In The Menopause Makeover authors Staness Jonekos and Dr. Wendy Klein give readers practical advice to deal with menopause. In the first of the book’s eight steps, step one deals with understanding and accepting menopause. Menopause is a natural transition for women, but it can be a time of confusion, fear, anger and sadness when trying to come to grips with the physical, mental and emotional changes.

The Menopause Makeover Step One
The great part about The Menopause Makeover is that you learn about the many changes taking place in your body and that these changes are perfectly normal if not always pleasant. Menopause takes place over a long period of time and it may take several months of noticing those small signs before realizing these changes are menopause or perimenopause.

Step One of The Menopause Makeover starts by clearly explaining the typical symptoms associated with menopause. Even better is when you read the plain facts about menopause and aging and start to understand where you can make adjustments in lifestyle choices. This gives a great feeling of empowerment; menopause does not have to be something you merely surrender to and suffer with. Instead you can take charge of your menopause.

How does Step One of The Menopause Makeover help me?
Step One contains charts and questionnaires to help turn those vague feelings and symptoms and put them down on paper. By writing out your experiences, you will be able to ‘see’ the severity of your menopause.

One of the most frustrating parts about menopause is trying to explain how you feel to your healthcare professional. He or she has been trained to see menopause as a series of measurements; the end of periods, a particular age, and hormone level tests. But you might only know you don’t feel like yourself and that can be difficult to translate into the data your doctor is looking for. Understanding and accepting that your body is journeying through menopause is the way to knowing you are not helpless.

Step One Understanding your treatment options
Once you have a clear picture of your symptoms you can start to look for the most suitable treatments to help you cope. You may find HRT perfect for you or you may be fearful about HRT. Either way you can sort through the numerous options available.

*Do you need hormone replacement therapy (HRT)?
*Are you a suitable candidate for HRT?
*Would you prefer natural alternatives?
*Are there other changes you can make with diet and exercise that might help?
*Is there a combination of therapies that will work for you?

The Menopause Makeover lists many popular treatments and includes side effects and warnings to help you and your doctor decide on the best course of action. In the past, women were given pretty much the same treatment type and dosage. Today, doctors know that since no two women will have the same menopause there is no longer one solution for everyone.

Challenges of Step One of The Menopause Makeover
Like any change you need to make, getting started is often the most difficult part. It is not easy to come face-to-face with menopause because it means there is no denying the aging process. Resist the temptation to ‘get around to the lists someday’ by and take a few moments to complete the simple tests.

The following will help you tackle Step One:
*Enjoy the easy to read info in clear language
*Know that you are getting scientific information from Dr. Klein
*Follow Staness Jonekos as she outlines her experiences with straightforwardness and gentle humor to get you started

Accepting menopause does not mean throwing up your hands in defeat or resigning yourself to old age. This is the time to discover that menopause is not the end of life but the beginning of a new, and yes challenging, but exciting and liberating phase in your life. Step One of The Menopause Makeover is a big step but one that will leave you feeling hopeful about menopause.

Editor’s note: Taking Step One of the Menopause Makeover took a big subject like menopause and put it into more manageable chunks of information. We fear what we don’t understand and menopause is a time when our bodies no longer feel like ours. Once we know what we are dealing with it becomes easier to find ways to use information to our advantage!


**Harlequin Enterprises Ltd. provided this review copy of The Menopause Makeover to me completely free of charge.**
The Menopause Makeover, Staness Jonekos with Wendy Klein, M.D., Harlequin Enterprises Ltd., New York, 2010, 302 pp.

Please visit www.menopausemakeover.com