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I have definitely got Menopause fatigue and I don’t just mean from all the hormonal changes but from the constant bombarded from ads promising the world and delivering sod all, then there is the\u00a0the endless narrative on TV shows and podcasts.<\/p>\n
So I decided to share my experiences in the hope that it might save you some time, money and hopefully raise a smile on the way.\u00a0I have recently updated previous posts with my latest discoveries (both good and bad!)<\/p>\n
Just so you get the picture I founded The Canni Family in 2018, I am in my 40’s (pushing 50) have a muffin top, think i’m a size 12 top\/14 bottom but in reality i’m a size 16 and feel tired all the time. I have a very active\u00a08 year old son and because I spent my 30’s living in London like I was in my 20’s, left motherhood a bit late. I am currently peri-menopausal (so still having the joy of periods) and I found myself with an ill fitting wardrobe, chicken skin neck, a bag full makeup i’ve owned since the 00’s and being stuck in a well outdated version of myself!\u00a0<\/p>\n
So here’s a list of what i’ve tried and what I found that works for me (and perhaps for you!) and what certainly hasn’t:<\/p>\n
Jogging<\/strong><\/span> – haha yeah right with my knees, no chance, and all that wobbly flesh in lycra no thanks!<\/p>\n Wild Swimming<\/strong><\/span> <\/strong>– Yes, I am one of these mad Dry Robe, Bobble hat wearing loons that love a cold water swim but after two years of taking regular dips the main benefits I would say are finding the group I swim with, that community and laughter has helped me more than any Menopause Miracle cure could ever do. I’ve also found that if i’m feeling hormonal a quick dip (or blast with the shower) kicks me up the arse and resets my mood. In fact a friend literally just sent me this article as I was typing, its from the Guardian –\u00a0\u00a0Cold-water swimming eases menopause and menstrual symptoms<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(so it must be true!)<\/p>\n Weight Training –\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>I did join a swanky gym and did personal training classes for a year. Whilst I did feel better in myself, stronger and fitter and admittedly I was counting calories at the time, it made little difference to the persistent pouch! Turns out the bodies stress response to this sort of work out, when your post 40, is to hang onto essential fat stores (Ahhhhhhhh!)\u00a0<\/p>\n Face Yoga<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0I really had high hope for this, I thought it made sense – exercise the face muscles = tighter skin….not so much! I did it for a month and apart from feeling clearer headed, as it drains the lymphatics, I saw little or no difference but it was hilarious!<\/p>\n Yoga\u00a0and\u00a0<\/strong>meditation<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0– I use the Yoga-Go app and find this to be convenient and easy to follow. I am hyper mobile so I have to wat<\/span>ch over stretching (love a bit of competitive yoga but I think that defeats the objective!) but if you believe, as I do, that we hold stress and emotion in the body, this becomes harder to shift when you’re over 40. We have a lot of stored stress and this causes the body to hang on to ‘important’ fat reserves so my aim is to try and reduce the amount of toxins from food, relationships and the environment (and hopefully my mum bulge will do one!)<\/p>\n 2. Make-up for mature skin!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n I found myself either wearing no makeup, so I looked like i’d been dug up for the school run, or wearing products that sat in every line, leaving a dry cakey complexion. Think Mrs Haversham on a good day!<\/p>\n As luck would have it one of my ‘oldest’ (she wont thank me for that) friends launched a range of make-up for more mature woman and it’s only taken her a decade to convince me to wear anything! (I’ve had the same hairstyle for well over 20 years so she did well) However I wish I had done this sooner, in 3-5mins i’ve put on something that lifts my face and mood, reduces fine lines and it comes in shades that suit me as I am (not how I wish I looked!).<\/p>\n Check out their award winning Vegan and Cruelty Free product range at CODEBeautiful<\/span><\/a>, <\/strong>oh and they have agreed to a 20% discount for all our customers and a 14 day no quibble return. Use the code CANNI 20<\/strong><\/span> at the checkout!<\/p>\n