This is me. I'm a Baby Boomer and this isn't your grandmas menopause!
So, how many times have you heard that you can't loose weight during menopause? I even had a friend whose Gyno told her to just give it up, a man of course, himself middle aged and stuck in 1972. Wrong, wrong, wrong, and don't let anyone tell you that you can't feel and look fabulous at this stage of your life, or at any stage of your life for that matter. Being in the big M may make it a little more challenging but with so many resources available putting together a plan that works for you is totally doable.
First of all, let me just say that I grew up a size minus, my mother was told by the family Dr. to "fatten me up". She would make me malteds every day after school, she bought a malted machine! Nothing ever worked. I finally broke 100 lbs in my 30's. Then I got pregnant. Although I only gained 26 lbs during my pregnancy and had a six lb baby (all grown up now) I kept not only the 26 lbs but the humongous pregnancy boobs that the Dr. kept saying would go back to normal. "Don't worry most women get smaller after pregnancy." And there it was, that term "most women" whenever anyone says "most women" to me, I know I'm doomed. I am not like most women. My perky 32B's morphed into 34 DDD and never returned to "normal" again. I'm not complaining but that's a lot of extra weight to lug around. But I digress, this will all make sense when you get to the bra part below.
So, here is what I've learned about lugging around those extra lbs. You need to dump them. DUMP THEM! They are not good for your health, your self esteem or that half of your wardrobe you can no longer fit into. And I'm sorry to tell you that there is no magic pill, diet, shake, potion or guru. There is one thing and you're probably not gonna like it. It's stinky and uncomfortable and makes you wash you hair more often then you want to. It's sweat. Good old fashioned, stinky, drippy, clothes staining, hair wrecking, extra laundry doing stink'n sweat. And here I am actually sharing my ugly sweaty picture with you so you'll know I'm serious! This is after a 4.5 mile run/walk.
Find your own sweat, it may not be running, maybe it's dancing, biking, spinning, whatever, just find your sweat. On my off running days I do Yoga but since I can't go to classes right now I came across a woman named Zoe, her brand is Yoga.Burn on Instagram. I found her at the beginning of quarantine. She was posting free 15-20 minute Yoga Burn sessions every other morning. She's amazing and she will make you sweat! Now I've been doing yoga since collage, all kinds of yoga, and I have never found anyone who combines routines like this and I've taken some pretty hard yoga classes but I sweat more with her 15 mins than I ever did in an hour long class. You can find all her free classes on Youtube or buy her program which comes with a resistance band which I love using. She's amazing plus she has a great body, which is inspiring and she's healthy looking, not super skinny or mussely. Of course being tan, young and blond doesn't hurt either. Her workouts combine yoga and HIT (high-intensity interval training) and are incredible, not hard, and you will see results fast. Age not a factor! I repeat AGE NOT A FACTOR!
So now that we've discussed sweat, let's talk about the things no one talks about when it comes to the big M like loosing your eye brows, really whose cruel joke is this? And they have the nerve to disappear from your forehead only to appear on your chin. Nights sweats, one of my friends denies her night sweats but her husband says she turns the AC so low that he has to sleep in a parka! Why do women deny menopause symptoms? I once worked with a women who denied it, we finally told her to make a choice, either admit it and do something about it or have us all believe she was just a cranky bitch. And another cruel joke against our kind, south of the border dryness, no one warned me. Trouble sleeping, hot flashes and no, that doesn't count as work-out sweating, sorry. But good news, you don't have to put up with all these things! There's a ton of help and I'll put resources at the end of the post. Except for the eye brow chin thing, there's just no stopping that, God bless make-up and tweezers!
