Bio-Identical Hormones at Elase + A Giveaway

It is no secret that I have PCOS and my hormones are completely out of control. In fact, infertility and adoption are things we often talk about around here, that kind of talk is completely welcome and normal to us (so much so that sometimes I forget it isn't normal to talk about with just anyone ;-). What I don't always talk about is the crazy, hormonal banshee that is around our house sometimes. So here we go, let's get real about it.

There are some days where I want to rip my hair out, where I know that I am being completely ridiculous and think to myself, you've got to pull it together, but I really just can't. My hormones take over and I am all over the place. I am certain I should probably lock myself in my room and not come out (and trust me, that has happened and probably welcomed by my family members).

But my insane cycles that I have had since I was 12 years old just added to all of that and I would turn into a raging lunatic. While I thought some of that had gotten better, I realize now that I had just accepted the fact that my hormones were that way and tried to deal with it in the best way I could.

 What I didn't know up until 5 months ago was how much better it could be. When I had the opportunity to work with Elase I was excited about so many things. Of course getting rid of my manbeard was at the top of the list (thank you PCOS), the VIVE weight loss program, photo facials, chemical peels and even Botox, but I was also completely intrigued by the bio-identical hormone therapy. So, I set up an appointment to meet with Catherine, the nurse practitioner at Elase, and had my blood work done.

I went back the next week to go over the results and she asked me a few questions. For example, did I felt anxious? Sure, sometimes. She asked me if I had a hard time sleeping. Yes, but I am a busy mom of three with a lot on my plate!!! She asked me if I felt like I was always in attack mode and if even the smallest things irritated me. And I asked her if she had talked to my husband! Because certainly he must have told her how insane I could be because she was describing me to a tee. And then we laughed and laughed because that is one of my favorite things to do with the ladies at Elase.

Catherine knew exactly why I was feeling that way and went over my blood work with me pointing out how low my progesterone was (basically non-existent) and how high my testosterone was (almost triple what it should be) as well as the lack of Vitamin D in my body. She went over the good aspects too like my thyroid and cholesterol levels. She sent in a prescription for progesterone and told me to use it as a tool. If I was feeling anxious and irritated I should take some progesterone because more than likely I was lacking and could use that boost.

I am so, so glad I went to see Catherine to see how bio-identical hormones could help me. I haven't felt this good in ages. Truly. I don't feel like the crazy, hormonal banshee that I was (and had been for a while). As long as I have my progesterone and Vitamin D, I feel like my best self (except those days I forget and then I see a glimpse of that crazy banshee self that no one misses around here!). And this may be too much information (I told you I was keeping it real) but for the first time in my life, I have had a regular cycle for five months in a row. I will spare you the details but that alone has changed my life! I never knew it should be like this because it never has been until now. Thank you, Catherine & Elase! You are the best!

And because Elase loves my readers as much as I do, they are giving away a FREE Chemical Peel & Elase tote to one of you! While I haven't had a chance to get a chemical peel yet (it is definitely on my list), my good friend, Kim did and you can read about her experience here. Your skin can be feeling fresh and new just in time for the holidays! And for all of you up near Station Park in Farmington, they have a new location coming oh so soon, so enter away.

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Laser Hair Removal Follow-Up

Remember the manbeard? I am happy to tell you that after just a few months of laser hair removal, it is almost non-existent. I am feeling much less...manly. I still have some peach fuzz that grows (don't we all) but I definitely don't worry about it every. single. day. like I was when the manbeard was in full force. I touch a few little hairs about once a week and other than that, I am no longer worrying about my pesky beard. Hallelujah!

The laser hair removal treatments take less than five minutes and are not uncomfortable at all. I normally use Dr. Numb but the last time I completely forgot until I got to my appointment. While it was warm (it is a laser afterall), it wasn't painful. And since it is so fast and I had cool air blowing on my face, it wasn't a big deal.

The technician's at Elase are awesome and even ask where the thickest parts of my man beard were so they could go over them another time. I love that because those are the spots I definitely don't want to see coming back!

Goodbye manbeard! I wish I could say that I will miss you but I am more than happy to see you go.

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Full Disclosure: While I am working with Elase and receiving services in exchange for sharing my opinion, my opinions and experiences are all my own.

