Women's Health, Mindset, and Aging

Alicia Taylor
Aug 20
4 min read

Women’s Health

The conversation around menopause is ramping up, and that’s a good thing! There is no shortage of opinions, advice, and “miracle” products. Who do you trust? How do you cut through all the noise to get to the truth?

Is the information coming from a qualified professional? Are they referencing respected sources like The Menopause Society, Mayo Clinic, or peer-reviewed journals? If it’s just someone with a large following but no formal training, be cautious.

Do your own research. If someone is citing a study, look it up. You can usually find a summary that breaks it down so you're not wading through pages and pages of data. Check out websites like www.sciencedaily.com, www.medicalnewstoday.com, www.nih.gov, and specifically for menopause: www.menopause.org

As far as supplements and programs, be wary of anyone who:

Claims their method or product is the only way to get results
Uses fear to sell ("You need this or else...")
Promotes expensive supplements without solid evidence
Promises quick fixes or overnight results

Good health advice often includes it depends. Menopause is extremely personal; what works for one woman might not for another. Trusted sources will acknowledge that and help you find what works for you, not push one-size-fits-all solutions (because there are none).

If someone makes all their income from a product they’re recommending, that’s a big clue. It’s not wrong to sell something, but they need to be honest about it and not disguise sales as education.

If something feels off or too good to be true, it might be good to do some more research. You don’t have to jump on every trend or buy every supplement. The basics, nutritious food, intentional movement, sleep, and managing stress, are always your first line of defense.

Last, but not least, have a conversation with your doctor. Tell them your symptoms and ask questions. If you don’t feel you’re questions are being fully answered, be up front and tell them. Don’t hesitate to contact another doctor if necessary.

Mindset

You can eat all the right foods and follow the best exercise plan, but if your mindset isn’t in the right place, you won’t see lasting change. If past failures have made you believe that you can’t sustain a healthy lifestyle, no diet or program is going to change that belief. If you are constantly telling yourself you’re too old, too far gone, or have no discipline, no amount of kale or cardio is going to change that internal script.

The solution is not a better exercise program or eating plan; it’s changing your mindset.

We’ve talked about this before, but more and more I see the truth behind the phrase “Mindset Matters.” We either have a fixed mindset that tells us we can’t change, or we have a growth mindset that tells us we can change, improve, and grow.

In the book, Mindset, Carol Dweck wrote, “As you begin to understand the fixed and growth mindsets, you will see exactly how one thing leads to another – how a belief that your qualities are carved in stone leads to a host of thoughts and actions, and how a belief that your qualities can be cultivated leads to a host of different thoughts and actions, taking you down an entirely different road.”

Growing up, I carried the belief that I was not athletic because the sports I tried didn’t come easily to me. Rather than let myself be a beginner and learn new skills, I refused to try. It wasn’t until I was in my 40s that I realized how I was limiting myself. I began to try new things; sometimes looking like a fool, but always learning. It’s a much more fun way to live!

My own example shows that you can change your mindset, no matter your age. At the senior center, I talk to many people who have a growth mindset. They are trying new activities, meeting new people, and living life to the fullest. My favorite quote from one of my clients who is in their 80s is, “I just want to see what my body can do.” This is a growth mindset!

Some ways to build a growth mindset:

Add “Yet” to your vocabulary. “I can’t do this…YET.”
Reframe failure as feedback. “What did I learn from this experience?”
Focus on the process, not the outcome.
Surround yourself with growth-minded people! It matters who’s in your circle. Be choosy.

Aging

I’ve been thinking a lot about how aging is perceived. It is shocking to many people that I have clients in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and even 90s who are performing pull-ups, push-ups, and working with barbells and heavy weights. I wish that were the norm, rather than the unusual. Jokes about not being able to get up from the floor enrage me. When I hear “that’s just part of getting old,” I want to scream. Are there changes that come with aging? Of course. But many of the problems that we attribute to aging are within our control to mitigate, if not completely remove. But the thoughts and attitudes around the aging process…how do we change them?

What do you think of when you hear 90 years old: a strong woman in the gym lifting weights or a frail little man withering away in the nursing home? If we think we will become frail and incapacitated just because of age, does that become a self-fulfilling prophecy? I believe so. How do we redefine how we think of aging? I’m not sure I have the answers, but that is one of the things I would like to address more in my work.

That’s all I have today. I would love to hear your thoughts on any or all of these subjects!

Be well, my friends!

Alicia