First Annual Baby Boomer Girlfriend's Spring Break a Success

After spending a FABULOUS weekend in Daytona Beach for the First Annual Baby Boomer Girlfriend’s Spring Break, I am CONVINCED there are many of us out here who are doing great things. We many not be recognized by the masses but we are still a force to be reckoned with!!!

I want to personally thank those of you who believed in my vision and helped make it a reality. Baby Boomer actress Bern Nadette Stanis deserves a **special** thank you for her participation.

I am inviting you to become a member of Boomer Diva Nation and join us now and beyond as we work to make a difference in the lives of those around us.

See some of the pictures from the event at: http://www.enjoyyourmenopause.com

Menopause: An Equal Opportunity Annoyer

All of my life I’ve faced some type of discrimination. Either I wasn’t the right sex, race, or age; or in some cases I was shunned because I chose to be a working mother.

But here I am today, proud to say that as a woman going through menopause, I am not being discriminated against. Menopause is an equal opportunity annoyer. Now I know someone is reading this and saying, “Menopause does discriminate because MEN don’t experience it.” But I’m here to tell you that men have their own midlife issues and while they may not be identical to what I experience as a woman, they’re going through their own version of menopause.

September is Menopause Awareness Month---a time when we should educate ourselves on the facts surrounding the subject.

According to the National Women’s Health Resource Center, age at menopause is not influenced by race, height, the number of children a woman has had or whether she took oral contraceptives for birth control.

Some women go through menopause before age 51 and some experience it a bit later. Early menopause is defined as occurring at any age younger than age 40. Early menopause can occur naturally, but premature menopausal symptoms may signal an underlying condition, so it is important to discuss any symptoms with your health care professional.

What does influence the time of menopause? Genetics are a key factor. The age at which your mother stopped her periods may be similar to when you stop your menstrual periods. And women who smoke cigarettes experience menopause two years earlier, on average, than nonsmoking women.

The good thing to know is Menopause is controllable with good nutrition, exercise and a healthy, positive mental attitude. So “Enjoy Your Menopause!” And I hope to see you in Daytona Beach in March.

Menopause is NOT the End of the World

For those of you who have not yet read Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age, I thought now would be a great time to share with you what you're missing. The book deals with serious issues from a humorous point of view.

Chapter One deals with the symtoms associated with menopause. I'm here to tell you that menopause isn't the end of your world. It should be regarded as the beginning of a new chapter in your life.

"Have the seven dwarfs of menopause come knocking at your door yet? If you’re not sure, please allow me to make the introductions. There’s Sweaty, Bloated, Forgetful, Bitchy, Itchy, Sleepy, and All Dried Up. They don’t all show up at once, but you can rest assured they will come in, sometimes unannounced, and definitely uninvited, and, yes, they will wear out their welcome! These little menaces to society bring night sweats, headaches, fatigue, forgetfulness, muscle and joint pain, urinary incontinence, heart palpitations, anxiety, depression, yeast infections, and vaginal dryness into our lives.

According to my gynecologist, over time we may even start to lose our desire for sex. I don’t know how you feel about that, but I surely hope it doesn’t happen to me—because I’d hate to think I wasted the best years of my sex life on my ex!"

OK, there's a little snippet for you. The book is available on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.

Tips for Keeping Your Cool this Summer

Exercise is what keeps a baby boomer diva looking like a DIVA. Working out regularly plays a key role in maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle.

Even if you don’t have a membership to a health club, you can still get a good workout in by doing it outdoors. Here are some tips to help my fellow baby boomer divas keep it cool while exercising:

1) Workout either first thing in the morning or later in the evening when the sun is starting to do down.

2) Stop and rest as needed if exercising in the heat makes breathing difficult. Some people like to carry bottled water. You should drink plenty of water before and after you exercise. STAY AWAY from drinks with caffeine because they can cause you to lose fluids.

3) Pay attention to your body. Be on the lookout for signs of a heat-related illness such as dizziness, nausea, severe headache or light-headedness.

4) Wear loose fitting, light-colored clothing. You may want to look cute but look good and comfortable instead of wearing something too tight and feeling miserable.

5) If rain catches you by surprise, alter your game plan by walking in the mall or exercise along with a fitness video at home.

Finally, enjoy the company of a fellow diva while you exercise. Here’s to your good health!

