Mini Mathur on perimenopause: Fight it with your fittest foot forward

After menstruation, menopause is the other phase of women’s lives that is common to all, but is often suffered in silence. Some women are, however, breaking the chain and gradually opening up about the health battle that perimenopause and menopause is for women aged over 45 years. Popular anchor-actor Mini Mathur is the latest celebrity after actress Shamita Shetty in India to talk about perimenopause, a period before menopause when the ovaries slowly and steadily stop working.

Menopause marks the end of a woman’s reproductive power and fertility. And this is one of the prime reasons why it is shrouded in secrecy and stigma. Its physical and mental health implications are plenty, but lack of awareness and fear of being judged keeps people from talking too much about them. With more celebrities and public figures opening up about it on social media or through media, there is hope that the narrative may change overtime.

Mini Mathur embraces the power of self preservation

Mini Mathur took to Instagram to share a learning about health and wellness after 40s from a friend. At 48, the mother of two says she never thought she would be that person who would eat at home before dinner parties or refused a glass of Mimosa with friends. But it is what she has been doing since she “learnt the power of self preservation”.

“An older, wiser friend Yasmin Morani who has always looked way younger and fitter than her years once told me something that stuck. She said when you hit your 40s, make sure you hit the ground running. That means when your hormones begin waning (the dreaded PERI) you must face it with your fittest foot forward,” Mini Mathur shared on her social media page.

She admits taking that learning forward has helped her struggle with all the woes that perimenopause brings. “The horrendous hot flashes, the insomnia, the memory fog, the visceral belly fat that crops from nowhere, the lack of get up and go, the anger and sadness… I have had the fortitude to cut back on the social excesses that have defined me to emerge a cleaner, leaner and more self aware me,” adds the former video jockey.

Mini Mathur says the purpose of her message is for other women who are going through what she is. She also has a message for the partners of anyone going through signs of perimenopause of menopause.

“If you’re a spouse, please be empathetic, aware, cued in to her. She probably needs you to pull her up now more than ever,” she added with a nudge to her filmmaker husband Kabir Khan.

Also read:Neerja Birla: Menopause is a bigger taboo than menstruation

Mini Mathur underlines the importance of fitness

Fitness is one aspect that health experts always urge women to focus on throughout their life. It becomes all the more necessary during the years when the side effects of menopause begin to hit hard.

It is no different for Mini Mathur, who is taking her gym sessions seriously. She also thanked her trainer for the positivity, motivation and patience to hear her out between sets. “The gym is my favourite part of the day,” she says.

Her exercise regime includes box jumps, side lunges, mountain climbers, side ball bounces, double squats, walking lunges, jumping jacks, crunches, kettlebell swings, leg raises and more.

Following this fitness routine and investing in her health make her feel happier and more peaceful, admitted Mini Mathur in another post. She described 2023 as a year of self work, understanding her body and emotions. It was also when she experienced and acknowledged that a woman’s body doesn’t come with “lifelong warranty of efficiency”.

“At some point every woman has to stop and go into repair mode – physically and emotionally. To be able to reassess her priorities and decide what constitutes her happiness, gives her stability and where she finds purpose,” she wrote.

Also read: 6 fitness and nutrition lessons for 40-plus and fab ladies!

A step towards ageing gracefully

Working on her fitness levels made her feel centred and more aware to handle the organic process of ageing. “Because I want to continue to be able to race my kids, party with them, dive in oceans and eat what I want,” quipped Mini Mathur, who hopes every woman has the luxury of a “self reset” in life.

It’s a soft reminder from her for women in their 40s and 50s to take care of their lifestyle, health and wellness to make sure perimenopause and menopause aren’t as hard for them, after all.