013- Smash the Crash Re-Introduced! Perimenopause Support with Melissa Hinman

Join Melissa Hinman, a nurse, health coach, and perimenopausal mom, as she shares her story of overcoming overwhelm and creating a healthier, happier life.

Key Takeaways:

1. Micro-Habits Make a Big Difference: Small, sustainable changes can lead to significant improvements in your energy, mood, and overall well-being.
2. Embrace Your Natural Beauty: Let your true colors shine through, whether it's your hair color or your personality.
3. Perimenopause is a Journey, Not a Crash: Learn practical tips for managing stress, navigating career changes, and prioritizing self-care during this stage of life.
   
   

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Disclaimer:  I am not a medical doctor. The information and recommendations provided during our coaching sessions are intended to support your overall health and wellness and are not a substitute for professional medical diagnosis or treatment. Always consult with your physician before making any changes to your medication, treatment plan, or if you have any concerns about your health. 

Transcript

Speaker 1 2:28

I am loving the fact that my episodes are now in the double digits. It feels like just yesterday that I released my first episode and here we go, continuing the momentum. This episode. We are hitting rewind. In this episode I really wanted you to get to know me a little bit better, so let's get to know each other, shall we? I'm your host, melissa Hinman. I'm currently three months shy of 40.

Speaker 1 2:57

I've been a nurse since 2006, obtained my health coach certification and I'm currently working on obtaining a certification as a menopause coaching specialist. Like many of you, I'm a perimenopausal mom and I'm in the midst of perimenopause and multiple challenges that surround my midlife, including aging parents, growing children one in elementary, one in middle school and a demanding job that sometimes feels like an uphill battle. I know you know the feeling of juggling that full-time job, a bustling household with energetic kids and all the schedules and appointments that come along with it. For a while there I felt like I was going through the motions of life on autopilot. I wasn't making healthy choices and, quite frankly, I wasn't really enjoying the precious moments with my family. Sound familiar as a nurse, I knew this path would not lead to a healthy future and I'd seen the consequences firsthand with many of my patients. Let me rewind. Growing up, maintaining a healthy weight wasn't really a huge struggle for me. I reluctantly add that I graduated high school at a mere 89 pounds. No lie, I'm a tall, four foot 11. And at that time of my life I literally ate anything and everything that I wanted without thinking twice about it. But as I've aged, things have definitely shifted, especially after having kids, and maybe you can relate between the demands of motherhood working a full-time job, switching to a job that maybe became more sedentary, healthy habits kind of fell by the wayside. It became the thing that I constantly told myself. I'll start that tomorrow. Switching gears for a second.

Speaker 1 4:46

Here's a fun fact about perimenopause the surprise of seeing those silver strands appear early. I know some women embrace it, but for others it could be a bit of a shock. Have any of you out there started noticing some gray hairs popping up sooner than you anticipated? Surprisingly, my gray hair started much earlier than perimenopause. In fact, I found my first gray hairs at the ripe age of 18, when I finally decided it was time to let my natural hair grow, hair color shine, as I had been dyeing my hair for at least four years. At that time, I was like H-E double hockey sticks. No, I'm still going back to dyeing, so fast forward to about five years ago.

Speaker 1 5:33

I have completed several months of counseling for anxiety and even several sessions of EMDR. No, it's not voodoo, it actually works. I'll just leave that there. Let go of the weight of the hair. Dyeing Every three weeks was a bit too much, and so I took the journey to grow it all out. So, yes, every hair on my head is my own natural color of white, gray, silver and a tinge of brown left on the underneath. But, baby, it is all mine and I am dang proud of it. So for those of you thinking of stopping the hair dyeing, do it. I 100% support it. For those of you who already have, good for you. For those of you who are not quite ready, your time will come, but let your true light shine through.

Speaker 1 6:30

Four years ago, I took a step back and I re-advanced my lifestyle, basically, basically which consisted of living on autopilot, snacking out of stress and nerves and later at night falling asleep on the couch. I was lucky if I got more than 3,000 steps in a day. I decided to make a change and I started small, focusing on intentional movement and healthy eating habits. Side note, I did try keto in the past and, while it helped with some weight loss, it was not sustainable by any means. So these micro changes that I started made a big difference. I created more ways for movement, walking outside, I joined an online fitness platform, making more conscious food decisions, and I started with substituting protein snacks for the heavy carb snacks that I would have grabbed before and when I say that, I'm telling you M&M's, my chocolate drug of choice. But I started to have more energy and I started to feel better about myself and, most importantly, I was starting to be present for my family again and rather than saying no, not today, I'm tired, or maybe tomorrow, because what ended up happening is tomorrow became today. So that's why I'm so passionate about supporting other perimenopausal moms. So that's why I'm so passionate about supporting other perimenopausal moms.

Speaker 1 8:01

This stage can and is a rollercoaster ride. Yes, I hear you saying, melissa, I barely have time to breathe, let alone completely overhaul my life. Don't you worry, mama, I get it. That's why we're focusing on micro habits small, sustainable changes that make a big impact, with consistency, over time. We will continue to talk about practical tips and healthy eating, exercise routines and managing stress and a multitude of other challenges that arise during midlife, because I know it's not all rainbows and cupcakes. So if we can start to chip away at the other areas of stressors and challenges in your life, at the same time we can also start to open up space for self care, self prioritization and self preservation. Information is just information when it's not coupled with real life scenarios and relatable stories.

Speaker 1 8:54

This podcast is more than just information. It's a platform to provide that glitter of relatability and hope. It's about creating a safe space for paramenopausal moms and women to be seen, heard and supported. We'll talk about the challenges of this stage, from navigating career pivots to managing the emotions that come with it growing children, aging parents and losing loved ones. Because, let's face it, this season of life can feel like a train wreck and at times we women feel like we are the train wreck, but together we can learn to be more intentional with our time and our energy. I'm reintroducing the concept of Smash the Crash, because we're here to smash all the things that make this season feel overwhelming. So, mamas, are you ready to take control and start feeling your best again? Join me as we navigate perimenopause together. This is a supportive community where you can learn, share and grow. Let's smash the perimenopause rollercoaster and turn it into a joyride. Don't forget to subscribe for more tips and inspiration. Join our online email newsletter and join our online community to connect with other amazing perimenopausal moms just like you.