.

In this episode, I'm going to show you exactly why calorie restriction backfires for women over 40, what is really driving the weight gain, and the one test to ask for this week.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 
0:00 Why Eating Less Isn't Working for Christian Women Over 40 (And What Your Body Actually Needs)
1:02 Where the "eat less, move more" advice actually breaks down 
2:00 How estrogen decline shifts fat storage to your midsection 
2:59 Why calorie restriction spikes cortisol and locks in belly fat 
3:59 What it really looks like to do everything right and still gain weight 
5:43 Two hidden causes that derail metabolism in women over 40 
6:13 How insulin resistance stalls fat loss even on a small diet 
7:04 Why under-eating causes muscle loss and shrinks your metabolism 
7:55 The test that changes everything: fasting insulin explained 
8:53 What to ask your doctor about hormone levels right now

❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Why am I gaining weight even though I'm eating less? 
After 40, declining estrogen changes where your body stores fat, and calorie restriction spikes cortisol, which signals your body to hold onto fat, especially around your midsection. Eating less is often compounding the problem rather than solving it.

What is a fasting insulin test and why does it matter for weight loss? 
A fasting insulin test shows whether your cells are responding properly to insulin. If your fasting insulin is above 10, your body is likely storing glucose as fat instead of burning it, even on a small diet. Most standard panels do not run this test.

What hormone tests should women over 40 ask for? 
Ask your provider for fasting insulin, estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone, not just a vague "everything looks normal." These specific numbers tell you where your hormones are relative to where they should be for how you feel and function well.

📱 RESOURCES 
Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com 
Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SharonLemoine-ARNP

🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. New episodes every week.

ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP 
Sharon Lemoine is a board-certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State, specializing in hormone optimization, perimenopause and menopause care, functional medicine, weight loss, and peptide therapy. As a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and woman navigating surgical menopause herself, Sharon brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every episode. She believes your body is a gift worth honoring, and that you are in control of your health.

#Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #FunctionalMedicine

Sharon Lemoine, ARNP
Gig Harbor Medical Spa
11515 Burnham Dr Suite 105, Gig Harbor, WA 98332
(253) 649-3916
https://gigharbormedicalspa.com

]]> Sharon Lemoine Buzzsprout-19420710 Thu, 02 Jul 2026 11:00:00 -0400 625 eating less not working women over 40, why can't I lose weight over 40, perimenopause weight gain, hormone weight gain women, insulin resistance weight loss, cortisol belly fat, calorie restriction not working, fasting insulin test, estrogen decline weigh full false Why So Many Christian Women Wake Up at 3AM Every Night Why So Many Christian Women Wake Up at 3AM Every Night 📌 Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/

You fall asleep fine. Then at 3 a.m. you are wide awake, mind racing, body hot, with no explanation. You have tried melatonin, blackout curtains, the meditation app, and cutting caffeine. None of it helped. That is because this is not a sleep problem.

In this episode, I'm going to show you exactly why the 3 a.m. wake-up happens, why it lands in that specific window every single night, and what you can do about it starting tonight.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 
0:00 Why So Many Christian Women Wake Up at 3AM Every Night
1:07 Why everything you have tried keeps failing 
2:51 Why the wake-up always lands in the same window 
5:20 Three questions to know if this is your pattern 
6:38 The progesterone and cortisol connection 
7:58 Why your labs look normal but your body disagrees 
9:28 The 7-day sleep log: what to track starting tonight 
10:17 What to bring to your provider and what to ask for 11:49 Sharon's personal story and what finally changed

❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Why do I keep waking up at 3 a.m.? 
In perimenopause and menopause, declining progesterone removes the regulator from cortisol, which then spikes earlier than normal and pulls you out of deep sleep in the 2 to 4 a.m. window. This is a hormonal disruption pattern, not a sleep disorder.

Will melatonin help me stop waking up at 3 a.m.? 
Melatonin supports sleep onset, not early waking driven by a cortisol spike. If you fall asleep fine but wake on a consistent schedule, melatonin is not addressing the actual problem.

What labs should I ask for if I wake up at 3 a.m. every night? 
Request progesterone, estrogen, free testosterone, and a four-point cortisol panel. A single morning draw will not capture the pattern that drives nighttime waking.

📱 RESOURCES 
Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com 
Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SharonLemoine-ARNP

🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. New episode every week.

ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP 
Sharon Lemoine is a board-certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State, specializing in hormone optimization, perimenopause and menopause care, functional medicine, weight loss, and peptide therapy. As a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and woman navigating surgical menopause herself, Sharon brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every episode. She believes your body is a gift worth honoring, and that you are in control of your health.

#Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #FunctionalMedicine

Sharon Lemoine, ARNP
Gig Harbor Medical Spa
11515 Burnham Dr Suite 105, Gig Harbor, WA 98332
(253) 649-3916
https://gigharbormedicalspa.com

]]> 📌 Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/

You fall asleep fine. Then at 3 a.m. you are wide awake, mind racing, body hot, with no explanation. You have tried melatonin, blackout curtains, the meditation app, and cutting caffeine. None of it helped. That is because this is not a sleep problem.

In this episode, I'm going to show you exactly why the 3 a.m. wake-up happens, why it lands in that specific window every single night, and what you can do about it starting tonight.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 
0:00 Why So Many Christian Women Wake Up at 3AM Every Night
1:07 Why everything you have tried keeps failing 
2:51 Why the wake-up always lands in the same window 
5:20 Three questions to know if this is your pattern 
6:38 The progesterone and cortisol connection 
7:58 Why your labs look normal but your body disagrees 
9:28 The 7-day sleep log: what to track starting tonight 
10:17 What to bring to your provider and what to ask for 11:49 Sharon's personal story and what finally changed

❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Why do I keep waking up at 3 a.m.? 
In perimenopause and menopause, declining progesterone removes the regulator from cortisol, which then spikes earlier than normal and pulls you out of deep sleep in the 2 to 4 a.m. window. This is a hormonal disruption pattern, not a sleep disorder.

