Let’s be honest. Menopause sucks! There aren’t too many classy, eloquent ways to describe this mind-sucking passage of a woman’s life. Each woman experiences menopause differently, some tiptoe through the symptoms, while other seem to crawl through the mud like they are competitors in a medieval Warrior Dash competition. But there is one thing most women agree on. Once the journey is complete there will be no more need for tampons and maxi pads. Hallelujah!

There is a funny little book entitled, 231 Other Ways to Use a Sanitary Napkin: The Ultimate Recycling Guide for Women Who Have Moved On by Karen Isaacson. The title of the book is self-explanatory; there are many other uses for those annoying diaper-like products. You will probably never have any withdraws from buying feminine products, but just in case you feel the urge here are some other useful ways to use sanitary napkins.

A dust rag – A maxi pad picks up dust better than any feather duster, leaving no excess dust behind.

A bandage – Obviously, it is absorbent. Enough said.

Blister protection – During menopause women typically experience weight gain due to a slower metabolism, so perhaps you just bought an expensive pair of running shoes and are now feeling the effects of breaking in these shoes. Affix a pad to the heel of your shoe and you have instant, padded protection.

Inserts – Speaking of shoes, given the absorbent nature of pads they work miracles for sweaty, stinky shoes. Slide a pad into your shoe, leaving the existing sole in place, and any odor causing moisture will get absorbed in the pad, not stuck in your closet or gym bag. You can try this for your teenager’s gym shoes, but I am not sure how well this will go over with them.

Ice Pack – To create a one-of-a-kind ice pack, submerge the pad in water, place it in the freezer and let freeze. You will have an instant ice pack.

Sweatband – No, I am not suggesting you color sanitary pads pretty colors with your markers and attach them to your forehead during your morning run. However, a pad works wonders inside baseball helmets, racing helmets, football helmets. There are men who will admit (although, they probably are only admitting it under extreme conditions) that they stick these pads inside their helmets to absorb the sweat from their foreheads. Not only does this keep them cool, but it keeps the helmets from sliding around on the forehead from an overabundance of perspiration.

These are just a few ideas for ways to use sanitary napkins. Of course, pads were never comfortable and too diaperish (I’m not sure that is even a word, but let’s go with it) to begin with. So, the idea of even seeing a pad again, even attached to the inside of your son’s baseball helmet, may not be amusing enough to continue to buy them after menopause has given you a free pass to never buy them again.

What do you think? Have you ever used a pad, or a tampon, for something other than a period?

Exercising is sweaty business. To many women the thought of lifting weights in a smelly gym is not number one on their to-do list. Neither is running a couple laps around your local park in the summer time heat. But let’s get real for a moment. Did you know that the biggest complaint among women who are entering menopause and coping with the daily symptoms is weight gain?

A slowing metabolism and erratic hormone fluctuations tend to sneak the pounds on almost overnight. However, keeping active and incorporating exercise into your daily routine can help you in your fight against menopausal weight gain, which is why it is important to make sure you stay active.

Working out can be much more enjoyable when you feel fashionable. The old adage, dressing for the part, is equally true with your workout gear. A stylish, trendy yoga top and some comfy yoga pants will make you feel ready to tackle those free weights and build the muscle your body needs to attack that sneaky assailant known as weight gain.

There are many cute, synthetic athletic clothes available for purchase, but sticking with comfortable organic materials and eco-friendly fabrics will not only provide you with a chic workout wardrobe, but you will also be contributing to a new green way of life.

There are numerous amounts of Dri-fit tees and tank tops, as well as shorts, on the market that are made to pull the sweat away from your body when you exercise. This feature is desirable because you don’t feel weighed down by your fifty-pound shirt after a brisk walk or jog. But think about this for a moment. Where does all that sweat go? It gets sucked up into that tee or tank top.

Ideally, when you throw the shirt into the wash machine the sweat and odor should be washed away, but if you make a mistake and throw the items in a dryer you run the risk of permanently permeating the clothing with that sweaty odor.

Now, let’s talk about cotton for a moment. There are no worries when you use eco-friendly cotton. Cotton fabrics keep you cool and dry, but can be washed and machine dried making it one less thing you have to worry about when you do laundry.

Gaiam, a company whose motto is connect, renew and inspire, has a full line of eco-friendly workout clothes to keep you active and stylish while staying one step ahead of your menopausal metabolism. Check them out online at Gaiam.com.