Catching Up With..

Catching Up With...Ellen Sarver Dolgen

By Bob on February 17, 2012 5:01 AM

The classic Marilyn Monroe movie Some Like It Hot would be the perfect backdrop to California Boomer Ellen Sarver Dolgen's life.

After all, she lives on Coronado Island (where the film was made) and then there's her book that's helping women everywhere navigate the hot flashes (and other issues) of perimenopause and menopause. She's always on the go and we were lucky enough to catch her as she was heading out for a morning bike ride... 

 

What are you doing these days?

My day is filled with trying to create exciting new ways to help break the taboo surrounding perimenopause and menopause (I call it PM&M for short). My book, Shmirshky: the pursuit of hormone happiness, is a toolkit I've put together for women going through PM&M (no hammer needed!). 

 

Aside from the occasional chocolate chip cookies and ice cream splurge, breakfast is my favorite meal. To kick-start my morning, I have some coffee, an egg on toast, more coffee and did I mention lots of coffee? Some mornings I hop on my bike for a ride around Coronado Island, where I live. Other mornings, I immediately click on my email inbox which is full of questions, sweet words from my readers and a huge to-do list waiting for me to tackle.

 

Ellen Sarver Dolgen

What did you have for dinner last night?

A shrimp cocktail and a vegetable sauté. I've recently become a fan of kale. It is best not to boil it as that weakens the nutritional benefits -- most recommend eating it chopped or minced. It's very high in beta carotene, Vitamin K, Vitamin C, and reasonably rich in calcium. It also contains a property that boosts DNA repair in cells as well as a chemical with potent anti-cancer properties. Basically, it does everything for you, except do your hair. Damn! I mix the red, green and purple kale -- looks gorgeous. 

 

Last night, we sautéed it with beets, sweet potatoes, broccoli, carrots and baby green squash. I now often use it in salads, replacing my old favorite, which was arugula. I have a girlfriend who places the kale on a baking pan drizzled with olive oil and salt, pops it in the oven at a high temperature and quickly crisps it up for kale chips. I haven't tried that yet but it sounds yummy, too!

 

Do you have any kids?

I have two kids. Sarah (32) and Jack (29). Sarah is a certified endermologist and owns and runs her own endermologie and body sculpting center in La Jolla, CA. Endermologie is becoming a popular choice for women in perimenopause and menopause because the treatment improves skin firmness and tone, blood circulation, reduces water retention (that's a biggie for moi), heals sore muscles, assists in weight loss and helps you get back in shape! My hips and thighs are no longer large and in charge! I couple this treatment with 30 minutes in her infrared sauna. When I leave her studio, I am floating!   

 

My son, Jack, is a musician. He lives in Los Angeles and another one of his songs was just featured on How I Met Your Mother. I know I'm a proud mom, but even Entertainment Weekly wrote about it as one of the best musical moments from recent TV episodes! 

 

What are three songs you've been listening to on your iPod? 

The three songs I listen to all the time are written by my son, Jack, and they are:

 

"Daytime"

"I Will Come for You"

"It's Going To Be Alright"

 

He wrote the lyrics and music and recorded these songs. You can hear his songs on many TV shows, movies, music videos, his site and of course, iTunes. 

 

I find his lyrics coupled with his wonderful instrumentation deeply moving. Often just listening to these songs can change my day around. If I am having a bad day, "It's Going to Be Alright" picks me right up! The lyrics of "Daytime" help to keep me out of my ego and committed to be more tolerant, loving and forgiving.

 

 

 

Are you married?

My lover (I say this because I am still in love with him) is David Dolgen - this April we will have been married 35 years. We met 36 years ago on a blind date in NYC that took one year for both of us to accept. David had never been on a blind date and I never wanted to go on another one. Thank goodness our friend persisted and David and I both eventually agreed to meet for lunch with two stipulations -- this was not a date and our friend needed to join us at the lunch. David and I both arrived at the restaurant -- guess who was a no-show!?

 

What was the last movie you saw?

Iron Lady -- I loved it! Originally, I went to the movie because I am a big fan of Meryl Streep. In contrast to Margaret Thatcher, Meryl seems to have found the balance between family life and career -- something we all strive to do. She is an extraordinary actor, attentive mother and wife, and appears to be grounded and real.

 

The movie was a wonderful insight into the life of Margaret Thatcher, the former Prime Minister of the UK. It showed what a high price she paid for power and public service. I watched it from a mother's perspective, and at the same time, from a daughter's perspective as my own mother is going to be 92 years old in March. I left the movie reflecting on the true meaning of a successful life. What is success? Power, business, money, family or love.....everyone has to decide what works best for them.

 

Favorite TV show?

I adore Modern Family. It's a lighthearted take on modern-day family dynamics. It's full of sarcasm and exaggeration of real life, all of which I find hysterical! My favorite character is Cam because he is so quick-witted and hilarious. I look forward to the full half-hour of laughter that Modern Family always gives me! Every time I laugh, I live longer.

 

Peanut butter: Crunchy or smooth? 

I am a huge fan of crunchy peanut butter. I get the kind that is made from peanuts only -- no extra ingredients needed. My favorite afternoon snack is a sliced pink lady apple with crunchy peanut butter smothered all over it. When you are in PM&M, this is much better for your hips than a Reese's Peanut butter cup!

 

What did you do before writing your book? 

My husband David and I work and play together on Dolgen Ventures. It's a private equity firm dedicated to value-added entrepreneurial investments with a focus on real estate.

 

Anything else you'd like us to know? 

I never weigh myself! Ever!

 

 

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