Latest news with #Women'sHealthyLivingShow
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tracy Moore, 50, says there was a 'little bit of denial' when she started experiencing menopause symptoms: 'Hold on, I'm at that age...'
Less than two months after she was let go from Citytv, Tracy Moore found herself doing yoga in Costa Rica with a group of strangers. What began as an excuse to leave a cold Toronto winter to process a major career change in solitude quickly turned into a bonding experience that celebrated sisterhood, menopause and the idea that mid-life could be the perfect time to start all over again. The 50-year-old television personality is set to appear in a panel talk at the first Women's Healthy Living Show in Toronto this weekend for an unfiltered discussion about women's health. Yahoo Canada spoke to Moore ahead of the event to discuss navigating change, menopause and much more. In February 2025, fans were surprised when Citytv announced it was foregoing plans to create a new hour of Breakfast Television with Moore and Cheryl Hickey at the helm. The decision ended a 20-year relationship between the network and Moore, who had previously served as host of Cityline for 16 years. She addressed the news in a video posted to Instagram that was gracious and measured; it wasn't what you'd expect from someone who had just received career-altering news. Moore said the writing was on the wall when the network decided to cancel Cityline, she just didn't know when that chapter of her career would end.'I had many, many months to wrap my head around a new way of defining myself — and my friends and family did not. The viewers did not...,' she said, adding that the public's reaction to the news was overwhelming. "I was drowning in inertia. It was being bombarded with everyone's reactions. I feel very deeply. I was taking on people's disappointment, people's congratulations, people's anger... I'm wearing it all. I just needed to sit on the couch and let it flow through me. Cry a little bit. Walk a little bit. Do all the things." I realized that there were a lot of people that were invested in my Moore A visit to her parents helped Moore understand the impact of her career; she was a trailblazing figure — the first Black woman to host a daytime talk show in Canada. "I realized that there were a lot of people that were invested in my career. There's aunts, uncles and cousins, and then there's visible minority communities," she said. "There's racialized people that were watching the show because they saw themselves reflected in a daytime show. They saw their people." Her father was the one who suggested she take a trip to get away and "gain some clarity." Moore remembered an invitation she received to Flip Flops and Hot Flashes, a menopause-focused yoga retreat in Costa Rica. She accepted the invitation on one condition: she did not want to have to be "on" for the group. Moore was on a mission to find her centre. She thought she was in need of solitude and peace. She was as the saying in reality TV goes, not here to make friends — even though that's exactly what happened. "I wanted to gaze at beauty — the sky, the trees the water,' she said. 'It turned int this incredibly bonding, beautiful, raw and authentic experience. It was a bonus, over and above anything I was expecting." Menopause and the realities of mid-life are topics Moore embraces discussing with her community of fans and followers. Her own journey with perimenopause began at 47, when she noticed her base temperature rising. "I used to be a cold girlie…I was always cold," she said. "Then all of a sudden I wasn't. It wasn't hot flashes, in general, I was hotter.' ...I thought to myself, 'Hold on, I'm at that age. This could be menopauseTracy Moore Initially, Moore said "there was a little bit of denial" about her symptoms. Although signs of perimenopause vary from person to person, there was one symptom that pushed her to visit her doctor. 'The biggest telltale sign for me was my inability to tamp down irritation," she said. "I'm the calm parent. I'm the patient one…. All of a sudden, I was the one arguing and so I thought to myself, 'Hold on, I'm at that age. This could be menopause.'" Moore began hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for progesterone and estradiol, which she said have helped manage hot flashes and other symptoms. The ability to talk candidly about women's health is something Moore said she had to fight for during her time on Cityline. There was an "unwritten rule" that menopause wasn't meant for daytime television, but a host in perimenopause meant the subject was unavoidable. "It's sort of a new generation and a new vibe," she said. "I think that people were willing to jump in and get into it." The push and pull behind the scenes was something Moore had been living with since she began working in television in 2001. Along the way, Moore said there were many times she had to make compromises and navigate micro-agressions over the way she styled her hair and what stories she wanted to feature. "I had to forgive myself constantly," she said. "I felt the burden of trying to make the show more accessible for more people and not just the Black community, but gay men and non-binary people. Everybody should be able to have a piece of the show and see themselves reflected in some way.... I felt the burden of trying to make the show more accessible for more peopleTracy Moore "Some days I thought to myself that I'm not supposed to be in media, because I think I'm too soft for this industry — and that was the wrong way for me to think. My sensitivity is the reason I