Your body isn't broken. But the old rules might be.
Maxine’s women, we need to talk. ❤️
If you're in your 40s or 50s and you've joined the Maxine’s 8 Week Challenge thinking, “Right, I'm going to get back on track, tighten everything up and get my body moving again,” there is something I want you to understand before you start beating yourself up.
Your body may not play by the same rules it did 10, 20 or even 30 years ago.
And no, that doesn't mean you've suddenly become lazy. It doesn't mean you've lost your discipline. And it definitely doesn't mean you need to eat less, train harder and do more cardio until you hate your life.
If you're experiencing perimenopause or menopause, you may have noticed changes such as:
- Your waist feels different.
- You're holding more weight around your middle.
- Your sleep has gone completely rogue.
- Your energy can be amazing one day and absolutely nowhere the next.
- You're recovering more slowly.
- You're feeling more bloated.
- Your appetite may have changed.
- Your moods may be all over the place.
And sometimes you can look in the mirror and think:
“What the hell happened? I'm doing everything I used to do!”
I hear you.
And this is exactly why I want us talking about menopause, fitness, nutrition and body transformation inside the Maxine’s 8 Week Challenge.
Because this challenge isn't about punishing your body into submission.
It's about learning how to work WITH your body.
What Actually Changes During Perimenopause and Menopause?
Perimenopause is the transition towards menopause, and during this time your hormones can fluctuate — sometimes dramatically.
Oestrogen and progesterone don't simply decline in a nice, predictable straight line. They can fluctuate, and these changes can influence things such as sleep, mood, appetite, recovery and body composition.
Eventually, we reach menopause, which is defined as 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period.
Now here's the bit I really want you to hear:
Menopause is not the end of your best years.
And it certainly isn't the time to give up on your body.
Quite the opposite.
This is the time to get serious about the things that actually matter: muscle, strength, bone health, protein, movement, recovery, sleep and overall health.
Because I don't want you spending the next 20 or 30 years trying to become smaller.
I want you to become stronger.
Muscle Is Your Superpower After 40
One of the biggest traps women fall into as they get older is:
Eat less. Do more cardio. Lose weight. Repeat.
Eventually, they can end up lighter, weaker and exhausted, while still wondering why their body doesn't look or feel the way they want it to.
No thanks.
Your goal during this challenge isn't simply to make the number on the scales smaller.
We want to build and maintain muscle.
That's why strength training during perimenopause and menopause should be a priority.
And so should protein.
Resistance training can help you build strength and maintain lean muscle, while adequate protein provides the building blocks your body needs to support muscle repair and growth.
Protein During Menopause
This is where Maxine’s protein products can be a useful tool.
Not because protein powder is magic. It isn't.
But sometimes life is busy, and getting enough protein from food alone isn't always convenient.
Maxine’s BURN Protein gives you an easy way to add protein to your day, while BURN Whey + Collagen combines whey protein with collagen and additional nutritional support.
Think of it as convenience, not a shortcut.
You can have it after training, add it to breakfast, use it as a snack, or keep it handy for those days when you realise at 3pm that you've barely eaten any protein.
Because hitting your protein target consistently is far more important than having the “perfect” supplement routine.
Let's Talk About Creatine
Now, ladies...
If you're over 40 and you're not already talking about creatine, listen up.
Creatine isn't just for bodybuilders.
Creatine monohydrate is one of the most researched sports supplements and can support strength, training performance and muscle.
For women in midlife, the conversation around maintaining strength and muscle is particularly important.
Because we don't want to accept:
“I'm getting older, so I guess I'll just lose muscle.”
No.
We're going to give your body a reason to keep it.
Lift. Eat enough protein. Recover. And use tools like creatine if they're appropriate for you.
Sleep During Perimenopause and Menopause
Now let's talk about the elephant in the room.
SLEEP.
You know the one.
You go to bed exhausted. You fall asleep. Then suddenly...
2:17am.
Eyes wide open. Brain switched on. Thinking about something your neighbour said in 2019. 😂
Sleep disruption is common around the menopausal transition, and when you're not sleeping well, everything becomes harder.
