I Had a Healthy Routine but Menopause decided to change the Rules
Wait... When Did Everything Change?
My Workout Routine and I Had a Little Falling-Out. I thought we were doing pretty well together. I worked out, it worked... or at least that's what I thought. Then menopause came along and apparently decided our relationship needed some boundaries!
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I had a big wake-up call in perimenopause. Unfortunately, it didn't ring loud enough.
I always thought working out hard and working out long was the answer. If I wanted to lose weight, I just needed to burn more calories, sweat more and push myself a little harder.
Simple, right?
Yeah... about that.
Then menopause showed up, unpacked her bags and apparently decided my belly needed its own zip code.
Hello Menopause Belly
- Eat a little better.
- Work out a little harder.
- Add more cardio.
Try to undo whatever was happening. And the harder I tried to force my body back into the version I was used to, the more frustrated I became. Because here's the thing nobody really tells you: your body isn't necessarily doing something wrong. It's changing. And that's a very different conversation. Of course it's frustrating. Of course I miss being able to put on a pair of jeans without having to negotiate with them first.
There are days when I look in the mirror and think, "Excuse me... who approved these changes? I don't remember signing off on this."
But I also realized I can't spend the next decade fighting with my own body. That's exhausting. And honestly, I've already got enough things to fight with. My tangled yarn wars don't need competition. So I'm trying something different. I'm learning to understand what's happening instead of immediately trying to fix it. I'm learning to give myself a little grace when my body doesn't respond the way it used to. I'm learning that this stage of life doesn't have to be a punishment for getting older. Maybe it's an awakening. A chance to pay attention in a different way.
- To move differently.
- To eat differently.
- To rest when I need to.
- To get stronger instead of simply getting smaller.
And maybe most importantly, to stop treating every change in my body like a personal failure.
- Eat a little better.
- Work out a little harder.
- Add more cardio.
Try to undo whatever was happening. And the harder I tried to force my body back into the version I was used to, the more frustrated I became. Because here's the thing nobody really tells you: your body isn't necessarily doing something wrong. It's changing. And that's a very different conversation. Of course it's frustrating. Of course I miss being able to put on a pair of jeans without having to negotiate with them first.
There are days when I look in the mirror and think, "Excuse me... who approved these changes? I don't remember signing off on this."
But I also realized I can't spend the next decade fighting with my own body. That's exhausting. And honestly, I've already got enough things to fight with. My tangled yarn wars don't need competition. So I'm trying something different. I'm learning to understand what's happening instead of immediately trying to fix it. I'm learning to give myself a little grace when my body doesn't respond the way it used to. I'm learning that this stage of life doesn't have to be a punishment for getting older. Maybe it's an awakening. A chance to pay attention in a different way.
- To move differently.
- To eat differently.
- To rest when I need to.
- To get stronger instead of simply getting smaller.
And maybe most importantly, to stop treating every change in my body like a personal failure.
My body wasn't playing by the old rules anymore. So instead of continuing to argue with the rulebook, I'm learning the new one. I'm still figuring it out. But I think there's something pretty freeing about realizing that we don't have to go backward to feel good again. We can find what works for the bodies we have now.
And we can do it with a little forgiveness, a little humor, and maybe a pair of pants with a forgiving waistband.
Because if menopause has taught me anything, it's this:
♥
Sometimes the goal isn't to get your old body back.
It's to learn how to feel at home in the one you're in.
♥
My body wasn't playing by the old rules anymore. So instead of continuing to argue with the rulebook, I'm learning the new one. I'm still figuring it out. But I think there's something pretty freeing about realizing that we don't have to go backward to feel good again. We can find what works for the bodies we have now.
And we can do it with a little forgiveness, a little humor, and maybe a pair of pants with a forgiving waistband.
Because if menopause has taught me anything, it's this:
♥ Sometimes the goal isn't to get your old body back. It's to learn how to feel at home in the one you're in. ♥
Then I Found a Different Way to Move
This is where rebounding came into the picture.
And before you picture me bouncing around like I'm auditioning for the circus, let me explain.
There is a big difference between rebounding and what I call the “angry bounce.”
The angry bounce is when you are determined to burn calories, get your heart rate up, sweat through your shirt and basically show your menopause belly who is boss.
I have done this.
That was my morning happy routine before menopause moved in!
The Health Bounce: Less Fury, More “Okay, I Can Do This.”
Instead of trying to launch yourself three feet into the air, you're keeping your feet on the mat and gently pressing into the springs. It's rhythmic. It's controlled. And honestly, it feels a lot more like movement your body can actually enjoy.
And this is where something clicked for me.
I didn't need another workout that left me feeling like I'd been in a fight with my own body.
I needed movement that made me want to come back tomorrow.
One of the things I've really come to appreciate about the health bounce is how gentle it can be. When I'm having one of those lovely menopause moments where suddenly I'm hot for absolutely no reason whatsoever, the last thing I want is to launch into some aggressive workout and make myself even hotter.
No thank you.
The health bounce gives me a way to move without turning the temperature dial on my entire existence. It's not a cure for hot flashes, and I would never say it is. But gentle rhythmic movement can feel much more manageable on those days when my nervous system already seems to have had three cups of coffee without me.
Spoiler alert: my menopause belly was not impressed. The health bounce is different. You're not trying to launch yourself into the ceiling. You're keeping your feet on the mat and gently pressing into the springs. It's rhythmic, controlled, and honestly, a lot more enjoyable, and this is where things started to click for me. I didn't need another workout that left me feeling like I'd just been in a fight with my own body.
I needed movement that made me want to come back tomorrow.
I made a quick little video to show you what I mean. This is my version of the health bounce-headphones on happy dopamine inducing music playing, heels staying planted and feet never leaving the trampoline. Not once do you take flight. Absolutely no audition for the trampoline olympics.
