I am Not Invisible; Live And Love after Menopause

No I am not invisible, yup I can no longer reproduce, and I may have got a little softer around the edges, but I’m still vibrant alive sexy and a fully working female. But one thing I do know is that taking care of myself after this major life shift takes a little more work, a little more loving kindness and some help from my new friends. Worry not we ladies are taking control, meet some new faces committed to help on this journey in I am Not Invisible; Live And Love after Menopause

Most women experience menopause between the ages of 45 and 55 years as a natural part of biological ageing. Some have it earlier, but to any women that goes through monthly bleeds this will happen as sure as eggs are eggs, we will stop producing …eggs.

And just to be clear why? Simply put the menopause is caused by the loss of ovarian follicular function and a decline in circulating blood oestrogen levels.

The menopausal transition can be gradual, usually beginning with changes in the menstrual cycle. ‘Perimenopause’ refers to the period from when these signs are first observed and ends one year after the final menstrual period. Perimenopause can last several years and can affect physical, emotional, mental and social well-being.

Doctors will say that the menopause in full starts a year after the last period. However many post menopausal women will tell you thats rubbish and that the symptoms go on for years after.

One of the interesting things about this period of life for most women is that, not only is it not discussed, the medical world has been rather slow in not only researching it but also offer little in way of help.

Yes there are drugs available and even sometimes medical interventions, but most women don’t want to go through even more trauma. Self help is one of the best options available. But who do you trust? More importantly is, what is right for each woman, as every lady will have different experiences and symptoms.

One of the most interesting facts that seems to be happening is women’s own response to it. There is a growing movement of woman out there empowering themselves and in doing so empowering other women.

Meet delicious food enhancement Peachie. Founded by four women and developed by expert nutritionists, health professionals and chefs, this food was created to help make a positive impact on women’s health, and as they say, one delicious spoonful at a time.

United through their personal experiences, Founders Becky, Caroline, Emma and Sophie are both passionate about building a community, providing functional support to help women through the ups and downs of their menopause journey. The two other women are too young yet but are also part of this ‘feeding’ journey. In this set of four women they cover ages in the 20s, 30s, 40s & 50; therefore actually helping women in all age sectors with personal insight.

In the collection they have two delicious varieties, choose from Almond & Cranberry or Hazelnut and Cacao to enhance your meal or as a healthy snack. From an addition to your breakfast bowls and yogurt to savoury salads and dips or simply or even just snack on them. The ideal amount is one 20g spoonful per day.

So what’s inside that is going to help? Key Vitamins & Minerals in both Varieties include, 100% of your Vitamin D recommended daily intake, 1/3 of your daily intake of magnesium, B12, Vitamin C and Biotin, Rich in essential fatty acid omega-3 and the same amount of fibre as a banana and the protein equivalent of one egg white.

Key Benefits also include aiding, cognitive function, bone & muscle Health, as well as helping to boosting energy levels and help with heart health.

A bag of tasty of eight whole foods hand-baked with a tailored menopause Peachie supplement of 14 carefully selected Vitamins & Minerals. 

Lastly the website has a lot of useful info on their Learn page which includes a community page as well as information and recipes. A three hundred and sixty approach, if you like.

One of the things many women feel when going through menopause is a feeling of there is no point in bothering with themselves. Throw on sloppy track bottoms; who cares? Certainly not the women themselves, as so many talk of being invisible. Its like an unspoken law, you’ve gone into perimenopause and suddenly no one sees you.No wonder many of us give up. But there is no reason to not care. It can be so different. Interestingly, many women are finding this a great time to start a new business, may be after years of working for others they suddenly feel enough is enough, I’m doing this for myself.

One super inspiring woman is  Gillian Ridley Whittle. A high flyer in the fashion industry if ever there was one. This dynamic lady worked for many of the biggest names in high street fashion and even ended up in Australia for her career. But she, like so many of us reached the age of shifting and began to ask a lot of questions as well as feeling burnt out by the rough and tumble of high the powered working world.

One of her first questions was

“Why is it so hard to find ethical and sustainable underwear and lifestyle products that are also gorgeous, delicate, supportive, and comfy? It can’t be that difficult, can it?”

And so went about her journey to bring Peachaus to us. She made a commitment to make clothes that we really love and want to wear but ensured they are ethical.  Products that are long-lived, versatile, considered and underlined by creative collaboration. Clothes that are made in the right way that don’t bring guilt into the equation when buying and enjoying wearing them.

Well, truth be told, you have to put in the legwork to build a brand that’s humanly and environmentally responsible and also makes beautiful products you never want to take off.

Her and her team of collaborators, as she refers to them, had the passion to fill a big gap in the market for sustainable and ethically made underwear and clothing that looks great and feels incredible.    

One important factor when choosing clothes past menopause is comfort and breathable. If you are having hot flushes then the fabrics next to your skin need to be comfortable. Also you want fabrics to be as ethical as they can be at this point.

She started with underwear, as she has a background having worked for M&S the biggest producers of undies in the UK (and interesting always was the most trusted for a long time). Part of her take was to really look at shape and fit, throwing away the old sizing system which is years out of date, and transferring it to her own system. Worry not the team there can guide thorough all fittings.

