Ep 25 Cheers to 25! Listener Voices, Real Stories

Faded to Fabulous Episode 25: Cheers to 25! Listener Voices, Real Stories

Vickie and Kim celebrate the 25th episode of Faded to Fabulous with reflections on creating the podcast, gratitude for listeners, family, Studio Labs, and behind-the-scenes producer Keegan as she leaves for her first full-time job, and they welcome Megan to help with marketing and production. They invite feedback, tease a possible women’s retreat next year, and emphasize their mission to share accessible midlife care and education worldwide. Guest Shellie Rand shares how the podcast feels relatable, her active life, caring for family, and her menopause journey. Guest Tammy describes long-term stability in marriage and work, using GLP-1s alongside strength training, navigating perimenopause, and the importance of advocating.

00:00 25th Episode Kickoff
01:03 Gratitude for Listeners
03:11 Thanking Keegan
04:10 Meet Megan
04:47 Kim’s Thank Yous
07:25 Next 25 and Retreat Tease
08:15 Introducing Shellie Rand
10:19 Podcast Impact and Body Acceptance
12:04 Menopause Journey and HRT
15:41 Midlife Mindset and Boundaries
17:45 Advice to Younger Self
19:02 Closing Thanks and Yoga Talk
19:37 Yoga Wisdom Moment
19:50 Namaste and Third Eye
20:00 Meet Tammy Episode 25
21:25 Tammy Life and Stability
22:09 Food Struggles and GLP-1
24:09 Strength Training and Menopause
25:05 Hot Flash Wake Up Call
27:47 Starting Hormone Therapy
31:48 Talking Intimacy and Partners
35:17 Podcast Ahas and No Naked Carbs
37:27 Advice to Younger Self
39:09 Gratitude and Farewell

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

When we sat down to create Faded to Fabulous together with the excitement of kindergartners, I and and big pads of paper and pens, I I really don't know that I ever believed that we would be here. So it's been amazing. Thank you for making me do this podcast. Uh kicking and screaming, and now it's my favorite thing.

SPEAKER_03 0:22

Welcome to Faded to Fabulous, the podcast for women who know that midlife is not the end. It's the beginning of something bold. Let's get into it. Hi, ladies. Hi, ladies.

SPEAKER_01 0:38

Happy 25th episode to us. We thought we would do things a little bit differently today. So it's crazy to me when you said, What do you want to do for our 25th episode? I was like, oh my God, haven't we only done like five? Because it's been such a like whirlwind. Um, yeah, so 25 is pretty special. So we're gonna have a couple of special ladies on today. Could I say special a few more times? Yes. I gotta say it eight times. So I wanted to start off, Kim, just by saying a couple of thank yous, which I think are important to do. So, one, of course, we want to thank people who watch us, um, people who have shared us. I have a friend Karen who literally she will message me like the minute it drops. She, I I get a message from her 20 minutes later, and I'm like, I haven't even seen it yet. And she's like, it was so good. And she gives me pointers. Anyway, I appreciate everybody that listens. I appreciate and want to thank my family, um, my husband who diligently watches every episode and also takes advice from you after watching those episodes, even though usually it's things I've already told him in the past. My kids who are my cheerleaders and hype squad. Um, but in particular, I also want to thank, of course, you. You, Kim, are somebody who has become one of the most important people in my life. And oh hold on, give me a second. Thank you. This has been an amazing journey. I think um just even starting sharing office space with you. And you said your old office is ugly, you need to come share with me. Uh, and I'm so thankful every day. And whenever somebody walks into the wellness cottage and says, This is so cute and beautiful, I'm like, Yeah, this is the space that Kim created. And when we sat down to create Faded to Fabulous together, with the excitement of kindergartners, I and and big pads of paper and pens, I I really don't know that I ever believed that we would be here. So it's been amazing. Thank you for making me do this podcast. Uh kicking and screaming, and now it's my favorite thing. Um, but I just appreciate you and the beautiful person that you are. And I want you to know that I see you. And um, when you say you want to be a vision of what's possible, you are so much more than that. So I just want you to hear that and know that.

