"Fitness tips for menopause" from Mayo Clinic

Whether you've exercised faithfully for years or you haven't been active, physical activity during and after menopause offers many benefits. For example, regular physical activity can:

Prevent weight gain:
Women tend to lose muscle mass and gain abdominal fat around menopause.  Even slight increases in physical activity can help prevent weight gain.

Reduce the risk of breast cancer:
Physical activity during and after menopause can help you lose excess weight or maintain a healthy weight, which might offer protection from breast cancer.

Strengthen your bones:
Physical activity can slow bone loss after menopause, which lowers the risk of fractures and osteoporosis.

Reduce the risk of other diseases:
Menopause weight gain can have serious implications for your health.  Excess weight increases the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.  Regular physical activity can counter these risks.  

Boost your mood:
Physical activity can improve your psychological health at any stage of life. 

Read more:  Fitness Tips for Menopause

Laura's Style - Body Type Tip

  Contributed by Laura Michaud

When you tend to carry a little extra weight in the middle there is always the tendency to want to cover that by wearing over-sized tops. This will only make you appear larger. Trust me! Here are a few tips for those that have a little extra in their mid section:

1) Jackets hide a multitude of sins. If you carry extra weight in the middle you will want a jacket that will hit just above your high hip for your best look. Make sure the jacket is cut with a slight hourglass curve in the middle to give you some shape. A slightly boxy style can work for you as well. The key word here is slight.

The Ultimate Superfood Guide

Fall is the time of year when we love cinnamon!  At my house you will likely smell cinnamon sticks simmering on the stove and cinnamon powder being used in apple "everything" recipes using apples freshly picked at local orchards!

So when we found this article and learned of all the health benefits of cinnamon - we thought - we need to incorporate more of this good stuff into our diet!  Cinnamon is great for treating colds and increases energy!    

But cinnamon is just one of many "power-packed" foods included in this comprehensive list of natural foods, spices, peppers and powders you might want to incorporate into your diet to amp up your health!  Maca root is described as being excellent for correcting hormonal imbalances caused by PMS and menopause!   

This article was written by a nutritionist for "One Green Planet"...  
The Ultimate Superfood Guide 

We already know that exercise is good for us - here's a great article from "Science Daily" that gives us even more incentive to get off the couch and move our bods today!

"...based on the available data, physical activity is potentially as effective as many drug interventions -- and call for more trials to address the disparity between exercise and drug-based treatment evidence."

Exercise - Potentially as Effective as Drugs

The New Breast Rating You Need to Know

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
We thought this article was interesting...

"Knowing your density matters because it can affect your odds of getting breast cancer. For women with the densest breasts, the chance of developing the disease is four to six times as high as it is for those with the least dense breasts. As a risk factor, density is third in importance, coming behind gender (being a woman) and age (the older you are, the higher your chances of getting breast cancer), says Karla Kerlikowske, MD, professor of medicine, epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco."

Read the entire article in "MORE" here - The New Breast Rating You Need to Know

I've had a love affair with avocados ever since I was a little girl and my Uncle lifted me up to pick one off a tree in his California garden.  They are still my favorite.   Living in the Northeast - they aren't quite as delish as Cali avocados - but I'm still a fan!   

I eat one a day.... often in a rush - standing over the sink - cutting one open - spooning out the pit - then digging in!   Sometimes I eat them plain - other times I drizzle olive oil, hummus or salsa in the center hole.   That convenient pit hole is the perfect receptacle!
 ... and who doesn't love guacamole???!!!
   
Turns out these handy little goodies are also good for us - and not only for eating!   Check out this great article from the "Huffington Post" to learn why avocados are a must have! 

17 Reasons Avocados Are The Best Food In The Entire World

10 Breakfasts of Champions

Ahh yes - we all know we should start the day out right with a good--for-us breakfast!   Here are some great ideas from SHAPE - if you're a little bored with your usual oatmeal or cereal... click here 
Breakfasts of Champions

5 Menopause Myths — Debunked (from healthline.com)

Let's begin with #2!

2. Menopause Starts at Age 50

There’s no magic number that signals the official onset of menopause. Women generally enter menopause between the age of 45 and 55, but in rare cases women can experience menopause as early as their 30s or as late as their 60s. Also, keep in mind that menopause technically occurs once a woman ceases to have her period for 12 consecutive months. Until then, a woman is considered perimenopausal. 

.... and check out #5!!!

5. Menopause Kills Your Sex Drive

Menopause does not rob you of your mojo! Many women find a newfound sense of creativity and heightened self-confidence during midlife as they begin to focus more attention on their own needs and relationships which can do wonders for their sex life.  Don’t deprive yourself of healthy, enjoyable sex — at any age.

To read of the rest of the article click here...  
menopausemythsdebunked