Most women in perimenopause are doing everything “right” — exercising, eating healthy — and still gaining weight, losing muscle, and feeling exhausted. The problem? They’re guessing. So I decided to stop guessing.
I headed to Body Stats in Toronto and got three diagnostic tests done: a DEXA scan, a Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) test, and a VO2 Max test. This is the official starting point of my 90-Day Perimenopause Fitness Experiment, and the results genuinely shocked me.
Here’s what I found out:
- VO2 Max: 48 ml/kg/min — 96th percentile for women my age. My cardiovascular engine is strong, even without regular cardio training.
- DEXA Scan — Bone Density: T-score of +2.2. Strong bones, low osteoporosis risk. Years of strength training showing up exactly where it counts.
- Body Composition: 19.8% body fat, 97 lbs of lean muscle. But the scan flagged me — not for too much fat, but for potentially too little. I’m in the 4th percentile for women my age.
- RMR: 1,465 calories at rest — 25% higher than average for my age, height, and weight. Fast metabolism. Which means I’m likely significantly undereating for the demands I’m putting on my body.
The big takeaway? My engine is strong, my bones are solid, my muscle is there — but I may be running this machine underfueled. That’s what I’m going to fix over the next 90 days, with real data, real food adjustments, and intentional training.
📹 Watch the full breakdown — including all my actual numbers — in the video below.
If you’re in perimenopause and feel like nothing is working, these tests are a game changer. I got all three done in Toronto for under $150 CAD. I highly recommend not waiting until 65 to find out where your health stands.