Menopause, Money, and Exercise

There was an article in the Chicago Tribune the other day that I could really relate to. It seems the more weight we gain, and the rounder we become, because of our hormonal changes, really affects our self esteem. This article was about a study they did out of the Rush University Medical Center. They called it the WISHFIT study, and it involved women in menopause.The Medical Center started a program to hopefully motivate women in perimenopause, to take time for themselves, and to exercise. The center was concerned about the rising risks associated with these women's "visceral fat" or belly fat, brought on by hormonal changes. Because of their growing waist line and weight, the women were more prone to heart disease and diabetes.
With grant funding from the National Institute of Health the first group of women were paid money to go out and exercise. The other group of women in the study underwent a "positive framing" program. WISHFIT was to be a motivator to live a healthier lifestyle, by getting family, friends and neighbors involved. These women of the second group were also encouraged to think about physical activity as being "fun". The Center believed that with this support group, these women would be able to eat healthy, decrease their stress and be more physically active. The end results, they hoped, would also be weight loss for both groups.
At the end of the first round of this study, they found that the results of both groups were very similar. Why? One group was being paid to exercise, and the other group had lots of support from family and friends. What was similar in both groups?
Even with all of this motivation in place, the women in both studies were shown to be so overscheduled and wrapped up in the lives of their family members, that they didn't have the time to exercise. They also struggled to find time to spend on themselves. And lastly, and most telling, is the fact that they also didn't view their needs as being important. So even though these women had been encouraged, using different forms of incentive, these women always put themselves on the back burner.
From personal experience, I know that we feel like we do not matter. Everything and everyone in our live is more important than us. And as our body changes, and becomes heavier and rounder, we feel like we even matter, less. And our thoughts are that we are even less worthy.
There are 100 million of us world wide. Our pre menopause, menopause and post menopause stage is made up of almost half of our years, alive. By changing this attitude of not being worthy, as well as taking time to help ourselves be healthier, we can take better care of the people we love, because we love ourselves more.
Take the time for you today. Feel better because you spent a part of your day showing yourself that you are unique, and beautiful and so worth it. Why, because you are!
Corby Campbell Shields
Co-Author Menopause Master Plan
http://www.menopausemasterplan.com/

View the original article here