Tonya Meid is a leader in empowering women to embrace their unique physiology and champion menopositivity. She helps women navigating midlife and menopause transform their health and create their Perfect Day using Cycle Synergy™, her revolutionary, science-backed method that aligns nutrition, training, and sleep with the natural rhythms of female hormones.
Rooted in the belief that "women are not small men," Tonya equips women with the tools and knowledge to work with their bodies rather than against them. She believes wholeheartedly that "to truly love, respect, and understand your body is the most empowering tool you can give yourself and to the many important women in your life."
Tonya Meid, Peri/Menopause Coach, Female Physiology Specialist
Tonya Meid, I am very curious to dive into what “The Untapped Power of Female Physiology” means, but first, please introduce yourself and tell us a little about you and your life so we can get to know you better.
Of course! Hi, my name is Tonya Meid, and I’m deeply passionate about helping women in all stages of life understand, love, and respect their incredible bodies. I am the founder of PadaLily Living, a company dedicated to helping women live each day as the Rooted. Supported. Empowered. Beings we are all meant to be. It’s also home to Cycle Synergy™, my groundbreaking three-phase methodology designed to help women build their Perfect Day and thrive through menopause.
Outside of my professional life, I’m a mom to three amazing kids (four if you count our furbaby!) and married to my best friend. I’m a huge outdoor enthusiast and often say, “I don’t need therapy; I just need to go camping.” Honestly, give me a mountain and a lake, and I’m good to go! I love reading and moving my body, and as a local musician, I find writing and performing music to be my favorite way to connect with others and make sense of the world.
The message I want to share with the world is this: When women understand their own physiology, they unlock the power to transform their lives and inspire others. I hope to empower every woman to learn about the intricacies of her own body and then share that knowledge with the important women in their lives, their daughters, sisters, friends, and students so women everywhere can feel amazing and empowered at every stage of life.
Well, that’s a perfect lead-in! So, please tell me, what does "The Untapped Power of Female Physiology" mean, and why is it so important for women to understand their bodies in midlife?
“The Untapped Power of Female Physiology” refers to the incredible potential women have when they learn to work with their bodies instead of fighting against them, particularly during midlife, when hormonal shifts bring unique challenges and opportunities.
You see, the problem is this: women go through life never fully understanding how biologically different we are from men. So much of health and fitness advice has been modeled after male physiology. When it comes to exercise, nutrition, and medicine, we are treated as scaled-down versions of men.
Remarkably, very little research has been dedicated to women’s unique physiology. Most studies focus on men, leaving women navigating uncharted territory. This misrepresentation is extremely frustrating, given that women constitute nearly 50% of the global population.
Even our traditional healthcare systems disregard the intricacies of the menstrual cycle and our dynamic hormonal fluctuations over our lifetimes. This oversight leaves many of us in a constant battle with our symptoms!
The truth is that women are not small men, and we have a completely different physiological makeup that requires a more tailored approach, especially during perimenopause and menopause.
In midlife, this becomes even more critical because hormonal fluctuations can affect everything from our sleep and energy to weight management and mood. But instead of seeing these changes as something to “fix,” we can use this phase as an opportunity to deeply understand and honor our bodies.
We can use this phase to tap into the power of our physiology. By aligning how we train, eat, and rest with the natural rhythms of our physiology, we can stop feeling like we’re in a constant uphill battle.
This shift in perspective is empowering. It’s not about doing more or working harder but about working smarter and embracing the unique strengths of our female physiology. This is the foundation of everything I teach with Cycle Synergy™, helping women tap into that power to feel rooted, supported, and truly unstoppable.
Interviewer: Before we get into Cycle Synergy™, what led you to become a health coach specializing in women’s health during perimenopause and menopause?
I love this question! My journey into women’s health coaching was born out of my own frustration and struggles that started when I turned 35. Like many women, I hit a wall. Suddenly, the things that had always worked, whether it was my workouts, my diet, or even my approach to sleep and stress, just stopped working. I was gaining weight in places I never had before, constantly fatigued, and battling brain fog and mood swings that left me feeling like a stranger in my own body.
When I reached out to doctors and specialists, I was told the same generic things over and over: "Just eat less, exercise more, and accept that this is part of getting older." That didn’t sit right with me. I knew deep down that something more was going on, and I wasn’t willing to just “ride it out” without answers.
What I’ve found is that this stage of life can be one of the most isolating and disorienting for women. We feel unheard, unseen, and often completely alone in our struggles. Society rarely talks about perimenopause and menopause in meaningful ways, and women at this stage are drastically underrepresented in research, healthcare, and even conversations about wellness. This lack of representation and support leaves so many women feeling as though they’ve been left to fend for themselves and that’s simply unacceptable.
So, I started diving into research. I discovered how much of women’s health advice is based on male physiology and how little support there is for women navigating the hormonal shifts of perimenopause and menopause. I also realized how often women are dismissed, gaslighted, or told their symptoms are just “normal.”
That lit a fire in me. I decided to quit my corporate career of 12+ years and get certified as a women’s health coach to empower women with the knowledge and tools I never had. My mission became clear: to help women understand their unique physiology, advocate for themselves, and create sustainable habits that support their energy, mood, and vitality without deprivation or one-size-fits-all solutions.
I don’t just teach this; I live it. Everything I’ve learned and implemented in my own life has become the foundation of my work with women today. It’s my passion to help women see that midlife isn’t an ending it’s a powerful new beginning.