Watch the quick health bounce below.
The health bounce gives me a way to move without turning the temperature dial on my entire existence. It's not a cure for hot flashes, and I would never say it is. But gentle rhythmic movement can feel much more manageable on those days when my nervous system already seems to have had three cups of coffee without me.
Spoiler alert: my menopause belly was not impressed. The health bounce is different. You're not trying to launch yourself into the ceiling. You're keeping your feet on the mat and gently pressing into the springs. It's rhythmic, controlled, and honestly, a lot more enjoyable, and this is where things started to click for me. I didn't need another workout that left me feeling like I'd just been in a fight with my own body.
I needed movement that made me want to come back tomorrow.
I made a quick little video to show you what I mean. This is my version of the health bounce-headphones on happy dopamine inducing music playing, heels staying planted and feet never leaving the trampoline. Not once do you take flight. Absolutely no audition for the trampoline olympics.
Have you tried rebounding? Curious about the mini-trampoline I'm using?
Looking to start rebounding? Grab my trampoline HERE
And honestly, sometimes this is all I need.
Have you tried rebounding? Curious about the mini-trampoline I'm using?
Looking to start rebounding? Grab my trampoline HERE
- A few minutes of music.
- A little movement.
- A little bounce.
And suddenly my brain is back online.
- Reduced Bloating: That "mid-day puffiness" has mostly vanished.
- Better Sleep: Getting the lymph moving and regulating my heart rate earlier in the day has led to much deeper sleep.
- Core Stability: My pelvic floor and deep core feel significantly more engaged than when I was just walking or doing crunches.
The Bottom Line: Menopause is a time to stop punishing your body and start supporting it. If you’re looking for a way to stay lean, strong, and energized without the burnout, it’s time to hop on a rebounder.
One of the things I've really come to appreciate about the health bounce is how gentle it can be.
When I'm having one of those lovely menopause moments where suddenly I'm hot for absolutely no reason whatsoever, the last thing I want is to launch into some aggressive workout and make myself even hotter.
No thank you.
The health bounce gives me a way to move without turning the temperature dial on my entire existence.
It's not a cure for hot flashes, and I wouldn't pretend it is. But gentle, rhythmic movement can feel much more manageable on those days when my nervous system already seems to have had three cups of coffee without me.
And sometimes manageable is exactly what I need.
And sometimes manageable is exactly what I need.
Then There's My Brain...
Here's another reason rebounding surprised me: my brain actually likes it. As someone with ADHD, I need movement that gives my brain something to do. Walking can be great, but sometimes my brain checks out somewhere around the second mailbox. Rebounding gives me rhythm, movement, balance, and enough sensory input to keep my brain interested. And when I enjoy something, I'm much more likely to actually keep doing it.
That's important.
Because the healthiest exercise in the world isn't very helpful if I spend three weeks avoiding it because I'd rather reorganize my junk drawer. Movement also stimulates neurotransmitters involved in mood and motivation, including dopamine. I'm not going to tell you that jumping on a trampoline is going to magically balance your brain chemistry — if only it were that easy — but I absolutely notice a difference in how I feel after I move.
Sometimes I start bouncing because I need to move my body.
Sometimes I finish because my brain finally showed up for the meeting.
And Then There Are Those Scary Words...
Let's talk about inflammation for a minute.
It sounds scary, but inflammation isn't automatically the villain. It's part of how the body responds to stress, injury, and other challenges. The problem is when the body stays in a prolonged state of inflammation.
And this is one of those places where I'm learning that more isn't always better.
- More intensity isn't automatically healthier.
- More sweating isn't automatically healthier.
- More punishment definitely isn't healthier.
For me, the goal has shifted toward finding movement that supports my body instead of constantly asking my body to prove something.
And that's where rebounding fits beautifully into my routine.
What About the Lymphatic System?
Okay, here's another one of those words that sounds like it belongs in a medical drama:
lymphatic.
Basically, your lymphatic system is part of your immune system and helps move the water and waste products through your body. Unlike your cardiovascular system, it doesn't have a heart sitting there doing all the pumping for it.
Your muscles and movement help.
So when we're moving less, our lymphatic system doesn't exactly get to put its little feet up and take the afternoon off, but movement can help keep that fluid moving. That's one reason I like gentle rebounding.
It's repetitive.
It's rhythmic.
And I'm moving without pounding my joints with every step.
I also notice that I feel less stiff and less “puffy” when movement becomes a regular part of my day. I'm not claiming the rebounder is some magical lymphatic vacuum cleaner.
Although, honestly, wouldn't that be nice?
This Is What “Healthy” Looks Like for Me Now
- More cardio.
- More calories burned.
- More sweat.
- More discipline.
- More trying to get my body back to where it used to be.
Now I'm looking at it differently.
- What if healthy means finding movement I actually enjoy?
- What if it means building strength without beating myself up?
- What if it means moving in a way that leaves me feeling better instead of completely wiped out?
- What if it means listening to my body instead of constantly arguing with it?
That's what rebounding has given me.
Not a magic solution.
Not a shortcut.
And definitely not a trampoline where I bounce my menopause belly into submission.
It's simply become one of the ways I can move my body, get my brain engaged, feel stronger, and actually enjoy the process. And after spending so much time trying to force my body back into the old version of healthy, finding something that makes me want to move again feels like a pretty big win.
If you enjoyed this little adventure, come hang out with me in your inbox. I'll send you new posts, creative projects, things I'm learning, and the occasional rabbit hole I probably didn't need to go down.
Come Hang Out With Me
If you enjoyed this little adventure, come hang out with me in your inbox. I'll send you new posts, creative projects, things I'm learning, and the occasional rabbit hole I probably didn't need to go down.
