How Judy Lost 55 Pounds Without GLP-1s at 69 Years Old

Judy is a retired nurse.  She came to me at 69 years old with severe low back pain and an obese amount of weight she wanted to lose.  She had degenerative disc disease and her low pack pain stopped her from being able to stand for more than 15 minutes.  It severely limited her ability to do things and live her life…

Before hiring me as her Nutritionist, Judy couldn’t…

❌ Shower for more than 15 minutes. 
❌ Do laundry without stopping. 
❌ Shop without breaking into a sweat and rushing back to her car. 
❌ Complete more than one errand a day.
❌ Get up off the floor or
❌ Lift the toddlers she babysat.

Judy was short of breath all the time and her mother, who was 85, was in better health than she was.

She told me… 

“I fear I have maybe 5-10 years left.  If I don’t do something I’m going to end up in a wheelchair.”   

She knew she had to do something, but as a retired nurse, Judy didn’t want to take weight loss shots…

 She knew the harmful history of the weight loss drug Fen-Phen; the digestive issues women were reporting from weight loss injections and that all pills have side effects.  Judy said…

“Injections are only a short-lived fix for weight loss.”

When her doctor pushed the injections on her, she said “no” and she hired me, Nutritionist, Trisha Mandes, to help her shed pounds sustainably instead.

"If you're going to come off of the GLP-1s, you've got to do a lifestyle change. So why go on it? Just do a lifestyle change."

And that's exactly what she did.

After one year of eating optimally (a sustainable lifestyle change), Judy… 

✨ Lost 55 lbs in one year
✨ Has zero back pain from the degenerative disc disease. The pain is gone from the therapeutic effects of eating optimally!
✨ Eliminated her blood pressure medication!
✨ Is no longer short of breath
✨ Workouts at the gym 5 days a week now!
✨ Walks freely around Walmart without timing herself or needing to stop.
✨ No longer uses her handicap parking sticker!
✨ Can pick-up the toddlers, put them in their car seats and push them on swings again.
✨ Can run multiple errands in a day again, not just one.

"I don't know if I felt this good in my 30s or 40s. I haven't felt this good in 40 years!”

Listen to her success story in her own words here…

 That is Judy at 70 years old after one year of eating optimally with a sustainable lifestyle change.   

No injections, no surgery, no special food, no counting points, no weighing portions. 

She learned how to eat in a way that works for HER body, her taste buds, and her life.

And her advice to you?

"Don't hesitate to do this. Your health is priceless. There's no price to put on health."

You don’t have to choose between living and being in pain.  Judy’s story is proof that no matter how stuck you feel with weight loss and no matter how many programs you’ve tried, shedding pounds sustainably is possible. Not through injections or surgery or willpower alone. But through food. Specifically, Optimal Eating when it’s tailored to your goals, diagnosis and tastebuds.

If Judy lost 55 pounds at 69 years old with high blood pressure and severe pain from degenerative disc disease, then so can you!

In Your Corner, 

Trish 

P.S. Want to see if I can help you too?  Schedule a time to chat with me here.

Now I’d love to hear from you… answer today’s Take Control Now question below…

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Comment below… What are the biggest challenges you’re facing with your health?  What can you take from NAME’s story to take action for yourself?

Her Doctor Said “Whatever You’re Doing, Keep Doing It!” — She’s 81

Her doctor looked at her numbers last appointment and said:

 "Whatever you're doing, keep doing it."

 That woman is Peggy. She's 81 years old and lives in Portland, Oregon. And those words from her doctor? They came after decades of trying diets that never worked… Weight Watchers and everything in between until now…

Peggy didn't come to me chasing a number on a scale. She came to me exhausted from starting over. She had been slim when she was younger but that changed over the years, and more than anything, she wanted a plan she could actually stick to — permanently. Not another diet. A way of life.

What she got was so much more than she bargained for. Before we get into the results, hear it straight from Peggy herself. Click below to watch the full interview:

Here's just a glimpse of what Peggy achieved eating optimally:

✨ Lost 25 lbs! She was down 6 lbs in just her first 12 days!
✨ Cut her blood pressure medications in half! 
✨ Improved her A1c (a diabetes measurement) from 6.4 to 5.2 (her doctor was floored!)
✨ Decreased her joint pain in her hips and knees
✨ Went on a cruise and lost 3 lbs while on vacation — yes, really!
✨ Ate optimally while dining out with family
✨ Has more energy and mobility so she’s living more!

