How to deal with meno-belly, according to a nutritionist
+ Beth Ditto and Sara Blakely on being Grown-Ass Ladies
#HBDGAL
Give it up for Grown-Ass Ladies redefining modern midlifedom
Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx, celebrated 52 on February 27
“1. The thought of my mortality — I think about it a lot. I find it motivating. It can be any time that your number's up.
2. I think failure is nothing more than life's way of nudging you that you are off course. My attitude to failure is not attached to outcome, but in not trying. It is liberating. Most people attach failure to something not working out or how people perceive you. This way, it is about answering to yourself.
3. Don't be intimidated by what you don't know. That can be your greatest strength and ensure that you do things differently from everyone else.”
Beth Ditto, groundbreaking musician, celebrated 42 on February 19
February 10: Uzo Aduba celebrated 42
February 13: Sam Irby celebrated 43
February 15: Miranda July celebrated 49
February 22: Drew Barrymore celebrated 48
Goddang, meno-belly
8 tips to support blood sugar balance
By Sally Duffin
Unfortunately, both belly fat and insulin resistance contribute toward general inflammation and the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, so it really is vital to get a handle on blood sugar balance now to help prevent problems developing later.
Here’s how:
Eat a balanced breakfast within two hours of waking.
Avoid (or minimize as much as possible) refined processed carbohydrates: white bread, white pasta, cakes, biscuits, sweets, added sugar, fruit juices.
Sit down to eat, take three slow deep breaths before your first mouthful, and focus on what you are eating. Chew each mouthful thoroughly until it’s mushy and soft. By eating mindfully, you are allowing your body to focus on digestion and the signals coming from your stomach that tell your brain when you’re full. Eating on the run overrides these signals, leading to indigestion, bloating, wind, and overeating.
Eat sustaining meals with a gap of roughly four hours in between each one.
Avoid snacking unless there is a gap of more than 4–5 hours between meals. Snacking and grazing triggers constant insulin release and can interfere with digestion.
Eat all your meals within a 12-hour time window (e.g., breakfast at 7.30am, last meal of the day finished by 7.30pm) to give your body a 12-hour overnight fast. Short fasts like this have been shown to support metabolic function and weight balance and aid digestion.
If you’re having alcohol (and remember, it’s a common trigger for hot flushes), drink it with a meal to help slow down the release of sugars into your system.
At each meal, think about portion sizes on your plate: there’s more detailed information and a diagram about this in Chapter 8 – The Essential Elements in Every Meal.
Read more tips our free excerpt of Natural Nutrition for Perimenopause: What to eat to feel good and stay sane by Sally Duffin.
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