How to Build a Day That Supports Your Hormones (Without Overhauling Your Life)

Some days, things just click and you don’t even realize it until later.

Not long ago, I finished the day feeling calm, satisfied, and surprisingly energized. No crashes, no cravings, no mid-afternoon slump. That’s when it hit me…I had built a day that was super supportive of my hormones, especially cortisol.

And the best part? It wasn’t anything extreme.

Here’s what that day looked like and how you can build your own:

☀️ Morning light + movement: Start your day with a short walk outside if you can. Morning sunlight helps regulate cortisol and gently wakes up your body’s natural rhythm (bonus: it supports better sleep later too).

💪 Strength workout (not stress overload): A 30 minute strength session can go a long way. It helps build muscle and supports healthy hormones without overtaxing your system the way long cardio sessions might. This is a core part of the plan I follow...and coach.

🥤Hydration before caffeine: Yes, coffee still happens, but water with minerals comes first. It rehydrates your body after sleep and helps reduce the cortisol spike that can come from going straight to caffeine.

🍽️ Protein-forward meals: Build your meals around protein and fiber. This keeps blood sugar stable, helps control cravings, and supports steady energy. Grazing on snacky carbs all day? That’s what throws your hormones off track.

⏱️ Fasting window (with intention): If you practice intermittent fasting, be sure to break your fast with a nourishing, balanced meal. The timing matters, but so does what you eat and how much. Under-eating can backfire in midlife.

🧘‍♀️ Downtime matters: Little pockets of rest throughout the day help calm your nervous system and keep cortisol in check. Even five minutes without your phone or to-do list can make a difference.

The truth is, you don’t need a perfect routine. But you can build small habits into your day that support your hormones and help your body feel safe, strong, and steady.

When you do? That’s when things start working again.

P.S. Interested in more information on how I structure my days for hormone support? Click here to see my program,

A Summer Night at Maine’s Only Water Ski Show

If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind summer night in southern Maine, I’ve got a new favorite to add to your list. On one of the hottest days this summer, we headed up to Sanford to catch the Maine Attraction Water Ski Show Team, the only water ski show team in the entire state. 

They perform for free every Thursday in July at Number One Pond, and while we took the advice to get there early, so did everyone else. We just barely snagged a parking spot and a seat on the wall lining the pond. That seating area is probably the length of a football field, with a center platform for the announcer and show performers. At the far end is the main dock where the skiers launch, prep, and perform some of the larger dance routines.

We brought a blanket from home and picked up sandwiches from Ceres Bakery in Portsmouth to enjoy while we waited for the show to start. There was a nice breeze and the trees lining the pond helped block the sun, making it surprisingly comfortable. A food truck was parked near the main stage if you wanted to grab something on the spot.

The pre-show began 30 minutes before the main event and featured local talent of all ages. One highlight was a dad and his three year old daughter pulling off some impressive strength poses right there in the water.

Then the main show began and it truly transformed the pond into a stage. Skiers flipped, swiveled, and even “barefooted” across the water. There were pyramids of 12 people (yes, 12), including an all-female pyramid, and synchronized dance routines on two massive floating platforms.

The theme this summer? A tongue-in-cheek “Water Skiing with the Stars” competition, complete with Mario, McDreamy, Karen the Real Housewife, and a sparkly Taylor Swift all vying for the coveted buoy ball trophy. The costumes were colorful, glittery, and full of character.

It was funny, impressive, and so different from your typical Thursday night. If you’re local or visiting Maine in July, I highly recommend checking it out. Bring a blanket, a picnic, some bug spray, and your sense of adventure.

Garden Fresh and Summer-Ready: My Go-To Cucumber Pineapple Smoothie

There’s something extra satisfying about blending up a smoothie with ingredients straight from your own backyard. This week I picked the very first cucumber from our garden — a milestone moment for this garden newbie! It felt like summer in a glass when I paired it with frozen pineapple, a little fresh mint, and my favorite vanilla protein.

Here’s the recipe so you can try it too!

