The hottest topic in town: Menopausal Hotties...

Whoosh - and as if by magic and the speed of light - we already find ourselves at the letter ‘W’ on our whirlwind alphabetical tour of the menopause.

So what could ‘W’ possibly represent for us on our journey?

Well, it’s a wondrous, unholy trinity of Wet, Weight and Water retention hotties. Try saying that tongue-twister quickly!

As we wade through the menopause, our dropping estrogen levels can cause several changes in our bodies’ usual make up, performance, mindset, and shape. There are a few commonly-reported symptoms, but remember it’s NOT a ‘one size fits all’ scenario. You, my wonderful hotties, are totally unique.

The first ‘W’ we will waste no time delving into, is vaginal Wetness, or lack of...

During menopause the vaginal walls can become thinner and sometimes drier as we produce less mucus. Some women also experience a shortening and tightening of the vagina known as atrophy. This could make sexual activity painful.

But worry not. We don’t want to dampen your spirits hotties, as there are many treatments which can help, ranging from lubricants to ‘keep things moist’, through to vaginal oestrogen creams and HRT, which can help thicken those vaginal walls, so that we produce more moisture naturally.

Some hotties report an increase in libido as the testosterone hormone becomes more dominant; and as we covered in last month's issue, the more sexually active we are (not promoting promiscuity or anything), the lesser the effect of atrophy has on our vaginas. Use it or lose it. Or should that be ‘use it to loosen it’?! Too much?!

The second ‘W’ will focus on Waistline and Weight gain.

“What?” I hear you wail! “Focus on our waistlines? That’s the last thing we want to do”. Aye, whatever…

You can handle this frankness from us by now you super hottie - you know we’re not ones to sugarcoat things around here, and that it all comes from a place of love and affection, with no malice or judgement.

Heck, if we didn’t care, we’d stay silent and leave you to just get on with it. It’s when we go all quiet, that’s when you need to really worry! Fake friends tell you pretty lies; true friends tell you the ugly truth!

Anyway, where were we? Ah yes, Waistline and Weight gain...

These are probably some of THE most common symptoms/changes which can cause a lot of stress, as our bodies seem to shape shift while we sleep!

According to an article in the HuffPost, the average menopausal weight gain is between 10-15 pounds. Yeah right, sure, AND then some! While there is no conclusive evidence that menopause causes weight gain in itself, there are several menopausal symptoms which could contribute to it, such as:

• Sleep deprivation - it can play havoc with our bodies, unhelpfully slowing down the rate we burn food.
• Decreasing muscle mass - means our bodies don’t burn the same amount of calories it used to.
• The way we store body fat changes - with more seemingly getting stored around our bellies and midriff.
• Mood swings - these can make us less likely to be motivated to be active, or maybe even turn our attentions to comfort eating.

Well, well, well hotties - what do ya know? Knowledge IS Queen. Armed with this wealth of info and learning, we can grasp the nettle, take back some control, and adapt to manage this weight gain phenomenon; or maybe weight gain isn’t a concern or health issue for you, in which case simply choose to celebrate our assets or shape shifting new curves, and become comfortable in the skin that we’re in. After all, it’s the only one we’ve got, so we might as well make ourselves at home and look after it the best we can.

Last, but by no means least, the final ‘W’ of our trio is Water retention.

Have you often thought “wow, where did this bloating come from?” One minute your jeans fit perfectly, and the next, you can’t even do up your zip as your tummy seems to have grown a whole new one to keep it company! This is usually thanks to water retention, and not to be confused with weight gain.

Water retention can come and go in an instant. It’s as mercurial as a British springtime, with its seemingly relentless stop/start of rain and sunshine. You never quite know where you stand. Brolly or no brolly; fitted tailored clothing (zips optional) or elasticated comfies?! Decisions, decisions… #FirstWorldProblems

Here are some words to the wise, to alleviate those wretched symptoms:

• Stay hydrated - this keeps the gastrointestinal tract moving smoothly. Or in less euphemistic terms: ‘keeps your bowels regular’.
• Exercise - working up a sweat, helps to burn off and keep food moving through the digestive system.
• Cut back salt - too much salt can cause water retention and swelling. If you want to pep up your mealtimes, try using black or white pepper, citrus juices, herbs or spices as healthier alternatives to salt.
• Try consuming more probiotics - they can also promote a healthier digestive system.

Wowsers hotties - hope you’re not too (over)whelmed by the letter ‘W’. Please remember this, as we wrap things up, you ARE Wonder Woman, with your own unique set of super hottie powers.

There’s no need to waddle, weep or wail in despair. Grab your Lasso of Truth - stare down the weird and not so wonderful woes of the menopause!

Together we can do this, while we wage war on those raging hormones. After all - we are wonderful women of the world!

Love,

Julie x