Learn about other's experience in Michele's 6 month program.
After going through the program I had my blood checked and I did expect that the numbers would go down somewhat. What I didn’t expect was my cholesterol dropping over 100 pts and the same with my triglycerides. My sugar went from 112 to 93. I was beyond elated. I had been on some medication but very minimally and very inconsistently as I wanted to accomplish success without medication. Now my doctor and I are well on our way to eliminating the medication 100% (it is at about 25% now). In the past, the medications barely made a dent. I know that it was the changes I made with Michele and the holistic choices I was making. If you have any doubt, or you have been struggling with your “numbers” I strongly urge you to take on this venture….you will not be sorry. I have never felt better in my life.
- Marianne Romagnol
| Read about Leslie and Ken's experience working with Michele |
| Leslie and I began seeing Michele over 6 months ago, after Leslie attended on of Michele's Yoga classes. We were the first "couple" to see her. I must admit that at the start, I was going into this as a way to diet and lose some weight. Well, after just the first session, I realized that this journey with Michele was going to be about so much more than dieting and losing some weight. Session after session we got so much useful information regarding the "foods" we eat, as well as, the "foods" we need to make our everyday lives healthy and happy. We were encouraged to think about our Primary Foods and how our work, our leisure, our finances, our relationships with friends, family, and with each other affect the way we feel and live. Spending time with Michele opened our eyes to different foods, herbs and spices, but also to countless ways to improve the choices we make in our lives everyday. We especially enjoyed the introduction to the whole foods grocers. Visiting the many different grocers in the area has become a regular trip for us. We learn something new with each visit. Michele always says that there are no right or wrong decisions, but we would disagree on that in one decision. The fact that we chose to visit Michele and spend time with her was on the of best decisions we have ever made. |
I love to cook, and enjoy trying out new foods and recipes. Michele inspired me to use these strengths to improve my eating habits. A longtime coffee addict and carb lover, with Michele's help I substantially reduced my intake of caffeine and refined sugars. I became much more attentive to what I ate and where it came from, and learned how to find local sources of fresher and healthier foods. I left every session with exciting ideas, recipes, new information about health and/or food issues, and even supplies of new grains or other ingredients to try cooking at home.
As early as the second month, I noticed a huge difference in my sleep and my energy levels. I also noticed that I was not getting struck down with the colds and flus (swine flu, in particular) that were hitting everyone around me last fall and winter. I went through one of the most stressful times in my life and work, and it was not nearly as devastating as it might have been. I felt I had acquired reserves of strength to cope with it all. Several sessions were devoted to learning some yoga practices and stretches that renew my energy and ease the aches and pains after sitting at my desk for long stretches.
All this change was not at all painful or frustrating for me, and Michele deserves much credit for that. Her sense of humor and breadth of understanding allow her to share her profound understanding of different nutritional philosophies in a very approachable and easygoing way. She is unafraid to speak hard truths, but her delivery makes them easy to accept. She is ethical without being judgmental, and I think that her approach empowered me to make changes for their benefits rather than out of guilt. After six months, friends commented on my glow, and I feel younger now than I have felt in years. The gains that I made in those six months don't feel temporary, either. Now, after almost a year, I think that what I learned in the program has become more habitual, and I am feeling increasingly fit and healthy.
Victoria Sams
| I am on a journey in pursuit of optimal health and well-being. Simply stated, but loaded with complexity! As we all know, there is a ton of information out there about supplements, nutrition,ways to self-diagnose your ailments, ways to eliminate belly fat without doing one crunch, relaxation techniques, anti-aging miracles, etc. Needless to say...all that information can be overwhelming...especially when you stumble upon contradictory information. To help me sift through the plethora of information...I was guided to Michele. At my first meeting with Michele, I knew it was the right fit! Michele was so welcoming and easy to talk to that I was able to quickly identify where I was at in my journey and where I wanted to go. From the start, even though Michele provided me with resources and literature, she made it clear that our work together would be based on my agenda and no others. And, she constantly reminded me that my journey was unique to me and that I should not compare myself to others...it was about finding out what was right for me. In addition to coaching me about nutritional aspects, Michele opened my eyes to the benefits of yoga -- and who knew it could be so rigorous and challenging... which is exactly what I wanted. My experience with Michele enlightened me in so many ways. The exploration of processed foods versus organic foods was eye opening and prior to meeting Michele, I did not realize that there were soooo many grains and was obviously not aware of the many ways that you could prepare them. While I am so appreciative of the many things that I learned from Michele, I feel the most precious seed that she planted in mymind is that "food" is not the only thing that feeds your body -- your body is "fed and influenced" by your environment, your perceptions, your posture, labels you assign to food, the people in our lives, and how our own individual bodies process food and information. I really believe in the holistic approach that Michele applies to her work and would like to thank her for challenging me, filling me with knowledge, believing in me and making me laugh! -Gail Witwer |
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Stacy Geiger and her 12 month experience
During my 6 month program with Michele, I gained not only the knowledge necessary to make good food choices for myself, but I was given the keys to undergo a transformation that has truly changed my life.
