So you realised yourself that you needed to, that change had to happen? Yeah.

Yeah.

And I, you know, it's hard when you live around it.

And I do think there was that era where we just, we didn't deal with things the way we do now.

You know, there wasn't that compassion for someone with an eating disorder or with mental health problem like there is now.

You know, it was very much stiff upper lip, you know, kind of get on with it.

And again, like Slim was very much put on a pedestal and it was worshipped.

So what do you think you wish all women would understand before experiencing menopause, premenopause?

Yeah.

He was amazing.

It's, it's kind of like, you know, it's very, it's a very humbling, um, experience and- I did finish, and I have to say, this one I found ...

It was my hardest, my hardest one by far this year, and I think it was 'cause I, I did have a niggle going in.

Um, it did flare up, but flared up later than I thought it would, would.

Um, but when it flared up, it meant that my other leg kind of was compensating.

So I, I do think at about mile 22, I was like, "I don't know if I'm gonna do this." But I think that that is the other thing when you say, "Why do you do these hard things?" I think it's because I have the, the ability to dig really deep and to kind of use my life's challenges to pull me through and get me through.

but we need another female

So what should we realistically be aiming for?

for?I think, uh, start where you are for starters.

Start with something that fits in with your time.

I mean, obviously I'm a massive advocate of strength training, so I would say to anyone, if they're not doing strength training, look at how they can incorporate that at least two to, two to three times a week.

Um, if you are looking for, you know, fitness advice online, because that's the way to get it, try reaching out to the, to the person.

So, um, only this morning actually, and this is th- funny that this has landed there, I had a text, um, on Instagram from someone saying, "I don't know how to start.

I'm perimenopausal.

Then you've said it

that

it's beyond the realms of anyone because the workouts that we're doing, they're tough, right? So then it's not like because they're for people going through menopause, they're going to be easier.

They're not.

All it is is that a lot of the conversations from the GPs might be around what to do with your HRT.

But fundamentally, the strength training process behind that, and in fact, the nutrition and the yoga and the Pilates and all we do is something that absolutely everybody should be doing, whether we're a man or whether we're a woman.

And so when I get asked, you know, that question of, I think it was lovely Joe Wicks, who I do love, said, you know, he's designed menopause specific workouts for his app.

And there was a bit of a backlash.

This I want to know, what is it? What's the solution to longevity then? Wow.