Secrets to Energy and Vitality in Midlife and Beyond (Part 1 of 3 - Hormones)

​Energy and vitality in midlife and beyond. Think it’s not possible? Think again. Our middle and later years don’t have to be a downward spiral until it’s time to check out. It can be the most vibrant time of our lives, if we work with the changes in body and life, rather than against them.

In this 3-part series, I’ll share secrets to creating health from the inside out, so midlife can be a time of vitality, reinvention and transformation.

First up: Hormones. 

Whether you are pre- or post-menopause (or andropause for the men), if you’re over 40, your hormones are a-changin’. Our bodies seem to change without our doing anything different. We might experience more belly fat; less muscle, sleep disruptions, or weight-creep. We might be crankier or more easily stressed than we were before. We might not feel as energized anymore.

And, yet, I’m proposing that midlife and beyond could be the most vibrant period of your life. As I approach 50, and work with hundreds of people over 40, I’ve seen what’s possible for people who take charge of their health, versus people who do nothing and just accept that their reduced quality of life is to be expected as they age.

One of my mentors, bestselling Hormone Cure author Dr. Sara Gottfried sums it up well:

You can achieve anything you believe, and that includes feeling better than you ever have and taking years off the clock.

How, you ask?
 
First, Get clear on your inspiration. Imagine yourself in 10 or 20 years. What would light you up? What do you see yourself doing? Who are you with? What matters to you most? Give yourself permission to dream a little. Perhaps wave a virtual magic wand to expand possibilities if they feel narrow.  
 
Now, let’s make sure your body is on your team to help you realize that vision. Here are some tips to support your hormones.

1. Veggies, veggies, veggies. As many non-starchy veggies as you can stand, in a variety of colors. Work toward a double rainbow of colors per day. Color = nutrients, and will give your body what it needs to function optimally. Plus, the fiber helps balance your blood sugar and clear any excess hormones.

 

1. Go easy on the alcohol and coffee. I know. Don’t hate me. I do actually have your best interest in mind. But the truth is, alcohol and caffeine (especially coffee) can affect both progesterone and estrogen levels. The added sugar in alcohol can go straight to your waistline. For men – especially in your mid-40s and later, that extra sugar can cause your body to convert testosterone to estrogen, yikes!

 

1. Consider gluten sensitivity. Gluten -- a protein found in wheat, barley and rye -- can create inflammation that has a cascading effect on the adrenals, blood sugar and reproductive hormones. Plus, if eating gluten also creates carb-overload, you’ll see that go right to your waistline.

 

1. Mind your stress. Because the adrenals take the lead on reproductive hormone balance post menopause (and during andropause/around post-50-years-old for men), making sure your adrenals are strong is critical. The adrenals have a big job of helping you deal with daily stressors, and in our modern lives, we’re asking quite a lot of them! The first way to support your adrenals would of course be to reduce stress in your life, though that can be impossible or take time. In the meantime, helping your body get into the relaxation response is a great practice. An excellent way to do this is meditation. Luckily my colleague, acupuncturist Marie Bowser, has a gift for you: check out her Get Centered, Snap out of Stress meditation. 

  
If you’d like to learn practical tools and strategies to ensure midlife and beyond is a time of vitality, joy and possibility, join me on June 14-16 for my Midlife Magic retreat at the stunning 1440 Multiversity. It’s also an opportunity to relax and rejuvenate while enjoying nourishing food amidst majestic Redwoods. Hope to see you there!