What is a Menopause Coach?

I am often asked about health & wellness coaching and what this means. In essence a coach is someone who is there to support and guide you through any challenges you may be experiencing.

I focus on supporting women going through peri-menopause, and post menopause, which means anyone from their 40s upwards, although sometimes even earlier.

• Peri-menopause – can last between 4-10 years prior to reaching menopause

• Menopause – Usually occurs around 51yrs, and is at the point you have no longer had a period for 1 year or more

• Post Menopause – Is the rest of your life after menopause

I am so pleased to see this area of women’s health opening up and being discussed more widely and more holistically.

Did you know that there are officially around 34 different symptoms that a woman may experience at any one time during this phase of their lives? As our bodies start to change, our key hormones Oestrogen, Progesterone and Testosterone, all start to decrease and each one controls different functions within our bodies. I’m sure many of you are aware of the common symptoms such as hot flushes, brain fog, weight gain, and night sweats, however did you know of the less common symptoms such as depression, anxiety, heart palpitations, migraines, joint pain, digestive issues, to name just a few.

Supporting your menopause journey

With our bodies changing during this phase of our lives, it can feel quite overwhelming, and whilst you may see your doctor in the early stages, some of these symptoms go undetected and often women won’t realise they are in the peri-menopause phase. This is where a health coach can be invaluable, as unlike doctors they will have more time to discuss symptoms and challenges and be able to take a more tailored approach to you as an individual. Whilst they cannot advise medically, coaches can help women to navigate the menopause not just in isolation, but as part of the wider picture in someone’s life.

During my coaching sessions we work together to review your health to date, and also look at your lifestyle and what areas of your life are going well, and which are not. It is important to understand that going through menopause is as natural as puberty, but there is a lot more we need to do support ourselves both in mind and body in order to minimise extreme symptoms.

A key area I like to focus on is diet and nutrition. It is really important that we understand how best to nourish our bodies at this stage of our lives. As we get older we become less resistant to insulin and as a consequence we can become more sensitive to sugars. High levels of blood sugars in our bodies lead to inflammation and this in turn can lead to not only increased menopausal symptoms, but also higher risks of chronic diseases such as osteoporosis, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease etc.  Therefore, I like to review my clients diet, and work with them to make small changes that can make a huge impact on how they are feeling. Once someone learns to balance their blood sugars they immediately start to feel better.  In addition, they will start to feel more energised and more inclined to exercise, they will also sleep better and on top of all of this they will start to lose weight, which in itself is a bonus.

However, it is also important for us to review other aspects of their lives including stress levels, and any extreme exercise, work or family pressures, as these also all add up and can impact on how they are feeling.

How does a menopause health coaching programme work?

After the initial review of medical and lifestyle history, I will usually look at diet and nutrition. Throughout the programme I ask my clients to keep a food and mood diary so we can track what they are eating, how often, and how they are feeling. This is the core part of any programme as this is crucial to get right.  Once someone is eating correctly they will be feeling so much better.

Throughout the duration of the programme, we take a deeper dive into different areas of my client’s lives, and look at habits and behaviours that perhaps no longer serve them. Often there is a reason why people aren’t leading a healthier life, and through coaching we can help discover what is holding them back. We also review values and what is important in their lives along with creating a Wellness Vision, which essentially is a picture of how they want their lives to be in the future. This acts as an incentive throughout the programme in order to keep them focused and on track.

During the coaching process I start to build rapport with my clients, and get a better understanding of them overall. The reason coaching has been proven to work time and time again is down to accountability. Usually I will meet my clients every 1-2 weeks, and each week they will have a goal to work on. This means they are more likely to complete their goal knowing that they will be attending our next session, and need to move forward.

Case Study

I worked with a lady who was a 59 year old post-menopausal woman who had been struggling to lose weight and was feeling unattractive, and also had an injury which meant she couldn’t swim or go to the gym.

She came to me as she had tried various diets, and wanted to lose some weight before her 60th birthday. We worked together over the course of 6 sessions, and in that time we broke down a childhood habit she once had of eating 3 or 4 biscuits with every cup of tea. In addition we reviewed her eating habits, including snacking and I helped to educate her in blood sugar balancing. In addition, we increased her intake of water and increased her levels of exercise by walking. Over this period of time and before her party she lost over a stone in weight and felt like a different person.

To summarise, coaching is a non judgemental, safe space, and a space for you to be heard. It is rare to be truly listened to due to modern day distractions and within general conversations where usually the other person is just waiting to respond. Your coach is your cheerleader, key supporter and is there to help you succeed.

If you are struggling with Menopause, or any of the issues above then please do not hesitate to get in touch for your free 40mins complimentary session