DVD Review: Menopause in an Hour

by Holly on May 26, 2012

You think you know everything there is to know about menopause, right? You’ve talked to your mother, your best friend and, hopefully, your doctor. Or you’ve been searching the internet and now you’re an expert.

So why do you still feel so confused? Probably because you’re overloaded.

What you need is Menopause in an Hour, a newly released 2-DVD set and 48-page guide. Sounds like more than an hour, but the second DVD is for the men in your lives. Yes, the men. And the title says it all: “What’s Up with You-Know-Who?”

What can you expect from watching Menopause in an Hour? Dr. Tara Allmen has a clear and concise approach to tackling a very difficult topic for many women. She explains what menopause is all about and describes some of the more common symptoms. Her “six prescriptions for living a healthy lifestyle “give women a good start into figuring out what is going on with their bodies, both physically and mentally.

The most important thing about menopause is not to ignore it until the symptoms are unbearable. You need to be willing to tackle it head on. Have a plan. Know what you should be eating, how often you should exercise, and why you need to make yourself a priority. Life can be very demanding, but—if you aren’t at your best—any little thing can often make the situation worse. And the first DVD can help you make sense of it all.

Then there’s the men. If you’re confused, imagine how your husband might feel. Ask him how his favorite team is doing or the best way to grill a steak and he’ll talk for hours. But ask what a hot flash is and he’ll run from the room. Dr. Allmen gives the men their own prescription for a healthy lifestyle which they’ll find very useful. A strong healthy relationship takes two. Sometimes you’re the one holding everything together and sometimes they are. This could be the point where your man needs to offer you some support, at times a little space and, most of all, an open and understanding mind.

The last part of this DVD also includes the personal stories of women who have gone through menopause and their experiences. Too often, we feel as if we’re alone in this. Nobody understands. You’re the only one. But you’re not. Women are beginning to go through this stage every single day and they have questions and insights that are invaluable.

Now that you know about Menopause in an Hour, get your copy, fire up the DVD player and encourage your partner to join you for an hour of enlightenment and understanding. You won’t be disappointed. And the 48-page guide will help you track your symptoms, make better decisions, and utilize the resources available to you.

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Postmenopausal Women Should Exercise to Reduce Risk of Heart Disease

by Guest Blogger on May 14, 2012

This is a guest post by Lisa Larkin of Lisa Larkin, M.D. & Associates.

Did you know that blood pressure during exercise can predict future cardiovascular events better than resting blood pressure alone? It’s true. People with higher exercise blood pressures are more likely to experience heart attack or stroke than those with lower exercise blood pressures. Armed with this information, I think you know what I’m going to say next. That’s right…make exercise a part of your daily routine!

But I haven’t exercised in years

Just because you have a history of being a couch potato doesn’t mean you can’t start reaping the health benefits of exercise. In fact, a recent clinical trial involving 464 sedentary, postmenopausal, overweight and obese women found moderate-intensity exercise — a brisk 30-minute walk most days a week — had substantial blood pressure benefits. If that sounds like too much, consider taking a brisk walk just a few days a week, as that also has a positive impact on exercise blood pressure.

Exercise isn’t just good for your heart

And if the health benefits of lowering your exercise blood pressure aren’t enough to get you exercising, think about this — regular exercise also benefits bones, helps regulate weight and creates a better sense of well-being. In addition, women who are physically inactive are more likely to suffer from obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, chronic back pain, insomnia, poor circulation, weak muscles, and depression.

What exercises are right for me?

Always talk with your doctor before starting an exercise program, particularly if you have been sedentary. I usually recommend that my postmenopausal patients focus on the following activities:

• aerobic conditioning for heart health and calorie-burning (walking, swimming and low impact aerobics)
• light strength training for muscles, bones and metabolism (dumbbells, weight machines and exercise bands)
• stretching for flexible muscles (stretching, yoga and Pilates)

Here are a few online apps to help you keep your exercise program on track:

Fit Day

Fit Day is a free diet and weight-loss journal to help you create a goal, track food, log activity and see progress.

http://www.fitday.com/

Lose it!

Stay on track each day with Loose it!, which allows you to record your food , exercise and stay within your budget.

http://www.loseit.com/

My Fitness Pal

Use the My Fitness Pal tracking site to log and track your meals quickly and easily.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/

Spark People
Spark People is a free, customized weight-loss plan that provides you with the tools, resources and support you need to reach your weight loss goals.

http://www.sparkpeople.com/

Lisa Larkin, MD, NCMP, is a nationally certified menopause provider and internal medicine physician in Cincinnati. She is the owner of Lisa Larkin, M.D. & Associates and medical director.

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Clearing the Air on Menopause Brain Fog

April 27, 2012

If you ever wondered if menopause brain fog was a real symptom, a recent study led by Miriam Weber, a neuropsychologist from the Rochester Medical Center in New York, may put your mind at ease. Her findings add some validity to the complaints of many women in menopause who have issues with memory. While it’s [...]

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Book Review: Eat to Defeat Menopause

March 17, 2012

While many of us face a number of challenges while going through menopause, the most frustrating is probably weight gain. Your eating habits haven’t changed, but those pounds continue to creep on. And that’s the problem. Our eating habits do have to change, from the amount of calories we consume to the types of foods [...]

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Is Your Menopause Clock Ticking?

February 19, 2012

How much of our lives do we spend wondering whether we’ll get our period, how long it’s going to last and when it’ll be over? Well, when you consider that the average woman has between 350 and 500 periods over the course of her lifetime, it can leave a lot of time to manage it, [...]

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The Real Skinny on Menopause Weight Gain

January 15, 2012

Now that the holidays are over, it’s time to settle back into the reality of menopause. Weight gain is common for everybody at this time of year. Between the cookie exchanges, Christmas parties, and Grandma’s fruitcake, we all tend to pack on more than a few uninvited pounds. And when we’re so busy filling our [...]

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