Project “Drop the Baby Weight”

Project “Drop the Baby Weight”

 

Let me preface this post by saying I loathe the pressure on women to “lose the baby weight” within weeks or months of birth.  Our bodies go through SO much from the beginning of pregnancy, right through the months to years of breastfeeding.  When I studied Naturopathy, they taught us that women generally need at least two years between pregnancies to recover nutrient stores so as not to leave themselves chronically depleted.  Dr Oscar Serrelach says post-partum depletion can affect our health for up to a decade, so this is a time to nourish our bodies, not punish them.  I’ll never forget a woman I used to work with who had to have her crumbling teeth removed that had been affected two close pregnancies some 25 years prior.  Nobody wants to go through that physical & emotional pain.

 

Some Background

Those of you familiar with my blog may have read my story from a few years back about how I released 30+kgs.  I started that when my eldest daughter was 7.5 years old and it was honestly the best thing I’d probably ever done for my health.  It was certainly the first time I’d dropped a significant amount of weight and my fatigue symptoms disappeared, along with much of my back pain from a herniated disc and bone degeneration.  I felt amazing & like the outside finally matched the inner me, without all those protective layers that had built up since childhood.

Whilst the majority of women who breastfeed lose weight faster than those who don’t (lactation uses around 500-700 calories/day), I’m not one of them.  With both my girls, I was back to pre-baby size within a week of birth, but then around 2-3 months postpartum, I started ballooning – and fast.  Not quite as fast the second time, but there were spurts where I’d suddenly gain & could not get it to move back down.  As such, all the good work I’d done between kids came undone & I maxxed out around 104kg by the time my youngest turned 4yo, despite not really having an appetite.

My nervous & endocrine systems had also suffered in that time,  with a health crash mid-2016 that saw me in the hospital with sudden-onset convulsions & muscle weakness that started just after I climbed into bed in the wee hours one morning, having finally gotten my then-toddler to sleep.  Laying there in the ED, the right side of my body flapping about madly, all I could think of was the worst case scenario & not being around to see my girls grow up.  After they ran some tests, I was diagnosed with “stress”.  WTAF????????????  I was certainly not feeling stressed (until that point) and had been through some traumatic situations in my life without ever experiencing symptoms like that.  The feeling of having no control over my body & not even being able to drive at times was excrutiating.

As it turns out, shortly after that happened there was a show on TV one night about Functional Neurological Disorder, where people had symptoms of neurological disorders, but no physical cause.  Essentially, the brain does not register stress, so you don’t “feel” stressed psychologically, so the body (in all its wisdom) has to find another way to release the stress, hence the somatic symptoms.  I decided to try Chiropractic care to calm my nervous system (I’d received Chiropractic care on & off since childhood, but hadn’t been in several years) and I saw a local Integrative GP to get some further testing done.  The GP agreed with me that testing for MTHFR defects & Pyroluria were well indicated, and both came back positive, along with low Vit D & B12 levels & cortisol levels about 3x the normal range.  They explained my lack of appetite along with a raft of other symptoms I’d had throughout my life (and that were prominent in other family members).  The long-term lack of sleep combined with IBS, poor appetite, an increased load on my endocrine system & reduced ability to detox had all combined to create the perfect storm.

The general advice was to wean my daughter and go away for a couple of nights for a break.  Pfffft!  That was not going to happen.  Leaving her at that time would have created more stress for both of us.  I needed to do what I could to nourish my body & reduce the physical stress of the aforementioned issues.  I continued regular care with my chiro, had some B12 shots, took some other supps and slept when I could.  Over the next few weeks, the “episodes” reduced & I was able to function much better.  I was doing the best I could with the circumstances at the time.

It was shortly after that that the opportunity to start Unity Wellness arose.  I always say it was the best & worst of timing.  With all that was wrong healthwise and with the way I looked, I was acutely aware that I didn’t present as the picture of health, but then I hoped my own journey to better health might inspire others who are ready to make changes, which is why I always share openly & honestly.

 

Fast Forward

Breastfeeding my youngest had never been as easy as it was with my eldest (oh, how lucky I was the first time).  Her latch was never the best and the older she got, the more I dreaded feeding her due to pain.  By the time she was 4.5yo, I felt like there was not really any milk being produced and feeding was more about comfort.  A couple of months later, I realised we’d gone a whole day with her being OK with just a cuddle instead.  Then the next day, and the next.   This sudden change brought about ALL the emotions.  Whereas my eldest had weaned in her own time, I kind of felt guilty this time because I felt like the timing was more due to my pain than her readiness to finish.  I felt like if I let her have another feed, I might miss this opportunity to wean and focus more on my health, but then it was such a sudden change that I felt a deep sense of grief (even writing this has the tears flowing).  This was the end of my breastfeeding journey not just for her, but forever.

Mixed in with the grief was a sense of relief and excitement.  Finally, I was in a position to make choices about my body without worrying about anyone else.  Looking at photos of myself, all I could see was tiredness, inflammation, gut issues (which had improved, but not completely) and aging.  Now, I’m in my mid-40’s, not mid-20’s, so I don’t have unrealistic expectations or believe I have to look a certain way but again, my body did not accurately represent the way I felt inside.  I almost didn’t recognise the person in the mirror, and not in a good way.

Before Photo | www.unitywellness.com.au

In April this year, just after her birthday, my eldest daughter was ready to do another round of the Changing Habits Fat Loss Protocol and I was ready to join her.  It was time for me.

 

The Journey

 

I had grand plans to blog a daily diary, but nearly four weeks later, I’ve realised that’s just NOT going to happen 😆

As such, a weekly review will fit much better into my schedule and still gives you an idea of what’s involved in the protocol and what you can expect if you decide to try it.  As with the first three rounds I did years ago, this is about improving endocrine health & reducing inflammation, with fat reduction being an added and most welcome benefit.

