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The photo is of me and my mom, thriving in Monterey California. We had a great day together!
What do you need to thrive? For me, I discovered I need all the things I used to take for granted when I was younger- health, energy, confidence, curiosity, daringness, and my motley crew. I never even thought twice about these things until a couple of years ago—I am in my late 50s now—after an accident that left me with a fractured scapula and spinal alignment issues followed by menopause. The combination of these things have had a domino effect, all underpinned by pain. I started feeling constant pain in my neck, shoulder, and upper back. The pain at times can be immobilizing. It can feel like a gigantic, invisible hand tightly gripping my upper body. I have tried physical therapy, elimination diet, pain-relief medication, and seen countless specialists. And while nothing has returned me to the 24/7 pain-free existence I used to have, I have found some things that have helped immensely and even made me feel ‘normal’ at times and able to thrive. Below is a listing of things I am sharing with you in hopes that you can find relief without having to do as much homework as I’ve had to.
GET PHYSICAL!
Swimming without a doubt has been one of the best remedies for me. If I swim every day, I feel great almost every day. All it takes for me is 25 minutes of swimming alternating laps of breaststroke, backstroke, and freestyle. Read more about how swimming has changed my life.
Checkout the products I’ve tried and recommend.
- Dolphin brand swimsuit. I found this brand to fit comfortably with modest coverage in the chest and rear end.
- TY silicone swim cap. Silicone swim caps are the way to go. They go on and off easily, without pulling out your hair, and in my experience, last months longer than the cheaper latex version. With latex, they would tear about about 10 swim sessions. With silicone, I am still using the one I bought about 8 months ago.
- Nose clip. I swim backstroke and freestyle and hate getting water in my nose. Nose plug really helps prevent that. In addition, I use silicone ear plugs as I am prone to getting ear infections when I get water in my ear.
- Neoprene jacket. If you are like me and get a little cold in the pool, I recommend wearing a neoprene jacket. I tried 5 different brands and thicknesses. The 2mm Goldfin brand fit the best when wet and did not hamper my swim strokes.
Yoga has helped me become better connected with my body so I can anticipate and manage the pain better. I try to take at least 3, 1-hour yoga classes a week. You can read more about my yoga journey here.
Strength training with high repetition, low weights. Feeling strong feels great and definitely gives me the energy to thrive but it also helps prevent the mechanical breakdown of the damaged parts of my body. Since most of my issues are with my neck, shoulder, and upper back, I spend a lot of time working those areas. I also balance that out with core and lower body workouts. I do this at least twice a week.
It may seem like I spend a lot of time doing these activities and part of that is because I love being physical but if I had to pick one, and some days I have to, swimming hands down gives me the biggest bang for my buck. Like I mentioned, 25 minutes is all it takes for me and the positive effects are long lasting.
- Lifetime Gym
SLEEP
Sleep is an absolute must for me. I need at least 7 solid hours of sleep. And I must catch what I call the sleepy wave at the right time, for me that is between 9:30-10:00 pm. If I don’t, I get a terrible night’s sleep and the next 3 days I have a ton of pain and foggy thinking, not to mention I get very anxious and emotional. Thanks to the Oura Ring, I can monitor my sleeping habits and adjust them to make sure I am sleeping optimally.
The right bed is also critical. I recently purchased a Nest Owl mattress and adjustable base. Wow! The first night, I slept incredibly well and woke up the next morning feeling like a million bucks. Do yourself a favor, and if you haven’t recently upgraded your mattress, do it. You won’t regret it.
Here are the mattresses I tried out before buying the Nest Owl. You can also read more about my mattress buying journey here and check out our post on pillows.
- Avocado
- Wink
- Nest Owl. I have had this mattress for over 6 months and am still very happy with it. It provides plush support. And because the materials are organic there was no off-gassing period after we removed the packaging, so we could use it almost immediately. Additionally, it comes with a zipped in latex topper, which, as of this writing, Nest will swap out for a different level of firmness for no cost.
- DLX
- Purple. We tried this mattress in a showroom. I found it uncomfortable, the purple grid felt weird and gimmicky and it was expensive.
- Brooklyn Bedding
EAT RIGHT!
I know this sounds cliche, but I found this to be a must. I stay away from red meat and all the typical acid reflux inducing cast of characters. I also try to stay away from processed sugar and too much salt, both which have been shown to induce inflammation in the body. But I must admit, I am a sucker for sweets and salty snacks. So I haven’t given them up completely but am very mindful about how much and how often I ingest them.
- Dr Ohanas Probiotics. Few probiotics work this quickly and keep you regular. I have been taking it for about 3 years and have recommended it to many friends, who also now swear by its digestive benefits.
- Centrum Silver Women 50+. A good multivitamin is important. Centrum is a trusted brand with numerous certifications and has the majority of ingredients needed to support aging women’s health. I have been taking thi multivitamin for over 5 years.
Rainbow Light Counter Attack Immune Support. Rainbow Light is a reputable, premium brand with numerous certifications. I use Counter Attack during the flu and cold season and when traveling. I have noticed a significant reduction in getting sick and have recommended it to friends and family who report the same.
What are your tips and tricks for thriving? Let us know by commenting below.
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This post was researched and drafted with the assistance of AI. All sources were reviewed and verified to the best of their ability by the editorial team.
Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We strongly encourage readers to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions or changes to their health and medical routines. Marigold Brands and The Marigold Woman cannot be held accountable for any inaccuracies or adverse outcomes related to the information presented. We strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information. However, medical knowledge is constantly evolving, and individual experiences may vary. Sources and references are provided to support the content and enable readers to further explore topics and do not imply endorsement. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making significant changes to your health routine.
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