By Stacy Sims
Publication Date: May 17, 2022
Genre: Non-Fiction, Health, Fitness, Self-help
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
If you are a woman aged 35 or over, and do any type of sport then this book is for you.
My mum never really talked about her transition through Menopause. I don’t blame her, she didn’t have her mum (who died when she was a young adult), or her sister (who all live overseas), to help her. it was also the 90s, and those things were not talked about.
If you didn’t already know Menopause is the anniversary of a woman not having her period for 1 year. It’s just a date. All the symptoms associated with menopause are perimenopause, and that begins for every woman from age 35.
As a female who will be 44 this year, it’s safe to say that I’m 100% in the Perimenopause stage of my life.
I’ll be honest, and I only really started paying attention to perimenopause symptoms in the last 18 months. because I notice a few things like itchy skin (during my ovulation phase), and my emotions being all over the place.
Next Level is an empowering and science-backed book and is a godsend for active women approaching or in menopause. Forget the negativity often associated with this transition. This book equips you with the knowledge to optimize your performance and feel fantastic.
One of the things I got out of this book, was focusing on physiology and not frustration.
Hormonal changes are normal during perimenopause and menopause. Knowing their impact on fitness means that I can adjust my training, nutrition and recovery to work for me, and not against me.
The three main takeaways from this book are:
- Exercise: Discover the best training methods for this phase of life, including strength training and mindful movement.
- Nutrition: Learn how to fuel your body for optimal performance and manage weight effectively.
- Sleep and Recovery: Understand the importance of sleep for hormonal health and get tips for better rest.
Sim’s also tackles mental health and navigating the emotional rollercoaster of menopause.
There are also sample meal plans and workout routines that provide a jumpstart, while real-life case studies showcase the power of these strategies.
While Next Level is geared towards athletes, any active women will find valuable takeaways.
If you are an active woman approaching perimenopause, or knee-deep in to like me. This book will be a game changer.
Replace that frustration with empowerment with the right tools to get to your next level, whatever your age.
I read this book back in February, and this book review has been sitting in my drafts since then.
In those three months, I have made three major changes:
- Added another strength day
- Regularly started taking my supplements
- Prioritised my sleep
Change takes time, but my symptoms have levelled out. There’s still room for improvement, but that will happen over time.