We were raised to keep going.
To hold it all together.
To be strong for everyone else — even when we’re breaking inside.
We were taught that a good woman says “yes,” holds the family up, gets the job done, and doesn’t complain.
That exhaustion is just part of being a mother, a partner, a friend — a woman.
It’s the invisible motto of midlife women everywhere:
“Just push through. You’ll be fine.”
But what if pushing through is the very thing that’s wrecking your hormones, stealing your energy, and leaving you with that belly you just can’t shift — no matter what you do?
The Invisible Weight of Being “The Strong One”
When I watched the Disney movie, Encanto, for the first time, it hit me like a mirror I didn’t know I needed.
There’s a song — Surface Pressure — where Luisa, the strong sister, sings about holding everything up:
“I’m the strong one, I’m not nervous,
I’m as tough as the crust of the Earth is…”
But as the song goes on, her cracks begin to show:
“Under the surface, I feel berserk as a tightrope walker in a three-ring circus…
Pressure like a drip, drip, drip that’ll never stop…”
And I thought — that’s it.
That’s every woman I see in clinic.
That’s so many of us.
We’ve become masters of holding it all together — careers, children, homes, relationships, aging parents — while ignoring the quiet voice inside that whispers, “I can’t keep doing this.”
The Biochemistry of “Pushing Through”
Here’s the truth: when we live like Luisa — endlessly strong, dependable, and self-sacrificing — our hormones take the hit.
Every “yes” when you mean “no”
Every late night when you’re bone-tired
Every skipped meal, every deep sigh, every time you swallow your frustration — your body remembers.
Here’s what happens:
- Cortisol (your main stress hormone) stays high for too long
- Progesterone (your calming, soothing hormone) starts to drop
- Oestrogen becomes erratic — leading to weight gain, mood swings, and irritability
- Insulin spikes more easily — creating belly fat that won’t budge
- And your thyroid — your metabolism master — slows down to conserve energy
You might look like you’re functioning…
But inside, your body is waving a white flag.
That’s why “pushing through” often leads to:
- Weight gain around the belly
- Brain fog and forgetfulness
- Fatigue that no amount of sleep fixes
- Anxiety, irritability, and low mood
- PMS or perimenopausal chaos
It’s not weakness — it’s physiology.
My Own “Luisa Moment”
I see this pattern every day in my clinic — but I also recognise it in myself.
I grew up watching my mum “do it all.”
She was our family’s Luisa — endlessly giving, endlessly strong, never asking for help.
I admired her, and without realising it, I took on that same silent expectation.
“To be valuable, I must keep carrying more.”
I carried it into motherhood, into my work, into life.
And even with all my knowledge as a naturopath and biochemist — I’ve found myself in those same cycles of depletion.
So, like many of you, I’m learning to rewrite the script.
I’m learning that rest isn’t weakness — it’s wisdom.
That boundaries aren’t selfish — they’re sacred.
And that “strong” doesn’t have to mean “constantly struggling.”
Healing from the Inside Out
Your body isn’t betraying you.
She’s trying to get your attention.
Every symptom — the fog, the fatigue, the belly weight, the overwhelm — is a message.
Your body is saying:
“I can’t keep carrying everything. Please, let me rest.”
And when you listen? Everything begins to change.
Your hormones soften.
Your nervous system stabilises.
Your digestion improves.
Your brain clears.
And for the first time in years — you start to feel you again.
3 Ways to Begin Releasing the Pressure
1. Support your stress system.
Your adrenals need calm to recover. Create small, daily moments of stillness — 5 minutes of deep breathing, a walk, a bath, even closing your eyes between tasks.
2. Feed your hormones
Stable blood sugar, good fats, protein, and rest are your foundation. Skipping meals or surviving on caffeine will only amplify cortisol chaos.
3. Learn to say “no” without guilt
Boundaries are hormonal medicine. When you stop overgiving, you allow your body to redirect energy to healing instead of surviving.
Ready to Lighten the Load — and Reclaim Your Hormonal Harmony?
If you’re tired of feeling like Luisa — strong but silently struggling — it’s time to take your next step toward healing.
The truth is: your body isn’t just asking for rest…
It’s asking for a reset.
And I created Midlife Mastery to guide you through that transformation.
This transformative course is grounded in my signature Hormone Harmony Framework, a four-step process that guides you back to balance — physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Midlife Mastery: A 4-Week Journey to Rebalance Your Hormones, Reignite Your Energy & Feel Like You Again
Delivered in manageable, soul-supportive weekly modules, with easy-to-use recipes, this course helps you take the guesswork out of healing and finally understand what your midlife body needs to thrive.
Join Midlife Mastery before 22nd October and receive $100 off your enrolment.
It’s my early bird gift to celebrate the moment you chose you.
Teressa Todd
Naturopath | Biochemist
Ready to kick start Gut Health? Book a Call!
This is how gut microbes can influence weight!
Probiotics can help you gain weight or lose weight by interacting with our genetics, food and metabolism.
And yes, I did say lose or gain weight……..
Firstly, let me explain that the trillions of microbes in the gut need to be varied, meaning that there should be a large variety of species. There are many different species (or breeds) of microbes, and they all have their place in aiding health — the more variety and balance, the better health results.
Back to the weight loss or weight gain issue….
Do you eat yogurt and berries for breakfast? Thinking that it’s helping you lose weight?
Well, Lactobacillus acidophilus (like the species found in yoghurt) has been connected to weight gain.
I am not saying throw your yoghurt and berries in the bin. Instead, I am suggesting looking at the overall picture. If Lactobacillus acidophilus is the predominant micro-organism of the gut, then weight gain can result.
It is about the variety of species of gut microbes. Imagine if we only have trained german shepherd guard dogs in the world. It may be a safe world, but I am sure that other breeds may be more suitable as a family pet.
While Lactobacillus acidophilus is associated with weight gain, other Lactobacillus species correlate with weight loss.
Species like Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus gasseri, and Bifidobacteria animalis have been found to support weight loss.
Want to lose weight?
Look at your gut flora to support your goal.
Tests can be performed to identify the predominant species of the gut, and specific species can be utilised to support weight changes.
Want more information about your gut health?
Or want to look at all the factors contributing to weight gain, I’d love to be able to help.
