You know, We've both spent the better part of our lives chasing optimal health. Shelby's mother passed away when she was 7. Her mother was just 30 years old and the autopsy suggested that she died of cardiac arrest due to complications with an undetected autoimmune condition called Hashimoto's Hypothyroiditis. And as she reached adulthood and had 2 daughters of her own, Shelby swore she would do everything in her power to remain strong and healthy for her girls. She didn't want to leave them without a mother.

Shelby is not the only one. So Many women struggle with our health and weight. Trinity has had her own struggles. Her mom also died of cardiac arrest and was lost at far too young. She was raised on a diet of comfort food and learned to feed all of her emotions. Then, when she became 100 pounds overweight, she tried all of the solutions from yoyo dieting, to gastric bypass, and all the fads in between. And, now that we find ourselves here...in midlife. We're both happier with our bodies than we've ever been before! Now, health to us is more about being strong and able to do all the things we want to do as we live this next chapter in our lives!

But the problem is that we feel like I've tried EVERYTHING to achieve optimal health and it STILL alludes us! You know, we're all looking for that easy button or the silver bullet, but it feels like there is no PERFECT solution to figure out what are the RIGHT things for OUR (individual) bodies...

OR...What if there IS a perfect solution? What if that solution is in the GENES you wear everyday...But, we're not talking about the jeans you wear, we're talking your GENETICS, girl. Today's guest, Brenda Wollenberg, helps educate us on how to unlock the secret to health with our DNA, ya'll.

That's right, Brenda and her business partner analyze and interpret genetic profiles to design personalized wellness programs that are UNIQUE to you and your genetics. They recognize that 'one-size-fits-all wellness" can be confusing and ineffective. But, with the programs that Brenda offers, maintaining optimal health can be simple, personal, and doable.

WE love the fact that Brenda combines her years of experience as a Social Worker and holistic nutritional consultant to compassionately and uniquely help her clients understand their current patterns of behavior and lifestyle choices that are UNhelpful and that are (possibly) contributing to their current state of health. THEN, helps them to adopt simple, new behaviors that make a BIG impact. 

Because, here's the thing, ladies. Midlife is HARD on our bodies. Things are happening that we can't really understand and that we feel are totally out of our control...I'm talking hot flashes, sleeplessness, inflammation, aches, brain fog. These are ALL things that can be remedied with the RIGHT information and tools. Think about how your life would be different....ELEVATED if you felt great waking up every single day?! What would you do? What could you accomplish? We are here to help you live your best midlife and it starts with your health!

In this episode, Brenda teaches us

1. There are things you can actually do to change the way in which certain genes are expressed to make an impact on our life and health. Genetics can be used to pinpoint the exact lifestyle or dietary shifts that your genetics require to become optimized
2. The two things that have a high impact on the expression of our genes are high levels of stress and inflammation, or high amounts of cortisol, epinephrine/norepinephrine. These create proverbial "power surges" to our system that then inhibits the positive expression of our genes and prevents them from operating in the best possible way for our energy and vitality
3. When we focus on the specific genes that have exceptional levels of data science behind them, are relevant to our health, and are "actionable" i.e. there are lifestyle shifts we can make to alter the expression of these gene to improve our health, and elevate our lives.
4. Most food is processed in some way. We need to avoid ULTRA processed food in which the food is manufactured in a lab and created with a "bliss point" that truly increases our cravings and dramatically impacts our health in a negative way. You should always be able to recognize the ingredients on the label.
5. Ladies, look around you. The obesity epidemic is real and we are ALL DIFFERENT. The paradigms of the past (think the food pyramid) are no longer serving us. We are getting the WRONG fuel mix on our kids plates and drinking liquid sugar. and we're doing it wrong for ourselves in midlife

To find more of Brenda:

Website | inbalancelm.com

And, girl! When we talk about ELEVATING your life, the first step may start with your health, but it take many steps to make the journey to living your best life and we want to be there with you every step of the way! Join our tribe of like-minded women, tap into our toolkits, and indulge in topical expertise to keep you moving in the right direction. It can all be found at dearmidlife.com. Can't wait to meet you in the middle!