Over the years, so many people have asked me why I continue doing long-distance triathlons, and after putting a lot of thought into this question, I realized that I have learned so much about how to get through difficult things in real life through this sport. Doing hard things -which in my case might be athletic events, or could be as simple as having a difficult conversation, picking up a new hobby, or changing a relationship- teaches us that we CAN do hard things. Only though practicing doing hard things can we learn the extent of our inner strength and resilience. While it might sound counterintuitive to do hard things on purpose, my experience is that we can develop expertise only through practicing, and this is no different.

Today I'm honing in on three really important life lessons that we can apply when taking on difficult challenges that can serve us in every facet of life.

There are many opinions and a lot of controversy about the ideal levels for postmenopausal hormone replacement, so today I'm going to share what I've learned from the science, as well as my own personal experience as a patient and from thousands of patients in our own practice. I'll be talking about ideal levels for estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone, as well as discussing thyroid and cortisol levels. Enjoy!

Rebecca Glaser, MD - www.hormonebalance.org

Oura Ring - www.ouraring.com

Having just returned from the very first "Empowering Midlife Wellness" retreat, I'm still reflecting on one of my breakout sessions, which was about how to have great sex in the second half of life. This talk was really well received, and today I want to share some of the things that we discussed-- which might not be what you were thinking! While this may be obvious, we often don't think enough about the mindset that sets the foundation for having a healthy sex life. I'll be talking again about the secrets of the sexually woke that led to my book "Sexually Woke" as well as some actionable tips and tricks for you to take to improve your sex life at any age, but especially after 50!

Get my best-selling book, Sexually Woke: Awaken the Secrets to Your Best Sex Life in Midlife & Beyond: https://amzn.to/3rm47IU

Continuing from last week's discussion about easy things that can bring us peace and joy, today I'm talking about a simple practice of generosity, and how that can completely change the flavor of our experience. An act of generosity as small as an offering a smile to a stranger, or giving of ourselves in any way (rather than keeping everything close to our chests) can completely disempower our stories about not being enough. If you think about it, generosity proves that story wrong, because we can only give to others when we have abundance, and practicing generosity is an easy way to undo those old limiting beliefs- the ones that keep us feeling alone, separate and not enough. Try it for yourself and see what happens!

Read the blog “The Practice of Generosity & Joy” - https://drsusan.com/the-practice-of-generosity-and-joy/

Last week I was lucky enough to experience a silent meditation retreat, and the first question most people ask is “why one earth would you want to do that?” While this may not be everyone’s cup of tea, I have several key takeaways from this and other retreats that I have attended over the years that can really improve our quality of life in immeasurable ways. While hormonal and nutritional wellness are so important, we don’t want to forget about our mental wellbeing, which possibly is the MOST important element in midlife (or any stage of life) wellness. Today I'll be sharing some easy things that you can do at home, at work or any time during the day to bring ourselves back into alignment with our core values and to find some peace and contentment in our busy (anxious, worried, depressed, stressed) lives.

Vitamin D3 is one of the most common supplements that I recommend in my practice, but science has been disappointing about the benefits that we once thought were offered by high doses of vitamin D. As is usually the case in medicine and in life, too little of something may be harmful, but too much can be equally harmful. Today I’m reviewing where science stands on the optimal levels of this important vitamin, how to know if you need it at all, how much to take, and what benefits we can truly expect.

Today I’m talking about why I chose hormone pellets as my own form of hormone replacement for estradiol and testosterone, as well as the pros and cons of other delivery options. Pellets, patches, creams, troches or other options are all available, but which one is best for you? I”ll be discussing all of those options and sharing some tips about how to find a provider, and what to ask them when you go to your appointment!

Today I'm sharing some interesting facts about testosterone for women, including the surprising fact that we actually produce more than five times more testosterone than estradiol throughout our lives. Around menopause, testosterone (along with estradiol) drop to levels close to zero- and not coincidentally a number of health conditions begin to increase.

I'm sharing exciting data supporting the fact that replacing testosterone significantly decreases the incidence of breast cancer, as well as other important diseases including osteoporosis and heart disease, while improving sexual wellness and general wellbeing.

Rebecca Glaser M.D. - www.Hormonebalance.org

Testosterone: Strong Enough For A Man, Made For A Woman: https://www.amazon.com/Testosterone-Strong-Enough-Made-Woman/dp/0998365505

The Empowering Midlife Wellness retreat is right around the corner! Before you know it May 5-8th will be here! Join me, an array of incredible hosts (Dominique Sachse, Elaine Turner, Elizabeth Irvine and more), as well as 30 like-minded women for a beautiful transformative weekend of connection and celebration of midlife at Miraval Austin Resort & Spa!

Keep watching to hear the details from each host on what they will be offering at the retreat. Once you're confirmed to attend, my team will reach out a few weeks in advance so that you can book your space for the breakout sessions. Book now and mention this video to receive $500 off!

More information about the retreat: https://bit.ly/3YwBTLv

Retreat agreement - https://bit.ly/3TukxNz

View the schedule of events: https://bit.ly/3TyP0dp

I’ve been talking a lot lately about menopause, but the years immediately before menopause are probably the most difficult ones to manage for both patient and provider, since they are characterized by highly fluctuating hormone levels, and frequently associated with lots of nasty side effects. Today I’ll be focusing on those years before menopause that we call “peri-menopause” - when we are still producing ovarian hormones, but in levels that are fluctuating and unpredictable, and sometimes make us feel like we are on a roller coaster of highs and lows that feel impossible to control.

The good news is that once you understand what’s happening, we can create a treatment plan with effective options to alleviate these symptoms and put life back into balance, getting you through those really difficult years.