In December 2015 I opened my inbox to this…
“I’m a 41 year old mother of two wonderful boys. I’ve always struggled with my weight, … but the last few years have been exceptionally hard. I don’t believe in diets, the only thing I’ve ever done to lose weight is Weight Watchers. I’ve always been a firm believer in everything in moderation. However, it’s not working for me and I have put on 60 plus pounds in the last 10 years. I’m depressed, lonely, scared, and afraid for my health. I’m contacting you because I want to be a healthier mom and a better role model for my children. I have not taken a picture with them for about 3 years because I’m so embarrassed of the way I look. I’m hoping you can help me love myself again.”
Sound Familiar?
The struggles she speaks of are something so many of us can relate to, including myself. After having my daughter I spent 4 years slowly gaining weight. No matter what I did, I just kept getting fatter. I felt like my body was broken and it didn’t matter how much I worked out, or how little I ate, things kept getting worse.
What was the problem?
When I first met my client she told me about her lifestyle. She had little stress, ate really well, exercised all the time, had no issues around over eating or sugar addiction and yet her health was suffering immensely. She had headaches on a daily basis, suffered with frequent heartburn and was on acid blockers. She had rosacea on her face, was visibly inflamed all over her body with a puffy look to everything and no matter what she did she couldn’t lose weight!
Getting control back
Digging deeper she revealed that she had a mild hypothyroid condition. Hypothyroid condition is usually an autoimmune disease. Knowing this I had her start a diet that is referred to the paleo autoimmune diet. This diet removes the offending foods that are known to trigger autoimmune disease and create inflammation. We started her on a few key supplements that would help her gut begin repairing itself, so the inflammation would subside and she could improve her digestion. We also began working with her medical doctor on optimizing her hormone levels.
I feel like I have taken a little bit of my life back…. and that little bit of life is propelling me forward..
A month after her first session she came in to report that she had no more headaches, lost weight, and was off all her acid blockers. Shortly afterwards she wrote me this email:
“I’m looking forward to seeing you again. I’m still feeling really great… my skin has never looked better and I continue to have people ask me what I’m doing….to get there and noticing a difference in me. I feel like I have taken a little bit of my life back…. and that little bit of life is propelling me forward… I just wanted to say a big thank you to you. I’ve never really believed in myself… never thought I could lose the weight. But you believed in me and helped me…. I’m extremely grateful”
We have since continued working together and have continued to see progress. I know that many women can relate to her story and her frustrations. I know that I did and I was reminded of my own pain so many years before but could see now why I had to go through what I did in order to be able to help others with similar issues.
Last week I received this email from her.
“When I look in the mirror I can see the old me… not all of me but lots of me.” I really feel like you are a huge part of my transformation and I’m so thankful that I took a chance to come and see you back in January . I still have a ways to go and I will come visit you again in a month just to keep myself motivated… I think what you’re doing is amazing and necessary in today’s world…. I feel a lot more like myself. When I look in the mirror I can see the old me… not all of me but lots of me. I have you to thank for that because I would not have achieved this without your guidance… help …support and encouragement… and of course your expertise.”
I feel very honored that she shared her gratitude with me and now has allowed me to share her story with you in hopes that she can help others to take the step forward to get help.
That is so great Karen. I always knew you would be an amazing nutritionist.