posted 1st September 2023
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko from Pexels
"I'm not ready to feel this old at 37!" I screamed into the mirror that Autumn day back in 2017. I was angry, tired and wholly frustrated with the menopause landscape that lay in front of me!
I had also pulled myself through a LOT worse than this.
Two years previously, I had said a heartbreaking goodbye to my mum, who had come to the end of her long battle with ovarian cancer. I then gave birth to my youngest - Leila - without my beautiful mum by my side.
Soon after that, I underwent a double mastectomy and removal of my ovaries following a positive result of the BRCA gene. Yup, it was non-stop!
Yet, here I was, suddenly menopausal as a result of the surgery and feeling like I was at the bottom of a hole.
The message from the outside world wasn't much better - I got the impression that I was never to talk about it! Just get on with it and suffer in silence. Exactly as my mum had presumably done (she never actually verbally complained but the fan attached to the end of her arm was a clear giveaway something was up).
Well, in her honour, I would be DAMNED if this was going to knock me down and so I studied as much as I could about health, nutrition, sleep and mindset and even went on to earn several qualifications and a diploma in these fields.
I absolutely love all my new knowledge and have used it to get results for hundreds of women who were in my position - too young to feel this old but too busy to do anything about it!
Finding my people... hearing from them and telling my own story has been the most effective way out of this for me. If we don't talk about it with each other, we'll convince ourselves we are alone and going crazy!
We are neither!
We are, however, transitioning beautifully and magnificently through life's second adolescence. So, clear your throat, my dear friend and speak up. We ALL want to hear you!
Photo by SHVETS production
Below are my three hacks to help women gain back control as they navigate their way through menopause:
1. Redefining the narrative
While we've previously been fed the message that our menopause journey is about the end of menstruation and loss, it's so much more than that! It's a rebirth and about redefining ourselves in a new phase of life. With the right factors in place (see points 2 and 3), it can be a time of growth, reconnection and empowerment - why do you think I called it 'Life Begins at Menopause'?
2. A holistic approach can make ALL the difference
Beyond HRT, there are numerous holistic methods that help with symptoms. As well as nutrition, there are promising studies around acupuncture, yoga and CBT or coaching.
3. Phytoestrogens
Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring oestrogens found in plants. When consumed, they can intelligently modulate hormonal responses by either binding to receptors and mimicking the oestrogen produced by our bodies OR by completely blocking its action. This ability allows phytoestrogens to help alleviate certain hormonal imbalances. Foods such as tofu, miso, flaxseeds, sesame seeds, lentils, chickpeas and broccoli... (although I appreciate this point requires a whole blog on its own)
So you see, while menopause can knock us down when we least expect it, through small, positive daily habits, we can have a huge impact on our symptoms and our friends in a similar position.
When you're ready to give it a try, make sure you tell your friends about it so they know they're not alone! Then make sure they tell their friends, and before long, we've turned the problem into the solution!
If you're ready to get back to feeling like your old self again, don't hesitate to email me at stefanie@Lbam.uk for a 20-minute discovery call and we can discuss how to get you results.