SPEAKER_04 3:11

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 3:11

Um, one other special shout out, thank you from me and from you is for Keegan. Um, Keegan was a college student when we met her. Um, she was doing her marketing at UNH and Capstone Senior Project, and we were lucky to be in a group with her. They were helping old women navigate social media. That's us. And afterwards, she reached out and said, Hey, I'm gonna be doing grad school any chance you need a little bit of help. Uh, and boy, I can't even imagine if we'd had not had Keegan. Um she was just absolutely our behind the scenes everything in producing this podcast and changing our websites and in helping us, you know, maintain and stay with our brand. So I just she's off to do her first big real job. And we want you to know, Keegan, that we are so proud of you and so thankful for you. Yeah, we also have a special. Heartbroken too, though. Yeah, we're a little heartbroken too. We also have a special, wonderful person who's here with us today who we're excited to introduce to come on. Come on over. Come on over Zachary. This is Megan. Hello. And um, Megan um down there, girl. Thank you is amazing. And through fate we met, and she's like, Oh, I do marketing. And I was like, Oh, guess what? So she is so interested in all things women midlife and was interested in getting to know how to do podcasts. So the the universe provided, and we're super happy that it always does, right?

SPEAKER_03 4:41

It always does. And so thank you, Megan, for saying yes. Um, and Kim, do you have any thank yous? Yeah, I I wanted to um thank Vicki um for saying yes. Like I right, even though you know, with the podcast you were grumbly about it, but you did say you did say yes. Um Kim the Bully did come out a little bit then, but I in my heart of hearts, I knew that we were gonna have a blast. And and we have had such a blast. So um, so thank you for you know coming to it and not just sort of flat saying no. Um and and back to Keegan, the other thing that you know I forgot to say is that working with Vicky and I, and Megan will get uh learn this, is we're a little bit like herding cats. Um we're really smart women, we care a lot about the work that we do, we're passionate about the work. But sometimes we don't always know what we're doing when it comes to like technology technology and stuff, right? So sometimes you kind of have to go walk me through, this will be fine. And Keegan did, God bless her, she really did. So um wishing the best for her and and that this job that she's taking the people that she's working for realize how good they've got it, which is great. Um very excited about our new journey with Megan that she's gonna be fantastic and she's gonna be good at hurting us cats too. Um like you, my thank you to all the people that have been really supportive of us, watching it, sharing us with their friends, um, learning things and sharing what they've learned with us, like all of those pieces. I couldn't be more grateful for the facility. Like this Studio Labs has been so much fun and so helpful. And again, they are filled with 20-year-old IT people who put up with us and are not exactly knowing what we're supposed to be doing, and that Kim can't use the app, so they actually just let me book it online. Yeah, all the all the silly little things. So thank you to all of that. Just profound gratitude for Vicky and I. Like grateful to myself, grateful to Vicky for seeing the call and the opportunity to educate women no matter where they are. When when we started Faded to Fabulous, part of the our impetus was all women deserve to have the kind of care that we provide to our clients and patients in our practices. And we did that. And then also the podcast is the same. No matter where you are in the world, you have access to information that you might not already have access to. So I'm profoundly grateful to us for putting content out into the world that women can benefit.

SPEAKER_01 7:25

So yeah, just and we are looking forward, just want you to know we are looking forward to the next 25 episodes. Um, we're always open to feedback. So please feel free, send us messages. We'd love to know if there's topics that you'd like to see us cover. And just a little teaser. We are tossing around, and I'm gonna say yes to it, doing a women's retreat for next year. Uh yeah. Um, so details about that will come, but we figured let's put together a bunch of really spectacular women, go someplace awesome and take care of ourselves and connect. So more details will come on that. My brain is on bye. Thank you for thank you for being with us on this journey, ladies. Um, and enjoy our friends who are joining us today. Hello, ladies, healing. Ladies, a dear friend, Shelly Rand. Uh, Shelly is an amazing woman who's in midlife in the journey along with us. And I feel like you are also one of our biggest, have been one of our biggest cheerleaders and supporters of Faded to Fabulous and our podcast. So we're really happy to have you here.

