The Art and Science of Aging Well with Annie Gaudreault - Ep 46

Do you want to know how to age well?  This week Ellen and Tish talk with guest Annie Gaudreault the founder of Veev Health and Wellness. Annie supports women in midlife that have ambitious health goals and empowers them to take charge of their health journey.  Her approach to health is individualized and holistic and leverages accountability and lifestyle changes to create healthy habits.

Annie busts some of the myths and misinformation out there about midlife health and wellness and shares with us her 6 pillars of healthy aging.  And Ellen and Tish love her approach that increases our energy and sleep and focuses on all six key areas for vitality!

Things we talked about in this episode: vitality, healthy aging, menopause, 6 pillars for healthy aging,  supplements, sleep, creating purpose, health,  putting yourself first, nutrition, emotional health, midlife purpose, love, support, and energy.

Find out more about Annie on her website here.

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Obsessions - please use these links to support the show!
Tish: Pretty Frank Deodorant jar-  free of aluminum and organic too. 
Ellen: Sunflower Yellow Moleskin mini notebooks that shout SPRING!

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Transcript

Ellen Gustafson: 0:18

Before we talk to Annie about healthy aging, you know, Tish that I love our obsessions. I want to know what you got for me this week?

Tish Woods: 0:27

Well, this week is actually an inspiration from a friend of mine, Casey. And I love how mine friends give me ideas for these obsessions. So I know they're listening to the show, right? So they say, Oh, you need to try this one. And I did when I was out in San Francisco visiting you, I had picked up some of this natural deodorant. It's called pretty frank, P r, e, t, t, y. And just like the gentleman's name Frank, and they have these natural deodorants that are baking soda free, they're aluminum free, and they're organic, and they're supposed to be safe, you know, safer for you and just more kind to your body. But still neutralize any smells, any odors, you know, so we're working out we're doing pickleball, we're doing yoga. And they come to small jar, and it's like a pace so you can put it singing if your feet you want to put on your feet. Yeah, want to put it around, you know, other parts of your body that you feel need a little deodorizing. So it can kind of go anywhere, and just says nice, light fragrance, it's not overly fragrance and everything is natural in it. So try something a little different, a little safer, and a little kinder to the environment as well.

Ellen Gustafson: 1:43

And I think I just looked this up, it uses arrow root right as the neutralizing ancient Wow. That's new. Haven't heard or seen a deodorant like that. So pretty frank,

Tish Woods: 1:56

pretty frank. Yeah. What about you, Ellen, what is your obsession for this week?

Ellen Gustafson: 2:02

Well, you know, I'm obsessed with anything that can fit in a crossbody bag. Who even carries a big shoulder bag anymore. So I found these little moleskin notebooks, and there are two inches by four inches. And I'm showing you my iPhone is bigger than that. So if you think about it, they're smaller than an iPhone, and I got this Sunflower Yellow color. And it's just so springy and fun. And I know that some people may say, well just use the notes function on your phone. But sometimes it's just nice to put pen to paper, you have a few minutes here or there, make a little sketch, write a note, you know, make an observation, I still really enjoy that.

Tish Woods: 2:48

I like that idea. Just kind of just jotting notes, maybe taking down a name of somebody, when you're inspired by something, a name of a book, all kinds of things. But I agree. And again, since we left the diaper veil behind, we don't need the huge diaper bag size purses anymore, right? I'm usually out and about with a crossbody so a small pen and paper would be absolutely appropriate. And I like that it's like a little special like that bright yellow and leather cover on it. So he I think I think I need one for my little crossbody to. Alright, thanks.

Ellen Gustafson: 3:25

So,the color they call it sunflower. It just made me happy.

Tish Woods: 3:29

I like it. Well, again, you know, we always have links on our show. And I just want to encourage our listeners, you know, we love doing these products and telling you what we're obsessed about this week. And definitely support us by using our link that we're going to put both in our show notes and on our website. And by using our link, you help support us a little bit. So thank you for all of that.

Ellen Gustafson: 3:56

Yes, we really appreciate it. All right, let's get to the show.