was able to operate the way I was and reach the people I was meant to reach." The end of her time at Citytv presented an opportunity for Moore to take inventory of her hopes and goals for the future. She describes it as "divine" timing that she was let go from Citytv the same year she turned 50. In many ways, she's navigating her next steps with more than just her career in mind, it's something deeper. "There is a 'me' that exists outside of — I hate to call it this — but this 'circus' of being in a public-facing role. I have to refine and be 100 per cent sure of what and who I am," she said. "What do I really like? What do I really dislike? What do I actually want to do with my life?" I'm proud of myself, though, for walking myself through thisTracy Moore In addition to re-evaluating what she wants to create, she's also exploring how to participate in content creation without relying on social media for external validation. "I feel like that's always been my journey," she said. "You can't take all of those compliments that people are giving you to heart, because it means you also have to take all of the criticisms and all of the hate and all the vitriol to heart. "It's sometimes been a little bit sad, and it's sometimes been so happy," she said. "I'm proud of myself, though, for walking myself through this."
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tracy Moore, 50, says there was a 'little bit of denial' when she started experiencing menopause symptoms: 'Hold on, I'm at that age...'
Less than two months after she was let go from Citytv, Tracy Moore found herself doing yoga in Costa Rica with a group of strangers. What began as an excuse to leave a cold Toronto winter to process a major career change in solitude quickly turned into a bonding experience that celebrated sisterhood, menopause and the idea that mid-life could be the perfect time to start all over again. The 50-year-old television personality is set to appear in a panel talk at the first Women's Healthy Living Show in Toronto this weekend for an unfiltered discussion about women's health. Yahoo Canada spoke to Moore ahead of the event to discuss navigating change, menopause and much more. In February 2025, fans were surprised when Citytv announced it was foregoing plans to create a new hour of Breakfast Television with Moore and Cheryl Hickey at the helm. The decision ended a 20-year relationship between the network and Moore, who had previously served as host of Cityline for 16 years. She addressed the news in a video posted to Instagram that was gracious and measured; it wasn't what you'd expect from someone who had just received career-altering news. Moore said the writing was on the wall when the network decided to cancel Cityline, she just didn't know when that chapter of her career would end.'I had many, many months to wrap my head around a new way of defining myself — and my friends and family did not. The viewers did not...,' she said, adding that the public's reaction to the news was overwhelming. "I was drowning in inertia. It was being bombarded with everyone's reactions. I feel very deeply. I was taking on people's disappointment, people's congratulations, people's anger... I'm wearing it all. I just needed to sit on the couch and let it flow through me. Cry a little bit. Walk a little bit. Do all the things." I realized that there were a lot of people that were invested in my Moore A visit to her parents helped Moore understand the impact of her career; she was a trailblazing figure — the first Black woman to host a daytime talk show in Canada. "I realized that there were a lot of people that were invested in my career. There's aunts, uncles and cousins, and then there's visible minority communities," she said. "There's racialized people that were watching the show because they saw themselves reflected in a daytime show. They saw their people." Her father was the one who suggested she take a trip to get away and "gain some clarity." Moore remembered an invitation she received to Flip Flops and Hot Flashes, a menopause-focused yoga retreat in Costa Rica. She accepted the invitation on one condition: she did not want to have to be "on" for the group. Moore was on a mission to find her centre. She thought she was in need of solitude and peace. She was as the saying in reality TV goes, not here to make friends — even though that's exactly what happened. "I wanted to gaze at beauty — the sky, the trees the water,' she said. 'It turned int this incredibly bonding, beautiful, raw and authentic experience. It was a bonus, over and above anything I was expecting." Menopause and the realities of mid-life are topics Moore embraces discussing with her community of fans and followers. Her own journey with perimenopause began at 47, when she noticed her base temperature rising. "I used to be a cold girlie…I was always cold," she said. "Then all of a sudden I wasn't. It wasn't hot flashes, in general, I was hotter.' ...I thought to myself, 'Hold on, I'm at that age. This could be menopauseTracy Moore Initially, Moore said "there was a little bit of denial" about her symptoms. Although signs of perimenopause vary from person to person, there was one symptom that pushed her to visit her doctor. 