TresSugar

Marketing Menopause: Life's Change Becomes a Disease

TresSugar — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:30:19 PST

When did menopause go from being a natural stage of life to a degenerative disease in need of a cure? Exactly when you'd expect. The transformation began in the '60s, peaked in the '90s, and continues today.

In 1966 Dr. Robert A. Wilson published Feminine Forever, which advocates the use of hormone drugs to prevent or cure menopause's side effects, which he labeled as "flabby," "shrunken," “dull-minded," and "desexed." “No woman can be sure of escaping the horror of this living decay,” he wrote. “There is no need for either valor or pretense. The need is for hormones.”

He might as well have been hired by a drug company to write this. His book put the phrase "hormone replacement therapy" into our vernacular and was a boon to drugs like Premarin, an estrogen replacement drug made of - brace yourself - pregnant mare's urine.

Yet while many ads focused directly internal benefits - ward off heart disease, Alzheimer's, and blindness(!) - others like the above zoned in on the external - maintain your beauty and sex drive, and your husband will still take you sailing! It doesn't help that even today there are celebrity endorsers with gimicky pitches like 63-year-old Suzanne Somers. She says hormones cure the "seven dwarfs of menopause: "Itchy. Bitchy. Sweaty. Sleepy. Bloated. Forgetful. All Dried Up." All dried up? It's like she gave up! I would have gone with "barren," but I guess that implies child-baring restoration.

So while many women have found hormone replacement therapy to mitigate hot flashes, insomnia, and other side effects of menopause, it seems high time we restore it as a change in life and abandon it as a disease. But then again, maybe I'll feel differently in 25 years.

Source and Source

Say What? Man With "Manopause" Blames Hormones

TresSugar — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:00:00 PDT

"So, with the help of Lupron, I spent a few months aboard the Good Ship Menopause with all the physical baggage that entails. It’s a trip that most men don’t expect to take . . .

And, guys, when your significant female other bursts into tears at the drop of a dinner plate or turns on you like a rabid pit bull - whether she’s pregnant, having her period or in the throes of menopause - believe her when she blames it on the hormones."

- Dana Jennings, in a New York Times piece about how being on hormone therapy for an aggressive case of prostate cancer gave him menopause-like symptoms including hot flashes, unexpected crying jags, intense food cravings, and weight gain.

Source

Jack in the Box Caters to the Menopausal Woman?

TresSugar — Fri, 15 May 2009 04:00:00 PDT

In addition to featuring one of the best junk food burgers out there - the Sourdough Jack (oh, man I just made myself hungry!) - I have to say Jack in the Box has some pretty great commercials. Take this one for their fruit smoothies, featuring a glassy-eyed menopausal woman who claims this beverage keeps her from going "street rat crazy." (A Jack in the Box fruit smoothie? Really?)

Oprah's Health Wake Up Call Came from Her Thyroid

FitSugar — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:30:00 PDT

Did you know that millions of women suffer from thyroid conditions? In the most recent issue of O Magazine, Oprah shares the tale of her wild health ride with thyroid issues.

She was plagued first by hyperthyroidism, which sped up her metabolism and prevented sleep. Oprah eventually "blew out" her thyroid and experienced classic symptoms of hypothyroidism: Her metabolism slowed and she felt sluggish and tired.

After discovering the cause of her health problems, Oprah decided this was a wake up call. She was determined, not only to get back in balance, but to highlight this particular women's health issue. According to The Wisdom of Menopause author Dr. Christiane Northrup, 25 percent of perimenopausal and menopausal women experience some kind of issue with their thyroid at some time, and most women don't know the cause of their deteriorating health.

I, for one, hope that with Oprah highlighting this issue that it receives more attention, both in research and educational outreach. You know Oprah knows how to stir things up! You can read much of the article, which explores the "break down to break through" moments of personal health, online at Oprah.com – hopefully it will help you learn to listen to your body.

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Fat-Proof Your Life

Health — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:06:06 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on our site.

By Maridel Reyes

It's true that there are certain times in your life when extra poundage seems to appear out of nowhere . . . and settle on you. In fact, experts have honed in on the exact moments when you're most vulnerable to weight gain.

"Life transitions, having a baby, and going through menopause cause many women to pile on pounds," says Susan Albers, PsyD, author of But I Deserve This Chocolate!: The 50 Most Common Diet-Derailing Excuses and How to Outwit Them. "But with planning and prep, you can stay thin."

We asked top experts for their strategies to help you ward off weight creep - and even shed pounds - at these tricky stages. Solutions ahead.

Getting married

Heavier ever after? It can be the flip side of wedded bliss: "Six out of 10 of my clients come back heavier after the honeymoon," says celebrity fitness and wellness guru David Kirsch.

Health.com: 25 Diet-Busting Foods You Should Never Eat

Young newlyweds pack on an extra six to nine pounds in the five years after getting hitched compared to singletons, according to research from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. And most of that gain happens in the first year of marriage.

"Couples start to mirror each other's eating habits," explains Albers. "You might be matching him calorie for calorie without realizing it."

