Dr. Lisa Weeks, Naturopathic Doctor

06/15/2026

Who else wakes up at 3 or 4 a.m. and suddenly their brain decides it's time to solve all of life's problems?

I've learned firsthand how much sleep deprivation affects the brain.

When Stuart was a baby and I was breastfeeding and pumping around the clock, I accidentally put a library book into a Canada Post mailbox instead of the library return slot.

Years later, after another stretch of poor sleep, I somehow left my car running in the Costco parking lot for 40 minutes while I shopped. Thankfully, it was still there! Now I always check that I can open the trunk before walking away—my car won't let me open it if the engine is still running.

So many people are walking around sleep deprived and don't realize how much it's affecting their health.

Even short-term sleep loss can increase brain fog, cravings, stress hormones, anxiety, and weaken immunity and resilience.

One thing I hear from women in their late 30s, 40s and 50s all the time is:

"I can fall asleep, but I wake up at 3 or 4 a.m. and my mind starts racing."

For many women, it's not just stress or getting older. Hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause can affect sleep, anxiety, blood sugar, cortisol patterns, and temperature regulation.

The good news? Sleep doesn't have to get worse with age.

Thankfully, I've come a long way since those newborn (and early perimenopause) days. With the right hormone support, a simple bedtime routine, and stress-management techniques, I honestly sleep better now than I did in my younger years.

If you're feeling tired but wired or saying, "I just don't feel like myself anymore," know that there are solutions. I can help. (link to contact me in the BIO).

What's the funniest thing you've done when sleep deprived?

06/03/2026

What did you love to do when you were a child? Just because it brought you joy?

Not because it was productive, or it looked good on a resume, or because it helped you get ahead.

For me, that thing was dancing.

As life got busier with work, responsibilities, and parenthood, dance slowly fell off my radar. It became one of those things I kept telling myself I'd get back to "someday."

In my 40s, I realized something important: joy doesn't just happen. We have to intentionally make space for it.

One of the best decisions I've made was signing up for dance classes and recitals at the Pink Studio. Having a recital at the end gives me a reason to keep showing up week after week, even when life feels busy.

And every single time, I leave with more energy than I arrived with.

I love the music, the movement, the laughter, the supportive environment, and the connection with an incredible group of women. The best part? Every age, stage, size, and experience level is welcome.

And the benefits go far beyond fun.

💃 Dance can:
• Improve cardiovascular health
• Increase strength, balance, and flexibility
• Support brain health and memory
• Reduce stress and anxiety
• Boost mood and confidence
• Create connection and community

It reminds me that movement doesn't always have to be about burning calories or hitting a fitness goal. Sometimes it can simply be about feeling alive.

What about you?

Is there something you used to love doing that you've stopped making time for?

What would it look like to bring a little more joy back into your life?

I'd love to hear what it is in the comments.

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05/26/2026

This weekend was full in the best way:
A late concert Friday night
Comedy night + a friend over Saturday
Then up early Sunday for Unbounded’s Sunrise Social

The result?
About 5 hours and 15 minutes of sleep both Friday and Saturday night 😅

And even without alcohol (I haven’t drank since March 2021), I still felt “hungover” from the lack of sleep:

❌Brain fog
❌Sugar cravings
❌Tired but wired
❌More irritable and less patient
❌Bags under my eyes

Research shows sleep deprivation can increase cravings for carbs/sugar, lead us to eat more calories, and even temporarily affect blood sugar regulation.

By Sunday night, I was in bed before 9pm trying to recover 😴

My Oura Ring showed a 5-hour sleep debt.

As women, especially in perimenopause and menopause, sleep issues are often NOT just “poor sleep hygiene.”

Sleep can be disrupted by:
🔥 Hot flashes/night sweats
😣 Pain
😟 Anxiety + mood changes
⚡ Stress
🌡️ Temperature/light/noise disruptions

Some things that have genuinely helped my sleep:

✔️ Oral micronized progesterone + topical estrogen
✔️ Mouth tape
✔️ Herbal tea at night
✔️ Morning daylight
✔️ Moving my body during the day
✔️ Eating enough and not skipping meals
✔️ Cutting out alcohol
✔️ Reducing sugar

Sleep impacts EVERYTHING:

Mood. Hormones. Cravings. Focus. Patience. Resilience.

