SHARING OUT LOUD

Please welcome Ann Marie Veletsos, founder of Down Dog Fitness. Ann Marie is a lover of all things dogs😘, fitness, health & wellness, and most recently all things MENOPAUSE HEALTH.

More about Ann Marie:

Ann Marie started Down Dog Fitness as a place for people to get away from the stresses of their lives to feel better and realize this is their “playtime” just like dogs want to do when they get in their down dog pose. She is certified in the following:

• Certified Personal Trainer through NASM and ACE
• Yoga instructor
• Nutritious Life Master Certified Nutrition and Wellness Coach
• RRCA Run Coach

But she wasn't always a fitness guru, she didn't grow up playing sports or exercising at all! She was always  “skinny” and, if fact, she was even nicknamed “Birdy” for her skinny legs. 

Fast forward to her 30s when Ann Marie realized exercise made her feel better, and running made her feel like a total badass! She was hooked and went from running only a few miles at a time to completing multiple marathons, including Boston. What a huge achievement! But something changed in her early 40's. She wasn't sleeping, her periods were erratic, her body wasn't "behaving like normal" and she was depressed. You might be able to guess what happened when she tried to talk to her doctor about all of this:

- You are too young for menopause
- Your periods are erratic because of running
- You are too young for Osteoporosis
- You just need an antidepressant

So that is what she did, she was DESPERATE so she accepted the prescription and went on her merry way for 15 years. 15 years!!! 15 years of suffering through the symptoms including Osteoporosis, WTH? Until just this past year when she began hearing about  the "new menopause" conversation -- could she still be eligible for HRT help (hormone replacement therapy)?  Was there still hope for her to turn the Osteoporosis around? YESSSSSSS!

At age 56 (almost 57) Ann Marie is now on HRT and is on a mission to help educate other women about perimenopause and menopause, and she would LOVE to help you turn your menopause experience into a better one. From education on nutrition, to exercise, to supplements, she's got you!

You can reach out to Ann Marie via email or her cell, and of course on Instagram @ann.mariev.

Contact Info:

• [email protected]
• 1 (512) 751-4897
• www.downdogfitnessaustin.com

Ready to have a conversation with your doctor about menopause? To find a trained menopause doctor in your area, go to the North American Menopause Society website: the  https://portal.menopause.org/NAMS/NAMS/Directory/Menopause-Practitioner.aspx?QueryMenuSelectedKeyctl01_TemplateBody_WebPartManager1_gwpciNewQueryMenuCommon_ciNewQueryMenuCommon=5cb1c02f-e5a3-4696-b8e0-d2430f861e3d

Meet Anne, business owner, mom, wife,  daughter, and a "moderate" drinker, or so she thought. Thank you Anne for giving me the space to share your story. I am in awe of you and everything you are doing to promote that life can be beautiful when we don't lean on alcohol as a crutch or as an escape.

From Anne:

Shame dies when we share… secrets keep us sick.
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I know on a personal level how true these statements are.
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I stayed stuck for a long time. I lived in moderation hell that made my mental health suffer. I was riddled with guilt and shame for days after consuming too much alcohol when I planned on only have 2. 😑
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Who actually wants 2… I mean… what is the actual point. 🤦🏻‍♀️
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I wanted to escape and feel the dopamine rush of alcohol entering my blood and flowing into my brain.
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Things slowed down and I could “feel” happy, confident, and calm.
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If you are here reading this… my guess is… YOU wanted that to. 🥺
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Sadly, it never measured up to what I hoped.
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Once the alcohol wore off… I would be left with crippling anxiety, shame, guilt and the physical hangover.
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I was nauseous, inflammation filled and popping Tylenol to cut the throbbing headaches.
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This pain was awful but the holes I felt on the inside were worse.
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I hated that I was on this hamster wheel. I hated that I was using this stupid liquid to escape uncomfortable emotions or social events I didn’t even want to attend. 🤦🏻‍♀️
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I hated that I used it to elevate a date night with my Husband or when I felt like I needed connection to go deeper with friends.
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I hated that I reached for alcohol.
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I felt like such a failure. I was angry that I couldn’t just lay it down. I HATED that I hated it and still wanted it.. it made me feel crazy.🤯💔
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I hated that I drank a poison I swore and declared as a child I WOULD NEVER do.
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I hated that alcohol robbed my childhood and here I was.. doing the exact same thing my father did. 💔
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I hated knowing I was capable of more because that meant I needed to change.
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Change is so scary. I feel you.
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But last night I shared my story again and 545 days later…
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I wouldn’t change anything.
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I want to use my story to help other women who feel the same.
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Maybe we didn’t have the same childhood or relationship with alcohol but I can promise we all felt the same after drinking.

Please go follow Anne on Instagram @the_bright_eyed_sober_girl. Her DM's are always open if you would like to talk.

