How a Donut Run Amplified My Perimenopause Symptoms
Last week, I was a crying mess. And I found myself wondering… has this been you?
Crying at things that normally wouldn’t touch you. Snapping at people you care about. Feeling completely overwhelmed by small, everyday problems.
And then asking yourself… Is this perimenopause? Or is it my lifestyle? Or is it both?
Let me give you a real example from my week.
I signed up for a charity event called a “Donut Stop Run.” Eat a donut, run 1.5km. Repeat.
It was social. It was lighthearted. It was a chance to switch off from work, connect, and have some fun.
And yes, it’s not how I usually eat.
But I made a conscious decision. This wasn’t about being perfect. It was about being human.
I ended up eating 6 donuts and running 6 x 1.5km. By the sixth donut, I was done. No enjoyment left.
What followed was where it got interesting.
By that afternoon, my gut wasn’t happy. I struggled to hydrate. I didn’t feel like eating anything else.
That night, my sleep was poor. I woke up dehydrated, exhausted, with a headache.
And then the ripple effect showed up in ways that matter when you’re already stretched:
Now here’s the part I want you to really see.
I already know I’m in perimenopause. My cycle has been unpredictable, and some of these symptoms aren’t new.
But this week, they were amplified.
Not caused entirely by hormones. Not caused entirely by lifestyle. But lifestyle clearly amplified what was already there.
As my hydration improved, As my sleep slowly came back,
Everything else started to settle.
I could think more clearly. I had more patience in conversations. I felt more like myself again.
This is where this matters for you.
When you’re a busy professional, you’re already managing a lot.
You don’t have extra capacity for poor sleep, dehydration, or big blood sugar swings.
So when those things stack on top of perimenopause, everything can feel harder than it needs to.
You can absolutely do things like a donut run.
Go out for dinner. Have dessert. Say yes to social events.
But it helps to do it with awareness.
Because there is often a flow-on effect for how you feel in the days that follow.
Not as punishment. Not as something to feel guilty about.
Just as useful information.
A helpful way to think about it is this:
Your body is already navigating change. And your daily habits can either support that… or place a bit more load on it.
It’s not that your body is working against you. It’s that your environment and habits can either support it or make things feel harder.
For many women I work with, two of the biggest levers are:
When those are off, everything feels more intense.
Emotions feel bigger. Patience feels thinner. Focus drops. Energy disappears faster than you expect.
A small reflection for you
Over the past week, ask yourself:
Then gently connect the dots.
Not to judge yourself.
Not to restrict.
Just to understand.
Start by noticing one pattern. That’s often enough.
Because while you can’t control everything that comes with perimenopause, you can influence more than you think.
If this resonated, I’d like to hear from you.
What have you noticed in your own lifestyle that makes your symptoms feel easier… or harder?
Share your reflections with me. I read every reply, and it helps shape what I create next.