A year ago, I was a 30 year old workaholic with poor eating habits, non existent exercise habits, severe and chronic back pain, and issues that I truly needed to address.
Michele took the time to get to know who I was as an individual and listened to what I was “really saying”. She gave me insight into what the right food choices and combinations were for me. She encouraged me to experiment with new foods. In a short time, I was feeling more energy.
Soon after, we added yoga to my weekly routine. The stretching gave new life to my muscles, that were so tight and damaged from trying to protect my back. Eventually, my back pain started to dissipate. Today, it is gone.
In our sessions, our discussions progressed naturally into me feeling that I could share other aspects and issues with Michele that I knew she could provide unbiased insight into and that I knew I needed to address. Michele handed me the tools that I needed to use in order to find the “primary foods” that I was missing.
I renewed for a 2nd set of 6 month sessions. During this time, I asked Michele to challenge me with activities that would build on what I had learned, and at the same time, continue to guide me on the journey of holistic health. I am amazed at how far I have truly traveled and what I have gained on this journey. If you told me how good I would feel today, I would have never believed you.
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One afternoon last week at work, I found myself mindlessly and somewhat obsessively eating M&Ms. I ate them to the point that I felt sick and wasn’t enjoying the experience, but I couldn’t or wouldn’t stop and part of me didn’t want to stop. The same thing happened the next day. It was tempting to beat myself up and harshly judge myself for falling into this all too familiar pattern: I get bored and tired in the afternoons at work and use candy or cookies as an escape. But then the escape morphs into a prison when I find myself eating for the “wrong” reasons and to the point of physical discomfort.
My work with Michele rose into my consciousness and I realized I didn’t have to attack myself for eating the M&Ms and that I could find a way to change this behavior. Some of the most significant things I learned from Michele are going with the flow, the importance of true self-acceptance (even when, or especially when, I’m compulsively eating M&Ms!), and how finding a middle way can be an amazing solution. So, the next time I was at the grocery store, I found a trail mix that contained raw nuts and seeds, dried fruit, and, of course, some small chunks of chocolate. I have been measuring out a small portion of the trail mix to have as an afternoon snack. It satisfies my need for chocolate, but also puts a limit on how much I eat as well as contributing some healthier components to my snack as well. When I eat this snack I smile to myself and bless myself for being exactly where I am. This is one aspect of what I have learned from working with Michele and going through her holistic health counseling program and it exemplifies the beauty of what she has contributed to my life.
-Client, September 2006, Carlisle, PA.
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I am a baby boomer! I turned 50, going strong, workaholic, perfectionist, been fairly healthy, very active. Until I wasn't! Blood pressure was rising, stressing over it, rising some more. Had to start
meds, which came with side effects causing more stress, tests to find out why I was getting sicker. Long story short, Fibromyalgia, I am convinced comes from not handling stress. Which leads me on a journey consisting of therapeutic massage, yoga, wellness nights, alternative medicine, and finding "me." Which brings me to "my Michele."
On my first visit with her, I had to actually ask what a holistic health counselor was. She was going to help me make my "whole self healthy and happy." We set goals, it was never what she (the counselor) wanted, but what I found out I wanted. Everything was given to me in small doses that I could absorb, ways to handle stress, how to eat and shop healthy, how to stop and smell the roses, walk through the fear, even how your blood type affects the way you should eat. Even though losing weight was one of my goals, I found that numbers on a scale don't mean as much as long as you are mentally and physically healthy. After about 2 months, the pain pills I took on a daily basis were cut to one every now and then!!! I have learned how to stay calmer and not sweat the small stuff, many of my friends have noticed a new me. Michele is passionate about what she does and is a patient, enthusiastic teacher. I wish I had found her a long time ago, but then perhaps I would not have been so open to these NEW ways, I only know that she has taken me on an incredible journey of life and the new me! Michele
-Ann Troutman, Carlisle, PA.