Fat loss, Surgery, Toupée, and Nipple Covers — Oh My!

 💌 It’s another Notes from Natalie: your weekly peek into what I’m testing, trying, craving, learning, doing, and laughing about in midlife.

As You’re Reading This…

I’m likely in surgery. Yep, today is the day I’m finally getting my L5-S1 disc replacement. I’ve shared a lot about this decision, and I’ll be sharing even more as I recover and retrain my body with the new disc. But just know, if you’ve ever felt like your body was screaming at you to make a change… I hear you. I’m right there with you.

And full transparency? I’m nervous. For a lot of reasons.

First off, they have to go through my stomach. Yes, THROUGH my stomach to get to my spine. I’ve never had surgery on my stomach before and the idea of that alone freaks me out. My neurosurgeon said it would be similar to a c-section scar, which sounds better than “gut access,” but still… yikes.

Second, disc replacements haven’t always had the best reputation. For years, the success rate wasn’t great and I’ve been scared of this for a long time. But my surgeon uses a newer, more advanced disc and a technique that has a 99% success rate. So after all my research (and I’ve done a LOT), I’m confident this is the right next step. Not doing it now poses an even bigger risk.

Also… they have to unfuse my almost auto-fused L5-S1 before they can even replace it. Which means both my abdominal and back muscles are expected to go into intense spasms for a few days. That prediction alone made me want to run. But again, short-term pain, long-term freedom.

Here’s the thing though: I almost backed out. Recently, the pain hasn’t been as bad! But that’s only because I’ve stopped working out lower body (surgeons request until after surgery). When I don’t train at all, I have less pain. But that is NOT a sustainable solution. Muscle loss, strength decline, and long-term problems would be guaranteed if I kept going down that path. So I’m doing the hard thing now, to give myself a shot at a stronger, pain-free future.

Why I went back to San Diego Again right before my surgery…

So… I may not need a reason to escape the Phoenix heat, but if I did, celebrating my daughter Penelope is the best one I can think of.

She turned 18 this week!  AND she recently graduated. She homeschooled the last few years, so this was her official, formal graduation moment. We threw a little party with family and friends, and let’s just say… my heart is still full.

If you’ve followed me for a while, you might remember her from way back when I first started on the gram… she was flipping on rings with me by the ocean, with my dog Beanie barking in the background. Yep, I was filming fitness content with my toddler doing gymnastics beside me. Time really does fly.

And fun fact — did you know she’s now a music artist? Her sound is like 1990s meets 1920s, and it’s so HER. You can check her out on Spotify under Penelope Grace right HERE

If you are a mom with kids over 18 you GET how weird this felt passing this milestone! They grow up so fast and I am certainly realizing how fast life goes by!

That Talk I Gave on Fat Loss (and Nipple Covers) and how this will help you!

A few weeks ago, I got to speak at my good friend Chalene Johnson’s Camp Be More, and it was such a full circle moment. The last time I spoke on Chalene’s stage, I was overly caffeinated and right in the middle of my sentence when one of my nipple covers slipped out of my shirt. I remember thinking, “Please no one notice… and also, what happens if I step on it and it squeaks?”

Fast forward to this year. No nipple drama (thankfully), but I was praying my estrogen patch didn’t slide off mid-hot flash and land on someone’s chair. If it did… you’re welcome. Free HRT.

But that was not the point of sharing this. It was because of FAT LOSS in midlife. So, let’s talk fat loss. Specifically, the kind that actually works for women in midlife. I packed as much as I could into a short talk and yes, it was raw, and super real. Want the full talk? You can watch it here

📱On the GRAM:

I shared a funny “Meet Natalie” video this week that had people DMing me crying-laughing emojis. If you’ve ever tried to explain to your friends what I do for a living… this is the video to send them. Watch it here

I Tried on a Toupée thingy… and Bought One!

Yep. You read that right. But it is actually called a “topper” Midlife hair challenges are real, and let’s just say… I’ve been experimenting. Stay tuned for the hilarious, slightly shocking, and totally empowering story coming your way soon in a future note about this thing. I will share more on that next week!

In the mean time…What I’m Loving Right Now:

The Toupée thingy (it is actually not called that lol) can work for NOW, but I want the permanent real thing! The real hair growth! Soooo I have been doing this for 3 months now! Here is a pic when I started and the pic NOW! There is Definitely some baby hair improvement!

LOOK AT THESE BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES! 😳 I would not have believed this myself but after 3 months (almost 4 months now) it has definitely worked! I’ve been testing it out and let me just say…I’m cautiously obsessed. I even took a before picture so I could really track progress and I’m already noticing a difference in how my hairline and baby hairs are filling in. Learn more about the OS-01 Hair Peptide by OneSkin HERE

🎥 On the TUBE:

If you’re struggling with sleep, you’ll want to check out the most recent video I did about SLEEP. What works, what doesn’t, what I’ve tried — and what I’ll never try again. Click below to check it out!

🎙️ On My PODCAST:

An episode about processing grief and trauma with Dr. B. It’s raw, powerful, and something every woman needs to hear. You’ll learn how trauma gets stored in your body, why it affects your weight and energy, and the specific steps to release what’s been holding you back. Dr. B shares her revolutionary method and real, practical tools for healing that honor your pain while helping you move forward. Don’t miss the part where she explains why anxiety is actually your superpower and how to turn your pain into purpose without losing yourself in the process. Listen on Apple or Spotify.

If you listened to the Fat Loss Talk above and want to go deeper with my approach to fat loss I’ve got two great options for you:

OPTION ONE…A JUMP START! The 7 Day Jump Start® Is Officially Registered! 🥳

After years of helping thousands of women ditch the fluff, inflammation, and confusion around weight loss, I’ve officially registered the 7 Day Jump Start®.

It all started after I hit my personal rock bottom. I was divorced, broke, with a new baby, living in a short-sale home. I had every excuse to give up. Instead, I made one small promise to myself: just focus on one day at a time.

That promise turned into 7 days. Then 30. Then the entire method that helped me rebuild my body, my mindset, and my entire life.

The 7 Day Jump Start® is not about starving yourself, eating bland chicken and broccoli, or spending hours at the gym. It’s about eating real food, shifting your mindset, and getting real results. It is a true 7 day Jump Start® and most people release 5 lbs the first week! You can Jump right in to this HERE

OPTION TWO…If you are like “NJ HELP ME NOW! I am ALL IN and really want your help!” Then don’t start with the Jump Start. GO HERE. The Next Level…The Total Body Thrive Midlife Edition. If the 7 Day Jump Start® is the spark… Total Body Thrive is the full-blown transformation. Thrive is my signature 8-week program that dives way deeper into midlife fat loss, hormones, inflammation, mindset, and long-term results. It’s designed to help you finally feel good in your skin again and thrive. I help you become a TRUE health detective and release the weight for good 🙌 If you have ANY questions about any of this please hit reply and ask! We are here to help you! xo Natalie Jill