Menopause is a profound life change that invites us into a healthier lifestyle. With the end of our periods we are reminded that we are aging. Hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and other aggravating symptoms force us to look for medical and natural remedies. At the same time, our children may be leaving home, one of our parents may be ill, or there may be challenges in our marriage. We may be at the peak of our career, thinking about retiring, or increasingly stressed by the pressures of balancing home and work responsibilities.
Menopause Inspires a Healthier Lifestyle
All of these challenges can come together at menopause inspiring us to find ways to relieve stress. A healthy lifestyle helps us to weather the storm and is crucial for preserving strength and well-being. Women who maintain a healthy lifestyle during menopause and post-menopause often feel healthier, stronger, and happier than they ever did before. Some specific benefits are:
- Relieving hot flashes, sleeplessness, and other menopausal symptoms
- Relieving medication side effects
- Preventing osteoporosis by slowing down the increasing process of bone loss
- Preventing bone fractures by maintaining strength, balance, and coordination
- Increasing strength to enjoy independence and fun activities such as dancing, sports, and playing with grandchildren
- Increasing mental sharpness
- Increasing sense of well-being
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Increasing energy.
Ingredients Of A Post-Menopause Lifestyle
Many of the ingredients of a post-menopause lifestyle are not new to us. The gift of menopause is the incentive to maintain this healthy lifestyle. Following are the essential ingredients for well-being during menopause and beyond:
- A healthy balanced diet including vegetables, fruits, grains, and adequate protein. Aim for high fiber, low fat, low cholesterol and low sodium. Include high sources of calcium such as dairy products and find out about calcium and vitamin D supplements.
- Enjoy daily physical activity aiming for 30 to 60 minutes daily. Explore a variety of activities including those that are weight-bearing.
- Quit smoking.
- Reduce caffeine intake to no more than 3 cups per day.
- Reduce alcohol intake to no more than 2 drinks per day, up to a maximum of 9 drinks per week.
- See your doctor annually and have pap tests, mammograms, bone-density tests, and a colonoscopy at recommended intervals.
- Practice safe sex to protect yourself from sexually transmitted disease.
- Find many opportunities to relax and have fun.
Getting Started and Keeping It Up
Once you are living a healthy lifestyle, the rewards you experience will motivate you to keep it up in post-menopause. Discover and remind yourself of your personal incentives and rewards. Whether you are looking to ward off symptoms and diseases or wanting to feel young and energetic, the healthy post-menopause lifestyle is your solution.
Watch the video related to Healthy Lifestyle
In this video, Betty demonstrates her workout at the gym (due to several requests). I also emphasize the importance of diet in achieving fitness and a healthy lifetstyle. If you are looking for a diet that will definitely take the pounds off and never leave you hungry, I recommend the following. It is a starter diet, and it doesn’t allow a lot of calories. (You may choose to go a little slower, and if you have *any* health issues, you should see your doctor before making any drastic change to your diet.) When you reach your goal weight, you will be able to add in other foods and maintain a happy, healthy, fit lifestyle. Notes: 1. You have to be committed to considering this as a lifestyle, not a “diet.” When your weight is where you want it, you can add small portions of “treat” food, but the overall outline is for life. 2. Weigh yourself everyday at the same time wearing the same amount of clothing. If you have overeaten the day before, it will show up. 3. If there is a food group that you don’t particularly like, eat it anyway, and consider it as “medicine” for a healthy and slim life. 4. Before you begin, prepare a ziplock bag with fresh carrot strips and celery sticks (or other favorite munchable vegetables). If you are ever hungry during the day, eat as much of this as necessary, until you are no longer hungry. 5. I designed this lifestyle “diet” for myself, and it keeps me at my desired weight, allowing me occasional “treat” food. I weigh 112 pounds. If you weigh …
Help answer the question about Healthy Lifestyle
How do you personally ensure that your child leads a healthy lifestyle?How old is your child?
What food do you include in their diet?
Do you give treats, and how often?
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Anything else you want to add about how you are making sure your child gets a healthy start in life?
About Author
Julie -
About the Author:
Are you going through menopause and want to stay active, healthy, and feeling like yourself? Don’t wait another minute to relieve menopause symptoms and start a diet plan that works for your life!
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