SPEAKER_03 8:35

Thank you for having me. Thank you, sweetie. Yes, so glad you said yes. Yes, thank you too. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:41

So, do you want to introduce yourself a little bit? Sure. Um, as Vicky said, I'm Shelly Rand and I live in Ware, and I am in the midlife or post-midlife, I guess. 60 years old. Um, I live with my favorite guy. He's not my I don't want to call boyfriend because that's kind of old in this life. And uh, we have a beautiful life in Goughstown, and my um advice is never give up because there is one out there for you. Oh, I love to do that so much. And uh we live active lifestyles, so we love to be outside, we love to hike, we love to walk, we love to bike, kayak, um, I love yoga, but then in the winter we, you know, I read, puzzle, sourdough, bake, cook. Yeah, I was just gonna say, I also like want to come live at your house.

SPEAKER_03 9:30

Doesn't she post good fast food? I'm like, You post the best food. I'm like, I'm coming over.

SPEAKER_00 9:35

And we've been known to take some pretty epic trips to Europe or national parks. This year we're traveling out to Washington State for 10 days in a camper van. Cool. Visiting two national parks. I also the mom of two grown boys and grandmom from two grandsons, three and one almost. And I have niece and nephews that I'm very involved, and I also have an aging father, so I'm not in the sandwich generation where I am empty nester, but we still do a lot for everybody.

SPEAKER_01 10:08

Yeah, and I still consider that the sandwich generation. Yeah, yeah, because there is no age at which we're not worrying about our kids, taking care of our kids, helping out with grandkids, things like that.

SPEAKER_00 10:17

Yeah, yeah, it's a blessing.

SPEAKER_03 10:19

So tell us something that was remarkable or changed for you as a result of listening to our podcast.

SPEAKER_00 10:29

I think I've shared this with Vicky many times, that I feel like when I listen to it, you guys are like in my head that week. I'm like, oh my gosh, in my head, whether it's, you know, um the menopause belly or relationships or sandwich generation or learning how to navigate this new phase of our lives. And I just feel like it's real and I can relate to it. Because sometimes you listen to podcasts and you're like, I live in New Hampshire. I can't go outside and ground my feet. So I feel real.

SPEAKER_03 11:06

Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 11:07

Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_03 11:08

Is there anything that you have changed or gone, huh? I think I'm gonna try that as a result of listening.

SPEAKER_00 11:17

Oh, many things. Okay.

SPEAKER_03 11:19

Can you give me one?

SPEAKER_00 11:20

Um I specifically remember one that you had said that you need to be comfortable in your new body and just accept it. And yes, I'm fluffier, but it's okay because it's also scars of life. Yes, and what we've gone through. I've birthed two children, I've gone through menopause, I've gone through Lyme disease, and I couldn't walk up the stairs in 2021, and now I can. So if I have to buy a bigger pair of pants or have a little bit of jiggle, I'm okay with that because my goal was to be able to walk up the stairs. I love that.

SPEAKER_03 12:03

I love that.

SPEAKER_00 12:04

Can you share a little bit about your menopause journey? Yeah. Oh, yes. So I I'm post menopause. So when the craze wasn't there when I started. Sure. I mean, I was in my mid-40s and I was having breakthrough bleeding, longer periods. I went to my gynecologist and they they were just like, it's normal. I went to my PCP, it's normal. What did they do? They put me on a low-dose birth control pill. Now, now that was 15 years ago. Now I know better. And I kept saying, Well, what about these symptoms? What about this? Oh, no big deal, no big deal. And one day I just stopped my periods. I'm like, cool, no big deal. I was fine. And then I had the trifecta of the menopause, COVID, and Lyme disease. And that put me through the ringer and set me off to all the symptoms that everybody has, pre-men perimenopause. I got them postmenopause. I didn't know what was going on. Um, the rage, the heart palpitations, the mood swings, the night sweats, the uh hot flashes, everything. Hair loss. Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness, hair loss. You don't expect that. And um I went on bioidentical, which are from a compounding pharmacy. That was before everybody was able to take the estrogen patch. And eventually I changed um gynecologist to a menopause certified provider. Um, and then I found you, Vicky, through Friends, as a menopause specialist that deals with hormones as well. So long story short, I'm on estrogen, progesterone, and then I take the estrogen cream and the testosterone gel, and I really feel like I'm I don't want to say symptom free, but I feel like I'm beyond the phase where I see a lot of my younger friends going through it. And I'm you you gotta do it, you gotta do it.

SPEAKER_03 14:16

Yeah, it's nice to be able to do it.