My Favorite VIVE Shake Recipe

With any protein shake, it takes a few tries to really get it just how you like it. It definitely took me a few shakes when I first started the VIVE program to make me feel like I could keep doing the meal replacement shakes. Here is my favorite recipe:

In the blender:

4 oz. chocolate Hood milk (I had never heard of this but Smith's & Walmart both carry it)
1 Tbsp. Omega 3-6-9 Udo oil
2 scoops chocolate WIO MRP
6 to 8 ice cubes
4 oz. of water
4 drops of coconut or peanut butter flavoring

I simply add to blender in that order. Blend until all of the ice is finely mixed, grab a straw and enjoy. The coconut flavoring reminds me of an Almond Joy and since I am not eating anything like that anymore, it sort of feels like a treat. My back-up flavoring of choice is peanut butter. After all, who doesn't love peanut butter and chocolate?

If I do not have time for the blender or am mixing it on the go, I simply add more ice (10 to 12 ice cubes rather than 6) and more water (8 oz. of water instead of 4). That way it is a bit thinner and it stays cold while I drink it. I like it to be more of a consistency of chocolate milk if I can't have it like an icy cold shake.

Full Disclosure: While I am working with Elase Medical Spas and receiving services in exchange for sharing my opinions, all opinions are my own.

VIVE Weight Loss at Elase

I am beyond excited to have been introduced to the VIVE weight loss program at Elase. I am just starting my 12th week and have lost 20.2 lbs (17.3 of that being body fat!). After losing 7.5 lbs the first week, I knew I needed to keep doing it).

 Me with 1 lb. of body fat. Add another 19 of those and that is what I have already lost after 12 weeks. 

 

While I know that shake replacements are not for everyone, I have found that for me, it is exactly what I needed. I love that the shakes take the aspect of food out of the picture for me. Me and food have obviously had a great relationship throughout the years but sometimes relationships aren't always good for us even if in the moment we really enjoy them. In this case, me and food needed a separation! That separation has been the best thing that has ever happened to me.

I see food in a different light. Instead of thinking about what I am craving or what I might want to eat, when I am hungry, I just grab a shake. For dinner, I always make a great salad and have a lean protein or fish with it.

I won't lie, the first week I wondered if I could really keep it up. It took a few shakes before I figured out how to make them the way I like them. By day 3 of having mainly shakes, I was really feeling like a ravenous beast. I felt like I could have eaten a horse. Granted, I didn't. I stuck to the approved veggies and even stooped as low as buying a can of pickles (sorry, pickle fans!). I needed the crunch and salt aspect of it after drinking shakes. I also started chewing Extra Dessert gum (the lemon bar is my favorite) to try to curb the sweet tooth that is always plaguing me.

The other thing that has really helped keep me on track is the InBody scan that I weigh in on every single week. Thinking of it as weighing in really doesn't do it justice! In fact, I am certain it should have some super-stealth, cool name. But, let's just call it George. It does indeed tell me my weight but also tells me my body fat, lean muscle mass, and water levels. It plays music for you while you stand there for your scan and it scans all of your limbs. When it is finished, it prints our your body composition analysis and you can see exactly what your week entailed. Nice and neat on one little sheet.

What is so great about the InBody scan is that it can totally make me feel better than just the scale can. For example, on one of my weeks where I knew I had done so good staying on track, I had only lost 1.5 lbs (which is still great but I was hoping for a bit more). But with the InBody scan, my VIVE coach was able to point out that while the scale only reflected 1.5 lbs, I had actually lost 3.5 lbs of fat that week and gained almost 2 lbs of muscle and some water. All of a sudden, I felt much better about that 1.5 lbs on the scale.

So each week, I meet with her and she does the scan, talks to me about my concerns and my progress that week and measures me. We talk about all sorts of things from how I am feeling, my slip-ups that week, ways to stay on track, things coming up the following week, etc. I love talking to Brittney. She is so nice yet keeps me on track and keeps me accountable in the areas that I might start to slack. I track everything in the binder she gave me including my meal tracking, scans and weekly lessons.

I am excited to be doing the VIVE program and I feel so much better than I have in a long time. I am looking forward to seeing where I am at after I finish the whole program. My husband's 40th birthday is in November and my goal is to lose 40 lbs. by then. 20.2 lbs down, 19.9 to go. This is going to be awesome!