'The biggest telltale sign for me was my inability to tamp down irritation," she said. "I'm the calm parent. I'm the patient one…. All of a sudden, I was the one arguing and so I thought to myself, 'Hold on, I'm at that age. This could be menopause.'" Moore began hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for progesterone and estradiol, which she said have helped manage hot flashes and other symptoms. The ability to talk candidly about women's health is something Moore said she had to fight for during her time on Cityline. There was an "unwritten rule" that menopause wasn't meant for daytime television, but a host in perimenopause meant the subject was unavoidable. "It's sort of a new generation and a new vibe," she said. "I think that people were willing to jump in and get into it." The push and pull behind the scenes was something Moore had been living with since she began working in television in 2001. Along the way, Moore said there were many times she had to make compromises and navigate micro-agressions over the way she styled her hair and what stories she wanted to feature. "I had to forgive myself constantly," she said. "I felt the burden of trying to make the show more accessible for more people and not just the Black community, but gay men and non-binary people. Everybody should be able to have a piece of the show and see themselves reflected in some way.... I felt the burden of trying to make the show more accessible for more peopleTracy Moore "Some days I thought to myself that I'm not supposed to be in media, because I think I'm too soft for this industry — and that was the wrong way for me to think. My sensitivity is the reason I was able to operate the way I was and reach the people I was meant to reach." The end of her time at Citytv presented an opportunity for Moore to take inventory of her hopes and goals for the future. She describes it as "divine" timing that she was let go from Citytv the same year she turned 50. In many ways, she's navigating her next steps with more than just her career in mind, it's something deeper. "There is a 'me' that exists outside of — I hate to call it this — but this 'circus' of being in a public-facing role. I have to refine and be 100 per cent sure of what and who I am," she said. "What do I really like? What do I really dislike? What do I actually want to do with my life?" I'm proud of myself, though, for walking myself through thisTracy Moore In addition to re-evaluating what she wants to create, she's also exploring how to participate in content creation without relying on social media for external validation. "I feel like that's always been my journey," she said. "You can't take all of those compliments that people are giving you to heart, because it means you also have to take all of the criticisms and all of the hate and all the vitriol to heart. "It's sometimes been a little bit sad, and it's sometimes been so happy," she said. "I'm proud of myself, though, for walking myself through this."
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dina Pugliese says people 'have no idea' what her life was like before she left TV due to burnout: 'I felt like a failure'
Dina Pugliese's warmth is contagious. When the 51-year-old speaks, it's as if you're sitting with a beloved aunt at her kitchen table, being fussed over and offered anything you could possibly want or need. It's her uncanny ability to move through the world creating an instant familial atmosphere that has led to her success as the host and executive producer of Breakfast Television (BT). For almost 20 years (save for a two-year hiatus in 2023), the Toronto native has been a constant on morning television, willingly giving herself and her energy in hopes that viewers begin their day on the right foot. With a rejuvenated career and an upcoming panel talk at the Women's Healthy Living Show in Toronto next weekend, Pugliese remains determined to connect with her audience. But this time, she's no longer looking to distract viewers from their problems. She's sitting with them in their struggles by sharing her own — and reminding them that they're never alone. Yahoo Canada recently spoke to Pugliese about burnout, caregiving and more. In 2023, a demanding career and years of shouldering the weight of private stressors had taken its toll; she felt as though she had nothing left to give. In February of that year, Pugliese announced on air that she was leaving BT. While she says her decision was necessary — it wasn't one she took lightly. 'I felt like I was disappointing so many people, including myself. I couldn't believe I let myself get to that point of burnout. The last couple months were a complete fog,' she said. 'For years I had gone through different family health crises and I'd been spending all night in the ER or hospital wards. I was with my family during their chemo treatments and radiation and then I would show up on BT. I looked at it as compartmentalizing pain.'Pugliese recalled an author once saying that during a difficult time, she gave herself 15 minutes a day to cry in the shower before moving on with her day. Soon, she began her day the same way before heading to the studio to film BT. "I would cry in the shower and I would pray for strength, then I'd go out there and I'd say, 'I need to laugh. I need this as medicine,'" she recalled. pray before composing herself for a day in front of the cameras. Although it was difficult, her career was her 'medicine' that helped her soldier on for as long as she could. 'When I got to a point where I couldn't draw from that well anymore, I felt this incredible sense of failure,' she said. 'Like I was letting myself down, letting others down. … How could I leave a job that I loved so much?' Soon it became obvious to Dina, her husband, Alex Mirkovich, and her doctor that her body was crumbling due to stress. The first months after leaving BT were dedicated to sleep. Then she began reconnecting with nature and going to church to 'fill her spirit.' 