While menopause affects every woman differently, there is no denying that this inevitable phase of life causes drastic physical and emotional changes to those going through it. But it doesn’t only affect the woman experiencing the changes, it can also affect a spouse who may feel helpless and confused. Below, we discuss three common things that most women wish their husbands knew as they witness them going through this new life milestone.
1. It’s Ok to Talk About It
Many women are not entirely sure what to expect of perimenopause and menopause — let alone their spouses — but communicating with each other can be greatly beneficial for both individuals. Men may have many questions during this huge life change, but feel uncomfortable to discuss them. It’s important to break the stigma and encourage honest conversations.
As the woman experiencing menopause, share what symptoms you are facing and ways your spouse may be supportive. As the spouse, ask any questions to help you better understand menopause and what to expect. To recognize the common symptoms and have a better understanding of what your wife may be experiencing, you should first learn what exactly are perimenopause and menopause.
Perimenopause involves the body decreasing hormone production usually 8-10 years before the full onset of menopause. Once menopause begins, the menstrual cycle has fully stopped, ovaries stopped producing a majority of estrogen, and a wide range of symptoms may become present. It’s a natural part of life and, with some support, you will both get through these changes.
2. There are Ways to be Supportive
For a spouse, watching the woman they love endure the challenges of menopause can be difficult and make them feel helpless, but there are ways to be supportive. Make the transition easier by asking how you can help. Menopause isn’t something that can be “fixed,” but the symptoms may be eased.
While it may be hard at the moment to recognize, mood swings are not always aimed at you or something you did, but rather a symptom of menopause. Help her feel relaxed and enjoy her favorite activities with her, or give her some time and space if that is what she prefers. Another common change that may occur during menopause is weight gain which can diminish a person’s self confidence. One way to be supportive is by joining them in the gym, helping them make healthy meals, and reassuring them that they are perfect just the way they are. Empathy and small actions to show you care go a long way. We’re not always looking for unsolicited advice or solutions, just support and kind words to know we’re not alone in this journey.
3. I Still Love You
Perimenopause and menopause bring many physical and emotional changes to the body. Hot flashes, insomnia, mood swings/irritability, and vaginal dryness can all drastically impact a woman’s quality of life, her marriage, and her sex life. In addition to the uncomfortable symptoms turning many women off from sex during menopause, the reduced production of hormones has also been known to dramatically lower libido.
Be open and honest about what each other expects in their sex life and what they’re comfortable doing. If sex is painful, Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy may be your solution or find other ways to keep the intimacy alive in your marriage. Ideas include planning romantic date nights, writing each other love letters, or taking walks to talk and catch up. Just because aging and menopause have changed what your sex life may look like, it does not mean your spouse no longer loves you or finds you attractive and it won’t last forever. Be honest and patient with each other to find what works for both of you.
Find Your Balance
Regardless of how severe your menopausal symptoms are, Renewed Vitality is prepared to get your body back on track with a personalized solution that works for you. Schedule your consultation today and get the balance back in your life!
Life is filled with many joys, but perhaps the best of all is being a grandparent. It can be hard to watch the children that you have raised for the past 18 years leave home to start a life of their own, but in a few years when that “empty nest” feeling is replaced with grandchildren and you see your own children start a family of theirs, the rewarding feeling is like none other.
It’s hard to limit the perks of being a grandparent to only 5 reasons, and there really aren’t any negatives to the title, but read below to find out some of our favorite parts about the job.
1. Learning About Your Grandchildren
Each grandchild is different and precious in their own way and learning about what makes them “them” is fun and special. Whether it’s learning about their personality while baking together, kicking a soccer ball in the backyard, or reading a bedtime story, over the years you will experience their personality begin to shine. Planning bonding activities to do with your grandchildren will help keep you young at heart and allow you to reminisce on the similar plans you did with your own children when they were that age!
2. Reexperiencing Those Firsts
Surely, you can’t remember everything about your children when they were young and growing up, but those special first moments that happened in your life will stand out to you. Now you can experience them all over again with your grandchildren. Your child’s first — breath, smile, step, word, birthday, day of school, time behind the wheel, prom, date, graduation, and surely much more — filled you with an overwhelming sense of pride and love. You will experience those same feelings again watching your grandchildren grow up and have their own first milestones.
