I am here to prove that managing the journey through post-menopause is possible, it takes some effort and a hard look at your current diet and lifestyle. But HELL yes, it is worth it! This transition is a gift, an awakening to the second half of your life!

Nutrition has not always been my strong suit, but a health scare in my early 30’s changed my path for the better, and I began embracing more whole foods, fiber, and less dairy. There was a time I had to slather cheese on broccoli to make it palatable, and I couldn’t imagine anything green having a place on my breakfast menu!

Here are my 24 ways to bombproof yourself for the coming year. Choose one or choose them all, just get moving. Action creates motivation, not the other way around. Peace.

Well, wouldn’t you know, lifting weights is right up there with cardiovascular exercise in order of importance, especially for women entering peri-menopause and beyond. The action of contracting the muscle itself on uber important HORMONES like insulin and estrogen, the MAINTENANCE and QUALITY of current muscle (body composition, anyone?), and the downstream effect on METABOLISM and bone density, are all reasons to get your ass to the gym, or find a way to lift at home.

I was in the thick of it, when I started experiencing peri symptoms, and I can’t say I managed stress too well. Trying to make a career out of thin air while staying home to raise my two small kids, maneuvering a failing marriage, moving to multiple different towns, and the list goes on. I don’t think I had ever thought about stress management!

In my last blog, I told about my story. Now I am going to tell you about the things I was naturally doing or not doing to help me through this tough transition, at such an early age. Some of these lifestyle factors helped me out emmensly! And some I wish I had known more about… so that’s why I am here now! To share what I know and take this stigma away from such an important time of every woman’s life!

…menopause doesn’t make you “old” or “frumpy” or the “uncool grandma.” I was determined not to be pigeonholed into these outdated stereotypes. How is that fair? Every woman, e.v.e.r.y. woman will enter menopause, it is as certain as puberty and death, however not only does the stigma around this word remain, but there is still very little research or knowledgeable healthcare practitioners available for support. What gives?

We need our dark sides to appreciate our good sides. We need to remember our roots, to move forward and build brighter futures. One thing about our species is our need for progress.

Why do we think being healthy has to be so complicated? Gym memberships, organic food, special supplements and the list goes on…

To live a long, healthy life, everyone needs... CAKE. And a few other things.

Let's talk about those biomarkers... Cholesterol, Blood Pressure, Fasting Glucose, Resting Heart Rate... People ask "Can they be improved? But how?"

But my question is why do we wait for something to happen, symptoms to arise, numbers to creep just over that “normal” line before acting?

You are walking around risking the onset of metabolic disease, and most doctors will not warn you until numbers come back in the red. You could be one notch away from "at risk" but won't hear one word about prevention, or lifestyle until you start to show symptoms.

Do you love yourself as you’d like to see your kids love themselves? I bet you’ve got some work to do.

WHO is living your life? What type of person do you believe you are? What do you want your kids, your friends, your spouse, to see in you?

When it comes to looking at your health and body composition (how much lean muscle mass versus fat mass you possess), most people fall into one of three categories:

1. Under or Over nourished

2. Under muscled or not

3. Metabolically healthy or not

There are many scientific theories behind what DRIVES US TO OVEREAT. We need to understand how our brain has evolved, to recognize our present food landscape doesn’t play well with our highly-evolved brains. We need more nutrients, we need to feel full, we need to fix the signals our brains are telling our guts.

So you want to lose a little weight? You need to get your metabolic house in order!

How is this not like life? The anticipation, disappointment, hope, perseverance, doubt. Braving the darkness, the quiet lonely landscape, the chilly water, the unknown. Sitting and questioning, unsure of the next moment, yet so sure of the now.

So, you want to kick around this place a bit longer, and maintain or regain your energy and physical aptitude? Then you need to move your body, and not just any kind of movement. There are specific ways you should aim to move to keep your body and your mind running and responding in tip top form!

MUSCLE. BRAIN. HEART.