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Decreased Energy
Why It's Happening:
Changing attitudes about your body, sleep patterns interrupted by hot flashes, and a crammed calendar that leaves little room for exhilarating exercise can all conspire to dampen your energy (and libido). Nutritional habits can zap your energy, too, says nutritionist Susan Mitchell, Ph.D., R.D., creator of ThirdAge's Say YES™ to Food diet, and co-author of I'd Kill for a Cookie (Dutton/Plume, 1998) and Eat to Stay Young (Kensington, 2000).
What You Can Do:
Cut the sugar and caffeine from your diet, Mitchell recommends. Don't skip meals, and drink plenty of water all day long.
"Exercise is a supreme fatigue fighter," adds Walter Bortz, M.D., author of 99 Steps to 100. "Rather than lying down when you feel tired, take a walk, go for a bike ride, take a swim."
Mind-body exercise such as yoga, tai chi and chi gong can be excellent energy boosters. Stress management exercises may also help fan the flames of your life force. The Stress Relief Kit for Boomers contains more information on stress relief and energy enhancement.
While some women find that hormonal therapy helps increase energy levels, you should carefully examine and discuss this option with an ob-gyn who can advise about the relative risks and benefits this may pose in your case.
Remember that a little exercise goes a long way, healthwise. The National Institutes of Health calls exercise the "most effective anti-aging pill ever discovered." Besides helping to boost energy levels, reduce stress, speed up metabolism, and promote blood and oxygen flow throughout the body, exercise also helps cut your disease risk.
See These Related Resources:
Discover fitness with Chad, your personal trainer
Your weight loss solution center
Eat better, with nutritionist Susan Mitchell, Ph.D., R.D.
Talk about it in the Menopause forum
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