If you need professional help below are some additional resources:

www.shewalkscanada.com - FREE weekly meetings (not AA) with trained professionals. Women-only.

www.aa.com - AA has helped MILLIONS of people. Don't let the stories or stigma scare you. Take a chance and call the local AA chapter in your area.

https://www.soberincentralpark.com/. Rachel is a trained sober coach (her story is also an episode here!) and might be able to help you. Please reach out.

https://www.thrivealcoholfree.com: Dupe is also a trained sober coach but more for the moderate drinker who is sober curious. She is amazing so please reach out for more information.

My girl, TIFFANY, is back! And what an amazing conversation we had. Tiffany, have you ever thought about doing stand-up? I think you need to add this to your bucket list!

1.5 years sober and nothing, I mean NOTHING is stopping this woman! We talk about all things sobriety today and why (we think) there are so many different terms for having a problem with alcohol:

Alcohol use disorder
Alcoholic
Sober
Sober Curious
Alcohol-free
Alcohol disease
Alcohol addiction

If you didn't listen to Tiffany's previous episode GO BACK and listen to that one as well. Tiffany is truly a miracle and because of social media I am privileged to call her a dear friend.

Tiffany’s sober story is different than some, she didn’t use a community to get sober, instead, she dove DEEP into trauma in her life. She worked with doctors and therapists, and used Ketamine as a tool to learn more about and heal from, some incredibly hard events in her life.

Please note, Tiffany does not recommend getting sober alone. Healing is not about white knuckling it. There is something very powerful about using a community as a resource, as a TEAM of support. Her story is that she did the work, the hard, DEEP work, and used professionals to help her. Once she came out as alcohol-free on social media, she understood the power of community and now shares her story freely to help others.

Tiffany is an author, philanthropist, and highly published fitness personality, with recurring appearances on local television networks and contributions to health and fitness publications worldwide. She promotes her own unique brand of fitness, with an emphasis on the discovery of our own best self and not a one-size-fits-all approach. AND NOW, SHE CAN ADD SOBER WOMAN  AND SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE REFRAME APP, TO HER LIST OF AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENTS!

Want to learn more or get in touch with Tiffany for questions on sobriety, fitness, or health and wellness? See below:

Instagram: @tiffanyleegaston
Website: www.tiffanyleegaston.com 
Download the REFRAME APP, an app that helps people eliminate binge drinking, from whatever app store you use.

Hello everyone! I took a little hiatus with the pod, not on purpose, but it happened. And while I was away I turned 5! 5-years sober that is :).

The last 5 years have been the best years of my life🥰. The freedom of not having to think about the next drink is like no other.

If you are struggling please know there is help. There is hope. AA is a wonderful resource, sober coaches like @thrivealcoholfree @the_sobermommy @soberincentralpark @beckyparkerrr are wonderful for 1:1 help. And @shewalkscanada is the perfect community for women if AA isn’t your thing.

If listening to sober stories is helpful, my conversation with @sober.for.the.health.of.it on my podcast is incredible! And there are many others there as well. @tiffanyleegaston @mocktailmommy @thelykkeviking @sober.for.the.health.of.it @thrivealcoholfree @christyfreddo @jessicaduenas24 @shewalkscanada @alexandra_bos @annamaluskitzmann @kelz_living_well

Cheers to 5 years!!!

Kate Eldean is back! And this time she is here to dive deeper into bipolar disorder so you can better understand your loved ones (or yourself!) and to show that people affected by this can lead a full and beautiful life!

Kate is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and a Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in Trauma Recovery, EMDR, Neurotherapy, and EFT for Couples. She is licensed in SC, CA, and soon will be licensed in Michigan!

With over 21 years of mental health experience, she provides a nurturing and non-judgmental warmth to her patients as they journey together along a solid path of healing and wholeness. Kate works with patients who struggle with depression, anxiety, mood disorders, trauma, abuse and neglect, addictions, grief and loss, eating disorders, and chronic medical conditions such as Type 1 Diabetes.

Kate is also an author and co-founder of the Gracie Brave book and Foundation. Gracie Brave was created by Katie and her mom to inspire and empower children and families to find hope and healing from depression and other emotional challenges. 

Gracie Brave is the art of connection and community. Gracie Brave is a catalyst for breaking down the stigma of mental illness and helps families discover hope, healing, and freedom. 

In her spare time, Kate loves running, surfing, boating, doing cross-cultural missions in East Africa, and many arts and crafts!

NOTE: When Kate talks about medications, it is important to note that she is medication-resistant. THIS EPISODE IS NOT MEANT TO TREAT MENTAL ILLNESS or recommend medications, it is simply about awareness. Please consult your doctor if you feel you need help.