SPEAKER_00 14:17

But it's not being heard. Yeah. What I've learned though is it's not the doctor's fault, it's not the nurses' fault. Because they didn't know.

SPEAKER_01 14:27

Correct.

SPEAKER_00 14:27

And I find that educating yourself is very important.

SPEAKER_01 14:31

Yeah, it's hugely important. I say that probably, I don't know how many times a day do I how many patients do I see a day, that it's not because they'll be like angry and I'll say, it's not your GYN's fault, it's not your PCP's fault. They're great. Zero education about menopause for 20 plus years. There's a it's gonna take a long time before we've really kind of turned it around and um gotten everybody else.

SPEAKER_00 14:57

I was in that anger because I'm like, well, why are you dismissing me? Like, you know, but now I know. Yeah. And I feel like as an older woman now, I hate to say that, I can help the younger.

SPEAKER_03 15:09

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 15:09

You know, I have friends that are in their early 50s. I have a sister who's just turned 50, and I'm just you gotta get on it, gotta go, go find out more.

SPEAKER_01 15:18

Listen. And and you are you get to be a good example of that, Shlay? Because like, look at you. Come on, you're a good example of that. Like, you know, your salad and climbing mountains, going to Portugal, like you're amazing.

SPEAKER_03 15:31

Camper van, like, like the bathroom alone part of that gives me the willies.

SPEAKER_01 15:41

What if you what what are some things that you enjoy about this season of life? Like being in this age.

SPEAKER_00 15:49

I've learned how to slow down. I was a go-getter, I'm a type A firstborn child, always wanting to do for everybody. And now I've learned just to like be with me, and that's okay. And if I don't want to do something, I'm not going to do it. Not gonna do it rudely, but if I want it, I don't want to do it, I don't want to do it. And I've learned how to shut out the energy energy vampires. Yeah, that's a huge thing. Huge. And we've had some good walks and talks about that. Yeah, if you don't want to support me and be a part and be a positive part of my life, I mean we all have our days and we need to support our friends. Yeah. But there's certain people that you don't have to naturally can sort of gravitate away from.

SPEAKER_01 16:35

Yes, right.

SPEAKER_00 16:37

It's amazing that you just you don't care as much. Yeah. I care, but I don't care. Do you know? Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:44

There's a difference between apathetic and I'm just choosing. Yes. I'm choosing what I care about. And that's that's actually pretty freeing. I do like that about the season.

SPEAKER_00 16:55

And the slowing down has been really good for me. And I that I learned through my lime journey because I couldn't do the things that I wanted to do. And I was angry about that at first. And then I had to reframe my mindset because a lot of healing comes with positive mindset.

SPEAKER_04 17:11

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 17:11

And I had to, I was a huge hiker. I mean, we hiked, I hiked every weekend. I've done all the 4,000 footers, we've hiked the Grand Canyon, I mean, everything. And I couldn't do it anymore. And I was so angry at my body, but then I just had to be happy with what I could do. And I'm not settling, I've just changed changed my perspective and changed my priorities. And I will go hike again. And I do it, but I don't have to do it. It isn't what defines me.

SPEAKER_03 17:42

I love it.

SPEAKER_00 17:43

I love that so much.

SPEAKER_03 17:45

So we're gonna ask you one more question. Yeah, what would you tell your younger self?

SPEAKER_00 17:51

Um, I would educate myself, advocate for myself, which I always do and I always have, surround myself with like-minded people because the the five main people that you surround yourself with are the values that you um put out to the world. And what you put out comes back to you. That's what I feel. So I feel like you just need to like just keep showing up your true authentic self. And some people won't like that, but you need to be true to you. I love that.

SPEAKER_01 18:22

Yeah, Shelly, thank you. Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 18:24

Anything l that you'd like to say last? No, I don't think so. I just love you guys.

SPEAKER_00 18:30

I'm always telling people to come see you and and how important it is to know your providers and um have a big circle of them because I don't just have one provider. I have many providers that help me with a lot of different things. You can't always get what you want from certain people. Yeah, and I I know what I want. I'm just gonna push to get it.

SPEAKER_03 18:55

Which is good, which is good. Okay. Thanks. Well, thank you so much for helping.

SPEAKER_00 19:01

Congratulations.

