I am sure we have heard or seen the diabetes mediations that are being used for weight loss. In this country weight is a big deal, the weight loss industry makes billions. Many invest in plastic surgery to miracle weight loss medicines. I am a Licensed Massage Therapist with a certification in Lymphatic Drainage massage. Word got around and during the pandemic when everything was shut down guess who was still in business…Plastic Surgeons. I mean it makes good fiscal sense. Many were quarantined and working from home. I had many clients who needed lymphatic drainage massages after their procedures. Before I saw the results, I was on my high horse saying I WOULD NEVER!!! After witnessing the post-surgical results, I was like WOWZERS! I learned there are many ways to finance the surgery or even make payments.

I had to develop a protocol to see this new group of clients. If they got their procedures done outside of the United States, especially by certain doctors, I would not see them. Also, if they did not get the anti-clotting shot, I would not see them. Many of the clients would have surgery then fly home 2-3 days later.

Now we have the Ozempic and Jardiance drugs. I have friends who have been taking this for a while and have been buying it from sketchy places. I am not at the AMA ideal weight I was before having two kids in the same year via C-section. Then having two hysterectomy surgeries via the same bikini cut. But that is another blog post LOL. I am sharing to explain I understand the feeling of not being at the weight where one looks and feels their absolute best.

I see patients in the AHM clinic for weight loss. It is a slow process, determining the right herbs then establishing a great acupuncture treatment strategy. One patient has lost 15 lbs. and has added exercising before work into her schedule. But it was a journey, lifestyle changes are hard to turn into a habit it takes time. Also grace and acceptance is paramount. No one starts out in life striving to be overweight. A sickness, grief, depression, or bad eating habits are a few reasons people gain weight. Or, being a stressed-out student with late classes can pack on the pounds. But life is beautiful and has its peaks and valleys. Another thing we need to factor in is genetics — but again that’s another blog post. I am not sure where this post was supposed to go but I am concerned for our bodies and the self-love at every stage of life we find ourselves in.

Follow Monique’s student journey here.