Mama's Warning about Menopause is Subject of New Ebook

Baby Boomer Author Beverly Mahone is taking a short break from her “I’m Still Hot…It just comes in Flashes now!” Summer Tour to introduce her brand new ebook: Mama Said There’d Be days Like This. “My mama was notorious for handing out warnings. She had a warning about everything---from dealing with men to dealing with menopause!” laughs the author.

But it’s what her mother DIDN’T say about menopause that Ms. Mahone says were the red flags she discovered later in her own adult life. “My mama never talked about the “M” word but her bizarre behavior ended up being clear warning signals for me. She taught me more than I could ever read in a book about what to expect.”

In addition to her own writings, the new ebook also contains essays from baby boomer writers around the country who share their own “warning experiences” from dear sweet mom. It covers everything from the dangers of eating the wrong food to what happens when you choose the wrong career.

Ms. Mahone, who is also the author of the best-selling book, Whatever! A Baby Boomer’s Journey Into Middle Age, says pre-orders are being taken right now at a special discounted rate before the book is officially introduced to the public on July 2. For more information, you can visit her website at http://www.thebabyboomerdiva.com

“This is the kind of book you’ll want to share during your July 4th cookout or family gathering and it’ll definitely make you reminisce on your own mother’s warnings”, she says. “Then ask yourself, just how many of those warnings did you end up having to learn the HARD way?”

I'm Taking my Hot Flashes on Tour

This week I'm kicking off my summer book tour with "Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age." Tagging along with me will be the seven dwarfs of menopause (and probably a few of their cousins) and some hot flashes. Now I want you to know they are UNIVITED GUESTS. I'd love to leave them at home with my husband but, just like me, he's had to endure them and, bless his heart, they've been harder on him sometimes than on me. So I'm packing them up and taking them with me.

On Wednesday, June 20th I'm making a guest appearance on the Fox8 Morning News Show. On Thursday, June 21, its on to Charlotte, NC where I will be a guest on Fox News Rising (Fox18). At noon, I will be doing a book signing at Park Roads Books, also in Charlotte.

Now it just so happens that Thursday, June 21---the first day of summer---is also my 50th birthday so I guess me and the dwarfs are all gonna be celebrating this new milestone together.

If you’d like to schedule me and my menopause crew for an interview, book signing or as a guest speaker, please contact me directly at 301-356-6280 or via email at bmahone@nc.rr.com

To Drink or Not to Drink

How many times have you seen someone order a fast food meal, loaded with calories, and then turn around and order a diet drink? Maybe you've even done it yourself. What is the point of the diet drink? Is it to fulfill a craving for the "taste" of a soda? Why is it so hard to order a cup of water?

Our drinking habits can be just as bad as out eating habits.

I'm sure you've heard it before----alcohol, no matter what form it comes in---packs on the calories. Coupled with the bloating that never seems to go away, you also have a tendency to eat more when you drink alcohol.

Studies may say a little red wine is good for your heart but a "little" wine every day can add up and before you know it, that "little" dress that used to fit you so nicely will become a tight squeeze.

The same goes for soda. It is loaded with sugar and let's not mention all of the damage it could do to your insides over time. I'm personally not going to drink something I know can remove acid or corrosion off of a car battery.

There is nothing better than water...and when you add a freshly squeezed lemon, you've got yourself a real treat. I recommend you go to this website and read up on the benefits of water and you just might not want to drink soda again: http://www.watercure.com

One more thing...if you're going out for a night on the town, eat something first and try sipping not gulping down your favorite drink....even if someone else is buying.

Your Eyes are Bigger than Your Stomach

Remember when you were a child and your mother told you to eat all of your food because it was good for you? And she also reminded you how fortunate you were to have food on your plate because there were poor children in Biafra who didn’t have anything to eat.

Well, you’re all grown up now and while it’s important to maintain a healthy, nutritious diet, there is no need to CLEAN YOUR PLATE. That means it’s unnecessary to pile on all you can eat because “it just looks so delicious” and then go out of your way to finish it all. Calories add up---especially at middle age---while your metabolism is continuing to slow down. If you’re taking in more than you’re burning off, you could easily see an extra 5-10 pounds in a matter of months.