'It was centring and grounding. Reconnecting with God gave me strength,' she said. But like many people, Pugliese's identity had become inextricably tied to her career. If she wasn't working, who was she? Who was the real Dina? 'I didn't know what it meant anymore because I was so defined by this job that I loved. And then I felt like that person was gone. I don't know if I'll ever see that person again,' she said. 'I didn't even know who that person was.' Pugliese's personal life in the years leading up to 2023 was challenging to say the least. In 2014, her husband was diagnosed with a brain tumour, which required surgery in 2021. Pugliese took a temporary leave from BT to support him and other family members experiencing health issues. Acting as caregiver is something that comes naturally to Pugliese. Her first recollection of taking care of others is her beloved nonna, Dea. When Pugliese's grandfather died, she began sleeping next to her nonna so that she would never feel lonely. She cared for her maternal grandmother, who she calls her "kindred spirit" throughout her life. It was a formative bond that she holds dear, even now. 'It stayed with me that life is short. It's finite, and you have to care for the people you live with,' she said. Her husband's health struggles, which the couple kept private for years, required a different level of care. It's an emotional topic for her but one she feels called to share. 'He's so strong and he's so resilient and he's so stubborn. That all helped him recover as well as he did. But it was really hard being in the hospital by myself, having the responsibility to care for him.' Without outpatient care, Dina was around the clock caring for her husband. 'I was watching him like a hawk…,' she said. 'He had to learn how to do everything again.' Almost two years after she left TV, Pugliese was contacted to participate in a talk about her personal experience acting as caregiver for family members. 'I was so nervous,' she said. 'I used to do this stuff in my sleep. I was like, what do I do? They [told me], 'Just be Dina!'' Once she was on stage, she felt something reignite inside of her. 'It was like muscle memory and to hear the crowd laugh and connect with them in that way… The connectivity with good people was what I missed…. It was still there.' When Pugliese decided to return to BT in early 2025 she needed to ensure that she wasn't headed for burnout again. That meant creating a different schedule for her day, building in breaks for herself and saying 'no' to more than she used to. Pugliese's focus remains dedicated to her family, rest and work. It also included a lifestyle change. Now that she's in her 50s, Pugliese is navigating perimenopause and learned from her doctor that she needed to overhaul her lifestyle and get moving. 'That's part of the holistic process, right? You have to keep your heart strong," she said. "You have to try and go for walks to clear your mind and do all of the things that we know to do, but sometimes forget to do.' Although her time away from TV forced her to slow down, she's happy to be back in front of the camera, doing what she loves. 'It's a blessing to be a part of people's lives every single day in the morning, when they're at their most vulnerable and for them to let you in. You bond and connect in a way that very few other shows can," she said. No matter where she goes, Pugliese takes time to stop and talk to people. Whether they're viewers that she meets while running errands or people that she meets while travelling, she manages to form a connection. It's not uncommon for Pugliese to share a laugh or a few tears with those she comes across. 'All of my emotions in my 50s are right at the surface," she said. "I don't know if it's burnout… I'm just raw. All somebody has to say is something nice and I'm bawling… because people don't have to be [nice], so often you only hear about the negatives. When somebody just shoes their kindness and their decency, it goes right to my heart." As a public figure, Pugliese has faced more than her fair share of criticism and hurtful comments from strangers. A glimpse into her social media account shows Pugliese with her family, travelling, smiling and enjoying life. Her followers never would have known that privately her family was in the trenches, fighting to hold on to one another. "There's so many things people don't know. They have no idea. I remember for years people would look at Alex and I, we'd share photos when we would travel, because we both love to travel and they'd be like, 'Must be nice' or asking why we don't have any kids," she said. "They had no idea that we tried... It would have been the biggest blessing. The only reason why I stopped trying is because [my husband] was diagnosed with a brain tumour." Now that she's on the other side of things, Pugliese reminds followers often not to rush to judgement. "We really have to be careful because we never know what anybody's going through," she said. "It's curated and it looks a certain way, but they don't now the real truth." While her struggles and public-facing career could have left her hardened, Pugliese remains unapologetic about leading with kindness. "'I've been called 'too nice' like it's a bad thing by bosses… If that's the problem then I am not fixing it because the world needs more nice...," she said. "Just because you're nice, doesn't meant mean you're weak. Just because you're nice doesn't meant mean you're a pushover. "Nice has gotten me burned. Nice has gotten me in some serious predicaments. … You're going to get hurt no matter what, but I choose to still and always lead with kindness."
