08/01/2026
This wasn't a thoughtful plan to get healthy… it was survival. Everyone kept asking how I went from 220lb to 160lb (and there is no more annoying an answer than "I don't know, it just happened") so I figured it out... in case it helps someone else.
Here are the first 4 steps (before I could even think about diet & exercise) that led me to the best well-being of my life (no hyperbole but still ongoing).
[Two things first: 1) Mindful eating, cardio, and lifting are now critical components of my overall health/well-being, and 2) I went through early menopause (POI) at 39 - it’s rare (~1% under 40) with more severe symptoms/higher complication risk - just to say, my health state was LOW to begin with.]
But, if even one person benefits…
1. 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: Psychiatrist helped me find the right meds (this included a probiotic).
2. 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 & 𝗮𝗻𝘅𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆: Therapist taught me CBT/DBT/breathing/meditation. Critical for step 3!
3. 𝗚𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 (𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝘂𝘀𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝘆 “𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗱”) 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽: Even with night sweats, small improvements paid off (melatonin helped).
4.𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗥𝗧: Game changer. If I could do it over (with a “plan”), I'd have fought for this FIRST. Critical for many for health/symptom-management. Talk to your provider (please).
Only AFTER all that did I have energy to tackle nutrition and movement.
Other helpers: more water, cutting out gluten, hot yoga, fake eyelashes, and prayer - lots of disorganized and inarticulate praying.
Another note: For some (many?), starting with diet/exercise may be enough to address mood, stress, and sleep.
Mountains of data support the emotional/physical/mental health benefits of the above, but where to begin can be different for everyone.
So, if you’re having trouble or feeling lost, you may just need to start somewhere else.
PS: This is all still a work in progress. I love pizza, that fake ball-park nacho cheese stuff, spicy margs, & wine.
𝘽𝙖𝙗𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙥𝙨... ❤️
