Spill the Tea Tuesday with Debb. Yes, Hormones Are Hormoning ... But That's Not the Whole Story

Dear Diary,

I've been noticing a pattern lately with these blogs. Hormones seem to be the word of the day. Or the year. Perimenopause. Weight gain. Night sweats. Mood swings. Interrupted sleep. The whole glam pack.  But based on some of the messages I've received, it turns out it's not just women who are resonating with these words.  Some of you male readers have reached out too, and I love that because at the end of the day, this isn't really about hormones. It's about being human. We all go through shifts. Transitions. Ups and downs. Ebbs and flows. That's life. Since hormones seem to be the common denominator lately, I’ll add something that made me feel a little less crazy this week. Sometimes it can really feel like that. Crazy. Off. Confusing. Like… "Why am I crying right now?  Why am I so sensitive?" Yes, I am a Cancer, but come on, Debb, get it together... it's a f*ckin' duck." (More on that later).

Apparently My Hormones Really ARE Hormoning 

I recently got some blood work back and one of my hormone levels, called prolactin, came back elevated. Of course, my first reaction was: "Wtf is prolactin? What does this mean? Am I going through menopause tomorrow?" Then: "Hey Google.  Hey Siri.  Hey ChatGPT, tell me about prolactin.” Then another voice came through. “Hey Debb! Calm down." From what I've learned, “prolactin is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland. It affects mood, energy, menstrual cycles and overall hormone balance. When prolactin is elevated, some people can experience things like mood changes, increased emotional sensitivity, fatigue, weight gain, irregular cycles and other hormonal symptoms.”

So before I start planning my own funeral, my level isn’t wildly elevated. It's just something to keep an eye on and monitor with my doctor. But I have to admit, part of me felt relieved. Obviously, not because I wanted something to be wrong, but because there was a part of me that thought: "I KNEW IT" because I've been feeling off. Not like my usual self. More emotional. More sensitive. More tired. I'm definitely not blaming everything on hormones. But they are playing a part in Debb life lately. It’s also a good reminder that I know myself pretty well and I’m not crazy (for the most part). Sometimes there really is more going on beneath the surface.

Back to my Goals … (3 weekly jogs)

Last week I completed: 4 strength workouts (2 F45 classes and 2 Hot HIIT Pilates classes, 3 hot yoga classes and 1 jog. Could I focus on the fact that I only did one jog when I planned on three? For sure. My monkey mind was on board. "Debb, you said THREE." But then I caught myself. And coached myself. "Yes Debb. You did one jog. Which is one more jog than you've done all winter. Relax." And honestly, that one jog felt awesome. Not right away, but eventually. The first few minutes were sh*t. But then the DJ Debb tunes kicked in, the sun was shining, sweaty Debbie arrived, I found my rhythm and I remembered why I used to love running. The next day my hip flexors introduced themselves again. "Hey Debb. Nice to see you back.” 

The Scale and I Are Taking a Break

I decided not to weigh myself this week and last. Not because I'm scared. Not because I think I've gained weight. But because I've started realizing that week-to-week, especially with hormonal fluctuations, the scale doesn't tell the whole story. So instead, I've been asking: How am I sleeping? How am I feeling? Do I have more energy? Am I getting enough protein? Do I feel stronger? Am I keeping promises to myself? Am I meditating daily? Am I maintaining my gratitude practice daily? Am I speaking kindly to myself? Those answers matter too. Maybe more.

Fish and Chips and Common Sense

Over the weekend, I went out for lunch with my cousin Amanda to celebrate her birthday. Happy birthday cuz! We went to Harbour House Tap & Kitchen in Lefroy (close to where my parent’s cottage was). So nice! Beautiful water. Beautiful boats. Beautiful weather. The kind of place where ordering a cold beer feels appropriate. So I did. I was in the mood for fish. I had two choices: Fish and chips or the catch of the day (Atlantic char) with rice and vegetables. Fish and chips obviously Debb. Hello? Battered fish and fries. I could get sweet potato fries instead maybe to make it healthier. But after a minute (or twelve) I thought: "What choice is actually going to make me feel better after?" So I ordered the Atlantic char with rice and veggies. And it was awesome.  Not because it deserved a Michelin Star, (it was really yummy though), but more so because it felt like the right choice for me at that moment.  And afterwards, I felt satisfied instead of bloated and gross.  Then we went for a walk by the water, which means technically…  I went for a jog and a walk this week.  Not that I'm counting, obviously.

