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| Three of these women are perimenopausal |
Day 268
Walking and early morning mat work after a reasonable night's sleep. Another deskbound day, fuelled by chocolate. It's not good for anyone, especially not the hormonally challenged. But I'm looking forward to another weekend of running, and thinking fondly of the last one.
This picture of me with my fellow Kent AC winners, from Saturday's Championship board sweep gives me (meno)pause for thought. Our team of six was the fastest in a very muddy, hilly, tough cross country race. The third woman in the team is 50 years old. Fifth and sixth were Ellie (turns 50 next year) and I, all 52 years of me.
We three are approaching what used be described euphemistically as 'the change'. The two words were often mouthed conspiratorally by women when talking about the trials of midlife...shaming subject, taboo subject, much too intimate to be uttered out loud. We do ourselves a disservice.
We three have shared experiences of being on the borders of menopause. We sometimes feel a bit hot. Periods are a bit irregular...but, hey, it's natural. We'll keep running and whatever changes happen to us we'll weather. As long as we can run, we'll be ok.
This is the attitude it's wisest to take. There is evidence out there that vigorous exercise helps with the documented 'symptoms' of menopause. I'm inclined to think these symptoms have been self perpetuating. If we're told often enough that menopause means weight gain, depression, foggy thinking and all the rest, we'll ascribe ever me vague disorders to this hormonal event. It is already garlanded with a whole mass of non-specific complaints that we can convince ourselves we have. The best way to deal with them is to deny that menopause is anything other than a cessation of menstruation.
We were lively and active before periods started, we'll be lively and active again. Do not cuddle into the menopause blanket and prepare for old age. Shrug it off and keep active and outdoors. Here endeth the sermon.
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