Real Menopause Talk

Today's Bonus Episode is an International smorgasboard of experience and information and continuing on from yesterday's Bonus Episode with a cause, we share more information about how you can get involved in this year's GLOBAL MENOPAUSE WALK. Nathalie Bonfé, originally from France and now based in Conneticut is a research scientist gone rogue. She holds a PhD in Philosophy, Molecular Biology & Biochemistry. These days, she specialises in Women's Health, runs Menopause cafés and is an End of Life Doula. Sallyanne Brady has gone from feeling lost on a dark path in Perimenopause to running the number one support group for women going through Perimenopause in Ireland: The Irish Menopause. "If it's this easily fixed, why did I not know this and why does nobody else know?" Both, clearly care enormously about others and support them with all their knowledge and heart. Unsurprisingly, they are instrumental in Stride by Side, the Global Menopause Walk of 2022: The goal is to walk or move 50,000 steps throughout the month of October. Why 50,000? 50 is because approximately 50% of the population will experience Menopause, because it is roughly the average age of Menopause and the length of a marathon. The purpose is to raise money for research into Women's Health. To find out more and register NOW, go to: https://www.charityfootprints.com/StrideBySide/ You can find Nathalie on https://nathaliebonafe.com/ @nath_bonafe on Insta https://www.facebook.com/nathaliemlbonafe You can find Sallyanne on https://theirishmenopause.com @theirish_menopause on Insta https://www.facebook.com/theirishmenopausepage AND https://www.facebook.com/groups/287737948785200 https://twitter.com/IrishMenopause

This is a Bonus Episode for more than one reason. Bonus because I am joined by TWO powerhouse, fabulous women to talk about Peri to Post Menopause and their experiences. Bonus because it's an extra episode this week and possibly most importantly, bonus because YOU can get involved. Emily Barclay heads up The Perimenopause Hub, bringing together world wide resources and experts on Perimenopause and Menopause so that women feel supported and heard. "Just getting that word, Perimenopause, was a weight lifted." Loretta Dignam is an award-winning Marketer of the Year, who is CEO of The Menopause Hub, Ireland's first and only dedicated multidisciplinary menopause clinic, opened in December 2018. In this episode we discuss, Testosterone, Brain Health, Chronic Fatigue, the Wilderness of Perimenopause, Dry Eye, Migraines, being sent to A&E for symptoms and Loretta's story of hot flash magnets - not to be missed! Most importantly, we introduce the Menopause Walk 22 - Stride by Side - what, when and why and how YOU can get involved. https://www.charityfootprints.com/StrideBySide/ You can find Emily at https://perimenopausehub.com Perimenopause Hub on FB, @perimenopausehub on Insta @perimenohub on Twitter. You can find Loretta at https://www.themenopausehub.ie/ @menopausehub on Insta The Menopause Hub on LinkedIn

When you combine open, honest, feisty, and strong with a good sense of humour and a full tonne of knowledge, you get Erin Holt. Having struggled with an eating disorder for 13 years, she decided to educate herself so that she could heal. She has a great, high energy and solid knowledge laced with humour for a unique and customised approach to women's health. She dives deep with women to get to the root cause of their health issues and finally get answers to their mystery symptoms. "We shouldn't normalise suffering. Perimenopause is not a time when you need to suffer." In this episode, Erin shares how to set your day up for success, why we should have confidence in our own knowledge, especially when it comes to our own bodies, and she gives seriously sound advice if you are ready to take charge of your life. You can find Erin on Instagram @the.funktional.nutritionist & on her website https://www.thefunktionalnutritionist.com and her podcast is https://www.thefunktionalnutritionist.com/the-funktional-nutrition-podcast

Freddy's story is one of self reinvention time and again, especially during her perimenopausal and menopausal years. Now 20 years Post Menopause she is able to share with us why Menopause is so much more than the end of bleeding. From suicidal ideation through divorce to dancing on stage and celebrating herself, Freddy now shares her knowledge and experience with others and the glory of being Post Menopause. "It's a really interesting thing, that morning when you wake up and think, I don't give a damn anymore." In this episode, we discuss her life, her strategies, the impact of declining estrogen on people's lives, "Menopause is never a solitary experience" and what symptoms she believes you should look out for. She also has five things she would like to say to men. You can find Freddy on LinkedIn @FreddyCarrick and you can find her book, 'Menopause Unzipped' and her tracker, "What the Heck is Wrong with Me?" on Amazon.

