Menopause is a normal event in a women’s life and is marked by the ending of our periods. Many professionals are likening it to reverse puberty as our bodies are going through immense changes just as it did when we were young and we are now confronted with the same confusion as we try to navigate and understand what is happening to us.

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Menopause is more than just hot flushes and the end of our periods and nor do we have to accept that “this is just how it is as we get older”. Yes are bodies are most definitely going through some biological changes that we can not avoid but there is much research about how we can thrive and enjoy our midlife.

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The science of Menopause is still very new to many as women are now living much longer and in-fact the expected age for women today is over 85 years old, and back in the 1900's women were averaging a life expectancy of 48 which is younger than the average age of women today going through menopause.

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Usually during our 40's many of us start to experience a progression towards Menopause, this is called the menopause transition or peri menopause. Changes in our cycle are very common during this stage amongst a few other symptoms that some may or may not experience and these can continue through to post menopause. Post menopause on average occurs around the age of 52 and this is indicated by the cessation of periods for at least 12 months. Some women may also be thrown into early menopause due to medical reasons which can be even more confusing.

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Menopause symptoms are wide but even if a women has no symptoms it is important for her to understand what is happening with her body as it changes and how that can impact her health and body systems as she ages. Women’s physical and mental health is critical to the healthy functioning of the family, relationships and productivity at work. We want to be able to continue to contribute and to do the things we love and enjoy confidently. Research is showing that there is a lot we can do with our health and lifestyle to alleviate our symptoms, improve our ageing and live happy, active and connected lives and make the other half of our life even better than the first.

 

Hello my name is Lisa and I am a Post Menopausal Women aged 55. I am a wife, a mother of 2 young adult girls. Ive lived a very active and reasonably healthy life. I was a Beauty Therapist for 25 years, a massage therapist but Ive always had a passion for Nutrition & Fitness so for the past 8 years I have worked in the fitness industry as a Personal Trainer & Health & Wellness Coach. I recently completed my studies as a certified Nutritionist so I could better help my clients.

 

My journey through Menopause was relatively blissful, I got the occasional hot flush, mood swings and disturbed sleep but overall i thought to myself what is all the fuss about. As I had a Mirena I had no clue if I had officially gone through Menopause as I had no period anyway. During COVID I unfortunately got a autoimmune condition called autoimmune urticaria, where my body was covered in itchy weals every day for over 10 months. I started reacting to foods and products and basically my body was attacking itself. I had read that hormones and menopause could play a role in autoimmune conditions so did some investigating and had some tests done. This is where I discovered I had gone through menopause but I was still getting that dose of progesterone from my Mirena which in part was easing my symptoms. Fortunately for me my COVID Vaccinations is what actually reset my immune system and put a stop the hives and still to this day I do no know what set it off but I do feel that menopause had a part to play.

 

A few years later after COVID was all finished and the world was given freedom, I knew something had changed, it was now 2021, I started to get more symptoms and the weight started piling on. By this time I was almost 53. I couldn’t understand what was happening, why now and I could only put it down to the fact that the Mirena was no longer producing progesterone. I gained 12kg in less than a year and nothing I did seem to make a difference. Here I was a Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach and I couldn’t even fix my own weight problem. My gynae even said to me, its part of life we all go through it and that was like a slap in the face and a huge wake up call. I started researching and trying different things but nothing really stuck. I was doing all the same things I always did, eating right, training hard and I was even starting to struggle with my fitness, motivation and mental health.

 

This was my deciding point to really start to focus on learning more about Menopause and how it affects our bodies as I wanted to change my direction with helping others. If I could prevent just 1 other women from going through the same frustration I was then I was already winning. So here I am today, I’ve completed a Menopause Weight Loss Coach Certification, I’ve almost completed my Menopause Fitness & Health Coaching Certification but the learning won’t stop there. I’m invested in the research to learn more so I can give you more. I truly understand what you are going through and that is half the battle, there is a lack of care and knowledge in our community around Menopause and I wish to be that driving force for all Women. Below you will find my 3 Step Program for Thriving Midlife!