Rhonda Clements Conquered Menopause Challenges and Built Confidence Through Fitness Retreats

Rhonda Clements (00:00) really, I enjoyed two out of the three times we went horseback riding. I really enjoyed that. I'm not an experienced rider or anything at all. But again, at Moab, it was a surreal experience to be riding on a horse and looking at all the red rocks I'm Rhonda Clements. am from Onalaska, Wisconsin. After the retreat, I felt full of energy and excitement and just kind of almost like a high feeling. Like, wow, that was really fun and I hate it to end. And I met so many neat ladies all three years. I arrived there knowing zero people and went away with a whole bunch of friends. And it was so much fun, We were all in the same boat of like menopause things and going through similar things and learned a lot from each other. and it was just a really great bonding experience. Really great. we're not all expected to be at the same level of hiking or whatever. she very much encouraged us to just do what was good for us and never to like push it too hard or she didn't expect people to keep back because someone else was slower. it just seems like it works out that you find your pal and you're kind of the same and you hang together, and It really works out. having gone to three retreats, I can tell you that the first retreat, I kind of was like, ⁓ whatever, you know, I don't have to do all of this. and also I didn't know as much about hydration and eating during the retreats, so I just learned a lot from experience from the first time, like, yeah, you do need to, like, work out a little harder and hike a little more before you go. And each year it was even better, you know, like I just took it more seriously. know, you really have to prepare for it. not just a little walk in the park. It was a challenge. I'm not a really big "water" person. two years in a row, I did the standup paddle boarding, and I was just so proud of myself that I accomplished it. And then this year we were in Moab and I was floating down the Colorado river. like, looking at all the beautiful red rocks and it was, like, surreal. Like, I can't believe I'm doing this. I was... nervous but then once I got out on there I conquered it. It was like, I'm okay, I have a life jacket on. I'll be fine. It makes you feel good when you do something out of your comfort zone. It really does. So I found her accidentally on a YouTube video. i think I must have been searching for something like how to do a certain exercise or something. Then I worked my way into, ⁓ let's do this hot, not bothered And then I went into the stronger three program, and then I thought, I like this. I want this to be my workout person, you know? And so, now it's like I have a girlfriend working out with me when I go to the fitness room and it's really, really fun. it has me focused on being fit and just, you know, not skinny, but just fit. and then just learning that, yeah, I can push myself and climb up that big, huge hill and I'm going to make it. And so it's... good for the confidence part of yourself, I think.