Launch Your Life Podcast

Having a community with whom you can share experiences and gain insights during menopause is a crucial point in dealing with the condition. Talking with other women who are experiencing the same symptoms can be a relief and a source of strength. Today, there are more resources which women can access to gain support during this period of their lives.

Today, we're joined by Ronnie Ivory, a mother of three. Ronnie works as a research assistant at the Michigan State University Population Studies & Disparities Program with a focus on cancer research. In today's episode, Ronnie talks about her menopause journey, her emotional responses in menopause, and the changes that menopause brought to her life. 

Remember to subscribe to our podcast and tune in to this episode to further understand the role and importance of community during menopause and how you can prepare for it.

 

Let’s go through the discussion points of this episode:

• (01:33) The emotional challenges that Ronnie experienced during menopause

• (02:28) How Ronnie deals with the symptoms of menopause for the past 15 years

• (03:16) The hardest thing about getting help during menopause was not receiving the support she needs.

• (04:00) The most challenging thing about having to ask for help during menopause: admitting to ourselves that we are aging.

• (04:57) Getting support from a community or support group could help women better deal with menopause emotionally.

• (05:55) Menopause and the changes you experience in your body
• (08:33) What Ronnie wishes she knew when she started to experience the symptoms of menopause
• (08:55) Ronnie's current outlook on menopause and in life

 

What are the things you wish you had access to when you first experienced menopausal symptoms? Join the discussion and share your thoughts in our Facebook community, Menopause Movement with Dr. Michelle Gordon. Also, go ahead and follow me on Facebook at Dr. Michelle Gordon.

For more help and guidance on healthy living in your menopause years, check my website. 

Thanks a lot for tuning in, and see you in the next episode!

If You Like It, Donate To My Venmo! Thanks!: https://account.venmo.com/u/drgordon

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Social justice is both a political and philosophical concept that says that everyone should have equal access to health, wealth, well-being, justice, and opportunity. Everyone has the right to live, enjoy things, and be who they are without being infringed upon.

We’re joined today by Rev. Dr. Constance Simon to discuss social justice, education, and how these two topics relate directly to our menopause journeys.

Rev. Dr. Simon has been an educator for over 40 years. She has a Master's in Supervision and Curriculum from the University of Ohio and a Doctorate in Administration and Supervision from Atlanta University. She has worked as a college dean in both the public and private sectors.

She has also earned her Masters of Divinity, and now, she’s currently a Jeremiah A. Wright Scholar for the McCormick Theological Seminary.  Rev. Dr. Simon believes that education is a liberating force for all people.

In this episode, she discusses her menopause journey, the importance of community in menopause, and our identities as we age. Make sure that you listen to this episode, as we learn and understand more about having a community of support in our menopausal years, one of my main reasons for creating this podcast.

Let’s go through the discussion points of this episode:

 

• (02:16) What is social justice?

• (02:54) Rev. Dr. Simon talks about what menopause was like for her as she experienced it.

• (04:27) The biggest challenge that she went through

• (05:47) Taking supplements to deal with the manifesting symptoms of menopause

• (07:11) One significant challenge was finding the right people to talk to. Most women are engulfed in so many concerns about others that they tend to put their personal needs on the back burner.

• (08:58) Menopause forces women to stop and take a look at their lives.

• (10:23) Women and heart disease

• (11:54) The importance of reaching for help during menopause

 

• (12:59) The Menopause Workshop is a community that helps educate women and men about how to approach menopause.
• (14:20) Ageism and the fear of ageing
• (15:11) What is life like right now for Rev. Dr. Simon after going through menopause for 20 years

Going through menopause is not the end of your life. On the contrary, it can change your worldview and thought process for the better. That’s it for today’s episode. I hope that you have a lot of takeaways from Rev. Dr. Constance Simon’s menopause experience and how important it is to have the right support system. 

For more help and guidance on healthy living in your menopause years, check my website. 

Join our Facebook community at Menopause Movement With Dr. Michelle Gordon.

Follow me on Facebook at Dr. Michelle Gordon.