Learn how to keep the pounds down postmarriage and in the mommy years, after the break.

3 Common Hair Dilemmas Solved

Guest Writer — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:00:00 PST

Tabatha Coffey, the star of the much-loved series, Tabatha Takes Over, is known giving the most spot-on hair advice around. And over the next few months the talented hairstylist is sharing her top tips and tricks right here on BellaSugar. We're thrilled to present to you her first post! Take it away, Tabatha.

Hi everyone,
I got so many emails and questions on the below topics after I appeared on The Dr. Oz Show, I thought it would be great to write about them in my first blog. Here are some of my favorite products and tips for combating the hair-problem blues. See more when you keep reading.

How to Get Your Metabolism Moving

Health — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 03:03:06 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on our site.

Does your metabolism grind to a halt after 35? Can certain foods rev it up? Answers ahead — and they're good.
By Paige Greenfield

Here's something to feel good about: your body is a calorie-burning machine. You'll even torch a few while reading this article. The point is, every single thing you do — from breathing to eating to sleeping — uses energy. The number of calories it would take just to lie in bed all day is called your resting metabolic rate. And just like your curly hair or warm personality, yours is unique.

"There are so many factors that determine your metabolic rate," says Janet Rankin, PhD, professor of human nutrition, foods, and exercise at Virginia Tech. Among them: your height and weight (bigger people burn more calories), your gender (women have slower metabolisms than men), your age (your metabolic rate declines as you get older), how much muscle or fat you have (muscle burns more calories than fat does), and your DNA.

Health.com: Little Ways to Lose Big Pounds

Although you can't rewire your double helix or switch back the clock, there's still plenty you can do to be a fast burner, Rankin says. All you need to do is remember these four research-backed truths.

Cardio Revs Your Metabolism For Hours Afterward
Resistance training often hogs the metab-boosting spotlight. It's no wonder, since a pound of muscle at rest fries three times as many calories as a pound of fat. However, cardio is every bit as crucial for keeping your metabolism humming.

New research explains why: In a study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, people pedaled a stationary bike as hard as they could for 47 minutes.
The finding: They slashed 190 calories above their resting metabolic rate for 14 hours after their workout. Add that to the 519 calories, on average, the cyclists scorched from the workout itself, and that's one heck of a sweat session.

"If you do just two to three vigorous bouts of exercise per week for 45 minutes, you could lose a pound of fat every two weeks from the combination of calories expended during exercise plus what you burn afterward," says study author David Nieman, PhD, a professor of exercise science at Appalachian State University.

So how can you tell if you're pushing hard enough? Any sweat-inducing activity you can sustain for 45 minutes will do the trick.

More useful tips after the break.

How Exercise Reduces Your Breast Cancer Risk

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:54:11 PDT

We've heard it before: exercise can reduce a woman's risk for developing breast cancer. But how much and what types of exercise are we talking about? Here is some information on the relationship between breast cancer prevention and working out.

Exercising Often May Make You Reach Menopause Sooner
What? You're not thinking about menopause? If you're in your 20s or early 30s, I don't blame you, but a recent study shows that premenopausal women reached menopause sooner when they exercised often - eight to 10 hours per week. I know reaching menopause earlier, dealing with the hot flashes and irregular periods, isn't exactly every young woman's dream, but it may help with cancer prevention. During menopause a woman stops ovulating, which decreases her exposure to tumor-promoting estrogen. This is why early menopause is linked to lower breast cancer risk - another reason to get moving!

Keep on reading to find out three more ways exercise helps reduce your risk of developing breast cancer.

Healthy Dose Link Time

FitSugar — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 10:25:51 PDT

Is there something about your personality that leads to weight gain? - Shape
Tips for making the best out of the worst: guilt-free pizza - Self
Drop the mag! Intervals bust workout boredom better than reading - Carrots 'n' Cake
Going retro: why step aerobics rocks! - Fitnessista
Easy ways to glam up after working out - Prevention
Exercise linked to early menopause: what gives? - Blisstree

Health Junkie: Hormones and Chemicals Released Due to Exercise

Anna Monette Roberts — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 01:17:15 PDT

Ever wonder what is going on chemically in the body while you sweat it out at the gym? The euphoric feelings during and after exercise, as well as the muscle soreness that might just come a day later, don't just appear magically. Your body is made up of millions of chemical reactions, which result in different physical and mental feelings. Take a look at some of the top hormones and chemicals that are released when you workout.

Endorphins
These chemicals are released by your pituitary gland, which is located in the base of your brain. Endorphins make you feel exhilarated and happy and block any feelings of pain, so you can power through any discomfort caused by exercising. That's why people become addicted to strenuous forms of exercises and experience "runner's high."

Estrogen
Estrogen determines whether carbs or fat fuel the body during an intense exercise session. Women tend to burn fat for fuel, while men tend to burn carbs, because women have higher estrogen levels. When women undergo menopause, they usually experience some weight gain because of lowered estrogen levels.

See more chemicals released while exercising.