3. Watching Your Children Experience The Joys of Parenthood
While raising children of your own, the days may have seemed to go slow, but the years have gone by fast and being a parent can prove to be a hard feat with challenges of its own. But watching your children experience all of the joys that parenthood brings makes all of those late nights, tears, and argumentative teenage years worth it. The years won’t slow down anymore this time around, but it will prove just as rewarding. Plus, you can spoil your grandchildren during the day but send them home at night without having to live through all of those sleepless nights and tantrums again!
4. Passing Down Family Traditions
Every family has a tradition, heirloom, or story that they pass down their family through the years. Watching that special family treasure, which was once passed to you from your parents and that you shared with your child, get passed down another generation is truly the best feeling in the world.
5. Unconditional Love
The endless supply of hugs. The messy kisses. The sweet and soft “I love yous.” These are the treasured moments that make being a grandparent the absolute best. There is something special about the grandchild and grandparent bond that is irreplaceable. Grandchildren look up to their grandparents and rely on them to provide them with the same unconditional love that they give right back. You may have thought that your heart was filled to capacity with love before, but it grows even bigger each time a new grandchild is brought into your life.
As you all know, Pennsylvania has set strict shelter-in-place orders to help slow the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic. While it’s important to follow the guidelines to protect those in the community as well as your own health, it can be hard to find ways to stay connected and entertained without leaving your home for long periods of time. Read below for ideas on ways to curb your boredom while at home.
Check Out a Local Virtual Attraction
Although many local businesses have closed their doors temporarily due to COVID-19, you can still visit some attractions through free virtual tours online. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is a popular spring and summer destination for hiking and birdwatching but until the trails open back up, you can still connect with nature, learn about animals and hear from scientists and educators with new online programs every week.
The Reading Public Museum has also been ordered to close temporarily, but you can still learn more about some pieces in their collection on their website. Browse their Arms and Armor exhibition, read about Pennsylvania German objects, or find one of their other collections that interests you. If you enjoy learning about the history of aviation, the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum also offers a virtual tour of their space online. Take the tour here.
Tackle Home Projects
Now that we have all been spending more time in our homes, it’s common to have noticed home improvement projects or DIY crafts that you want to tackle. Don’t wait any longer! Grab your paintbrush or hammer and get the job done. Whether it’s adding a fresh coat of paint, thoroughly spring cleaning, or sprucing up your yard for when backyard barbecues are eventually allowed, use this slow time at home to check off the items on your to-do list. You’ll enjoy spending time in your new and improved space and feel productive and motivated to tackle even more projects.
Connect With Friends and Family
As important as it is to social distance during these times, it can be difficult to do so when you feel like you are missing out on big milestones with your family and friends. But technology can change that! Use video calls to stay connected even from a distance. You can be a part of your grandchildren’s birthday parties or host a family game night all through a video call while staying home and staying healthy.
Another popular trend that many families are doing to stay connected and celebrate big events together during these times is with drive-by parades. If you have a family member or friend celebrating a birthday, graduation, engagement, or birth of a child during quarantine, decorate your vehicle and organize a parade with other friends to drive by their home to show your support. They will appreciate the thought and enjoy seeing you, even if it’s from a distance!
Try New Recipes
Cooking and baking doesn’t have to feel like a chore. Use the extra time home to experiment with new recipes and find tasty meals. Once shelter-in-place is lifted, you can plan a dinner party with your closest friends that you’ve been missing and use the delicious new recipes you found to serve to your guests. If you need some help finding healthy recipes, browse our past blogs for inspiration.
Host a Viewing Party
Do you miss family movie night? Well we have good news for you! If you, your family, and your friends have a Netflix subscription, you can schedule a time to all watch a movie or show synced together through the Netflix Party extension. The feature allows you to play or pause the movie or show collectively as a group, and discuss the showing through a group chat.
If you don’t have a Netflix account, you can still access many new concerts, videos, and movies being released amid COVID-19. Musicians and artists are filming and streaming concert specials, tutorials, and programs so be on the lookout for ones that interest you. Remember, this is only temporary and you are not alone during this time. There are many ways to stay productive and entertained while home.
Here at Renewed Vitality, we are taking the Coronavirus pandemic very seriously. While we understand the importance of social distancing, we also understand that hormone replacement therapy is essential for many and can drastically improve the quality of life for those who depend on it. We submitted a waiver to be granted permission to remain open for our patients and we were approved as they deemed us an essential business!
We will remain OPEN for appointments and lab services to ensure the care and wellbeing of our patients. As always, the health and safety of our staff and patients is our number one priority and we will continue to implement safety precautions to help protect the community.
