The Flipping 50 Show Your Biggest Obstacle to Fitness in Menopause
I won’t keep you in suspense. Your biggest obstacle to fitness in menopause is stress.
I’m going to look at stress from all angles but spend the majority of this episode pointing to how you can counter the allostatic (all sources) stress load.
There’s stress from:
- Poor sleep
- Inadequate nutrition
- Insufficient nutrients
- Too much exercise
- Exposure to toxins
- Relationships
- Finances
- Life situations
- Hormonal response to menopause
- And each of these is compounded by another.
During the pandemic, each of them may be happening at greater frequency, with greater severity.
As a result of stress, your body puts out cortisol. Sometimes that works well. You need the energy to step up your game temporarily. But over time if it’s up there’s that nasty equal and opposite reaction that happens and you know what that feels like.
It’s exhaustion, “always tired,” weight gain, never able to relax, monkey mind that can’t shut off.
Too many women resort to:
- More exercise
- Undereating
- Fasting as an excuse to cut calories
- Juice cleanses
- Their go-to quick-fix – resorting to 5-hour energy, 2-4 cups of coffee
- Insert _______ Diet
Basically, ignoring the root cause and wanting the quick fix. Because YOU’RE VULNERABLE and every marketer knows it.
So.. know that is all a part of it. And I won’t leave you hanging if you want a fix, my team and I decided on the spot, spontaneously on Monday to bring back a Flipping50 favorite – the 28-Day Kickstart. I’m going to do it live with you in November.
If you’re stuck and nothing is working…
If you need the accountability of a program, and of a group and a coach…
If you are at a “I’m doing it but it’s not working” spot…
Here’s how it happens:
It starts the first week of November
You get materials the last Thursday of October
You get 4 coaching sessions with me – which I don’t do anymore. That’s a $500 value alone.
You can see details at flippingfifty.com/28daykickstart
But today, right now… I want you to understand this ONE powerful thing.
You can start this TODAY and decrease your stress level!
- Dopamine – eat more protein, move frequently, prioritize sleep, get sunshine
- Oxytocin – hugs, sex, a pet, hold hands, smell your mama’s recipe, essential oils, Hallmark movies
- Serotonin – sunshine, venting, find a group, this podcast, and movement (the ultimate trilogy)
- Endorphins – self-select some exercise
Notice some overlap? Yes. Totally, these hormones are very related and similar activities support them all.
Also sounds like a list of good habits for menopause too.
Pay most attention to the things you can control.
- Sunlight
- Exercise, movement
- Calling a friend
- Music or memory lane
- Get more protein – shift to a caring for yourself and pleasure experience with food
- Surround yourself with a group
Because that will help with the things you can’t:
- Being in the mood for sex
- Sleep
Your biggest obstacle to fitness in menopause is the stress.
You can’t remove it without removing all the meaningful things and people in your life.
You can offset it.
Balance the scales. You’ll become more resilient, have a better immune system, and you’ll decrease the negative effect of stress: fat storage.
I’ll put all the things we’ve mentioned in this episode in the show notes at flippingfifty.com/fitness in menopause
Mentioned in this Episode: