*Photo of Erin and I taken in June of 2023. We BOTH need an “after” photo this year!
I have some venting to do. I have to share some major inconveniences Erin’s personalized health coaching has caused me, but first, a little backstory.
Over the past few years I’ve endured a ruptured Achilles, breast cancer surgery, perimenopause, menopause and, of course, a pandemic, all of which caused major overload to my system. I gained over 20lbs, lost energy, was tired, grumpy and generally felt bad about myself. I didn’t know whose body I was living in, but it didn’t look or feel familiar to me. I avoided mirrors and photos, and had resigned myself to buying larger clothes. I even had my wedding ring resized because, after 24 years, it no longer fit.
Despite doing all the “right” things, nothing helped. I felt heavy inside and out, and had confidence issues for the first time in my life. I hit a WTAF wall.
At the same time, Alkalign was pivoting toward the scientifically backed benefits of lifting heavier weights, functional fitness and optimizing food to help women move gracefully through peri/menopause and enjoy longevity. Alkalign was functional fitness and gentle consistency before it was trendy; now Erin was also leveling up her skills in the field of women’s health.
In December 2023, I got raw and vulnerable with Erin, and she started working with me to find the root cause of my issues. Going deeper than any 21-Day Nourish program, her method gave me a plan and the tools to implement it into my daily life. The details of that are for another story, but I’d like to let you in on some “problems” I’ve encountered since starting her protocol in January.
PROBLEM 1: NOT ENOUGH TO DO I no longer have difficulty waking up in the morning or want to crawl into bed at 7pm. I have way more energy, and because of this, my to-do list is starting to dwindle. I’m running out of books to read, projects to work on, house cleaning to catch up on and things to do in the evening. My neverending list is…well, closer to the end. At work, I am more focused and productive, leading to better results and happier clients. My increased energy and the resulting free time has been a real problem — I don’t know what to do with myself!
PROBLEM 2: MY EXPECTATIONS ARE HIGHER When I became more organized about meals and workouts, I started expecting more from myself. I am now meticulous about prepping my food. With new systems in place, my expectations of what I want out of my daily life and nutrition are higher. So annoying, right?
PROBLEM 3: NOTHING FITS By the beginning of March, I had to buy all new bras, underwear and belts because everything was too big. By spring break I had to buy new swimsuits and dresses. Now I have to resize my wedding ring again because it keeps slipping off! I’ve lost about 14lbs as a result of Erin finding the root cause of my inflammation and metabolic failure. My jeans fit comfortably (a couple are too big) and I felt confident and amazing walking around our resort on spring break. After hiding myself for a year, I was feeling more and more like myself and my confidence came back. The nerve of her!
PROBLEM 4: GUILT My strength has quadrupled in the last 6 months and now my home workout space is piled with weights for Build. I felt immense guilt when the Amazon delivery person had to deliver the 40lb weights to my porch.
PROBLEM 5: I RUN OUT OF FOOD I discovered that I cannot sustain a healthy metabolism by consuming the caloric intake of a toddler, like I was before working with Erin. Due to prioritizing healthy meals and increasing fiber and protein, I am eating high quality foods all the time and now I run out of fresh groceries before the week is done. Who knew you could lose weight and feel better by eating MORE?
Choosing health, strength and change requires consistency, which is hard for most of us. However, nothing changes if nothing changes. What worked when I was in my 20s and 30s is not working now that I’m closing in on 50 because my body, hormones and life are different. My body was screaming that it was time to make a change — I just didn’t know how or what. Erin’s Personalized Health Coaching plan created some problems that I LOVE to have. Through nutrition, lifting heavier weights, a gentler approach to fitness and a mindset shift, I finally feel like me again.
If you are experiencing unwelcome perimenopause symptoms or are trying to overcome other obstacles to your wellness, investing in your health should be your #1 priority. I highly recommend working with Erin. Just be prepared to have your own list of “problems” to air.
-Marlene