Interviewer: How does your method, Cycle Synergy™, help women thrive through perimenopause and menopause?
Cycle Synergy™ is my three-phase methodology designed to help women navigate perimenopause and menopause by aligning their daily habits with their unique physiology. The goal is simple: to help women build what I call their Perfect Day, a day where their nutrition, movement, rest, and self-care work with their bodies, not against them, to optimize their energy, body composition, and overall health and happiness.
The method is built on the principle that women’s hormonal rhythms fluctuate not just during their menstrual cycles, but throughout midlife and beyond. These fluctuations impact how we process food, recover from exercise, handle stress, and even how well we sleep. What works for us in one phase of life or cycle often doesn’t work in another, and this is where traditional health advice often fails women.
Cycle Synergy™ is broken into three actionable phases:
Reset your rhythm: This is where we identify what’s currently holding you back. We focus on understanding your symptoms and your unique hormone picture and re-establishing baseline habits that align with your circadian rhythm to help you get restorative sleep and stabilize your energy and mood.
Energize your day: Once you’ve reset, we tailor protocols for training, nutrition, sleep, and stress based on your hormonal rhythms and goals.
Optimize your health: Finally, we level up your routines to sustain long-term health and vitality. This is where women truly start thriving, not just surviving through their menopausal journey.
What sets Cycle Synergy™ apart is its focus on creating a sustainable, cyclical approach to daily living. Whether you’re still cycling, following a lunar rhythm, or in postmenopause following a rhythm of your choice, the method adjusts to your life stage, helping you train smarter, eat with purpose, and rest deeply, all while honoring your body’s natural rhythms.
It’s never about doing everything perfectly; it’s about empowering women with the tools to reclaim their energy, confidence, and joy at every stage of midlife.
Interviewer: I’m so curious, can you please describe what a "Perfect Day" looks like for women in perimenopause or menopause and how it aligns with their hormones and physiology?
Absolutely! This will be fun! The concept of the "Perfect Day" is at the heart of Cycle Synergy™ because it helps women create a daily routine that aligns with their hormones and physiology.
For women in perimenopause or menopause, a "Perfect Day" starts the evening before. I often say, "Your Perfect Day starts at 8 p.m." Establishing a consistent evening routine to calm the nervous system is key things like dimming the lights, minimizing screen time, and following a soothing ritual like journaling or stretching. This sets the stage for deep, restorative sleep, which is non-negotiable during this stage of life.
In the morning, it’s about easing into the day in a way that honors your body. That might look like stepping outside for some natural sunlight to regulate your circadian rhythm, drinking a big glass of water to rehydrate, and moving your body gently to wake up your muscles and joints.
The day itself is carefully structured to match your energy levels and hormone fluctuations. For example, if you’re following a weekly or cyclical schedule, you might plan more intense workouts and higher-carb meals on higher-energy days, while prioritizing rest and lower-carb meals on recovery days. Nutrition plays a huge role, so meals focus on balancing blood sugar with protein, healthy fats, and fiber while also supporting hormonal health with nutrient-dense foods.
Throughout the day, I encourage women to pause and check in with themselves. Are you feeling overwhelmed? If so, take 3–5 minutes for deep breathing or a short 5–10 minute walk to release stress. Are you finding moments of joy? If not, look for opportunities to do something that truly lights you up and boosts your happy hormone, oxytocin.
The goal of the "Perfect Day" isn’t perfection; it’s progress. How you spend your day is ultimately how you spend your life, so what you do today matters. A lot! Cycle Synergy™ provides a flexible framework that helps women honor where they are in their cycle or phase of life while building habits and routines that leave them feeling energized, empowered, and in control of their bodies.
How can women work with you to create their own customized action plan for achieving their health goals?
I love helping women create customized action plans that fit their unique needs and lifestyles, especially during perimenopause and menopause. There are a few ways to work with me, and I tailor each experience to meet women where they are in their health journey.
For women ready to take that first step, my Body Breakthrough is an incredible place to start. It’s a personalized health assessment that gives women clear, actionable next steps they can implement immediately. Based on the information they provide in a simple questionnaire, I create a custom video report with recommendations tailored to their energy, workouts, nutrition, and sleep so they’re no longer guessing about what might work.
For those looking for more hands-on support, my Cycle Synergy™ Method for Women Over 40 offers a comprehensive program to help women transform their health and regain control of their bodies. This is where we take a deeper dive into building their Perfect Day, aligning with their physiology, and implementing a personalized plan for long-term success.
If you’re curious or not sure where to start, the best thing to do is visit my website, PadaLily Living, to explore these options in more detail. You’ll also find plenty of free resources to help you begin feeling like yourself again, including upcoming workshops, how to join my free community, and helpful guides.
The most important thing is to take that first step, whether it’s booking a Body Breakthrough or simply reading through some of the free resources. You don’t have to navigate this alone!
Finally, what’s next for PadaLily Living, and what impact do you hope to have in the coming years?
I’m incredibly excited about the future of PadaLily Living. While my current focus is on empowering women in perimenopause and menopause, my vision is to expand this work to include women in all hormonal stages of life.
My next big goal? Helping teens and teen athletes build body literacy and cycle awareness early on so they can grow up understanding, respecting, and working with their physiology from the start. Stay tuned for more on this!
Because the truth is, when women of all ages are empowered to understand their bodies, the ripple effect is life-changing not just for them but for their families, communities, and the next generation. And that’s the legacy I want to create with PadaLily Living and Cycle Synergy™.
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