Will melatonin help me stop waking up at 3 a.m.? 
Melatonin supports sleep onset, not early waking driven by a cortisol spike. If you fall asleep fine but wake on a consistent schedule, melatonin is not addressing the actual problem.

What labs should I ask for if I wake up at 3 a.m. every night? 
Request progesterone, estrogen, free testosterone, and a four-point cortisol panel. A single morning draw will not capture the pattern that drives nighttime waking.

📱 RESOURCES 
Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com 
Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SharonLemoine-ARNP

🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. New episode every week.

ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP 
Sharon Lemoine is a board-certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State, specializing in hormone optimization, perimenopause and menopause care, functional medicine, weight loss, and peptide therapy. As a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and woman navigating surgical menopause herself, Sharon brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every episode. She believes your body is a gift worth honoring, and that you are in control of your health.

#Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #FunctionalMedicine

Sharon Lemoine, ARNP
Gig Harbor Medical Spa
11515 Burnham Dr Suite 105, Gig Harbor, WA 98332
(253) 649-3916
https://gigharbormedicalspa.com

]]> Sharon Lemoine Buzzsprout-19392154 Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:00:00 -0400 771 waking up at 3am, perimenopause sleep problems, 3am wake up hormones, progesterone and sleep, hormonal insomnia, perimenopause insomnia, menopause sleep, cortisol and sleep women, low progesterone symptoms, waking up at night perimenopause, cant stay asle full false Hormone Specialist for Menopause in Gig Harbor: What to Expect at Your First Appointment Hormone Specialist for Menopause in Gig Harbor: What to Expect at Your First Appointment 📌 Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/

If you are in Gig Harbor or the surrounding area and you have been searching for a hormone specialist for menopause, this episode is going to save you a lot of time and a lot of frustrating appointments.

You are exhausted in a way that sleep does not fix. You are anxious and you cannot explain why. You used to feel sharp and motivated. Now you are white-knuckling your way through the day. Your doctor ran labs, told you everything looked normal, maybe suggested antidepressants, and sent you home. You left knowing something was still wrong. Here is what is actually happening.

In this episode I'm going to explain what perimenopause actually is, why most conventional doctors keep missing it, what a thorough hormone workup looks like, and what changed for one of my patients once we found the real answers.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 
0:00 Hormone Specialist for Menopause in Gig Harbor: What to Expect at Your First Appointment
1:09 How estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone decline erratically 
1:22 Why brain fog, weight gain, and low libido are hormone problems 
1:48 Why standard lab ranges miss perimenopause every time 
2:14 What a complete hormone panel actually includes 
2:46 Body composition assessment: why your weight alone tells you nothing 
3:11 A full consultation means actually listening to your full history 
3:35 Treatment options: bioidentical HRT, pellet therapy, supplementation 
4:09 Patient case study: from anxious and exhausted to thriving in 6 months

❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Why do doctors keep telling perimenopausal women their labs are normal? 
Standard lab reference ranges are designed to detect disease, not to optimize health. A woman can be significantly below her personal optimal hormone levels and still fall within the so-called normal range. Her doctor sees the number, marks it fine, and sends her home. She is not fine. She is just not sick enough for the standard test to catch.

When does perimenopause actually start? 
Perimenopause can begin in your late 30s or early 40s, years before your last menstrual cycle. During that time, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone decline erratically, affecting your brain, sleep, metabolism, mood, joints, and libido. Every single one of those changes is hormone-driven.

What does a hormone specialist test for that a regular doctor doesn't? 
A comprehensive hormone panel includes estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, cortisol, thyroid function, fasting insulin, and a full metabolic panel. A hormone specialist also evaluates body composition including visceral fat levels and spends the full first appointment reviewing your complete history before recommending anything.

📱 RESOURCES 
Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com 
Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SharonLemoine-ARNP

🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. New episodes every week.

ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP 
Sharon Lemoine is a board-certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Gig Harbor, Washington. Sharon is a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and a woman navigating surgical menopause herself. She treats patients with the same thoroughness she wished she had received.

#Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #FunctionalMedicine

Sharon Lemoine, ARNP
Gig Harbor Medical Spa
11515 Burnham Dr Suite 105, Gig Harbor, WA 98332
(253) 649-3916
https://gigharbormedicalspa.com

]]> 📌 Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/

If you are in Gig Harbor or the surrounding area and you have been searching for a hormone specialist for menopause, this episode is going to save you a lot of time and a lot of frustrating appointments.

You are exhausted in a way that sleep does not fix. You are anxious and you cannot explain why. You used to feel sharp and motivated. Now you are white-knuckling your way through the day. Your doctor ran labs, told you everything looked normal, maybe suggested antidepressants, and sent you home. You left knowing something was still wrong. Here is what is actually happening.

In this episode I'm going to explain what perimenopause actually is, why most conventional doctors keep missing it, what a thorough hormone workup looks like, and what changed for one of my patients once we found the real answers.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 
0:00 Hormone Specialist for Menopause in Gig Harbor: What to Expect at Your First Appointment
1:09 How estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone decline erratically 
1:22 Why brain fog, weight gain, and low libido are hormone problems 
1:48 Why standard lab ranges miss perimenopause every time 
2:14 What a complete hormone panel actually includes 
2:46 Body composition assessment: why your weight alone tells you nothing 
3:11 A full consultation means actually listening to your full history 
3:35 Treatment options: bioidentical HRT, pellet therapy, supplementation 
4:09 Patient case study: from anxious and exhausted to thriving in 6 months

❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Why do doctors keep telling perimenopausal women their labs are normal? 
Standard lab reference ranges are designed to detect disease, not to optimize health. A woman can be significantly below her personal optimal hormone levels and still fall within the so-called normal range. Her doctor sees the number, marks it fine, and sends her home. She is not fine. She is just not sick enough for the standard test to catch.