Thanks a lot for tuning in, and see you in the next episode!

If You Like It, Donate To My Venmo! Thanks!: https://account.venmo.com/u/drgordon

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During the menopausal period, women often rethink their relationships. They start to question the meanings of the different relationships in their lives. This phase also calls for the rediscovery of self.

In this episode, we have Deirdre Fay, a licensed clinical social worker, who is the author of Attachment-Based Yoga and Meditation For Trauma Recovery. She also wrote Becoming Safely Embodied Skills Manual. Aside from these two books, she co-authored a psychology book entitled Attachment and Disturbances in Adults.

Deirdre connects contemporary thought with ancient wisdom. Through this, you can have access to what feels right to you and have harmonious relationships. She also shares valuable insights on how you can healthily deal with your triggers. Tune in to the episode if you want useful information on how to deal with self-discovery and relationships.

Let’s go through the discussion points of this episode:

• (05:18) Definition of triggers
• (06:57) Attachment theory
• (07:40) Seven fundamental attachment needs
• (09:53) Triggers as heavily-charged memories
• (12:05) What are attachment imprints?
• (13:23) What is representation?
• (14:21) Changing attachment imprints
• (17:45) Getting rid of triggers through spiritual practices
• (22:02) Attachment styles
• (26:41) Uses of meditation
• (29:39) Importance of self-compassion
• (31:08) How should you deal with negative thoughts?
• (34:14) How should you deal with repressed memories?
• (37:02) What is disassociation?
• (39:27) Recognizing triggers
• (42:14) Online course about living with triggers
• (46:53) The need for constant improvement

Resources

• Michael Singer’s The Untethered Soul
• Nadia Shanty’s Pure Meditation
• David Rijo’s How To Be An Adult In Relationships
• Hal Elrod’s Miracle Morning

For more information about relationships and self, you may visit Deirdre’s website, where she extensively writes about these topics. She also has a quiz to help you know your relationship profile. Also, make sure you get her free download ‘Go From Symptom to Solution’ to learn how to transform triggers via meditation (please note, this is an affiliate link and I may get paid from it).

For more help and guidance on healthy living in your menopause years, check my website. 

Join our Facebook community at Menopause Movement With Dr. Michelle Gordon.

Follow me on Facebook at Dr. Michelle Gordon.

Thanks a lot for tuning in, and see you in the next episode!

If You Like It, Donate To My Venmo! Thanks!: https://account.venmo.com/u/drgordon

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People rarely think of joy when it comes to business. Sometimes, they get caught up with “doing” rather than “being,” and this preoccupation manifests in different areas of their lives. Through a healthy understanding of the essence of what you want to achieve, you can realign yourself and bring joy and freedom to your life. By manifesting this essence, you can break away from what’s been holding you and your money flow back.

Today we are joined by mentor and bestselling author Tina van Leuven. Tina is dedicated to helping people align their energy with joy, freedom, and abundance and bring those values to their business and life. She is passionate about helping “soulpreneurs” to release themselves from lifelong limiting programming that’s been sabotaging humanity for eons. 

Tune in and listen as Tina discusses energies and aligning them with the essence of what you want to create and who you want to be.

Let’s go through the discussion points of this episode:

• (02:08) Energies and massage therapy: how Tina got started with her current journey
• (07:43) Getting connected to a source

• (12:41) What are “soulpreneurs?” 

• (13:59) How does essence manifest in work?

• (15:04) People seek freedom to have fun, to lighten up.

• (17:06) Aligning yourself with the essence of what you want and breaking that limited perspective

• (21:42) Who is it that I am being? 

• (24:15) Understanding the good and negative emotions and the purpose of both.

• (28:23) Women need to keep their spiritual or energetic battery charged during menopause.

• (30:12) The Money Archetypes: money as a catalyst to realigning with yourself.

• (35:07) Examining your money beliefs to counter money blocks

• (38:36) To heal your relationship with money is to heal your relationship with the source.