 

Phase 1

Phase 1 (P1) of the protocol is about loading the body with good fats, whilst minimising carb intake.  There is an optional 5 day cleanse you can do before this phase, but as I’m already gluten-free, mostly dairy-free & eat organic when possible, I didn’t feel the need but it can be useful if your diet has been poor in the lead-up or you struggle with sugar cravings and the like.  As I don’t eat much dairy, I focused more on coconut products, fat on meat & olive oil.  We also did a 3 day loading period as I only started eating half way through the first day, so it was more like 2.5 days.  Loading well can make the transition to the next phase easier as the body becomes accustomed to using fat for energy.  This is also the time to start taking the Support Drops that help the body to release the unwanted fat stores rather than the structural fat, so we don’t end up looking gaunt.

Some P1 foods we enjoyed include chia pudding made with coconut milk served with coconut yoghurt and hemp seeds, loaded berry smoothie with coconut cream, MCT oil, hemp seeds and assorted powdered superfoods, and roast chicken with the skin & veggies roasted in oil.  Soooooo gooooood!!!!

Phase 1 Good Fats | www.unitywellness.com.au

P1 Fat Loading | www.unitywellness.com.au

One the first day of P1, I weighed 100.2kg.  While it’s not usual to lose weight in this phase, I tend to and weighed 99.8kg on the next 2 days.

 

Phase 2

Phase 2 (P2) is the fat burning phase, with people releasing an average of 300g a day.  In nature, where no shops or markets exist, food tends to be more scarce in Winter so we would have to live off the fat we’d stored on our bodies in the warmer, more abundant seasons.  Meat would also be leaner as their food sources were also scarce.  Phase 2 of the 4 Phase Protocol replicates that pattern, with limited quantities & variety of food – lean protein, vegetables & fruits.  That’s one of the reasons I like to do the protocol in the cooler months.  They describe it as “Keto without the fat” to give you an idea of the sorts of foods allowed.  I’ll be doing 40 days (and 40 nights) in P2.  The maximum time allowed is 43 days, but I want to be finished in time for my birthday so I can celebrate by reintroducing fat when cooking.

NOTE: This program does include meat / seafood as the protein source.  If you’re vegetarian, there is the option of eggs or cottage cheese, with vegans choosing from Inca Inchi Protein Powder or tofu (ideally, organic and non-GMO), although be aware that results may differ if using plant-based proteins.

 
P2, Week 1

Well, I’m not going to say it was a walk in the park.  I experienced more headaches & tiredness in the first week than I have any other round of the Protocol.  Maybe I should have done the pre-cleanse after all?  On Day 2, my bleed started, which was terrible timing.  I’d normally start a round of the Protocol just as I was finishing my monthly cycle, but in starting this round when I did to support my daughter, it didn’t work out that way.  It could also have played a part in the way I was feeling.  It could also by why I found myself feeling much more hungry this time, which I offset with drinking more herbal tea.  Working on Instagram certainly didn’t help, with all the photos of goodies being posted in the lead-up to Easter.  I don’t think I have ever salivated so much, which is probably a good thing for my digestion….not so good for my chocolate-loving soul! 😆

My favourite meal of the week was probably the Herbed Roast Beef with Peppercorn Jus created by Nikalene at Skinnymixers (we did the protocol at the same time years ago, so I’m proud to see the success she’s had since then).  It made 10 servings, so it was also great to have enough food cooked for the next few days.

I started this phase at 99.2kg & finished the first week down 3.2kg, which is still good considering the less than ideal timing.

 
P2, Week 2

The hunger and headaches continued until about half way through the second week.  I woke up around Day 11 & suddenly felt much better.  My hunger was gone, my headaches had stopped, I had more energy and my head felt clear for the first time in a lonnnnng time.  Definitely settling into the groove this week and enjoying another Skinnymixers recipe, Chicken Zoodle Soup (seriously, try it even if you’re not doing the Protocol).  I also made us some Berry Fruity Dream from organic frozen strawberries & an eggwhite which was delicious, but I only had a small weight drop the next day.  Given that strawberries can be touch & go for me, I decided to stick more to apples (we’re lucky to live down the road from an organic apple orchard, so get them at a good price).  We can have 2-3 fruit serves a day, so I’ve been using one of the apples to make my Green Smoothie.  It’s a great way to incorporate the food-based supplements that are included in the Protocol.

This week also coincided with Easter, but I discovered that my body does well with hot chocolate made with a teaspoon of organic cacao powder mixed in hot water with 3 drops of stevia & a little vanilla.  WINNING!!!!!

Another 2.5kg released this week.  Here’s some of the food I’ve been eating in P2:

Phase 2 Meals | www.unitywellness.com.au

 
P2, Week 3

I woke on day 15 to my first weight increase.  I tried prawns last night, which had previously been fine for me.  Nooooo!  Not the prawns!!!  The weight stayed the same the next day as well, but I was also having ovulation symptoms which may have caused some inflammation or fluid retention, and sleep was lacking.  Either way, I’ve decided to avoid prawns for the moment and I’ll test them again down the track.

I’ve been using stocks & broths for cooking in place of oil.  As a bonus, the bone broths are good for healing a leaky gut and increasing collagen in the skin & joints.  The only one that’s “officially” allowed on the protocol is the Changing Habits Naked Beef Broth, which has been skimmed of fat before being dehydrated into a powder, but I’ve also used the ‘Meadow and Marrow’ a.m. Cleanse & Natural bone broth concentrates, as well as ‘Best of the Bone’ Turmeric and Ginger concentrate, all with good results (just don’t tell anyone, mmmkay? 😉 )

As mentioned above, I’ve been reminded this week about the importance of sleep for proper endocrine function.  On the nights I only get around 6 hours sleep, I find my weight doesn’t change or goes up slightly, which has been an issue over the last 5 years of pregnancy & child-rearing.

