When Your Body Changes the Rules: My 25-Year Journey Through Weight Loss, Metabolic Disorder, and Hormone Imbalance

Coach Paris
Oct 13
7 min read

Coach Paris Before and After — Before and After of Coach Paris

My 25-Year Journey Through Weight Loss, Metabolic Disorder, and Hormone Imbalance

The Beginning of My Journey

I started my health journey back in 1991 — a new bride, stepmom, and homeowner. Life was full, exciting, and overwhelming all at once. I was carrying the weight of new responsibilities… and extra physical weight that didn’t feel like me. My eating habits were out of control, and I remember being terrified the day I finally decided to walk into Weight Watchers.

That moment changed everything — though I didn’t know it yet. I lost 55 pounds that first time and walked out on the day I hit my goal thinking, “I’ve got this all figured out.”

Spoiler alert: I didn’t.

Like so many others, I learned the hard way that if you stop doing what helped you lose the weight, it all comes back — sometimes with interest.

The Return — This Time, Different

By 1999, I found myself walking back through those same doors, but this time with a different mindset. I was ready to learn, not just lose. I went every week. I listened. I absorbed. I practiced. And I didn’t just lose the weight — 65 pounds this time — I found something even more important: purpose.

When Weight Watchers asked me to come work for them, I laughed. Me? Lead people? Speak in front of a room full of strangers? No way. I didn’t see myself as confident, let alone capable of inspiring others.

I actually backed out of training three times before I finally followed through. But that fourth time changed my life. I attended an intensive weekend training, came home energized, and realized I loved helping others see what they were capable of. I wanted to lift people up, to show them that the very thing they doubted in themselves could become their strength.

Two Decades of Maintenance and Mentorship

Weight Watchers became my world for the next 20 years. I led hundreds of meetings, stood in front of rooms filled with people chasing their own version of hope, and felt an enormous sense of responsibility to be a role model.

Back then, coaches had to stay within two pounds of goal weight to keep their job — talk about motivation! But honestly, it wasn’t just about the scale. Every time I stood in front of a group, I reminded myself that I was living proof that long-term success was possible.

And it was — for 25 years. I stayed the course, worked hard, and built my coaching style on one belief: we’re all capable of lasting change when we commit to consistency, not perfection.

When the Rules Changed — Building Something New

Fast forward to 2020 — the year everything turned upside down. In what felt like a blink, the world shut down, and suddenly I was leading meetings from my living room, staring into a camera instead of a room full of people.

It gave me time to think. Time to question. Time to reflect on what I believed about health, habits, and individuality.

And I realized something big: Weight Watchers wasn’t the right fit for everyone — and it wasn’t even the right fit for me anymore.

I had grown. My philosophy had shifted. I no longer believed in one-size-fits-all anything. So, that summer, I dove into learning everything I could about different nutrition and wellness approaches. Out of that deep dive, something beautiful was born — The Power of 13, my common-sense guide to health and wellness.

When I left Weight Watchers after 20 years — literally on my anniversary date — I walked straight into a new beginning. Two weeks later, Always On Your Side Coaching was born.

It was terrifying and exhilarating all at once.

The Power of 13 became the foundation of everything I wanted to teach — a reminder that health doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s about food, activity, and mindset. Simple, consistent, flexible. It meets people where they are, not where someone says they should be.

When I say it’s “not rocket science,” I mean it — it’s the stuff that works when life gets messy.

During those early months of 2020, we all faced a choice: stop caring or work harder. I chose to work harder — to keep learning, to keep showing up, and to keep proving that a healthy lifestyle is possible, even when the world is on pause.

When My Body Changed the Rules

By 2023, life and business were thriving. Always On Your Side Coaching was strong, clients were showing up, and I felt in control. Then, almost overnight, my body rewrote the script.

I was on the other side of menopause and thought I’d made it through the big hormonal storms. But suddenly, I noticed new things: a stubborn ring around my middle, five extra pounds that refused to move, and exhaustion that sleep couldn’t fix.

At first, I brushed it off—just “that stage of life,” right? Except it kept getting worse.

I finally pushed for answers and in May 2023 I was diagnosed with metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that raise your risk for heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. It’s diagnosed when you have three or more of the following:

Abdominal obesity – waist > 35 inches (women) / > 40 inches (men)
High blood pressure – 130/80 mmHg or higher
High blood sugar – fasting ≥ 100 mg/dL
High triglycerides – ≥ 150 mg/dL
Low HDL cholesterol – < 50 mg/dL (women) / < 40 mg/dL (men)

When you’re a health coach who’s done “everything right,” that diagnosis hits hard. I felt blindsided. I’d treated my body with care for decades—how could it betray me?

