Page 66 - MASALA Magazine Vol.15 Issue 7 | October - November 2024

KIRAN SINGHSACHAKUL, 53
Self-Employed

I’ve just of cially entered the menopausal state, and I now experience

hot ashes occasionally. Thankfully, they do not affect me as much,
although I have made changes to my lifestyle choices. I’ve removed
all nylon clothing and wear breathable fabrics like cotton and linen,
especially at night, which I’ve found to be helpful. I’ve always been
active, and I continue to work out at least ve days a week. However,

adjustments are necessary. Along with weight training, I’ve added

yoga and Pilates to my routine. I’m also a rm believer in eating
right. Even though some supplements are necessary, each person is
genetically unique, and it’s important to discover what’s right for you.
Thankfully, exercising regularly also allows me to sleep well, so I don’t
have insomnia like most of my peers who are going through this phase.

Many of us going through this transitional stage did not pay much
attention to how our mothers dealt with it. I never had this conversation
with my mother, probably because I was busy raising children then.
Women today are more aware of physical and emotional changes,
and are much better prepared to handle whatever comes. It’s basic
human nature to aspire for more, not realising that what we had was
enough. It’s imperative to realise that now is the best body you’ll ever
have, and to be grateful for it. As I get older, it’s also hit me that the
only time I have is now, and I try to make the most of it. In my youth,
I took my body for granted; I ate what I wanted, without worrying
about calories. Now, I recognise that it’s not how you look that matters,
it’s how you feel within. My mother was always aware of what she
ate and exercised regularly, and my father, who is approaching 80,
is still disciplined about his daily exercises and does not believe that
there is anything that he can’t do. That’s the attitude I aspire to have
throughout my life, through this stage and beyond. SOPHA SINGHSACHA, 53
Entrepreneur and Homemaker

Menopause is probably the most complex and least understood
phase in a woman’s life. Common symptoms include hot ashes

and abnormal menstrual cycles. For me, the excessive bleeding
each month led to severe anaemia. Many around me were going
through similar problems, each adopting different solutions. I chose
to take birth control hormones, followed by progesterone injections
every three months. While it felt like a miracle cure, the weight gain
was still inevitable. The not-so-obvious symptoms included muscle
loss, osteoporosis, frozen shoulders, and much more. However, I’ve
discovered that some supplements such as vitamin C, D and omega
3 helped slow down the aging process for me.
Our mothers faced the same issues but never linked their problems
to menopause – rather, they attributed them to aging. Supplements
were taken much later in life, so while that helped to limit damage,
it wasn’t enough to prevent issues. A major problem in their time
was a lack of information and communication. Today, we have
access to online information, support groups, and medical experts.
We can also talk openly to each other comparing notes and getting

help when needed. And, I’m sure, the next generation will de nitely
do better than us, as some form of physical exercise is now a part of
most people’s routines, and even outside of school routines, today’s
youth tends to give a lot of importance to physical activity.

Over the years, there have been major differences in how we see

ourselves. When we’re young, we focus on every little aw, judge
ourselves, and are scared of being judged too. Social media exaggerates
this to another level. Yet with time, priorities change. While we still
strive to look good daily, the focus on health now predominates. We

gain a level of con dence and an, “I don’t give a damn” attitude, and
I nd that very liberating.

| MASALA MAGAZINE OCT NOV