Just Gilly

  My periods have stopped. I've gone from being as regular as clockwork to just stopping. I wasn't quite expecting it to be like this, albeit it's only been 2 months. Hubby says I'm pregnant, and it's not his. I say if I'm pregnant it's not mine either!  I still don't have the classic symptoms of hot flushes, night sweats etc but I do have brain fog and mental health issues. On Friday morning I woke up and felt like my world had fallen in. I couldn't stop crying and felt so utterly miserable I had to take the day off work. I managed to speak to my GP a couple of hours later and I asked her if I could have a blood test to see if the menopause was starting. She said no blood test was needed. I'm almost 53, my periods have stopped, and I'm feeling like I'm having a huge PMT session - I am menopausal! We then discussed HRT. Wowzah, was not expecting this. Not much time to think but yes, I thought I must try. If it works it might be my saviour...

  Thank you to everyone who messaged regarding my weight gain and all your advice and suggestions. I'm still a member of Noom and it's worked for me last year so that's my plan. Although.... My brother in law enticed me into a competition. The first one to lose a stone gets a slap up meal paid for by the other. I thought it might just kick start my plan so I accepted. Of course i have no hope of winning, and I'll tell you why.  - women's bodies are designed to hold on to their fat for pregnancy and breast feeding so a man, generally, loses weight easier and quicker than a woman. - my B-i-l is competitive. Me, not so much. - my B-i-l likes to exercise. Like, he really likes it and doesn't just do it because he has to. Me, not so much. - my B-i-l can resist chocolate, cakes, biscuits, chips, burgers etc. Me, not so much. However I was sensible enough to put in a second clause. The winner has to keep the weight loss off until we all meet up (hopefully in May) and ...

  I got socks for Christmas. You might think that socks for Christmas is pretty normal. But I got 4 pairs from 4 different givers and none are the kind of socks that you wear with shoes or boots. These are all cosy/thick/woolly, wear in your leisure kind of socks. I just thought that was a funny coincidence. But my feet are loving them - they've never been so warm. Talking of Christmas... On Christmas Day my son said he would drive as we were going to my in laws. I opened the passenger door but was planning on sitting in the back. I stood for ages fumbling for the release handle to lift the seat to climb in the back. My son and hubby just watched and laughed! I had completely forgotten that my new car had 5 doors! Oops lol. I don't think it'll surprise anyone if I tell you I've put on rather a few pounds during December. I'm not sure what to do now. Do I plod on and try fighting this losing battle with my weight? Or do I give up with the farce and accept myself the ...

  Doesn't the new year feel very cathartic? I think it's partly because the decorations come down and everywhere looks cleansed and fresh. A new year has such potential, new beginnings, feeling like anything is possible, even resolutions - that's why we make them. A new start and we are strong! Bring it on 2022, I'm ready for anything you throw at me. Of course this feeling doesn't last! By the middle of January the cold weather and dark nights have beaten us down. We get used to writing 2022 instead of 2021 and the novelty has worn off. Any resolutions have been long forgotten and normal life has resumed. Nothing has changed and that dynamic excitement has fallen flat on its face. But that's ok. Remember we have had the shortest day so the nights are getting shorter. We may still have lots of cold and miserable weather ahead but spring is just around the corner. By March (only a few weeks away) things will be better. Besides if there are issues in your life tha...