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dina Pugliese says people 'have no idea' what her life was like before she left TV due to burnout: 'I felt like a failure'
Dina Pugliese's warmth is contagious. When the 51-year-old speaks, it's as if you're sitting with a beloved aunt at her kitchen table, being fussed over and offered anything you could possibly want or need. It's her uncanny ability to move through the world creating an instant familial atmosphere that has led to her success as the host and executive producer of Breakfast Television (BT). For almost 20 years (save for a two-year hiatus in 2023), the Toronto native has been a constant on morning television, willingly giving herself and her energy in hopes that viewers begin their day on the right foot. With a rejuvenated career and an upcoming panel talk at the Women's Healthy Living Show in Toronto next weekend, Pugliese remains determined to connect with her audience. But this time, she's no longer looking to distract viewers from their problems. She's sitting with them in their struggles by sharing her own — and reminding them that they're never alone. Yahoo Canada recently spoke to Pugliese about burnout, caregiving and more. In 2023, a demanding career and years of shouldering the weight of private stressors had taken its toll; she felt as though she had nothing left to give. In February of that year, Pugliese announced on air that she was leaving BT. While she says her decision was necessary — it wasn't one she took lightly. I couldn't believe I let myself get to that point of burnout. The last couple months were a complete Pugliese 'I felt like I was disappointing so many people, including myself. I couldn't believe I let myself get to that point of burnout. The last couple months were a complete fog,' she said. 'For years I had gone through different family health crises and I'd been spending all night in the ER or hospital wards. I was with my family during their chemo treatments and radiation and then I would show up on BT. I looked at it as compartmentalizing pain.'Pugliese recalled an author once saying that during a difficult time, she gave herself 15 minutes a day to cry in the shower before moving on with her day. Soon, she began her day the same way before heading to the studio to film BT. "I would cry in the shower and I would pray for strength, then I'd go out there and I'd say, 'I need to laugh. I need this as medicine,'" she recalled. pray before composing herself for a day in front of the cameras. Although it was difficult, her career was her 'medicine' that helped her soldier on for as long as she could. 'When I got to a point where I couldn't draw from that well anymore, I felt this incredible sense of failure,' she said. 'Like I was letting myself down, letting others down. … How could I leave a job that I loved so much?' How could I leave a job that I loved so much?Dina Pugliese Soon it became obvious to Dina, her husband, Alex Mirkovich, and her doctor that her body was crumbling due to stress. The first months after leaving BT were dedicated to sleep. Then she began reconnecting with nature and going to church to 'fill her spirit.' 'It was centring and grounding. Reconnecting with God gave me strength,' she said. But like many people, Pugliese's identity had become inextricably tied to her career. If she wasn't working, who was she? Who was the real Dina? 'I didn't know what it meant anymore because I was so defined by this job that I loved. And then I felt like that person was gone. I don't know if I'll ever see that person again,' she said. 'I didn't even know who that person was.' Pugliese's personal life in the years leading up to 2023 was challenging to say the least. In 2014, her husband was diagnosed with a brain tumour, which required surgery in 2021. Pugliese took a temporary leave from BT to support him and other family members experiencing health issues. Acting as caregiver is something that comes naturally to Pugliese. Her first recollection of taking care of others is her beloved nonna, Dea. When Pugliese's grandfather died, she began sleeping next to her nonna so that she would never feel lonely. She cared for her maternal grandmother, who she calls her "kindred spirit" throughout her life. It was a formative bond that she holds dear, even now. 'It stayed with me that life is short. It's finite, and you have to care for the people you live with,' she said. Her husband's health struggles, which the couple kept private for years, required a different level of care. It's an emotional topic for her but one she feels called to share. I was watching him like a hawk…,' she said. 