Tish Woods: 4:02

Today we have very special guests. Annie Goudreau, Annie helps support women at midlife that have very ambitious health goals. Her approach to weight loss is very individualized and incorporates a holistic approach which I just love. Her supportive approach leverages countability and lifestyle changes to create healthy habits.

Ellen Gustafson: 4:28

You know, that really sounds good. Tish, and Annie is here with us today to bust some myths and misinformation, about midlife health and wellness specifically. And for me, I really feel like energy is one of the biggest things that's hit me at midlife. So I love that her approach is all about increasing energy as well.

Tish Woods: 4:51

Though she is going to be sharing with us the Six Pillars of healthy aging. So Annie is a licensed nutritionist and a health coach.

Ellen Gustafson: 5:01

Yeah, and she's also a workshop facilitator that's helped hundreds of women on their sustainable and holistic health journey. Welcome, Annie.

Annie Gaudreault: 5:10

Thank you for having me.

Ellen Gustafson: 5:12

Yeah, we're excited to get to know more about you. Can you share a little bit about yourself and your journey to get here

Annie Gaudreault: 5:18

Sure, sure, I like to say that I had a very early midlife crisis. And it was crisis with a small seat. You know, I had a very successful career in marketing and design, and I had wonderful clients. But I knew that it was really not fulfilling. And I at the time, I don't think that I was even, like, aware enough to say, actually, this does not really meet my values. It's a good profession, it has been wonderful for me, and it has made me grow. But ultimately, you know, with a little bit of, of retrospective, now, I'm able to say it really was not aligned with who truly I was. And I had started to be this endurance athlete, and what we people call, you know, weekend warriors. I just found myself there, I found my people. And one thing led to another, I thought, There's got to be a way for me to work in this world, which is, of course, a very broad thing to say. And after a little bit of research decided, Oh, my goodness, I think that becoming a licensed nutritionist would be a good fit, and a great starting point. And that's where it all began. Let's call the big chapter B.

Tish Woods: 6:39

I love that. You know, we are in a time when women are definitely redefining what midlife is going to look like for them for the rest of their lives, right. And the days of kind of work our grandmothers or even some of our mothers, we just have such a different life at midlife than they did. So women are living these powerful lives with these full careers. And they're not wanting to slow down and pull back. And we still want to have that impact on the world, right. But sometimes our bodies I feel are betraying our such ambitious goals. So Annie, you're here today to inspire us that there's still time, right?

Annie Gaudreault: 7:20

There is loads of time. In fact, people are always surprised when I tell them that the statistics are on our side that it on average, women have 33.1 years of you know, lifespan after menopause. That is a significant amount of time for us to be you know, moving forward. And I like to change the conversation from talking about the lifespan to our health span. So the quality right of our vitality is so that we get to enjoy those beautiful years that are ahead of us.

Ellen Gustafson: 7:59

I think that's really an amazing way to look at it. Annie, you know that we do want to be vital and fit and be able to enjoy these years, whether it's with a partner, grandchildren, friends, right, I think it's really with tissue, and I love stats and science. And so this 33.1 years is really great for us to understand. And that's like a whole lifetime, right? Tish, that's a whole lifetime?

Tish Woods: 8:27

Absolutely. I think this is an you know, again, our whole podcast is premise on this is one of the best times of our lives. So let's live it to the fullest. But you know, Annie in, in kind of researching your whole methodology, it revolves around interestingly, six pillars of healthy aging. And these you found to be keys to a vibrant next chapter.

Ellen Gustafson: 8:50

Yeah, let me just quickly before Andy jumps in and gives us more information on the six pillars. Let me just run through them quickly. There's nutrition, activity, emotion and environment, supplements rejuvenation, and purpose. And when I think tissue and I saw these anti we were sold, because this is really that holistic view and holistic action for your health.

