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At 64, Denise Austin is doing better than ever. “I love aging. I feel great, ”she tells Prevention.com. The fitness icon prioritizes a daily fitness routine because “staying young in muscle and flexibility forever is of the utmost importance,” she says.
One of Austin’s secrets to healthy, happy aging is her approach to menopause. Everyone goes through it (the median age is 50), and Austin believes that her positive attitude and healthy lifestyle helped her cope.
Menopause symptoms vary from person to person, but typical symptoms can include hot flashes, joint pain, difficulty sleeping, changes in sexual desire, mood swings, and vaginal dryness. “The first time I noticed hot flashes and night sweats was when I turned 50,” says Austin. “I also had anxiety, mood swings, and changes in my sleep during my menopause.”
Austin says she focused on the things you can control during menopause: “What you eat, how you move, and what you think,” she says. “All three are so important in your menopause and will help you get through.” Below, the fitness expert outlines four things that helped her feel best during menopause and beyond.
She practiced yoga.
As someone who has tried every workout under the sun in her decades-long fitness career, Austin decided to do yoga daily during her menopause to ease her anxiety and relieve lower back pain. “During my menopause, I felt more anxious, so I did more yoga and it helped me,” she says. “Yoga is a great way to relieve your nervous system and relieve back pain and neck tension.”
The fitness trainer adds that for women who are not particularly active, yoga is a great way to start exercising as it has little effect. “You can also practice yoga outside, in a studio, or at home with online classes so that you can be fairly flexible about your schedule,” she says. She also says that you shouldn’t give up your fitness routine when you are 50 years old. “Health is wealth! Our health is the only thing we really have. Find ways to stay active and motivated, ”she says.
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She made a new sleep schedule.
When she turned 50, Austin started having trouble sleeping. According to the National Sleep Foundation, 39 to 47% of perimenopausal women and 35 to 60% of postmenopausal women experience insomnia, primarily due to hot flashes, insomnia, and mood swings. Austin decided to change her bedtime so she could catch more Zzzs.
“I decided to have a strict bedtime and always went to bed at the same time,” she says. “I went to sleep at 10 p.m. most nights of the week and woke up at 6 a.m. so I was conscious of creating a good sleep pattern so my body could rest and recover.”
She relied on her friends.
Austin says that during menopause it can be easy to feel isolated, but so many women have similar experiences that you can find solace in the connection. “You are not alone,” she says. “Talk to your friends about what you’re going through!” The fitness icon said she has three older sisters to lean on for menopause, and she would also have a girls’ night out with her friends to discuss what they all went through. “Menopause is a part of life and every woman goes through it,” she says. “Most symptoms will subside in a few years, so just rely on your friends and loved ones to help you resolve the problem.”
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She kept a positive attitude.
For Austin, the most important tip she has for getting through menopause decently is to stay optimistic. “As I started to be more scared, I felt my mood get grumpier, especially when I couldn’t sleep well,” she says. “You need to choose to think positively and to drive yourself to optimism with your mood swings.” The fitness symbol recommends a daily gratitude practice, such as writing three things you are grateful for in a journal. “Being happy is a choice and it’s up to you,” she says.
Finally, you can enjoy your menopause, says Austin. “I think it’s a fabulous time because there is so much you can do to feel good by staying active, eating healthy food, being with loved ones, and staying positive,” she says. “It’s also a good time to try new things.” The fitness expert said she recently started climbing and flown in a helicopter. “Find things that you’re passionate about and focus on just enjoying life,” she says.
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