My daughter has found that she hasn’t got the stamina to get through four dance classes a week during this phase.  A gentle daily walk or some restorative yoga are fine on the protocol, but it doesn’t really provide enough energy for an active lifestyle and more intense exercise can trigger inflammation, which is counter-productive with this program.  As such, she’s decided to cut this round short with a view to moving to the Hunter Gatherer Protocol, which is better suited to those who do a lot of physical work, who are breastfeeding or otherwise not suited to the Fat Loss Protocol.

Down 1.5kg this week after a couple of stalls.  Halfway through P2 and I am starting to see my jawline again as the puffiness subsides.  Huzzah!

 

Phase 2 fat loss half way | www.unitywellness.com.au

 

P2, Week 4

Well, this week’s been a mixed bag!  After the hunger of the first couple of weeks, I’ve been struggling to eat my second meal of the day.  I just didn’t really feel like it at all for a few days, but knew that insufficient protein can cause fluid retention & my body needs the nutrients from the veg.  My weight has been bouncing around after the steady losses of the first 3 weeks, with gains happening on the nights I get less than 7 hours sleep (usually more like 4-5 hours).  Sufficient sleep really does make such a massive difference on this protocol to regulate the metabolism & gut microbiome.  Thankfully, the gains were offset somewhat by some good losses (1.3kg one day, 700g a couple of days later).  On the day I dropped 700g, I also dropped into the 80’s, for a total loss from the start of 10.3kg.  Here’s Debra Messing reenacting my reaction (the subdued version, according to my daughter):

However, this week also saw the return of headaches & dizziness, along with lower back pain and a short temper.  I was not eating any differently, but I did end up starting my cycle this week, which explained those symptoms, along with the yo-yoing weight.

One of the “free” foods we can test on the protocol is konjac noodles, but given they haven’t been good for me in previous rounds, I’ve avoided them, instead trying kelp noodles.  They are good for me!!!  It’s great to have them as an option when I want something a bit extra.

 
Onwards & downwards!
 
 
P2, Week 5

I was reading a post in the Facebook Support Group for the Protocol that others have experienced stalls at the changing of a “decade” of weight, so my week of bouncing just either side of 90 was normal!  Once my cycle started, the weight started moving again.  I’ve also noticed a return of hunger some days.  Not gnawing, but a feeling of emptiness that I can generally fill with some extra water, herbal tea or a hot chocolate.  It essentially means my body is having to access more fat stores for energy, so it’s easy to deal with.

Unfortunately, I’ve run out of colloidal minerals (I didn’t buy a new bottle this round as I already had some in the fridge) so despite making efforts to get to sleep earlier, I had some sleep disturbance from muscle twitching (I tend to be low in magnesium), but I sorted that quickly with some Magnesium Chloride spray on my neck, shoulders & thinner-skinned areas of my body.

There were a couple of physical changes I really noticed this week.  First, my 4yo daughter wanted me to climb under some equipment with her at gymnastics.  I was able to crawl and get up quickly and easily, without the feeling of having to haul myself up.  It’s at moments like that you realise what a difference the reduction of weight and inflammation makes.  The following day, it just feel like my whole body was sucking inwards and tightening.  It was weird, but good.  I also noticed I kept feeling my glutes 😆 which are more prominent & feel higher without as much padding.

We found a few clothes when op-shopping earlier this week, including a free pair of black denim jeggings in a size smaller than  usually wear, but by the end of the week, they were getting roomier, as were some of my other clothes, so I started off as an 18-20 and am now heading towards size 14 (size 10 if you’re reading from the US).  It feels great to be feeling more comfortable in my clothes and in my skin.

Even if the stall I had means I don’t quite reach my goal for this round, I’m really happy with and proud of what I’ve achieved already.  I finished the week with an 800g drop, with my weekly total being 2.4kg for an overall reduction of 12.2kg.

Only 5 more days left of P2 before I stop the drops for the 3 days of Phase 3 then enter the reintroduction phase.  I could go another 3 days in P2 if I wanted to, but have decided I want to celebrate my birthday next weekend by reintroducing good fats 😀 , which after 6 weeks of P2/P3 will be even better than cake!

 
P2, Week 6

I started this week with a 200g gain.  Inflammatory gains are 700g or more, so whilst not a major concern, it’s still not what anyone wants to see when trying to reduce weight.  The only thing different diet-wise was sourcing apples from a different place.  Whilst still organic, they were a different variety, which can sometimes make a difference.

The next 2 days I had drops of -100g & -400g respectively, before my youngest child came down with a cold & sleep went out the window as she felt miserable for the next couple of nights with a blocked nose & sore throat.  As such, there was only a net 300g loss over the 5 days.  More than a stick of butter, but much less than previous weeks.  I also had more bloating & gut pain this week, which could also be attributed to poor sleep quality as there weren’t really any dietary changes.

So, final results for P2 are 11.5kg down on top of the 1kg in P1, for a total of 12.5kg to date.  Measurements-wise, I’ve shed 47cm (or 18.5″) and I’ve dropped 2 dress sizes.  I’m moving easier & my chiro was amazed by the difference in my appearance.

 

Phase 3

Phase 3 is exactly like Phase 2, only you stop taking the drops and allow your body time to adjust to not having them for 3 days before testing new foods.  I went down 200g, but also had ovulation signs, which could also have contributed to the reduced losses, bloating & fluid retention a had a few days prior.

