Overheated, Overinflated, Over the hill…Call
AAA!
“I think my body has been inhabited by aliens! I cry at the drop of a hat, my brain has gone
on vacation, it feels like I am sleeping in the hot desert one moment and the
frozen tundra the next, and I don’t even know what is happening to my stomach”
Does any of this sound familiar? If you are a woman
approaching the age of 40, or well into your 70’s you will understand what I am
talking about. The manic and magical years
of menopause.
I have elicited the help of AAA to help us through
this. The AAA attack of menopause
AWARENESS: What the
heck is going on
To be aware of what the body goes through when it is approaching and
going through menopause
1. Your moods are unstable. The
fluctuation of hormones creates a sea of sorts of your moods. You may cry at a commercial, get angry at a
seemingly innocent comment, snap at your friend for no reason. This is normal. Being aware of the highs and lows can take
some stress off of beating yourself up for your feelings.
2. Your brain is in a fog. You may feel like you can’t remember
anything from minute to minute. You are
working diligently on a task, and suddenly, you brain draws a blank. Normal, take a breath, get a glass of water,
or some nourishment, and move forward.
3. You
throw your blankets off in a hot sweat, only to be freezing cold within
minutes. The influx of hormones creates
this unique hot flash or night sweat
within your body. Think of it as a wave
of energy that moves through you, instead of the devil that has swept
through.
4. Your
pants don’t fit the way they used too.
As you move through menopause you may find that your body gains weight. Usually this weight is gained in the belly
(thus the “menopot” saying). Being aware that there are many things going
on in your body that elicits this weight gain can help you move through the
menopause years with a kinder and more compassionate inner voice. One that does not beat you up (thus
increasing stress levels and cortisol to only encourage further weight gain). Strengthening this kind and gentle inner
voice can be of great benefit to you in the upcoming years. See: Embracing
the Roll
ACCEPTANCE: This is a
new chapter of life
To be accepting that our bodies are going through normal changes
1. Accepting
the fact that your body may change as you age.
When you wake up and notice that you do not still have the body you had
10 years ago, and decide you are going to “do something about it”, try to
remember that dieting or restricting food OR over exercising will only set you
up for further weight gain (95% of dieters regain their weight and sometimes
more within 3 years) One of the most advantageous things you can do is accept
that your body may change as you get older. Note: I am not saying there are not
things we can do (see our ammunition tips below)
2. Realizing
that you are in a different stage of life.
That your body and mind both may be driving you crazy right now,
however, these are all normal changes that our bodies make.
3. Acceptance
of skin, hair and nail changes. These
are also normal during menopause. They
are also very different for everyone.
What is happening to your friend, may or may not happen to you. All of it is normal.
AMMUNITION: Be
prepared for the change
There are many things that can help to make this transition easier for
you and the people around you
1.
Find some
movement you enjoy. Exercise can be
helpful in many ways:
Increase the feel good hormones like endorphins
Increase self-esteem and confidence
Decrease depression and anxiety
Decrease Stress
Can help with changes in body due to weight gain
2.
Nourish
yourself with foods that feel good AFTER you eat them. There can be some changes in the way your
body digests specific foods as you age.
Be aware and pay attention to the way that foods feel after.
3.
Engage in
self-care strategies. Taking care of
yourself is extremely important. It can
cut down on stress levels (and cortisol).
Without self-care, you tend to end up pouring out of an empty cup. Take time to fill yourself back up. Self-Care looks different for everyone. What relaxes you? Here are a few suggestions
a.
Take a walk with a friend or an animal friend
b.
Take a bath or shower
c.
Get a message, manicure or pedicure
d.
Carve out time to read a good book
e.
Color, draw, journal or do a crossword
f.
Dance or listen to music
g.
Find a new hobby or craft
h.
Watch a movie
i.
Pray
4.
Connect
with Nature, nature can decrease stress levels, increase creativity, belonging
and self-confidence.
a.
Take walks
b.
Garden
c.
Make a snowman
d.
Eat outside or have a picnic when you can
5.
SLEEP. Sleep is essential to living a full
life. Some tips to get a restful sleep include
a.
Having a relaxation routine before bed. This could include some light stretching, a
cup of tea, journaling, prayer or some soft music
b.
Sleep in a dark and cool room
c.
Cut off screen time at least 1 hour before bed
d.
Keep your phone in another room
e.
Avoid drinking caffeine 6 hours before bed
f.
Hot flashes and night sweats can interrupt
sleep. Everyone will experience them a
little differently. Cutting down on caffiene, spicy foods and alcohol can help
6.
Develop a
kinder more self-compassionate voice.
As changes occur in your body and mind, know that these changes are
normal. Be kind and gentle to yourself
as you move forward.
When you do not recognize yourself one day when you wake
up…like you have been abducted by the aliens of menopause, call AAA. Being aware of what is happening can be the
first step in accepting that you are headed into a new chapter of your life. Utilize some of this ammunition and move into
this amazing chapter with more energy and a giant size cup full of self-care
and self-compassion. Intuitive Eating
and Body Image Coaching can help. Annepoirier11@gmail.com