When does perimenopause actually start? 
Perimenopause can begin in your late 30s or early 40s, years before your last menstrual cycle. During that time, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone decline erratically, affecting your brain, sleep, metabolism, mood, joints, and libido. Every single one of those changes is hormone-driven.

What does a hormone specialist test for that a regular doctor doesn't? 
A comprehensive hormone panel includes estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, cortisol, thyroid function, fasting insulin, and a full metabolic panel. A hormone specialist also evaluates body composition including visceral fat levels and spends the full first appointment reviewing your complete history before recommending anything.

📱 RESOURCES 
Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com 
Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SharonLemoine-ARNP

🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. New episodes every week.

ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP 
Sharon Lemoine is a board-certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Gig Harbor, Washington. Sharon is a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and a woman navigating surgical menopause herself. She treats patients with the same thoroughness she wished she had received.

#Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #FunctionalMedicine

Sharon Lemoine, ARNP
Gig Harbor Medical Spa
11515 Burnham Dr Suite 105, Gig Harbor, WA 98332
(253) 649-3916
https://gigharbormedicalspa.com

]]> Sharon Lemoine Buzzsprout-19392125 Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:00:00 -0400 352 hormone specialist menopause, perimenopause treatment, menopause symptoms, hormone replacement therapy, bioidentical hormones, hormone testing women, Gig Harbor hormone specialist, menopause specialist Washington, perimenopause doctor, women's health over full false Why Faith Belongs in the Exam Room: What 28 Years in Medicine Taught Me Why Faith Belongs in the Exam Room: What 28 Years in Medicine Taught Me 📌 Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/

After 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients, I am more sure of this than anything else in my clinical career: faith belongs in the exam room.

Nobody in my field says it out loud. I have decided to stop waiting for permission.

In this episode, I'm going to share my full story, what I believe that medicine never taught me, and why it changes everything about the way I treat people.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 
0:00 Why Faith Belongs in the Exam Room: What 28 Years in Medicine Taught Me
1:24 Part 1: Growing up watching her mother's diet cycle 
2:25 Part 2: The diagnosis that broke the first half open 
4:34 Part 3: When control stopped being enough 
5:49 Part 4: What faith actually does in a treatment plan 
8:04 Part 5: The questions she asks that no intake form has 
10:00 Part 6: What she wants you to carry out of this episode

❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Q: Is it appropriate for a healthcare provider to bring faith into medicine? 
A: After nearly three decades in practice, the patients who achieve the most durable results are almost always the ones with a reason for their health that outlasts short-term motivation. Faith gives people a reason to keep showing up when it gets hard. That is not a lifestyle preference. That is a clinical observation.

Q: Why do some patients have the right diagnosis and treatment plan and still not improve? 
A: There is almost always a motivational gap underneath the clinical picture. Patients who are doing the health work to chase a social standard or gain someone's approval tend to stop when it gets hard. The ones who are doing it for something bigger than the number on the scale tend to keep going.

Q: Why did Sharon Lemoine leave corporate healthcare? 
A: Corporate medicine gives providers roughly seven minutes per patient. That is enough time to hand someone a lab result and move on. It is not enough time to understand what a person is actually carrying. She built a concierge practice because she wanted to have the real conversation.

📱 RESOURCES 
Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com 
Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SharonLemoine-ARNP

🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. New episodes every week.

ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP: 
Sharon Lemoine is a board-certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State, specializing in hormone optimization, perimenopause and menopause care, functional medicine, weight loss, and peptide therapy. As a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and woman navigating surgical menopause herself, Sharon brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every episode. She believes your body is a gift worth honoring, and that you are in control of your health.

#Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #FunctionalMedicine

Sharon Lemoine, ARNP
Gig Harbor Medical Spa
11515 Burnham Dr Suite 105, Gig Harbor, WA 98332
(253) 649-3916
https://gigharbormedicalspa.com

]]> 📌 Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/

After 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients, I am more sure of this than anything else in my clinical career: faith belongs in the exam room.

Nobody in my field says it out loud. I have decided to stop waiting for permission.

In this episode, I'm going to share my full story, what I believe that medicine never taught me, and why it changes everything about the way I treat people.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 
0:00 Why Faith Belongs in the Exam Room: What 28 Years in Medicine Taught Me
1:24 Part 1: Growing up watching her mother's diet cycle 
2:25 Part 2: The diagnosis that broke the first half open 
4:34 Part 3: When control stopped being enough 
5:49 Part 4: What faith actually does in a treatment plan 
8:04 Part 5: The questions she asks that no intake form has 
10:00 Part 6: What she wants you to carry out of this episode

❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Q: Is it appropriate for a healthcare provider to bring faith into medicine? 
A: After nearly three decades in practice, the patients who achieve the most durable results are almost always the ones with a reason for their health that outlasts short-term motivation. Faith gives people a reason to keep showing up when it gets hard. That is not a lifestyle preference. That is a clinical observation.

Q: Why do some patients have the right diagnosis and treatment plan and still not improve? 
A: There is almost always a motivational gap underneath the clinical picture. Patients who are doing the health work to chase a social standard or gain someone's approval tend to stop when it gets hard. The ones who are doing it for something bigger than the number on the scale tend to keep going.

Q: Why did Sharon Lemoine leave corporate healthcare? 
A: Corporate medicine gives providers roughly seven minutes per patient. That is enough time to hand someone a lab result and move on. It is not enough time to understand what a person is actually carrying. She built a concierge practice because she wanted to have the real conversation.

📱 RESOURCES 
Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com 
Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SharonLemoine-ARNP

🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. New episodes every week.

ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP: 
Sharon Lemoine is a board-certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State, specializing in hormone optimization, perimenopause and menopause care, functional medicine, weight loss, and peptide therapy. As a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and woman navigating surgical menopause herself, Sharon brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every episode. She believes your body is a gift worth honoring, and that you are in control of your health.

#Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #FunctionalMedicine

Sharon Lemoine, ARNP
Gig Harbor Medical Spa
11515 Burnham Dr Suite 105, Gig Harbor, WA 98332
(253) 649-3916
https://gigharbormedicalspa.com

]]> Sharon Lemoine Buzzsprout-19346903 Thu, 18 Jun 2026 11:00:00 -0400 727 faith and medicine, faith based healthcare, women's health faith, functional medicine women, concierge medicine women, hormone optimization women over 40, perimenopause care, women's health over 40, faith in healthcare, motivational health, women's wellne full false Low Libido Isn't a Relationship Problem. Christian Women Need to Hear This. Low Libido Isn't a Relationship Problem. Christian Women Need to Hear This. 📌 Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/

You love your husband. But when he reaches for you, nothing is there. You have prayed about it, gone to counseling, and tried harder. And every day you carry the guilt of knowing what a faithful wife is supposed to want. 

The guilt is real. But the cause is not what you think.

In this episode, I'm going to show you why counseling falls short for this specific problem, what is actually happening in your body when desire disappears, and the exact test to request at your next provider appointment.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

0:00 When you love your husband but desire has completely disappeared
1:09 Why your counselor, pastor, and doctor all pointed you in the wrong direction
2:29 The hormone that actually drives desire in women (and what happens when it runs out)
3:02 How testosterone levels drop through perimenopause and why it happens so fast
3:54 3 questions to tell if this is actually your problem
4:29 What it looks like when a body is running on empty (not a failing marriage)
5:31 Why low libido in women over 40 is almost always a testosterone deficiency
6:03 Why standard lab panels never test for it
6:55 What consistently happens when hormone levels get optimized
7:51 The exact test to bring to your next provider appointment


❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Why do women lose sexual desire in their 40s?

Testosterone, the hormone that drives sexual desire in women, begins declining around age 30 and drops sharply through perimenopause. By the mid-40s, levels can be a fraction of what they were a decade earlier, which can cause desire to disappear entirely rather than simply decrease.

Can low libido in a marriage be a hormonal problem rather than a relationship problem?

Yes, especially for women in perimenopause. When testosterone and estrogen drop simultaneously, desire goes offline for a biochemical reason that has nothing to do with attraction, love, or the health of the relationship.

What test should I ask for if I have low or absent libido?

Ask your provider specifically for a free and total testosterone test, plus a full hormone panel including estrogen and progesterone. Standard lab panels for women do not include testosterone, so you must request it by name.


📱 RESOURCES
Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com
Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa


🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. New episodes every week.


ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP

Sharon Lemoine is a board-certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State, specializing in hormone optimization, perimenopause and menopause care, functional medicine, weight loss, and peptide therapy. 

As a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and woman navigating surgical menopause herself, Sharon brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every video. She believes your body is a gift worth honoring, and that you are in control of your health.


#Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #FunctionalMedicine

]]> 📌 Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/

You love your husband. But when he reaches for you, nothing is there. You have prayed about it, gone to counseling, and tried harder. And every day you carry the guilt of knowing what a faithful wife is supposed to want. 

The guilt is real. But the cause is not what you think.

In this episode, I'm going to show you why counseling falls short for this specific problem, what is actually happening in your body when desire disappears, and the exact test to request at your next provider appointment.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

0:00 When you love your husband but desire has completely disappeared
1:09 Why your counselor, pastor, and doctor all pointed you in the wrong direction
2:29 The hormone that actually drives desire in women (and what happens when it runs out)
3:02 How testosterone levels drop through perimenopause and why it happens so fast
3:54 3 questions to tell if this is actually your problem
4:29 What it looks like when a body is running on empty (not a failing marriage)
5:31 Why low libido in women over 40 is almost always a testosterone deficiency
6:03 Why standard lab panels never test for it
6:55 What consistently happens when hormone levels get optimized
7:51 The exact test to bring to your next provider appointment


❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Why do women lose sexual desire in their 40s?

Testosterone, the hormone that drives sexual desire in women, begins declining around age 30 and drops sharply through perimenopause. By the mid-40s, levels can be a fraction of what they were a decade earlier, which can cause desire to disappear entirely rather than simply decrease.

Can low libido in a marriage be a hormonal problem rather than a relationship problem?

Yes, especially for women in perimenopause. When testosterone and estrogen drop simultaneously, desire goes offline for a biochemical reason that has nothing to do with attraction, love, or the health of the relationship.

What test should I ask for if I have low or absent libido?

Ask your provider specifically for a free and total testosterone test, plus a full hormone panel including estrogen and progesterone. Standard lab panels for women do not include testosterone, so you must request it by name.


📱 RESOURCES
Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com
Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa


🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. New episodes every week.


ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP

Sharon Lemoine is a board-certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State, specializing in hormone optimization, perimenopause and menopause care, functional medicine, weight loss, and peptide therapy. 

As a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and woman navigating surgical menopause herself, Sharon brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every video. She believes your body is a gift worth honoring, and that you are in control of your health.


#Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #FunctionalMedicine

]]> Sharon Lemoine Buzzsprout-19289072 Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:00:00 -0400 585 low libido women over 40, testosterone deficiency women, perimenopause low sex drive, women no desire marriage, hormone optimization women, low testosterone women symptoms, perimenopause symptoms, testosterone for women, women low libido cause, hormone pa full false What No One Tells Christian Women Before They Start a GLP-1 What No One Tells Christian Women Before They Start a GLP-1 📌 Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/

Most women start a GLP-1 thinking the goal is to eat less and weigh less. That is exactly how these medications are marketed. But a dropping number on the scale is not the same thing as your body getting healthier.

When you lose weight rapidly on a GLP-1 without a specific protective strategy in place, a significant portion of what you lose is not fat. It is muscle. 