Here’s how I looked at the start of the protocol vs the end of P3:

4 Phase Fat Loss Protocol Round 4 | www.unitywellness.com.au4 Phase Fat Loss Protocol Round 4 | www.unitywellness.com.au

Much less “jowly”, which was one of things that really made me look old and hopefully, I’ll no longer have any questions about my “pregnancy”.  Obviously, I’ve still got a way to go with another round to do later in the year, but I’m feeling much more comfortable in my skin and clothes!

For the chart geeks amongst you, this chart over the 3 Phases so far shows that fat loss is not always a smooth journey, more akin to rolling down a bumpy mountain 😆

Weight loss Chart 4PFLP | www.unitywellness.com.au

 

Phase 4

Phase 4 is the final & probably most important phase of the protocol.  It’s when we reintroduce other foods into the diet, with a new food every 3 days for 3 weeks, with the aim of stabilising our weight at the lowest point we’ve reached so far by learning which foods agree & disagree with our bodies.  It is this individualised approach that makes this protocol so powerful as not all foods suit all people (even those deemed “healthy” in various eating approaches).  We get to eat the fat/skin on meat and food quantities and combinations are no longer restricted (although it’s about eating until you are just full).  There is a recommended order in which to reintroduce foods, which I followed roughly.

 

Phase 4, Week 1

Happy birthday to meeeee!  Day 1 of P4 started off a little more rushed than I would have liked, but my celebratory breakfast of organic t-bone steak with the fat was a perfect start to the day.  I also snuck in some grilled Trevalla for lunch and tested MCT oil as my first extra fat.  All of that went well, with another 700g gone the next day.  By day 3, I started noticing some bowel issues, most likely due to an increase in food quantity & not drinking enough water due to busyness over the weekend.

Olive oil had been problematic for me in previous rounds, but is fine for me this time, which is great news as it’s one fat all the family can eat.  Even though Phase 4 is about stabilising, the more gradual food re-introductions this time & sticking with more of the foods that work for me mean I’m another kilo and a bit down by the end of the first week.

I tried doing a dance class with my daughter at the end of this week (it was a Def Leppard song, so I HAD to give it a go), but my blood pressure, which tends to be low anyway, didn’t really cope with the spins & changes in position 😥  Woe & dammit!  Nothing a lot of water, an apple & staying still for a while couldn’t help, though.

 

Phase 4, Week 2

Carrots, sweet potatoes & ghee were re-introduced this week.  All good with ghee & sweet potatoes, but carrots will be relegated to the ‘sometimes’ list for me.  Dark chocolate (85%, no soy or dairy) is also a yes for me, so praise the Aztec Gods!  White fish is also on the ‘yes’ list, but I’m hanging off on trying shellfish for a little longer.

I did have a couple of small gains this week – one due to lack of sleep (always happens on a Saturday when I have to be up early) and another on the day I started spotting ahead of my cycle.  My teen was hit with the flu this week & was “kind” enough to share with me a few days later at the end of the second week.  Another half a kilo down.

 

Phase 4, Week 3

I don’t think there’s anyone in this country who has either not had the flu this year or known someone wiped out by it.  It had me in bed for 3 days with a killer migraine and an impressive fever with chills.  Just as I was coming out of it, the 4yo got it.  My husband also got it, but the cough got him first, rather than the migraine.  It’s the first time I can remember us all being sick at the same time, and certainly the worst flu any of us have ever had.

Between lack of appetite from being sick & then sleeping lots, I haven’t really been eating much.  I have reintroduced coconut in various forms, though – yoghurt, cream & water – along with hemp & chia seeds.  I know that’s more than recommended to reintroduce in one week, but I’ve just been trying to recover & rehydrate.  Luckily, they’ve all been fine and chia pudding made with coconut water & vanilla served with vanilla coconut yoghurt & hemp seeds has become my staple breakfast option.  So quick and easy to make ahead, full of good fats and minerals and absolutely delicious!

1.6kg down this week (credit to Influenza A 😆  ), for a total reduction in P4 of more than 3kg – something I haven’t experienced in previous rounds.  Taking the reintroductions more slowly really is beneficial.  On the last day of P4, I was 15.9kg less than when I started.

 

Phase 4eva

Phase 4eva is…..forever.  It’s about taking the lessons learnt about the way your body reacts to different foods and making choices that support your body.  The foods that work for me may be completely different than what works for you, but the process of discovery is what I wanted to share throughout this post.

There are probably many foods to keep testing, which you can do as long as you like.  You don’t need to obsess over every morsel of food that passes your lips, but why would you want to go back to the foods that cause inflammation, gut issues, autoimmune disease, pain and weight gain?  This protocol is about educating and empowering you to make lasting changes.  Following the 80/20 rule (or 90/10) is a good guide; eat what works for you 80% of the time, but don’t stress if you go out for a meal occasionally or have a celebration to attend.  Life’s for living!

Many people also find that incorporating Intermittent Fasting is useful to help keep inflammation at bay and balance the endocrine system, with the 16:8 version being most popular (eat within an 8 hour period, then fast for 16 hours overnight), but it’s not an official component of this Fat Loss Protocol.

I had a couple of inflammatory gains at the start of P4eva , along with a nasty post-flu head cold and went up 2.4kg on my lowest weight.  By increasing the foods that are good for my body and avoiding the grains that lead to the gains, I’m back to my lowest weight and holding stable around 84kg (can vary 100-200g either side) 4 weeks into P4eva.  We’re deep in mid-Winter here so the thought of doing outdoor activities is really unappealing, even though I’d love to get out into the garden.  Instead, I’ve just started enjoying the new yoga mat I got for my birthday and have been working my way through some of the free yoga routines on YouTube.  It really feels great to be doing that again now that my back pain has lessened again (one of my favourite benefits of the protocol!) and I look forward to the strength that will bring.