If you would like to schedule an appointment or if you have any questions or concerns, please call the office. However, we do ask that you please stay home and reschedule your appointment if you or someone you’ve been in contact with has recently been sick or is currently ill, or if you’ve recently travelled.
We urge you to follow the guidelines of the CDC. Now more than ever we must all prioritize our health and wellbeing to combat this virus!
What Precautions Are We Taking?
We will do our part in screening our patients and staff, including temperature checks, and rescheduling appointments for anyone who feels ill or has recently travelled. Our staff will be wearing personal protective equipment and following health official guidelines of avoiding close personal contact and handshakes. You’ll still be greeted with a friendly smile, however!
Following each patient’s appointment, the personal protective equipment will be changed and our staff’s hands will be washed. Each room will be thoroughly cleaned, including door knobs, flat surfaces, etc. upon the exit of every patient.
In addition, we have contracted a professional cleaning service to completely clean our entire office and patient rooms using the static sterilization process, which is the most advanced method to fight this virus. The static sterilization process is a hospital grade disinfectant that is not harmful to people or plants.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work together to be a safe and healthy community. We look forward to seeing you all in the office soon and urge you to continue to follow the guidelines of the CDC and monitor the most up-to-date reports. Stay safe everyone!
Spring is in the air and now is the time that many households will fill up their mop buckets, pull out their feather dusters, and perform their annual spring deep cleaning rituals. And while there are few things as satisfying as having your home look, feel, and smell fresh, this season is also the perfect time to evaluate your life and clean up any loose ends.
Clean Up Personal Relationships
With the busy holiday season and unpredictable winter weather conditions, it can be easy to neglect friendships or avoid making plans that require you to leave the house. Spring is a great time to get back in touch and make those friendships a priority again. It’s also the perfect time to evaluate the relationships in your life that may be toxic or unfulfilling and remove them. Toxic relationships can drag you down, whether you see that immediately or not, and this is the season to focus on you and your growth!
Straighten Out Finances
The holidays can leave many with financial burdens and if they are not straightened out periodically, they can get out of hand and turn into a seemingly-impossible problem with no solution. With tax season right around the corner, sit down and go over your financial state. Review your expenses and look for ways to cut back or budget yourself if you feel you are spending too much. Some ways to start budgeting include eating out less, planning free family activities, and canceling unused subscriptions. Don’t put off getting back on track with your finances. The stress of financial problems can have a negative impact on your mental health and relationships.
Declutter Your Schedule
It’s ok to say “no.” As we get older and take on more responsibilities, we may feel obligated to say “yes” to every opportunity or invite that comes our way, but sometimes we just need a break to focus on ourselves and that’s ok too. Spring clean your schedule so you don’t get burnt out before summer even begins.
Refresh Your Mental Health
The long, dark, cold months can really put a damper on your mental health. Plus, lack of exercise and an unhealthy diet can negatively impact your mood even more. Make your mental health a priority. Detox unhealthy habits, find the root of your stresses, practice positive thinking, and make time for activities you enjoy. Spending time being active outdoors and adopting a healthy diet has proven to work in boosting moods. But if these tips are still proven unsuccessful in helping you feel like yourself again, a hormonal imbalance may be to blame. Our team at Renewed Vitality can help!
Organize Your Work Space
You’ve taken care of spring cleaning your home, but don’t ignore your work spaces either. If you don’t currently have an organization system, invest in one and go through important paperwork and supplies and work on organizing your digital space as well. Take time to delete old emails, remove unused contacts, backup important photos or files, and clean up your social media accounts.
Freshen Up Your Routine
It’s normal human behavior to find comfort in setting a routine and sticking to it daily, but there can be unexpected joy in varying it up and adopting a new behavior every day. Whether it’s trying a new recipe, taking a new way home from work, or going to the gym, you may be surprised to find a new, better way of doing things. If winter had you feeling bored and unfulfilled with a constant routine, spring is the season for change, new beginnings, and growth!
Spring Into Action
We covered a few of the basic aspects of life that could use a cleaning up this spring (along with your home), but we’re sure you could find even more. Take it one step at a time and focus on one area to improve to start. Trying to change all areas at once can feel overwhelming and discourage you from working toward your goal. Just as the flowers will soon begin to bloom, this is your season to grow as well.
It’s official. Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow, therefore we’re in for an early spring, and warmer weather, hopefully! You may be at that point in winter where you’re suffering from cabin fever and itching to get outdoors. Well lucky for you, Berks County is full of many great outdoor recreation spots for you to enjoy this spring and summer.
