The Menopause Metabolism Fix: The Over-40 Woman’s 4-Week Program to Recover Your Strong, Sexy (and Sane) Self in 15 Minutes a Day

by Cara Metz

Rescue your body from midlife hormonal havoc with The Menopause Metabolism Fix—a simple 4-week plan.

Yes, you can look good and feel good again! And contrary to what you may have heard from some menopausal celebrity, you don’t need to do long, intense workouts six times a week or subsist on a cup of bone broth until dinnertime. Yes, your body is changing, and you need to do things differently—and strategically—but that doesn’t mean it has to be hard or complicated.
 
Midlife fitness expert and Instagram influencer Cara Metz gives you the how, what, why of exercise, eating, and
 

A 4-week workout plan, each week consisting of 5 workouts of 15 minutes each that follow a strategic approach to stretch, strength, and sculpting to get you in shape and combat midlife issues—from weight gain to loss of muscle and flexibilityPhotos of the start and end poses for each exerciseLinks to real-time workout videos50 recipes, food lists and meal plans (both vegetarian and non-vegetarian) that support menopause nutrition necessities such as blood sugar balance, higher protein intake, and gut health 
Take control of your health through menopause and thrive in your midlife!

Genres: Health, Nonfiction

Kindle Edition

Published January 7, 2025

Reviews

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

The Menopause Metabolism Fix is a book for women over 40 on all things menopause related to fitness all the way to nutrition.
Cara Metz is a midlife fitness expert and Instagram influencer, and I found her book helpful and insightful.
The book includes five 15-minute workouts each week, which consist of sculpting, stretching, and strengthening the body and to help lessen weight gain and prevent muscle loss. There are food and recipe recommendations to help with the nutritional needs with advice and information provided alongside this too.
I found the layout and format of the book easy to follow and use and enjoyed the photographs included throughout. I would have preferred if the recipes had photos to accompany them and I'm a little confused by the title being called Metabolism Fix as it doesn't seem to include about Metabolism in the book itself.

[Joni Owens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of useful information. Definitely recommend reading this prior to getting symptoms of menopause so you can be prepared. I liked a lot of this book. And already ordered some vitamins mentioned even though I’m not at this phase of life yet.

[Jami Bay]

The information was very good. I wish I would have had this knowledge many years ago. A great idea for your daughters as they near their 40’s. The exercises and recipes were so comprehensive that I ended up ordering the book.

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Review: The Menopause Metabolism Fix by Cara Metz

Rating: 3 solid stars

As someone navigating the complexities of midlife, I was eager to dive into The Menopause Metabolism Fix by Cara Metz. This book promises a fresh take on maintaining fitness and well-being during the transformative years of menopause, offering a four-week program that requires just 15 minutes of exercise a day. While my experience with the book was a bit mixed, it certainly provided some valuable insights.

Summary and Structure

Cara Metz, an Instagram influencer and midlife fitness expert, delivers a guide that combines exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle advice specifically tailored for women over 40. The core of the program includes five 15-minute workouts per week, focusing on stretching, strength, and sculpting. This strategic approach aims to address common midlife challenges like weight gain and muscle loss. The book is well-structured, featuring clear exercise instructions with photos, which I found incredibly helpful for ensuring proper technique.

In addition to the exercise regimen, Metz provides recipes and food recommendations that cater to the nutritional needs of menopausal women. These suggestions emphasize blood sugar balance, higher protein intake, and gut health. The integration of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options is a thoughtful touch that broadens the book's appeal.

My Thoughts

While I found the book's layout user-friendly and the exercise guides easy to follow, I couldn't shake the feeling that much of the information was somewhat repetitive. There is a lot of emphasis on well-trodden advice about menopause symptoms and solutions. I was hoping for more innovative insights or groundbreaking strategies, but instead, I encountered familiar territory.

That said, the practical breakdown of steps for progressing through the program was appreciated. The daily 15-minute workouts are a manageable commitment, and I plan to incorporate these exercises into my routine. The recipes while useful, require quite a bit of preplanning, time, and extensive list of ingredients. I would have also loved to see some photographs to accompany them for a more engaging presentation.