The Sakura underwired bra in feather-light recycled Italian lace, complete with a fuss-free engraved front clasp, offers effortless and weightless support. Super comfortable, with having an easy to open front fastening.

There are different styles, all helpful for not just different sizes but variation of bust shapes. The Konara is a recycled-lace fuller-cup style, the Hakea is a recycled-tulle soft bralette whilst there is also the Anthelia a recycled-tulle soft bralette. Then find the Betula recycled-tulle that is underwired and the Lotus recycled-lace fuller-cup soft bralette. All are available in a selection of flattering tones, like Fjordland Green, Mountain Blue, Canyon Peach, Dawnlight Coral and Shoreline Peach as well as black and white.

Knickers come in the same tones with again different style sizes and shapes, from recycled-lace mid-rise briefs, recycled-tulle high-rise briefs, as well as  organic-cotton Brazilian briefs and seamless stretch-bamboo briefs. Again these are built with strength and comfort in mind.

Then the rest of the collection is loungewear and night wear, but the kind of things you can walk out the door wearing or not be ashamed to be seen in if a visitor arrives late at night, unexpected.

Beautifully cut for nightwear are shirts, shorts, trousers and vests in again the similar luscious tones such as check red and white, a super fine line print in Mountain Blue, another wider soft stripe in Summer Sand Beige and a embroidered pattern on white. All of the bottoms thankfully have soft elastic waistlines for super comfort.

The loungewear has ethical legging with matching print tops sweat pants twist front top, crop tops and twist back tops and the collection includes performance pieces.

But this lady Gilly is not stopping there. She has big ambitions regarding leaving an ethical footprint. She has built her business to put people and the planet first

We’re creating a platform that celebrates connection, forging purposeful collaborations between our team, our ethical makers, our creative network and our customers—our people. And we’re mentoring, empowering and supporting future talent and others who need a helping hand because that’s how we can ignite the power of we.

Keep an eye out at her shop in Covent Garden in London for pop up events and speakers. Interestingly 3/4 people are scared of public speaking so they created an event inviting 40 almost naked audience members to support 4 speakers rehearse an upcoming speech. 

This event was all about helping women build up the courage to brave those uncomfortable situations they face and ‘Find their comfort zone’. Because ultimately Peachaus aim is to empower women to aid them in feeling comfortable in their own skin and have the courage to be themselves in their everyday, every day, whatever their age of life status.

Finally meet Marie Reynolds who works in professional skin care and wellness industries and has done so for over 35 years. A therapist, and a judge and behind the scenes working who ultimately created her own skin care brand.

“The body is like a human novel, you just have to know how to read the chapters”

Marie Reynolds

Mariestudied Skin health, Homeopathy, Acupuncture, Counselling, Aromatherapy, Oriental Diagnosis, Bowen Technique, Colonic Hydrotherapy and Quantum Energy Medicine. Her work is about looking beyond the linear to understand core energetic body imbalances whether this could be mental, emotional or physical and from there how to bring homeostasis to allow the body and mind to heal. She has also lectured worldwide in Skin Treatments, Nutrition and Advanced Consulting.

With all this knowledge, she has evolved her treatments and is a leading practitioner in intuitive touch therapies such as Energy Therapy and Dermal Resonance. She also has a collection of traditional herbal treatments and for menopausal and preimenopusam women, a herbal approach rather than medical one which is want so many women prefer.

Marie Reynolds YVE supplement is ideal for women to support perimenopause, menopause or PMT. Containing Isoflavones, a class of naturally occurring organic plant compounds found in soybeans, chickpeas and other legumes, these are a sub-category of phytochemicals and phytoestrogens. It also contains Vitamin B6 and Zinc, helping with hormone balance, boosting immunite and metabolism and assisting reproductive health.

This gentle and completely natural helper does not contain hormones, such as those found in Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) drugs. Isoflavones are a class of naturally-occurring organic plant compounds found in soybeans, chickpeas and other legumes. They are a sub-category of phytochemicals and phyto-estrogens.

The tablets contain as well Vitamin B6 which contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity, as well as normal cysteine synthesis, normal energy-yielding metabolism, normal functioning of the nervous system, normal homocysteine metabolism, normal protein and glycogen metabolism, normal psychological function, normal red blood cell formation, normal function of the immune system and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.

And finally Zinc which contributes to normal fertility and reproduction, as well as the maintenance of normal bones, hair, nails, skin, vision, immune system and normal cognitive function.

Take it one more step with her best seller a stunning facial oil. A blend of Apricot & Marula Oil, which has four times as much Vitamin C as oranges, omega 9 fatty acids and Vitamin E to nourish and repair the skin. there is something very healing about the tactile nature of both face and body oils. A small act of self love.

Woman are more and more acting as a sisterhood, helping each other though all of life’s challenges, and as more of us start our own businesses particularly those that are in support of other ladies we can support and feel better for the little things we do for ourselves whilst supporting others. A win win.

Find everything about Peachie Here at FeelingPeachie.co.uk and their To find out more about Peachaus.com please visit here and the shop address is 55 Monmouth St, London WC2H 9DG. To find out more about Marie Reynoldslondon.com please visit