One in three...

January was Thyroid Awareness month.

February is Heart Health month.

March is Nutrition Awareness month.

…all three playing a significant role in my life...

My mom had thyroid issues for well over 50 years. She didn’t talk much about it until I was diagnosed Hashimoto’s over 12 years ago.

Everything she had been feeling in her body made sense to me now.

• Total exhaustion and fatigue
• Brain fog (the struggle is real, y’all!)
• Digestive issues
• Hair falling out
• Heart palpitations
• Blood sugar drops
• …just to name a few of the symptoms when thyroid levels aren’t optimal.

Overtime, she developed type 2 diabetes. Many things could have contributed such as a crappy food choices, emotional eating and minimal exercise. She did her normal activities of daily living…yard work, cleaned house, walked from time to time and of course she got a lot of walking from going to yard sales every weekend!

…But studies have found that diabetes and thyroid disorders tend to coexist in patients. Both conditions involve a dysfunction of the endocrine system. Thyroid disorders can have a major impact on glucose control, and untreated thyroid disorders affect the management of diabetes in patients.

Both diabetes and thyroid disorder can increase the risk of heart disease, heart attack, clogged blood vessels (atherosclerosis), and high blood pressure.

Something that mom would soon find to be true.

…December 29, 2006 she had a heart attack.

Days before, she looked tired and worn out but we all assumed she was working too much…because she was.

She was up in the middle of the night throwing up but went back to bed not understanding why…maybe something she ate.

When she got up to shower that morning, she experienced the classic symptoms of a heart attack and was able to call and get help.

She was lucky. She had over 90% blockage that was treated with a couple of stents.

That was a wake-up call for her.

For all of us.

She was committed to make her health a priority.
She was ready to do to what it takes.

I worked with her for 6 months walking daily, adjusting her meal plan and watching her commit to never feeling that pain ever again.
She lost 30 pounds during that time and her cardiologist said she was one of his star pupils.

She was full of energy.
She felt amazing and like her “old self” again…
But sometime shortly after that, her primary care doctor adjusted her thyroid medication.

Her energy decreased

Her brain fog started to come back

She was tired and focused what energy she did have on her work.

Her weight started to come back

…and then was back to old habits.

The stressors of life continued to weigh on her also.

She continued to try.

I tried.

It was beyond frustrating.

There was so much that we still didn’t know.
 
We were able to spend just over 7 more years with her before she passed away of a stroke.

As I take a bird eye view from those years, I can see what pieces of the complex puzzle needed to be put where. And perhaps that’s even more frustrating.

But I channel that into uncovering the layers and helping others…

What do we need to uncover so that we can start building a new foundation?

• Getting your blood work and know your numbers
• Know your genetic risk
• But then take control of what you can
• The right nutrition
• Fitness
• NO smoking and minimize alcohol
• Stress management
• Uncover your stories that hold you in stress, and get RID of those – your heart NEEDS you to have an optimal mindset. I coach on this too, as an Eliminate Your Limits Mindset Coach.

 
Love your heart. Love the women in your life.
Get informed.
Do not think it could not possibly be you…
The truth is heart disease impacts ONE IN THREE WOMEN…
So if it isn’t you, look to your left then look to your right-
And start talking about it
Because it’s largely PREVENTABLE

Nourish your purpose now,

Rebecca