In this episode, I'm going to show you what actually determines whether a GLP-1 honors the body you were given, the one number you need before your first dose, and the five checkpoints almost no one covers before they start.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Why Most Women Walk Away From a GLP-1 Weaker Than When They Started
1:13 Point 1: The Mistake That Turns a Good Decision Into a Setback
2:05 Why the Dropping Scale Number Is Not Telling You the Whole Story
3:07 Point 2: What Actually Drives Lasting Results on a GLP-1
4:46 Point 3: How to Honestly Assess Whether You Are Ready to Start
5:10 Three Questions to Answer Before Your First Dose
7:36 Point 4: The One Number You Need Before Day One
8:28 The Patient Case That Standard Labs Completely Missed
9:42 Point 5: What to Do This Week Before You Start


❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

What is the biggest mistake women make before starting a GLP-1?

Starting without a body composition baseline. Without knowing your lean muscle mass before day one, you have no way to track whether the weight coming off is fat, muscle, or both, and most women end up lighter but metabolically weaker.

How do you protect muscle while on a GLP-1?

Three things: get a body composition scan before you start to establish your baseline, keep your protein intake high throughout treatment, and maintain resistance training. The medication suppresses appetite, so protein has to be intentional or muscle loss begins almost immediately.

What is an InBody scan and why does it matter on a GLP-1?

An InBody is a 30-second body composition scan that shows your lean muscle mass, body fat percentage, and visceral fat. It gives you the baseline number your scale will never show, so you can track whether the medication is protecting or depleting what matters most.


📱 RESOURCES
Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com
Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa


🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. New episodes every week.


ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP

Sharon Lemoine is a board-certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State, specializing in hormone optimization, perimenopause and menopause care, functional medicine, weight loss, and peptide therapy. 

As a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and woman navigating surgical menopause herself, Sharon brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every video. She believes your body is a gift worth honoring, and that you are in control of your health.


#Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #FunctionalMedicine

]]> 📌 Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/

Most women start a GLP-1 thinking the goal is to eat less and weigh less. That is exactly how these medications are marketed. But a dropping number on the scale is not the same thing as your body getting healthier.

When you lose weight rapidly on a GLP-1 without a specific protective strategy in place, a significant portion of what you lose is not fat. It is muscle. 

In this episode, I'm going to show you what actually determines whether a GLP-1 honors the body you were given, the one number you need before your first dose, and the five checkpoints almost no one covers before they start.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Why Most Women Walk Away From a GLP-1 Weaker Than When They Started
1:13 Point 1: The Mistake That Turns a Good Decision Into a Setback
2:05 Why the Dropping Scale Number Is Not Telling You the Whole Story
3:07 Point 2: What Actually Drives Lasting Results on a GLP-1
4:46 Point 3: How to Honestly Assess Whether You Are Ready to Start
5:10 Three Questions to Answer Before Your First Dose
7:36 Point 4: The One Number You Need Before Day One
8:28 The Patient Case That Standard Labs Completely Missed
9:42 Point 5: What to Do This Week Before You Start


❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

What is the biggest mistake women make before starting a GLP-1?

Starting without a body composition baseline. Without knowing your lean muscle mass before day one, you have no way to track whether the weight coming off is fat, muscle, or both, and most women end up lighter but metabolically weaker.

How do you protect muscle while on a GLP-1?

Three things: get a body composition scan before you start to establish your baseline, keep your protein intake high throughout treatment, and maintain resistance training. The medication suppresses appetite, so protein has to be intentional or muscle loss begins almost immediately.

What is an InBody scan and why does it matter on a GLP-1?

An InBody is a 30-second body composition scan that shows your lean muscle mass, body fat percentage, and visceral fat. It gives you the baseline number your scale will never show, so you can track whether the medication is protecting or depleting what matters most.


📱 RESOURCES
Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com
Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa


🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. New episodes every week.


ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP

Sharon Lemoine is a board-certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State, specializing in hormone optimization, perimenopause and menopause care, functional medicine, weight loss, and peptide therapy. 

As a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and woman navigating surgical menopause herself, Sharon brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every video. She believes your body is a gift worth honoring, and that you are in control of your health.


#Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #FunctionalMedicine

]]> Sharon Lemoine Buzzsprout-19289063 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 11:00:00 -0400 654 GLP-1 muscle loss women, Ozempic muscle loss, semaglutide before you start, GLP-1 body composition, InBody scan GLP-1, lean muscle mass weight loss, Wegovy muscle loss women, GLP-1 protein intake, resistance training GLP-1, Ozempic what to do before start full false If You're a Christian Woman Struggling With Anxiety, Watch This Before You Try Anything Else If You're a Christian Woman Struggling With Anxiety, Watch This Before You Try Anything Else 📌 Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/

You have prayed about it. Journaled about it. Gone to therapy and tried medication. And the anxiety is still there, underneath everything, every single day. Part of you has started to wonder if this is just who you are now. It is not. 

For so many women, the anxiety is not a mental health problem at all. It is something physical that nobody has bothered to look at. And until that piece is found, nothing else fully works.

In this episode, I'm going to walk you through the five warning signs that your anxiety may not be a mental health problem, and exactly what to bring to your next appointment.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 When the anxiety is real but the diagnosis is wrong
0:52 The pattern 28 years in medicine revealed
1:22 Sign 1: Anxiety that appeared without a psychological trigger
3:44 Sign 2: When the anxiety starts in your body, not your mind
6:48 Sign 3: The 3-question pattern test you can answer right now
8:56 Sign 4: Why partial treatment response means the root has not been found
11:00 Sign 5: The hormonal root cause almost nobody checks
12:32 What to write down before your next appointment

❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Q: Can hormonal changes cause anxiety in women over 40?
A: Yes. Progesterone is the body's primary calming hormone. It works on the same receptors in the brain that anti-anxiety medications target. When progesterone drops in your late 30s and 40s, your nervous system loses its ability to settle. This creates a physical anxiety signal that mental health tools alone cannot fully resolve because the root is biological, not psychological.

Q: Why does anxiety medication only partially work for some women?
A: Partial improvement is one of the most telling clinical patterns. It almost always means one layer of the problem was addressed while something else kept running underneath it, untested. When anxiety has a hormonal driver, standard treatments reduce symptoms but cannot eliminate the root cause. A comprehensive hormone panel is the step most providers never take.