On that note, I am finishing up this marathon post happy with what I’ve achieved to date.  I really wanted to feel more comfortable in my skin, beyond just weight loss, and that is happening.  I’m a work in progress, but hopefully my story so far can help others who are facing similar challenges.  I love that I was able to nourish my kids for so many years, but possibly more, I love that I am now taking the time to nourish my own body and mind and caring for the carer.

Thank you to those of of you who have followed along with me this round (especially those who waited so long for me to post the Phase 4 results!), sent beautiful messages of support & have been inspired to do the protocol yourself.  If you have any questions about what you’ve read, please feel free to comment below or send me a message.

Nyree xx

 

 

 


 

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How I released 30+kg with the 4 Phase Fat Loss Protocol

How I released 30+kg with the 4 Phase Fat Loss Protocol

 

Grab yourself a cuppa….

 

I’ve figured it’s time to share my experience with Changing Habits so you can understand why I’m such a fan.  It’s a story of increased health & decreased weight that I’ve been meaning to share for a little while.  In fact, I started writing this post nearly 9 months ago, so it’s well & truly gestated and this story is ready to go out to the world.

Since childhood, I’ve always been ‘bigger’ than a lot of my peers, be that in height or weight.  Although looking back on some of the pics now I don’t think I looked as huge as some of my classmates made me out to be, I was certainly heavier than most. Weight issues ran in the family.  Chips, icecream & softdrink each night was the norm growing up.  I remember when I was maybe 11’ish years old, I tried switching from regular lemonade to diet lemonade in an effort to curb the sugar intake.  Apart from a horrible, bitter taste in my mouth, I ended up getting terrible headaches.  If only I knew then what I know now about aspartame, but this was the mid 1980’s & diet drinks were the “healthy option”.

When I was 18, my Dad sent me off to a dietician to help me lose weight.  She diagnosed me with salicylate & amine intolerance & suddenly the moodswings of my teen years made sense; after the side-effects from the diet lemonade, I’d switched to orange juice instead.  I lived on the stuff for years, but it was making me sick.  I was prescribed an elimination diet but the only foods on the “safe” list were those I didn’t really like.  I stuck to it for long enough to see a difference in my behaviours, but I felt weak, tired & malnourished…..and still didn’t drop much weight.

A few months later, I went on a cruise by myself.  Although I got some postive male attention, there were still those who thought it right to bully me about my weight.  It was on that cruise that I had time to reflect on my life – not only the weight issue, but my health in general – from asthma to eczema to physical pain & the pattern of falling seriously ill every second year. I’d had enough of being sick. I could see the medical system didn’t have the answers I needed.  At that moment, I knew that when I returned home, I wanted to study Naturopathy so I could help not only myself, but others dealing with inherited dis-ease.

I spent the next few years studying then went on to manage a clinic for a while.  My plans to open my own clinic after moving interstate did not pan out as I’d planned & I got a job in another field.  Although I was no longer working as a Naturopath, I still believed in the principles & used them to guide my choices.  I was still overweight.  Nothing changed that.  I could lose about 8kg max at a time (Weight Watchers, South Beach diet, keto shakes through the gym), but it would bounce right back on.  I felt like a fraud.  No one’s going to listen to a fat Naturopath talk about health, right?  (I see you lurking there, patriarchy 😉 ).

Ten months after moving, I managed to lose about 65kg – AKA my ex-partner  😉  That was at least a metaphoric lifting of weight.  Still no real change to the physical.  I went on to meet my husband & after losing our first baby, our eldest daughter was born a couple of years later.  About 6 weeks after the birth, my weight suddenly ballooned & I gained a lot of weight in a short time.  When she was 13 months old, I ended up with a herniated lumbar disc.  I was 31yo & needing a walking frame just to get from the bed to the toilet in the adjoining bathroom.  I was on a cocktail of heavy-duty pain-killers just to get through the day.  One of the pain specialists suggested losing weight to reduce the strain on my spine. Sure, because I’ve never tried that before! 🙄  He did go on to say that even very slim people have back issues, but the scowl was firmly set on my face by that time.  It felt like yet another judgement.

In 2009, I bought a Thermomix on the recommendation of a friend.  Great – a machine that will help me prepare & cook the healthy food I love.  At the time I had it delivered, the consultant asked if I was interested in becoming a rep.  I declined as my eldest (and then only) child was 4 years old & was home with me full-time.  Fast-forward to early 2012 & my consultant invited me to a local cooking class.  Sitting there watching the demonstration, I knew it was something I could do, so I ticked the box on the feedback form to learn more about becoming a consultant myself.

Around the same time, I heard about a weight loss protocol through Changing Habits that promised significant weight loss & better hormonal balance in a short time without the need to exercise.  I was sceptical, but intrigued.  Between my dodgy disc & adrenal fatigue, the no exercise thing was a big drawcard for me.  I’d already read Cyndi O’Meara’s book, ‘Changing Habits, Changing Lives, so I knew her philosophy revolved around real foods & no chemicals.  Cyndi has studied nutrition & diet for nearly 40 years.  She saw her family’s health decline rapidly in just one generation at a time when commercial pesticides were introduced to the US farming community.  Her family became the largest family of haemophiliacs in the world, despite having no history of the disease in previous generations, and many of them were affected by cancer.  As such, I knew she would not be promoting anything that did not align with her values.  On one hand, there was a program I wanted to try, but then I was just starting in a business that revolved around food.  I was already committed to the business, so the protocol went in the “one day” basket.