And again, Peggy accomplished this at 81 years old!  

Let that sink in. If you've ever told yourself you're too old, too far gone, or that your body just doesn't respond the way it used to — Peggy's story is proof that that ^^ just isn’t true. 

Peggy said…

"It's so important to get a plan that works in your life. Not a diet. A way of eating that you can depend on. You have lots of different things to eat and it’s successful because you can stick with it. Go for it!"

This is exactly what I mean when I say food is medicine. Peggy's doctor didn't prescribe her something new — Peggy changed what was on her plate, and her body responded in ways that surprised even her medical team.

That's the power of Optimal Eating.

It is never too late. Not at 70. Not at 75. Not at 81. I help women prove that every single day — and what an absolute privilege that is. 

In Your Corner,

Trish

P.S. Ready to see if I can potentially help you shed pounds sustainably too like I did for Peggy? Click here and schedule a time on my calendar to chat before my calendar fills up!

Now I’d love to hear from you… answer today’s Take Control Now question below…

TAKE CONTROL NOW

What are the biggest challenges you’re facing with your health?  What can you take from Peggy? story to take action for yourself?

“I Thought I Was Never Going to Lose Weight” — At 68, Nancy Proved Herself Wrong

"I thought I was never going to lose weight."

That's what Nancy told me.

She was 68 years old, the heaviest she'd ever been, and she had stopped believing that change was possible for her. 

Her confidence was at an all-time low. She couldn't fit into her clothes. Her joints ached. And somewhere along the way, she had quietly accepted that this was just... her life now.

Sound familiar?

I ask because I hear some version of this story every single week from women 60+.  They’ve tried, struggled, and started to give up on their weight and health goals because they fear something is wrong with them. And it breaks my heart every time because they are not the problem. The approach is.

Here's what happened when Nancy started eating optimally:

✨ Lost 8 lbs in her very first 7 days of eating optimally 
✨ Down from 210 lbs to 187 lbs. Her friends and family started noticing her results within week one. 
✨ Fits into her nice clothes again (and they are loose!)
✨ Can dress up and feel like herself again
✨ Improved her joint pain significantly
✨ Feels lighter, less bloated, stomach visibly reduced
✨ Energy is back — no more sluggishness dragging her through the day
✨ Feels genuinely happier
✨ Maintained her progress while traveling and at social events
✨ Back in her favorite tango dancing outfits! 💃

That last one? That's the one that gets me every time. Because it's not really about the outfits. It's about feeling like YOU again.

Watch my interview with Nancy where she shares her experience eating optimally here.

To quote Nancy after 10 weeks of Eating Optimally…  

“I feel fantastic! I’m going to continue on my journey. This is my happy spot right here at my current weight.” 

Nancy didn't need a miracle. She didn't need a shot, a surgery, or another diet that would leave her feeling deprived and defeated. She needed a way of eating that actually worked WITH her body — and once she had that, everything changed.

If Nancy's story resonates with you — if you've ever whispered to yourself "I thought I was never going to lose weight" — please know, you’re not out of options. You are not too old. And you are absolutely not a failure.

I help women age 60+ prove that to themselves every single day.

In Your Corner,

Trish

P.S. Know someone who needs to hear Nancy’s story? Share this post with a friend who’s been struggling. Sometimes all it takes is seeing someone just like you succeed.

Now I’d love to hear from you… answer today’s Take Control Now question below…

TAKE CONTROL NOW

What are the biggest challenges you’re facing with your health?  What can you take from Nancy’s story to take action for yourself?

How Roseann Eliminated Her Cholesterol Meds And Lost Weight Eating Optimally At 75 Years Old!

Most of my clients in their 70's come to me to Shed Pounds Sustainably. However, that wasn't the case with Roseann... 

She was 75 years old and living in South Carolina.  She hired me as her Nutritionist because she was in constant pain from double knee surgery, high cholesterol levels (in the 280s!) and a limited ability to move.  She couldn't go places or do the things she loved. Weight loss was secondary for her.

She’s been gracious enough to share her inspiring and exciting results from eating optimally (and let me tell ya… she EXCEEDED her own expectations). She even surprised her doctors!   This is what happens when you stop chasing a number on a scale and start giving your body exactly what it needs to heal.

