Eps 386: The Hidden Link Between Burnout & Perimenopause w/Elizabeth Gaines
Thu Feb 05 2026
Your body is responding to how hard you’ve been pushing.
Elizabeth explains the concept of hormonal and metabolic “debt,” why sex hormones are often the first system to be underfunded, and how productivity culture trains women to ignore early warning signs.
Episode Timeline:
01:15 – Elizabeth’s Burnout Story
03:00 – Chronic Stress Builds Slowly
05:20 – Productivity And Self-Worth
07:55 – The Body Defines Stress
09:30 – Stress Isn’t Mental
12:30 – Ignoring Early Body Signals
14:45 – Vital Reserve Explained
16:05 – Chronic Stress Becomes Debt
17:30 – Why Symptoms Are Dismissed
19:50 – Health Debt In Midlife
22:40 – Exercise As Energy Cost
25:52 – Stress And Early Menopause
27:30 – Hormones And Vital Reserve
29:10 – Rethinking Menopause Meaning
32:20 – No Quick Fix Solution
36:15 – Trial And Error Trap
41:30 – Beyond “Feeling Neutral”
51:00 – Final Takeaways And Support
About Elizabeth Gaines:
Elizabeth Gaines is Director of Education at Functional Diagnostic Nutrition® (FDN), where she leads curriculum design, live training and mentor development for one of the world’s most respected functional health certification programs.
Free exclusive access to “FDN Methodology in Action” case study series at https://fdntraining.com/theperiodwhisperer
Connect with Elizabeth Gaines:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/FunctionalDiagnosticNutrition/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fdntraining/ You Tube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7xDnEKCe9gKeWZ2vbE3C8w Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/san-diego-natural-health-&-fitness-ctr/ Podcast - https://www.functionaldiagnosticnutrition.com/health-detective-podcast/ 🔗 Links & Resources
🌐Beam Minerals: https://www.beamminerals.com/?oid=4&affid=1227
(USE DISCOUNT CODE: BRIA at checkout for 20% off)
🌐AG1: DrinkAG1.com/BRIA (for a free $76 gift when you try AG1)
🌐 Website: https://www.briatheperiodwhisperer.com/🎧 Listen to past episodes: https://www.briatheperiodwhisperer.com/the-period-whisperer-podcast
📝 Grab The Ultimate Guide To Make Nutrition Easy In Perimenopause: https://www.briatheperiodwhisperer.com/offers/rVsL2APG/checkout
📝 Grab The Ultimate Guide To Peptides For Perimenopause: https://www.briatheperiodwhisperer.com/offers/7Xa9HvoH/checkout
📩 Book a Free Discovery Call: https://www.briatheperiodwhisperer.com/hormonebreakthrough
More
Your body is responding to how hard you’ve been pushing. Elizabeth explains the concept of hormonal and metabolic “debt,” why sex hormones are often the first system to be underfunded, and how productivity culture trains women to ignore early warning signs. Episode Timeline: 01:15 – Elizabeth’s Burnout Story 03:00 – Chronic Stress Builds Slowly 05:20 – Productivity And Self-Worth 07:55 – The Body Defines Stress 09:30 – Stress Isn’t Mental 12:30 – Ignoring Early Body Signals 14:45 – Vital Reserve Explained 16:05 – Chronic Stress Becomes Debt 17:30 – Why Symptoms Are Dismissed 19:50 – Health Debt In Midlife 22:40 – Exercise As Energy Cost 25:52 – Stress And Early Menopause 27:30 – Hormones And Vital Reserve 29:10 – Rethinking Menopause Meaning 32:20 – No Quick Fix Solution 36:15 – Trial And Error Trap 41:30 – Beyond “Feeling Neutral” 51:00 – Final Takeaways And Support About Elizabeth Gaines: Elizabeth Gaines is Director of Education at Functional Diagnostic Nutrition® (FDN), where she leads curriculum design, live training and mentor development for one of the world’s most respected functional health certification programs. Free exclusive access to “FDN Methodology in Action” case study series at https://fdntraining.com/theperiodwhisperer Connect with Elizabeth Gaines: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/FunctionalDiagnosticNutrition/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fdntraining/ You Tube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7xDnEKCe9gKeWZ2vbE3C8w Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/san-diego-natural-health-&-fitness-ctr/ Podcast - https://www.functionaldiagnosticnutrition.com/health-detective-podcast/ 🔗 Links & Resources 🌐Beam Minerals: https://www.beamminerals.com/?oid=4&affid=1227 (USE DISCOUNT CODE: BRIA at checkout for 20% off) 🌐AG1: DrinkAG1.com/BRIA (for a free $76 gift when you try AG1) 🌐 Website: https://www.briatheperiodwhisperer.com/🎧 Listen to past episodes: https://www.briatheperiodwhisperer.com/the-period-whisperer-podcast 📝 Grab The Ultimate Guide To Make Nutrition Easy In Perimenopause: https://www.briatheperiodwhisperer.com/offers/rVsL2APG/checkout 📝 Grab The Ultimate Guide To Peptides For Perimenopause: https://www.briatheperiodwhisperer.com/offers/7Xa9HvoH/checkout 📩 Book a Free Discovery Call: https://www.briatheperiodwhisperer.com/hormonebreakthrough