Antietam Lake Park
Antietam Lake Park offers 643 acres just east of the City of Reading and includes scenic ponds, access to Antietam Creek, meadows, and demonstration gardens. The outdoor site also features over 12 miles of interconnecting trails and a 22 acre Angora Fruit Farm, which is used as an outdoor classroom for year-round environmental education programs.
Blue Marsh Lake Recreation Area
Whether you want to participate in a guided hike, go for a bike or horse ride, have a picnic by the swim beach, take your boat for a cruise, or cast a line in, the Blue Marsh Lake Recreation Area has an activity for everyone to enjoy.
Blue Rocks Family Campground
Become one with nature when you pitch a tent or park your camper at the Blue Rocks Family Campground in Lenhartsville, PA. The camping destination is home to the Blue Rocks Boulder Field and is surrounded by miles of hiking trails with access to the Appalachian Trail.
Chapel Hill Golf Course
Whether you’re an ameatur golfer or a professional, teeing off at the Chapel Hill Golf Course in Reading, PA can be a fun challenge! Test your skills on the beautiful green course and finish your day by enjoying refreshments at the clubhouse.
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary
If you’re interested in bird watching, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is the place to go! Bring your binoculars and prepare to be amazed at the majestic creatures that fly by. The view atop Hawk Mountain is beautiful and the sanctuary hosts many educational programs and classes year-round for visitors of all ages.
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
Step back in time and explore the Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. Dating back to 1771, the iron plantation was once used to provide shot and canons for George Washington and then stoves and pig iron. The site is surrounded by French Creek State Park and State Game Lands and visitors can tour the property and buildings, watch a theater program, and visit the museum.
Pulpit Rock and Pinnacle Loop
While the 8.7 mile Pulpit Rock/Pinnacle Loop circuit is more advanced than some of the other hiking trails in Berks County, the breathtaking views are well worth the climb. The trail, which is located near Hamburg, PA, reaches 1300 feet in elevation and peaks with a view of the entire region spanning below.
Union Canal Towpath Trail
Take a leisurely stroll down the same path that mules once used to pull canal boat cargo down — the Union Canal Towpath Trail. The canal was originally 80 miles long when it was completed in 1827 and connects Reading to the Susquehanna River. Experience a piece of Berks County’s history as you get outdoors this season.
Explore Berks County
Getting outdoors and exercising is not only beneficial for your physical health, but your mental health as well. There is no better place to appreciate the great outdoors than our own backyard in Berks County. The region’s picturesque waterways and 125 miles of biking and hiking trails offers limitless outdoor fun for every adventurer.
It is not uncommon to have a negative mindset about aging. Some individuals no longer see their birthday as a celebration or choose to celebrate their “29th” birthday for eternity. Not only can aging be hard on the body physically, but additional challenges and health setbacks that come with aging can also take a toll on your mental health.
You may look and feel different with each additional candle added to your birthday cake, but aging is inevitable and a normal part of life. Instead of obsessing over staying young forever, focus on staying healthy and happy. Celebrate your years and don’t let your age get in the way of actually living.
Set Yearly Goals
Working towards a goal is great for the mind — it provides a sense of worth, fulfillment, and pride. Maybe you want to travel to 5 new places, master a new skill, stick to a gym routine, or get that promotion at work. Whatever your personal goals are, once the year has passed, you can look back and see all that you’ve accomplished.
You won’t feel remorseful that you’re another year older, instead you’ll feel motivated to further expand your list of goals and conquer them once again.
Volunteer in Your Community
As you get older, you may find you have extra time on your hands. Using this time to volunteer in your community or giving back can give you a positive outlook. Not only will you feel good about helping out in your community, but you will also be making a positive difference in other peoples’ lives.
Find a cause you’re passionate about — whether it’s the local animal shelter, hospital, or food bank — and give them a call. They will be very appreciative to hear from you!
Participate in Social Engagements
One of the hardest parts about aging is losing touch with those who you were once closest to. Many adults get married, move away, and start a family or get busy with their own responsibilities that former friendships aren’t always prioritized. Feeling isolated and lonely while aging can make it very difficult. It helps to know that there are others going through the same changes that you are and are there to talk about it with you.
Seek out social engagements to attend or groups and classes to join. You can meet individuals with similar interests and hobbies as you.
