Women’s stories

“Your quality of life is so much improved...”

Martha, a 35-year-old mother of four boys, ages 12, 10, 6, and 5, started the Personal Program three months ago. She and her husband are currently in the process of adopting a baby girl from Guatemala! With the added financial pressures involved in international adoption, they’ve been looking to cut unnecessary expenses. But when Martha recently volunteered to forego the Program, her husband didn’t think that would be helpful at all — instead, the changes he has seen in her PMS symptoms and quality of life have him convinced it’s worth it.

“I really had just been miserable with my symptoms. I’m a mom of four boys, and I felt like, after all my pregnancies, all my PMS symptoms were worse. I talked to my doctor, and basically, my only option was an antidepressant. I wasn’t on any medications, and I really just didn’t want to go that route. I just didn’t feel that was something I wanted to do.

“So I searched on-line, hoping to find a natural solution. I came across the Women to Women website, filled out the Profile, and just decided I wanted to give it a shot. It seemed like a good natural solution. I received my shipment right after I finished having a menstrual cycle, and was really excited to get started. I thought I would just go ahead and get it in my system, and see what happened by the time the next one came along.

“Within a month I noticed a difference. Here are some things that improved: basically, I had headaches, probably one every other day, and I was taking Motrin like it was candy, you know, so that was something I noticed right away. I rarely get headaches now. Also, I just found that when it came time for my cycle, I did not feel like myself. I had physical symptoms, like insomnia. For the whole week before my period I couldn’t sleep. I was emotional, sensitive, easy to cry, easy to feel down, irritable, all those things. Also, I felt it was getting worse. I was sweating — I had what I guess were like hot flashes — and would sweat right through my clothes! I thought, What is going on with me?! I was desperate for something other than antidepressants.

“I’ve been on the Program for about three months now. Now I’m not sweating, I’m sleeping, and I’m not having headaches. With everything I’ve had at least 90% improvement. My husband noticed a difference, too — he would tell you — libido-wise. I was pretty disheartened in that area before. I just did not have any desire. After childbirth it just totally went down. Definitely.

“We are in the process of international adoption for a little girl. It’s a huge, huge financial undertaking for us. I’m a stay-at-home mom, so I’m not a contributor that way. I kept thinking, What can I do to help?, and it occurred to me that I could stop the supplements. But when I suggested this to my husband, he surprised me by saying, ‘You know, Martha, I really don’t want you to do that. Your quality of life is so much improved.’ That’s how supportive he is with everything.

“The only thing I wish now — though there has been improvement, and I guess I’m just a sensitive person — I just wish that I wasn’t so sensitive. Still, I’m hoping that will improve as I continue to follow the Program, because the Nutritional Guidelines do seem to help that. I would say I probably stick to them 70% of the time. I think what’s difficult is that with soccer season, we’re often gone at night, and it’s not always convenient to prepare good food.

“I have recommended the Program several times now to other women. When I found the website and was reading the other Women’s Stories, I thought, Wow! I’m reading about my life! I think that’s what’s convinced me to go for it!”

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Last Modified: 02/16/2010