Do you think menopause is intended to make you suffer?
Do you think you are meant to get fatter during menopause?
Or, do you think you are meant to flourish during menopause?
Menopause in our culture is not looked upon positively. It’s not something we, as women, want to experience. Yet it’s a natural transition experienced by all women, and, from my experience, how you think about your body’s natural transition will direct your experience. In a nutshell, it can be a new beginning and you don’t have to suffer. Your experience is based on what you learned in the first half of your life.
Here is the truth about menopause: Unlike when you were younger, you can’t mistreat your body and expect positive results anymore.
One of the main reasons your body is not happy right now is because it’s been asking you all along to pay it closer attention and treat it more kindly, but you haven’t listened, so now it’s just talking louder or even screaming.
If you used to be able to “get away” with binging and dieting to lose weight, maybe that won’t work anymore. I used to be able to lose the same 30 pounds over and over again, until menopause. Menopause forced me to really examine what I was doing to my body. I have so many women who say to me I can’t do __________ (fill in the blank) anymore. And I always say, “Why would you want to?”
Maybe in the past you’ve treated your body poorly with few negative consequences.
Menopause is the time to find a kinder way of being with yourself. What if you consciously decide to use menopause as a chance to learning what your body desires by becoming the body whisperer – not just to hunger but all your other body sensations? You do this by making yourself the priority every day. In doing so, not only will you look better, but you’ll be happier living in your own skin. Now that’s what I call flourishing!
Peace and love,
Dr. Deb
