Tag: wellness

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Hysterectomy Recovery

So you’re having/had hysterectomy, now what?!

The picture above is meant to be cute, but having a hysterectomy is a very serious decision. I’m not here to debate the decision, but to help women know they’re not alone in their decision or their recovery.

My hysterectomy story

Being a Functional Nutrition Coach that specializes in women’s hormones, I thought I’d be the last person to need a hysterectomy. Sometimes though, these things can’t be helped. But, many times they can, just so we’re clear. I had to come to a place of acceptance that my case was pretty severe and I would have the best outcome by doing the total hysterectomy.

Without going into a long medical history, I recently was diagnosed with a large 6cm tumor on my left ovary. Just 18 months ago I had a 9cm cyst removed on my right ovary. Before that I had 4 stomach surgeries, some having to do with the adhesions that had formed in my stomach from an initial surgery of a diverticulitis rupture. After a consult with a highly regarded gynecologic oncologist, we decided it was best because of my previous history that we do a total hysterectomy. My oncologist thought that stomach surgeries on me were becoming complicated and more dangerous, and I had to agree, it was a scary thing.

One of my main concerns was of course, being forced into menopause instead of going through it naturally. The plus side about being in the Functional Medicine career was that I was prepared for what was going to happen. I already had in place my Functional Medicine Dr. who was waiting to prescribe bioidental hormones as soon as my procedure was over. I already had the hormone saliva kit waiting for me at home to send in. These two things alone made me feel great relief that I wasn’t alone and that help was on the way should I need it, via hormone replacement therapy.

Grieving the loss

Even though I had come to a place of acceptance for what needed to happen with me, I was still grieving. My career has taught me that the ovaries, uterus, Fallopian tubes, aren’t the problem. It’s always a hormonal problem. The female reproductive system is just basically like an innocent bystander. I had to grieve the loss of what I wasn’t going to get to experience. I had hoped to go through natural menopause and be able to teach my four daughters how to do that with grace and ease via nutrition and bioidenticals, but that choice was being taken from me. I had to take a few weeks to process what was happening and then set my mind to recovering and having optimal health through the second phase of my life, whether that was naturally or forced. Once I had a few good crying sessions, a few good talks with my girls and a lot of research, I felt comfortable with the decision and knew I had made the best choice.

Recovery Process

I hope that if you are considering a hysterectomy or have already had one, or if you’ve just gone through natural menopause, you understand that there is a recovery process. The steps you need to take to recover and have optimal health are all within your grasp, but they’re not always easy. Nutrition is number one. Getting your gut health on target as well as making sure you’re detoxifying correctly will help you in ways I can’t even describe. The next step is always testing. We don’t want to be guessing if we need hormones, we already know we definitely do, but you need to have a good Dr. that’s willing to do bioidentical hormones and give you the testing that you need to figure out your individual dosage.

What do you need

You need a good Functional Nutrition Coach to help you with your nutritional needs. You also need a good Dr. who believes in supporting you and in using bioidentical hormones to do that. If you have not found a Dr. like this, don’t get discouraged, they’re out there. By working with me, you will get both. I am a Certified Functional Nutrition Coach through Mind Body Green, and I have a relationship with a great Doctor who will get you the testing you need as well as the bioidentical hormones you need. To schedule a free 15 minute consult with me go to: https://calendly.com/grounded-inthe-present/15min

Whether you’re in perimenopause, already gone through menopause or a doctor has recommended you have a hysterectomy, I would be honored to meet with you to discuss the best options for you. It is my goal and life purpose to inform women of their rights as well as teach you about our glorious beautiful bodies and how they function hormonally. Don’t ever think you’re alone, you’ve got a friend in your corner right here 🙂

Cause I’m not there yet, but perhaps together, we’ll get there “Soon Enuff”.

Amy Lopez

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It’s a Balancing Act

Hormones…in or out

I cannot tell you how long I’ve struggled. Thinking I was crazy, being prescribed anti anxiety meds, birth control pill, anti depression pills, only to find out later through years of research that my hormones were simply (well not so simply) out of balance! I had no idea at the time that my diet and lifestyle which included way too much stress and too little sleep were at the root cause! This is what led me to a Certification in Functional Nutrition Coaching. I needed answers, and now that I’ve found them, it’s my goal to share them with every woman that is struggling like I was!

Hormones are these chemical messengers in our bodies from endocrine glands. The pineal, thyroid, pancreas, adrenals, ovaries, testes, and pituitary. But did you know they all receive messages from the food we eat and from the thoughts we think?!!

We need to unlock the path to hormone balance for optimal health. Since we know our food and our thoughts send messages to our hormones, it only makes sense that we ourselves, not some physician or prescription, hold the key. And the best place to start is at the end of our forks!

In the tab above, “The Powerful Fork” under Free Courses I have posted a free Comprehensive Hormone Questionnaire. It’s always nice to have blood work done, but it’s not absolutely necessary to diagnose hormone imbalance. If you’d like to work with me to help balance your hormones through a few lifestyle changes, join me for a consultation at The Powerful Fork! I’m looking forward to our time together!

Cause we’re not there yet, but perhaps together, we’ll get there Soon Enuff!

Amy

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The Big M

The Big M is Magnesium! Magnesium is essential for optimal health. It also has the ability to help prevent inflammatory diseases like Alzheimer, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Here are the top 6 reasons to get adequate magnesium daily:

Top 6

Boosts Mood: Do we need anymore reasons?! 🙂

Magnesium is known to improve mental health by supporting brain biochemistry and neurotransmitter regulation. It’s been shown to improve clinical depression and conversely, low levels of magnesium have been associated with depressive behaviors. Oral supplements of magnesium have been shown to have the same effectiveness of some pharmaceutical drugs to treat depression. Now who wouldn’t choose a natural mineral with no side effects?

Fights Inflammation:

Did you know that eating foods high in magnesium like dark chocolate and pumpkin seeds can decrease inflammation? Many chronic inflammatory diseases have been associated with low levels of magnesium. Magnesium acts as an antioxidant by protecting our mitochondria from oxidative stress.

Reduces Insulin Resistance:

Insulin Resistance is when certain cells in your muscles, fat and liver don’t respond well to insulin and can no longer take glucose (sugar) up from your blood stream. Insulin resistance causes weight gain and all kinds of chronic diseases, including Type 2 diabetes. Low levels of magnesium have been associated with insulin resistance.

Helps maintain healthy blood pressure:

Taking an oral magnesium supplement reduces blood pressure in patients with mild hypertension. Eating foods with magnesium also has a positive impact post exercise blood pressure, who doesn’t want that!

Improves PMS:

Premenstrual syndrome plagues many women in their child bearing years. Magnesium has a soothing effect on the mind and body and has been shown to help alleviate PMS symptoms.

Relieves Menopause symptoms:

Magnesium is vital during the years leading up to and during menopause. Magnesium helps keep bones strong and prevents osteoporosis. It also helps with those pesky menopause symptoms like difficulty sleeping and depression.

We literally cannot live without this vital nutrient, yet almost half of us don’t get adequate amounts of magnesium. This may be due to people eating fewer amounts of nutrient rich foods like the ones shown above. Industrial farming isn’t doing us any favors either. The soil is becoming depleted and reducing the amounts of magnesium in our foods.

Let’s work together to make sure what you’re putting at the end of your fork is giving your body the vital nutrients it needs for optimal health! Check out my new program, “The Powerful Fork.”

Cause I’m not there yet, but perhaps together, we’ll get there Soon Enuff!!

Amy

Today only if you are over 40 my daughter, Dr. Jazmin Lopez, is offering a Cyber Monday Deal for a 3×4 genetics testing kit. This kit would be sent to your home, where you do a simple cheek swab and mail it in. Upon receiving the lab results you would have a Lifestyle Genomics Consultation with Dr. Jazmin to review your DNA results and how they affect your metabolism, inflammation, detox pathways, weight, fitness, injury/recovery, cognition, response to food, and supplements that you may choose. You’ll also receive one functional nutrition session with me to begin implementing your targeted plan for exercise, nutrition, and supplementation, based on your genetic results and personal goals for your body and life! This 3×4 genetics testing is offered today only at $400! Visit @drjazmin.physio on instagram to book yours, there’s only two spots left!

If you are under 40, Dr. Jazmin will send you to, Grace Lopez, Integrative Health Coach to begin implementing your targeted plan!

Check them both out on Instagram @drjazmin.physio

Jazmin graduated from Chapman University as a Dr. of Physical Therapy and Integrative Physiotherapy. She’s also a Functional Medicine Practioner with certifications in Pilates and pelvic floor health.

@gracejlopez

Grace received her Nutritional Health Coach Certification from IIN, Integrative Nutrition. The world’s premiere Health Coach Training Program.

I am a Certified Functional Nutrition Coach through Mind Body Green. If you’d like help with dietary changes, life coaching, or just to ask questions, I’d love to work with you. Follow me on Instagram @grounded_inthe_present