'He had to learn how to do everything Pugliese 'He's so strong and he's so resilient and he's so stubborn. That all helped him recover as well as he did. But it was really hard being in the hospital by myself, having the responsibility to care for him.' Without outpatient care, Dina was around the clock caring for her husband. 'I was watching him like a hawk…,' she said. 'He had to learn how to do everything again.' Almost two years after she left TV, Pugliese was contacted to participate in a talk about her personal experience acting as caregiver for family members. 'I was so nervous,' she said. 'I used to do this stuff in my sleep. I was like, what do I do? They [told me], 'Just be Dina!'' Once she was on stage, she felt something reignite inside of her. 'It was like muscle memory and to hear the crowd laugh and connect with them in that way… The connectivity with good people was what I missed…. It was still there.' When Pugliese decided to return to BT in early 2025 she needed to ensure that she wasn't headed for burnout again. That meant creating a different schedule for her day, building in breaks for herself and saying 'no' to more than she used to. Pugliese's focus remains dedicated to her family, rest and work. It also included a lifestyle change. Now that she's in her 50s, Pugliese is navigating perimenopause and learned from her doctor that she needed to overhaul her lifestyle and get moving. 'That's part of the holistic process, right? You have to keep your heart strong," she said. "You have to try and go for walks to clear your mind and do all of the things that we know to do, but sometimes forget to do.' Although her time away from TV forced her to slow down, she's happy to be back in front of the camera, doing what she loves. 'It's a blessing to be a part of people's lives every single day in the morning, when they're at their most vulnerable and for them to let you in. You bond and connect in a way that very few other shows can," she said. No matter where she goes, Pugliese takes time to stop and talk to people. Whether they're viewers that she meets while running errands or people that she meets while travelling, she manages to form a connection. It's not uncommon for Pugliese to share a laugh or a few tears with those she comes across. 'All of my emotions in my 50s are right at the surface," she said. "I don't know if it's burnout… I'm just raw. All somebody has to say is something nice and I'm bawling… because people don't have to be [nice], so often you only hear about the negatives. When somebody just shoes their kindness and their decency, it goes right to my heart." There's so many things people don't know. They have no ideaDina Pugliese As a public figure, Pugliese has faced more than her fair share of criticism and hurtful comments from strangers. A glimpse into her social media account shows Pugliese with her family, travelling, smiling and enjoying life. Her followers never would have known that privately her family was in the trenches, fighting to hold on to one another. "There's so many things people don't know. They have no idea. I remember for years people would look at Alex and I, we'd share photos when we would travel, because we both love to travel and they'd be like, 'Must be nice' or asking why we don't have any kids," she said. "They had no idea that we tried... It would have been the biggest blessing. The only reason why I stopped trying is because [my husband] was diagnosed with a brain tumour." Now that she's on the other side of things, Pugliese reminds followers often not to rush to judgement. "We really have to be careful because we never know what anybody's going through," she said. "It's curated and it looks a certain way, but they don't now the real truth." While her struggles and public-facing career could have left her hardened, Pugliese remains unapologetic about leading with kindness. "'I've been called 'too nice' like it's a bad thing by bosses… If that's the problem then I am not fixing it because the world needs more nice...," she said. "Just because you're nice, doesn't meant mean you're weak. Just because you're nice doesn't meant mean you're a pushover. "Nice has gotten me burned. Nice has gotten me in some serious predicaments. … You're going to get hurt no matter what, but I choose to still and always lead with kindness."
