5 Secrets to Staying Active During and After Menopause
Staying active isn’t always easy during midlife, but it’s important for mind, body and spirit. Here are 5 ways to balance your deep need to hibernate with your exercise needs.
1. Follow your instincts. While your in the strongest time of menopause, consider NOT losing weight. It’s not always clear when you’re heading into menopause, but if your periods are showing up differently in your 40’s, you might be. If you’re already in menopause in all it’s magnificence, you may be experiencing things that disrupt your normal activity. For example, if your not sleeping well, you may feel too run down to go for your normal run. Following your instincts works best when you’re thinking about the long game. If you feel like you need to lose weight, take it slow. Losing weight is not your body’s priority right now. You are metamorphosing. Honor your body’s needs.
The whole thing will be easier, you may even find deeper meaning in life, if you don’t resist the flow of nature.
Besides, menopause doesn’t last forever. In post m., you’ll find your fitness groove again with intensity.
2. Let things be easy. Maybe your new exercise regimen is to take a dance class instead of running. Cut back on spicy foods. Do yoga in the park. Let watching the sunset be your meditation. Buy a gorgeous notebook and make notes for yourself if you’re having trouble focusing. Choose to spend your precious energy on things that support being active in some way. Talk with your practitioner to see what they suggest too.
3. Herbs and foods. I didn’t truly appreciate food as medicine until I started having hot flashes. Herbs can be great allies during midlife and always. Herbs like shatavari can support you if you’re having hot flashes or night sweats. Motherwort is another super helpful herb to help usher in the new you more gently. Explore new recipes that include organic super nutrient dense foods, or superfoods. Adding herbs like cumin and turmeric can help your digestion and help your overall energy level so you can keep doing the activities you love. Your trail food might look like nut butter wraps with golden berries and cumin instead of a trail bar because you may find you can’t eat those anymore. Let foods and herbs help you.
4. Make time for yourself. Bend time. Guard it ferociously. Practice putting your needs first in whatever way feels good to you. You may find yourself doing this naturally, caring less about what others say. Now is the time to move with your deep needs. Need I say more?
5. Let nature nurture you, body and soul. Garden. Hike. Camp. Look at pictures of nature. Whatever calls to you. It may feel like your body is betraying you, but this is what change looks like. If you feel it, look for messages from animals and plants you see. Tune in. Put your hands in the dirt. This is a natural process, so let nature take it’s course. Walk in the rain. Hug a tree. Lay on a boulder.
Bonus secret: Get a spare bed if you sleep with a partner. It can be a lifesaver - and relationship saver - if you’re having trouble sleeping.
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