If you’re waking at 3am, feeling exhausted but wired, or no longer sleeping the way you used to, your hormones and nervous system may be part of the conversation 💛

Book a free 15-minute Discovery Call to learn more. Link in BIO.

05/20/2026

What can you say “no” to, to free up time and energy?

It has been a while since I checked in here.

The past few weeks, I was burning the candle at both ends.

Pete was away for 9 days, so I was solo parenting, and right before he left, I decided to finally commit to writing my menopause certification exam through, something I had been meaning to do for a long time.

What could have just been a busy few weeks turned into an “every second counts” mindset.

I slipped back into old patterns:

❌pushing through
❌ignoring the signs
❌convincing myself I could keep operating at max capacity.

My body started talking.

I was waking up at 3 or 4 a.m. and struggling to fall back asleep.

I felt anxious and short of breath.

I was sitting too long studying, and my hip flared up with pain, a symptom I had never experienced before.

Even my nervous system habits showed up.

I caught myself clenching my body and holding my breath while studying. I also noticed I was chewing gum constantly as a stress outlet.

I knew I couldn’t keep that pace up.

So while Pete and Stuart went to the cottage for part of the long weekend, I made the decision to stay home alone for two nights.

And honestly? It was the reset I needed.

Quiet mornings.
Meditation.
Breathwork.
Space to think.
Time without input, demands, or rushing.

I no longer feel like a chicken with its head cut off.

Sometimes the most productive thing we can do is slow down enough to hear what our body has been trying to tell us.

What can you say no to right now?

Where can you press the “easy button” instead of forcing yourself through?

If you are feeling burnt out, overwhelmed, wired-but-tired, or like your nervous system is stuck in overdrive, I can help.

Book a free 15-minute Discovery Call through the link in my bio.

05/07/2026

Isn’t it fascinating how our priorities change as we age?

When I was younger, I put so much emphasis on my physical appearance, intellectual achievements, and outward success.

I would work out hard and follow strict eating regimes to make my body look a certain way, even when it didn’t feel right for my body or added to my anxiety and sleep challenges.

I would walk by store windows and sneak a glimpse of my waistline, my face, my hair… often with a critical eye.

I would take course after course and collect credentials because I never felt like I was enough or had learned enough, often at the expense of burnout.

I would work six days a week, including three evenings a week, to grow my business, sometimes at the expense of my sanity, relationships, and health (ironically enough!).

Now that I am older, my focus has definitely shifted.

I care more about my presence, energetically and emotionally, instead of solely focusing on my physical appearance.

The compliments that mean the most to me now are not about how my body looks, my clothes, hairstyle, intelligence, or success.

They are about having a flexible, curious, open mind that allows me to try new things and put myself out there.

The ultimate compliment is about my energy, presence, sense of humour, and how I make others feel safe, comfortable, and seen.

I’ve moved from focusing only on the “outer work” to also prioritizing the “inner work,” and the benefits of that have been far greater than I ever imagined.

I still enjoy working out and eating well, but the “why” has changed.
It’s less about how it will make me look and more about how it will make me feel.

I’ve also learned the importance of vulnerability, sharing struggles alongside wins, and not pretending I can do everything alone.

What are the silver linings of aging for you?

Share in the comments below. ⬇️

And if you need support creating a health plan that nourishes you from the inside out, reach out. I’m here to help.

05/04/2026

Are you suffering from nature deficit disorder?

What is your relationship with nature?

We talk a lot about relationships—with food, with our bodies, with technology, with other people. But one that often gets overlooked… is our relationship with the natural world.

And it matters more than most people realize.

Many of us are living with what’s been called nature deficit; spending most of our time indoors, on screens, disconnected from the rhythms that regulate our physiology.

So here’s a simple question:
Do you intentionally connect with nature every day?

Not just walking from your car to a building, but actually interacting with it.

🌸feeling the grass or sand under your feet
🌸touching a tree
🌸smelling flowers
🌸listening to birds
🌸noticing the light, the air, the season you’re in

Because when you do, something shifts.

