about health

What Now?

So, you’re forty something and beyond and ready to make a change for the hormonal better.

Great! Every woman on the planet will suffer from hormonal changes, and as we age, the symptoms increase as our estrogen levels decrease.

Now, what the hell do we do as we all experience our own unique changes that usually suck in a huge way, and we would love to toss in the trash. Let’s get down and dirty and brainstorm about foods that may reduce symptoms, natural alternatives, and other ways to experience relief from the hormone party crasher. Many of us are lost in the dark when it comes to hormones and what to do, and many times when our plug gets pulled during this process, we are left holding the chord saying to ourselves… what has happened…really??? And not realizing that the hormone party has begun.

Did I have you at hormone? Then read on.

The first step is to realize that you are not going crazy, and now may be a great time to

head to the gynecologist for a full blood panel that includes your Follicle Stimulating Hormone Test, and a chat to discuss the symptoms that you are having.

Some of the symptoms caused by hormone horrors include mood swings, damn those night sweats, disturbed sleep, anxiety, loss of sex drive, vaginal dryness, inability to orgasm or struggle to get there, hot flashes, depression, food cravings, and weight gain. What the hell is going on…this list would be enough to scare any woman into feeling overwhelmed about life, self, and pissed off that her ship has wrecked in the harbor, and now stalled waiting for some sort of miracle. Unfortunately, when our hormones have gone crazy, it is necessary to take control of our bodies and begin taking steps to turn that boat around and get it sailing again.

Once it has been determined that your hormones are indeed the culprit of the crap, researching the best methods of relief that work for each woman is a great beginning. There are foods, natural supplements, creams, hormone therapies and an abundance of options to come to the hormonal rescue. But the choices for relief may feel overwhelming and not knowing the right decision to make may seem difficult.

Options, Options

Nutrition

Let’s start with the most natural way to start bringing our hormones back into some sort of balance. Studies have shown that certain foods like watermelon and pumpkin seeds can boost our libido, and eating foods containing fiber, antioxidant s, lean protein and healthy fats in our daily nutritional intake help set the stage for happier hormone balance in the body. Check out Dr. Christiane Northrup’s Hormone Balancing Food Plan on Food Matters for more detailed information.

Hormone Replacement

Bio-identical hormones and Hormone Replacement Therapy are two differing methods that can reduce the bothersome symptoms of hormone imbalance. Bio-identicals have been termed “natural” and generally provided by a natural path or holistic doctor, whereas hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are prescribed by a medical doctor and in a variety of forms to include pills, creams, gels, and vaginal inserts that are not battery operated. The "bio" route seems to be the most accepted by women trying to stay away from synthetic hormones and the belief is that the risk of cancer is reduced with identical hormones. However, hormone therapy is such a personal decision, with every woman experiencing different symptoms and side effects to therapy. Be an informed healthy person on the subject before jumping into the big ass pot of hormone relief.

Creams and things

One of the worst symptoms of hormone imbalance is the “dry vagina” and that alone can send the libido tail tucked and becoming the forbidden area. When it comes to being a female, trying to remain sexual, and feel sexy while our bodies are fighting our wants, can become an ongoing chore and we frantically search for answers to plump up, lubricate, and bring ourselves back to life in the bedroom. Lubricantsto the rescue! The store shelves are packed with all sorts of slippery glides that can make life in the bedroom much more enjoyable and stocking up can be a great idea once you have found your favorite. Natural ways to lubricate down under can be done by massaging extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil directly on the labia, and in fact, extra virgin coconut oil works fabulous as a sexual lubricant, so bring that kitchen item into the bedroom ladies.

Opting out

Some gals sail through hormonal changes and choose not to partake in therapies and I for

one am happy for those healthy wonder women. Some that experience slight symptoms may also choose to ride out the storm, and the great thing about our bodies as we go through this journey of hormonal change, is that we do have the choice.

What women want and what we get

Women want to be women, to feel confident about their bodies physically and sexually, and when hormone hell tries to put a damper on her natural way of being, it is time to become an informed woman ready to make decisions and choices to maintain a healthy vibrant body for a lifetime. Watermelon and pumpkin seeds, along with a great lubricant may become a best friend during this journey, in addition to a choice to use bio-identical hormones or HRT for relief and bringing the body back into balance. Whatever choice is made, it is really all about living a quality healthy life in every way and not allowing the journey through hormone imbalance to take what is yours…a fulfilling and satisfied life.