SPEAKER_03 19:02

Thank you. Thank you for celebrating our 25th with us. This is kind of a neat mark for us. Can't believe we got here. I know. Um, so thank you for being part of it.

SPEAKER_00 19:11

And it's great to always see you at yoga. I know. You'll have to get you too.

SPEAKER_03 19:15

Yeah, our Sunday morning yoga class is really, really slow, flow. It's so good. I'll get that. The instructor is like they've always been who, you know, because we have a new one now, but she's like sweet and calm and quiet, and her music is peaceful and oh, it's lovely. Sounds like a perfect Sunday morning.

SPEAKER_00 19:33

That has really helped a lot in the yoga, in the menopause journey. Yes. Because sometimes you just get on your mat and they say things that just are like, oh, did you know you were you're in my head again? Yeah, you know I needed to hear that. That's what I needed today. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 19:47

Yeah. You know. That's great. It is great.

SPEAKER_01 19:50

Oh, wait, now should we say namaste now? Yeah, sure. Namaste. No, by your heart.

SPEAKER_03 19:54

Namaste. Yes, your hands, yeah. As we've learned from our Nepali children. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Hey ladies, we are so thrilled to be bringing you our 25th episode. And we have a fantastic guest named Tammy joining us today. And we go in. We go in. Well, like, let me hear about that. I didn't know that's a that's a story I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 20:20

I met Vicky in 2014 through Nutrition Emotion in the Right Way. I didn't I guess um class two of the programs. Um and have since considered Vicky a trusted provider and friend.

SPEAKER_01 20:42

Yeah, your and your journey I think has been absolutely spectacular. And I also one of the reasons like we both immediately went to we need to have her here with us is because I feel like um well, I think you're a wonderful human. And also uh you you're a cheerleader just by nature of who you are. And so all three years you've always been super supportive back, and I appreciate you very much. So we're glad to have you here.

SPEAKER_02 21:09

I think I I joked with Kim the other day. I said, I'm gonna start asking for a frequent flyer discount. I think I'm on my I think I'm on my country cards. Yeah, punch card for sure. That's funny. I love it. Third for you. Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 21:22

We appreciate that so much. It matters a lot.

SPEAKER_01 21:25

Tell us a little bit about your journey in general. In general, in like you as a person and what's going on in your life.

SPEAKER_02 21:31

I'm 55, uh, a few months away from being 56. We share a birth month. Yeah, and uh wife of over 30 years, um, mom to a 23 year old who I am extremely proud of.

SPEAKER_01 21:47

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 21:48

Um, and stability and consistency are my security blankets. Um, obviously, I've been married for a long time. I've worked for Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast for over three years. 30 years. Actually, this week is that long? This weekend I hit um 33 years. So that is that's what makes me fail grounded. And later in life, um d thankfully I was not an overweight person as a teenager because kids can just be real.

SPEAKER_04 22:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 22:18

And it was Kim actually that helped me uncover making me, well, why? Well, how come? Peel back the layers of the onion that I went. I've been burying that for over 30 years and I didn't know it. To the overeating and the eating when nobody's looking and using food um to sort of fill that void.

SPEAKER_03 22:39

And I'm really proud of you. Thank you. You've done really hard work.

SPEAKER_02 22:44

You're uh you've done a lot of onion peeling. I have done a lot of onion peeling. Um and a lot of it I've kept to myself, but slowly I've started to allow some of it to go out to my husband and my closest friends as to where some of it came from. Um and when I met Vicki in 2014, the program that I did at that time was phenomenal. It's what we knew it worked for me. Consistency has always been what I couldn't do. And I know this isn't necessarily the subject that I'm here to discuss, but um Vicki and I, over years I'd come back to her, go away for a little while, come back to her. And I said, All right, I went and talked to my primary, and I need my other half to give me yes or no on GLP ones. I know what to do, I know how to do it, I need something to help me stick to it. Um I was very secretive about it. I didn't want people to know because everybody was saying, oh, you're just taking the easy way out. Nope. It's a anything anything but the easy way out. And I didn't take it as a, oh, I'm gonna lose the weight and then be done with it. This was I need to shut me, my mouth, and my brain off, my mouth to my brain off, and do what I know how to do and build those habits. Uh we are now almost two years later and um 145 pounds later, working out strength training independently four days a week with an amazing trainer whom you've had on Ask Podcast. Cynthia before once a week. Um, if my pocketbook could afford it, I'd work out with him. Oh, yeah. Um and I honestly will say that I think that that has helped me be ready and more accepting of this menopause journey.

unknown 24:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 24:38

Yeah. Tell us a little bit about your menopause. What was how was yours?

