Okay, folks—today’s post is going to be a long one. But it’s one I’ve been wanting to share with you for a long time, and suddenly a few weeks ago, I felt like it was the right time to finally write this all down. So grab your coffee, green juice, or heck, a glass of prosecco (I don’t know when you’re reading this!) and settle in. Because I’m sharing my health journey. Heads up, it hasn’t been a smooth one. But I’ve learned that it’s more than not eating pancakes. 

When was the last time you looked in the mirror “butt-naked,” and you turned side to side in disbelief? Or, you stood in front of a mirror and grabbed what you could and said to yourself–“I’m not eating any more pancakes. I’m going on a diet in the morning?” And that following morning, your cravings are so great. You binge all day on things you have no business. Ouch! I’ve been there too. 

Without a doubt, your health journey is about making changes to your lifestyle and assuming the role of a student. It’s about empowering yourself to take control of your health and making constructive changes. Everyone’s health journey is unique and different. It’s not going to look like anyone else’s’; however, if you want to be healthy, you’ll have to make time to invest in yourself. 

Apart from this, I’m not saying you should go out and order all the PlexusSlim “Hunger Control” products you can find. 

However, I am saying we have to slow down and find out what makes us healthy, beautiful, and feeling our absolute best every single day. And that comes with developing a daily regimen that fits your needs. I do know getting up every morning feeling our worst is not a part of God’s plan nor is it the way we should feel when we get up every morning. 

Are you ready for this–there is no such thing as a quick fix to your health. No matter how many dietary supplements you take or all-natural ingredients. Taking control of your health is a process that will take time. It’s intentional. There will be ups-and-downs, you’ll probably take a few steps back and have days when you feel down, but that’s why it’s called a journey! So get the quick-fix mentality out of your head. There’s nothing on the market that can “do it for you.” The journey is worth taking; the knowledge you’ll gain about your body is going to empower you for a lifetime and those around you.

Consequently, for some, we have to become ill, endure a sickness to remain alive or our doctor gives us that gut-wrenching news that we’re going to die if we don’t stop the shenanigans around the dinner table. 

That wasn’t necessarily the case for me. But I became ill over 9 years ago and the doctors couldn’t find out what was wrong with me. Right, I was going back and forth to a gastrointestinal disease doctor for multiple tests to be performed. And each time the tests showed nothing was wrong with me. 

Subsequently, I knew differently. The hot sweats I was having and the discomfort I felt after eating wasn’t normal. The hot sweats were like a long-distance run. They would come whenever they wanted to. I would be standing in line, talking to someone, teaching a class, attending my board meeting, etc. You get it. And all of a sudden. I would start sweating profusely as though I just stepped out of the shower. 

Of course, I was with family, they were used to it. One of my children would go and grab the fan and stand over me with a piece of paper saying. “Mom! “You okay.” Then, after about 2 minutes. I was back to normal and I no longer diverted the attention. 

But the most embarrassing part was during my presentations, folks would just start looking at me. The room would get silent and those “deers looking in headlights” happened for about 2 minutes. Through the silence, I kept talking through the presentation, in hopes I wouldn’t pass out because of the embarrassment. Whew! I got through it each time. 

For those of you wondering, “Why does she always wear black?” This is my reason. I reverted to something I could wear all-day and hopefully, no one noticed; I also took along an extra shirt and a bag with items to maintain my hygiene throughout the day. 

Yeah! I did all of that. 

Nonetheless, I was lazy about my health. I left it to the doctor to figure out what was wrong with me. And rightfully so, I should have, because he was the doctor. 

One day after losing so much weight, I believe I had gotten down to a size 8. Right, a whole single digit, an 8. I had had enough. I had particularly stopped eating because I knew what I ate was going to affect how much I sweated. Or, if I didn’t eat much or the time that I ate. I wouldn’t sweat as much. (I think!)

But check this out. 

After my last MRI, I went back to the doctor to get my results. As I sat in his office and he explained my results and found nothing. He looked at me and said… “Valerie, I have one last resort. I could take out your gallbladder to see if that’s going to work. And if not, we can keep trying to find out what’s wrong with you. You can see the nurse on your way out so she can schedule your surgery.” 

Y’all! I walked right by the nurse’s station and out the door. And from that very day, until this one, I have yet to go back to that doctor. I knew. My health journey was in my hands for a while. 

So I became aggressive about reading as much as I could around the gallbladder, the gut, and intestinal issues to figure out how to start. 

Each day, I charted how I was feeling, how many hot sweats I had during the night, and what I ate before going to bed. On some mornings, there were big wins and others it was so draining. 

For two weeks, my charting was everything. It showed me what happened when I ate more raw vegetables and dairy products compared to more starch, and even, proteins. It’s also noteworthy to mention, I started to wean myself from meat. I felt like it was difficult for me to digest and the sweating was more profuse. 

Today, my husband and my mother say… “Girl, that’s all in your head!” 

So, I learned what my body needed, and what I could do to deter the sweating during moments when I needed to shine. The sweating still happened because I wasn’t perfect at the timing. But I was well on my way. 

After several months of practice, and developing as a vegetarian. I was led to find a gastrologist that would take the time to work through my gut issues. 

Yes, you see I said… gut issues. 

Upon meeting with my new doctor and describing my gut issues, he mentioned I was suffering from IBS. Relax! You don’t have cancer. 

Y’all! Didn’t know. But that crossed my mind so many times. 

