Women’s stories

“This program is really easy — I already feel alive and happy again!”

We were so glad to hear how well Ricki was doing, just 10 days into her Personal Program. She’d initially experienced some shifting of her body’s fluid balance, prompting her to contact us. We reassured her that it can take some time to adjust after starting the Personal Program, with drinking more water, dietary changes, and reduction of the “bad stuff.” This is a perfect example of how we can become so used to our habits, that during the first few days or week when we make healthy changes, we sometimes feel worse before we feel better. Then it is worth it! Here are the details:

“I started the Personal Program on October 9th, 2006. Within three days I felt less fatigued, but I was also noticing some puffiness in my hands, feet, and around my eyes. I wondered if this was normal, or whether I was using too much of the progesterone cream and not drinking enough water.

“My Nurse–Educator wasn’t certain as to what was causing my puffiness, and counseled me to drink adequate water and exercise, so I would have more regular bowel movements. She also suggested I carefully measure the cream to see if that helped.

“I was worse after another couple of days, and gained four pounds in a week! But now I really think I was using too much of the cream the first few days. So I got a measuring spoon to gain a better concept of what ¼–½ teaspoon really looks like, discontinued use of the cream, and began drinking lots and lots of water. I do believe it was my application of the product and not the product itself.

“Other than the discomfort of retaining fluids, I soon felt good. I was sleeping better and didn’t feel as fatigued at the end of the day. When I started back on the cream, it was much more conservatively, according to the instructions. My Nurse–Educator explained to me that Natural Progesterone Cream usually has more of a diuretic effect on women, but some others (like myself), can also just respond differently.

“Within another couple of days I was so much better! I’ve started drinking nearly a gallon of water a day and the water retention is resolved. I’m now using the progesterone cream again, but just once a day, in the morning. I may increase it again to twice a day in a few more days, depending on how I’m feeling as I approach my period. And I know it has only been a week or so, but I feel so much better, and I’m so thankful I’ve found your website.

“Before I started my Personal Program, I was in bad shape and getting worse. I was always exhausted, no matter how much sleep I got. I thought it was just stress.

“I never drank water, just diet soda and coffee. I didn’t realize how terrible they were for me until I read your book on nutrition. I could not function without my coffee (four to five cups a day with fat-free cream and sweetener — all of which are harmful!). I had tried to cut coffee out before but I would get such a headache that I would break down and have a cup. In fact, my addiction to coffee was so bad I would drink a cup around 5:00 p.m. so I could have enough energy to go for a short three-mile run. Needless to say, that pattern was not helping me get in shape or lose any weight.

“One day recently, around 3:00 p.m., I was feeling so fatigued that I left my desk to make a cup of coffee. Just the smell of it brewing made me feel better. At the time I thought my feeling better just from the smell was all in my head. Now I know it was actually in my brain and related to the fact that my body was just not getting the things it needed.

“This past week I have drastically cut my coffee intake. I am drinking only water, taking my supplements, and changing my eating habits based on the Nutritional and Lifestyle Guidelines. Now when I hear the caffeine or sugar sirens calling me, I know my body really needs something else. So, I have a healthy snack, with protein and healthy fats. It’s amazing! My cravings stop within a couple minutes.

“I ran again last night (without coffee) and didn’t feel beat up afterwards. I woke up this morning feeling refreshed, ate my balanced breakfast, and have not had any of the usual coffee cravings. My goal today is to make it all through the day without a cup. This program is really easy — and even if I don’t immediately drop weight, I already feel alive and happy again!”

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Last Modified Date: 05/26/2011