Optimizing Menopause: Personal Health Insights Our menopause transition is not our mother's. Today, we have many more options to optimize our health from the moment our estrogen starts to drop. This is about the choices I've made to maximize my life experience. I'm always reading and looking at the social media of the doctors in the Menoposse. I've written about them in many of my past posts.

Our menopause transition is not our mother's. Today, we have many more options to optimize our health from the moment our estrogen starts to drop. This is about the choices I've made to maximize my life experience.

Annie: Our Thespian Rennaisance In 2020, we lost our spring show to COVID. That pandemic almost cost us our theater program. Six years later, hope springs eternal. ANNIE brought Thespian Troupe 721 the magic of victory. I sat in the back of the theater, two hours before showtime on the second night of our run. There’s a light buzz of activity. Crew members setting and sweeping the stage.

In 2020, we lost our spring show to COVID. That pandemic almost cost us our theater program. Six years later, hope springs eternal. ANNIE brought Thespian Troupe 721 the magic of victory.

Had to pause on the gymnastics videos to work on my day job as dance teacher and theater director. This is our upcoming production. Super proud of my Thespians!!

My Debut at the Red Hawk Classic My first gymnastics meet experience was everything I wanted it to be. I couldn't have asked for a better initiation. Read about my preparation in Ready For My First Gymnastics Meet I'm still trying to process the day. On Sunday, February 22, 2026, I competed in the Red Hawk Classic at the Meadowlands Gymnastics Academy. What an incredible experience.

My first gymnastics meet experience was everything I wanted it to be. I couldn't have asked for a better initiation.

Ready For My First Gymnastics Meet For most people in their fifties, shying away from new experiences that challenge your sense of fear is the norm. This Geriatric Gymnast has decided that running towards it and challenging the fear itself is the better part of valor. At 36, I took a huge leap. I decided, as a full-time working mom, that I would take my first recreational gymnastics class.

For most people in their fifties, shying away from new experiences that challenge your sense of fear is the norm. This Geriatric Gymnast has decided that running towards it and challenging the fear itself is the better part of valor.

Six Months on a GLP-1 It's now been six months since I've started the GLP-1 chapter of managing my perimenopausal weight. Slow and steady like the tortoise, I have achieved the weight loss I sought. At the beginning of August 2025, I made the decision (with my endocrinologist) to start a Zepbound regimen. I wrote a two-month update in October (GLP-1 and Me), and it had been going well on the lowest dose, which I stayed on for the first 16 weeks.

It's now been six months since I've started the GLP-1 chapter of managing my perimenopausal weight. Slow and steady like the tortoise, I have achieved the weight loss I sought. Here's the update.

After pulling a back muscle just over a week ago, I’m easing back into practices. It’s also REALLY cold. Not fun for older muscles and joints. #thegeriatricgymnast #thisis54

Practicing my new floor routine.

Achieving Lifelong Goals in Gymnastics On one of my recent TikTok posts of my work on bars, someone commented: What’s your goal? Very impressive. I liked that question. Made me think for a minute.  My reply: Thank you! I’ve decided to participate in a couple of competitions this season for the first time. Working on these routines helps give me direction, motivation and specific focus when I go to the gym.

On one of my recent TikTok posts of my work on bars, someone commented: What’s your goal? Very impressive. I liked that question. Made me think for a minute. I think the answer deserves some space.

2026: The Year for Creativity 2025 was the year of recovery. My Achilles tendon at gymnastics two weeks before the new year, and I spent the next twelve months healing and rehabilitating. My goal was to return to the "normal" version of myself as soon as my body was ready for it. One year later, I think I can safely say I've achieved that goal.

2025 was the year of recovery. My Achilles tendon at gymnastics two weeks before the new year, and I spent the next twelve months healing and rehabilitating. My goal was to return to the "normal" version of myself as soon as possible. One year later, I think I can safely say I've achieved that goal.

2025 has been quite a year! Enjoy the wrap up of my Geriatric Gymnastics escapades in recovery and rebuilding mode.

My One-Year Snapiversary Oh, what a difference a year makes. 12 months ago, I was laid up on the couch in a cast. Today, I have 365 days worth of recovery stories. This is my end-of-year recap.

Oh, what a difference a year makes. 12 months ago, I was laid up on the couch in a cast. Today, I have 365 days worth of recovery stories. This is my end-of-year recap.

Harmony Hall Christmas 2025 - YouTube These are some of the songs I sang for the Jacob Sloat House at their 2025 Victorian Holiday celebration.

We interrupt the usual flipping posts to bring you some Christmas cheer through music. The link is to a playlist from an event I sang recently. Enjoy!

www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

Thanks for the repost!!

Waking Your Inner Child Through Adult Gymnastics I've seen so many people awaken their inner child in my adult gymnastics classes. If you need to make a case for starting gymnastics, this is it.

I've seen so many people awaken their inner child in my adult gymnastics classes. If you need to make a case for starting gymnastics, this is it.

Working on springboard punch #fronttucks. 11 months post #achillesrupture. I’ve come a long way. #thegeriatricgymnast #thisis54 #recoveryispossible

Persistence over time is the key to unlock new skills. It’s rarely a “one and done” effort. Especially in your 50s. Keep trying. Improvements happen slowly. #thegeriatricgymnast #thisis53 #handstands

Taking Charge of My Health in Perimenopause Time for a little update about my recent midlife therapeutic interventions.

Time for a little update about my recent midlife therapeutic interventions.

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Baby steps. Add one thing at a time once you feel confident.

This was nice to wake up to! Just reached 1k subscribers on YT. If you’re one of them, THANK YOU SO MUCH! My mission is to continue to encourage adults to step into the stuff of their childhood dreams. If you want to do it, DO IT!! The time is NOW! With love, #thegeriatricgymnast

So many things to think about during #trampoline combinations! #thegeriatricgymnast #thisis53

It's these little revelations from new brain challenges that help us move forward. Sometimes even breaking down a barrier in the gym itself. We don't have to hammer our bodies every time we workout. The little efforts can be just as powerful!

Lol No problem! It's always tough to think of what to do when you're not in the gym environment.

Definitely do headstands and handstands. You can also work those forearm stands against the wall!

What did the GG Beta Readers Think? Ask and ye shall receive. This encapsulates some of the incredible feedback I received from the beta reading team for my upcoming book, Geriatric Gymnastics: Flipping, Recovery an Defining Life on Your Terms.

Ask and ye shall receive. This encapsulates some of the incredible feedback I received from the beta reading team for my upcoming book, Geriatric Gymnastics: Flipping, Recovery an Defining Life on Your Terms.

The trampoline gives a lot of time when you jump high. Helps with the timing.

Once in a while, it’s nice to get all gussied up!!

Some straddle warmups and Russian-style #fronttucks on #trampoline. #thegeriatricgymnast #thisis53

GLP-1 and me I've written plenty about my health/nutrition/weight maintenance experience as a woman steeped in perimenopause. The reality: it just gets harder to keep up as the years pass, as the hormones wane, and as I go out and do more adult-y things (like eating at restaurants). This article is about my decision to try the GLP-1 route. During the summer, I went to all my yearly doctor checkups: internist, gynecologist, and endocrinologist.

The reality of perimenopause: it just gets harder to maintain a healthy weight as the years pass, as the hormones wane, and as I go out and do more adult-y things (like eating at restaurants). This article is about my decision to try the GLP-1 route.