Episode Details

We are LIVE from Palm Springs, California — and this one is a full-on love fest! Karena and Desiree sit down in the middle of the Tone It Up Summer Challenge to answer YOUR voicemail questions, and this episode is everything we didn't know we needed. From perimenopause and cycle syncing to birth control myths and body confidence at every age, this AMA is a safe, joyful space where women get real, get supported, and leave feeling less alone. Whether you're 20, 30, 40, 50, or beyond — this conversation is for YOU.

Drop your own question at karenadawn.com/message and you could be featured on the pod! 🎙️

🌸 Embracing Body Changes at Every Stage of Life

[04:22] Karena & Des respond to listener Emma

• Karena opens up about her own perimenopause journey — including gaining 40 lbs — and the power that came from finally talking about it out loud.

• Des reminds us that hormone shifts happen every 5–10 years throughout life — and that's not something to fear, it's something to celebrate as growth and evolution.

• The duo share how returning to movement and endorphins is always the grounding reset when life feels uncertain.

• Big takeaway: change is a sign of growing, not losing — and you get to cheer yourself on through every season.

💊 Birth Control, Natural Cycles & Taking Ownership of Your Health

[08:00] Karena & Des respond to listener Marie — plus a deep dive into Natural Cycles

• Karena shares her experience discovering the Natural Cycles app for perimenopause tracking — and how it helped her realise symptoms like hot flashes, brain fog, and insomnia are completely normal.

• Des opens up about coming off birth control after over a decade, and how Natural Cycles (FDA-approved, 99%+ accuracy) gave her peace of mind and a whole new understanding of her cycle.

• The app syncs with wearables like the Oura Ring or Apple Watch to track ovulation, fertility windows, and hormone patterns — making it a powerful tool for women at ANY stage of life.

• The conversation that women deserve: education about their bodies, their cycles, and their choices — not just a 'magic pill' handed over without context.
  

💪 Fitness, Friendship & Finding Your Way Back Home

[16:46] Karena & Des respond to listener Christy — plus a love letter to the TIU community

• Christy's message (a Tone It Up member since 2015!) is a beautiful reminder that it's okay to take a different road — and that this community is always here when you're ready to come back.

• Des shares her own incredible full-circle story: discovering Tone It Up at 13 after a difficult season, and how it became her gateway to a joyful, nourishing relationship with her body and food.

• Karena reflects on co-founding TIU at 27 and how the community has grown and evolved right alongside her — turning 45 and feeling more grounded than ever.

• The heart of it all: it's not just about the workouts. It's about the conversations, the friendships, and the