In this episode of Breaking Burnout for Nurses, host Bonnie Kitahata is joined by Dr. Maria Luque, PhD — fitness expert, menopause coach, Air Force veteran, health sciences professor, founder of Fitness in Menopause, and author of the brand-new book New Moves in Menopause: A Fearless Guide to a Stronger, Healthier & Saner Midlife.

Bonnie asked Dr. Luque to speak directly to burned-out nurses navigating the physical and emotional terrain of menopause — and the result is one of the most grounding, validating, and practical conversations in the show's history.

Topics covered in this episode:

• Why body image becomes so challenging in menopause, especially for nurses who have spent decades in caregiving roles
• The belly fat reality — what the science says and what you can realistically do about it
• The three strategies for reconnecting with your physical self after years of disconnection
• Dr. Luque's "House Framework" for sustainable midlife wellness — why movement is the foundation, sleep and nutrition are the walls, community is the roof, and supplements are just the curtains
• Why sleep must come before any other wellness intervention — and strategies for improving it during menopause
• An honest conversation about hormone therapy
• How social media is affecting your body image — and a simple strategy to protect your mental health
• The diet trauma many women carry into midlife and how to begin addressing it

Dr. Luque's coaching approach is informed by over two decades of expertise, a PhD and master's degree in health sciences, and her own personal journey through menopause. Her book has been praised by Halle Berry, who called her "a magical person whose vibrant energy is completely infectious."

Resources & Links:

📚 Book: newmovesinmenopause.com 🔗 Website: drmarialuque.com 📩 Substack: Dr. Maria Luque

If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a nurse in your life. Every nurse deserves to feel strong, supported, and at home in their own body — and together, we are breaking burnout. 💙

© Breaking Burnout for Nurses Podcast | Host: Bonnie Kitahata | www.breakingburnout.com