Conclusion

Overall, The Menopause Metabolism Fix is a solid resource for those looking to regain control over their health during menopause. Cara Metz's empathetic approach and expertise are evident throughout the book. While it may not offer groundbreaking new information, it does provide a holistic guide that combines exercise and nutrition in a way that is accessible and practical. For anyone seeking to enhance their fitness journey during midlife, this book is worth a read. It might not be revolutionary, but it certainly has the potential to be transformative if you commit to its principles.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was written by a 50 year old former professional dancer who became a personal trainer and instagram influencer and who developed a fitness app. The book goes into a lot about menopause and recommends quite a lot of lifestyle changes that are likely to be beneficial such as daily meditation, getting enough sleep, adopting a positive mindset, completely changing your diet, eliminating sugar and processed foods, and doing her daily workouts with hand weights.

The title seems a little misleading to me because there is a 15 minute exercise routine for each day but the plan also has you doing things like keeping a food journal, meditating for 10 minutes, and making three meals and a snack each day that are fairly complicated. Recipes are included (no photos) and they tend to be low carb, gluten free, high protein (very often calling for the addition of protein powder), high fiber, whole food, and vegetarian. The recipes include a lot of ingredients the author recommends like bulgar, flax seeds, fresh fruits, coconut yogurt, oats, soy, and chickpea flour.

I do think you’re likely to see a positive change in your body and menopause symptoms if you completely change your lifestyle and diet to this, but this is definitely meant for women of privilege who have the time and money for this diet and lifestyle change.

There’s also no scientific backing to calling it a metabolism fix. She never even talks about metabolism (it’s not even listed in the index once) or why her plan would change yours. That’s not saying it won’t— positive lifestyle and dietary changes certainly could, but this is not a book that mentions scientific studies or quotes any sources. And while she is supposedly trained it some trademarked menopause program I can’t tell if she’s the one who trademarked it — and she is brand new to menopause herself.

I was surprised there wasn’t any mention of supplements that can help symptoms, but I guess that’s not her area of expertise. She does promote the consumption of a lot of soy, flax, fiber, omega 3s, and probiotic foods, which have been shown to be beneficial.

The strength of this book is in the workout information and (if you are brand new to information about menopause), the talk about what symptoms are normal and what changes can be helpful. I think the average woman may have trouble changing her diet to this extent. If you are committed to it then it’s likely to make a difference.

I read a temporary digital loan of this book for review.

[Bzz Kolla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this eCopy to review

I absolutely love The Menopause Metabolism Fix by Cara Metz. This book offers a refreshing perspective on midlife fitness and provides a comprehensive 4-week program designed specifically for women over 40. Cara's approach is both practical and empowering, making it easy to navigate the challenges of menopause with clarity and confidence.

The program includes 15-minute daily workouts that focus on stretching, strength, and sculpting, which are perfect for combating common midlife issues like weight gain and loss of muscle flexibility. The inclusion of QR codes for real-time workout videos is a fantastic touch, ensuring you can follow along correctly.

Cara also provides detailed recipes and food recommendations that support menopause nutrition necessities, such as blood sugar balance and gut health. The combination of exercise and nutrition tips makes this book a holistic guide to thriving during menopause.

Overall, The Menopause Metabolism Fix is a must-read for anyone looking to reclaim their health and vitality during midlife. Cara Metz's expertise and empathy shine through, making this book an invaluable resource.

[Angela Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever I see a book on menopause I look forward to reading it to get any help and advice I can. Sometimes books on this subject can be quite boring but i really enjoyed this book and found it really informative and interesting.
The book was well laid out and I found the exercise pictures easy to understand and will definitely be incorporating these into my daily routine.
The recipes ideas were helpful although it would have been nice to have some photographs.
Overall this book is great and I would definitely recommend to anyone going through the perimenopause or menopause,
Thanks to NetGalley, Cara Metz and Quarto Publishing Group -Fair Winds for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

When it comes to menopause I'm always looking for new tools to deal with all of the changes going on in my body. This quick read had a lot of information packed into a small book! The thing that I appreciate the most is that the fix is not just food and diet, but it includes things like meditation and walking outside... And she literally tells you to stop counting calories.
There are not a ton of recipes but I'll be looking online for the author to see if I can find more. I'm excited to try the recipe for Greek Salad with Tempeh and Chickpeas!
Overall it's a worthwhile read just because I picked up a few new bits of information that can help me progress in my wellness journey!
Thanks to Fair Winds Press and NetGalley for the review copy!