Education
Michigan State University, BS in Psychology, Minor/Specialization in Health & Humanities (1994-1998)
Antioch University Los Angeles, MA in Clinical Psychology (1999-2001)
Wheaton College, Trinity University and Bethel Seminary Classes towards M.Div and Christian Formation and Ministry Degree
License, Certifications & Awards
MFT Licensure Granted Dec. 2010

Additional Training
Gottman Couples Therapy Level 1: Bridging the Couple Chasm: A Research Based Approach
Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT)
The International Centre For Excellence In Emotionally Focused Therapy
EMDR Part One & Two Training Completed.  Certification to be complete Winter 2016.

Professional Activities and Memberships
CAMFT CA Assoc. of MFT's
American Association of Christian Counselors
CAPS~ Christian Assoc. of Professional Studies~ North County San Diego CAPS Leadership team and steering team.
ANAD~ Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders Community Support Group Leader

You can find more about Kate on her websites or on instagram!

https://www.kateeldean.com/
https://www.graciebrave.org/
@graciebrave on instagr

This is one of the most beautiful, heart-wrenching, and sometimes unbelievable sober story I have ever heard. Thank you Erica, aka, sober.for.the.health.of.it, for your vulnerability, your honesty, your openness, so that someone out there might be spared from this dreaded disease of alcoholism. 

I needed a drink when I didn't have what I needed.

It has been a long road to get to where I am. It took years for me to be open and honest about my recovery. Years for me to let people see what I was hiding for so long. I was ordering diet cokes and being told that that shit would kill me. 🤣 Little did they know. I was removing myself from conversations when it turned towards alcohol. I tried not to scream and rip my hair out when someone would talk about people who struggle with addiction and/or mental health. I cowered and shrank into my comfort zone, full of shame and hurt. I felt like a fraud.

I was sober, but I still didn't have what I needed. At a little over 3 years, I was coming close to letting it all go. I was working as much as I could, filling my time with busyness, hoping everything would just work out.

I didn't have a community. I didn't have friends I could share my story with. I was lucky I had a supportive family, but I needed someone who related. When I created this account, I didn't know what to expect. I never thought I'd connect with so many amazing people that I could relate to so much. It's a freeing feeling when you can talk about some of the crazy shit you did and laugh with someone because they did it, too. I began to find acceptance, and I was learning how to love myself.

It's true when they say, "Connection is the opposite of addiction." Being part of a community has changed my life. If you're struggling to find yours, please reach out. There are so many amazing people wanting to connect❤️

On January 3, 2021, about 6 months after a wake-up call amid the pandemic, Rachel decided to try Dry January. She was the heaviest she had ever been, she was unemployed, had no motivation, and was in a marriage that had been done for a while.

As Dry January moved into February, February into March... Rachel drastically changed her lifestyle and replaced alcohol with alternatives, like water and walking (to Central Park of course), and began making better decisions about her nutrition. Though not always easy, sobriety brought so many benefits and rewards. Rachel's mental health improved and in turn, her depression and anxiety became more manageable. And what about all the walking around and in Central Park? She lost 100lbs!

As Rachel started following and communicating with other sober women on social media, she realized she could make a difference if she were to share her story "OUT LOUD" and so began Sober In Central Park. What began as a “Dry January” experiment has now blossomed into a Sober Career! She has become a life coach, a N/A brand spokesperson (bringing N/A drink brands to restaurants in NYC!), a motivational speaker, and now a sober retreat leader! The sky is the limit for Rachel, and it can be for you too!

More information about Rachel and how to live a thriving alcohol-free life:

Website:  https://www.soberincentralpark.com

Instagram:  @soberincentralpark

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/soberincentralpark

Pay close attention in this episode to where Christy talks about her daughter’s trauma PTSD from her abusive father. This could be triggering for some but also inspiration if you’re in an abusive relationship with children. Please reach out to Christy if you need resources. Xoxo. 

In 2011, in a span of six months, Christy Freddo freed herself from the gilded cage that was her high-paying, glamorous but toxic corporate job that everyone envied. She left a decade-old abusive marriage to a seemingly charming man (that everyone loved) and finally admitted to herself that she was an alcoholic and ultimately got sober after 20 years of hardcore drinking!

Within two years of leaving her marriage and getting sober, Christy:
 ❤️did a 180 and shifted gears into the world of entrepreneurship and began running a profitable business.
❤️met a wonderful, kind man who she would later marry and blend her family with.
❤️swapped cocktails for yoga!

AND NOW... Christ is a transformational life coach, has written a book, and has created a 12-week program for those wanting MORE for their lives.

From Christy:

Welcome to the Create Your Best Life 12-week coaching program. This is not just a program, it’s a transformational journey to your most extraordinary life. Whether you’re feeling stuck, seeking deeper fulfillment, or looking to make a change, I’m here to guide you. Together, we’ll harness the boundless potential of your mind, rewrite the inner narratives that no longer serve you, and usher in a beautiful, more fulfilling life — one that may, until now, have existed only in the whispers of your heart.

