Women’s stories

“Your products and information were exactly what my body needed.”

We recently received an e-mail from Rhonda, a 32-year-old who found Women to Women’s Personal Program after struggling for several years with chronic pain and degenerating health. Her symptoms ran the gamut, from unchecked weight gain and profound fatigue to lack of periods, hot flashes, and depression. Now seven months into her program, Rhonda’s well on the way to recovering her health, and brimming with optimism! We’re all amazed at what basic changes and nutrient support can do, especially when backed by the power of positive thinking. Here’s her story:

“Thank you, thank you, thank you for being there. I became pregnant at age 29, in June 2003. That October, I injured my back and became wheelchair-bound. I received steroid injections into my spine to help me walk again, causing an 80-pound weight gain. I delivered my son by cesarean section and was eventually able to get up and walk, but developed stress fractures and carpal tunnel syndrome from the weight gain, and my knee caps had to be put into braces. Worse yet, I continued to gain weight, though eating little.

“Two depressing years followed my son’s birth. I had no periods for nearly three years, but all the blood tests were inconclusive. My doctor, who was stumped, said my symptoms were textbook for Cushing’s disease, but without the bloodwork to confirm a diagnosis. I ached all over, experienced constant hot flashes, swelling, and steady weight gain. I was an emotional wreck, hopeless at the prospect of being so big and never walking normally again. I felt so drained that I could’t shop for groceries and cook dinner in the same day. I literally spent most of the day in bed for three full years, except to drag myself from doctor to doctor, lab to lab, test to test — all fruitless.

“So there I was, the 32-year-old mother of a toddler, unable to pick him up or care for him. I was a computer programmer for the Department of Defense, which allowed me to work from home, but my body was so broken and puffed-up that I had to lay in bed with my laptop. I hired a series of nannies and housekeepers to care for my son and my home while I struggled to concentrate on my work. After a year of balancing the demands of work with my worsening condition, I gave up on work. I quit my job to focus on resting and searching for the answers I needed to get healthy again. The loss of income had a serious impact on my family, but thankfully, we’ve always made it through.

“After two years, my family doctor gave up on helping me. She told me the systemic changes in my body were side effects of steroids and pain meds, and that there was nothing further she could do for me. The endocrinologist ordered a range of tests, including MRI’s and ultrasounds, and said my only option would be hormone replacement therapy for the rest of my life. My muscles were atrophied from lying in bed for nearly three years, and the back specialist told me that unless I had surgery I’d need pain meds for the rest of my life in order to walk. I asked him whether it would be possible for me to get my life back if I lost the 80 pounds, exercised, and strengthened my muscles, and he thought I could try, but he doubted I’d ever lead a full life again without having surgery.

“My biggest problems were a slow metabolism and being unable to exercise. Every time I tried, I’d end up with a stress fracture or breaking or pulling something. I knew I needed to lose weight to take the pressure off my bones, but I couldn’t seem to find a way. Just to walk from the bed to the bathroom I was taking 70 mg of methadone and 180 mg of oxycodone a day.

“After three years, I’d finally had enough. I was 32 years old, 5'3"and 210 pounds, facing permanent hormone replacement therapy and back surgery. I realized my doctors weren’t about to invest the time needed to figure out why my body was doing this and treat it, so I took matters in my own hands.

“I went on the internet and, after months of searching for answers, found Women to Women’s Personal Program. I can’t tell you how relieved I was to read testimonials from other women suffering from similar symptoms. I’d been feeling so isolated. By hearing not one but hundreds of stories like my own, I saw hope that life could change, that there were doctors out there who cared about my symptoms and quality of life. From the time I read the site’s information, I couldn’t wait to tell my husband. It gave me hope when I had none. I prayed and prayed, and Women to Women was an answer to my prayers. I ordered your products immediately, and began the program in May 2006.

“As I learned about nutrition, I thought to myself, ‘Why didn’t I learn this in school? Why don’t doctors share such basic and foundational information about weight loss?’ It was so simple. I limited my calories to 1200 per day and began losing one pound every two days — even though I was still largely bedbound.

“The Essential Nutrients gave me what my body needed to regain strength. The hot flashes started going away, and between May and October 2006 — five months — I lost 60 pounds, even though I was not yet able to exercise. In November 2006, I began exercising at a rock-climbing gym. I go faithfully every day now. At first I could only hang on for about five seconds, but it still was enough exercise to get things going.

“I’ve gone from a size 22 to an 8 in five months on your program. Now I’m toning up, building back the muscles that had atrophied. I’m able to exercise enough to stimulate my body’s natural endorphins to relieve the back pain. I’m tapering off all my pain medications and my hot flashes are gone. My hope is to be done with pain medication within the next few months as I continue to strengthen my back. I have also readjusted my caloric intake for my new activity level and weight, and I am still still losing, as well as building muscle! This weekend, my husband showed me a photo of myself at my worst point — 210 pounds. I’m now down to 148 pounds and steadily dropping to my ideal weight.

“Today I can get up at 7:00 AM, make breakfast for my family, see my husband off to work, play with my son, bathe him, teach him, take him to the park, spend an hour climbing at the gym, do the shopping, come home, cook dinner, decorate for Christmas, and paint my brand new house — all in the same day. My energy level is up 3000%.

“The fact is, Women to Women’s Personal Program works! Your products and information were exactly what my body needed, and what no doctor could tell me. You have helped give me back my life. And today, after going nearly three years with no periods, I finally got my period again — naturally, without using any birth control pills or hormones!

“I plan to continue my Personal Program for the rest of my life, and I share my experience with many people I meet throughout my day — even the cashiers at the stores. There are so many women who truly need the information your website provides. Thank you for giving women the knowledge and tools they need to commit to health and caring for their bodies.”

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Last Modified Date: 05/26/2011