With running came the challenge of strapping down the 'girls'. Anyone else that's big busted, this one's for you. I have tried all kinds of sports bras, as I'm sure you have, and never found any that could hold the girls in place, until now. This is more than a bra, this is the ultimate sport bra, the Rolls Royce of bras, an engineering marvel of strategic workings from the locking zipper, yes it really stays locked, to the super wide velcro band and straps. The zipper is major, the straps are adjustable with big velcro straps (or as I like to call them hoists) and the back bottom band is also adjustable with a thick sturdy band of velcro. It's just amazing and once you get it in place those girls aren't going anywhere and on top of that somehow it's comfortable! To get it on is a little work, but definitely worth it. I loosen the back strap and then zip the front, there's a big flap in front to hide the zipper under a tight T-shirt, then I bend over and 'hoist' the girls up (those of you that are big busted you know this move) and then pull the back band to velcro close it tight, amazing. And I love the way the straps adjust up with as much lyft as you want. Comes in a vey cute bag and is made in America. I'm wearing it in the top picture and in the sweat picture, the line in my blue top is from the top itself, not the bra, which is totally smooth. The bra is called Shefit, I've linked it, (this is NOT an Ad). I toyed with the idea of posting a picture of myself in the bra but I've already pushed the envelope with my sweat picture.
The Arsenal
- Vitamins - I'm not a nutritionist or a Dr., I'm just sharing what works for me. Do your research! I'm a huge believer in supplements. Vitamins and herbs can work wonders for all sorts of issues. I know this first hand from dealing with an auto immune disorder in my 20's with the help of an amazing nutritionist. Super important to take as we age are Calcium, Magnesium and Zinc, vitamin D, and a potent B Complex. Also, if you have any thyroid issues, it's very common, there are amazing supplements to support your thyroid. I take Para Thyrolate and L-Tyrosine. COQ-10 is a great antioxidant helps to fight aging and support brain function. If you have had anyone with Dementia in your family (my Mom) look at the supplements that support brain health, there are several.
- Support - If you can see a Nutritionist or a Chiropractor that is also a Kinesiologist especially someone who muscle tests that would be ideal to test what supplements you need, they start with blood work but look for different things than a western medicine Dr. looks for. If you've never heard of muscle testing checkout this site for an easy to understand explanation. Your body doesn't lie and muscle testing can tell what supplements will or won't work for you and also if you take any medication you can make sure it's right for you by being muscle tested.
- For Meno Symptoms - As I said above you can beat menopause symptoms at its own game, and this one is a game changer. It's called Selestro. This was also recommended to me by the same nutritionist from way back when, two years ago, he said "take this if you want to save your hair and skin". His word is gospel so I took it and not only does it work for skin and hair it stopped the nights sweats completely and did away with the mood swings. Works so well that if I'm moody my daughter will actually ask me if I 've run out of my Selestro! HA. There is also one called EstroVive, same principle, different formulation of herbs. I've tried both but prefer the Selestro. Both of these are all herbal.
- Dryness Down Below - Yes, no one wants to talk about this but if it's an issue for you ask you gynecologist about Estradiol. It's by prescription and it is a hormone cream but it's localized and does not travel through your blood stream, works were it's supposed to.
- Hair Loss - I'm not having this issue luckily but some of my friends are and they take Biotin and say it really works.
- Sleep - I used to underestimate the power of sleep but not any more. Sleep heals your body. Try to get at least 7 hours. Arianna Huffington wrote an entire book about it after she collapsed from exhaustion and hit a table on her way down breaking her jaw! It's called The Sleep Revolution, Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time.
- Your Brain - Remember that commercial when we were gowing up - This is your brain, this is your brain on drugs? Well now this is your brain, and this is your brain on menopause. It's time to take care of your brain. Research some brain strengthening supplements like Ginkgo Biloba, Ashwagandha and Bacopa Extract. Yes, I take those too, I know it's a lot.
- Food - My fellow Baby Boomers, we grew up on can foods, Mallomars, anything made by Hostess, and fake cheese that we squirted into our mouths from a can. It's a wonder we survivied. Read these New York Times #1 Best Sellers - The Grain Brain by David Perlmutter, Life Changing Foods and Thyroid Healing by Anthony William (all of his books are amazing)
- Sweat - Yoga Burn, here is her Youtube channel, there's lots, I'm linking the lockdown challenge day 1 but look around and check out her videos. And if that's not for you find something else, experiment, there are so many options on line now. Do not settle into a sedentary lifestyle!
- Sports Bra - Shefit
Whew, this was a super long post, did you make it to the end? If you have any questions please do not hesitate to email me @juliefromdrabtofab@gmail.com. I love hearing from you!
Be good to yourself and don't forget to take your MEDS ~ Meditation, Exercise, Diet and Sleep!