🌱 Cucumber Pineapple Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup fresh cucumber*

• 1 cup frozen pineapple

• 1/2 frozen banana

• 1/2 cup water

• Juice of 1/2 lime

• Fresh mint (optional — I used some from the garden!)

• Handful of ice

• 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds

• 1 scoop vanilla FASTer Way protein powder

Instructions: Add everything to a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into your favorite glass or insulated cup and enjoy in the sunshine!

This one’s refreshing, fiber-rich, and packed with nutrients that support digestion and hormone balance - all while tasting like a treat.

Want more recipes like this? Download my FREE Smoothie Recipe Guide here.

*I left the peel on the cucumber for an extra boost of fiber (and less fuss!).

A Slice of Home: Cincinnati Traditions That Never Get Old

Every summer, we make our way back to Cincinnati. We always stay with my mom, who picks us up and drops us off at the airport like the true MVP she is. (Even when that meant leaving her house at 3:30AM for our departing flight...now that’s love.) 

⚾ What We Did:

• This was the first time in almost 10 years that we were home during baseball season and the Reds were actually playing at home, so we made the most of it with a game night alongside my mom, aunt, and BFF. We had amazing seats down the first base line (thank you, Seat Geek!), caught two free t-shirts from the Spirit Team, the Reds won, and the whole night was the best kind of summer nostalgia. Bonus: we landed the perfect parking spot thanks to my aunt - too good to share publicly!

  

• Visited Krohn Conservatory for the Gothic Botanica Butterfly Exhibit. At least one butterfly landed on each of us (me, Mr. C, my mom, and my BFF), and I even ran into a former student and her mom...such a sweet treat.

  

• Took a quick walk over to Mirror Lake in Eden Park after Krohn's for a short break. Too hot to stay long, but a beautiful view while we were there.

  

🍴 What We Ate (When Mom Wasn’t Cooking):

• LaRosa’s pizza and hoagies - my forever favorite. We had it for lunch the day we arrived, grabbed slices at the ballpark, had pizza again our last night, and brought hoagies back to Maine to stretch the hometown flavor just a little longer. Is that too much?!?

  

• Shoreline Social - after the butterfly exhibit, we headed here for burgers and a breeze. The outdoor seating overlooks the Four Seasons Marina and was the perfect mid-afternoon recharge. Fortunately the breeze cooperated so we could enjoy being outdoors.

  

• Cazadores in Milford - a family tradition for Mexican lunch. We met up with my aunt and sister, and while the food was great, the margaritas may have been the real highlight.

  

Love getting home to see my favorite people, revisit my favorite places, and play tourist in between. It’s never long enough. So grateful for family and my BFF for always making time for us. Until next time, Cincy. 💛

The Smarter Way to Eat Carbs in Peri-to-Post Wellness

Not long ago, one of my clients told me something I hear all the time:

“When I first hit perimenopause, I went low carb and the weight just fell off. But I couldn’t keep it up. I missed carbs too much. Then when I tried it again later, it didn’t work the same. I was exhausted, hungry, and the results were painfully slow.”

Sound familiar?

This is such a common story for women in the Peri-to-Post Wellness season. At first, cutting carbs feels like a magic fix. But long term, it’s hard to sustain and even harder to repeat. As hormones shift, your body changes and what used to work can start working against you.

That’s where carb cycling comes in.

Instead of going low carb every day, carb cycling gives your body the benefits of low carb for a couple of days each week, while bringing healthy carbs back in on others to support metabolism, hormone balance, energy, and recovery.

Why it works for Peri-to-Post Wellness:

• As estrogen declines, insulin sensitivity drops, making short low carb phases helpful for fat burning

• But carbs are essential for thyroid health, adrenal balance, and mood, so bringing them back in regularly is key

• Strategic carb intake supports lean muscle, sleep, and workouts: major priorities in this season of life

Back to my client...once she started working with me and learned how to carb cycle, everything shifted. She didn’t feel deprived. She still enjoyed her favorite carbs, just at the right times. And she started seeing results again without burnout or cravings taking over.

Carb cycling creates flexibility, sustainability, and better results. For women in the Peri-to-Post Wellness phase, it’s one of the smartest ways to fuel your body and still live your life.