For me, the first two years of going through menopause were, simply put, miserable. I’m sure most women would agree with me here. I was extremely depressed and uncomfortable in my own skin. I ended up gaining about 25 lbs and it took a lot for me to start actively dealing with menopause in a healthy way. I've talked openly about menopause in my "Can We Talk Series", but this post is specifically about how to lose weight during this time in your life. 

You always hear the warnings about how terrible menopause can be, but it’s not until you actually experience it that you understand. At some points I was like, “Why did no one tell me about this?” Throughout this time, the most difficult part was finding the support and answers that I so badly needed, which weren’t easily available. 

Menopause affects and changes essentially every woman’s weight. However, when you look around for information, it’s impossible to find. I often heard comments such as:

​First, your body is going through extreme hormonal changes, so weight gain during this time is a real thing! You can have healthy eating habits before you experience menopause, but during and after, your body can react differently to certain foods you’ve always eaten. I don’t know why there isn’t more information out there on this subject, but let’s try to fix that here. 

Together with my good friends and experts in their field, Paige Kelly BA, MSACN (functional nutritionist) and Charlotte Brynn (my physical trainer) we will give you 10 tips on how to lose weight during menopause! The information here is based on my personal experiences, as well as credible advice from professionals. Hopefully you can find the answers that you’re looking for here, and get back to feeling like yourself again. Please, please, please: Whatever questions you have after reading this, leave them for us in the comments below and we’ll get right back to you!

Hi Everyone! Here is my third and final Health & Fitness video for this series, which I filmed with my trainer and good friend Charlotte Brynn. If you haven’t watched our first 2 videos you can find the links below. 

#1 Health & Fitness with Charlotte Brynn - Expert Video
#2 Health & Fitness with Charlotte Brynn, Month 2 - Expert Video​
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In the first video we cover tips on how to get started if you’re new to working out, as well as a first month plan to get yourself ready! In the 2nd video we add some strength training exercises that you should incorporate during that second month. We demonstrate a 6 part workout routine you can do from the comfort of your home. 

This final video we go over some of the workouts I am currently doing. These are a little more advanced. Since I have been working out with Charlotte for about 5 years now I definitely had to build up my strength to get to where I am today. If you are someone who is more advanced hopefully you can incorporate these workouts into your own routine. 

To get the PDF version for this video check out the link below. Let me know in the comment section what you guys think or if you come across any issues when trying to download the PDF. Hope you enjoy:) 

Hi! Before I get right into my first monthly post I wanted to introduce myself and give everyone some background information about myself. My name is Paige Kelly and I have worked in the healthcare field for over two decades. I graduated from the University of New Orleans and later returned for postbaccaulaureate work in Biology. I ended up graduating with honors from New York Chiropractic College, receiving a Masters of Science in Applied Clinical Nutrition.

My nutrition and therapeutic massage experience comes from working in chiropractic offices, physical therapy clinics, and owning a wellness office in Louisiana called “All About Health” which included colon irrigation and therapeutic massage. I began my own journey toward health long ago when I was presented with several of the chronic lifestyle diseases many of us face today. I bring a unique understanding and compassion to my clients based on many years of trial and error with my own experiences which have been heightened by research and higher education. 

I am very passionate about sharing nutritional information and the tools to use in order to make changes in your health. Nutrition is an integral part of everyone’s health and healing. I feel privileged to share my knowledge with you and grateful for your trust in me. I hope in writing these monthly blog posts I am able to help you begin your new journey toward optimal health.

In my first post I wanted to go over some of the most common questions I receive from new patients:
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Q: Why is weight loss later in life, such a challenge?

A: Weight loss and Diet – for women a lot of negative emotions, expectations, and stress come with these two words.  Re-thinking the approach to your body is the first step to optimal wellness, see how I did that – not diet and weight loss – but OPTIMAL WELLNESS.
In life, we have 3 Cycles of life in years:

• 1-30   
• 30-60
• 60-90

We cannot expect our bodies to function or look the same as they did in our twenties when we are 30-60 years or 60-90 years old as our hormones are different, body chemistry shifts, and our life experiences shape our wellbeing (which can be an awesome asset!).  What years are you currently living in? Are you placing demands on your body to lose weight, but may not understand the underlying reasons for achieving your optimal wellness goal?

Q: Why is optimal wellness a challenge?

A: Here are some of the reasons you might be struggling with your optimal wellness. This can include skin issues, weight loss, and even organ functions. Some might seem obvious. But take a good hard look at your lifestyle and choices when reading over this list. You might find a few that you could improve on. 