After doing my initial Thermomix training, my Consultant (also my trainer & the State Manager) asked if I’d like to attend a demo with her.  I went along, met the host/customer & helped out with the demo.  At the end, I heard the host & my consultant talking about the protocol.  My ears pricked up & I mentioned I’d been looking at doing it myself.  As it turns out, the host of the demo was Cyndi’s best friend & the Coach for the protocol.  I know, right?

After about 6 months of doing demos, I was burnt out.  My husband was often away dealing with legal matters after a family tragedy the year before & our daughter was not coping with me going out to do demos.  The combined stresses were too much & I’d cry at the thought of having to do another demo.  I made the call to step away from Thermomix & focus on my own health for a while.  I decided it was time to do the protocol, so I ordered the full kit.  If I was going to do it, I was going to do it properly so I could balance my hormones & get off the diabetes fence.  In another moment of fate, Cyndi O’Meara came to Hobart 2 weeks later to talk health at a public Thermomix event.  I attended the talk, got to meet Cyndi and took what became my ‘before’ photo:

Before 97.6kg | www.unitywellness.com.au

A few days later, I had everything I needed to get started.  I was 97.6kg, which although was a few kilos less than my heaviest known weight of 103.3kg, still had me in the “obese” category.  The ‘ideal weight’ calculator the Coach used put my ideal weight around the 60kg mark (I’m 170cm tall).  I couldn’t remember the last time I was 60kg.  Certainly some time in my childhood.  I had been in the mid-70’s throughout high school, except one Summer when I got down to around 68-69kg walking to get hot chips most days because I had a massive crush on the son of the local takeaway owners  😆  (granted, the walking was probably what helped, but I still call that time my “chip diet”).

The first 2 days of the protocol are known as ‘loading days’ where you eat as much as you can, focusing on good fats & limiting carbs so your body gets used to burning fat for energy instead of glucose.  It’s a time many people gain a couple of kilos, but I actually dropped a couple.  I was already eating pretty well – mostly organic & limited processed foods – but I tend to undereat (which I suspect plays a part in my metabolism coming to a standstill when breastfeeding, combined with a lack of sleep).  I didn’t really eat enough on the first day of loading as I was helping a friend move away from an abusive situation, but I did what I could the next day & I certainly wasn’t complaining with 2kg gone in two days.  The second phase of the protocol strips your diet back to basics, eating set amounts of protein, veg & salad at each meal.  By having simple meals, it becomes obvious when you’ve eaten something that doesn’t agree with you so you can avoid it moving forward.  You also take support drops to help your body utilise stored fat & there’s the option of taking the Changing Habits probiotics, colloidal minerals, green powder and seaweed salt for iodine & other minerals which I chose to do.  Theyhelp to reduce hunger, heal the gut, detox the chemicals that have been stored in your fat cells & reduce inflammation. (The Protocol has been updated slightly since I did it & the Complete Pack now also includes Camu Camu powder for Vit C).

The original protocol was developed over 60 years ago by an endocrinologist when he noticed patterns of weight loss in his patients being treated for other issues.  What Cyndi has done with the 4 Phase Fat Loss Protocol is to combine the core of the original program with modern knowledge of nutrition.   There are a few versions of the protocol around the place, but many allow chemical-filled diet drinks & other artificial crap which is not going to help your overall health.  They’ll just overload your liver & make it more difficult to maintain long-term results.  The goal with Cyndi’s program is to reach leptin sensitivity.

What is leptin?

Leptin is the hormone that tells us we’re full.  It sends signals to the hypothalamus to say we have sufficient energy stores to give us that feeling of fullness & prevent us over-eating.  However, the abundance of processed carbs, grains & sugars in our modern diet mean we are pumping out more insulin, which increases fat stores & ultimately leads to insulin resistance.  Insulin resistance results in increased fat stores & increased fat stores increase leptin.  Our body is trying to signal to our brain that we have enough energy but just as excess insulin leads to insulin resistance, excess leptin leads to leptin resistance & the signals are ignored.  Our brain can not ‘hear’ the leptin so thinks we’re starving & increases fat storage.  The increased fat increases the secretion of leptin & messes with thyroid hormones, and around it goes in a vicious cycle.  You can regain leptin sensitivity through a strict low carb diet over several months, but the protocol fast-tracks the process.

Cyndi has written a blog post about it if you’d like to learn more.  She lists the following as symptoms of leptin resistance:

  • Uncontrollable cravings, especially sweet foods and refined carbohydrates
  • Late night eating
  • Stress eating
  • Weight gain around the middle
  • Inability to reach a goal weight
  • Yo-yo dieting
  • thyroid symptoms
  • can also be associated with infertility

You can also see a series of blog posts on leptin, its effects & a review of some supplements written by Helen Sanders for more info.


Back to my story…..

So yes, I had many symptoms of leptin sensitivity going on.  As such, getting to the underlying cause of my excess weight was really important to me.  I wasn’t doing this *just* to lose weight, but more to get my endocrine system functioning optimally, particularly as I knew I had suboptimal thyroid function based on low basal body temps from years of charting my cycle when trying to conceive #2 and my progesterone levels had been low for a long time.  I was 38 years old & my husband was 49, so I was well aware of the ticking clock with each passing year.  Tests showed everything was fine from his end, so it was up to me to maximise my fertility if we were to ever have more than one child.

Phase 2 of the protocol usually lasts 21 days, but those with more than 12kg to release can go up to 43 days per round.  (I like to use the word ‘release’ rather than ‘lose’ from a psychological & energetic perspective.  ‘Release’ is a choice to let something go, ‘lose’ implies you may want it back, which I certainly didn’t.)  I chose to do the maximum number of days & at the end of the six weeks, I was down an amazing 17kg & about 3 dress sizes.  Never had I achieved results like that before.

