Today Is World Menopause Day and I've written this blog to celebrate all the bad ass women, who struggle everyday with the race to be young again !
Do you remember when you became a teenager and all you wanted was boobs,a wash board stomach,periods and pubic hair ?
I remember the race in the changing rooms at school,to see who got theirs first and envious at the lacy bras being worn,whilst I still modelled my vest!
You then turned into your twenties and started to think about babies. The race was now on to conceive and once pregnant,the race was on to show your growing baby tummy and embrace all the prenatal changes happening in your body.
You then have your baby and you find yourself racing AGAIN to lose the baby weight ,which incidentally, took 9 months to make and fit back into your favourite jeans and get your pre baby body back!
You may attempt that race again and again until one day you reach the finishing line and the brakes go on, because the finishing line is labelled MENOPAUSE and all you want to do is go back to the beginning and start all over again.
Relax and take that step over the line,well lets face it,you dont have much of a choice, as women we all have to do it!
Things are better now, women are talking ,alternatives are better and information is on the increase and better researched.
There is no reason why women should suffer in silence and not talk or seek help,as its definitely out there.
Menopause is no longer a taboo subject and as women we need to celebrate how strong we are and unite together to get us through these stages.
There are 3 stages we have to go through:
Perimenopause
Starts 8-10 years before your actual menopause.
Menopause
Occurs as ovaries age and produce less reproductive hormones
Average age in the UK is 51
Post Menopause
Is the stage after Menopause
When you have not had a period for 12 months consecutively.
You remain in this stage for the rest of your life .
There are many symptoms including :
Hot flushes
Night sweats
Irregular periods
Mood swings
Low libido
Heavy periods
Itchy skin
Unexplained weight gain, especially around the tummy area
Anxiety
Aches and pains in joints
and many more.......
There is help out there for all these symptoms but understanding why is is happening, may help with a better outcome, as knowledge is key, especially now.
If you are reading this blog,then you are part of The MWAHFITNESS community and already have the knowledge,how exercise can help you feel better ,because at some stage , either now or in the past, you may have attended one of my classes and if this was during lock down ,then you will know the true benefits and have experienced the stress relief, exercise, can give you ,when times were really tough.
As I sit here writing this blog , I have just finished making notes for my upcoming Menopause Workshop,in November.
As you know I have been working with Pre and Post Natal ladies for many years but since forming this community and spending time with everyone ,on a more personal level,then when I was in the gym, I have realised that my attention and help was also needed in another demographic group in our community, and so enrolled on two courses:Exercise and Nutrition for Menopause, to extend my knowledge and understanding.
After starting the first course, I said to myself, this also affects me, I am 54 and wheres my hot flushes and night sweats! I dont understand, why I am not having all the windows open when I sleep at night and can keep my sheets dry for a whole week!
So I went to my doctors to ask for her advice and see if she could work out what stage I am at.
I have had a coil for many years and was told at my last fitting , that I should keep it in, to ease any symptoms, when I reached the menopause stage.
My doctor went down my notes and we realised that the coil I had ,was not the Mirena, which lasts 5 years but an american coil , which only lasts 3 years.
Since I had this coil fitted in 2017 and it was now 5 years later, it became apparent that I may have glided through the finishing line ,without a hot flush to talk about ,within the last two years.
I was asked had I noticed any mood swings ,and as I explained , I am a moody person anyway so wouldn't know any thing different!
My doctor asked me how old my mum was when she had hers, as you tend to follow suit,at that point, I did not know.
I went through a really life changing and challenging time 2 years ago and I wondered if the symptoms had been there but as I was suffering so much with anxieties, upheaval,and stress, I wondered if I thought the symptoms were just part of the situation I was in at the time.
So my doctor has sent me for blood tests, because I have not had a period for 12 months consecutively and this will help determine where I am at.
My doctor did say my exercise, good nutrition and mental health would have played a big part with the easy journey,if it is true .
I immediately phoned my mum, when I left the surgery and found out that my mum had infact gone through her menopause,when she was 52, the same age the doctor suspects I possibly did!
Watch this space for the results!
The workshop , I have designed, will help other women, understand what is happening, why its happening and how you can ease some of the symptoms through exercise ,nutrition and with better informed knowledge and a glass of prosecco to ease the lips and bring out the chat!
If you are interested, there are a few spaces left and can be booked via the website and if you can't attend in person, you can attend online or purchase a video at a later date.
So be proud of being a woman,we go through so much and always come out the other side stronger and braver.
On a serious note , if you are suffering ,then please don't sit in silence,reach out to a health professional, friend or even me, my inbox is always open.
But just remember MEN couldn't handle
MENstration
MENstral cramps
MENtal health and certainly not ....
MENopause
( hope you can see what I have done there !)
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog X
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