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What happens when perimenopause leaves you exhausted, disconnected, and wondering where your libido went? And how do you know when hormones are part of the problem, rather than something else entirely?
In this episode of Earn Your Protocol, Kyle Holland and Dr. Michael Harrington tackle some of the most common questions around perimenopause, libido, hormone replacement, thyroid health, peptides, and GLP-1s. They explore why hormone changes can affect everything from sleep and mood to sexual health, why symptoms can be difficult to separate from the pressures of everyday life, and why more treatment isn’t always better.
The conversation also looks at the growing hype around peptide therapy, the need for better human research, and the importance of finding the lowest effective approach. Throughout, Kyle and Michael return to a simple principle: understand what’s actually happening before deciding what to do about it.
Key Takeaways & Lessons:
Think perimenopause happens overnight? Learn to spot the subtle hormonal changes before they start affecting your energy, mood, libido, and sense of self.
Feeling like your hormones are all over the place? Understand why hormonal peaks and valleys can matter as much as the numbers themselves.
Think a “normal” thyroid panel means everything is fine? Learn why symptoms and the bigger picture matter beyond a single lab result.
Struggling with sleep or mood swings during perimenopause? Understand why progesterone can be an important part of the hormone conversation.
Lost your energy and libido? Explore where testosterone fits into a broader approach to women’s health during perimenopause.
Using a GLP-1 and worried about regaining weight? Learn why slower, individualized approaches can leave room to build sustainable habits.
Confused by the peptide hype? Understand why consumer enthusiasm has outpaced the research and why more human studies are needed.
Think overeating is simply a discipline problem? Explore how biology, appetite, and addictive eating patterns can complicate weight management.
Wondering what happens when you stop a medication? Learn why coming off can require as much thought as getting started.
Think food noise and other body signals are just embarrassing? Learn why they can provide useful clues about what’s happening inside your body.
Kyle Holland is the founder and Head Coach of HollyFit and a health and performance coach with years of experience in the telehealth and TRT space. As a director of peptides at one of the largest telehealth and TRT companies, he has traveled the world and trained celebrities, athletes, and movie stars. Today, Kyle brings that experience to HollyFit, where he combines coaching, nutrition, training, and data-driven health optimization to help people stop guessing and focus on building and sustaining a healthier life.
Dr. Michael Harrington is a board-certified internal medicine physician and HollyFit’s medical director. He leads clinical evaluations, reviews patient labs and history, and makes prescribing decisions independently, with no quotas or rubber stamps. A physician who trains daily himself, Dr. Harrington brings a practical, firsthand understanding of health and performance to his work. At HollyFit, every treatment decision is based on the individual’s labs, history, and clinical evaluation, with no treatment or prescription guaranteed by membership.
Episode Resources:
Kyle Holland on LinkedIn- Dr. Michael Harrington on HollyFit
- HollyFit Website
- Earn Your Protocol on Apple Podcasts
- Earn Your Protocol on Spotify
- Earn Your Protocol on YouTube
Episode Highlights:
- [01:49] Perimenopause Doesn’t Happen Overnight. Here’s Why
Kyle and Dr. Michael explain why perimenopause can develop gradually, even when the symptoms seem to appear suddenly. Changes in hormones can build over months or years before becoming impossible to ignore. They discuss how shifts in energy, mood, libido, and sexual comfort can affect everyday life, and why paying attention to changes in how you feel matters.
- [12:17] Why Hormone Peaks and Valleys Can Change How You Feel
Kyle and Dr. Michael explore how fluctuating hormone levels can affect the way people feel, drawing parallels between perimenopause and testosterone replacement in men. They discuss the potential impact of large hormonal swings and why dosing frequency matters. Rather than focusing only on a single hormone number, the conversation looks at consistency, symptoms, bloodwork, and the individual response to treatment.
- [25:58] Where Does Testosterone Fit Into Women’s Health?
Kyle and Dr. Michael discuss testosterone as part of the conversation around women’s health during perimenopause. They explore how changes in testosterone may relate to energy, motivation, libido, and overall well-being, while emphasizing the importance of looking at the bigger picture. The discussion also highlights why hormone therapy should be individualized rather than treated as a standalone solution.
- [30:45] Thyroid Symptoms? Don’t Stop at One Number
Dr. Michael explains why thyroid health can be more complicated than simply looking at TSH. He discusses the role of other thyroid markers, common symptoms associated with thyroid dysfunction, and why treatment decisions need to consider the full clinical picture. Kyle also raises concerns about unnecessary thyroid prescribing, reinforcing the importance of using the lowest effective dose when treatment is appropriate.
[45:06] Peptide Hype Is Growing. So Where’s the Research?
Kyle and Dr. Michael examine the growing interest in peptides and the gap between consumer enthusiasm and available human research. They discuss BPC-157, the limited clinical data, and why real-world experiences cannot replace properly designed studies. The conversation ultimately comes back to a simple question: if people are using these compounds, shouldn’t we understand their safety and effectiveness better?
- [01:10:05] Losing Weight Is One Thing. Keeping It Off Is Another
Kyle and Dr. Michael discuss what happens when people using GLP-1 medications start thinking about reducing or stopping treatment. They explore the importance of gradual, individualized approaches, managing appetite as it returns, and using the period on medication to build sustainable eating and lifestyle habits. The goal, they explain, is to make progress that can continue beyond the medication itself.