17kg released | 4 Phase fat Elimination Protocol | www.unitywellness.com.au

Phase 3 lasts for 3 days where you still eat basic food, but stop taking the drops and Phase 4 lasts a minimum of 3 weeks where you very gradually reintroduce foods to see which ones cause inflammation & weight gain for you.  For me, chicken, olive oil, tomatoes & brassicas (cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, etc) were some of the biggest offenders, yet they are foods commonly recommended for health & weight loss.  It goes to show that we are all so very individual & it’s one of the reasons I don’t subscribe to the notion of an “ideal” diet.  To me, the ideal diet is the one that best suits your individual biochemistry, which this protocol helps you to discover.

After the obligatory break between rounds, I went on to complete my second round of the protocol, this time with 5 weeks in Phase 2 which saw me down another 10kg.  The following month, I was feeling seedy & sure enough, I was pregnant.

Sadly, that bub did not stick around long.  I was absolutely gutted & cried uncontrollably the entire night.  It hit me the harder than my first miscarriage, which I did not think possible.  I went off the rails somewhat & regained some of the weight.  That’s the thing, though – when you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you always get.

Once I had worked through the early stages of that grief, I got back on track & did my third & final round over 4 weeks.  At the end of that time, I was 67kg & feeling hungry a lot more.  This is one of the signs of reaching leptin sensitivity and although I was still a few kilos off the calculated ideal weight & still had fat to burn, people were saying I was starting to look too thin.  Four weeks felt like the right time to stop.  I was ready to move on.

Just after I finished that round, Cyndi came to Hobart again to present a talk & I was asked to help out.  It was the perfect way to finish my time on the 4 Phase Fat Elimination Protocol.  I was 30.6kg down & had gone from a size 20 to a small size 10.  For the first time in my life, it felt like the way I looked on the outside reflected how I felt on the inside.  I was no longer taking naps to get through the day, there was absolutely no sign of impending diabetes & I no longer had people asking about my ‘bump’.  I really owe so much to Cyndi & the Changing Habits team for offering this program that has worked wonders not only for me, but so many others I now have the pleasure of calling my friends.


What then?

I took up yoga & rebuilt strength.  My weight settled in the low 70’s, which felt more comfortable for me & was easy to maintain.  I also gave up the jewellery making business I had on the side which I’d started as a creative outlet to help me when I was going through infertility.  I just wasn’t feeling it anymore & did not want to be up late at night making something that did not bring me satisfaction, only to have to get up in the wee hours to do markets.  A month after my last market, I was pregnant again.  She’s now 3.5 years old & absolutely amazing.  I had an intervention-free pregnancy with an independent midwife & the home/water birth I wished I’d had with the first one.  Within a week, I was back to my pre-pregnancy size.  However, as after the first birth, my endocrine system has gone out of whack, so the weight has increased.  I’ve also discovered I’m compound heterozygous for MTHFR & have pyroluria, but that’s a story for another day 😉

Because the protocol is so effective at ridding the body of fat, there is a release of stored toxins that can pass into breastmilk.  As such, I won’t be able to go back to it until my daughter fully weans, but I can’t wait to feel that good again!  (UPDATE MAY 2019: I’m baaaaack!  Follow my next round HERE). Until then, I’m taking the same supplements as I took on the protocol & am working on getting to sleep earlier as I discovered what a difference sleep makes to weight when I was on the program before & there’s so much more information now about sleep & the effect on our microbiome.  Breastfeeding mums or those who have a physically strenuous job can follow the Hunter Gatherer Protocol as an alternative, which is essentially a nutrient-dense Paleo-style eating plan that has similar benefits, albeit more slowly.

If you’re not pregnant or breastfeeding & would like to try the 4 Phase Fat Elimination Protocol, now is a great time to get started.  There is a group challenge coming up in June 2019, with May being the month to prepare.  I did the protocol at the same time as the Coaches for the program, so I know you’re going to be in great hands.  Click the image below to learn more:

How I Released 30+kg with the 4 Phase Fat Loss Protocol | www.unitywellness.com.au

 

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER

Unity Wellness provides health-related information to assist people in making their own choices.  While we have exercised due care to ensure the accuracy of the information on this site, it is not intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional’s advice.  Unity Wellness does not accept any liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred by use of or reliance on the information provided on this website.

AFFILIATE & ADVOCATE LINKS

This post/site may contain Affliate links or links to my Independent Advocate store. By clicking these links, you pay no more for the products/services, but I will receive a commission on purchases to keep this site running & support my family (thank you!).  I will never promote any products or services that I would not be happy to use myself.

This website is owned and operated by an independent InnerOrigin Advocate and is not endorsed by InnerOrigin Pty Ltd or InnerOrigin Australia Pty Ltd or any of their respective associated companies. Any opinions expressed on this website are made by, and are the responsibility of, the individual Advocate and should not be construed as a representation of the opinions of InnerOrigin Pty Ltd, InnerOrigin Australia Pty Ltd or any of their associated companies.

Three Tips for Hormone Balance After 40

Three Tips for Hormone Balance After 40

 

As you approach your 40s, your reproductive years are starting to wind down, and that means changes in your hormones. These changes are inevitable, but the severity of your symptoms depends on your overall health and your knowledge of what is going on in your body and what to do about it.

Let’s review the hormonal changes that occur at peri-menopause and menopause, and then we’ll look at how to optimize your health and avoid weight gain, memory lapses, hot flashes, moodiness and insomnia.

Menopause is when your period stops altogether, and the average age for this is 51. But peri-menopause, a word rarely heard in our culture, is the 5-10 year period of hormonal fluctuation that leads to menopause. It is usually these years that are most challenging.