Darla Leal, Contributing Writer

Nationally recognized and published fitness expert, master trainer, consultant and coach, Darla has been training clients in her private fitness studio for several years, is a feature writer for Natural Muscle Magazine and has appeared in other publications and books. When Darla is not coaching or consulting, she can be found in the kitchen creating and modifying recipes, her passion and therapy. She also enjoys a nice glass of wine and dark chocolate with her hubby, and taking off on weekly boat trips during the hot summer months. Darla is the In Your Face MOTIVATOR on her Stay Healthy fitness Blog and Facebook and has a passion to reach as many people as she can to adapt a healthy LIFESTYLE. Her favorite book is the Bible and quote: “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it.” Her motto: Stay Healthy!

Thanks for stopping by my Blog, hope you enjoy the content, and if you have not become a follower yet, I would love to see your face on my friend's list. If you are inspired, LIKE my entry, leave a comment and I look forward to responding!

Stay Healthy~ Darla

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Age is JUST A NUMBER

As I near forty nine I think not about my age or how I look but blown away by how fast time has gone. I can remember my parents being fifty and never imagined I would be in the exact same spot…HERE IT IS…weird! As I get older and wiser, I really appreciate the GIFT of time, and soak in every moment. In a blink, sixty will be here and I do not want to miss a thing!

Now let me back this up a bit as I do care about how I look, and most importantly how I FEEL. YES, age is just a number in my book, and it surely does not mean I throw in the towel and subscribe to some sort of category that stands for unhealthy and frumpy…nope…that is just not me. Life is about quality and keeping my body functioning in a healthy way, feeling the BEST that I can each day, and that involves CONSISTENT healthy food intake, exercise, plenty of water, and I have noticed…lots more REST is required. There are some days that I feel every bit forty eight when my neck flares up, or my back hurts, etc., and that is when I take special care to relax more, stretch more, and not push so hard. My body just like yours is a wonderful machine that talks to me and if I do not listen, then it will eventually let me know. I appreciate the gift of my body, and will spend the rest of my life taking care and appreciating that fact.

It does feel GREAT to be healthy and wear that badge on the outside, but I will share that is all starts on the inside. HAPPINESS is what I want out of life, in

addition to being a healthy woman, and if I did not work on my internal stuff, then life would not make sense. I do not care how fabulous I or anyone could look, if the inside is a mess and an unhealthy mind lives in that body, that is ugly, regardless of the age. It is like someone having all the money in the world and being completely unhappy and unfulfilled. In my opinion, health and happiness go hand in hand.

I consider getting older a privilege and honor and do not hide the fact that fifty is knocking at my door. I have lived a journey full of the good, bad, and the ugly and consider all the roller coasters as growth periods that have created an older, wiser, better, happier ME. I like that phrase that says “In order to get built up, you must first get broke down” just like building muscle, life is my opportunity to grow, learn, change, and reach for the positive lesson. I must say that I am a very blessed woman with my hubby, health, family and friends. In living a healthy lifestyle, thinking and reacting in healthy ways, God has truly blessed me with the husband that I have, my family and beautiful friends that nourish my soul in ways that are gifts themselves.

Age being just a number is fabulous because I truly live by how I feel, and really

age is an afterthought or a non thought. What has come from the years of journey in this life physically are the battle scars from surgeries, stretch marks from having children, facial laugh lines, and the pesky lines that have appeared on my forehead…but hey…goes with the gift of living another day. I am not in panic mode thinking I need to fix this and that, inject this and that, and cover this and that, and I do not need a red sports car. I do not desire to be like someone else or try to be perfect, because as I have said before, perfection only exists in fairy tales, photo shop and heaven. I believe in progress and I am always a work in progress…it is really a GREAT place to be at any age.

I dedicate this Blog to my best friend and more like a sister, Rehana! Thanks for gifting me such a wonderful early birthday celebration and spending the entire day with you was more than a gift to me. You warm my soul and light up my life. Love always XOXO

IN YOUR FACE MOTIVATIONS