Your Body Whispers Before It Shouts: Midlife Health Wake-Up Calls

Your body will whisper before it shouts.

The problem is, most of us are too busy or too tired to hear it.

And by the time it's shouting, it can be a lot harder to fix.

What's wrong?

I learned this the hard way recently.

Months of medical tests, waiting on results and wondering what my future might look like.

It was a wake up call and today I want to share why Taking care of your health in midlife is not just important, it's urgent.

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Aging with grace and stuff style in our own special way.

Welcome to Aging with Grace and Style, the podcast where we celebrate midlife and beyond with purpose, wellness and unapologetic confidence.

I'm Valerie and in this series, the Gracefully well series, we're exploring the mind, body and soul of midlife wellness.

Last week we talked about the mind cultivating clarity and resilience.

Today we're focusing on the body.

Because when your body is balanced and cared for, everything else in life it just feels easier.

And I'll be honest, I thought I was doing okay with my health.

I try to eat well, I stay active.

But nothing test your habits like a health scare.

I can say that the last few months have been a masterclass in patience, faith and listening to my body in ways I never had before.

I won't go into every detail, but but here's the short version.

Earlier this year I felt something in my body that felt, let's just say, off.

Not dramatic, just different enough that I couldn't ignore it.

So I did what many of us do.

I listened and I made that doctor's appointment.

What I didn't realize was how long and emotional the months ahead would be.

My doctor ordered test, then more test.

And between each appointment there was waiting.

And with the waiting came wondering.

And with the wondering came sleepless nights, spiraling thoughts, and those quiet moments when you think what if?

It's a strange feeling living in the in between.

You're still doing your day to day life, but part of your brain is always holding its breath.

I leaned heavily on my faith.

I prayed a lot.

I leaned on my close circle.

But I also can kept a lot inside because honestly, talking about it made it feel more real.

Here's what I realized.

Health is not just about the absence of illness.

It's about creating a strong foundation so that when life throws something unexpected at you, your body has the best possible chance to recover and keep going and that foundation starts with something that many of us overlook, listening to the signals that our bodies are sending.

If I learned one thing, it's this.

Midlife health is all about tuning in.

So I started to pay even more attention.

I scribbled notes about how I felt when I felt off and promised myself to stop brushing things aside for later.

Your body speaks.

The question is, are you paying attention?

For women over 50, changes can be subtle.

You're more tired than usual.

You feel more, I don't know, short of breath, your digestion is off.

And you think, oh, I just ate something bad.

You're not sleeping well.

And you think, well, that's hormones.

Or you notice little aches and pains that weren't there before.

Again, it's easy to chalk these things up to stress, to hormones, or even just getting older.

But ignoring them can delay treatment for things that could be addressed.

Now.

One of my biggest takeaways from this experience was to be an active participant in my health, to notice changes, to ask questions and follow through on screenings and labs.

Because sometimes those little things are the first warning sign.

Once you're paying attention to your body, the next step is giving it the care it needs every single day, not just when something goes wrong.

And I'm sure we have said at one time, if I get over this, then I'm going to work out.

I'm going to eat right, I'm going to.

Well, that's fine and dandy, but.

But those are things that we should be doing on a daily basis.

So here are some foundational habits for balanced body One is preventative care.

Neurophysicals, mammograms, colonoscopies, bone density scans, whatever is recommended for your age and history.

These aren't just checkboxes.

Their investments in your future health.

And then two, follow through matters.

One thing I've noticed, and maybe you've seen this too, is that as we get older, some of us start to resist what the doctor tells us to do.

Wear your glasses.

I'm fine without them.

Use a walker or a cane.

I don't want to be seen with that.

Take the medication as prescribed.

I'll skip it.

I feel okay.

I get it.

We want to hold on to our independence.

We don't want to feel like we've crossed into a stage of life where these things define us.

But here's the truth.

Refusing those tools or treatments doesn't usually protect your independence.

It can actually shorten it.

Following medical advice, using the support that's recommended, is often what allows us to keep Moving to stay safe and to enjoy a better quality of life for longer.

Think of it this way.

A cane or a walker isn't the sign of weakness.

It's a sign that you're still getting where you want to go.

Glasses aren't a sign of aging.

They're a tool that keeps you connected to the world.

Following your doctor's guidance isn't giving up your freedom.

It's protecting it.

Number three Nutrition for energy, focus on foods that fuel your body.

Lean proteins, colorful vegetables, healthy fats.

Think of it as feeding your body what it needs to function well, not depriving it to hit a number on the scale.

Number four Movement that supports longevity in midlife Strength training is your best friend.

Now, I have told you many a times that it's not my favorite part of working out, but I know the importance of maintaining muscle as we age.

And strength training preserves muscle.

It supports bone density, and it keeps you mobile.

So pair it with daily movement that you actually enjoy, like walking, dancing, yoga, so then you're more likely to stick with it.

I've been walking outside in the mornings and it's been the greatest.

But let me tell you a quick story.

The first day I went out walking, I'm walking and I'm holding my phone while I was dictating in my phone, meaning I was working.

I'm like, really, Valerie?

That was not mind clearing.

I had to laugh at myself.

But since then, I just walk.

I sing.

I think it has become the best part of my day.

Number five Rest and recovery.

This ties back to last week's episode on Sleep Quality.

Rest isn't just good for your mind.

It's when your body repairs itself.

You know, they say you can't out eat or out exercise.

Poor recovery.

Well, rest is part of training for life.

And here's where it all comes together.

Because you can't truly separate physical health from mental and spiritual, I've seen firsthand how stress impacts the body.

It can raise your blood pressure.

It can weaken your immune system and slow down healing.

That's why part of caring for your body is caring for your mind and your spirit.

There were moments when my anxiety seemed louder than any symptom.

That's when I leaned on breath, work and prayer.

Prayer kept me grounded during this time.

A simple pause, a whispered affirmation.

Gratitude shifted my focus from fear to what was still good in my life.

Even simple breathing exercises calmed my nervous system.

Stress is sneaky.

It'll settle in your shoulders if you let it.

But so will peace if you Invite it in.

Your body feels the weight of your thoughts, so make them lighter whenever you can.

So this week's action step schedule one overdue health check or screening.

Swap one snack for something that's brightly colored or something that fuels your body with real nutrients.

And then here's a reflection moment.

What is your body whispering for you to notice right now?

Write it down.

Give yourself permission to care for it one step at a time.

Today we talked about the wake up call that made me take my health even more seriously.

How to listen to your body, the daily habits that support a balanced body, and the deep connection between mind, body and spirit.

Remember, caring for your body isn't a chore.

It's a powerful act of self respect.

Every small step counts.

Rely on your faith, trust your intuition and allow yourself to breathe through the unknowns.

The message is simple.

Your health is your foundation.

Take care of it now so it will take care of you later.

If today's conversation made you think about your own health a little differently, then share it with a friend or a loved one who might need this nudge too.

Wellness is always better when we walk the journey together.

Until next time, treat your body like it's your closest companion.

Stay graceful.

Keep caring for the body that you live in and I will see you right back here next week for the next part of the Gracefully well series.

Thanks for hanging out with me today.

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Join me at pod.agingwithgraceinstyle.com for more tips, stories and a whole lot of connection.

Until next time, keep shining with grace, style and a touch of sass.