[Rachel N · Rating 4 out of 5]

More information is always useful for those heading towards or going through the menopause and this book is an excellent source. There is a good background on what you may be going through, with a solid basis of fact told in a very accessible way, and things you can do to help. The author has a very pleasant writing style that is friendly but informative and I especially enjoyed the mix of foods and exercise that can help you feel more in control of your body. The tone of the book is both positive and sympathetic, and is full of useful tips.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book that helps menopausal women with a plan to help jump-start their metabolism in a 4-week program.

I saw this book on the new books shelf while I was picking up a book at my library. Since I'm in the perimenopause stage, I picked it up to read to see if it had any good insight. It has pretty much the same information as the other books I've read, except this one gives a detailed work out regimen and some recipes to try. I haven't tried the workouts yet or made any of the recipes, but I think I may try the workouts and a few of the recipes. Most of the recipes, though, I know I would not make.

[Shauna Morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the four week workout plan and that it is 15 minutes a day, a great way to start building healthy habits. I think the 80/20 mindset is really smart, it builds in forgiveness and reminds you that 80% of the time you are doing what needs to be done to fuel your body with proper food and exercise and to not let that 20% get you off track.
I do not think I am in perimenopause yet, but I am assuming it is coming soon and I look forward to being able to implement some of these ideas to help reduce the symptoms that I may face.

[Julia Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very easy to understand explanation of what women encounter during menopause. The author has broken the book into several sections. There’s one that describes menopause, one that describes the symptoms many women face, one that lists several approaches to manage those symptoms, and one that lists healthy exercises and recipes. I thought this was a good approach for the author. The information will help women realize that so many of these symptoms are natural.

[Michelle Castaneda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Menopause Metabolism Fix: The Over-40 Woman’s 4-Week Program to Recover Your Strong, Sexy (and Sane) Self in 15 Minutes a Day by Cara Metz is a great guide for women. I like the practical nature of this guide. It covers food, exercise, and so much more. This guide is brilliantly written and such a valuable resource. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little book. I like the approaches and the simplicity of some of the messages. Makes me feel better than beating myself up about everything. The case study at the beginning - every woman - really was 99% me. Thanks NetGalley for this copy.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be very informative and well written. I think it has a lot of good information for women struggling with menopause weight gain. I think this book would probably also be beneficial for anyone wanting to lose weight and get healthier, not just menopausal women.

[Sarah (blissbubbley) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this as a 40-something woman. I thought this was a really useful guide and it's not trying to be contrived and it's got helpful tips and it covers your food, your exercise and so much more.

And I think a coffee table book, this would be ideal and probably an ideal gift as well.

[Lexy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting read. Some great recipes and exercises. Ideas to give you confidence and facts to leave you feeling educated

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring and repetitive, not particularly informative

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

great info
well read

[GONZA · Rating 3 out of 5]

A comprehensive four-week program that helps women monitor changes due to menopause and hormones through proper nutrition and exercise. Particularly feasible book, both because the exercise she proposes can be done at home as long as you have weights and a mat and the recipes are also easy.

Un programma completo di quattro settimane che aiuta la donna a monitorare i cambiamenti dovuti alla menopausa ed agli ormoni, attraverso una corretta alimentazione ed il giusto movimento. Libro particolarmente fattibile, sia perché la ginnastica che propone si puó fare in casa a patto di avere i pesetti ed un materassino e le ricette sono anche alla portata di tutti.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

[Emily Floyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, I didn’t feel like there was a lot of new information in this book. I did appreciate the breakdown of steps to move forward and the recipes. But the information about symptoms and solutions was repetitive. I was hoping for a little more in-depth and innovative advice.