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Menopause Unscripted PodcastAuthor: Farah Kariamburi
Welcome to the Menopause Unscripted Podcast. I'm Farah Kariamburi, your Belly Blaster Menopause Coach and creator of the Meno-Fit Fat Loss Method, tailored for menopausal women. As an expert in deep health, I aim to offer professional women simple, effective tips to boost body confidence and regain control during menopause. Each episode is dedicated to fostering healthier habits, steering clear of temporary fixes like fad diets and pills, for enduring weight loss. So, grab your cuppa or bring me along on your walk, as we journey towards sustainable results together. Language: en Genres: Health & Fitness, Nutrition Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Everyday Women: I Looked Fine… But I Was Falling Apart: Emma’s Hidden Perimenopause Story | #0106 | The Menopause Unscripted Podcast
Episode 106
Sunday, 8 February, 2026
Check the link at the bottom of the description to join our FREE Group.In this first episode, I sit down with Emma, a 52-year-old mum of two living in Nairobi, Kenya. Emma is not the “typical” story people expect when they think perimenopause. She’s always exercised, she’s always cared about her food, she looks fit on the outside, and she didn’t arrive with an obvious list of physical symptoms. But that’s exactly why her story matters.Because for Emma, the biggest shifts weren’t visible. They were happening in her mind.She describes that unsettling moment so many women recognise: the feeling that your usual coping skills have disappeared. The mental bandwidth shrinks. Small things feel enormous. Overwhelm becomes constant. And when the struggle is happening internally, people around you can easily misunderstand it as moodiness, “being difficult”, or just stress. Emma speaks with real honesty about how hard that is, especially when you’re still functioning, still showing up, still being a wife and a mum… but privately wondering why you don’t feel like yourself.We also get into the realities of seeking help when the system isn’t set up to support you. Emma shares a shocking experience with a doctor’s questionnaire that flagged suicidal feelings, yet came with no meaningful follow-up or care. That moment alone is worth hearing, because it exposes a bigger issue: women are being assessed, labelled, and medicated, without being properly held, guided, or supported.From there, we talk through her decision to try HRT, the relief of finally doing something, and the frustrating truth that it still requires review, tweaking, and proper medical oversight—something that’s particularly difficult and expensive where she lives. Emma’s experience will feel familiar if you’ve ever thought, “Why is it so hard to find someone who actually understands menopause?”But this episode isn’t just about the hard parts. It’s also about what’s possible.I unpack what we worked on when Emma was in my world: the foundations that help a woman feel more stable and more in control, even when hormones are shifting. Hydration (because menopause changes how well we absorb water). Sleep routines. Food balance (especially reducing the over-reliance on fats and understanding carbs properly). Training tweaks (including pulling back on long runs that can keep cortisol elevated). Recovery strategies to calm an overworked nervous system.And what I love most is hearing Emma describe the quiet confidence that comes from building real strength. Not just physical strength in the gym—but emotional strength too. She shares how, years ago, she would have walked out of a stressful situation in tears. Now, she can pause, breathe, and choose what happens next. That is a menopause “gift” many women don’t expect: the clarity to stop tolerating what drains you, and the courage to protect your peace.Emma’s red wine story is a perfect example of how your body starts making decisions for you in this season, whether you’re ready or not.If you’ve ever looked at yourself and thought, “I shouldn’t be struggling—I’m doing everything right,” this episode will hit home.And if you’re in the place where you’re functioning, but not thriving… where you’re keeping it together, but you feel like you’re not really you anymore… Emma’s story will remind you that you’re not broken. You’re under-informed, under-supported, and carrying too much without the right tools.This is exactly why I created this series: so you can hear real women speak the truth, and realise you’re not alone.Press play for Emma’s full story—and listen for the parts that feel uncomfortably familiar. That’s usually where your next step is hiding.Perimenopause & Weight Loss Revolution: https://www.facebook.com/groups/perimenopauseandweightlosscommunity
