Living (and Thriving) With Metabolic Syndrome

Coach Paris
3 days ago
3 min read

Living (and Thriving) With Metabolic Syndrome

By Coach Paris, Always On Your Side Coaching

There’s a moment in everyone’s wellness journey when life throws a curveball—mine came in February 2024.

After 25 years of maintaining my weight within two pounds, tracking my food, moving my body, meditating, and eating clean, my body decided to change the rules. Despite doing everything “right,” I was diagnosed with metabolic syndrome—a cluster of conditions that put me at higher risk for heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

That diagnosis stopped me in my tracks. I had always believed if I worked hard enough, stayed consistent, and followed my Power of 13, I could keep my body in balance. But here’s the truth: sometimes, even when you do all the right things, your body speaks a new language. And you have to learn how to listen.

When the Numbers Don’t Match the Effort

I remember staring at my lab results and feeling two things at once—shock and relief. Shock because it didn’t make sense. Relief because I finally had an answer for the fatigue, weight fluctuations, and stubborn inflammation I couldn’t out-exercise or out-eat.

Metabolic syndrome isn’t a single disease—it’s your body waving a red flag. It’s the combination of elevated blood sugar, blood pressure, triglycerides, and waist circumference. It’s your metabolism saying, “Hey, something’s off. We need to talk.”

The frustrating part? You can look healthy, eat healthy, be healthy in every visible way—and still be at risk.

What I Learned About Myself (and My Body)

That diagnosis forced me to slow down and get curious instead of critical. I had to let go of the “I should know better” mindset and replace it with “I’m learning something new.”

I discovered:

I needed more protein and fewer refined carbs to balance my insulin.
Sleep and stress weren’t just important—they were non-negotiable.
My body’s needs at 60 are different from what they were at 40—and that’s not failure, it’s growth.

For the first time, I stopped chasing “what used to work” and started honoring what works now.

Taking My Power Back

Once I understood what was happening, I knew I needed a fresh set of eyes and someone who would really listen. That’s when I found a new PA who took the time to hear my full story—not just read my chart. She didn’t dismiss my symptoms or chalk them up to “getting older.” She partnered with me to dig deeper, adjust my labs, and build a plan that actually fit me.

That experience reminded me how powerful it is to be heard. It wasn’t about a quick fix or a magic medication—it was about finding someone who respected my knowledge, my history, and my intuition. Together, we made small but meaningful changes: refining my nutrition, balancing my macros, supporting my sleep, and reintroducing movement that reduced inflammation instead of adding stress.

For the first time in a long time, I felt seen—and hopeful. I wasn’t starting over. I was building smarter.

I took control through data, discipline, and self-compassion—and I rebuilt my confidence. I stopped seeing my diagnosis as a defeat and started seeing it as an invitation—to level up my health and deepen my purpose as a coach.

How I Help Others Do the Same

Today, I help clients recognize that a diagnosis doesn’t define them—it informs them.

Through my Always On Your Side Coaching programs, I teach others how to:

Understand their numbers without fear or shame
Build sustainable habits that fit their changing bodies
Focus on progress, not perfection
Reconnect with the power they always had inside

Whether you’re just starting your health journey or you’ve been fighting to “get back” to a version of yourself that no longer fits, I want you to know—you are not broken. You’re evolving.

Your Next Step

If this story sounds like you—if you’re doing everything “right” and your body still isn’t responding—don’t give up. You can take back your power, and you don’t have to do it alone.

💜 Join one of my virtual support groups or schedule a 1:1 coaching consultation to start creating your personalized plan.👉 Visit AlwaysOnYourSideCoaching.com to learn more and take the first step toward thriving again.

I am Always On Your Side 💚💜💚💜

Coach Paris