Monday, July 26, 2021

Changing Hormones

About 10 years ago, right around the time I turned 40, I started reading several books about menopause. Some mentioned peri menopause - the up to 15-year period before menopause - in passing, but most just discussed whether hormones were recommended or not. And they usually fell on one extreme or the other: absolutely no hormones necessary (without real, feasible alternatives offered, such as comprehensive lifestyle changes), or high amounts to replace all the hormones that have been lost are necessary. 

After reading the books, I was left feeling that I was much too young and that most of the discussions did not apply to me. I also did not like that so many of the books left very little room for nuanced approaches. I therefore “forgot” about the topic.

Yet, the peri menopause period is so important, and my hormones have been shifting, declining and been erratic for the last decade. 

Luckily, I have nourished my body with healthy foods for most of the last decade thanks to the Conscious Cleanse, and that has made the last 10 years a lot better I believe. But there was so much more I could have done. 

I have spent the last nine months reading a lot of books about peri menopause and menopause, followed Instagram and YouTube accounts that cover the topic, and have implemented comprehensive lifestyle changes that have made a real difference. 

In the coming weeks, I will share what I have found helpful. 

Be well,

Andrea 


Sunday, February 14, 2021

Yoga with Adriene to Start the Day

2020 was a tough year for all of us, and somewhere in the middle I really lost my way. Months of social distancing were followed by devastating wild fires in California. Although we are very fortunate as we were not in the direct path of the fires, we were surrounded by three of them. For many weeks, we couldn’t leave the house because of very poor air quality. 

All the stress of the year finally caught up with me. I couldn’t sleep, felt anxious all the time and didn’t eat well (something I usually pay great attention to). 

I knew I had to make some changes, and I decided to start a regular yoga practice with Yoga with Adriene. At first I randomly chose from the many videos that are available on YouTube and did whatever sounded good. Then I looked into her 30-day programs. The first 30-day program I did was True, and I absolutely loved it. In January I did Breath, which was amazing. And right now I’m doing Revolution, another great one. Everything is available for free on YouTube, but Adriene also has an app with even more content. Since I'm doing her videos so much, I'm thinking of getting the app.

 


Starting each time on my mat has made such a difference. It’s definitely a habit I intent to keep forever. 

Be well, 

Andrea


Sunday, February 7, 2021

Currently Reading: Wintering & Breath

I'm currently reading two books, and I'm enjoying them both a lot. 

 

The first one is Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Kathernine May (affiliate link). I'm reading it little by little. It's a slow book that shows the reader the necessity and benefits of wintering - slowing down. It's perfect for this time of the year and for winding down at the end of the day.

The other book is Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor (affiliate link). I've been interested in breathing and the power of breath for awhile, and the book is filled with fascinating information. 

Be Well,

Andrea

 

 



Sunday, January 3, 2021

Starting 2021 with a Conscious Cleanse

Disclosure: I am a Conscious Cleanse ambassador, and if you decide to sign up for the program via one of my links, I will earn a commission. As always, all opinions are my own, and I only recommend products and services I truly believe in. 

For the past 8 years, I have started every year with a Conscious Cleanse. The Conscious Cleanse is a food-based cleanse with plenty of food that makes me feel my best. It's a great way to engage in true self care, resetting things and living my best life. 

The transition period to the next Conscious Cleanse group cleanse starts on Wednesday, January 6.

I recently recorded a video in which I answered three of the questions I get asked most about the cleanse: 

  1. What type of a cleanse is the Conscious Cleanse? Do you only drink something? Do you eat food? Are you starving yourself? - I answer the questions and give an example of what I eat in a day.
  2.  Why do you cleanse? And why do you cleanse repeatedly?
  3. Do you have to do the online group cleanse? Or can you do the cleanse with the book(s)?

 


And here is a video that I recorded in November 2019 right as I was finishing a cleanse. In the video I talk about my experiences during the cleanse:



I share my Conscious Cleanse experiences, tips and thoughts on my Instagram page, including posts, IGTV and on stories. 

Click here for more information about the Conscious Cleanse.

If you have any questions about the Conscious Cleanse, please don't hesitate to email me at andreaswellnessnotes[at]gmail.com. I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have about the cleanse.