10. Genevieve: Weight Loss

Also: Cholesterol, Mood Disorders

"I Lost 43 Lbs! I Was Also Free of Lipitor"

From Genevieve in California:

Dear Béatrice,

When I came to see you at the end of March, I was overweight by any standard, and had become the first "borderline obese" person in my family. I had just turned 60 and had been gaining weight steadily for 20 years.

Prior Attempts at Weight Loss

My first attempt to control the trend was in my early forties, when I lost 10 lbs through the Cambridge “diet” and strenuous exercise. When I stopped (I couldn't live that way) I gained 20 pounds. Later, I used the Jenny Craig program to loose these 20 pounds. It was a wonderful program while it lasted, but I got tired of it after 8 months, and the following year, I gained 30 pounds. Much later, I accompanied a friend to 6 or 7 Weight Watchers meetings. By then, it all looked the same to me and I couldn't even give it a chance to work.

As a working woman with health insurance, I received regular check ups. My Primary Physician was a nice young doctor who made an effort to listen but didn't have time to digest information and think things through. He prescribed the usual regimen for middle aged women: Lipitor to lower the cholesterol, aspirin to thin the blood and Tums as “insurance against osteoporosis.”

A Perfect Guide and Partner

Frankly, when I reached 60, I was done with all that. I decided to find someone to help me listen to my body. My new commitment found you, Béatrice, and you have been a perfect guide and partner.

With great care and patience, you questioned me about my habits, life style and desires and you put me on the your purification program for 3 weeks. It was amazing how quickly my body reacted! It was as if it was being given what it wanted and needed and it went to work right away. After these first 3 weeks, we moved on to the next phase of this program and with your support, my body continued to restore itself naturally.

Having My Cute Little Body Back!

Four months later, I had lost 43 lbs! I was also free of Lipitor. What was completely unusual about it was the feeling that it was my body shedding the unwanted weight, not me forcing it to do so. For the first time in 25 years, I felt I was on the right track. Background moods disappeared with the weight (I had become resigned to being disappointed). A new possibility emerged: with Béatrice in my corner, I could tackle the coming winter with its longer nights and the threat of several holidays' worth of pastry and wine bounty. I could get used to having my cute little body back and continue to nurture it for the rest of my days. The winter is here and we're doing well.

Thank you, Béatrice, and Happy New Year!

— Genevieve in California