All while navigating Menopause
Introduction
Raw honesty:
“I didn’t even know what was wrong at first. I just knew I was getting worse.”
It began as a slow burn: brain fog, deep fatigue, aching bones, swelling, and a crushing sense of anxiety… a lot of anxiety.
But this is a hopeful story.
Section 1: The Storm — When Everything Collapsed
I was in my early 50s — 52 when I realized I couldn’t keep pushing through with my usual routine of intense training, intermittent fasting, low-protein vegetarianism, and socializing hard.
Perimenopause overlapped and clouded the picture. Stress, anxiety, sleepless nights, and wild mood swings became the norm.
The emotional toll: Grief, confusion, frustration, and a deep feeling of being lost. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t feel like “myself” again.
Over a few years, my health spiraled. First came the diagnosis of Hashimoto’s, then Osteopenia. I believed I could heal through diet alone. I thought being vegetarian was healthy — until it wasn’t.
Illness really took hold during the COVID years. My immunity was shot. Chronic body pain — muscle, bone, joints — set in. I thought it was aging. Now I know better. Pain meds became a crutch, just so I could function and make it to the gym. I wasn’t listening to my body.
By the end, depression and anxiety swallowed me up. Anxiety over my health triggered stomach issues, inflammatory bowel problems, and social withdrawal. Stress became an instant trigger for flare-ups. It was a vicious cycle. Looking back now, I’m just so grateful for what I’ve learned.
Section 2: The Gentle Healing Path I Chose
Nutrition: Anti-inflammatory, low-carb, high-protein. Gut healing with homemade probiotics like kefir.
Supplements: (See my Post 1 for details.)
Spiritual tools: Morning manifesting, daydreaming, tarot, gratitude, feminine embodiment practices.
Rest: Less stimulation, slow mornings, saying no.
“Healing wasn’t just physical — it was emotional and energetic, too.”
Section 3: Moving My Body in a Loving Way
- Lymphatic drainage (gua sha, rebounding)
- Walks in nature
- Gentle yoga or mobility work
- No pressure or punishment
- Resistance training: heavy weights or body resistance
- Rebounding, skipping, or jumping to move lymphatics
- Sprint training for cardio
“Movement became a gift to myself, not a task.”
Section 4: Menopause Was the Messenger
Menopause woke me up — to rest, to nourish, to rewire.
I now see it as a rite of passage.
“It’s not the end. It’s a doorway into a more powerful you.”