Tish Woods: 9:16

And I think your approach is unique and powerful, because it is a holistic approach. Right? So can you tell us a little bit about how you came up with these six pillars? Sure. I

Annie Gaudreault: 9:27

I think that sometimes we we hyper focus on health being one single thing. oh, well, I got to be running marathons, right? Because that's one thing that was part of my past. Or we say, Well, I gotta be eating more kale must be the diet. Right? And the reality is in science is very clear on this. It has demonstrated this, whether you're a man or a woman, are 3060 80 and beyond, is that it is a combination of factors that keep people vital, that keeps our bodies thriving, that keeps injury prevention, disease prevention, all these things. And of course, nutrition is one of them. It goes without saying you cannot it's not that I don't love food. I'm a nutritionist and full disclosure. I think I'd live for my next meal. But, but I also know that we are very focused on a society where, you know, women are held to a certain image and and I'm very reluctant around weight loss so that we have a conversation that is actually balanced. But of course, nutrition is one of the pillars because we have to really be mindful of its effect on us. Because it's not just physical health. It is also how we feel so our moods and of course, our cognitive health, right, our mental fitness, as I like to call it,

Ellen Gustafson: 10:55

That all can come just from the nutrition pillar. Right?

Annie Gaudreault: 10:59

Exactly, exactly. And supplementation is, you know, in a way should be tied within nutrition in a sense that I'm a nutrition first person supplements may be second, it is not always required. Science around supplementation is extremely difficult to prove. And very, very controversial, as we all know. So I always try to give women the tools that they need to make the best decisions for themselves in terms of diet. But in some cases, we do need supplements, and there is no question about it, that there are moments in time where they're very appropriate. And so that's really the foundation along with the pillar of activity. And here the nomenclature is, is important. In some ways, I like to talk about movement, because activity sometimes sends women running in the opposite direction, because we, you know, we have these visuals of horrible gyms wearing lycra. And the last thing we want to do is be seen in those places wearing those clothes. It's very intimidating, right? So there's a whole socialization around that as well. So movement is really a key, of course, pillar, really talking about just the day to day movement, and doing things that also pleasure us as opposed to fitting in, in a certain box out there.

Ellen Gustafson: 12:31

Yeah, I love that, you know, Tisha and I are really into hiking, and that kind of movement of being outside in nature, talking to one another being with friends. So there's like this social component to, and there's so many ways to get that movement without having to go to a gym, I know gyms are great. And we love those. But there's yoga, there's just tracking your steps, too, right? I mean, doing chores, that that is movement. But I know we're going to get into the six pillars in a little bit more detail. I wanted us to kind of hit on this idea, though, of misinformation out there, Annie. And I do think that at midlife, we are bombarded with so many different things that, you know, help us understand and sort through some of that, oh, my goodness,

Annie Gaudreault: 13:24

this is a daily crazy occurrence for me, because it can set me off on fire. Because we there are so many sources that are doing disservice to women. So one is it's a time where we need to be well informed yet. It is filled with all kinds of nonsense. And we have to be very careful. And while social media can be a tremendous source of inspiration and great information, it can also be a source of nonsense lies, and it can really hurt people. This is where I take offense, right? If you want a rare yellow shirt, and somebody told you it was looking good on you, that's one thing, but to take, you know, some supplements that could hurt you. It's a whole new level of, you know, morality here that I think is really crazy. So sources matter. Usually what I tell people is just make sure where you are getting your information, follow the gold, another good thing when people are are saying all kinds of things and then pushing their own lines of supplements and so on. I always go. Where are you coming from? Are you in my best risk, the best interest pomade? Or are you thinking about your own bottom line? I think that we need to be cognizant of that. Third is there are the celebrity health gurus, as we all know. And usually I say don't even bother. There's nothing that I would trust that comes out of their mouth, whether websites or so on so forth. Now, I know a lot of people are talking about menopause right now. And man, I mean, I'm super excited about that. So some of them, their approach is to bring on the experts to so they're using their platform to attract people because they've got the eyeballs and they've got that factor. And then they bring on people who are actually qualified and that is is the right time for celebrity, when they are asking when they are doing their job as curious individuals who want to learn. So those are the times I think that we want to be paying attention. Right now. There's some crazy, it'll go back to Statistics. I believe that the statistics around physicians that feel equipped and educated to talk with their patients about menopause, it's like, it's less than half. Wow, it's less than 50%. Because they did not get the knowledge in school, it is the same as nutrition. I know in medical school in Canada, they are giving less than a day of nutrition training. It's absurd. I am sure it's not very far. They're very different in the US as well.

