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The Roundup: June’s News and Tidbits

Posted by Liz on Jun 29, 2009 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

[Credit: Special Thanks to artist Darryl Willison of Whimsicalwest.com  Please visit his site and support his work.]

I’ve decided to start a new monthly feature — The Roundup.

Developed for my dear readers who only visit this blog periodically, The Roundup will provide an ‘at-a-glance’ overview of the month’s posts. The goal? To help you save time and access the posts you care most about.

I’ll be curious to hear your thoughts about this new feature so please, share your comments.

Hence, without further ado, here are June’s highlights:

• More news on the HRT front: lung cancer – Preempro shown to increase the risk for death among women who develop lung cancer.
• Something for da guyz – Writer Dana Jennings shares his personal experience with hot flashes. Yes, “his!”
• Gal pals – your second self – Emotional closeness boosts progesterone levels. Can friendships help in ways we’ve never imagined?
• She’s so hot and it’s so cold – A new book lays the groundwork for how western medicine has turned menopause into a disease, and what we can do about it.
• Age ain’t nothing but…. – Is it possible that some of the symptoms we associate with menopause are actually associated with aging?
• Feeling irritable? – Researchers finally pinpoint the exact hormones responsible for irritability towards others during menopause.
• Early menopause, part I – Ever wonder about the distinction between early and regular menopause? Here’s a brief primer.
• A panacea for aging skin? An anticancer creams fights wrinkles. But should you try it?
• Hot, hot hot! – Did you start and then stop HRT? Your hot flashes are likely to return.
• Are you rubberstamping the cougar narrative? Meet Lina, a hot Brazilian 73-year-old who is defying boundaries in more ways than one.
• Flava flavonoid – Good news for all you berry lovers. Tastes good and good for you…in ways that you could never imagine!
• Something to chew on – menopause gum –  A one-stop shop for gum chewers? Or another scam?

In the Flash: June/July Roundup

Posted by Liz on Aug 2, 2013 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Can you believe that it’s August already?! I feel as though the Summer has flown by and that I’ve been unconsciously busy for most of it. Since it may be the case that between work, vacations and celebrations you’ve missed the best of June and July, I wanted to pull some posts from the recent archives that demand your attention.

Without further ado, here’s what you’ve missed, In the Flash…

• Who put the men in menopause…men! Who would have thunk it. But evolutionary research suggests that men and male proclivity for younger mates in order to perpetuate the race created menopause. Seems a bit out there but there you have it!
• Worried about skin aging? Wear sunscreen! And try to get more sleep. Yup, this time I’ve dished up two separate factors that will age your skin quicker than you can apply that expensive anti-aging moisturizer. And you absolutely need to pay attention!
• Next time you need that caffeine fix, be mindful of where you are going to get it. I’m Re-spilling the beans on coffee and caffeine and the news may cause you to think twice before dropping that money on a cup of espresso.
• Guyside: Does my butt look big in this world? Flashfree’s got a new columnist and he’s a male who’s not afraid to show his feminine side what it feels like to be a man. Ladies – you definitely want to direct your men to this monthly column written by the incredible Bob LeDrew.
• Is estrogen safe?  Has the nail come out of the estrogen coffin? Or is the pro-hormone team trying once again to pull a fast one? You’ll want to read this piece for the latest news on the hormone front.

Guest Post Roundup: Sex, Generations and A Whole Lotta Love

Posted by Liz on Dec 7, 2011 in aging, appearance, Boomer, breast cancer, emotions, humour, Inspiration, politics, sexual desire, sexual health, Uncategorized, women's health | 0 comments

As we come closer to the year’s end, I’d like to express my gratitude to a few of my colleagues who took the time to publish their thoughts on Flashfree this year. And, althoughI receive a lot of solicitations, there are few that I feel are worthy of your time or your close read. These, on the other hand, rocked my world, not only because of their breadth and finesse but also because of the love behind the words and thoughts.

This is a Roundup that you don’t want to miss.

[Credit: Special and enduring thanks to artist Darryl Willison of whimsicalwest.com. Please visit his site and support his work!]

• Should fatties get a room? Dr. Brian Hughes has lent his fine prose to this blog several times and often writes insightfully about how our society takes advantage of women. When I stumble across something on his blog that screams Flashfree, I reach out and say pretty please. Brian rocks!
• Should I or shouldn’t I? Oncologist, journalist and educator Dr. Elaine Shattner has spent most of her online bandwidth on discerning the facts about breast and other cancers. Let’s face it; there is a  lot of information swirling around the Interwebz and when it comes to figuring out what it means, well, the challenge can be daunting. Want to know more? Elaine’s your girl for the 4-11.
• Anti Anti-Aging, Pro Great Glow. Do you want to fight your years? Or fight FOR them? Writer and author D.A. Wolfe dishes up some provocative prose and challenges the inner you. This one’s got “win” written all over it.
• Counterterrorism, women and 9-11. Doesn’t sound like a topic for Flashfree, does it? But my friend Anne Weiskopf shares a poignant piece about what it means to be a woman. And a mother.
• Want to get your groove on? Move. Alexandra Williams, motivational speaker, fitness writer, radio host and inspirateur nails it with a wonderful post on sex, exercise and wellbeing.
• Vagina’s are like self-cleaning ovens. Wait! What?! Yes, gynecologist and sex expert Dr. Jen Gunter makes a guest appearance to shake up the idea that douching is a good idea.
• Have you crossed the Big M finish line? Author Sarah Bowen thought she had. And tells us how she hit the reset button before the race ended.
• On Becoming Bendy. Author Patti Digh is at it again. She’s changing our world, one day at a time. And wow, has she ever changed hers’ this year. Want to be a better you? Bendy. Who said that Gumby didn’t have an alterior motive?
• Are you becoming your mother? When was the last time you looked in the mirror and asked yourself the very question that my friend, motivational speaker and author Cherry Woodburn asks in this post? Are you a generational profiler?

