Midlife Table Talk: The Conversation Every Woman Deserves
Because it doesn’t need a makeover - it needs a microphone!
There’s something unstoppable that happens when women sit down and talk honestly about midlife. Not the “grin and bear it” version. Not the “you’re just stressed” version. The actual, messy, confusing, life-altering reality of it.
That’s exactly what we did at the first Midlife Table Talk - a roundtable hosted by Heather Danby (the voice behind the Sharing Out Loud podcast), Cris Amato, RN, MSN, RNFA, APN-C and founder of Grace Concierge, Amy Johnson, Fitness Expert and Nutritionist, and Heather Dillavou, PT, MS, who specializes in all things pelvic floor. These are women who spend their days helping us navigate hormones, health, aging, pelvic changes, strength, identity, and the wild ride of perimenopause… and beyond.
And just like I hoped, it was validating, infuriating, hilarious, and healing all at once.
Here’s a quick look at what came up… and why every woman deserves this kind of conversation.
It’s Not In Our Heads - It’s In Our Hormones
Nearly every story touched on the same theme: women being dismissed, misdiagnosed, or handed a depression or anxiety prescription when what they actually needed was hormonal care and real information.
As Cris @graceconcierge put it: “Women aren’t meant to white-knuckle their way through this.”
Night sweats, panic attacks, low libido, irritability, isolation. It’s not weakness. It’s physiology. And we deserve better than “you’re fine.”
Pelvic Health Isn’t Optional - It’s Foundational
@maccaheather, pelvic floor PT and sexual health expert, reminded us that pelvic pain, dryness, prolapse, painful sex, urinary changes, and insomnia are all deeply tied to hormones… yet most women get zero guidance.
Her message was clear: Women need informed choices, providers who understand menopause, and permission to actually talk about their bodies.
And yes… bring on the vulva puppet next time (she actually has one!).
Fitness in Midlife Isn’t About Punishment - It’s About Support
Fitness coach @amyjohnstonfitness broke down what actually happens to our bodies after 40: more inflammation, tendon pain, shifting cycles, sudden changes in weight distribution, and recovery that refuses to cooperate.
And the fix isn’t starvation, overtraining, or extreme trends. As she said: “If it sounds trendy or fear-based, it’s probably not the truth.”
Strength, recovery, consistency, and understanding hormones matter more now than ever.
Testing Helps - But Symptoms Tell the Real Story
Every expert agreed: labs can be useful for context, but your lived experience is the data that matters most.
If your provider tells you you’re “normal” when you feel anything but? That’s a provider problem … not a you problem.
The conversation around testing, timing, and symptom-based care (especially from Cris) was eye-opening.
The Biggest Truth: Silence Is What Hurts Us Most
Every woman at the table had a version of the same story: suffering quietly, assuming it was just stress, aging, or personal failure.
It isn’t. It’s menopause. And women deserve information, community, and medical care that actually listens.
As I shared during the conversation: “If I was feeling these things, I was sure other women were too. We just weren’t talking about it.”
That’s why this roundtable mattered so much.
Listen In… and a Little Book News
The full Midlife Table Talk episode dropped this week at Sharing Out Loud with @heathermdanby on Apple and Spotify. It’s real, it’s validating, and it’s exactly the conversation I wish I had 10 years ago.
And because timing is everything… my book the Real Girls Guide to Midlife launches next week on Amazon.
This roundtable reminded me why I wrote it in the first place… because women deserve answers, context, community, and language for what’s happening in their bodies. We deserve support, not silence.
#RGG55, #RealGirlsGuide, #SelfCare, #MidlifeSkinCare
We’ve earned every wrinkle. Might as well make more laugh lines together.
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