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Habits and Hustle

Episode 533: Dr. Amy Shah: What Changes in Perimenopause and How Cortisol Drives Belly Fat After 40

March 3, 2026·1h 5m

Midlife is not subtle. You're disciplined, productive, training harder than ever, and still waking up at 4AM wired, gaining belly fat, and realizing the formula that used to work no longer does. In this Habits & Hustle episode, I'm joined by Dr. Amy Shah to break down why cortisol is the real driver behind stubborn weight gain and 3AM wakeups and how too much intensity can backfire after 40. We also unpack her 30-30-3 Method and 4-3-2-1 Movement Framework so women can start a practical reset in just three days. Dr. Amy Shah is a Double Board-Certified MD, Nutritionist, and New York Times Best Selling Author. She trained in internal medicine and immunology and studied nutrition at Cornell University. Amy is the author of I'm So Effing Hungry and I'm So Effing Tired, with Hormone Havoc forthcoming.