At 40, Your Body Changes—And I Know Because I’m Living It: A Nurse Practitioner’s Honest Guide to Understanding Your Health

At 40, your body changes. For some women, it’s subtle. For others, it feels like a storm of unexplainable changes that can’t be ignored. But what I’ve learned—both as a provider and a woman—is that those changes don’t always wait until 40. For me, they started at 36.

And if I’m being honest, I felt it before I had words for it. Even when I began to recognize what was happening, I didn’t fully accept it. So I kept going. I kept working, showing up, and taking care of my family. From the outside, everything looked fine. But internally, everything felt different.

I gained weight that felt like it happened overnight. I pushed through days without sleep. I moved through hot flashes, brain fog, and the constant demands of life. Nothing around me changed. The expectations didn’t change. What people needed from me didn’t change. But I did.

And here’s the part I didn’t say out loud at first—but I felt it deeply: I knew something was off. Not because I was guessing, but because I was trained to recognize it. I saw patterns, understood symptoms, and knew when something didn’t quite align. And still, I didn’t fully stop to listen.

Until I had to.

Because what no one really tells you is this: as you approach 40 and beyond, your body doesn’t let you ignore it anymore. You have to sit with it. And I did—as a provider, as a woman, and as someone who truly believed I had more time.

Even with knowledge, I still had questions. Even with experience, I still had moments of uncertainty. And that’s the part I need you to understand. Because if I felt this way, I know you can too.

Maybe you don’t have a diagnosis. Maybe you don’t even have the words yet. But you feel something. You’re more tired than you used to be. Your energy doesn’t stretch the same way. Your body feels unfamiliar in quiet, subtle ways. And you keep asking yourself, what is going on with me?

And then you do what we’ve always been taught to do—you keep going.

But functioning is not the same as understanding.

That’s the shift for me now. I’m not trying to push through anymore. I’m trying to understand. Because when I look back, I felt it before I had answers. I noticed it before I could name it. And I realized something that changed everything—my body had been communicating with me the whole time.

Not against me, but for me.

Stress plays a role. Hormones play a role. Life absolutely plays a role. Science supports what we feel—chronic stress and hormonal shifts impact energy, metabolism, and overall health (McEwen & Akil, 2020; Santoro et al., 2021). But when you’re living it, it doesn’t feel clinical. It feels personal.

So now, I move differently. Not perfectly, but intentionally. I pay attention sooner. I don’t brush things off the way I used to. I ask more questions. I give myself permission to pause and understand instead of pushing through. Because I’ve finally accepted something I used to overlook—normal doesn’t always mean understood.

And I hear this every day from women: “I didn’t know what to ask.” “I felt rushed.” “I left confused.” And when they finally feel heard, they say, “You’re the first person who actually listened.”

That matters to me—because I’ve been on both sides of that moment.

I’m still on this journey. This isn’t a story where everything is figured out. This is real life. I am learning my body in real time. I am adjusting. I am paying attention in a way I didn’t have to before. But what’s different now is this—I’m not ignoring myself anymore.

And if you’re reading this, this is your moment too. Not a moment of fear, but a moment of awareness. You don’t have to wait for a diagnosis. You don’t have to wait until everything feels overwhelming. You don’t have to wait until your body forces you to stop.

You can start now.

You can start by paying attention, by asking questions, and by choosing to understand your body instead of pushing through it. Because your symptoms are not random. They are information.

If you don’t know where to begin, start with yourself. Take a moment to slow down and check in honestly.

Questions to Ask Yourself

• When did I first notice a change in how I feel?

• What feels different in my body right now?

• Am I more tired, more overwhelmed, or less like myself?

• How is my sleep, mood, and energy compared to a year ago?

• Have I been pushing through things I should be paying attention to?

• What do I wish someone would explain to me about my health?

From there, begin building your baseline. Not perfectly—just intentionally. Have conversations with your provider and start creating clarity around your health.

Baseline Labs to Discuss with Your Provider

• CBC

• CMP

• Lipid panel (cholesterol)

• Fasting glucose and/or Hemoglobin A1C

• Thyroid function (TSH, Free T4)

• Vitamin D level

• Blood pressure trends

• Hormonal labs (based on your symptoms)

This is why I created She Chose Wellness. Not just as a provider, but as a woman who has sat in this exact space. I know what it feels like to want answers, to want clarity, and to want someone to connect the dots in a way that actually makes sense.

And I also know what happens when you finally understand your health. You stop second-guessing yourself. You start making intentional decisions. You begin to feel like yourself again.

If you’re ready to understand your health in a way that actually makes sense, this is exactly what I walk women through inside She Chose Wellness.

We are not meant to navigate this silently. Not confused. Not disconnected from our own bodies.

I’m living this. You’re living this.

And the most powerful thing women can do in this season is Make wellness your best accessory and  choose to understand ourselves—and advocate for ourselves—with confidence.

Your sister in wellness,

Dr. Lauren Rosenthall, DNP