Women’s Health Unwrapped
Episode 169:
Sacred Metabolism: Why midlife energy and weight are not just about food
You have probably been told midlife is a slow slide into decline. Weight gain, fatigue, mood swings, brain fog – “just part of the deal now.”
“So many of us only focus our thoughts of metabolism on our weight. That’s the primary objective for lots of women – losing weight or maintaining weight, looking a certain way – and focusing on metabolic health only in the sense of how much food am I taking on board and how is that used? But as you’ve shared, there is so much more.”
— Nicola Farndell
“We’re at this crisis point in society where women are very impacted by poor metabolic health. Our bodies were made to deal with acute stress and then have resolution. But modern life doesn’t work like that for most women – we are under chronic stress all of the time, and this has a huge metabolic impact.”
— Carla Wainwright
In this episode of Women’s Health Unwrapped:
Most women already know the basics: eat well, move more, manage stress. But knowing has not been the problem. The problem is that midlife demands a different approach – one that works with your body, your hormones, and your nervous system… not against them.
In this episode I’m joined by holistic wellness coach and “midlife alchemist” Carla Wainwright to explore metabolism as more than biology. We talk about physical metabolism (blood sugar, hormones, mitochondria) and the deeper layer Carla calls sacred metabolism – the energetic, intuitive, embodied part of you that so many women have learned to override.
This is not an episode to consume and forget. It is an invitation to implement something small, steady, and meaningful – so you can stop firefighting symptoms and start leading your health.
In this episode, we unwrap:
What metabolism actually is (and why it is not just about weight).
Why women’s metabolism changes across the cycle, perimenopause, and post-menopause.
The link between chronic stress, blood sugar, and poor metabolic health.
Why what used to work may stop working when women reach menopause because of the shift in hormones and stress responses.
What Carla means by “sacred metabolism” and why energy matters.
Why midlife can be a portal into your most powerful years.
How small actions create big outcomes when they are consistent and matched to your nervous system capacity.
Three simple, practical steps you can start today (even with a full life).
About Carla Wainwright:
Carla Wainwright is a Holistic Wellness Coach, Sexual Awakening Facilitator, and Midlife Alchemist. She supports women 40+ to reclaim vitality, balance their hormones, and reconnect with their pleasure and power through a blend of metabolic health, nervous system healing, and sensual embodiment.
With a background in biology, homeopathy, and over two decades of experience in the healing arts, Carla bridges science with sacred wisdom. She is especially passionate about helping women reframe midlife as a transformative rite of passage – a portal to deeper clarity, creative power, and authentic expression.
Carla leads retreats, group programs, and 1:1 coaching that integrate lifestyle medicine, deep emotional inquiry, and somatic practices to guide women back to their vibrancy and radiance.
Connect with Carla:
Get Carla’s Free ‘The Vibrancy Guide’ – a simple, body-honouring roadmap to boost energy, balance hormones, and feel good in your body again
Most women already know what to do.
Eat well, move more, manage stress.
But midlife is where knowing stops being enough.
If you are stuck in the loop of trying again and sliding back, it is not because you are lazy or failing. It is usually because you are trying to “fix” symptoms without understanding what your body is actually asking for.
The Midlife Reset Quiz helps you:
💛 Identify what is really driving your fatigue, weight changes, mood shifts or brain fog
💛 Understand whether your next step is metabolic, nervous system, hormonal, or habit-based
💛 Choose one small, steady action that supports your energy and helps change stick
It takes 2 minutes and gives you a personalised starting point – with less pressure and more clarity.
✨ Take the Midlife Reset Quiz and give your body a clearer path forward.
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