The Menopause Running Club

  1. 11/16/2023

    Coaching session one with Emma, "I'm overwhelmed by everything I'm supposed to do. I just need a plan."

    This episode is a great reminder that Thriving After 40 isn't just about food. Emma lost her fitness after catching Covid and then perimenopause struck bringing anxiety and issues with sleep. As her kids hit their teens she was also missing the socialising that she did with other parents when the children were younger. She wanted to take better care of herself, but was overwhelmed by all the things she was supposed to be doing, and wasn't doing anything. She needed a plan that would work for her. I loved this episode because the main focus was about making time to do things that brought Emma pleasure in her life. When I asked her what she did for herself, she realised she did nothing. Yet she worked hard at her job and spent most evenings ferrying her kids around. We need a reward for the work we put in. Often we turn to food to do this, and I suspected this was the reason she was turning to biscuits and chocolate during the day, even though she ate a healthy diet and didn't suffer with hunger or cravings. Another key part of our chat was about exercise and how she could find time and energy to build up her fitness again because this had been a big part of her life pre Covid and she knew it would improve her mood and even her sleep. More support from Gabrielle You can find similar advice in my book which is available on Amazon There is more information on exercise, nutrition and wellbeing on my website and you can sign up for my weekly newsletter there.

    Coaching session one with Emma, "I'm overwhelmed by everything I'm supposed to do. I just need a plan."
  2. 11/11/2023

    Coaching Session One With Rachel 'I'm struggling with my diet.'

    Rachel is 3 years perimenopause and her biggest symptoms are mood swings, anxiety and overwhelm and real loss of joy. Taking the brave step of changing career didn't remove the feelings of anxiety that she'd hoped. Determined to make more changes she cut down on alcohol and joined a running club. But she just couldn't get a grip on her diet. She knew toast for breakfast and meal deals for lunch weren't ideal, but she couldn't break the cycle. The natural response to this is feeling guilty, being angry with yourself for being lazy/useless/disorganised, and with that comes a lot of negative self-talk that can take over your brain and direct a lot of anger and frustration towards yourself. This is not a small deal because it can have a huge impact on how you feel about yourself. Yet, when you lead a busy, stressful life and have to deal with anxiety and overwhelm, getting a grip on your diet can completely evade you. That's why these sessions work so well. It's so much easier when you take a step back with someone who can help you figure things out. And that's what we do in this week's episode. We find simple changes that Rachel can actually make without adding extra work or making her feel overwhelmed. Tune in now and listen to how we figured it out, because the same ideas could well work for you too. MORE SUPPORT FROM GABRIELLE You can find similar advice in my book Why Women Over 40 Can't Lose Weight which is available on ⁠Amazon⁠ If you'd like to apply to be coached in a future podcast, please email me at hello@gabrielleohare.com Private coaching is also available. To find out more click ⁠here

  3. 10/20/2023

    Coaching Session 2 With Bev "I've learnt to say no and find time for me."

    If you can't seem to make time for yourself, then listen to this truly uplifting episode with Bev, who told me she felt 200% better after making some tiny changes to her lifestyle after our first call a couple of months ago. Bev has a full-time job and a family, she runs a running club and was struggling with menopause so much, she was often shattered. She was the first person to sign up for the live coaching, because she just felt something was missing from her life and couldn't work out how to move forwards. The changes I suggested in our session were tiny, set boundaries around when she was available to her running groups (her Whatsapp was pinging all night) and take time out to read. She loved reading but never got around to it. These sound so simple it's hard to believe they made such a big impact. But what happened was she immediately felt so much happier and better in herself that they became a catalyst for her to look for other small changes she could make to take better care of herself - and the list was impressive! Doing more for herself didn't get in the way of doing her job or her other responsibilities, but it meant she became her own priority and as a result, everyone else benefitted, but mostly Bev. She felt happier and more energetic. She became more productive and a better runner and got her mojo back. Listen to this show and I guarantee you'll be inspired to make changes to your own life too. Get Featured on the Show If you'd like to appear in an episode email me at hello@gabrielleohare.com Coaching with Me If a public session isn't for you but you'd like to book private coaching sessions with me then you can find out more here: www.thrive-after40.com

    Coaching Session 2 With Bev "I've learnt to say no and find time for me."
  4. 09/13/2023

    Coaching Session One with Sybil "I know what I should be eating, I just can't make it happen."