Random Roundup: news and tidbits picked just for you

Posted by Liz on Sep 6, 2010 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

[Credit: Special thanks to artist Darryl Willison of whimsicalwest.com. Please visit his site and support his work.]

I’ve decided to lose the monthly or quarterly Roundups and post them more sporadically. Moreover, since September marks the beginning of Fall, it seems like a great time to highlight some of the most interesting posts and news since July.  Be sure to check them out and feel free, always, to send me a note telling me what you’d like to see included in the next Roundup.

• A Different Kind of Hot Flash – Powerhouse blogger Erika Napolitano takes us down an often uncharted road: need not flashes.
• Is S-Equol the Next Big Thing? – This metabolite of soy isoflavones may actually be the key to reducing hot flashes, improving mood and promoting bone health!
• Are You Working Through the Transition? Or Is It Working You? – Women want their managers to understand how menopause can affect their work. The first step? Education.
• “Age-Appropriate” Dress for Women Over 50 – Welcome to the dark ages. Not for me, nnuh-uh.
• The Mommy Factor – It’s Personal – I may be childless. But I am not without children. You?

Shaken. Not Stirred.

Posted by Liz on Nov 11, 2011 in aging, apparel, appearance, breast cancer, menopause, women's health | 5 comments

I have been inspired by my friend Gini Dietrich’s weekly Gin and Topics posts over at Spin Sucks, so much so that I’ve decided to up the ante and bring back a Roundup-like feature to Flashfree (if  you’re unfamiliar with the Roundup, think monthly highlight recaps. You can find them here.)

Shaken. Not Stirred is intended to highlight a few choice finds that I  believe are worthy of mention in this space. They might not warrant an entire post, but they’ve shaken me up in one way or another  to break (or pause, if you will) from our normally scheduled programming and deliver information in a format that is distinct from what you’ve come to expect. In that vein,  this feature won’t appear on a regular schedule as I do believe that into every blog should flow a bit of the erratic; after all, that’s what keeps things lively, right?

So, without further ado… I bring you the Shaken. Not Stirred.

Bottom’s up!

1. There’s a new kid in town and you may want to get to know him better. So you chat about him online with your other online pals, weigh his pros and cons. And then decide collectively whether or not to befriend him. That’s what the new patient portal Treato is doing. Only this time, the new kid is a medication you might be considering taking for your menopause-related depression and you’re not sure about its side effects. Can you find someone just like you to talk to about it, read/hear their experiences, obtain advice from a medical expert who might be weighing in and then make a more informed decision? Treato is doing just that in one consolidated location. Granted, I’ve not thoroughly vetted the site for accuracy and like any medical information that circulates on the web, ‘whatever is received’ requires vigilance on the part of the user. But I am a huge advocate of leveling the healthcare playing field and patients should be participating in their healthcare. Check it out. And let me know what you think.
2. Who knew that weight loss could be so easy? One pair of Zaggora HotPants can help you zap away that unsightly cellulite. How? By incorporating “a comfortable bioceramic material that emits infrared rays to help wearers naturally and efficiently amp up weight-loss regimens. The shorts’ Celu-Lite technology smoothes thighs and other dimple-prone areas by galvanizing the skin’s internal zamboni to promote a deep warming of body tissues and promote lymphatic drainage. This process boosts sweating by up to 80% and aids in eliminating the toxins responsible for cellulite. Gotta give the company props for the term ‘internal zamboni’ but  the reality is that nothing has been scientifically proven to rid the body of cellulite.
3. Since we are on the topic of do’s and don’ts, why not end this week’s Shaken. Not Stirred with a bit of alcohol-related news? My guess is that many of you have seen the news about drinking and breast cancer and are as confused as I’ve been. My friend Elaine Shattner, over at Medical Lessons Blog, has done an excellent job distilling the facts down to ‘what you need to know,’ much better than I ever could have. Like me, Elaine (who is a trained oncologist, among other things) agrees that women no longer need to be stigmatized by their decisions, writing “Women, in my expe­rience, are gen­erally more vul­nerable to the put-​​downs of others. And so my concern about the BC-​​alcohol link is that this will, somehow, be used, or have the effect of, making sur­vivors or thrivers or women who haven’t even had breast cancer feel like they’re doing the wrong thing if they go to a party and have a drink. And then they’ll feel badly about themselves.” Do yourselves a favour: read this post.

And if you would, can you do me a favour and weigh in on Shaken. Not Stirred?

Yay, nay or meh?