Midlife Madness

Don’t think of them as hot flashes! Think of them as short, private vacations in tropical locations!

Welcome to Midlife Isle, weary traveler!

I am able to laugh most days, but I do shed a tear or two when I think how drastically my body has changed since May of last year.

I can’t even blame the pandemic, because I work out daily and eat relatively well, even to the point of carefully tracking my calories and macros.

Despite it all, I can’t seem to fit back into those jeans (you know the ones) that are waiting in the back of my closet. What’s happened to my body? Midlife Madness, that’s what. Suffice it to say that hormones have wreaked havoc on this body!

So, this might be oversharing, but I feel like the more we talk about our experience, the more we normalize it and recognize we are not alone. (More on that later!)

I am begging forgiveness for the parts below that are not ladylike. (You know me! I am not known for being a lady!)

My biggest challenges have been:

• Hot flashes, holy flames of hell! (There I am sweating through my own private tropical vacation!)

• Irregular cycle schedule, with heavy periods one month and then hardly anything the next. (This is not the roller-coaster I want to be riding!)

• The mid-section fluff is kickin’ it. (There are rolls in places I did not even know could have rolls.) 

• My boobs are huge! There was a time I wanted this more than anything, but at this point, the droopy Snoopy ears (sorry Snoopy) are just so uncomfortable. I have side boob sticking out of every damn bra I own, and my bras feel tight, even the ones I just bought a few weeks ago. Honestly, I would go braless, but that is just not socially acceptable. Nothing is comfy, and it makes me angry. And speaking of angry…

•  Mood swings. I sure hope the family sticks around for this wild-ass ride, because sadly they get the brunt of these joyful moments. 

I feel like this stuff happened at once and happened overnight. While I am usually pretty optimistic, some days it is hard to stay positive.

Sometimes I feel as if I am mourning the loss of my younger self. She was JUST freaking here. Where did that youthful chick go?

In the past, it seems as though people did not speak of menopause often. My mother shared with me that her doctors did not even help her much. She said she felt crazy, depressed, even suicidal. Yikes! Ladies, we can’t let that happen to us.

These days, there is a wonderful movement led by some fabulous women like Dr. Stacy Sims, Selene Yeager, the ladies at Live Feisty, and Amanda Thebe. They are researching and sharing such great information about menopause and how to improve women’s experience during these years of change. 

I have been researching the work of these and other experts, trying to learn everything I can about this special time of our lives, in an effort to regain some control of things.

I have learned so much from my hours of study and from my participation in courses on the physiology of mid-life for women.

Additionally, in recent weeks, I have been interviewing women; among other things, I have been reassured in knowing I am not alone with my symptoms. There are so many of us out there who want to know more about perimenopause and menopause.

Are you experiencing physiological symptoms of midlife? Some include unexplained weight gain, brain fog, mood swings, hot flashes, and poor sleep. These are only some of the more common that women experience from a wide range of symptoms.

Share with me if you relate to any of these. Are you frustrated?

Now, take a deep breath and imagine you feel energized, light, balanced, relaxed, and strong, in charge of your life and health.

This could be your reality!

Many of you know I am working to create an 8-week wellness and coaching program designed to educate women in their 40’s and 50’s about tools and wellness practices that can help each of us live our best life.

As a participant, you will learn how and why strength training, proper nutrition, mindfulness and meditation can help you. After 8 weeks, you will have a tailor-made plan designed and in place for you to execute to help you through Midlife Madness.

 Imagine this:

·      You feel in control.

·      You have an exercise regimen in place.

·      You are in the present moment and less stressed.

·      You feel strong and energetic.

·      You feel a sense of peace and ease.

·      Your sleep soundly through the night.

·      You feel in charge of your joy and living your best life.

I am still interviewing ladies who are feeling symptoms of mid-life and don’t have their self-care plan in place. If you are interested in speaking with me, please email me at  stephanie@stephaniemitchellfitness.com to schedule a time to give me feedback that will inform the program I am creating.

Your input, together with the research of many experts, all delivered with SMF’s signature humor and positivity…this will be the program to help you jumpstart your midlife.