Connie's Corner

I can't believe it—15 pounds in six weeks...aghhhhh!

How did this happen? Let me see, I didn't change my diet or my exercise routine, and what?! All of a sudden my body has turned on me!

And it's not just the weight. I was getting up two, three times every night. Normally, my toes are like ice cubes, and it's absolutely heavenly to warm them under the heater (my husband's legs). But now I'm the one throwing blankets off while he's pulling them on.

Ah, the joys of menopause.

Short Fuse, Little Patience

But these were the least of my problems. My brain felt as if it had gone on permanent vacation, and my emotional state was volatile, to say the least.

Let me give you an example. I recently made plans to have lunch with a coworker. I asked her to meet me in front of the office so I could pick her up in my car. I got there and waited...and waited... Only a few minutes had passed, but in my present state, I don't have a lot of patience.

While I was waiting, I opened the glove box, put something in, and then shut it. The glove box wouldn't shut. I tried it again several times, and every time it fell back open. I just lost it. There I was sitting in my car, repeatedly slamming the glove box—I wanted to kick it! I was furious at the dumb car!

Who IS That Woman?

At this point my coworker came down the stairs, chatting jovially with my husband, Dr. Whitaker. With fire shooting out of my eyes, I yelled—yes, yelled—at her, "Get in the car. I've been waiting forever! What is wrong with you!!!???" Having never seen me angry before, she was understandably reluctant to even get in the car. And my dear husband thought it best to keep his distance until I was gone.

Of course, I eventually stopped fuming and apologized. But what I want to know is, who is this woman? Where are these uncharacteristic outbursts coming from? I can only blame it on menopause.

Time for Drastic Measures

I was already taking bioidentical hormones, but my husband, the good doctor, wanted his normal life—and wife—back. So he worked with our compounding pharmacist to modify my regimen and get my hormones back in balance.

That certainly helped with the hot flashes and mood swings, but the weight is still a problem—those extra 15 pounds mean that three-fourths of my clothes don't fit. Instead of a "muffin top," I have a whole spare tire riding at my waist! It's hard not to be discouraged when you're eating right, exercising (at least six times a week), and still not losing weight.

It was time for drastic measures. So I signed up for Whitaker Wellness' new Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) program.

TLC to the Rescue

We all know that weight and many other health concerns are best tackled by diet, exercise, supplements, and other lifestyle changes. But actually implementing such changes is easier said than done. And that's why we at Whitaker Wellness—and I personally—are so excited about TLC. This program provides the tools and support needed to make the necessary lifestyle modifications.

First, I saw one of our doctors at the clinic, who ordered blood tests to determine what underlying issues were contributing to my weight problem. I had just had a blood panel six months previously, so I didn't think there would be much of a change. I was shocked! Everything was out of whack. Not only was my thyroid out of balance, but my vitamin D level was also low. So my doctor adjusted my levels and added natural thyroid and vitamin D to my already extensive nutritional supplement regimen.

Next, she referred me to our TLC educator, who measured my body composition (percentage of fat and lean body mass) to see exactly where I was. She also counseled me in ways to improve my diet and added medical foods to my regimen. Above all, she has given me hope and confidence that I will succeed with TLC.

A New Appreciation

I'm just getting started on my TLC program, and, along with the adjustments in my hormone regimen, my temperament, sleep, and brain function are all back to normal—at least most of the time.

I am grateful for the help I'm getting from my husband, my doctor at the clinic, and our TLC educator. I can't imagine how most women going through menopause deal with all of this. I have so much help at my fingertips and look how much trouble I was having.

In addition, I have a new appreciation of how loving and compassionate my husband really is—not to mention what a great sense of humor he has. Now I understand why he has been golfing so much!

Join Me

I'll keep you posted on my progress. If TLC doesn't work, a jackhammer might be the next step to get the weight off!

If you're looking to lose weight, detoxify, or tackle diabetes, hypertension, or other serious health challenges, I invite you to join me and get some TLC at the Whitaker Wellness Institute. To learn more, call (800) 488-1500.

Until next time,
Connie