Posts made in October, 2008

Let’s talk about sets

Posted by Liz on Oct 6, 2008 in apparel, hot flash, nightsweats | 3 comments

Cool Sets that is!

I was contacted by a consultant with Cool Sets to “test drive” some of their wicking clothing (lounge and sleepwear). You may recall that wicking fabric draws moisture away from the body and promotes absorption so you can stay cool and dry. Great for hot flashes and night sweats.

Cool Sets uses a proprietary CoolBalance moisture wicking fabric that is designed to wick away the moisture and regulate your temperature.

Okay, sounds very promising, right?

I perused the online catalog and picked out a few items. Not quite my style but a lot cuter than what I’ve seen when searching the web for wicking clothing lines. I’m also not a silk kind of girl when it comes to loungewear, even when it comes to sexy lingerie. So, admittedly, I was a bit skeptical.

Well, skeptic no more! This has got to be some of the most comfortable fabric I’ve ever worn! It’s silk like in texture but comfortable like cotton. Not cold, not hot, not scratchy, not slippery. Just right. Goldlilocks would have had a field day!

I had a rather warm evening over the weekend and the Cool Sets cami and shorts kept me dry and comfortable.

Okay, I’m starting to sound like an advert, right? But I do recommend that you take a test drive like I did.

I do have a few complaints though…

• The sizes seem a bit “big,” so a small is well, more of a medium if you ask me.
• The shorts, while cute, have a drawstring, which I’m not too crazy about.
• I wish that the clothing was geared towards the fashionista in me.
• The cami is truly adorable, but I’d lose the flower embroidery – too matronly.

Despite these minor distractions, I am thoroughly impressed. I’ve not had to wash them yet but the company recommends that you either machine or handwash. They can be laid out to dry or placed in the dryer. A note of caution however; the use of fabric softeners or dryer sheets can interfere with the fabric’s ability to absorb moisture.

Thanks Cool Sets for the test drive! Now, if somebody could only design some nice stylish clothing that looks like cotton but acts like a wicking fabric. Dare to dream!

Poison Heart

Posted by Liz on Oct 3, 2008 in heart disease | 0 comments

Think that menopause and declining estrogen is poisoning your heart?

Italian Researchers say “nay” to this long-standing myth, and report that aging, not menopause, is the cause of increased risk of heart disease in women after menopause.

In a new study published in the Journal of Hypertension, researchers evaluated a number of heart disease risk factors in 9,364 adults who were followed for almost 19 years. At the start of the study, these factors, which included blood pressure, body mass index, cholesterol, blood sugar, blood fats and organ damage were found to be simillar between menopausal women and men, but different between post- and pre-menopausal women.  However, when they made adjustments for age, this difference disappeared.

In other words, the difference in heart disease risk between pre- and postmenopausal women with similar risk factor profiles only existed when age, and not estrogen status, was accounted for.

Additionally, over the long-term, postmenopausal women had greater rates of high blood pressure and illness and death from heart disease compared to their pre-menopausal peers.

This may explain why estrogen has not been shown to prevent heart disease.

Now we just need to find ways to prevent heart disease in older women. Here’s a good start!

Of course, regular exercise and heart-healthy diet wouldn’t hurt either!

Wednesday Inspiration…Guest Post on Fresh Focus

Posted by Liz on Oct 1, 2008 in Inspiration | 5 comments

[Inspiration. William-Adolphe Boughereau, 1898.]

As you beautiful readers know, Wednesday posts are devoted to debunking myths about menopause symptoms or treatments, or about providing a bit of inspiration to get you through the mid-week hump.

Today, I’m directing you to a guest post that I wrote for the ever-inspiring blog, Fresh Focus. Fresh Focus is dedicated to personal development and strategies for getting things done at work and in life. I am honored that Kris asked me to post there.

Life at Flashfree is about change so I decided to share an important lesson that I recently learned about “youthful experience.”

Not only do I encourage you to take a look but also, to poke around the archives; you might find some equally useful tidbits that resonate.

Enjoy! And Happy Wednesday!