Tish Woods: 16:09

So I would I would imagine it's probably very similar. Right?

Annie Gaudreault: 16:13

So, that's also very important. Are you sick? You know, are you looking at a resource that has menopause training, and there are some significant great sources of, you know, training, like the North American menopause society, for example, a great resource for women, and they are all working in the interest of women based on evidence.

Tish Woods: 16:37

So in your six pillars, three of them are nutrition, supplements and activity. And those are pretty self explanatory. I think our listeners would understand what all those are. And I know you offer very individualized and customize plans for your clients with those three different pillars. But can you explain a little bit more about what I refer to as your E pillar, which is the emotion and environment pillar? What do you mean by that? And how do you work with people with that?

Annie Gaudreault: 17:05

Yes, this is definitely not a predictable one. Yet. It's very interesting, as we witness how we behave, and our thoughts and beliefs, a lot has to do with who and what surrounds us. So emotional and and what I call environmental health is really looking at all of those things that surround us. Are they supporting me? Are they also providing the positive influence that I need? Because there's a couple of very frightening things. The statistically speaking, going back to that I'm with a bunch of nerds here, I feel we love it, the biggest predictor of obesity is how many obese people are heart are around you, right. And it makes sense because we know that our actions are influenced by the thoughts and that by the belief system. So if I am surrounded by people who don't value health, don't value I am going to push myself a little bit right, what I call the little mini daily challenges, because that's what we face every day, we are challenged every day, we are going to be adopting those that are around us and women are have been traditionally pleasers, right? We are the ones that are keeping the family running, we do more of the chores in the house, right? We are more even with careers, and so on and so forth. We have more of the family responsibilities. So we come last, often in this pecking order, right? So this is very dangerous. If we are in an environment that does not support us to have, you know, the best behaviors, let's say that will that will really help our health. So I always look at it as a tree. If we look at nature, how does nature get stronger, it gets stronger. By pruning. If you look at all the trees and the shrubs and the plants, right, we cut little branches in order to have bigger branches. And what happens in that process is that we grow stronger roots. So this pillar is all about pruning the tree of your life and not in not in a nasty way. Not in saying you're not good. I don't want to be with you, but to have awareness of how our environment is impacting our life. So we go through a process and a gentle and it's more of an exercise of being mindful most of the time we've been on automatic pilot for so long. You don't even realize right so one of the first exercise I have people do is pick one place in your home for example, that is a mess that you every time it's a you open, whether it's a cupboard or you know whether it's a junk drawer. That's right, and then you go and you go oh my god. So it it could be a tiny little place. We start with that. We start by looking at how can we just remove and bring a little bit of air so that we are better served, because all these things at the end of the day are stealing energy from you. Right? Alan, you were talking about energy at the beginning of the podcast? Yes, these things are very sneaky, but they steal energy from us.

Ellen Gustafson: 20:29

And this is so important. I just think Tish, and I talk about this all the time on the podcast, but like energy is so precious at midlife and the idea of the awareness of activities or people that are zapping your energy or that you're giving the power to do that. I think this is really an aha moment at mid life that, you know, we're stronger. And we have I think, maybe a little more time to get off the wheel that's been spinning. And really take a look at this. I love the idea of the tree. And the pruning, don't you? Tish?

Tish Woods: 21:09

Oh,absolutely. I think we like you were saying we get in this rod. And it's our normal and we don't really challenge the notions of how is this serving us? Is it serving us? Are the people around us supporting our change? Are they sabotaging it? And it's not that we're I don't think you're telling everyone dump all your chubby friends? Oh, no, it's like, embrace the things that are positive, whether it's the cloud, and I always say, I know when I'm in a tough spot when my environment becomes cluttered. And so I know that's my signal, I got to start clearing things out. So it can, but I like how you see even just as simple as a junk drawer, how that impacts you. And it's this idea of sucking the energy out. So really fascinating.

