September 15, 2009
How To Control Hot Flashes During Perimenopause
Hello everyone
I am going to share with you a remedy for hot flashes that really works!! If you are going through Perimenopause, Menopause or are Post-Menopausal but still getting hot flashes, there is something you can do that will really help to control hot flashes. It is all natural and it is great for your physical and emotional health. It even helps you lose weight!
I have heard others mention this also and I can tell you that it really works. I have done it and it works everytime.
When I stop doing it, the hot flashes come back. When I start doing it again, the hot flashes go away, or are not as often.
DO I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION NOW?!
What I am speaking about is cardiovascular activity. That is right – doing cardio (gym talk). You may have been hoping for a pill or something else but this is what works and it benefits you in so many other ways also.
Cardiovascular activity also helps decrease high blood pressure, high blood sugar, helps you lose weight, decreases stress, makes your heart and lungs stronger, helps make you stronger and is good for your skin.
I have always been active but have had periods of time when I was injured or on a holiday and didn’t do my cardio. That is when I had more hot flashes. As soon as I got back to doing cardio again, the hot flashes would go away. I have read this in the research of others and it is proven to help.
My friends agree that this makes a difference for them as well. For me it also makes a difference in how much cardio and the intensity that I do it. Everyone is at a different fitness level so everyone will be different. I notice that if I do not do cardio at least 3 x a week then I have more hot flashes. If I just walk 3-4 times a week and not work really hard during the walks, I have more hot flashes.
If I do some power walks, do the stairs, do my cardio at the gym and really work hard, then I do NOT HAVE HOT FLASHES. And as I mentioned – there are just so many other benefits .
I realize you may not have time every week to do some intense or long cardio sessions but do what you can make time for some. Walk during your lunch, breaks and right after work (before you go home, don’t go home first). Do the stairs (which is really high intensity and it works!). If I do the stairs outside and there is a long set of stairs I pick 4 sections for example. The ones I do have 19-20 steps per section. I pick 4 sections and stay on those. I do not go up and down the almost 200 stairs. I find it works best for me to do just the 4 sections (about 80 stairs) for 20-30 minutes. I vary what I do. I go up and down 2 times every step, then every 2nd step, then sideways, then run up and down, etc.
If you already work out and do cardio and are having quite severe hot flashes then maybe you need to bump your cardio up a notch. Do it for longer, or short but really intense sessions, or do it more times per week then you are now. See what works for you.
Stress brings on hot flashes. Cardio exercise helps to eleviate stress. Try some deep relaxing breathing also which helps. Combining yoga and cardio sessions during your week would be perfect!! That is what I do (I am a yoga teacher) and it really, really works.
Let me know what works or doesn’t work for you. I’m sure there are many women going through perimenopause or menopause and would love to here ways of getting rid of their hot flashes.
