Text to my Daughter

Earlier this year, I was in my closet prepping for the warmer weather by switching my winter items to the back and summer to the front. After seeing a couple of my favorite summer pieces, I decided to take a break and play dress up!  Well! Well! Well!  To my surprise some things didn’t fit anymore!  What?!?! Surely not my favorite dress and skirt! Not the shorts that I just purchased last year! And I can’t even comment on the bathing suits.

After I finished trying on one piece after another, I sat on the closet floor in tears!  What happened? When did it happen? I drank green smoothies almost daily during the winter! I was eating healthy! But now, I was depressed, in tears and trying to find the good in the bad. So I thought I would text my daughter. Here’s my text to her:

Because you’re my daughter, I thought I should warn you…MENOPAUSE is REAL!  I have more waistline now than I’ve EVER had and it’s no fun! My dresses are uncomfortably snug! My skirts won’t zip all the way up! It’s Horrific!!  I’ve eaten 2-3 bowls of cabbage soup for the past 6 days and absolutely ZERO pounds gone! ZERO!! Not even a half pound! I followed the plan, denied myself and nothing! Soooo depressing!

I’m going to find a way to journal these thoughts, feelings and emotions in my blog “Platinum Highlights” and share it with other women that could be experiencing the same thing.  My metabolism has obviously gone to Europe already because it certainly isn’t here with me.  I don’t recall if I’ve ever felt this way about my body! UGH!!

I know to others, I’m not big or out of shape or even unhealthy looking. But I’m out of my comfort zone so that makes me all of those things.  I eat clean and have for quite some time.  Green smoothies, baked meats, lots of veggies, I’ve done it all!   Ok! So occasionally, I may have something sweet or some fried chicken but that’s not daily, weekly or even monthly!  I don’t know what’s next but something has to change!  I’ve been doing what I know so I’m going to Google, do some research and read everything I can about this Menopause Monster. I need to learn something new to get a better result.

So get ahead of it now!  I know you’re 20+ years away but plant this seed in the back of your mind.  Don’t allow any excuse replace you taking care of your body with regular exercising.  Nothing!  No one told me so I want you to be informed.  I love you and never want you to feel this way! 

Yes, all of this was in one text to her!  LOL  No one told me what to expect!  I saw my mother experiencing hot flashes and noticed the change in her body but had no idea what she was experiencing.  I don’t know if I thought I was exempt from menopause or if I just didn’t put much thought into it all (probably the latter). On that day, in my closet, with tears streaming down my face I needed her to know what this felt like. Her response was full of love and support and she simply stated “Mom, it’s going to be okay. I love you too”. She was right, I am okay!

I’ve done some things differently since then and I’m seeing some pretty good results (details coming) .  I’ve worn the skirt and it zipped all the way up! Yayyy! I wore the dress to dinner with my High School girlfriends three weeks ago (pictured below).  I have plans to wear the shorts for the 4th of July holiday. And thank goodness, I still have a couple more weeks before the bathing suits are needed.

We are Seasoned, Unique and still Beautiful!

Platinum Highlights,  “Embracing the Change”