SPEAKER_02 24:44

Honestly, I'm a little angry when I say that I'm 55 and I am in perimenopause. Oh, that's right. That's right.

SPEAKER_04 24:53

Sorry.

SPEAKER_01 24:56

Although on a bright now, we know that the later you go into menopause, like the healthier you, you know what I mean. Heart disease and stuff, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 25:04

Yes. Um a few years ago, I was standing in home sense with my BFF, and I'm like, gosh, it's really hot in here. She's like, oh. And I'm like, it's really hot in here. I'm like, what can I put down? What can I take off? And she's like, You're having a hot flash. I'm like, no, I'm not. And like I'm still having everything and this and that. And you're having a hot flash. When I walked out of the store, there wasn't snow on the ground, but it wasn't spring, um, and took my shoes and socks off so that I could feel the cold pavement to cool my body down. It flashed a hot got in the car, opened the windows and cranked the AC. I said, I'm sorry, but you have to do it. I went, You got thrown in hard. Yeah. Um, didn't have them frequently. Would wake up sometimes in the middle of the night, like drenched in sweat and been like, oh, you know, brush it off, brush it in.

SPEAKER_04 25:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 25:55

And never really said, Oh, this is menopause. Uh started listening to your podcast. Thank you. And went, oh, wait a minute, this isn't just me. Not meaning that I'm alone, but meaning like I would think, like, oh, something that I was experiencing, oh, that must be like a fault of me, or that must be something that only I'm experiencing, it's not anything else related. And was always quick to blame because I was overweight. And then suddenly I wasn't as overweight as I was. And I'm like, okay, where is this coming from? Listening to the podcast was and to your point of cheerleading, I was telling my BFF, you have to go see Vicky, you have to listen to this podcast. This is going to be so amazing. Fast forward, it was her amazing husband that started doing research because she was not sleeping at all and was having many other symptoms. Said, Hey, I found three providers that I think would be best fit. One is really a good fit for you. She has an amazing podcast with a friend. She's not in network, but that doesn't matter. And I said, That's Vicky. We were walking, and I said, Text him right now. I will guarantee you she's talking on our show. And we're like, she's talking about Vicky. She has to be. So I was advocating other women go see Vicky and Kim, listen to the podcast, yet telling myself, oh, you're not that. This isn't it. Um it's funny, right? So if we fast forward, um, still meeting with Vicki regularly for the weight loss and now adding in menopause, started meeting with Kim um for kind of both the menopause nutrition and my overall nutrition, and how do I go forward? Yeah. Um Vicki said, let's talk about some questions. And I went, Yeah, yeah. Oh no, yes. Oh. She said, Yeah, here's what we need to do. Started really slow so that I was comfortable. And honestly, Vicky knows I'm one like I I don't want to take anything that I don't have to. Um, I've fought for years of not having to take an anxiety medication. And I will tell you, I would probably give you a limb before I gave that up. I have tried twice to go off of it, and my body just needs it.

SPEAKER_03 28:19

And uh I'm with you, sister.

SPEAKER_02 28:22

Same with me. And I finally got to a point of that's okay. I'm not a failure. And I looked at this and I said, I'm not gonna ask anybody, I'm not gonna look anything up. If Vicky is telling me that these are trusted and this is what they need, that's how much trust I have in you. Um, and don't look at me because you're gonna make me cry. Um started with progesterone. Vicki said, Don't make the mistake and take it in the morning. You'll fall on your butt. And I'm like, okay. I made sure I'm like, I took it at night. That first night I took it, within 20 minutes, my head was bobbing, and I wasn't it great.

SPEAKER_03 28:58

It's the best. It's the best. It's the best.