Training. Recovery. Motivation. Appetite management. Your mood.
Your ability to deal with the kids. Your ability to deal with your husband. Your ability to deal with literally ANYONE. 😂
So please don't treat sleep as something you'll worry about later.
Sleep is part of your transformation.
Maxine’s BURN Sleep Protein can be another convenient protein option to incorporate into an evening routine.
But remember — no supplement can replace good sleep habits.
Create a routine. Wind down before bed. Create a dark, comfortable bedroom. Be mindful of caffeine. Get off your phone.
And give your body the opportunity to recover.
What About Collagen?
As we move through midlife, collagen is another ingredient that gets a lot of attention.
Collagen is an important structural protein in the body, including in connective tissue, skin and bone.
Maxine’s BURN Protein Water is a great option if you're someone who looks at another thick protein shake and thinks:
“Absolutely not.” 😂
It's a refreshing way to add protein to your day, and the formula includes collagen peptides, amino acids, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid.
Think of it as another tool in your toolbox.
Not a miracle. Not a magic anti-ageing potion. Just a convenient product that can complement a good nutrition and training routine.
Coach Nic's Menopause Reality Check
Please don't fall for the idea that you need a special “menopause fat burner” to fix everything.
There isn't a magic supplement that overrides your hormones.
There isn't a powder that cancels out a poor diet.
There isn't a capsule that replaces lifting weights.
And there certainly isn't a product that means you can eat whatever you want and magically burn fat.
Maxine’s has products designed to support energy, performance, protein intake and your overall training goals — but how you use them matters.
And if you're already struggling with poor sleep, feeling wired, anxious or experiencing hot flushes, throwing more stimulants at the problem isn't necessarily the answer.
More isn't better. Smart is better.
Your 8-Week Menopause Transformation Game Plan
If you're doing the Maxine’s Challenge while navigating perimenopause or menopause, here's what I want you focusing on.
1. Eat Your Protein
Don't just pick at food all day. Build your meals around quality protein and make protein a consistent part of your nutrition.
2. Lift Weights
I want you getting stronger. Don't be afraid of weights.
Muscle is your friend.
Strength training should be one of your priorities during your 8-week transformation.
3. Stop Starving Yourself
You do not need to live on lettuce and air to transform your body.
Your body needs energy and nutrients to train, recover and maintain muscle.
4. Move Your Body
Walk. Train. Get your daily movement in.
But you don't need to punish yourself with hours of cardio because you ate a piece of bread.
5. Recover
Your body doesn't only change while you're training.
It changes while you're recovering, too.
Give your body time to rest and recover.
6. Make Sleep a Priority
Don't treat sleep as an afterthought. Create an evening routine and give your body the best opportunity to recover.
7. Hydrate
Especially if you're sweating more or experiencing hot flushes.
Keep that water bottle with you and make hydration part of your daily routine.
8. Use Supplements Intelligently
Protein. Creatine. Collagen. Recovery support.
These can all have a place.
But supplements are there to support the foundations, not replace them.
9. Get Help If You Need It
And this one is important.
If your symptoms are significantly affecting your quality of life, speak to your GP or an appropriately qualified menopause health professional.
There is absolutely no prize for suffering through symptoms because you think you should just “put up with it.”
Get informed. Get support. Advocate for yourself.
Your Body Isn't Failing You
I want you to remember something throughout these eight weeks.
Your body isn't failing you.
It is changing.
And that's okay.
You haven't suddenly lost your discipline. You haven't “let yourself go.” You haven't ruined your metabolism.
And you don't need to spend the next decade fighting against your body.
Maybe it's time we stopped asking:
“How do I get my 25-year-old body back?”
And started asking:
“How do I make this body the strongest, healthiest and most incredible version of itself now?”
That's the challenge.
Not becoming smaller at any cost. Not chasing a number on the scales. Not punishing yourself when your hormones make things harder.
Getting stronger. Eating better. Moving more. Recovering properly. Supporting your body.
And becoming bloody proud of what it can still do.
Because ladies...
We are not done.
Not even close.
Let's make these eight weeks count.
Coach Nic x