This episode is AWESOME! And important for women, of course, but also for the men who love them to better understand the phases and stages women progress through and how to better support them during those stages. To call Ellen a women’s advocate seems too small. She’s made it her mission to empower women to be their own health advocate and not only better survive, but thrive in these stages of life. Debi and Ellen focus in on the topics of menopause and perimenopause, the periods of transition to and process of losing fertility that literally half of the population will go through eventually, if (as Ellen says) they’re “lucky enough to go through the aging process”. For something that half the population experiences and that will affect them for decades of their lives, it’s a topic that society at large and even women specifically, don’t talk about enough. Ellen and Debi particularly focus on the connection between “diet” or more accurately, nutrition and the perimenopause/menopause cycle. Ellen outlines her personal philosophy of food through the aging process. Contact Ellen at http://ellendolgen.com The Average age of menopause is 51 Until a woman has been without a period for 12 consecutive months, she can still conceive. THAT’s where surprise babies come from! The 6-10 years of transition before menopause is called perimenopause and can start in your late 30’s lack of energy, exhaustion, hair loss, migraines, heart palpations, weight gain, aches and pains are all just some of the lesser known symptoms of menopause that can begin to affect women in this transitional period “A Singing Uterus Explains Menopause and Perimenopause” https://youtu.be/W4TMJ7xyeaE If you don’t understand what perimenopause is you can’t take control of your own fertility. Get YOUR copy of the FREE ebook, Menopause Mondays: The Girlfriend’s Guide to Surviving and Thriving During Perimenopause and Menopause by Ellen and Jack Dolgen http://ellendolgen.com/menopause-book/ “A Diet” is something you go on and off, and that is never good for the body in Ellen’s experience The other habit many women have of denying themselves particular foods often leads to preoccupation with that food as well as a life that feels “restrictive” or less full Instead of a diet, Ellen suggests two basic steps to combat the aging process and your slowing metabolism: work to increase your metabolism and changing what you eat “a little” “Take Your Vagina to the Gym” http://ellendolgen.com/2017/02/take-your-vagina-to-the-gym/ Ways to boost metabolism: Walk, ride a bike, some form of aerobic exercise for 30 minutes a day Weight bearing exercises are excellent at metabolism boosting too, even body weight exercises or small weights repetitively used Increasing fruit and vegetable intake and decreasing the amount of processed and packaged foods you eat will help mitigate much of slowing metabolism as well Above all else, avoid “fake” sugars. High Fructose is not your friend! Can You Ease Menopausal Symptoms With Food? http://ellendolgen.com/2016/10/can-you-ease-menopausal-symptoms-with-food/ Reduced estrogen levels (a symptom of menopause) do cause your cells to retain fat. So, no, it’s not just in your head Ellen’s blog on Hormone Therapy: http://ellendolgen.com/2017/03/got-menopause-and-afraid-of-hormone-therapy/ Three things to remember when going through menopause: 1. You’re not alone 2. Trust how you feel 3. Reach out and get the help you deserve FREE! Ellen's Girlfriend Guide To Surviving and Thriving During Perimenopause and Menopause