• (39:19) Telling yourself stories as a way to survive during childhood trauma

• (44:36) Learning to trust to overcome self-sabotage

• (46:55) Creating an energetic blueprint for your client’s business.
• (51:46) You need to remove fear, obligation, and guilt from your conditioning to achieve the essence of what you want.
• (54:52) Ask yourself: How committed am I?

That’s it for today’s episode. I hope you learned a lot about the importance of directing your energies and intentions to a more joyful business and life. Hopefully, you can break free from the old practices that are limiting you.

Take the Money Archetype quiz to help yourself realign with your essence! For more insights, get in touch with Tina on her website. If you want to read her books, they are available on Amazon. 

For more help and guidance on healthy living in your menopause years, check my website. 

Join our Facebook community at Menopause Movement With Dr. Michelle Gordon.

Follow me on Facebook at Dr. Michelle Gordon.

If You Like It, Donate To My Venmo! Thanks!: https://account.venmo.com/u/drgordon

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Osteoporosis occurs when the body loses too many bones. It causes the bones to become weak and brittle, resulting in pain even with mild stress to the body. Osteoporosis affects men and women, but older women who are past menopause are at the highest risk because menopause is accompanied by lower estrogen levels. Magnesium deficiency is always associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis.

Today we’re joined by Kristen Bowen, the founder of Living the Good Life Naturally. They help their clients live a healthier life with handmade magnesium products. 

Listen to how Kristen managed to shift her mindset about health and her experience in battling her autoimmune disorder. Tune in to this podcast and listen as we guide you to finding out how powerful proper nutrition and an adequate amount of magnesium are for the body. 

Let’s go through the discussion points of this episode:

• (03:53) The three components of transformation for women undergoing menopause
• (05:24) How nutrition can nourish the soul

• (07:18) What is an autoimmune disorder?

• (08:14) Kristen talks about the side effect of the Fosamax medication she took for osteoporosis.

• (09:24) What happens to the body during osteoporosis
• (13:26) Sugar cleanse and food emotional triggers.
• (19:00) Kristen talks about the transition after stopping Fosamax intake.
• (20:07) Kristen talks about what triggered the change in her bone density and her bladder tie-up and surgery experience.
• (23:10) Oral magnesium was introduced to Kristen after her immense weight loss and seizures after the surgery.
• (28:52) What is cortisol?
• (30:48) What is bone broth?
• (32:37) Soaking in magnesium and magnesium RBC test.
• (36:03) How magnesium became a game-changer for Kristen's condition.
• (38:52) Where do people get magnesium chloride?
• (40:28) Explaining the magnesium RBC blood test; what is the normal level of blood serum?
• (42:32) The link between nutrition and depression.
• (50:07) Difference between drinking smoothies and eating vegetables.
• (56:14) Motivation comes from action.

That’s it for today’s episode. I hope you learned a lot about how you can battle bone pains such as osteoporosis with the proper diet, magnesium uptake, and the correct surgical process.

You can reach Kristen and buy magnesium and other magnesium-boosted products on her website, Living The Good Life Naturally. 

Kristen has kindly offered 10% off magnesium products to listeners of this podcast, simply enter code ‘DrG’ at checkout! 

Books mentioned in this episode:

• Deep Nutrition by Cate Shanahan.
• The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy.

For more help and guidance on healthy living in your menopause years, check my website.

Join our Facebook community at Menopause Movement With Dr Michelle Gordon.

Follow me on Facebook at Dr Michelle Gordon.

If You Like It, Donate To My Venmo! Thanks!: https://account.venmo.com/u/drgordon

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The human body has a set of intrinsic signals that send us messages about the current state of our bodies. This is particularly true when it comes to our hormonal levels and other hormone-related concerns. 

In this episode, we are joined by Dr Sharzad Green, a practising pharmacist who specializes in menopause. For over 20 years, she has been providing private hormone consultations for patients concerned with various reproductive health problems like hormonal imbalance and perimenopause, menopause, andropause, and PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome).

Listen to the whole podcast and discover the delicate balance of solving hormonal problems. Tune in and find out how Dr Green, through her experience, shaped the best method for prescribing what her patients need concerning their hormone-related issues.

