Women’s Health Myths

For generations, women have been told to simply accept the changes that come with menopause. As a Family Nurse Practitioner, I want women to know something very important: Menopause is a natural stage of life—but suffering through disruptive symptoms is not a requirement.

By Marlena Benson-Kelsey, MSN, FNP-C If you've found yourself saying, "I used to be able to lose weight so easily. Now nothing works," you're certainly not alone. One of the biggest frustrations I hear from women in their 40s and 50s is that the strategies they relied on in their 20s and 30s simply don't produce the same results anymore. Many women respond by eating less, exercising more, and spending countless hours doing cardio—only to feel exhausted, discouraged, and stuck

By Marlena Benson-Kelsey, MSN, FNP-C Have you ever looked in the mirror and wondered, "Why is my body changing when I'm eating the same way I always have?" If so, you're not alone. One of the most common myths I hear from women in their 40s and 50s is: "Weight gain is inevitable after 40. It's just part of getting older." While it's true that our bodies change during midlife, the idea that weight gain is unavoidable simply isn't true. Understanding why these changes occur emp

As a Family Nurse Practitioner, one of the most common concerns I hear from women over 40 is: "I want to get toned, but I don't want to get bulky." This belief has been around for decades, yet it continues to keep many women from participating in one of the most beneficial forms of exercise for healthy aging—strength training.