Let’s dive into the details of the transformative process:

#1: Personalized Reinvention Roadmap: Together, we’ll embark on a deep exploration of your current situation, your challenges, and your aspirations. We’ll chart a course from where you stand now to the future you’ve envisioned. I’ll provide you with the tools to recognize obstacles, gain crystal-clear clarity on your goals, navigate through change, and craft a customized roadmap. Expect weekly assignments to keep you moving forward on this transformative journey.

#2: Expert 1:1 Coaching: Get ready for personalized, weekly coaching sessions tailored just for you. We’ll confront your challenges head-on, arming you with strategies crafted uniquely for your journey, so you can overcome obstacles and shape a life that fills you with love and joy.

#3: Direct Access to Yours Truly: Reach out via email between our sessions. Have a question? Need to brainstorm? I’m right here with you, every step of the way. You’ll have the founder and creator of this program by your side, ensuring you never navigate this path alone.

#4: Personalized Meditation with Abundance Affirmations: You’ll receive a completely customized guided meditation carefully curated for your soul’s evolution. This daily meditation will guide you through the visualization of your new life, exactly as you’ve envisioned it in your Reinvention Roadmap. These sessions will cultivate inner peace and help you visualize and manifest your most abundant life.

#5: Bonus monthly master class: We’ll delve into a range of topics like meditation, manifestation, breaking through change cycles, and so much more.

Get ready to embrace the journey of your life – your best life is awaiting you!

For more information, you can visit Christy on her website:

https://bestlifemindset.com/

Follow her on instagram: @bestlifemindset

Grab her e-book! https://bestlifemindset.com/e-book/

Meet Katey Armstrong!

I was first introduced to Katey when she was on the YOU ARE NOT BROKEN Podcast with Dr. Kelly Casperson talking about Menopause and her experience with prolapse, (when 1 or more of the organs in the pelvis slip down from their normal position and bulge into the vagina). As soon as I started listening I knew I had to have her here on SHARING OUT LOUD because I too am experiencing menopause, AND I experienced prolapse as well (we think no one talks about menopause - NO ONE talks about prolapse!!!).

Katey and I talked about everything...

• Taking her power back with MENOPAUSE by being fully educated with what's going on in her body and demanding the best care from her doctor (she is on HRT).
• Picking herself up by the bootstraps to reinvent herself after a shocking discovery in her marriage.
• Being the ultimate STRONG grandmother so that she play with her grandchildren as they grow!
• Working with the elderly in extended care facilities to change their mindset on not giving up on what they can do to change their bodies physically -- you CAN get stronger with movement, even at 80!
• Building and motivating an online fitness community with LIVE ZOOM classes each week.

 
Katey is one amazing, unique, and powerful woman❤️, a woman who cares so deeply for others, all she wanted to do was talk about her ZOOM fitness clients and her elderly fitness clients whom she has been motivating in extended care facilities for YEARS! These are the people that bring her absolute joy. They are the REASON she is motivated to take charge of her health! She needs to be the best she can be so that she can go on having the energy to keep them motivated.

I know you are going to love Katey as much as I do so go follow her on social media and be sure to check out her ZOOM exercise programs on her website!

Follow Katey on Instagram @healthyevolutionbykatey

Visit her website: https://www.healthyevolution.ca/

THANK YOU DUPE for a wonderful chat for the Sharing Out Loud Podcast! So much has changed since I got Sober a year before the Pandemic hit -- now there is so much more than AA available to help people live a life without alcohol.

About my guest:
Dupe spent many years drinking, as that’s what society and being in the corporate world had told her was normal. She realized she wasn’t enjoying it and it got to the point where she knew deep down ditching drinking would help in some way.

After 20+ years of drinking, she decided to take a 21-day break from alcohol, she never intended to stop for good but this led to her now being 3 years alcohol-free, running a marathon, practicing yoga and gratitude daily, being more present, lots of personal growth, being a bestselling Author of an award-winning book, launching and hosting a podcast and being an Alcohol-Free Wellbeing and Transformational Coach.

She now helps women who know they want to stop drinking, and make alcohol insignificant, so they can explore an alcohol-free lifestyle, discover who they really are, dream again, and thrive in every area of their lives.

For more information on her coaching visit Dupe's website: www.thrivealcoholfree.com

Follow her on Instagram: @thrivealcoholfree

Listen to her podcast: Thrive Alcohol Free

Buy her book: A Cocktail of Clarity: https://www.amazon.com/Cocktail-Clarity-Drinking-Identity-Alcohol/dp/B0C2SPYYTH/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=a+cocktail+of+clarity&qid=1706643172&sr=8-1