Ellen Gustafson: 21:57

And Annie, you work with women kind of individually on this pillar, I think you said this one is just very unique to each person, right?

Annie Gaudreault: 22:06

Very much so and it can be a tender one. So we want the approach to be very, very caring, and an organic, and not do too much too fast. Because it can be very difficult. And sometimes the process of being liberated, right creates a lot of internal tension. Because we're realizing, hmm, this is happening. And, and and as I said, it's not about judging others. It's about realizing, I am no longer in the same spot, saying the Lord, but maybe I haven't also informed others that I've my journey has also. Right. So there is also sometimes some conversations that need to happen.

Ellen Gustafson: 22:56

And yes, I think it's really hard when we start changing and growing on others around us. And it might be really unsettling for them. And for us. I know, in the past when I've made some changes, and got the same response from people, it was like, whoa, wait a minute, I tried something new here. And you're giving me the same thing back. So I do think this emotional, and environmental support is so critical to vitality. I know one thing I'm really anxious to talk to you about today. And it's one of my biggest struggles and I think my energy comes from this is sleep and I hear this from almost every woman, perimenopause, menopause, midlife, I haven't really slept well, since I had kids, I always had one year out for them. And I just cannot make that one work. Share a little bit with us on that.

Annie Gaudreault: 23:50

Oh, my goodness, yes, this is a huge one. No wonder it's so big business, right? Between sleeping pills and sleeping aids, like and supplements and so on. Sleep is affected by so many things. And so this is why what my work for Suzy might not work for Julie. Right. So the problem is complex to solve. And for some people, it's a multi layered approach. And women Yes, especially having had children where there we change the sleep pattern. And then the brain reframes to I must be aware, right? Like, I must, there might be a lot of sound, so I, I need to be able to get to that attention. It requires tremendous rewiring, and it has been substantiated. Of course, as we get older that sleep becomes more elusive. Right, unfortunately, so I always say to people, regardless of how many things you have to try, you have to try all the modalities out there, right from all the good sleep hygiene advice that you know has been given out there to supplements really really trying all those things, and then trying to change as well the electronic like the sleep routine. So you know like I'm an Early to bed, early riser person that works for me, as every time I change that is I'm a mess, right? So in your case, it might actually be the opposite. Changing the sleep routine might be actually the best thing, you know that you need to start exploring what I also recommend, because sleep might never become that solid eight hours ever again, right? But I'm a big, big fan of naps. So,

Tish Woods: 25:52

oh, I like this keep talking.

Annie Gaudreault: 25:55

Naps are very good. We want to up to about two or 3pm. So that we don't disturb this sleep in the evening. You know, 15 to 30 minutes is kind of the magical number, apparently, according to science, very helpful to renew that energy. A really, really, really big one. Absolutely. And then CBT can also be helpful. So cognitive behavior therapy can help as well. And I have seen some clients see a lot of success with that sleep yoga called Yoga Nidra, which you may have tried before, a beautiful modality that we can all try, of course, it's you can find it free on YouTube, I always say just find somebody you like their voice, and you'll be all set. So trying a number of things, because it, it might be like a combination of eight factors, they start to help.

Ellen Gustafson: 26:57

I really like that idea that it can be many, many things I notice you and I both talked about putting our phones on Do Not Disturb kind of out of our room, out of our bedroom could be one of the biggest things. So I know that you know cell phone and electronic use has is something that people may not realize could be waking them or causing some of their sleep disturbances.

Tish Woods: 27:22

Think about what you're saying is, I think we're kind of conditioned to think there's one special formula, if you find the special formula, then you're going to get all the reward. But what you're saying is each person is a little different. And we got to work and ebb and flow with it. To me that is so much more realistic.

Annie Gaudreault: 27:42

Yeah, and a little tip as well around the food and how related to to sleep. A nice tip is to also keep the complex carbs for the end of the day for the dinner occasion. So if you're going to have some rice, and some sweet potato, if you're going to have a pasture, it induces sleep. So it's much better to have that at your dinner than any other meal during the day.

