Regaining energy: How Bea beat brain fog and fatigue at work with the Hello Inside menopause program
Hello Bea, thank you for taking the time for this interview. You are a project manager in a technical company in Stuttgart. When did you first notice that something was changing?
Bea: "The first thing I noticed was that I just didn't feel as fresh in the morning as I used to. I used to get up, have a quick breakfast and start the day straight away. But suddenly it was as if I had to fight through a fog. This brain fog (I only learned the term in the program) was simply incredibly paralyzing. It was as if I couldn't concentrate on anything properly and my thoughts were sluggish. I would often sit in front of my computer for minutes at a time, not knowing what I wanted to do. It was really scary, especially in my job where quick decisions and precision are required."
Can you describe a specific situation in which you felt this brain fog particularly clearly?
Bea: "Yes, I remember a meeting where I had to give a steering meeting presentation for a critical project. I usually prepare well, but that day I kept losing my train of thought mid-sentence during the presentation. I just couldn't remember what I was going to say next and I wasn't nervous, nor am I actually bad at presentations. My colleagues looked at me expectantly, but there was nothing but emptiness in my head. I felt like my brain had just switched off. It was so bizarre and I thought about what was wrong with me for a long time afterwards, I was also worried about whether I was going to develop dementia or something terrible like that. You never say that, but my brain is my capital and I love my job..."
That makes it very vivid, you really can't imagine it when you see yourself in front of you... What other symptoms have you noticed?
Bea: "In addition to the brain fog, the exhaustion in the morning was a big problem. I just couldn't get going. One cup of coffee used to be enough for me, but suddenly I needed two or three cups to be able to think clearly at all. But even then I often felt exhausted. It was even worse after lunch - I felt like a zombie, just running on autopilot. This was not only exhausting for me, but also for my colleagues, as I was often irritable and thin-skinned. Once I even slipped out an inappropriate comment in a team meeting because I was so overwrought. I'm not usually like that - I'm actually very patient. But at that moment, I just couldn't hold back, I had the feeling that everything was slowly slipping away from me."
What made you decide to try the Hello Inside Menopause program?
Bea: "I was actually unsure at first whether it was something for me at all. I didn't have any classic symptoms such as hot flushes or irregular periods. But I had to do something because my day-to-day work was becoming increasingly difficult and I was worried that I wouldn't be able to manage my projects properly and I didn't want to use something like hormones straight away. Then I read about the program and thought to myself: why not? I wanted to understand what was going on in my body."
What did you find out through the program? What were the biggest surprises?
Bea: "The biggest discovery was how important sleep is for me. I always thought I slept well, but the CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitoring) showed me that my blood sugar levels fluctuated a lot at night. This was also the reason why I was often so exhausted, even when I had slept enough hours. Now I no longer eat carbohydrate-rich meals in the evening and avoid alcohol. This has significantly improved my sleep quality."
How have you adapted your diet?
Bea: "I often used to eat muesli for breakfast - usually some kind of granola with milk. It was quick to make and I thought it was healthy. But then I realized that it made my blood sugar shoot up. Now I eat eggs with vegetables and wholemeal bread in the morning, which keeps my blood sugar stable and gives me a lot more energy for the day and my husband loves it (she laughs).
Lunch was also a challenge, especially in the canteen. I often ate fast carbohydrates like pasta or white bread because I arrived there already so famished. But that only made me even more tired in the afternoon. Now I choose salads with chicken or fish and whole grain options if they're available. This actually keeps me fit until the evening and I avoid the afternoon slump. I don't need bars and the like any more - nada, it's pretty amazing when you think about it."
You also mentioned that coffee plays a role. What did you find out about this?
Bea: "Yes, that was a real eye-opener! I always thought coffee would be my savior when I felt tired. But the program showed me that too much coffee, especially after mid-morning, destabilizes my blood sugar and makes me even more tired. Now I only drink one cup in the morning and then switch to water or ginger tea, which I really like. It's amazing how much more energy I have since I've reduced my coffee consumption."
How has your overall well-being changed since you started participating in the Hello Inside program?
Bea: "I feel much more in touch with myself. The brain fog has almost completely disappeared and I can concentrate on my work again. The morning tiredness has also improved and I now start the day with more energy. I have learned how important proper nutrition is for my mental and physical health, and this has significantly improved my quality of life. Especially the fact that the program has helped me understand what my body is trying to tell me has helped me take back control. My panic that I was suffering from the onset of dementia has also gone and even the one trigger colleague at work no longer makes me lose control."
What would you recommend to other women who have similar symptoms to yours?
Bea: "I would recommend every woman to understand her body better and not to wait until the classic menopause symptoms appear. It's often the small, subliminal changes such as tiredness or concentration problems that are easy to overlook. But the earlier you intervene, the better. The Hello Inside program helped me to get my symptoms under control before they completely overwhelmed me. I now do it once a year to keep adapting to my changing metabolism."
Thank you, Bea, for your open words and your valuable insights. We are delighted that you have made such good progress with the Hello Inside Menopause program and hope that your story will encourage many other women who find themselves in a similar situation!
Bea's experience shows that menopause symptoms are not always obvious, but can still have a huge impact on wellbeing and performance. With the Hello Inside program, she was able to better understand her body and find more energy and balance again through targeted adjustments - an inspiring story because it shows exactly what many women struggle with: the symptoms are unclear and difficult to perceive as symptoms at all. Until now, the diagnosis was also diffuse and not really satisfactory. A CGM gives you immediate feedback and within a few days you can see what is not going well and can change it immediately.
We look forward to you trying it out with us too!