Let’s go through a brief rundown of this episode:

• (1:21) How Dr Green’s background as a pharmacist brought her to her current business in hormone consultations
• (4:34) How private consultations via teleconferences work
• (7:01) Saliva tests determine where you are in life in terms of the hormones you produce (i.e., perimenopausal, postmenopausal, etc.)
• (9:10) The flashlight metaphor: Adrenal fatigue occurs when the adrenal glands work overtime for an extended period and become less potent than they used to be.
• (13:42) Menopause and adrenal fatigue syndrome often come hand in hand.
• (15:38) Everybody has a different body composition. There is no cookie-cutter approach to solving particular hormonal problems.
• (17:16) Adrenal fatigue is complex. Understanding the source of your adrenal fatigue is essential before jumping on to any supplements. Lifestyle habits also need to change.
• (20:22) There is no easy answer to the weight-gain or weight-loss difficulties that you face during menopause.
• (23:20) It’s ok to order supplements from Amazon since it’s an easily accessible avenue, but make sure to enter transactions only with reputable supplement companies.
• (27:20) Adaptogens are herbs that help your body cope with stress.
• (28:40) Referring patients to Fullscript, an Amazon-like website for supplements, helps them acquire supplements from secure sources without the added hassle of scouring through thousands of available choices.
• (29:24) Glandular supplements are supplements made out of dried and powdered adrenal glands of pigs or cows. Dr Green doesn’t recommend this type because of autoimmune disorder risks.
• (34:10) Despite what vegans say, meat is still an essential aspect of human nutrition.
• (37:39) Lifestyle management to avoid hormone supplements: ingesting the lowest dose or doing it for the shortest period brings a quality of life to women. 
• (40:31) In the age of increasing research results with opposing results, it’s crucial to remain analytical of what you read and what you consume. 
• (44:10) Is there a difference between the bio-identical and pharmaceutically-manufactured hormones?
• (46:22) Research can be flawed, especially when mathematical computations leave a lot of factors unaccounted for.

I hope you enjoyed this episode. If you want to reach Dr Green, you can send her an email at [email protected] for inquiries about private hormone consultations. 

For more help and guidance on healthy living in your menopause years, please visit my website.

Join our Facebook community at Menopause Movement With Dr Michelle Gordon.

Follow me on Facebook at Dr Michelle Gordon.

If You Like It, Donate To My Venmo! Thanks!: https://account.venmo.com/u/drgordon

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The trip to Mallorca, Spain was truly a life-changing event. But in every adventure, we all have some great moments and some that are not so good. Join us in this episode of the Menopause Movement Podcast as we take a look at how far the journey has taken us. 

We'll be having a glimpse at our best memories. We remember the joy of meeting each other, the unforgettable landmarks, and the thrill of exploring new cultures. Then, we'll also talk about the bumps we encountered while on the road and how we resolved those problems. Most importantly, we'll be reflecting on how the whole experience deepened our love for life, for each other, and ourselves.

We’ll sit down with Mollie Macarthy Openshaw and Dr. Valerie Zarcone, two of the women who rode along the streets of Spain with the group. Mollie founded Mood Swings Wine in 2013, a wine company dedicated to creating the perfect drinks for menopausal women. Her drink is currently the exclusive wine served in shows at Menopause The Musical in Los Angeles. But more than that, she's also a dedicated nurse consultant who finds passion in making people's lives easier.

Dr. Val, on the other hand, is a board-certified internist and a primary care physician whose experience spans over 30 years. She has a deep passion for learning and is an advocate for healthy living and appropriate alternative and integrative therapies.