Q: What is the difference between anxiety that starts in the mind versus anxiety that starts in the body?
A: Anxiety rooted in the mind has a traceable cause: sustained stress, a trauma, or a longstanding pattern of worry. Anxiety rooted in the body starts as a physical signal. The racing thoughts come after, as the brain tries to explain a nervous system that will not calm down. They look identical but respond to completely different treatments.

📱 RESOURCES
Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com
Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SharonLemoine-ARNP

🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. New episodes every week.

💬 Which of these 5 signs connected with something you have been carrying for a while? Share your experience in the comments. You are not alone and you deserve real answers.

ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP
Sharon Lemoine is a board-certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State, specializing in hormone optimization, perimenopause and menopause care, functional medicine, weight loss, and peptide therapy. As a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and woman navigating surgical menopause herself, Sharon brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every episode. She believes your body is a gift worth honoring, and that you are in control of your health.

#Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #FunctionalMedicine

]]> 📌 Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/

You have prayed about it. Journaled about it. Gone to therapy and tried medication. And the anxiety is still there, underneath everything, every single day. Part of you has started to wonder if this is just who you are now. It is not. 

For so many women, the anxiety is not a mental health problem at all. It is something physical that nobody has bothered to look at. And until that piece is found, nothing else fully works.

In this episode, I'm going to walk you through the five warning signs that your anxiety may not be a mental health problem, and exactly what to bring to your next appointment.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 When the anxiety is real but the diagnosis is wrong
0:52 The pattern 28 years in medicine revealed
1:22 Sign 1: Anxiety that appeared without a psychological trigger
3:44 Sign 2: When the anxiety starts in your body, not your mind
6:48 Sign 3: The 3-question pattern test you can answer right now
8:56 Sign 4: Why partial treatment response means the root has not been found
11:00 Sign 5: The hormonal root cause almost nobody checks
12:32 What to write down before your next appointment

❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Q: Can hormonal changes cause anxiety in women over 40?
A: Yes. Progesterone is the body's primary calming hormone. It works on the same receptors in the brain that anti-anxiety medications target. When progesterone drops in your late 30s and 40s, your nervous system loses its ability to settle. This creates a physical anxiety signal that mental health tools alone cannot fully resolve because the root is biological, not psychological.

Q: Why does anxiety medication only partially work for some women?
A: Partial improvement is one of the most telling clinical patterns. It almost always means one layer of the problem was addressed while something else kept running underneath it, untested. When anxiety has a hormonal driver, standard treatments reduce symptoms but cannot eliminate the root cause. A comprehensive hormone panel is the step most providers never take.

Q: What is the difference between anxiety that starts in the mind versus anxiety that starts in the body?
A: Anxiety rooted in the mind has a traceable cause: sustained stress, a trauma, or a longstanding pattern of worry. Anxiety rooted in the body starts as a physical signal. The racing thoughts come after, as the brain tries to explain a nervous system that will not calm down. They look identical but respond to completely different treatments.

📱 RESOURCES
Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com
Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SharonLemoine-ARNP

🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. New episodes every week.

💬 Which of these 5 signs connected with something you have been carrying for a while? Share your experience in the comments. You are not alone and you deserve real answers.

ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP
Sharon Lemoine is a board-certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State, specializing in hormone optimization, perimenopause and menopause care, functional medicine, weight loss, and peptide therapy. As a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and woman navigating surgical menopause herself, Sharon brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every episode. She believes your body is a gift worth honoring, and that you are in control of your health.

#Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #FunctionalMedicine

]]> Sharon Lemoine Buzzsprout-19246565 Thu, 28 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400 838 hormonal anxiety women over 40,perimenopause anxiety,progesterone deficiency anxiety,anxiety root cause hormones,anxiety not mental health,anxiety treatment not working,hormones and anxiety women,progesterone and nervous system,menopause anxiety symptoms, full false Everything Christian Women Have Been Told About HRT Is Wrong. Here's What the Research Actually Shows Everything Christian Women Have Been Told About HRT Is Wrong. Here's What the Research Actually Shows 📌 Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/

There is a study from 25 years ago that changed how doctors talk to women about hormones. It scared a generation of women away from getting help. And it was wrong. 

Women are still paying for that mistake with their health, their energy, and their quality of life.

In this episode, I'm going to walk you through what that study actually found, why your doctor may still be operating on outdated information, and what the real science says about hormone therapy today.


⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

0:00 - The Study That Got It Wrong and Why Women Are Still Paying for It
1:37 - What the Women's Health Initiative Actually Measured
2:37 - Why the WHI Results Were Never About Women Like You
4:08 - When Researchers Reanalyzed the Data, Everything Changed
5:12 - Bioidentical vs. Synthetic Hormones: Why the Difference Matters
6:53 - How Hormones Are Delivered Changes Everything
8:19 - The Myth That Hormones Cause Breast Cancer
12:02 - The Risks of NOT Treating Your Hormones
14:13 - Honoring Your Body Is Not Vanity, It Is Stewardship


❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Q: Is hormone replacement therapy actually safe for women in perimenopause?

A: The study most doctors cite used the wrong hormones on the wrong women at the wrong time. When women start bioidentical hormone therapy within ten years of menopause, research shows cardiovascular risk goes down and breast cancer risk does not increase.

Q: Do bioidentical hormones cause breast cancer?

A: The breast cancer risk found in the original WHI study was tied to a specific combination of oral synthetic estrogen and synthetic progestin taken for more than five years. Estrogen-only therapy showed no increased risk. When bioidentical progesterone is used instead of synthetic progestin, the data looks very different.

📱 RESOURCES
Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com
Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa


🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. New videos every week.


ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP

Sharon Lemoine is a board-certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State, specializing in hormone optimization, perimenopause and menopause care, functional medicine, weight loss, and peptide therapy. 