Prioritize Your Health
Age is only a number. If you treat your body right with the proper nutrients and exercise, you may feel decades below your actual age. Don’t let your number slow you down. Stay active through low impact exercises that put less harmful stress on the body such as walking, yoga, and swimming.
When it comes to planning your meals, moderation is key. We understand that you deserve the sweet treat here and there and we’re not telling you to avoid your comfort foods altogether, however focusing primarily on eating a well-balanced diet can make you feel great!
Exercise Your Brain
Just like your body does, your brain also needs daily exercise and this becomes even more critical as you age. Stimulate your brain by doing crossword puzzles, reading books, and learning new skills, such as a second language.
Studies have proven that keeping your brain active can help prevent dementia and promote mental health.
Celebrate Your Age
The next time your birthday rolls around, break out the streamers, confetti, and party hats because it’s a reason for a celebration! You can look back at your past years and see all you have accomplished, look forward to all that you will experience, and appreciate how great you feel AND look for your age.
Every age brings something new and exciting whether it’s becoming a grandparent for the first time or finally qualifying for senior discounts. Embrace it and adopt a positive mindset toward aging.
As a young 20-something, fresh into adulthood, you may have found that you could eat what you wanted when you wanted it and still maintain a reasonably fit body. When you entered the next decade, you may have been more intentional about your food choices and spent more time at the gym to keep extra weight off. Now as a man over fifty, you may be struggling to lose any weight at all, regardless of how hard you work to get rid of the “dad bod.”
It may take more effort than it once had, but it is possible to lose weight and stay fit. Continue below to read some tips on how to lose the weight AND keep it off.
Why Can’t I Lose Weight?
As you age, your metabolism slows down and functions less efficiently than it once had in your youth. Your body requires fewer calories a day and any additional ones not used will turn into fat. On top of that, if you’re like most middle-aged men and you become less active or notice your energy levels have dropped, it can be hard to get motivated to work out. Weight gain can also signal decreased testosterone levels or hypothyroidism, which are both common in older men.
But that doesn’t mean you have to grow complacent with your body — it just means you may have to be more deliberate about your weight-loss strategy and Renewed Vitality is here to help!
What Can I do About It?
- Start with Your Plate — Much like how it’s important for your body’s hormones to remain in balance, your plate should also have balance. When portioning your dinner plate, half of the plate should have vegetables, a quarter should have a lean protein, such as chicken, turkey, salmon, or eggs, and the remaining quarter should have a “quality” carbohydrate, such as brown rice or oats, according to the “perfect plate” strategy. The average day of a 50-something-year-old man is usually busy with work meetings, sporting events for the kids, and household chores, which makes grabbing fast food an appealing option since it’s quick and easy. But meal-prepping during the weekends or in any downtime can help you stick to your healthy diet and manage your portion control.
- Break a Sweat at the Gym — While you may have one preferred type of exercise, such as solely weightlifting or cardio, it’s important to mix up the workouts. One study found that “older people who did a combination of 30 minutes of aerobic exercise and 30 minutes of resistance exercise three days per week reduced their body fat percentage and gained muscle.” While one exercise method burns more calories than fat, the other does the opposite, which provides the results you want.
- Review Your Medications — If you are not seeing any improvements after incorporating a healthy diet and exercise regimen into your daily routine, it may be a good idea to look into the side effects of your medication. As you age, you may be prescribed medications for various conditions and some of these medications can result in weight gain. If you believe that the one you are taking may be the cause of your weight gain, talk to your doctor about other medication options.
- Find Your Balance — If the weight gain is related to a hormone imbalance, you may still struggle to lose the weight even after sticking to a healthy diet and exercise routine. That’s when it’s time to come to Renewed Vitality. Naturally, hormone levels can decrease with age including testosterone, and can leave you suffering with weight gain, erectile dysfunction, infertility, decreased muscle mass, and lowered sex drive.
Renewed Vitality offers Testosterone Replacement Therapy to help you find your balance. Each patient is treated with a personalized plan that suits their unique imbalance
How can Renewed Vitality Help?
At Renewed Vitality, we offer a Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Program that combines diet, lifestyle changes, and medical supplements to help boost weight loss efforts and teach healthy behavior changes that will last a lifetime.
Once you enroll in the program, you will receive a customized diet plan that will help you balance food groups and learn portion sizes. Our medical practitioner will also periodically administer a small dose of phentermine, a stimulant that helps curb your appetite and jump start your metabolism, and also provide a mood-balancing serotonin pill and multivitamin. Schedule your weight loss consultation today and get started on your life changing journey.