Are you having good orgasms? A practising midwife for 20 years, Nadine has gathered and harnessed an expansive knowledge of herbology, breathwork, fire walking and sexuality to become the Embodied Wild Woman and Sacred Sexuality Coach she is today. Are you feeling like a shadow of your former self, unseen, low libido, a bit lost? Is there help? Yes! Nadine understands we need to be seen, nourished and cherished and sexuality is about far more than just sex, it's a life force. "Women Change The World." In this episode, we talk a lot about the importance of sex and sexuality. How, when it comes to midlife, you don't want to be worrying about your floppy boobs falling into your armpits! How women's number one sexual need is to feel desired and why you need to find your passion - what lights you up?! "Perimenopause is your life saying, 'Stop messing around!' We are no longer going to compromise." You can find Nadine on IG @iamnadinerobinson and on her website https://nadinerobinson.com

After 6 years of struggling with fertility issues and 2 rounds of IVF, Sarah Banks created the IVF Positivity Planner. After much research, most recently she has come up with the Menopause Positivity Planner - a coaching programme in a book, designed to help women navigate their way through Perimenopause. Entering her forties, Sarah herself is acutely aware of the potential rigors of Perimenopause and keeping a beady eye out for signals and symptoms. She is as keen to talk about Menopause as we are here at Real Menopause Talk so that everyone can have the information they need to make choices that help them. In this episode, we cover some of the surprising similarities between IVF and HRT and we discuss emotional aspects of Menopause, how to regain control, boost your confidence and find support so that overwhelm doesn't overtake you. You can find Sarah on IG @menopausepositivityplanner and on her website https://positivityplanners.com

As well as her stellar fashion pedigree, and understanding of women as a whole, Gloria has positivity in abundance. A born and bred Londoner with Caribbean parents, Gloria brings vibrancy and life, innovation and thoughtfulness to her work. She looks at the whole person before she starts to style them and pays careful attention to cut, colour and personality. In this episode, we discuss her attitude to Menopause, "The more I fought it, the more it raged against me, so I had to stop and embrace it." , the dreaded trouser try-on and how it's not you, it's them and simple tricks to make dressing easy and fun again, even in the face of hot flashes. She also has a free e-book that she is happy to share! "Don't let the Menopause define us, it should be us defining the Menopause." You can find Gloria on IG @themenopausestylist and on her website https://gloriasmythe.com

Knickers, pants, undies, skims, lingerie - what ever you call it - there are deep life lessons in your knicker drawer. Kerry Hales is a highly skilled Transformation Coach, a great person to have a chat with and her insight into underwear is second to none! Her Perimenopause symptoms were wide ranging like many of us: night sweats, insomnia, bone aches, fatigue and really low periods of time thinking, "What's the fucking point?" In this episode, we talk about coming off HRT, weight gain and fluid retention, why you don't want to mess with a woman in her 50s and the transformational properties of overhauling your undies. You'll never look at your knicker drawer in the same way again. You can find Kerry on IG @kerry_hales and her book 'Life Lessons From Your Knicker Drawer' is readily available.

Louise Pitman has a deep connection to her own body and a great understanding of others. She is the one person I have met who instinctively knew she was having her final period and could therefore predict her day of Menopause. When you hear how she moved from working in the criminal justice system, supporting men, to teaching yoga and giving womb massage, supporting women, you can see how supporting others is deeply rooted in her psyche. In this episode, we talk menopause symptoms, how Louise knew she was in Menopause and how she wants more men to understand and get involved. You can find Louise at https://louisepitmanyoga.com and on IG @louisepitmanwellbeing

Emma Skeates is not your average Menopausal woman and yet, if you've ever had a day where everything feels like it's falling apart, she'll make you feel like you're in good company. Emma has a knack of making you laugh at all the mishaps that brain fog and insomnia can cause. She openly and candidly shares her mishaps and laughs at herself as much as anything. I mean, you'd have to if you went to the vet and forgot the dog, right?! In this episode, we discuss her Menopause symptoms, post hysterectomy, her forgetfulness, her solutions and her phenomenally popular books: 'Confessions of a Menopausal Mayhem Mother' and Mad Dogs and a Menopausal English Woman'. At the time of recording, she was just about to go on holiday, I think Greece had quite an adventure! You can find Emma on IG @menopausalmayhemmothers