Tish Woods: 28:07

Okay. And it's a reoccurring thing, theme that has really been I'm hearing a lot in my life in conversations with people is this. And it happens to be one of your pillars. They talk about not having this solid purpose in life, and and how that leaves this hole in them that they can't achieve the happiness they're looking for. So how do you work with women to discover their purpose at midlife? Because I think here at midlife, it's changed 15 years ago, it was all about the kids. Today, it's different for me. So how do you get women to focus on what it is? Is their new purpose going forward?

Annie Gaudreault: 28:48

Oh, my goodness, that could be a whole podcast. But I think it's it's a very rich place. And if we think about this pillars as a little bit of a pyramid, purpose is definitely on top right. This is Maslow's pyramid, right? We are self actualizing purpose sometimes I think gets people quite flustered because we think of what I call the purpose with a capital P like Mother Teresa purpose. And it's pretty daunting, right? We go I don't think I have that in me. I've never cared about something so obsessively that it becomes my life. So a big part of this journey is to start paying attentions to the things that trigger you. And I mean that in bringing some curiosity to your emotions. And so for example, make it over simple right now. But are you very affected by you know, the environment and what's happening, right in your, your part of the world, whether it's water issues, heat issues, right, etc. When we have strong reactions to something, it's a clue that this means a lot to us. It can inform you that in your value system, right? This is something that really matters. So I always invite people as the beginning of this Monday go, no, no, I don't know what I care about. What would I do with purpose? To just simply You can even write them down, right? It's like, oh my god, I heard that news. And I got so emotional. Like, that could be Oh, my goodness, you know, the cause of homelessness is something that we get, we're all touched. But we don't always have strong reactions. And I'm really talking about that thing that think that, you know, sometimes it could be like, Oh, you got goosebumps right now, or you got tears in your eyes, right? Or you got really pissed off. Right? All of those things are beautiful information, to start to see, oh, maybe there's something there. And ultimately, the invitation that I give to people is to start paying attention to purpose is all about being outwardly focused, like doing things for others, but they need to mean something for you. We are living in a world where we've been very much grown to be disconnected me. It's your own path, you're on SAS, yay, me, you know, we honor and celebrate those who do well as individuals that we love. We love that process. And, and I think that with cities, like this phenomenon of cities, and less connection, we have forgotten to be doing things for others, which, which is how it was 100 years ago, not that long ago, we were meant to be working together and supporting one another. So another little part to look at is looking at places in your community, because you don't have to do this at a international scale, is to look at how do I get involved with something that others are doing, for example, for the first time, we just moved into this new place. In less than two years ago, I discovered that there's a group who does a spring cleanup, to clean up our parks and our little common areas and so on. And I thought I bitched so much about how much litter there is, I gotta get involved. Right. So I got involved, I did not sign up for a five year program. But trying new things at that scale will also help you and in everyone's area. Usually there are all kinds of different groups of interest, obviously could be faith based, but there's so much more beyond faith, they know that can help some populations, the infrastructure cleaning up was a little bit of that. And the more you do these things, I find they start to give you clues as to where does your heart is particularly find in where can you Where can you take action.

Ellen Gustafson: 33:03

I love this idea of writing it down. Tish, I know you're a big journaler I think that Annie we talk about journaling a lot as a way to really become more connected with what is moving us or what our feelings are. And I know, Tish was just visiting me and we were really noting that problem in in San Francisco around homelessness, you know, the unhoused. And I think sometimes things are right in our faces. And it's that making that connection, and really understanding what trigger says.

Annie Gaudreault: 33:40

Yes, I think I think that really noticing what the bigger emotions are is such a great way. I also had a coach who had suggested this just came back and I thought it was a really nice in the days where we didn't have iPads and so on. You know, like that a lot of us had magazines like you, you. And he used to say, look at the things that you are reading. Where does your attention naturally flow, right? And I was like, Oh my God, that's so easy. For me. I've got all these nerdy running magazines and travel magazines. And then I had cooking light, you know, like I was like, Oh, I'm really into this, like health and fitness world. But it was a funny enough. I had never made the observation on my own until this coach had said, Look at what surrounds you where you're naturally drawn. Right? Which is sometimes a little bit my issue with social media because you're scrolling somebody else is in the driver's seat. Yes. You got to get back in the driver's seat, right?