SPEAKER_02 29:01

This is like a legal sleep aid that I'm not gonna like Amazon in the middle of the night and not know, go streaking in the clock. Yeah. Um, and then um, next to add in was the estradiol cream. Self-admitting, I'm not a hundred percent consistent with that, but have found uh when I am consistent with it, like, oh, that's so much. Yeah. And I I don't want to discredit others because listening to you both, I've learned they haven't been educated um as well as they should be. A medical provider and a gynecological provider, I asked questions about let's okay, coworkers and friends and family might listen to this. So let's just talk about down there. Yeah. Um, but not talk about it. Yeah. And said, you know, this and that, oh yeah, that's probably that's probably it. And I'm like, but that's not an answer. Don't just tell me that that's probably your you're starting into menopause. What can I do about it? Yeah. And there wasn't any more conversation. And I was like, thanks, have a great day.

SPEAKER_01 30:07

Um and yeah, when you see what I see is that when that conversation gets knit, that's the woman that I'm seeing five years later who is not being intimate anymore, and it's causing a huge problem in marriage. So yes.

SPEAKER_03 30:22

That's sad, isn't it? It is.

SPEAKER_02 30:24

Um and I will say, okay, then we added the estrogen patch, and it took a few weeks, and then all of a sudden I was like, Oh, I feel a little bit better. Things are shifting a little bit. And I don't know why this one felt like it would be weird to admit, but now I'm like, I am not ashamed to admit any of this. I am on the full journey. I swap legs every morning and put on my testosterone. Yep. And I think my biggest challenge in any of this, or any of this that's been the hardest part for me, is is a laughable that I'll be fully dressed and ready to walk out the door and I'm like, oh shoot. I forgot. I've got my testosterone enough. And I'll go back in and like reach up the pant leg or now I gotta untuck and undo everything because I don't want to go the whole day and not have it. Um, and a few weeks ago I had had a really long, not pleasant day at work. I was driving home, and I'm like, I feel like I have energy, I feel good, I'm gonna do this when I get home, I'm gonna play tennis ball with the dog when I get home. And I went, this is different. When I've heard Vicky and Kim say, all of a sudden you will feel like yourself again. I'm like, oh, I have such goosebumps. Oh, it's me. And having that. Um and the other hard part is being uncomfortably comfortable a bit. You know, you it's quote unquote embarrassing, or you think like, okay, you just fake it until you make it. Well, sometimes you can't fake it or make it. Um, and saying, you know, it's not me, it's not you, it's my hormones and my body. And I'm working with a team to make this better. And we'll leave the rest of the conversation out. But you know, I've been able to say I've noticed a difference in response. Have you? And yes. That's um, so I think I don't know if I could give a message to women is yeah, it's gonna feel uncomfortable, it might feel awkward, but talk to your partner. I mean, I did a shared post where I thanked each of you and my trainer and my yoga person um for being a part of my dream team and my journey.

SPEAKER_03 32:41

Did I miss was that recent? Um, I missed it.

SPEAKER_02 32:45

Um just thanking and how much each of you have been a part in this two-year journey. Um, but my biggest supporter that deserves all the credit for support, even silently, is my husband.

SPEAKER_03 32:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 32:58

Um sorry. It's okay. He has loved me big, small, may I swear, bitchy. Yes. It's not swearing. That's just good good language. Tells me he's nicely gotten to the point, which is getting better. Ladies, if you have this, it's gonna get better. These, oh my goodness, I'm going to stab you in the eyeball with a dull pencil if you chew any louder. It's like, I'll say, Oh my gosh, I'm sorry, I'm crunching. And he's like, it doesn't bother me. I'm sorry. And now, as I we were eating dinner the other night side by side, and I went, uh, I don't want I'm not irrationally irritated, are you? That's lovely. Um, and you know, marriage is a give and take, and he has certainly um put up with a lot of my moods and my insecurities. Um and I'm nervously dosing down, coming off of the medication, and have had a lot of what I call my brain looping. Um, but conversations I've had with the two of you and some of the others on my team of I've done all the things, I've put the things in place. And you know what? If I find that it's too challenging when I'm not using it, it's there for me to go back to it by the way.

SPEAKER_03 34:15

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 34:16

Um I think it can be part of a menopause. A hundred percent.

