Self Care Simplified

As if midlife didn’t bring enough changes to worry about, you suddenly get hit with pelvic floor problems. What in the world? Prolapse, UTI’s, bladder leakage…these issues can come out of nowhere in midlife and be really debilitating.

What’s the true indication of an effective workout? Is it sweat? Breathlessness? Soreness? How can you know if you’re truly doing enough?

Listener Tessa wondered this same thing: “If I don’t feel sore after a workout, was it still effective? Should I have worked out harder?”

In this quick episode, we’ll talk about muscle soreness - why it happens and what it actually going on in your muscles. And we’ll discuss different kinds of workouts that might not tax your muscles the same way, but are just as important to your overall health!

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is not a small problem. In fact, according to the CDC, approximately 48% - and 55% of adults ages 40-59 years old - have high blood pressure. And unchecked, it can increase your risk of stroke, heart attack and heart failure.

In addition to medication, there are lifestyle changes that can positively impact your blood pressure, including eating healthier, reducing stress, focusing on quality sleep and prioritizing regular physical activity.

But can specific exercises or exercise strategies help lower your blood pressure? Great question!

In this episode I’m going to walk you through THREE types of exercises that have been clinically proven to help lower blood pressure. Along with managing your stress, nutrition, good sleep, and regular exercise, these simple daily exercises can really bring down your blood pressure and improve your overall health!

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If you’re starting to stock a home gym, it can be easy to get confused about which equipment you need and which you don’t. Take weights for instance. With all the options available, how do you know where to start?

Listener Christina asks: “Kettlebells or dumbbells? Do you have a recommendation on what would be best to purchase?”

In this quick episode, I break down the differences in the two options, why I might use one over the other, and my recommendations for which ones are the best to start with.

A lot of the changes that happen during midlife and menopause are widely discussed online and on social media - weight struggles, bone density issues, nutritional needs, hot flashes, belly fat, and hormonal shifts to name a few. But what about the challenges nobody talks about?

Many women in midlife begin dealing with a bunch of “somewhat embarrassing” issues that can make them feel like their body is just not working properly anymore. Urinary tract infections, prolapse, low libido and other challenges with intimacy, can be really discouraging and impact quality of life. And they just aren’t talked about, so how do you know what to do?

That’s where Dr. Kelly Casperson comes in! She’s a urologic surgeon and the author “You Are Not Broken”, as well as the host of the podcast by the same name. In this conversation, we’ll discuss:

• the pervasive feeling of 'brokenness' women often feel regarding their sexual and pelvic health
• the impact of societal norms on women's sexuality
• the significance of pelvic health in midlife
• the role of hormones in women's health
• and the often-overlooked condition of Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM).

If you’re needing encouragement to seek help and advocate for your pelvic health, this is it!

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