Full disclosure: While I am privileged to work with Elase and they let me try the VIVE program for a week, I have chosen to continue it on my own. My opinions and results are all my own.

Back to the Manbeard I Giveaway I Elase Medical Spas

I have to be honest, I wasn't sure that I really wanted to tell you all about my manbeard. Especially after trying so hard to hide it from everyone for so long. I wasn't sure what to expect when I hit publish on that manbeard post. I tend to laugh when I am nervous and I am so glad that you could all laugh about it with me!

 
I am just so excited to be doing the laser hair removal for this manbeard of mine that I could squeal {insert squeal}. I had another laser hair treatment over at Elase and am definitely feeling a difference in the manbeard. While is it still patchy, the hairs definitely feel thinner and finer and less pokey. I find myself shaving much less and even when I do, it is in fewer and more random places than I had to before. In this case, maybe more patchy is a good thing!

Again, my appointment was literally less than five minutes. You really are just in and out. I was running errands and didn't have time for Dr. Numb to set in so this time around I definitely felt the heat a bit more. But it was nothing uncomfortable. It is so fast and with the cool air blowing on you, it didn't seem bad at all. After it is finished, it is a tiny bit red but it quickly goes away and you can put aloe vera on it if you want to.

After two treatments, I am definitely noticing a difference. My manbeard isn't gone but it is already a definite improvement. The ladies at Elase do a great job and are so nice and welcoming every single time I go in. So excited to be getting rid of this unwanted hair and I think I will move on to my armpits next!

Are you ready for this, because this is amazing! {get ready to squeal!} Elase wants to help you get rid of your unwanted hair too so they are giving one of my readers (so lucky!) a complete Underarm Laser Hair Removal Membership (an 18-month membership, a $630 value). I hope you are squealing because I am just thinking about how awesome that is. 

 

This giveaway will be open through midnight MST, Saturday, July 27, 2013. It is good for either the Sugarhouse or Draper Elase Medical Spas. You must be a new client of Elase to win.  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Did Someone Say Manbeard?

Hi, my name is Leisha and I have a manbeard. I'd like to thank my hormones, PCOS and all of those years wading through infertility and trying to balance my hormones out for making it what it is today.

If you didn't know about my manbeard it is because I try my very best to keep it tamed, plucked, waxed, and shaven. I don't normally talk about it because, well, I feel much less myself with my manbeard and I love feeling cute and feminine. My manbeard definitely hinders that.

I really don't like to share my manbeard with anyone, I'd rather prefer hibernating if I had to let it grow but I also wanted you to be able to see what I deal with every single day. Unfortunately I have to much to do and too many people to see to actually let it grow (ain't nobody got time for that!), so this will have to do.

(While it seems like a nice, thick beard, in actuality, it is much more patchy in real life and not quite as funny! ;-)

My manbeard has gotten so out of control the last few years that I even made a deal with my husband that when I got old and couldn't take care of myself that he would ensure the manbeard was taken care of.

That was until I was introduced to Elase Medical Spas and realized I should have been bargaining for laser hair removal instead. After all of the horror stories I have heard about, I loved knowing that all of their estheticians are highly trained and extremely knowledgeable, not to mention so friendly! I love that Elase has the feel of a spa but is as clean as a doctor's office too (so important to me!). 

I also didn't realize how reasonably priced laser hair removal really is at Elase. They have reasonable plans starting as low as $35/month and it is 70%-90% effective after a series of 8 to 12 treatments. Why haven't I done this sooner?

I went into Elase for my first laser hair removal appointment wondering what it would be like. I had heard all sorts of stories about laser hair removal and how painful it could be. So, I put on some Dr. Numb and headed out the door.

 

Mary Kate was as excited as I was to help me get rid of my manbeard!

I was pleasantly surprised with how quick it was and how comfortable it was. I loved the cool air blowing in my face through the entire thing and was literally done in less than five minutes. The best five minutes that I will ever spend every month for sure!

With each treatment, you should see an average of 20 to 30% less re-growth. After my first two treatments, I can definitely tell the manbeard is coming in a bit thinner. I cannot wait until it is basically non-existent.