Menopause?! Surely Not Yet

As a mid 40yo woman, I started researching menopause. Not for myself but for my sister, because surely I wasn’t going to have to worry about menopause for a long time yet!! Oh how wrong was I..

Growing up in a household of 3 girls we never really shied away from period talk or the ins & outs of being woman. But menopause?! Why would we need to consider this – that’s grandma’s era and a ‘later problem’. Definitely not something to worry about now, surely!

So, having never really spoken about it (why not? Is it really still that taboo?) I started my own journey of researching and learning. And I’m amazed that such a big life stage isn’t spoken about in more light – although definitely more discussions have started to emerge of late.

So now, I’m on a mission to not only educate myself but feel it’s my purpose to help as many women as possible, that are navigating this particular life stage. Whilst I am not there yet (although probably, not too far away) I have seen my sister struggle with early menopause and had numerous conversations on and off the bike with other woman experiencing similar issues.

I read the other day, some women can spend half of their life in menopausal years. This is crazy to think we can start this hormonal transition as early as 40 (younger for some) yet with such little insight until its bang in our face in the form of hot flushes. Hence, why I am so passionate about this, with a desire to educate and empower women, from a younger age to start building their toolbox ready for this menopausal transition.

Every woman is different and as she approaches menopause, the experience will be unique to her. I believe every woman should be equipped with the correct information, tools, resources and support that will guide & help in navigating this particular life stage. Research indicates a strong correlation between a healthy lifestyle and the management of menopausal symptoms and its associated health conditions. Diet, exercise, sleep and self-care all play a key role here.

As a dietitian, I know the importance of a healthy diet and the benefit it brings to both our physical and mental well-being. As an athlete I also know the importance of physical activity and how vital it is as we progress through menopause (especially resistance training). Weight management, muscle loss & body composition can all be managed through our diet and exercise choices.

I look forward to working with women, whether they are pre- peri- or post menopause. We are on this journey together and I am here to share my knowledge & expertise in order for you to live the best version of you!

Stay tuned…