More fruits and vegetables are definitely the way to go. Why not try color-coded days by eating only fruits and vegetables of a certain color. For example: On Monday, make it a green day and eat all vegetables and fruits that are green in color. For lettuce, I would recommend a mixed green variety because plain lettuce has no nutritional value. On Tuesday, you could do a red day and so on and so forth.

Today, I decided to do a mix and match day: purple and red so I’m loading up on the blueberries, strawberries, and watermelon.

My Mother taught me about Menopause.....

My mother taught me about menopause....in the weirdest kind of way. I used to think she was a deranged woman for the way she treated me but now I understand it really wasn't my mother at all---her physical and mental state were being controlled by the culprit know as MENOPAUSE. If you can relate read on:

My mother convinced me she could get me into Heaven: "You better cut that out before I knock you into Kingdom Come!"

My mother taught me about the circle of life: "I brought you into this world and I can take you out!"

My mother taught me about the power of prayer: "You better pray to God that I don't kill you!"

My mother taught me about logic: "Because I said so, that's why!"

My mother taught me about the weather: "This room of yours looks like a tornado went through it."

My mother taught me about receiving: "You're gonna get it when we get home!"

My mother taught me about horseplay: "If I've told you once...I've told you a thousand times. So when you get hurt, don't come running to me looking for sympathy!"

My mother taught me about wisdom: "When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

My mother taught me about justice: "Why do we need the police? You have to answer to ME!"

My mother taught me about parenting: "One day you'll have kids and I hope they turn out just like you!"


On a serious note, my mother did teach me things like respect, self-confidence, a work hard ethic and to stand up for what I believe in.

Whether I like it sometimes or not, I am who I am because of her influence. Menopause has a NEW victim.

My 5 new boyfriends

In the past few years since menopause came knocking at my door, I have all of a sudden become attractive to men who wouldn't have given me the time of day 20 years ago. Now I spend time with them practically every day.

As soon as I wake up, I need WILL power to get me out of bed. Then JOHN wants to see me. After a strenuous workout at the gym, CHARLIE horse shows up and when he's around he takes a lot of my time and attention. When he leaves, ARTHUR-itis comes around. He's a party animal. He likes to move from joint to joint. After a busy day, I lie down and take a restful nap with BEN gay.

Life has suddenly gotten very interesting at middle age!

The Joy and Pain of Middle Age

If you're a woman who was born between 1946 and 1964, you’re considered a baby boomer. So what does that mean? It means, you are now journeying into a new phase of life. It means when you look in the mirror these days, you may see a woman you’re not quite sure you recognize. She has strands of gray hair and wrinkles in places easily seen. That drop dead gorgeous body has been replaced with some cellulite and unattractive bulges. These are just a few of the road signs pointing to your middle age journey.

Aging is a fact of life. You may be able to slow down the process but you will not stop it. All the plastic surgery in the world will not help. It doesn’t matter how may face lifts, botox shots or tummy tucks you receive, at some point you will FEEL what it’s like to grow older.

Here’s some of what you can expect as you age:

After 30 years old, your metabolism starts to slow down which means you burn fewer calories. In some cases, the level of activity also decreases. So if you’re eating more but burning fewer calories, you’re going to see an increase in your weight.

Aging also impacts your cardiovascular system. Your heart muscles begin to weaken, making, it harder to pump the same amount of blood through your body.

Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting baby boomer adults. One in three people over 60 years old have significant hearing loss, according to doctors at the Mayo Clinic.

The desire for sex may also decrease, especially for middle-aged women. Vaginal dryness is one the reasons why. The lack of lubrication in the vaginal area can make physically intimacy painful and uncomfortable.

The healthy head of hair and glowing skin that used to make you the envy of your girlfriends also starts to take its toll. As we age, our bodies produce fewer natural oils which, in turn, make our skin drier and more wrinkled. In addition, our hair starts thinning out.

Even though aging is a natural part of life, there are a number of things you can do to ensure good health for a long time. Eating a healthy, balanced diet that includes loads of fruits and vegetables is a good start. Nutrition really is the key. Many health experts say you need food to jump start your metabolism first thing in the morning. That, in turn, will give you the energy needed to put in a 30-minutes walk or good aerobics workout, because exercise is also a key component.

Since we know we can’t turn back the hands of time, let’s just celebrate this new phase of life together!

Peace & Blessings,
babyboomerbev (Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age)