Alyssa Blais

Tag: Personal narrative

  • Menopause Isn’t a Problem—It’s a Reality to Embrace

    —

    by

    Alyssa
    in , ,

    I was in my early forties, playing cards at a friend’s house when my girlfriend at the time—who was in her late forties—had a hot flash. It was my first real exposure to menopause through someone else’s experience. She was fanning herself, embarrassed and ashamed, while the men in the room either dismissed or laughed…

  • From Cardio Queen to Strength Advocate

    —

    by

    Alyssa
    in , ,

    Growing up in the ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s, I was all about cardio—Jane Fonda, Kathy Smith, aerobics, leotards, step aerobics, the ThighMaster, the StairMaster, Buns of Steel! Back then, the focus was always on being thin, staying slim, and doing as much high-energy cardio as possible. Strength training wasn’t even on my radar, nor was…

  • Lost in the Fog: My Darkest Days in Menopause

    —

    by

    Alyssa
    in

    Reflecting on my journal while transitioning into menopause, I realized how deeply profound my struggle was. This was coupled with complicated grief issues in the loss of my late husband; my emotions were raw and all over the place, and the exhaustion was overwhelming. I felt I was lost in my own body and suffocating.…