Ellen Gustafson: 34:43

They're serving it up to you rather than you being in the driver's seat. I love that. And I know when we talked about a lot of the misinformation out there. My social media is just loaded with shakes and pills and workouts and I'm like, Wait, where are my friends? What's what is to get back to hormones and to menopause. I feel like you know, for a lot of us, it's been going on for so long. And that's one of the biggest impacts at midlife. How do you coach women through these changes and how does that fit in with the six pillars?

Annie Gaudreault: 35:18

So I think that it's important to realize that from perimenopause to menopause, in a way can be a really long journey of time, and that no two women have experienced the same journey. So it makes for navigating this a little bit of a Chinese menu. And you really have to look at all these different things and adopt some of these things. This is the most critical time of life for our diet to actually really work for us, we get a lot, we get away with a lot of crap in our 20s and their 30s. And then in the 40s, it's starts to catch up with us, right. And eventually, it's like a two by four on the side of the head, we need to listen, of really being mindful of a diet that is much more plant based doesn't mean we're eliminating fish and meat. But we need to switch the proportions really, really important. We need to make activity work for us. So I was an endurance athlete, you know, I was all about there was junk miles and hours and hours of training that no longer serves me. Right. And we'll be 55 in July. I don't do that anymore. Right. So switching, so we need to look at the same pillars, but now we will adapt them to our needs. What's really also helpful, the, the healthier, we are entering menopause, usually, the easier the menopause was, it's not always that, you know, simplistic, but I do encourage people that have a lot of weight to lose to really make it a focus, not because society says you should be a size 10 or 12, or whatever the number would be, but because it's really going to help your menopause journey, and it's going to set you up for healthy aging in, you know, with such stronger routes to go back to our tree as well. CBT is also known as extremely effective to manage many menopause system. So while we might think menopause, hormonal therapy is the only answer, it is only one part of the total thing and it doesn't work for many women as well. Right, right.

Ellen Gustafson: 37:36

And that's the cognitive behavior therapy, right? Correct. A different approach. I love that. I love looking at it in that way.

Annie Gaudreault: 37:44

Very, very much. So red clover, you know, many things actually help women at menopause, that are non medical, but that are part of a suite. Right? Again, it has to be holistic.

Ellen Gustafson: 38:01

I agree. I mean, I'm in a part of the US where there's so many of these resources available, right. Let's chat a little bit though, Annie about the programs that you have. And I just love as Tish said earlier, it's not this one size fits all. But you really focus on kind of the individuals needs. I love that.

Tish Woods: 38:23

So you do have three different programs that people can select from Correct? Yes.

Ellen Gustafson: 38:28

Yeah. Can you share it I know there's a one on one training who would be best for that.

Annie Gaudreault: 38:34

I basically deal with women that are looking to lose weight, but really, you know, have more energy in their lives and are tired of the, you know, fashion trendy things that are out there and want evidence based and want to be healthier. A lot of women come to me because they had a an unpleasant doctor visit where we were told,

Ellen Gustafson: 38:59

Oh, your BMI is too high.

Annie Gaudreault: 39:01

Yeah, it's fine. Your blood pressure's high, I want to put you on something, your cholesterol is high, I want to put you on something, your blood sugar levels, your agencies are high, I want to put you on something right? We often I get the oh my god, I don't want to go on drugs. So I need you to help me. Right. That's a really big part of the work that I do you too.

Tish Woods: 39:27

And I like that I think so many doctors, I mean not to put the medical profession down but I think that they are taught in a manner of the solution is always pharmaceutical based. And then there doesn't seem to be that time available in the doctor's appointment for these other discussions. And I love that that's what you bring to the table. So you know, maybe somebody who doesn't have a whole lot of time they'll do one on one sessions but you also have a couple of group sessions Correct? Yes, so I talked a little bit about the Jumpstart program and then the be well AGEWELL society Yes.

