Melinda’s journey through menopause and metabolic health
Menopause can look different for every woman. Changes in hormones during the menopause transition can bring a range of symptoms, from hot flashes and sleep changes to shifts in mood, energy, body composition, and weight. For many women, it can also be a time to take a closer look at their overall health and find new ways to support how they feel and function.
For Melinda L., that meant taking a closer look at her metabolic health and finding support to work with her body during this phase of life. Keep reading to learn more about her experience and what she learned along the way.
When everything felt like it was in overdrive.
For years, Melinda thought she was genetically designed to be obese. She had tried multiple weight-loss programs but couldn't progress beyond a 10-pound loss.
"People told me that if you weren't at your ideal weight by age 40, you'll never get there. I was blown away to find something that actually worked. I never anticipated such a change."
Melinda first learned about Trilivy from a woman at her church who would eventually become her coach. She had watched from afar as her friend’s health journey unfolded and noticed the changes in her size*, but she was too nervous to ask about it. Four weeks later, the two sat down together, and Melinda decided to take her first step with Trilivy.
For Melinda, the transition into menopause wasn’t just about a change on the scale. It was a change in how she felt in her own body.
She suspected she was in perimenopause, but she also wondered how much of what she was experiencing was related to her weight. She was exhausted — not just tired, but dealing with extreme fatigue that made everyday life difficult. Sleep became a challenge, too. She considered herself fortunate if she could get four to six hours a night.
Melinda also noticed a shift in where she carried her weight. What had once been more evenly distributed began to collect around her midsection — a change commonly referred to as menopause belly.
When she first started Trilivy's Reset Plan, Melinda believed she would fail. She even questioned whether she could handle another failure. Her goals were to lose weight and enjoy life with her family.
After a few months, the results surprised her. What started as a goal to lose weight and enjoy life more with her family became a turning point in how she viewed what was possible for her.
What is Trilivy?
Trilivy’s three-phase metabolic health system is built on the breakthrough science of Metabolic Synchronization®, designed to unlock a body that works better over time.
For decades, our dietitians, scientists, researchers, and clinicians have studied what drives obesity and other health challenges — and developed a step-by-step comprehensive system to help restore metabolic health.
Measuring meaningful progress.
Melinda saw meaningful changes in her self-reported body composition throughout the program. She reported losing 38.4 pounds,* lowered her BMI by 6.5, and saw a 14% decrease in body fat percentage. Her body fat mass decreased by 44.1 pounds, while her visceral fat dropped by 8, going from a 20 to a 12.**
Related: What is body composition?
Melinda also began to notice changes in how she carried her weight. The weight around her midsection and hips decreased, and what she calls her “menopause belly” became less noticeable. As her body changed, so did the way her clothes fit.
When she started, Melinda was wearing a 3X and was considering moving up to a 4X. Now, she’s dropped three sizes and is shopping for large sizes — and sometimes even medium sizes.*
Melinda’s experience also highlights why looking beyond the scale can be important, particularly during menopause.
As she focused on her overall health, she noticed improvements in several areas of her well-being, including better sleep, increased energy, and improved balance. "So much of what I thought was just being overweight, I now see differently,” Melinda says.
While everyone’s menopause experience is different, her story is a reminder that supporting metabolic health can be one part of a broader approach to feeling better and supporting overall health during this stage of life.
Getting back to the things she loves.
For Melinda, the changes weren’t limited to how she felt physically. She noticed a shift in her mental clarity, her energy, and, perhaps most importantly, her joy.
Her energy returned. Within the first week, Melinda had already seen improvements in her sleep. "I actually felt rested. That peaceful, good, renewed feeling."
Melinda found herself doing things she hadn’t felt capable of doing before. She still remembers one walk with her daughter and their dog when her daughter asked her to slow down. It was a small moment, but for Melinda, it was a powerful reminder of how much had changed.
"I felt like I was holding my kids back because I couldn’t keep up with them,” she says. “My why to start was that. I wanted to be able to keep up with my kids and enjoy things with my family.”
Melinda's health improvements took her places she never expected. She went paddle boarding for the first time and noticed her balance had improved. She went ice skating without needing to hold onto the bars. On a family hike, she had the energy to climb across the rocks without assistance. Her son is even teaching her how to ride a OneWheel.
"These are things I wouldn’t do in the past,” she says. “This opened up a door for me to experience things with my family I wasn’t able to do before.”
Even everyday moments started to feel different. Melinda is now getting six to seven hours of solid sleep. She also noticed a change in her relationship with food. The constant cravings and food noise quieted down.
For Melinda, her changes in her overall health have changed the way she thinks about taking care of herself. As a woman, wife, and mom, she says it can be easy to put everyone else first. But prioritizing her own health has helped her show up differently for the people she loves.
"If we begin to take care of ourselves the way our bodies need, we are able to take better care of our loved ones.”
Melinda became a Trilivy coach just three weeks after starting the Reset 5&1 Plan. "As I began to experience what it was like to recover my health, I knew I wanted to help others."
One of the most meaningful parts of her journey has been the opportunity to support other people along the way. Her own experience gave her a new perspective on what it means to have someone in your corner, and she now sees coaching as a chance to offer that same encouragement to others. “It really is an amazing privilege to walk alongside people on their health journey,” she says.
Community has also remained central to her experience. The encouragement of her coach, mentors, and others on plan has given Melinda a sense of connection that extends beyond her individual progress. "This transformation would be just another diet if it weren’t for the community of coaches and others on plan."
What's next for Melinda.
For Melinda, the next chapter is about continuing to focus on her overall health. Her goal now is to bring her visceral fat down further, shifting her focus from a number on the scale to the bigger picture of feeling and being healthier.
"My goal has switched from being a number on the scale to being overall healthy,” she says.
A broader view of health during menopause.
Melinda’s story is a reminder that the menopause experience can look different for everyone — and that health is about more than a number on the scale.
By focusing on metabolic health through science-backed nutrition, building healthy habits, and leaning on coach support, she found new ways to think about her goals and overall well-being. Her experience is just one example of why understanding your health from a broader perspective can matter during this stage of life.
Ready to take a closer look at your metabolic health? Explore how Trilivy can support your health goals with personalized coaching, nutrition, and habits that fit your life.
*Average weight loss on the Reset 5 & 1 Plan is 12 pounds. Clients are in weight loss, on average, for 12 weeks.
** In a clinical study, individuals on the Reset 5 & 1 Plan experienced a reduction of 14% visceral fat and 98% of lean mass was retained at 16 weeks. Arterburn LM, Coleman CD, Kiel J, et al. Randomized controlled trial assessing two commercial weight loss programs in adults with overweight or obesity. Obes Sci Pract. Feb 2019;5(1):3-14. doi:10.1002/osp4.312
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