We see measurable changes:
💫lower blood pressure
💫reduced stress hormones
💫improved mood and focus

But beyond that, your brain gets space to rest, process, and integrate.

You move out of constant consumption… and back into presence and creation.

What would your day feel like if you stepped outside within the first few hours of waking?

Even just sitting on your balcony or in your backyard: no phone, no input, just observing.

Look for the small things:
🌱a bird’s nest
🌱the way the light changes
🌱the moon at night
🌱the sunrise or sunset

Nature is a powerful teacher.
It reminds us of cycles, of timing, of when to rest and when to bloom.

And maybe… that’s exactly what your nervous system has been craving.

05/01/2026

Tired and wired? This could be why.

“Just 3 minutes of negative news in the morning can make you 27% more likely to feel unhappy later that day.”

And it’s not just a quick mood dip…
That effect can linger for 6–8 hours.

So if your day starts with scrolling headlines, stressful updates, or doom-scrolling socials… your nervous system is already being pushed into a stress response before you’ve even had your coffee.

I see this all the time in practice—especially in midlife:

➡️ “tired but wired”
➡️ wired at night, exhausted in the morning
➡️ mood swings, anxiety, poor focus

It’s not just hormones.
It’s what your brain is consuming first thing in the day.

Try this instead:

Before you touch your phone tomorrow morning…

✔️ take a few deep breaths
✔️ step outside or look at natural light
✔️ start your day with your thoughts—not someone else’s crisis

Small shifts like this can have a big impact on your mood, energy, and nervous system.

✨ Stay tuned for more digital wellness tips

📅 And if you’re feeling tired but wired, book in for support—I’ll help you reset your nervous system and get your energy back

04/16/2026

Not in the mood for a cold salad… but still want to get your veggies in? This is my go-to: “Soulad” (aka Saloud) — a cozy mix of soup + salad 🥣🌿

Start with ½ can of Sprague’s lentil soup (Costco find)
Warm it up on the stove
Add chopped veggies (I had cabbage on hand) and cook on low–medium for a few minutes
Toss in leafy greens and let them gently wilt

Pour into a bowl and finish with:
• chopped dill
• cherry tomatoes
• cracked black pepper
• a splash of balsamic vinegar

I paired mine with slices of DuBreton ham, cucumber, and hummus for extra protein + crunch

Warm, satisfying, and an easy way to get more fibre and veggies in—without forcing a cold salad

Join the free 7-Day Fiber Challenge (register here or with link in BIO): https://drlisaweeksnaturopathicdoctor.practicebetter.io/ #/5e79f31f2a832607ec8f41f3/bookings?c=69dcfa2e8e1f3d7188917e64

04/13/2026

Perimenopause isn’t a smooth symphony… it’s experimental jazz 🎷

In your 20s and early 30s, your hormones follow a rhythm:
Estrogen rises, progesterone follows, cycles feel predictable.

But in perimenopause?

• Estrogen is up, down, unpredictable
• Progesterone is often low or missing (hello poor sleep + anxiety + PMS)
• Cortisol feels louder (stress hits harder)
• Testosterone is declining (affecting: energy, motivation, ability to maintain/build muscle)

So instead of a steady beat…
you get improvisation.

One month you feel like yourself.
The next—anxious, wired, exhausted, or completely off.

And it’s not just hot flashes.

Perimenopause can look like:
• Anxiety or rage out of nowhere
• Waking at 3–4am
• Brain fog / word-finding issues
• Heart palpitations
• Heavier or irregular periods
• Joint pain or “flu-like” PMS
• Vaginal dryness (even if you still get a period)
• Feeling overwhelmed by things you used to handle easily

👉 Here’s what most women don’t realize:
You can start supporting your hormones even if you’re still getting a period.

You don’t have to “wait it out.”

🎧 I break this all down (and what to actually do) in episodes of the Perimenopausal Mamas Podcast — watch the YouTube audiogram: https://www.youtube.com/ (link also in bio)

💬 Have questions about hormone therapy in perimenopause or menopause?

Book a discovery call and let’s talk through your options and what’s right for you (link in BIO).

04/08/2026