Case Study- Sarah
Blog: Client case study:
Overview:
- Name: Sarah (name changed for privacy)
- Age: 52 years
- Marital Status: Married with 2 teenage children
- Occupation: Works from home in a demanding job
- Lifestyle: Regular exercise, healthy eater, but reports mid-afternoon carb cravings
- Medical Background: Peri-menopausal, on hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
- Key Concerns: Central weight gain, fatigue, low energy, migraines, sleep disturbances, stress-induced snacking
Presenting Issues:
Sarah is a 52-year-old woman in the peri-menopausal stage, experiencing several common symptoms related to hormonal fluctuations. Despite being a generally healthy eater and exercising regularly, she’s struggling with:
- Central weight gain: Accumulating fat around her midsection, a common concern during menopause due to hormonal changes, particularly a drop in oestrogen.
- Fatigue and low energy: Despite a balanced lifestyle, Sarah feels drained, especially in the afternoons.
- Sleep issues: Disrupted sleep patterns, which contribute to her fatigue and exacerbate her ability to cope
- Migraines: Periodic severe headaches, often triggered by stress, hormonal changes, and diet.
- Mid-afternoon carb cravings: Sarah finds herself reaching for carbohydrate-rich snacks when stressed or bored, particularly in the afternoon when her energy dips.
Lifestyle and Dietary Habits:
Sarah’s typical day starts well, with balanced meals and a commitment to physical activity. However, as the day progresses, her energy declines, and the demands of managing her household, teenage children, and a stressful job amplify her stress. Around mid-afternoon, she craves carb-heavy snacks like crumpets or toast. Although she makes an effort to eat healthily, she finds it challenging to control these cravings, especially when overwhelmed by her work and family responsibilities.
Sarah also reports that her sleep quality has deteriorated, making it difficult for her to wake up feeling refreshed. Her migraines occur sporadically, often after a particularly stressful week or when she’s unable to manage her workload and family life balance.
Nutrition plan addressing root causes included:
Protein intake, timing of caffeine and blood sugar balance.
Increased Omega3 Fatty Acids.
Discussed the importance of a balanced plate and regular meal times
Changed style and type of exercise (running and HIT style workouts) to light weight training, walking and yoga.
Lifestyle changes discussed included sleep hygiene, breathwork, starting the day correctly, preparation and organisation, and setting boundaries.
Client testimonial:
I consulted Victoria for help with managing my energy levels, moods and headaches and also to try and deal with middle age weight gain. I am in peri menopause and have been on HRT for a while, which was working up to a point, but I was finding now and again that I suffered from mood swings, low energy and three day migraines.
I really appreciated the time and attention Victoria spent on working through things with me. She takes a holistic approach, looking for the root cause of why I feel the way I do, so spent time asking questions about all aspects of my life, not just my eating habits. It was really therapeutic in itself! Although I was already eating pretty healthily, she identified that my protein intake was way too low. She also suggested other small tweaks, supplements, food, drinks and daily habits to try to see if they helped.
And yes! They did. Enormously. Hardly a headache or a crying spell or a rough night’s sleep since I started working with her. And when anything has gone wrong, I can see reasons or triggers for it and I have the tools to get back on an even keel. It’s so empowering and interesting as well as making me feel so much more able to cope with all of mid-life’s joys and tribulations. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.
If you would like to start a journey like Sarah's then please start here with a free 20 minute health consultation.
