According to Dr. Lee, “Beth was very typical of a woman entering the early stages of perimenopause, but like many women, she didn’t recognize the symptoms at first. As I talked more about the focus of my BodyLogicMD practice, which includes the treatment of hormonal imbalance, she decided to get her hormones tested. We found that her progesterone was low and started supplementing her with compounded bioidentical progesterone and added prescription quality vitamin supplements. Beth also started an exercise regimen and got back on track nutritionally.”

Soon after making these changes, Beth was sleeping better, had more energy and even started to lose weight. Not only did she start living a healthier lifestyle, but also took it to the next level with her participation in her first triathlon.

One step at a time - “It didn’t happen all at once,” says Moya. “It had been almost three years since I’d even broken a sweat, so getting back into a fitness routine was a little tough – especially since I had never been much of an athlete anyway. I got back into the gym, started eating right, balanced my hormones and lost 10 pounds. However, it was a good year-and-a-half of consistency before the thought of a triathlon took hold. I saw a little ad for an upcoming triathlon and thought, ‘How hard could it be?’ To be fair, it wasn’t easy, but I didn’t do it alone. I found a great support system,” shares Moya.

Training started with a swim coach so Moya could learn how to swim again – a big help since she couldn’t make it the length of the pool when she took the leap into triathlons. She also signed up with a local coach-led training group that met every morning.

Wondering how Beth does it? - As a busy wife and working mother, Beth needs to schedule her time carefully. In addition, because she doesn’t plan separate meals for herself and her family, she keeps everyone on track nutritionally while making meals that also please the palate. When creating a nutritional plan, Dr. Lee emphasizes the importance of eating 5 to 6meals per day that include low glycemic index carbohydrates, balanced protein, and fat. He stresses also that when you are planning your workout schedule, it is important to eat something before you exercise, even if you workout right when you wake up.

Here are samples of Beth’s exercise and nutrition plans:

Exercise:

• Monday, swim
• Tuesday, bike and run
• Wednesday, swim and run
• Thursday, bike and run
• Friday, swim
• Saturday, swim, bike and run
• Sunday, bike and run

Weekday workouts usually start about 5am and last 1.5 hours, and weekend workouts are 2 - 3hours. Beth also works out with weights two times a week in the late afternoon.

Nutrition:

• Pre-workout – One slice of whole wheat or Ezekiel bread with almond butter and coffee with milk
• Breakfast – Protein shake with fruit or egg whites with toast
• Morning snack (10:30am) – Fiber One bar or handful of nuts
• Lunch – salad with chicken and half a sweet potato
• Afternoon snack (3pm) – fruit, nuts or cereal
• Dinner – chicken or fish, brown rice and veggies

Beth also enjoys:

• A glass of wine a few times a week
• Dessert every now and then (“Something sweet, but not too fattening, like Skinny Cow® ice cream.”)
• Morning snack (10:30am) – Fiber One bar or handful of nuts
• Chips at an occasional weekend BBQ
• Grapes
• Avocado
• Mustard instead of mayo
• Olive oil instead of butter
• Brown rice instead of white

Beth’s advice? “You can’t do it all, all the time. Just set your goal and do your best to stay focused. If I can do it, so can you!”

“For me, it was now or never,” shares Moya. “I made the time to meet with my group early every morning, and we had an awesome coach who explained everything we needed to do. The camaraderie makes it fun, and with work and kids and all our other responsibilities, it is so good to be able to get together with the girls –especially with my sister-in-law who joined the training group with me.”

The training and hard work paid off when Moya participated in her first sprint triathlon: a quarter-mile swim, a 10-milebike race and a 3.1-mile run where one of the biggest group of female participants was in Moya’s age group (40-44). Just recently, she finished her first half ironman during which she completed a 1.25-mile swim, a 56-mile bike and a half marathon (13.1 miles) in only five hours and 22 minutes.

From Level ONE to Step Above - “Most of my patients don’t go on to do triathlons,” says Dr. Lee, “but most do go onto the next level, whatever that may be for each of them, being better bosses, homemakers, wives, husbands, employees, parents, etc. As a physician, I feel very proud that I may have had a part in helping people to get to that next level.”

Dr. Lee considers Moya an excellent role model for other women like her, experiencing the symptoms of perimenopause. By moving through this transition in life the optimal way, with a balanced diet, proper supplementation (monitored by Dr. Lee) and safe exercise, along with hormone supplementation, her quality of life has her feeling like herself again.

“I feel great!” says Moya. “I never thought I would be getting up at 5am and working out, but it is more than worth the effort. And if I can do it, so can anyone who is in the same spot I was. You should try it. You’ll never know what’s on your ‘next level’ until you do.”