Ellen Gustafson: 40:05

Oh, I love that name Annie the be well ah well society,

Annie Gaudreault: 40:11

I call that my little jewel. I love it so much. The Jumpstart is for someone who doesn't want to commit for The private coaching for six months, and somebody who just wants like, give me the plan that will fit my needs based on my uniqueness. And I will basically run with it, like, I will just execute, and I'm okay. So that's a very quick thing that we do. And it's kind of a, it's a half day, and someone does get a customized program, then, of course, the private that we talked about, and then they'd be well, age well, society, this I created from observing that while women wanted to, you know, have a holistic approach, and we're really interested in all of those things. They also were really, really, really missing community. So I decided that I would, then with a long term program, so this is almost nine months, where I take women through all of the pillars, and we go at it really gently starting from the base, getting our foundation, and then we're going to work ourselves up to our purpose. And then it's wonderful because you also have the accountability of the group. And you get to be part of a journey with others, which is so fundamental to our success.

Ellen Gustafson: 41:34

I love that you kind of build a cohort that women are with for a while and can celebrate success and really just connect with and you know, I think right now, a lot of people have time, a lot of women have time squeezing everything in and I love that you can do this online, right? It's like a more of a, a community that you can do, rather than a lot of in person things. So anyone Annie around the world could connect with you, right?

Annie Gaudreault: 42:04

Absolutely. I have clients in Europe, in North throughout North America, West Coast, East Coast. Yes, absolutely.

Tish Woods: 42:12

And we're going to include in our show notes, all these links of you know, if this is something that really resonates with you, our listeners, you know, definitely reach out to Annie, maybe that's the Jumpstart that you need to start making these changes. Maybe you need to find that little community, maybe you don't feel that support where you have, and you need to start your journey kind of away from your core for right now until you get a little on solid ground. So I love these. And we'll we'll definitely have the links. But I want to say, Annie, thank you so much for being here with us today. But before we let you go, I always like to get to get a what is one piece of advice that you would like everyone to walk away with from today?

Annie Gaudreault: 42:57

Oh, and you're gonna ask me some. I think that the biggest advice is just to start, it can be the smallest action. And perhaps today, it's, I'm going to have an apple in the afternoon instead of jumping into a bag of Miss Vickie's. It could be It's beautiful out, I'm gonna go for 10 minutes. As opposed to sitting on my couch, my mini mini mini action today. Just start.

Tish Woods: 43:29

I really liked that that idea that you don't have to change everything overnight, right? It's just get started, just start that first step. And you can change everything over time.

Ellen Gustafson: 43:42

Absolutely. And build on it. And I think as women we're so hard on ourselves, right? And so one little success that you can point to at the end of the day means you're more motivated the next day to make that into a habit and increasing it. I have one last question for you. And this one might be hard to but can you share with us what you think your superpower is?

Annie Gaudreault: 44:07

Oh, that's not too too hard.

Ellen Gustafson: 44:11

I love it,

Annie Gaudreault: 44:12

Yes, yes. Yes, I would say I have two. So one is ridiculous. I have this uncanny thing for timing. I must have this like internal clock. Because I know when three minutes up is I know I get up from my chair. And I know the timer is about to get off. I have this like weird, weird, weird thing. Oh, definitely. That's one of my superpowers. But I think the other one is, I was the most unlikely person to become an endurance athlete and to become a coach and to go back to school and start from scratch. I think that all of this have been a beautiful opportunity for me to inspire others. Because I'm I did not have the most talent. I certainly had a very, very challenging upbringing, and that's my superpower belief to inspire women to just see that the rest of our life is is probably the best time of our life.

Ellen Gustafson: 45:14

Couldn't have said it better. Annie am here to end our podcast. us today again thank you for joining us and He is the founder of vive health and wellness we will have a lot of links in our show notes to many things and till next week mid lifers

Tish Woods: 45:32

next week mid lifers Thank you