Let’s get one thing clear: if you’re experiencing weight gain, brain fog, anxiety, or sleep disruption, it might not be burnout or aging—it might be your hormones.
In this week’s episode of Possibilities, I sat down with Dr. Cindy Parnes, board-certified OB/GYN and founder of the New Jersey Women’s Wellness Center, for a no-BS conversation about perimenopause, menopause, metabolism, and modern women’s health.
This episode wasn’t fluff. It was facts served with heart and humor.
Here’s your blog-reader-only breakdown of what we covered (and why it matters):
Brain Fog & Hormonal Chaos
That mental “blah” feeling you’re blaming on stress? It could be a result of declining estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone levels which start to shift during perimenopause, sometimes as early as your mid-30s.
Cindy explained how hormonal imbalances affect cognitive clarity, emotional regulation, and your body’s stress response. And no, you’re not crazy for feeling like a different person. Hormones control more than you think.
Your stubborn belly fat might not be about carbs—it might be cortisol. That’s right: your stress hormone plays a massive role in metabolism, weight retention, and inflammation.
Cindy broke down how chronic stress leads to cortisol dysregulation, which messes with everything from blood sugar to sleep. We also talked about how over-exercising or under-eating can backfire for women in their 40s and 50s.
Weight loss injectables are everywhere. But should you use them?
Dr. Cindy gave us the full scoop on GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro—including how they work, what the side effects are, and who they’re actually for.
Takeaway? These meds can be helpful tools when used under supervision, but they’re not for everyone. And they’re not shortcuts.
Perimenopause Isn’t “Just a Phase”
Perimenopause is underdiagnosed and undertreated. We covered common (but ignored) symptoms like:
Sound familiar? Most women are told to “wait it out.” Cindy says: nope. There are solutions, including bioidentical hormones, lifestyle adjustments, and medical support.
Yes, magnesium and ashwagandha have their place—but they’re not going to fix a tanked thyroid or extreme estrogen fluctuations.
Dr. Cindy emphasized that tracking symptoms, getting proper bloodwork, and working with a qualified provider is the only way to get a full picture of what’s going on in your body.
This was one of our biggest takeaways: If your doctor isn’t listening, find another one.
Women are still being dismissed for “just being stressed” or “getting older.” You deserve answers. You deserve support. And no, you don’t have to suffer in silence.
Whether you’re in your 30s and just starting to notice changes, or in your 60s and wondering if it’s too late—it’s not. There’s hope, help, and a whole lot of power in understanding your own biology.
Listen now to hear Dr. Cindy Parnes break it all down with warmth, science, and the honesty you wish your doctor had.
And don’t forget:
It’s not in your head. It’s your hormones.
~ Monique