Nancy’s story: early menopause and a wake-up call

Nancy was diagnosed with osteopenia (a precursor to osteoporosis) after entering menopause at 43. She had all the classic midlife responsibilities—children, career, a packed diary—and, like so many of us, had put herself at the bottom of the list.

That diagnosis was her turning point.

She began walking every day, lifting weights, adjusting her nutrition, and learning how to work with her body instead of against it. She focused on sleep, recovery, and consistency—not perfection. And today, her bone health has improved without needing medication.

If you’d told teenage me that one day I’d be a personal trainer, I would’ve laughed. PE was a source of stress, embarrassment and discomfort. I didn’t feel sporty, coordinated, or confident. Like so many women, I spent years believing that movement just wasn’t “for me.”

In my twenties, I joined a gym because I thought I needed to lose weight to feel better — to fix what was wrong with me. I didn’t enjoy it. I dipped in and out. I forced myself to go, but never really felt connected to what I was doing.