It begins with irregular periods, then hot flashes igniting an internal furnace you never knew you had. For me, the night sweats were the worst. I’d wake up drenched in sweat! Drenched as if I had just run a marathon….in the rain. I didn’t recognize it right away, but I was wearing my cranky pants daily. Did I mention the drop in libido? Probably not because of menopause brain fog.
I know it can feel like life ends when menopause begins. It doesn’t! Now we know how to fight back. Get armed and ready with some lifestyle changes.
First and fundamental is strength training. Declining estrogen levels impacts bone density and loss of muscle mass cause a slower metabolism. Our hormone changes can also impact where we store fat. Often from our hips to our stomach, lovingly referred to as the meno-pot. Pick up the weights….the heavy ones.
Second line of defense is nutrition. Again, as estrogen declines, we become less insulin resistant causing weight gain and putting us at higher risk of diabetes. Now, more than ever we need to eat a healthy diet, prioritizing protein, limiting sugar and avoid processed food. Maintaining a healthy weight reduces the risk of chronic disease as well. Please don’t think of this as a “diet”. Think about it as medicine because it’s just that….yummy medicine.
The first two help with the third which is managing mental health. As hormones rise and fall like a roller coaster it can affect sleep quality the two together can contribute to depression and anxiety. Find ways to relax before bed like turning off all screens, yes that means cell phones, take a hot bath, playing calming music or meditation. Find the time to take care of yourself and seek help if all feels overwhelming.
Hormone therapy is a very personal decision but there are plenty of options now so do your research to determine if it’s right for you.
Lastly, embrace the hell out of this transition. We can’t avoid it, it’s natural and it’s the time we let go of all the bullshit that used to bother us. With a few mindset tweaks we realize that we are liberated, wise, and oh so powerful. Menopause is not the end it’s the beginning of being our true authentic selves.