    In this episode, Gabrielle speaks to Sybil, a 52-year-old mother juggling 3 jobs, a dog and a chronic back condition. She suffers from low energy and brain fog and wants to get rid of her menopause belly, and, knowing that strength training is important at this age, she wants to start training. But, she explains that even though she feels like she knows what she should be doing, she just can't make it happen. Gabrielle digs into her diet in more detail and discovers that she eats far too little during the week. Her big downfall is snacking and eating sweets and treats with her daughter - so she doesn't make her daughter feel bad about eating them. During the conversation, Gabrielle finds that Sybil has a much more powerful goal than simply losing weight, which could give her the motivation she needs to make the lifestyle changes she desperately wants to make. She also suggests Sybil prioritises energy over dieting because until she has more energy, she's not going to be able to manage the extra exercise. Lastly, she asks Sybil to think about her weekend boundaries and dig deeper into her willingness to snack and eat sweets with her daughter. By the end of the episode, Sybil has a clear action plan and agrees to catch up with Gabrielle again in a month's time to tell her how she's got on. This second session will also be recorded. More support from Gabrielle You can find similar advice in my book Why Women Over 40 Can't Lose Weight which is available on ⁠Amazon⁠ If you'd like to apply to be coached in a future podcast, please email me at hello@gabrielleohare.com Private coaching is also available. To find out more click ⁠here

    Coaching Session One with Sybil "I know what I should be eating, I just can't make it happen."
  5. 08/26/2023

    Coaching Session One With Bev - "I really struggle with sleepless nights but want to do more training."

    This is the first of a new series of live coaching sessions where I help women over 40 overcome the challenges they face in sticking to their diet and exercise routines. We're faced with tons of advice about what we should or shouldn't be doing, but the reality is that we struggle to put it into practice. This series will help women identify the blockers that are holding them back and unlock the small changes that will help them get the results that are eluding them. Bev was one of the first volunteers to sign up for this. After losing 5 stone and falling in love with exercise, a couple of special holidays, Covid and then menopause, all conspired to throw her off track. We talk about the bread-and-butter habit she turns to to compensate for sleepless nights and the struggle to start strength training sessions that she knows will help her running. But the issue I really want to focus on is how can she build up her energy levels. Like most women, Bev is constantly trying to do more, but first, she needs to boost her energy so she has the resolve to eat healthier meals and switch up her exercise routine without leaving her exhausted. By the end of the session, Bev and I have a clear action plan in place that she will follow for the next 5 weeks. Then, we'll be getting back together to record a follow-up to hear how she's got on and what changes she's noticed. More support from Gabrielle You can find similar advice in my book Why Women Over 40 Can't Lose Weight which is available on ⁠Amazon⁠ If you'd like to apply to be coached in a future podcast, please email me at hello@gabrielleohare.com Private coaching is also available. To find out more click ⁠here⁠

    Coaching Session One With Bev - "I really struggle with sleepless nights but want to do more training."
  6. 06/06/2023

    Is breaking up with alcohol a gateway into a richer life?

    When I gave up alcohol, I worried I wouldn't enjoy going out anymore, or that it might even change my relationship with my partner. Thinking about this was too overwhelming, so I just focused on one day at a time. But these are valid worries which could discourage women who are falling out of love with alcohol from trying. But when I met up with Life Coach, Sam Parkinson recently, she had an entirely different perspective to share, how giving up drinking is a gateway into a more adventurous and fulfilling life. Middle age is a time when we crave change, but our fears can hold us back. Both Sam and I have found that since we've stopped drinking our lives have taken a different turn, making us feel stronger, more confident and even sexier. In this episode, Sam shares her experiences and explains how important it is to replace the highs you thought you were getting from alcohol, with real highs that have the power to change how you feel about yourself. More about Sam & how to work with her Sam Parkinson is a 57-year-old wellness and life coach, living in Stockport, Greater Manchester. Trained in Positive Psychology coaching, she works with people, on a one-to-one basis, who want to make positive changes in their lives to move them towards a goal or help them become unstuck, including lifestyle changes around alcohol, dealing with menopause symptoms, coping after a divorce or wanting a career change. She also offers alcohol awareness workshops to organisations. Her next course is in July https://www.samparkinsonwellness.com/time-for-you-courseWebsite: https://www.samparkinsonwellness.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samparkinsonwellness Tips for mindful drinking and reducing: https://www.samparkinsonwellness.com/tipsformindfuldrinkingandreducing

    Is breaking up with alcohol a gateway into a richer life?