A look in the mirror!

The many, many questions you might ask yourself before you ask, ‘oooh - could this be perimenopause?’ are endless. Why don’t I feel like me anymore? I used to be so confident, what happened? Why do I ache so much? Why can’t I cope? Why can’t I lose weight? Why can’t I get motivated to exercise? In fact, why can’t I get motivated to do anything? Oh, I could go on. The list is indeed endless!

So when I finally asked that question, ‘Could this be perimenopause?’ and I realised that I ticked so many boxes, I had shifted into a new way of thinking. Maybe, just maybe, there was a solution to feeling like this.

So, like many people, I began my own research project. I spent hours reading online, I bought books, magazines and talked to a variety of people I knew about their experiences. Conclusion: information overload. Lots and lots of very useful information.

The information available and the insight I developed into why I was feeling like this took me to the place I most needed to go for solutions - my mirror! You might think I’m going on to say that I had filled my dressing table with every menopause supplement, cream and solution available for purchase on the ever increasing menopause marketplace. I might have a few, but those are for another day…

A long hard look in the mirror always shows myself. Simply really, but the biggest change that needed to happen was with me; my lifestyle had to change. For the supplements, shakes, HRT and creams to be most effective, I would need to work with them and not hope for them to be a magic wand.

“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” Anon

Now, one of my key values is balance, so recognising what makes me happy and what makes me miserable is key in making lifestyle changes that are sustainable. Giving up coffee and only drinking herbal tea is not going to bring me joy! However, I began to realise that ‘Swap not Stop’ was fast becoming a motto to support my lifestyle changes. Cup of tea (or two) when I wake up, a coffee mid morning and then water in the afternoon and herbal tea in the evening. That I can do!

On my list of lifestyle changes to approach in no particular order were… reduce stress… eat more fibre and protein… drink more water… drink less caffeine and alcohol… exercise consistently… If your list looks similar and you feel slightly overwhelmed, panic not!

As a midlife coach, I wanted to practice what I preach YET be honest - I’m really not there yet, but I am working on it and trying to keep BALANCE at the forefront. I am human and I like chocolate, wine and chips. I also like avocado, long walks and camomile tea.

My list of lifestyle changes is not an easy challenge and I’m sure you feel the same if your list is anything like mine. I’ve set goals in the past and they flopped after a couple of weeks. Why? I went in full of enthusiasm and my unwanted habits crept back in. There is a huge amount of psychology literature on habit change and our very human nature is the battle. To achieve sustainable change and achieve those goals is all entwined in education about the changes you are making, the education of neuroscience and building mental fitness.

Here is an example: sleep is essential to managing the menopause, but it can be disrupted during menopause by hot flushes, need to wee and anxious thoughts. Anything that supports a good night of sleep, supports a better menopause. Why not try reducing caffeine and increasing hydration during the day for a better night of sleep.

Join me on the challenge to reduce caffeine and maintain hydration! I have shaped this challenge into a realistic goal for us:

Goal: If I limit drinking caffeine to the morning and drink water and herbal tea for the rest of the day, then I will be hydrated and I will sleep better.

Follow me on social media and keep me updated with how you are doing. I would love to hear how you’re doing.

To find out more about how you can make sustainable changes in perimenopause and menopause which you love, contact me …

‘Loving change, a balanced journey empowering energy’ Kirsten