Click the play button below to watch my full interview with the amazing Roseann and listen to her tell you in her own words...

I help my clients use food therapeutically to improve chronic conditions, they get so many more health improvements than just weight loss.

Here's just a glimpse of what Roseann achieved:

✨ Completely eliminated her cholesterol and blood pressure medications! 
✨ Went from a size XL to a medium — she hasn't been a medium since college!
✨ No longer thinks about or obsesses over her weight
✨ Volunteers at a hospital, goes out, makes new friends — no longer confined to her chair and feels confident (my favorite!)
✨ Can sit with her knees crossed again
✨ Walked a full mile AND did PT on the same day — with no pain after!
✨ Can see her ankle bones and foot veins again as her swelling continues to reduce
✨ Lost 4+ lbs in 3 weeks — even while on prednisone for the first two weeks
✨ Has successfully kept the weight off for over a year (WOO HOO!)

I mean… Can we just take a moment? This woman can now walk a mile, reduced her clothing size, eliminated obsessive food/weight thoughts, and got off multiple medications. All because she changed what she put on her plate. Food is that powerful!

And in her own words?

 "I’ve done almost every diet and this was the easiest thing. After one year I’ve successfully kept the weight off."

Her story reminds you of what’s possible! 

Don't give up. Shedding Pounds Sustainably is absolutely possible. I help women in their 60s, 70s and 80s do it every day (and what a blessing that is!).

 In Your Corner,

Trish

Now I’d love to hear from you… answer today’s Take Control Now question below…

TAKE CONTROL NOW

What are the biggest challenges you’re facing with your health?  What can you take from Roseann’s story to take action for yourself?

How Michelle Lost Weight And Kept It Off With Optimal Eating

This is my FAVORITE part of being a Nutritionist that helps women age 60+....

Hearing graduates reach out to me one year later with how they’re not just keeping the weight off but that…

They’re still losing.

They healed their nausea that the doctor couldn’t…

The number of medications they NO LONGER have to take…

That “for the first time ever, I can look at myself honestly and say, I love this person and I love my life.”

That’s ^^ exactly what Michelle said to me when we checked in last week.

She had emailed me and said “It’s been over a year since we worked together… I’m doing amazing since working with you… literally changed my whole life!” 

So of course I wanted the details!  I love hearing how well my clients are doing years later! This is what Michelle was going through right before she hired me as her Nutritionist…

• Had over 75 pounds to lose

• Bedridden for 2 years

• Diagnosed with Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome and was unable to work anymore. She had to retire early from 36 year Dental Assistant career.

• It was a victory if she was able to get out of the bed and come sit in the living room chair

• Was unable to drive anymore

• Had high blood pressure, which she’s had for over 30 years

• Had diabetes

• Suffered from Fibromyalgia and autoimmune illnesses

• Couldn't cook anymore and couldn't stand it because of the cyclic vomiting

• Suffered from dizziness and imbalance and was using a walker

• Couldn't walk more than 2 blocks and couldn't stand more than 20 minutes 

• She felt like she was dying

• Was taking 10 different medications

• Had done everything, tried everything, and tried every diet. 

And just wait until you see where Michelle is NOW – one year after Eating Optimally!

Click the video below to hear Michelle share her successes in her own words!

She shares that not only has she been eating optimally for over a year but she….

❤️ Lost 78 lbs

❤️ Eliminated her nausea – no more daily vomiting! 

❤️ No longer needs to use a walker and can exercise now

❤️ Feels less pain all over – in her back, knees, wrists

❤️ Reduced prescribed medications from 10 to 2!  She eliminated 8 medications!

❤️ Is no longer diabetic! Her A1c is now 5.6!

❤️ Increased her confidence, faith, joy, appreciation, vision, diligence, discipline, persistence and determination overall, as well as patience/love with and for herself has increased immensely.

She loves herself for the first time in her life and that is my favorite part. ❤️

If Michelle can do it, you can do it too!

If you need help, schedule a time to chat with me here.  That’s exactly what Michelle did before she hired me.

In Your Corner Always,

Trisha

Now I’d love to hear from you… answer today’s Take Control Now question below…

TAKE CONTROL NOW

What are the biggest challenges you’re facing with your health?  What can you take from Michelle’s story to take action for yourself?