As a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and woman navigating surgical menopause herself, Sharon brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every video. She believes your body is a gift worth honoring, and that you are in control of your health.


#Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #FunctionalMedicine

]]> 📌 Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/

There is a study from 25 years ago that changed how doctors talk to women about hormones. It scared a generation of women away from getting help. And it was wrong. 

Women are still paying for that mistake with their health, their energy, and their quality of life.

In this episode, I'm going to walk you through what that study actually found, why your doctor may still be operating on outdated information, and what the real science says about hormone therapy today.


⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

0:00 - The Study That Got It Wrong and Why Women Are Still Paying for It
1:37 - What the Women's Health Initiative Actually Measured
2:37 - Why the WHI Results Were Never About Women Like You
4:08 - When Researchers Reanalyzed the Data, Everything Changed
5:12 - Bioidentical vs. Synthetic Hormones: Why the Difference Matters
6:53 - How Hormones Are Delivered Changes Everything
8:19 - The Myth That Hormones Cause Breast Cancer
12:02 - The Risks of NOT Treating Your Hormones
14:13 - Honoring Your Body Is Not Vanity, It Is Stewardship


❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Q: Is hormone replacement therapy actually safe for women in perimenopause?

A: The study most doctors cite used the wrong hormones on the wrong women at the wrong time. When women start bioidentical hormone therapy within ten years of menopause, research shows cardiovascular risk goes down and breast cancer risk does not increase.

Q: Do bioidentical hormones cause breast cancer?

A: The breast cancer risk found in the original WHI study was tied to a specific combination of oral synthetic estrogen and synthetic progestin taken for more than five years. Estrogen-only therapy showed no increased risk. When bioidentical progesterone is used instead of synthetic progestin, the data looks very different.

📱 RESOURCES
Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com
Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa


🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. New videos every week.


ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP

Sharon Lemoine is a board-certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State, specializing in hormone optimization, perimenopause and menopause care, functional medicine, weight loss, and peptide therapy. 

As a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and woman navigating surgical menopause herself, Sharon brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every video. She believes your body is a gift worth honoring, and that you are in control of your health.


#Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #FunctionalMedicine

]]> Sharon Lemoine Buzzsprout-19167073 Thu, 14 May 2026 16:00:00 -0400 1052 HRT safety, bioidentical hormones, Women's Health Initiative study, is hormone therapy safe, perimenopause hormone therapy, bioidentical vs synthetic hormones, hormone pellet therapy, HRT and breast cancer, menopause hormone replacement, women's hormones full false God Gave You One Body. Here's Why It's Running on Empty. God Gave You One Body. Here's Why It's Running on Empty. 📌 Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/

If you cannot remember the last time you woke up actually rested, something is wrong and it is not just your sleep schedule.

In this episode, I am breaking down the five most common reasons women feel exhausted all the time, and why most doctors are missing every single one of them.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 When did you last wake up feeling rested?
1:19 Reason 1: Hormone depletion (estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone)
2:15 How declining hormones drain your cells of energy
3:39 Reason 2: Vitamin D and what your number should actually be
4:53 Why "normal" is not the same as optimal
6:10 Reason 3: Insulin resistance quietly stealing your energy
7:30 Signs you might be insulin resistant right now
9:55 Reason 4: Your thyroid is probably being tested wrong
11:39 What a full thyroid panel needs to include
13:01 Reason 5: What to do tonight before your next appointment


❓Commonly Asked Questions:

Can my fatigue really be a hormone problem, not a sleep problem?

Yes. As estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone decline, they directly affect how your cells produce energy, how your nervous system regulates, and how motivated you feel day to day. If you also have brain fog, low libido, or disrupted sleep on top of the exhaustion, hormone depletion is likely part of what is going on.

My doctor said my vitamin D is normal. Why does it still matter?

Normal and optimal are not the same number. The standard range starts at 30, but anything under 50 can still drag down your energy, immunity, and brain function. Do not accept "it is normal." Ask for the exact number.

What blood work should I specifically ask for?

Ask for a full thyroid panel including TSH, T4, T3, reverse T3, TPO antibodies, and thyroglobulin. Also request fasting insulin and a full hormone panel with estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. A TSH result alone does not tell you how your thyroid is actually functioning.


📱 RESOURCES

Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com
Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa


🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. New videos every week.


ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP

Sharon Lemoine is a board-certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State, specializing in hormone optimization, perimenopause and menopause care, functional medicine, weight loss, and peptide therapy. 

As a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and woman navigating surgical menopause herself, Sharon brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every video. She believes your body is a gift worth honoring, and that you are in control of your health.



#Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #FunctionalMedicine

]]> 📌 Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/

If you cannot remember the last time you woke up actually rested, something is wrong and it is not just your sleep schedule.

In this episode, I am breaking down the five most common reasons women feel exhausted all the time, and why most doctors are missing every single one of them.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 When did you last wake up feeling rested?
1:19 Reason 1: Hormone depletion (estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone)
2:15 How declining hormones drain your cells of energy
3:39 Reason 2: Vitamin D and what your number should actually be
4:53 Why "normal" is not the same as optimal
6:10 Reason 3: Insulin resistance quietly stealing your energy
7:30 Signs you might be insulin resistant right now
9:55 Reason 4: Your thyroid is probably being tested wrong
11:39 What a full thyroid panel needs to include
13:01 Reason 5: What to do tonight before your next appointment


❓Commonly Asked Questions:

Can my fatigue really be a hormone problem, not a sleep problem?

Yes. As estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone decline, they directly affect how your cells produce energy, how your nervous system regulates, and how motivated you feel day to day. If you also have brain fog, low libido, or disrupted sleep on top of the exhaustion, hormone depletion is likely part of what is going on.

My doctor said my vitamin D is normal. Why does it still matter?

Normal and optimal are not the same number. The standard range starts at 30, but anything under 50 can still drag down your energy, immunity, and brain function. Do not accept "it is normal." Ask for the exact number.

