For so many years, women are taught to pour into everyone around us.
We pour into our children. Our partners. Our families. Our careers. Our friendships. Our homes. We become the planners, caregivers, problem-solvers, listeners, fixers and strong ones.
And sometimes, without even realizing it, we leave ourselves at the bottom of the list.
As I moved through menopause and eventually into post-menopause, I began looking at my health differently.
My body was changing. My weight changed. My mood changed. I experienced hot flashes and night sweats. Things that once seemed to work for my body didn’t necessarily work the same way anymore.
Eventually, I realized something important:
I couldn’t keep taking care of everyone and everything else while treating myself like an afterthought.
I Didn’t Starve Myself. I Changed My Lifestyle.
When I decided I wanted to improve my health and feel better in my body, I didn’t stop eating.
I didn’t chase a miracle cure.
I didn’t expect menopause to disappear because I bought a supplement.
I began changing my habits.
I focused on fresh, nourishing foods. I became more intentional about protein. I exercised consistently, incorporating strength training, weights, kettlebells, cardio, walking and cycling.
I also started paying more attention to something women often underestimate:
rest and recovery.
Sleep matters.
Stress matters.
Mental health matters.
And protecting your peace matters too.
Exercise and healthy eating are important pieces of wellness, but wellness isn’t only about what happens in the kitchen or the gym.
Sometimes taking care of yourself means saying no.
Sometimes it means resting without feeling guilty.
Sometimes it means removing yourself from situations that continually disturb your peace.
Sometimes it means making the doctor’s appointment you’ve been postponing.
And sometimes it means admitting that lifestyle changes alone aren’t enough.
There were menopause symptoms I couldn’t manage through exercise, nutrition and determination alone. I spoke with my physician and received medical treatment that has helped me tremendously.
For me, taking care of myself didn’t mean doing everything “naturally.”
It meant doing what was healthy for me.
Your Body Is Not Your Enemy
This may be one of the biggest lessons menopause has taught me.
My body wasn’t betraying me.
It was changing.
And I needed to learn how to work with the woman I was becoming instead of constantly comparing her to the woman I used to be.
At 53 and post-menopause, I’m still working on myself.
I’m still exercising.
I’m still learning about nutrition.
I’m still building strength.
I’m still learning what my body needs.
I’m still working on my physical, mental and emotional wellness.
There is no perfect ending to my story where I suddenly have everything figured out.
And I think that’s important for women to hear.
Wellness is always a work in progress.
Pour Some of That Love Back Into Yourself
If you’ve spent years taking care of everybody else, I want you to remember that you belong on your own list too.
Move your body because you want to remain strong.
Feed yourself because your body deserves nourishment.
Build muscle because strength becomes increasingly valuable as we age.
Rest because exhaustion isn’t a badge of honor.
Protect your peace because chronic stress doesn’t belong at the center of your life.
Love yourself enough to pay attention when your body tells you something has changed.
And work with qualified healthcare professionals when you need support.
Self-love isn’t simply looking in the mirror and loving what you see.
Sometimes self-love is doing the uncomfortable, ordinary things that protect the woman looking back at you.
This Is Why I Created Still Becoming Wellness
I created Still Becoming Wellness because I wanted a space for women navigating menopause, post-menopause, healthy aging and the complicated business of learning to prioritize ourselves again.
I’m not here because I’ve reached some imaginary finish line.
I’m here because I’m walking the road too.
That’s also why I created my first digital guide, The Change of Life: From Full-Blown Menopause to Post-Menopause.
In it, I share more of my personal journey and the habits that have helped me, including Fresh-First eating, protein, strength training, cardio, sleep, bone health, my personal wellness routine, meal and snack inspiration, trackers and a 30-Day Post-Menopause Reset.
It isn’t a miracle menopause cure.
It isn’t a starvation plan.
And it isn’t a promise that another woman’s body will respond exactly like mine.
It’s one woman’s real experience, combined with practical tools to help other women begin thinking differently about their own wellness.
Because menopause may be called the change of life, but I’ve learned that the change doesn’t have to mean the end of something.
It can also become the beginning of a new relationship with yourself.
Stronger. Healthier. More intentional.
And always…
Still Becoming. 💜
The information shared by Still Becoming Wellness is for educational and informational purposes and reflects personal experience. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition or replace individualized medical advice. Always discuss your health concerns and treatment decisions with a qualified healthcare professional.
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