Getting Healthy as I Head into Perimenopause
I’m taking this quote from a physiologist and personal trainer about getting healthy to heart. She said:
“Everyone in their 40s should be thinking about getting themselves in tip-top shape so that when [perimenopause] happens, it’s as fine as it can be. Don’t treat it like a lottery and don’t wait until you’re feeling crap and then try to make decisions in that state.”
Lucinda Meade
I think about getting healthy in four buckets:
- Exercise
- Nutrition
- Sleep
- Stress-Reduction
Trying to do those four things while also working a big, full-time job while also raising a 10 year-old and an 8 year-old is no joke!
Getting Healthy with Exercise
It has taken me 1.5 years to bring regular exercise back into my life (and I honestly haven’t even started yet). I almost have everything I need to start swimming regularly and doing some weight training at the YMCA.
Getting Healthy with Nutrition
As far as nutrition goes, I’ve had some hits and misses. I recently signed up for StrongerU nutrition coaching because I wanted to work directly with someone to put an individualized plan in place. However, after two weeks of trying to eat 100 grams of protein a day, I was gaining weight instead of losing it. As a vegetarian, I couldn’t hit the right balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fat.
I switched back to Noom. I set my weight loss “speed” in between fast and slow. That speed gives me a calorie allocation that allows me to fit in more protein. I’m taking some of the awesome nutrition lessons I learned from StrongerU and applying them to my Noom work.
I like that I’m getting in more protein, and I’m also eating a lot more vegetables these day. I put them in my smoothies and eat roasted broccoli for lunch and sneak a lot more vegetables into my dinners.
Getting Healthy with Sleep
I’m getting to bed on time nearly every night, but I am having trouble sleeping through the night. I’m not sure what’s causing it, and I’m not sure what to do differently. I already go to bed at the same time each night. I have light-blocking shades, and I upgraded my sheets and comforter. Any other ideas?
Stress Reduction
This area is taking up most of my bandwidth. It’s a lot of work to focus on exercise, sleep, nutrition, and stress reduction! Specifically, I’m doing therapy, leadership coaching, reiki, reading, watching Netflix, and acupuncture.
It’s so hard to cope with what is going on in the world right now. I could so easily get gobbled up by Despair.
My heart is going out to all the mothers in my generation. We are heading into perimenopause (a transition marked by a lot of turmoil) while our own children head into adolescence and while the world is collapsing around us. Wow. It’s hard to let the magnitude of the situation truly soak in.
Are you wondering if you’re starting perimenopause? Sebrina and I worked on a free checklist to help you find out.
I’m sending well wishes your way, Friend!