Sweaty Debbie Arrives (again) … 

On Sunday morning, I took a 45 minute Hot HIIT Pilates class followed by a 1 hour Hot Yoga class. What I call the Debbie Double when I teach this double class format a few times a week. I can’t have a name for it and not do the double myself right? After HIIT Pilates/beginning of the Hot Yoga class, my shirt was completely soaked.  Like, no other word for it, but SOAKED.  Sweaty Debbie has officially entered the building.  And I remember thinking:  "Why don't I just take off this stupid shirt and stay in my sports bra like soooo many other women do?"  Then immediately:  "No way Debb. People are going to see your stomach."  Then another voice chimed in.  "Really?  Get over yourself Debb.  Nobody gives a sh*t."  And honestly … they didn't.  Everyone was too busy surviving their own class.  And the more important question, “why do I care?!”  So I took the shirt off and there I was in my sports bra.  At one point during savasana (lying on my mat pose, doing nothing pose, except thinking about my sweaty shirt pose), I caught my reflection in the mirror and thought:  "Oh.  From this angle, you actually look pretty good."  But the bigger realization wasn't about how I looked.  It was about how much time we spend judging ourselves.  Peeling back the layers isn't just about tank tops.  It's about the stories we've been carrying around for years.

The Story We Keep Telling Ourselves

I recently looked at photos of myself from a fitness transformation competition a few years ago. I was around 135 pounds. Lean. Strong. Fit. And when I look at the photo now, I think: "Wow Debb. You looked awesome!" But then I remembered something. I didn't think I looked awesome when that photo was taken. I remember standing there feeling insecure. Comparing myself to the bikini fitness model girls. Feeling like I didn't belong. Even on my wedding day. When I look back at pics now, I think: "You looked beautiful." But I remember standing in front of the mirror that morning, wondering if I should have bought different spanx to tuck in my lower tummy. Sad.  I’m realizing now that the problem isn’t my body. The problem is the story that keeps repeating itself in my head, even decades later. As a kid I heard things from extended family like: "You've got your dad's side of the family kind of body.  Grossa.  (Meaning thick).  Thick legs. Big butt." Portuguese humour. No malicious intent.  Just how they learned.  But those words stuck. Forty years later and they're still hanging around in the background. The good news is, the past is the past. I can't change it. But what I can change is the script moving forward. Grateful for my husband Rui who’s already mastered this script for me.  According to him, I'm “so beautiful, so amazing, so funny, so smart and the most amazing wife ever.  I’m a lucky man.”  He calls me Super Debbie.  True story.  Maybe Rui needs to start selling affirmation handbooks or children’s books.  Super Rui saves the day!

Jeep Life and the Duck Situation

Let's talk about the ducks.  When I bought my Jeep (last month), I had no idea about “Jeep Ducking.”  At all.  Zero.  At the dealership there was a huge duck poster, so I asked the sales guy:  "What's up with the duck?"  He was surprised I didn’t know about it and explained the whole thing.  Jeep owners leave little ducks on other Jeeps.  Apparently it's a thing.  My exact words were, "That's so weird. I’m not doing that."  Fast forward a few weeks.  I now have ducks on my dashboard.  I've received ducks from my family and friends and someone may or may not have ordered a dozen ducks on Amazon over the weekend to start leaving on other Jeeps.  Yes.  I've become part of the weirdness.  There's also the Jeep Wave.  Another thing I knew nothing about.  For two weeks I thought random strangers were waving at me because I was just friendly looking.  Nope!  It turns out, they all own Jeeps.  Now I wave back.  And I love it!  Rui was driving Betty last week and waving at fellow Jeep owners and said, “I love this little Jeep club my love.  So nice!”  If you know Rui, it’s even funnier because of his cute little accent. My favourite duck so far is a little carrot duck that someone anonymously left on my Jeep last week. A complete stranger (or a yoga/Pilates friend since it happened when I was parked outside of the studio), took thirty seconds out of their day to do something kind. In a world that can feel heavy sometimes, that's pretty cool. I cried. Shocking, I know.  Yesterday, I left a duck on a jeep at Costco.  I walked away smiling, knowing someone else would smile when they saw it (especially after the buggy madness likely experienced inside of Costco).  

Final Tea

Maybe that's what this whole journey is teaching me. Be kind.  To others and to yourself.  The goal isn't perfection. The goal isn't a perfect body. Perfect hormones. Perfect habits. Or a perfect number on the scale. The goal is to notice. To notice our thoughts. To notice our wins. To notice when we're being too hard on ourselves. To notice the small moments that make us smile. A good workout. A healthy meal. A sunny walk. A supportive husband. A random duck on a Jeep. Life isn't happening when we finally lose weight.  Life is happening right now.  Hormones may be hormoning.  But maybe my mindset is “mindsetting.”

And maybe that's the real tea.

Until next Tuesday … 

Building strength, mindset, and real-life consistency … one breath at a time :)

💗 Yoga Debb