Finally, after 4 years of struggling with an extra 20-25 pounds (and trying practically everything!), I have lost 15 pounds. WOOHOO! Do you know what it feels like to walk into my closet once again and be excited to pick out clothes? Do you know that when I stand in front of the mirror, I now see a shape I once remembered, not some weird muffin top poofy thing? TEARS! I am an active person – marathon runner, cyclist, weight lifter and for the life of me I could not figure out why I was gaining weight. I checked my hormones and insulin. FINEI counted calories. Didn’t work too well – ha, I burn through them like crazy. I went vegetarian – no difference. I cut out cheese – nope, nada, didn’t matter. And this summer, at the worst of it – having to buy a new swim suit and new clothes that would fit, I said enough was enough. I have a masters degree in biology and consider myself pretty damn smart. But I knew there was something missing that until I got it solved, nothing was gonna change – except possibly adding on more weight. Enter Amy Civica and Pam Mills. Now, big props to these two who never gave up on me! They have been encouraging me FOR A YEAR to schedule a call with them – and I kept declining, as I just KNEW I could do this on my own. I don’t live with regrets, but if I did, it would be this: 4 years of my mental health were clouded by me thinking that my weight gain was something I was doing wrong. I’m so glad I am over this now –because when I signed on to work with these two angels, guess what we revealed? My body is intolerant to: watermelon (oh dear god, my fave!), tomatoes, wheat, rye, quinoa, eggs, flax, hot peppers and peaches. Travel back with me to this past summer (mentioned above): I was living off of what was in season: peppers, tomatoes, peaches and watermelon – and farm fresh brown eggs. NO WONDER I WAS GAINING WEIGHT based on my intolerances. Ladies – life is too short to continue to struggle with not feeling well and not feeling our best, emotionally and mentally. And life is way too damn short to be trying to do this on our own – when we don’t even have the information we need based on our unique bodies. I hope that if this post speaks to you, you are in their inbox ASAP asking for a consultation. You are worth it. Your livelihood is worth it. Your mental health is worth it.” Shannon Hernandez