SPEAKER_01 34:22

It's a big part of the toolbox that we're finding more and more women are um utilizing. Um when I think about your journey, what it always fascinates me, and and yes, look at you. Like you look spectacular, you're feeling better, but I want you to you give credit to everybody. I really want you to take a minute and give credit where it's due to yourself. You showed up for you. You you took on the gym when it was uncomfortable. You showed up to the gym, right? When you didn't have a lot of time, you had tough conversations with your husband, you put trust in doing these things and look where you are. And I've just seen so much growth. But especially with you seeing, I think for the first time what everybody's always seen, and it's always been proud of you. Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 35:18

So one question that we asked our other guests too, which I think is good, but is there something that you remember about our podcast that sort of lit you up or changed something that you did, or gave you an aha moment? Or is there any kind of moment you can remember?

SPEAKER_02 35:35

Yeah, there hasn't been, I think, a singular moment. Each time I'm listening to them, there's a oh god, I need to write that down.

SPEAKER_03 35:45

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 35:45

Um a lot of times I'm walking, so I'll pause it and I'll say, Siri, create a note so that I don't forget. Um, and I honestly will listen to them a lot when, like if I'm traveling for work, I'm in a hotel gym. I don't have control of a TV, so I'll listen to you um and my ears while I'm working out. And so I start going back and re-listening to them. Um, and as I said, that I think the biggest takeaway, the AHA, was that it wasn't just me experiencing whatever I was experiencing. Um knowing that some of the things I was doing were the right things, focusing on the protein, uh, working on ways to get fiber into the diet, why sleep is really important. Um, that one I was like, oh, I'm really doing, I would be like, oh, I don't need that much sleep. Realizing now that like I was maybe between five and six hours of sleep on a good night, very interrupted, and now I'm like seven, seven and a half hours a night, and I'm like, I have energy, I feel good. Um this is my funny one, and I don't remember if this was a recent podcast or not, but when I reach for the dried apricots or I reach for my blackberries, you can't have naked carbs. That is your tactic.

SPEAKER_03 37:05

No naked carbs.

SPEAKER_02 37:07

So I'll say, okay, you know what? Cheese isn't bad. Cheese is good. And I found out that Swiss cheese and blackberries is an amazing combination.

SPEAKER_03 37:16

And do you know the Swiss cheese has so much calcium in it? Does it really? It does like a ridiculous amount. Yeah. Did not know that. Yeah. Did not know that. Bone building, too.

SPEAKER_01 37:25

So last question. If you could go back in time and talk to your younger self or to women before they hit the season of life, what advice would you give?

SPEAKER_02 37:35

Before you think I'm saying it the wrong way, say yes more to yourself, which means saying no to some others. Uh I always and I still do a fair amount, I won't lie, that's what serves me. That's my love language, put others first. Uh but I'm I have learned I probably would have served others better and more wholly if I had said yes to myself a little bit more. If I said yes, that it's important to find out why I'm doing some of the things that I'm doing or why I'm feeling some of the ways that I'm feeling. I would have had the answers sooner from amazing women like you and felt better. I don't regret it because I'm a firm believer of everything happens for a reason. I used to say my biggest advice to my younger self was don't tell that person in your life that you'll give up college for them. I'm still finishing my degree now. I can be an inspiration to others that you can get your degree at any point in life with a family and with everything else. So while I should have said yes to me at that time, everything happens for a reason. I wouldn't have met my amazing husband when I did and be sitting here with you two ladies because I believe there's a path for all of us. But I think that's the biggest for anyone younger or anyone my age, say yes to yourself and reach out and build a team that can help you.

SPEAKER_03 39:09

Thank you so much. And Tammy, thank you for your support. Thank you for listening to our podcast and sharing it with people and sharing Vicky with people and me. We really appreciate it. It's it's you and other women are why we do what we do. And it makes it all worthwhile to know that people like it and appreciate it.

SPEAKER_02 39:29

Very much so.

SPEAKER_03 39:30

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 39:31

Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 39:32

You're so welcome. Thank you. Thank you. Bye, ladies. Bye, ladies. Thank you for celebrating with us. Thanks for spending time with Vicky and I today on Faded to Fabulous, where midlife is just the beginning of your boldest chapter yet. If you got something out of today's episode, we'd love it if you'd share it with a friend and leave a review. Hit subscribe so you never miss an episode. And if you're looking for more support, inspiration, or sisterhood, come join us at faded to fabulous. Because you were never meant to do midlife alone. Until next time, stay fabulous.