HERMenopause: Why Midlife Bloating, Puffiness & Weight Changes Are Not Your Fault

Sarah Hogan
Dec 8
3 min read

For so many women, menopause arrives with changes that feel confusing, frustrating, and often deeply personal.You wake up one day and realise the body you’ve lived in for decades suddenly feels unfamiliar:

Your tummy feels puffier
Your face looks swollen or tired
Your clothes fit differently
Weight gathers in new places
Your digestion feels unsettled
Your energy isn’t the same

And you start wondering:What am I doing wrong?

Here’s the truth — you’re not doing anything wrong.These changes are rooted in the hormonal shifts of menopause, and your body is asking for a different kind of support.

The Hormonal Reason Everything Feels Different

During peri-menopause and menopause, fluctuations in oestrogen, progesterone and cortisol influence:

Fluid retention
Fat distribution
Sleep quality
Stress response
Digestion
Inflammation
Lymphatic flow
Nervous system balance

These internal changes directly affect how your body feels day to day.

This is why even women who eat well, move regularly, and look after themselves can feel:

Puffy
Bloated
Heavier
More tired
Less “in their body”

It’s not a failure — it’s physiology.

Why the Lymphatic System Struggles in Menopause

Your lymphatic system plays a vital role in clearing waste, reducing inflammation and managing fluid levels.

During menopause, it naturally slows because:

Oestrogen levels drop
Stress hormones rise
Inflammation increases
Movement often decreases
Muscle tone changes
Sleep becomes disrupted

This combination means your lymphatic system becomes sluggish — leading to:

Puffiness around the face and eyes
Bloating around the waist
Heaviness in the legs
Swollen ankles
A sense of “inflamed” discomfort

Supporting the lymphatic system often brings relief quickly, which is why targeted treatments are so effective at this stage of life.

Why You’re Holding Weight Differently

Oestrogen changes shift fat storage to the abdomen.Lower progesterone affects digestion and water balance.Raised cortisol (stress hormone) increases central fat storage.

This makes your midsection feel:

Thicker
Firmer
Bloated
Out of proportion

No amount of dieting or punishing exercise is going to rebalance this on its own — but working with your body absolutely can.

The Emotional Load of Menopause That No One Talks About

Alongside physical changes, menopause can bring:

Loss of confidence
Body image challenges
A sense of disconnection
Mood fluctuations
Anxiety
Feeling overwhelmed

You’re not imagining it — hormonal shifts affect your emotional landscape too.

A big part of your support at HER is giving you space to breathe, to express how you’re feeling, and to reconnect with your body in a way that feels grounding rather than draining.

How HERMenopause Support Helps You Feel More at Home in Your Body Again

Your sessions may include:

Lymphatic drainage
Abdominal massage
Nervous system calming
Breathwork for stress and inflammation
Postural support
Scar or abdominal tension release (after C-section or surgery)
Tailored wellbeing guidance
Hormonal-supportive techniques

This combination helps reduce puffiness, ease bloating, improve digestion, calm the nervous system, and restore a sense of softness and balance.

Women often say after a session they feel:

Flatter through the tummy
Softer in the face
Clearer in the mind
More themselves
More comfortable in their clothes
Lighter physically and emotionally

That’s the power of honouring your body at this stage.

You Don’t Have to Navigate Menopause Alone

Menopause is not just a medical transition — it’s a whole-body, whole-life shift.

You deserve support.You deserve answers.You deserve to feel well in your body again.

At your first HERMenopause appointment, we will:

Explore your symptoms and worries
Identify what your body is asking for
Begin targeted treatment
Create a personal plan that supports your physical, emotional and hormonal wellbeing

You’re not supposed to figure this out by yourself — and you don’t have to.