Here are this episode’s highlights:

• (00:30) Mood Swings Wine—how the wine business started and how menopausal women inspired it 
• (03:36) Mollie's job as a nurse consultant, primary carer, and her passion for educating people
• (05:58) Mallorca trip highlights and favorite moments
• (06:56) Consulting a urogynecologist and getting treatment for Katia's bladder problems
• (08:19) The accident that Mollie encountered while riding up the hill in Majorca
• (11:00) Little misunderstandings and fights that the group had on the road
• (11:28) Reminiscing about the paella with Antonio Hidalgo, his old farmhouse house, and the view
• (12:47) What it felt like to meet with complete strangers and start the journey of a lifetime
• (14:08) First night in Barcelona and taking in the architecture by Antonia Godway
• (15:53) The joy of discovering different products in St. Joseph's Market  
• (17:41) Getting private lessons in the flamenco dance studio
• (19:08) The takeaway from the journey 
• (22:30) Having a safe space to talk about menopause with other women
• (23:35) The Menopause Workshop

This whole journey proved to us and all women around the world that your life doesn't stop at menopause. We learned at this age, there are still so many opportunities to grasp. Even during our menopausal years, we made friends, took up challenges, traveled to new places, and grew as a person. This means you can, too.

Thanks a lot for keeping us company during this whole experience. We hope you found some motivation and inspiration to go out and get more out of life. 

For more help and guidance on healthy living in your menopause years, visit my website.

Join our Facebook community at Menopause Movement With Dr Michelle Gordon.

Follow me on Facebook at Dr Michelle Gordon.

If You Like It, Donate To My Venmo! Thanks!: https://account.venmo.com/u/drgordon

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most women perceive menopause as the end of their lives. But the truth is, there’s still a lot of life left for you to explore during this stage. Join me, Dr. Michelle Gordon, and my friends as we embrace the journey ahead. 

In this episode, we will explore the wonderful city of Barcelona. We’ll set out to explore St. Joseph Market to have a look at the variety of fruits, vegetables, meat, spices, and candy. Then, we’ll get our feet moving in our Flamenco dance lessons with Mayra Soldevila in her very own dance school. She will be teaching us about body movement and being in touch with music and rhythm. 

After that, we're going to talk about hormones and health. Some of the ladies will be sharing their insights about exercise, body image, and keeping that zest for life.

Let me give you a quick rundown of this episode:

• (01:52) Visiting St. Joseph Market and indulging in the sights and smells of fresh produce and numerous stalls

• (03:45) Importance and benefits of organ meat—how this food can provide nutrients like collagen and vitamins, unlike grains.

• (05:37) The beauty of Barcelona: breathtaking architecture, the unique design of the buildings, and the amazing people

• (08:16) Learning the Flamenco dance and appreciating it as an old Spanish tradition

• (12:58) Getting inspired by the performance of Mayra Soldevilla 

• Receiving certificates for completing the dance class

• (15:04) Reflecting on self-image and body positivity

• (16:21) Finding the form of exercise that is right for you

• (17:55) Positive effects of exercise on menopausal symptoms such as night sweats and hot flushes

• Being conscious of bodily changes especially with feeling new kinds of pain

• (22:16) Realizations about the history of menopause

• (24:13) Understanding portion differences in Europe and America and how that affects a person’s eating habits

That’s it for this episode! Today’s adventure had a lot of insight about managing menopausal symptoms and keeping a brighter outlook on the years ahead. It is essential to remind ourselves that life is short, but there are always opportunities out there to experience. While doing so, we should keep our body and mind’s health a top priority by devoting time to proper exercise and diet.

Stay tuned for the next episode; we gather all the ladies together to reflect and reminisce about the whole adventure. We’ll talk about its ups and downs, and how it changed who we are. Don’t forget to check the other episodes on iTunes, Omny, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

For more help and guidance on healthy living in your menopause years, check my website, and don't forget to take this quiz to know your unique menopause slimming type to help you with planning your fitness goals.

Join our Facebook community at Menopause Movement With Dr Michelle Gordon.

Follow me on Facebook at Dr Michelle Gordon.

Thank you for listening! I’m looking forward to sharing the next leg of our adventure with you.

If You Like It, Donate To My Venmo! Thanks!: https://account.venmo.com/u/drgordon

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Picking up from the latest adventure we had in Mallorca, we travel to our next destination in the beautiful country of Spain—Barcelona. We immersed ourselves in its striking landscape, excellent food, and rich culture. Listen as I talk about our time thus far in Barcelona, the current issues we delved into, and our discussion of having choices when it comes to our health.