• SUGAR
• Food Sensitivities - you might be unaware of a certain food sensitivity until you get tested. In these cases keep in mind when you have an upset stomach or any other symptoms when eating certain foods. It’s helpful to keep a food journal to keep track. 
• Trans Fats from processed food 
• Equal, Splenda, sweet n low, diet drinks/foods – can make you gain weight
• Eating low fat – eating healthy fats do not make you fat!
• DNA – your genetic makeup
• Environmental toxins – makeup, lotions, or gas fumes. 
• Emotional, Mental, and Physical Stress
• Not consuming enough fresh vegetables
• Dehydrated – how much water do you really drink?
• Underlying health challenges
• Nutrient deficiencies from pharmaceuticals, poor diet, poor digestion, GERD, Thyroid conditions, diabetes, and many more.

Over the next few weeks, consider shifting your perspective from Diet/Weight loss to Nourish/Optimal Wellness.  

Keep it Simple:  

• Drink approximately  ½ your body weight in water.   Urine should remain a light yellow – the color of lemonade.  Majority of people are chronically dehydrated!
• Remove any fake sugars from your diet – research has shown that these fake sugars can cause a decrease in stomach health and weight gain.

I hope my first blog post was helpful! If you would like me to focus on any specific topic please feel free to let me know in the comment section. 

Be kind to yourself,

Paige Kelly  MSACN, CNS
paige@FunctionalNutritionVt.com
802-644-8440
Follow me on Facebook 

Hi Everyone! Here is my second video (of a 3 part video series) with my trainer and good friend Charlotte Brynn. If you haven’t watched our first video you should check it out. In that video we cover tips on how to get started if you’re new to working out, as well as a first month plan to get yourself ready! 

In this video we add some strength training exercises that you should incorporate during that second month. We demonstrate a 6 part workout routine you can do from the comfort of your home. 

To get the PDF version for month #2 check out the link below. Let me know in the comment section if you are unable to download it. 

Hi Everyone! I'm really excited to publish the first installment of a 3 part video series with my trainer, and good friend, Charlotte Brynn!! Charlotte is one of the experts I wanted to collaborate with for my blog. If you have been following along you will see that I make it a priority to give you expert advice for some specific topics. I enjoy giving everyone my perspective and sharing my experiences, but hearing from someone who does have expertise is twice as valuable. Charlotte is definitely one of those people! 

She has over 30 years experience within the health and fitness field and devotes most of her time helping others improving their health. Charlotte has a very impressive background, which she does cover in the video above. She is currently the Executive Director of TSH Non- Profit Community Pool & Fitness Center in Stowe, VT. This is where we have our training sessions, and it's an amazing local establishment. ​Charlotte also has a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from Otago University in New Zealand. Plus, she is a certified swim instructor, swim coach, personal trainer, and a group fitness instructor.

When I started working out with Charlotte I never thought it would be such a life-changing decision. I look back on pictures and I can barely recognize myself. As you can see from the pictures above I have made some major strides, but it definitely didn't happen overnight. I have personally been working out with Charlotte for over 5 years now, and it has been a wonderful experience all around. I always hated working out, and sometimes still do, but Charlotte knows how to motivate me and make it fun. 

The key is consistency! By uploading these pictures of myself I hope it helps motivate some of you if you're feeling uneasy about where to begin. It's not easy for me to look at these pictures either, but it is a great reminder of how far I have come. 

For our first video, we wanted to sit down and answer the most popular questions I have received about weight gain in relation to menopause. We will also be giving you ladies tips on how to get started as well as workouts for when you start to progress. In this video, we will cover the first month of where to begin, but first, we suggest you consult your doctor before starting any new program. Below I have attached a downloadable PDF covering the first month's plan and some key points we review in our interview. Please notify me in the comment section if you are having trouble with downloading the document below:)

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Hi Guys! It's finally here, my first expert video! In this video, we will be talking with Dr. Lane about all the questions you want to be answered about Botox. After, we are going to film me and Mr. Stafford actually getting Botox. 💉💉😳

I really hope this is informative and answers any questions you might have had. This took a lot of courage to do on camera. It is a topic a lot of women still feel embarrassed to talk about, so that's why I felt the need to make this video. Even if Botox is not your thing my hope is that everyone learns something they might not have known before watching. I hope you enjoy, and let me know in the comments if this was helpful to you.