I love it when leading Personal Trainers come into my programme. As I say in the seminars, we are the first generation of women to go into menopause in the context of the modern sports and fitness industries, so we are the ‘guinea pig’ generation!
When I was struggling myself to recover from with all the high intensity exercise that was being prescribed by Trainers and I reflected on my own lectures at the University of Waikato to exercise and sports science students, I realised that all the research had been conducted on younger people and athletes. That’s why the target markets for many gyms are 18-35 years. And yes, there is a lot of information about the benefits of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), but what if most of this research had been undertaken on men and younger people, not women in menopause who are struggling with their sleep, their energy levels and their hot flushes?
That was the question I asked myself as I listened to women on my doctoral studies describe how much they loved their personal training sessions, but they felt that their recovery wasn’t so great and their fatigue levels were higher than ever. Well, that was me too. So, I decided to look into it.
I discovered that oestrogen has a powerful effect on blood vessel dilation, so when we don’t have oestrogen and we are going through menopause, then we cannot dissipate all the lactic acid that is produced during high intensity training (resistance and cardio). This then increases blood pressure, heart rate stays elevated for longer after exercise and our legs start to feel ‘heavy and restless’ especially at night.
That’s why I love it when Personal Trainers like Debbie understand that what is really important during menopause, is to change our BELIEFS about what exercise is right for us at this precious time of life! Thanks Debbie for sharing your story with others.
“I struggled through my 50’s with peri-menopause and then menopause. I tried everything under the sun and to be quite frank, I was getting quite desperate as I work as a busy Personal Trainer. I’ve come to realise through Wendy’s programme and everything I’ve learnt, why all my exercise and nutrition training over the years, was no longer relevant. This is because, as Wendy says, this is such a unique time of our life and we are the first generation of women to be doing so much exercise every day.
I came across Wendy Sweet’s name when I read an article she had written on ‘Menopause’ and it was like a beacon to me. I couldn’t wait to make contact and understand more about her MyMT programme as I actually had nothing to lose as by this time, I had been on HRT for 12 months and gained around 6kg. We get so desperate and we “buy this buy that” mis-advised and misinformed. I was at the end of my tether. I knew of Wendy who leads the forefront of Personal Training in New Zealand as I work in this industry as well. She is highly recognised in Australia and New Zealand and is not only the most informed person and leader on this subject in the health and exercise industry, but she has been through it all herself. She knows exactly what we as 50+ woman go through because she is living it too.
I have spent so much money on the “latest thing” for peri-menopause over the years. People over the counter saying you need to take ‘this’ and if that doesn’t work come back and try that. I tried so much but nothing worked for me. I finally chose to go on HRT advised by my doctor. Again, it did not work into the long term and unlike this programme, did not address the other hormonal issues that I now understand, menopause brings on. I also had no idea that the type of exercise I was doing, was actually making my symptoms worse and causing me to put on belly fat.
What I have learnt in the MyMT programme has been remarkable. I thought I was eating well, but found that I wasn’t eating the right foods that I needed to for my menopause changes. As well, I did not understand the strategies that I needed to put into place to manage my hot flushes and turn around my sleep and night sweats. I have learnt that when it comes to mid-life and menopause, we do have to adapt, but this comes with age as well and changes should be made. The programme advises nutrition more in depth once you are into the programme. It’s not just meat and vegies or even Paleo. It is actually far from it. It’s about what foods are best suited for our best performance, wellbeing and our healthy ageing at this time of our lives.
Now that I have done the programme I feel so much better. Everything Wendy suggests WORKS! I was sleeping all night within a week and this alone was remarkable, as I hadn’t slept well for years.
Every day I gained more energy and I now feel that I know what to do. I feel like I’ve claimed back my life through this remarkable programme. What I especially liked however, was simply being advised by another ‘Woman’ who has been through what I have been through and is very informed. I’m sorry but a guy over the counter at the pharmacy just wasn’t cutting it, quite frankly!
Wendy has come up with a programme that yes you do pay for it, (as you would most things), but the difference is the support. It was amazing – email, facebook however you want it. This aspect is so important for women who want to change their health and lifestyle. She also challenged my BELIEFS about what I knew from my past, and this has been critical to my own learning.
Menopause can be different for everyone. I find that with my own clients too. Woman are at different stages and different levels. Wendy is so informed, so onto it she does advise and connects at every level women are experiencing. She is a real woman/person at the other end of our messages and her support is immediate. This program has given me confidence and has empowered me at a time in my life, where I was feeling so down and out. I had almost thought about giving up my personal training business, but that has all changed now.
I secretly hated what was happening to me in menopause. Thank you Wendy. I’ve learnt that your 50’s don’t have to Suck! This programme is not an ongoing pit of money. It is a well-informed, supportive programme. It’s a programme where woman can claim back their life, and get the tools to navigate this area of their lives. Life is not a rehearsal and I want the best life offers always. I’m not ready to give up and just take medication or let my health slide. This is my life and the MyMT™ programme has helped me to claim it back. It has saved my career and my sanity.”
Debbie, 54 years, New Zealand