I'll be in Los Angeles, California, on May 14, 2011, to offer counseling sessions as a fundraiser to pay the costs of starting the inCYST Institute for Hormone Health.
I have 5 hour-long appointments available starting at 1 pm. Suggested donation for each session is $150.
If you're interested, I will need a credit card number to reserve the space. This card will not be charged until our paperwork is filed, but it will be charged whether or not you use time reserved and considered a donation to our new nonprofit.
If you do not live in Los Angeles and would like a counseling appointment that counts as a donation, I can arrange five web-based appointments as well.
Contact me at marika@google.com if you are interested.
Earlier this week, I conducted a counseling session on our radio program with an inCYST fan. If you missed it, and you would like to listen in, you can hear it at BlogTalkRadio. These broadcasts, BTW, can be downloaded as podcasts, which you can listen to while commuting, working out, etc…please take advantage!
We'll be having ongoing contact with our client so that you can follow along with her progress.
To continue with what we discussed on the radio, here is some information.
I have estimated, given the information this client gave me, that to maintain the goal weight she identified, she would need to eat about 1900 calories a day.
Often times calories levels are calculated by estimating what it takes to maintain current weight, then subtracting 500 calories a day for each desired pound of loss per week. However, the calorie levels this calculation creates are so low they cannot be easily followed, they provoke cravings, and they make it very hard to exercise.
My approach is to learn to eat to maintain where you want to be. That way, instead of bouncing between starvation and bingeing, you're learning what normal eating is.
Also, since our client wanted to know how much added sugar she can have, we're going to use the guideline of 7.5% of total calories. That works out to 143 total calories, or 35 grams. We may have to dial this down, but that is our starting point to evaluate how her body handles it.
Our client's assignment is to take a look at how much sugar she has been eating compared to what I've recommended. If it's over, she's not necessary FAILING, she's just identified an opportunity for us to figure out some solutions that will work for her.
Stay tuned as we progress!
And if you're interested in setting up a consultation for yourself, please contact me directly at monika at afterthediet.com
We had a great chat with Dr. Gretchen this morning! We covered everything from how she does her work, what counseling can do for a woman with PCOS, to her love for her local farmer's market.
If you have ever thought about getting counseling to deal with the stress that your diagnosis has placed on your daily plate, please check in and listen to what Dr. Gretchen has to say!
Gretchen's practice is located in West Los Angeles. You can learn more about her at http://www.drhousemd.com/. She can be contacted directly at 310.625.6083, or gkubacky@yahoo.com.
If you've been waiting for us to be open in Santa Monica, here is your chance to capitalize! As a way to introduce the community to our programs, each month we'll be offering a"Meet the Experts" event. September's event is a"pay what you can" counseling special with Dr. Gretchen Kubacky, who you know through our new Mental Health Mondays blog feature.
Friday, September 16, from noon to 4 pm, Dr. Gretchen will be making time available for counseling on a space available, pay what you can basis. Because the available time is limited, and because we want to be sure Dr. Gretchen's time is used respectfully, we do ask that you commit to your scheduled time with an advance, nonrefundable payment.
In a world where health care can be unaffordable, and services such as Dr. Gretchen's are often out of reach, this generosity on her part is a real opportunity for anyone who needs to sort through the stress their PCOS has caused.
If you would like to reserve a spot, please contact monika at afterthediet dot com for details.
If you're a Doctor Gretchen fan, and you missed her PCOS Challenge interview about PCOS and relationships last night, you can find the recording in the archives.
As Gretchen said on her Facebook fan page,"We talked love, sex, work, marriage, dysfunctional family systems, and a whole lot more!"
Go to http://www.pcoschallenge.com/ to find the link.