When I finally got to talk with my doctor, he said stress was wreaking havoc on my body and that I needed to find a way to better manage it. He also told me that I likely had a lot of food sensitivities, even though I wasn’t allergic to anything, so he suggested I cut out artificial sweeteners, greasy fried foods, and cut back on dairy and caffeine.

What?!?? That experience triggered me and I thought seriously about making some major lifestyle changes sitting in that doctor’s office. 

Nonetheless, he patiently explained–Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that affects the large intestine. Signs and symptoms include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea or constipation, or both. IBS is a chronic condition that you’ll need to manage long term.

Only a small number of people with IBS have severe signs and symptoms. Some people can control their symptoms by managing diet, lifestyle, and stress. (Yes! Spot-on!) More-severe symptoms can be treated with medication. Therefore, I’m going to give you two pills to help you. 

These pills are not going to fix your gut issues. This is something you will have to work through to be in the best health you want to be. 

I know right. (Mic dropped!) 

I couldn’t believe the doctor was telling me those things. My health is in my hands. Many of them tell you to take the medication and if you’re not feeling better in 24-48 hours call their nurse or report to the nearest emergency room. 

At this point, it’s noteworthy to mention, I shared with him my vegetarian journey, the charting and understanding the hot sweats. That was even grander for him. However, he asked that I monitor my sugar intake and add it to the list. 

No, he didn’t hit me below the belt like that. Knowing this girl has a sweet tooth. 

After two months, I went back to see him. And the effects of the medication made a big difference. It really helped with the symptoms of IBS. However, the hot sweats were still there. (Not as profusely!) 

Let’s pause. Can you imagine my laundry bill, at this point?

If nothing else, I was determined to lower my laundry expenses. Even though I was feeling so much better and gaining weight. I didn’t want to remain on those two pills for the rest of my life. 

Well, my journey to health had already started so I thought I would continue exploring all-natural products. 

In 2017, I saw a Facebook post about Plexus Worldwide “If you’re looking for healthier and happier, you’re in the right place.” …It’s because Plexus products are designed to help you achieve true, multidimensional health. Each one fits easily into your life. Your real life. Not the life other health companies deem you should have. You can manage your weight, sleep, live better, and show up for your families, friends, and their lives too. 

It’s simple; I was sold!

The TriPlex Combo – Bio Cleanse 120 – Healthy Gut. Happy You

Benefits

BIO CLEANSE

• Cleanse the gastrointestinal tract*
• Reduce occasional gas, bloating, and GI discomfort*
• Promote regularity*
• Reduce unwanted microbes and substances*
• Relieves occasional constipation*
• Source of antioxidants*
• Contains Vitamin C to support immune function*
• Studies suggest Magnesium supplementation, as found in Bio Cleanse, may be associated with improvements in sleep quality in older adults*

PROBIO 5

• Helps keep intestinal yeast in balance*
• Helps support a healthy intestinal tract*
• Supports healthy digestion*
• Helps improve natural response to imbalance*
• Promotes healthy bacteria counts and pH levels in the gut*
• Source of antioxidants*
• Contains Vitamin C to support immune function*

SLIM MICROBIOME ACTIVATING*

• Promotes the growth of beneficial gut microbes*
• Increases Lactobacillus up to 365 times and Bifidobacterium up to 290 times – contributing to overall health♢*
• Clinically-studied XOS prebiotic
• Healthy glucose metabolism*
• Helps support cardiovascular health*
• Helps maintain healthy blood pressure levels already in the normal range*
• Hydration by encouraging you to drink more water*
• Clinically demonstrated to help you lose weight#*
• Increases the metabolism enhancing Akkermansia microbes up to 250 times♢*
• Patent-pending formula

SLIM HUNGER CONTROL (This is also one of the added benefits. My weight was already suffering). 

• Clinically demonstrated to help you lose weight#*
• Helps to reduce hunger*
• Enhanced satiation and satiety*
• Hydration by encouraging you to drink more water*
• Healthy glucose metabolism*

In conclusion, my health journey has been intentional along with a lot of hard work and nine years as a vegetarian. Is it okay to say two of those years were going on meat binges every 4-6 months until I got it right? 

That’s a whole story you don’t have time to read about. 

Yes! My hot sweats are almost NONE since starting Plexus. I may have a slight burst of sweat here-and-there. But that “doggone thang” is not impacting my laundry bill or making me carry along a luggage bag to ensure I can get through the day. 

Being healthy goes beyond weight and body type. I had so many people telling me that I “seem so healthy”, and while it’s nice to hear, it wasn’t what was happening behind the scenes. I was suffering while trying to figure it out. 

Now that you know the full story, you can understand where my passion and enthusiasm about health and wellness comes from. And before this gets any longer (seriously, you’re amazing if you’re still reading this!), if you’re struggling with your health or you feel like you’re not living your best, you’re not alone. It can feel so isolating, and scary. I hope that through my story I’m able to inspire some of you to make changes so you can feel your absolute best too!

I’m sure the rollercoaster ride isn’t over for me, but I’m hoping I’m done with those big vertical drops and loops once and for all. 

Have you dealt with undiagnosed or a mysterious health issue before? Check out my website www.plexusworldwide.com/drvalerie/home and use my ambassador #5015846440. 

In the meantime, what tips do you have for feeling your absolute best? 

[Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may include affiliate links. This means that I get a commission if you purchase the product through my link at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.]