During peri-menopause, your ovaries are not functioning as well; this is a part of normal aging. But your brain still tries to keep the ovaries working, and some months it’s successful and you ovulate; sometimes it’s not and you don’t. The varying hormone levels that occur in these monthly attempts to keep cycling are what can cause symptoms.

 

Tip #1- Avoid Estrogen Dominance

The main hormone imbalance you’ll experience is called estrogen dominance. The amount of estrogen you have is higher relative to progesterone (progesterone is only produced in high quantities after a strong ovulation). Estrogen can be extra dominant when you are are getting xeno-estrogens from things like plastics and fragrances, or if you’re overweight, as fat tissue produces estrogen.

Estrogen dominance can lead to the dreaded heavy periods, frequent periods and mid-cycle spotting of peri-menopause.

You can do many things to reduce estrogen. Here are a few:

1. Avoid non-organic, processed foods, plastics and artificial fragrances that contain xeno-estrogens.

2. Eat a wide variety of fruit and vegetable fibers that nourish your good gut bacteria. Your gut helps you clear used estrogens! How many strange vegetables can you buy & try?

3. Manage your weight. An easy way to slim down is to avoid sugars in coffee drinks, alcoholic drinks and treats. Stick to it for a couple weeks and watch your muffin top melt!

 

Tip #2- Love On Your Adrenals

As your ovaries slow down and produce less hormone, ideally your adrenal glands will bridge the gap and keep you feeling well. But you’re likely stressed with working, managing a household, and perhaps raising kids or caring for elderly parents. This often means your adrenal glands have been overworked for years as you’ve lived in ‘flight or fight’ mode. So now it’s time to really love upon your adrenals!

Here’s how:

1. Get to sleep by 10 PM. There is a deeper level of restoration that happens when you are asleep in the hours before midnight. Try it each night for a week and notice your energy improve!

2. Get vitamin C. Your adrenal glands use a LOT of vitamin C, especially when you’re stressed or dealing with chronic inflammation, viruses, etc. You can use ½ lemon in water first thing in the morning and again in early afternoon. You can also
look for a supplement with vitamin C plus bioflavonoids, and take 1,000 mg /day twice a day, if you doctor approves.

3. Take rest breaks. Do you want a break? Of course you do! As women, we drive ourselves hard. But you have to take care of you; there is no one else in charge of your care. Try these two tips: After lunch, take a 10 minute lie down. Yes, lie down flat and just rest. If you work outside the home, maybe bring a yoga mat to work and find a quiet place, or go to your car. If it’s nice you can go lie outside. Then as your day closes, but before dinner, take your 10 minute lie down again. You can’t just read this, you really have to do it! You’ll feel the reset when you do take these short breaks.

 

Tip #3- Get A Good Night’s Rest

Many women have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, and sleep is super important at this time in life. We produce growth hormone as we sleep, and this growth hormone repairs and rebuilds us; sleep is the fountain of youth! So here are a few ideas if you’re having trouble:

1. If you are having trouble falling asleep because of a busy mind, take time to wind down at night. Read a book, take a stroll or take a bath. Avoid screens and turn down the lights around the house. If you still need help, try drinking a ½ teaspoon of nutmeg in warm almond milk a bit before bedtime. You’ll be surprised how sleepy it makes you!

2. For an aromatherapy approach, dab a few drops of pure vetiver and pure lavender oils under your nose and at your temples. Or use a cold mist diffuser to spread this goodness into your bedroom air.

3. If you wake up during the night, you can still try the above tips, and you may need to look at your blood sugar and liver function. You should be able to burn stored energy as you sleep. If you body can’t do this, your body will spike your energy levels to release blood sugar, and you’ll wake up.Be sure to avoid alcohol, sugar and high carbohydrate foods before bed. Try not to snack between meals and get plenty of healthy fat in your diet from coconut oil, raw nuts, avocados, grass-fed butter or ghee, etc. If you have a great diet, don’t snack, and go to bed early, waking up in the middle of the night may indicate a more complex problem. If your liver is working overtime at night to deal with parasites or other infections, it can’t manage your blood sugar at night as well. This is no diagnosis, just something to consider with your functional health practitioner!

There are MANY more tips on how to thrive in peri-menopause and menopause on the upcoming free summit, Hormone Balance After 40. You’ll hear 30+ experts on the topics like:

• Boosting your Metabolism

• Reclaiming your Sex Drive

• Restoring Mental Clarity.

The best part is that it’s all free and you can attend online from any computer or smartphone! Register here for your own Hormone Balance After 40!

Hormone Balance After 40 Summit | www.unitywellness.com.au

 


Bridgit Danner After 40 Summit | Unity Wellness

Guest post by Bridgit Danner,
LAc, FDNP, founder of Women’s Wellness Collaborative


 

 

 

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER

Unity Wellness provides health-related information to assist people in making their own choices.  While we have exercised due care to ensure the accuracy of the information on this site, it is not intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional’s advice.  Unity Wellness does not accept any liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred by use of or reliance on the information provided on this website.

AFFILIATE & ADVOCATE LINKS

This post/site may contain Affliate links or links to my Independent Advocate store. By clicking these links, you pay no more for the products/services, but I will receive a commission on purchases to keep this site running & support my family (thank you!).  I will never promote any products or services that I would not be happy to use myself.

This website is owned and operated by an independent InnerOrigin Advocate and is not endorsed by InnerOrigin Pty Ltd or InnerOrigin Australia Pty Ltd or any of their respective associated companies. Any opinions expressed on this website are made by, and are the responsibility of, the individual Advocate and should not be construed as a representation of the opinions of InnerOrigin Pty Ltd, InnerOrigin Australia Pty Ltd or any of their associated companies.