The typical medical response was a handful of prescriptions and a quick goodbye. I started a low-dose statin for cholesterol, thyroid medication, and Metformin for blood sugar. One doctor even told me, “If you hadn’t done what you’ve done for the last 22 years, you’d weigh 300 pounds and be on insulin.”

That comment landed like a punch. It wasn’t enough for me to just accept it. I needed to understand it.

So, I studied. I read everything I could find on metabolic health, hormones, and midlife changes. And then, I made a huge decision: I quit added sugar.

Within weeks, I noticed less pain, clearer thinking, and more energy. My labs improved—cholesterol down, thyroid stable, blood sugar holding steady. But something still wasn’t right.

Even with progress, I was frustrated. I was still tired. My waist still wouldn’t budge. My intuition said there was more to uncover—and I was right.

Learning to Advocate for Myself

Even after cutting sugar and dialing in my nutrition, something still felt off. I was doing everything right—eating clean, exercising, meditating, sleeping—and yet, my body refused to cooperate.

Every time I voiced concern, I got the same answers:

“You’re just getting older.” “That’s menopause.” “Everyone loses muscle.”

The truth? Those answers weren’t good enough.

So I started asking for more testing—B12, thyroid, hormones, vitamin D—and was told, “Those don’t tell us much” or “They’re expensive.” I was frustrated, tired, and frankly a little scared that no one was listening.

This isn’t just a women’s issue either. Men experience hormonal shifts, too, but are often told to “toughen up.” It’s time we normalize asking questions and expecting answers.

In August 2025, I finally found a provider who did listen—an amazing PA who built her own practice around doing things differently. She didn’t dismiss me; she tested everything.

And guess what? My intuition was right.

Yes, metabolic disorder was still part of my picture, but there was more underneath it. My thyroid needed a little more support (and something as simple as adding eggs or macadamia nuts for selenium made a difference). But the biggest revelation was this: my DHEA, progesterone, and testosterone were all extremely low.

That explained everything—the fatigue, the stubborn midsection, the muscle loss, even the mood dips.

Understanding Hormones and Hope

Here’s what I learned:

Low DHEA can cause fatigue, brain fog, muscle loss, and even increase heart-disease risk.
Low Testosterone (yes, women need it, too) affects strength, energy, focus, libido, and mood.
Low Progesterone leads to bloating, mood swings, poor sleep, and that “off-balance” feeling you can’t quite name.

So no, it wasn’t “just my age.” There were real, measurable reasons I didn’t feel like myself—and there were real solutions.

Together, we created a gentle hormone-replacement plan with small doses of DHEA, testosterone, and progesterone. We talked about risks, ran carotid ultrasounds to be sure I wasn’t at stroke risk, and made an informed, empowered decision.

I didn’t rush it. I educated myself. I asked questions. I said yes to feeling better.

Where I Am Now

Today, I live what I teach. The Power of 13 still grounds me — those common-sense habits I built years ago remain my foundation. I am being patient with the weight loss but the inches are going down a little at the time. None of this was a magic potion. It was a change that needed to happen.

Here’s what a typical week looks like for me now:

Eat balanced and well: plenty of protein, healthy fats, fruits, vegetables, and smart carbs.
Move with purpose: yoga 3–4 times a week, walks 5 days a week, stretch daily.
Hydrate: at least 64 oz of water every day.
Sleep: eight hours a night, non-negotiable.
Limit: alcohol, sugar, and yes — technology. (That last one is a game-changer.)

My hormone-replacement plan is gentle, personalized, and constantly monitored. I still keep a close eye on my labs, advocate for myself at every appointment, and stay open to learning as my body continues to change.

But the biggest difference? I’m no longer fighting my body — I’m listening to it.

What I Want You to Know

If you’re reading this and thinking, “That sounds like me,” please hear me: you are not alone. You can feel better. You just have to believe you’re worth investigating, worth speaking up for, worth the work.

Don’t settle for “It’s just your age.” Don’t accept “That’s normal.” Don’t give up when your body changes the rules — learn its new language.

Find a provider who listens. Ask for the tests. Read, learn, question, and keep showing up for yourself.

Let’s Stay Connected

If you’re ready to take control of your health story, I’d love to support you.

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