I’m Turning 40 — And Choosing Myself Is Finally Non-Negotiable

Happy New Year, sis.

If no one has told you yet — I’m so glad you made it here. A new year always brings reflection, but this one feels different for me.

In just a few short weeks, I will turn 40.

And instead of feeling afraid of that number, I feel something I haven’t felt in a long time —

clear, grounded, and deeply intentional.

Choosing myself isn’t new…

but making it non-negotiable is.

For most of my early 30s, I truly believed I had time.

Time to reset my health.

Time to slow down.

Time to “get it together” before 40 arrived.

What I didn’t realize was this:

My body wasn’t waiting for 40.

It was already changing.

Quietly. Gradually. Steadily.

The Wake-Up Call I Couldn’t Ignore

Like so many women, I spent my 30s carrying everything —

career, marriage, motherhood, expectations, everyone else’s needs — while quietly pushing my own to the bottom of the list.

Until my body started speaking louder:

Exhaustion that sleep couldn’t fix. Weight changes that didn’t make sense. Brain fog. Mood shifts.

Irregular cycles.A nervous system that felt constantly on edge. And I realized… You don’t get until 40 to start taking your health seriously. Your body begins preparing for that next chapter long before your birthday ever arrives.

The Science Behind Why This Season Feels Different

Most women don’t realize that the transition toward menopause doesn’t start at menopause — it often begins years earlier.

Research shows hormonal changes and cycle variability commonly start in thelate 30s, well before the final menstrual period (Harlow et al., 2012).

As estrogen becomes more unpredictable, women experience shifts in fat distribution, often storing more weight around the abdomen even when eating and exercising the same (Kodoth et al., 2022).

Interestingly, metabolism itself stays relatively stable from age 20–60 (Pontzer et al., 2021).

So when weight suddenly feels harder to manage, it’s usually the result ofhormones, stress, sleep, and body composition shifting together— not because your body is broken.

At the same time, cortisol — your main stress hormone — changes with age.

Research shows many adults experiencehigher daytime cortisol levelsand flatter daily rhythms as they get older (Karlamangla et al., 2013).

Chronic cortisol elevation contributes to:

• abdominal fat storage

• sleep disruption

• blood sugar instability

• nervous system overload

This is why stress management becomes medical care, not just self-care, in this season.

Because of rising cardiometabolic risk in midlife, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force now recommends screening for prediabetes and diabetes beginning at age 35 in adults with overweight or obesity (Davidson et al., 2021), and cardiology guidelines emphasize lipid and cardiovascular risk assessment for prevention (Grundy et al., 2019).

In other words:

Your body is not betraying you. It is inviting you to partner with it.

If You’re Walking This Road With Me — Start Here

Before protocols, plans, or routines, start with reflection.

Ask yourself:

Life & Identity

• What kind of woman am I becoming?

• What does peace look like in my everyday life?

• What am I ready to release?

Body & Health

• How does my body feel most days?

• What symptoms have I normalized?

• What does thriving in my body look like?

Wellness Vision

• What would consistent self-care look like?

• What boundaries protect my health?

• What is my biggest wellness goal this year?

Write your answers down.

This is where your wellness journey truly begins.

Foundational Labs to Consider (Discuss With Your Provider)

Data brings clarity.

Many women consider these baseline labs when starting a hormone-informed wellness journey:

Core Health

• CBC

• CMP

• Lipid panel

• A1C + fasting insulin

Hormones & Thyroid

• TSH, Free T3, Free T4

• Estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA-S

• SHBG

Stress & Nutrients

• Cortisol

• Vitamin D

• Iron studies

• B12, folate, magnesium

Inflammation & Risk

• hs-CRP

• Homocysteine

• ApoB or advanced lipids (optional)

These labs don’t replace your provider —

they empower your conversation with your provider.

Sister, Let This Be Your Invitation

As I approach 40, choosing myself is no longer something I fit in later.

It is the foundation everything else is built on.

This is my Road to 40 — and if you thought you had more time too, you are not behind. You are right on time. You do not have to wait for a diagnosis, breakdown, or crisis.

Start now.

Start today.

Start with you.

Because 40 is not where the work begins.

It’s where the freedom begins. Take this time to Make wellness your best accessory!

Your sister in wellness,

Lauren

References

Davidson, K. W., et al. (2021). Screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. JAMA, 326(8), 736–743.

Grundy, S. M., et al. (2019). Management of blood cholesterol.Circulation, 139(25), e1082–e1143.

Harlow, S. D., et al. (2012). Stages of reproductive aging workshop +10.Menopause, 19(4), 387–395.

Karlamangla, A. S., et al. (2013). Daytime cortisol trajectories.Psychoneuroendocrinology, 38(11), 2585–2597.

Kodoth, V., et al. (2022). Body composition & cardiometabolic risk.Journal of Women’s Health, 31(3), 363–371.

Pontzer, H., et al. (2021). Energy expenditure across lifespan.Science, 373(6556), 808–812.