Sneaky Menopause & Tight Jeans

So as I mentioned in Part 1, I decided that the symptoms I was experiencing were effecting my quality of life enough to contact the GP. It was actually quite scary how they snuck up on me. I was so tired, ALL THE TIME. Like I needed to sleep. Had to sleep. Non-negotiable mid afternoon naps become the norm. No energy to do anything. I literally would wake up in the morning and mentally go through my day and see when I could nap. Plan it in. Before I had even got out of bed in the morning.

And motivation for anything had gone. Exercise. My mental saviour. My job. Completed it mate! It wasn’t I was finding it hard, it literally got to the point that I did not want to. Cue anxiety. How could I be a PT who didn’t exercise. What a hypocrite. Got to love the downward spiral of catastrophization. Going out, doing anything, was a chore. I could be sleeping. So then as I am at home, not exercising, all my good habits go out of the window, including eating well, drinking enough. Then Christmas arrives and all bets are off. Eating like an animal. Knowing this isn’t the answer but doing it anyway. Ignoring everything I know and teach.

January arrives. Say what you want about the new year, new me fad. For some people it gives them the kick up the butt they need to either introduce new healthy habits or go back to old. January and tight jeans were my kick up the butt. As someone who lives in nice stretchy and forgiving active wear, I was trying to ignore the effects of my 0 exercise and 0 f@cks when eating. My jeans had either been washed on a hot wash or my diet of Cadbury’s Heroes, Pringles and Cheese had caught up with me…..

Now those of you who have worked with me will know that I do not care much for the scales. I had not got on them since November. 8lbs on. Heaviest in a long time. Like years. And I don’t care what the scales say its how you feel. And I didn’t feel good. Everyone has their FEEL GOOD POINT. Mine is around 63-65kg. This is nothing to do with my BMI, just what feels good for me. When I feel good in my clothes. Menopause gave me tight jeans. That was not on the symptom checker questionnaire.

I know a symptom of Menopause is weight gain, especially around the middle and this is to do with hormones and science. But I feel like it also tries to rob you of all the tools you need to stay at your FEEL GOOD POINT. To counteract the science. So it proper screws you over. Then you feel crap, less like you, more anxious, don’t want to go out as you feel rank and tired, then you are at home where sleeping and snacking seems like a comfortable solace.

So I decided to take action, get back to what I know, use the tools I have and track my food. The HRT has definitely started to make me feel like the old me again. So I am have changed my exercise routine to something that I enjoy and will ease me back in and keep me motivated. So HRT, strength training and MyFitnessPal, plus the January new me conditioning (and tight jeans) have got me back on track. Screw you Menopause.