What blood work should I specifically ask for?

Ask for a full thyroid panel including TSH, T4, T3, reverse T3, TPO antibodies, and thyroglobulin. Also request fasting insulin and a full hormone panel with estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. A TSH result alone does not tell you how your thyroid is actually functioning.


📱 RESOURCES

Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com
Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa


🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. New videos every week.


ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP

Sharon Lemoine is a board-certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State, specializing in hormone optimization, perimenopause and menopause care, functional medicine, weight loss, and peptide therapy. 

As a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and woman navigating surgical menopause herself, Sharon brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every video. She believes your body is a gift worth honoring, and that you are in control of your health.



#Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #FunctionalMedicine

]]> Sharon Lemoine Buzzsprout-19167069 Thu, 14 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400 910 exhausted women over 40, chronic fatigue women, hormone fatigue, perimenopause exhaustion, vitamin D fatigue, insulin resistance energy, thyroid fatigue, why am I always tired, hormone depletion symptoms, comprehensive thyroid panel, fasting insulin, wome full false 5 Things I Wish Every Woman Over 40 Knew About Her Hormones (And Her Purpose) 5 Things I Wish Every Woman Over 40 Knew About Her Hormones (And Her Purpose) 📌 Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/

Your doctor looked you in the eye and said your labs were normal. You were told to manage your stress, push through the fatigue, and accept this is just getting older. 

What got dismissed in that room was years of real symptoms with a real cause.

In this episode, I'm going to break down the 5 most important things I wish every woman over 40 knew about her hormones before years of silent suffering passed her by.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - What Your Doctor Got Wrong About "Normal"
1:11 - #1: Your Hormones Started Declining in Your 30s
3:13 - #2: Why "Normal" Lab Results Are Keeping You Sick
6:07 - #3: Rage, Anxiety, and Brain Fog Are Often Hormone Symptoms
8:33 - #4: "You're Just Getting Older" Is Not a Diagnosis
9:06 - Why Most Providers Aren't Trained in Hormone Optimization
11:09 - #5: You Are in Control of Your Health
13:38 - What to Do Tonight: Write This Down
14:54 - You're Not Broken: Closing Thoughts


❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Q: What are the first signs of perimenopause?

A: Fatigue that sleep won't fix, mood changes, low libido, and brain fog often begin in the mid-30s, well before menopause. Most providers aren't testing for it that early, which is why so many women get dismissed.

Q: Why do my labs come back normal if I feel terrible?

A: Reference ranges reflect population averages, not what is optimal for your body to actually feel well. A hormone level that technically passes the test can still be too low to function at your best.

Q: Can hormone imbalance cause anxiety and depression?

A: Yes. When estrogen drops, serotonin production drops with it, and low progesterone disrupts your nervous system's ability to calm down. These are biochemical causes of mood symptoms, not personal failures.


📱 RESOURCES

Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa


🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. New videos every week.


ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP

Sharon Lemoine is a board-certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State, specializing in hormone optimization, perimenopause and menopause care, functional medicine, weight loss, and peptide therapy. 

As a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and woman navigating surgical menopause herself, Sharon brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every video. She believes your body is a gift worth honoring, and that you are in control of your health.


#Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #FunctionalMedicine

]]> 📌 Book a Consultation: gigharbormedicalspa.com/book-now/

Your doctor looked you in the eye and said your labs were normal. You were told to manage your stress, push through the fatigue, and accept this is just getting older. 

What got dismissed in that room was years of real symptoms with a real cause.

In this episode, I'm going to break down the 5 most important things I wish every woman over 40 knew about her hormones before years of silent suffering passed her by.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - What Your Doctor Got Wrong About "Normal"
1:11 - #1: Your Hormones Started Declining in Your 30s
3:13 - #2: Why "Normal" Lab Results Are Keeping You Sick
6:07 - #3: Rage, Anxiety, and Brain Fog Are Often Hormone Symptoms
8:33 - #4: "You're Just Getting Older" Is Not a Diagnosis
9:06 - Why Most Providers Aren't Trained in Hormone Optimization
11:09 - #5: You Are in Control of Your Health
13:38 - What to Do Tonight: Write This Down
14:54 - You're Not Broken: Closing Thoughts


❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Q: What are the first signs of perimenopause?

A: Fatigue that sleep won't fix, mood changes, low libido, and brain fog often begin in the mid-30s, well before menopause. Most providers aren't testing for it that early, which is why so many women get dismissed.

Q: Why do my labs come back normal if I feel terrible?

A: Reference ranges reflect population averages, not what is optimal for your body to actually feel well. A hormone level that technically passes the test can still be too low to function at your best.

Q: Can hormone imbalance cause anxiety and depression?

A: Yes. When estrogen drops, serotonin production drops with it, and low progesterone disrupts your nervous system's ability to calm down. These are biochemical causes of mood symptoms, not personal failures.


📱 RESOURCES

Website: gigharbormedicalspa.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GHMedicalspa


🔔 Subscribe for straight answers about hormones, perimenopause, and women's health from a nurse practitioner with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. New videos every week.


ABOUT SHARON LEMOINE, ARNP

Sharon Lemoine is a board-certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP, FNP-C) with 28 years in medicine and over 100,000 patients treated. She is the founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State, specializing in hormone optimization, perimenopause and menopause care, functional medicine, weight loss, and peptide therapy. 

As a Type 1 diabetic, thyroid cancer survivor, and woman navigating surgical menopause herself, Sharon brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every video. She believes your body is a gift worth honoring, and that you are in control of your health.


#Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #WomensHealthOver40 #MenopauseSymptoms #FunctionalMedicine

]]> Sharon Lemoine Buzzsprout-19167048 Thu, 14 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400 909 perimenopause symptoms, women over 40 hormones, hormone imbalance, normal labs, hormone optimization, menopause symptoms, bioidentical hormones, HRT women, perimenopause treatment, functional medicine women's health, women's health over 40, hormone replac full false