The Doctor and Medication That Changed My Life

How I took control of my health and lost 25 pounds at 41

I had my third baby at 40. Similar to my first two pregnancies, I gained a lot of weight – it’s just what my body did, even though I wasn’t eating terribly at all. I started in the low to mid 130s and gained well over 50 pounds. With my first two pregnancies, I felt like I was in an ok place after around 4-6 months. Sure, I had a few extra pounds but I grew a human being. It was fine.

This time was different. When my son was just 6 months old, I was still close to 150 pounds and my weight would not budge.

But here’s what really hit me. At almost 41, I had a new baby, and I am in the decade my grandparents were in when heart attacks and diabetes came into play. I know more than anyone that we can’t fully control our health, but I wanted to get myself into a better place for my kids.

The last time I met with my general practitioner a few months before getting pregnant with Jack, she said something along the lines of “your BMI is within standard range and your cholesterol is high, so let’s watch it and check back in a year.” She also wanted me to wait to have a mammogram until I was 45 – none of this felt right.

I knew a few people who saw a doctor here in Chicago who specializes in looking at your markers of health through pretty extensive labs, and helps you do a deep dive into – and take control of – your health. I want to share more about the doctor I saw, what she looked at, and the medications she prescribed to help me take control of my health and lose the weight.

I am going to share some personal medical information, so this post is only available to my paid subscribers.