Menstrual day...lets talk about the pause shall we?

 

Yes lets go there - perimenopause and menopause..actually should be renamed MENSESTOP..or MENOSTOP...hehehe - pause insinuates they will restart, ama?

Am now past 50yrs and in comes another period that leaves one wondering, was the monthly red visit better?

the post menses stage differs among women, since oestrogen levels fluctuate during this period - typically its marked with

 - irregular or skipped periods

 - more or less bleeding that usual during periods

 - hot flashes!

 - dry skin....(need good quality lotions!)

 - thinning hairline (goodbye luscious locks!)

 - frequent urination (weuhh)

 - sleep problems like insomnia because of hormonal imbalances (suddenly realize why women become 3am prayer warriors!)

  - mood changes including irritability and even depression (we take no prisoners, but please extend grace to these women!)

 - weight gain that simply cannot just drop off despite all the exercise routines! (caused by reduced oestrogen and increased cortisol - slowing ones metabolism)

and then one gets into full menopause which still has more HOT flashes ...weuhhh...its sudden and periodic, one minute one is fine, the next they are sweating profusely like they have run a marathon! Other symptoms are the same as peri stage, and for some tiredness as well

Apparently it can last up to 7 years and then one hits the POST menopause stage

So how can one relieve these symptoms in a natural way?

1. Eat foods rich in Omega 3, Calcium and Vitamin D

2. Manage your weight

3. Increase uptake of fruits and  veges

4. Know your trigger foods and avoid them eg caffeine, alcohol

5. Regular exercise to strengthen  muscles and boost your mood

6. Increase water intake

7. Avoid ultra processed foods...eat them close to their natural state as possible

8. Increase protein intake!

9. Try chamomile tea to help with sleep!

I know I know...its a cringy topic, but this is life! Research shows that the right foods, right movement, right bedtime routines and select herbs can make this season manageable. Listen to your body and do what you gotta do!

So there you go...whichever part of the menses wall you fall..you are strong and beautiful, you gat this!

Enjoy the day!!

PSA: Stretch yourself!

 So its Saturday early morning

Am staring down a square hole in a hospital bed, at the white tiled floor, with a heated pad on my back -am in my 5th and final physiotherapy session

So how did I get here?

I love love long walks and do them occasionally - so I did Oloolua 10km and after 2 days was in hospital with excruciating back pain, weuh - mercifully the pain cooled off the same day. Then another Saturday I did Karura 10km and was back in hosi. The third time I did a walk round Nairobi and clocked 14km and a day later I had the same terrible backache. The doctor wondered what was going on and sent me for kidney scans and MRI of my back...both were ok (Thank you Lord!!)

So she says then, lets do physiotherapy for 5 days and see how it goes

So I booked the appointment for physio and weuh, let me tell you Maina.......the PAIN!!!! kwani my muscles were all tight?.....the lady kneaded my back like chapati dough...mpaka i was like, just stop, please stop.....she was like sawa...and sent me home with some light stretches to do

Next day and I was SICK! like i had like a terrible bad homa with no running nose...but fever, aches the works...Dr Google said that after deep tissue massage (well thats how the physio session felt like) when toxins are released to the blood stream...you can have flu like symptoms.....another article dismissed this assertion...but it made sense to me, so I explained my fever with that....had to stay home that day

The physiotherapist assured me that by session 3 I should have no pain! and she was spot on.....

With each session I was given stretches to do morning and evening

and now my Instagram is full of mobility topics...hehehehehe (big brother always listening!)

am better now (amen)

please remember to stretch properly 

esp if you seat a lot during the day

I will be at the May 31st Mater 10km Heart Run....hopefully I dont get pain after that!

Habemus Papam - We have a Pope!

 We have a new Pope!

Pope Leo XIV was announced on May 8 - took 2 days to get white smoke

So in my lifetime I have seen 4 Popes

Pope John Paul II started in 1978 to 2005 - 26 good years! He was from Poland was the 264th Pope

Pope Benedict XVI started in 2005 to 2013 - and was from Germany

Pope Francis started in 2013 to 2025 - from Argentina

and now Pope Leo XIV from May 8 2025 an American/Peru citizen and is the 267th Pope (he was made Cardinal in Sept 2023)

I have had the pleasure to see Pope John Paul II with my own eyes in Nairobi in 1995 in Uhuru Park and Pope Francis in Nairobi in Nov 2015 and in Rome 2023

A Prayer for the Pope

Lord, source of eternal life and truth, give to your shepherd a spirit of courage and right judgment, a spirit of knowledge and love. By governing with fidelity those entrusted to his care, may he, as successor to the Apostle Peter and Vicar of Christ, build your Church into a sacrament of unity, love and peace for all the world. Amen.