Let me give you a quick rundown of this episode:

• (0:57) Interview of locals and their opinion on the secession of Catalonia from Spain
• Discussion on the possibility of separating from Spain and re-entering the Eurozone
• (3:47) Interview with Sandra, a writer of the show, on the secession of Catalonia from Spain
• Catalonia is comprised of four provinces with Barcelona being the biggest and one of the cities which brings in the most money for the country
• (05:20) Tips for making your sangria
• (7:05) Interview with Sandra about Spanish tapas—what they are and how they’re eaten
• (8:50) Importance of goal-setting, achieving goals within a certain timeline, and the value of always having something to look forward to
• (10:42) A tour of the interesting architecture in Barcelona, primarily the Sagrada Familia and works of renowned artist Gaudi
• (12:55) Tour of Gaudi’s nature-inspired work, particularly houses, and other futuristic architecture on the streets of Barcelona
• (15:10) Interview about the history of Barcelona harbor
• (15:46) The group’s experience with menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, vivid dreams, and intermittent sleep
• (17:40) Hot flushes are the number one complaint of menopausal women. Other symptoms of menopause include feeling hot all the time and sweating profusely.
• (18:14) The value of patient compliance and the shift on how doctors are viewed
• (19:03) There is a growing trend towards patient satisfaction, but satisfaction is subjective and isn’t mutually exclusive with a patient’s overall state of health.
• (20:57) Interview with Gillian Schwartz on acupuncture as a way of alleviating symptoms

When talking about health and wellness, some people need to be heard while others require you to read between the lines. With all the available options, it's essential to gather all the necessary details to provide the patient with the information they need to make the right choice for themselves.

While we may have varying opinions, being well-informed is an essential component in decision-making, whether it’s about large-scale and pressing issues or something as personal as our wellbeing.

For further support and increasing awareness on your menopausal journey, head to our website where we share our own stories, tips, and treatment options. And don't forget to take this quiz to know your unique menopause slimming type to help you with planning your fitness goals.

Join our Facebook community at Menopause Movement With Dr Michelle Gordon.

Follow me on Facebook at Dr Michelle Gordon.

Thank you for listening! I’m looking forward to sharing the next leg of our adventure with you.

If You Like It, Donate To My Venmo! Thanks!: https://account.venmo.com/u/drgordon

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Going through menopause involves a lot of physical changes compounded by emotional ones. It’s challenging to embrace these changes and accept them when society dictates that we should look at them negatively.

Tune in as we continue right where we left off in our adventure and talk about misconceptions regarding fitness and health. Join us as we learn together how we manage to balance physical fitness with the ongoing changes in our bodies during menopause. 

Let’s go through a brief rundown of this episode:

• (1:06) Your age or size does not dictate your fitness
• (2:31) Art, media, and body perception 
• (3:47 & 10:05) Physical activity is essential to keep the mind active as we age
• (5:29) Set the goal and follow-through, regardless of your day job
• (7:27) Lifestyle change over diet: what really works
• (7:54) Baby steps: accepting your body and its limitations
• (10:56) Benefits of exercise beyond the physical
• (12:30) HIIT alternatives to jumping rope for women with stress incontinence
• (17:49) Mood swings: watching your words and reactions
• (20:00) Winemaking in Mallorca

 

You will find throughout this episode that menopause won’t stop you from being fit and happy with your body. It doesn’t have to stop you from doing things that you love. 

Through this podcast, my goal is to help women manage their menopause naturally. Join our Facebook group, Menopause Movement with Dr. Michelle Gordon, if you want to reach out to fellow women experiencing the same things as you. And don't forget to take this quiz to know your unique menopause slimming type to help you with planning your fitness goals.

That’s it and thank you for listening! Remember, your beliefs are your limits!

If You Like It, Donate To My Venmo! Thanks!: https://account.venmo.com/u/drgordon

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.