He Was Only 49. I Was 22.

💌 Notes from Natalie

Happy 4th of July Weekend. Before we get into updates and new things for you, I want to take a minute to share something that’s been heavy on my mind this time of year.

4th of July weekend has been very sad for me for many decades. Why? Because on July 2nd, when I was just 22, my dad died of a massive heart attack. He was only 49.

He didn’t drink. He didn’t smoke. But he had high blood pressure, and visceral fat around his midsection. He didn’t know it at the time, but those were major red flags. He had gone to the doctor for a check because he was having shortness of breath. The doctor sent him home with “hay fever.” The doc did not even check his blood pressure that day.

One minute, I had my dad. The next minute… I didn’t. And I was bitter for years about this.

I did not understand how others had long lives with their dads. I didn’t understand how others had a chance to say “goodbye”. I was EVEN envious of others that had long drawn out diseases they watched their parents go through as in my own view at that time “at least they got to say goodbye” 😫

I did not. He was here one minute and totally gone the next.

He left this world. He was taken too soon.

3 kids without a dad and my mom a young widow.

He would never get to meet his grandkids.

He would never walk me down the aisle.

He would never know me as the woman I have become today.

He would never know the world we navigate today with internet, social media and electric self driving cars.

That loss changed everything for me. It shook me to the core and lit the fire that got me into health and wellness in the first place. I didn’t want other families to go through what mine went through, especially not when so many chronic issues can be prevented or reversed with the right lifestyle changes.

Why do I share this today? Because every year around the 4th of July I am reminded to remind everyone that I know that the time is NOW to take care of our health.

We HAVE to take this seriously. I don’t want your kids writing this about you anytime soon!

🎙️ On Midlife Conversations Podcast This Week

It feels very full circle that this week’s episode is all about what actually causes heart disease. Come to find out…heart disease is the #1 killer of women over 45, yet most of us (and our doctors) are focused on the wrong things when it comes to heart health. 🤨

For this Midlife Conversation, I sat down with cardiologist Dr. Joel Kahn to talk about cholesterol myths, what the standard lab numbers actually mean, the tests that matter MORE than your basic cholesterol/lipid panel, and why statins aren’t always the answer.

It was intentional that I released this episode THIS week. I felt that Dr. Khan (the cardiologist that I interviewed) reaching out to me to be on my show was divine intervention from up above. 💖 I was meant to interview him at THIS time (and share it with you). Spoiler alert…he is now also going to be MY cardiologist. My heart is totally fine (right now) but I am 53 and I do want to make sure I take preventative heart care very seriously.

If you or someone you love has ever been told their cholesterol is “too high,” please listen to this one! Click below to take a listen or search for it on your favorite podcast player.

🎁 Enough about me. Let’s talk about YOU and the FREE GIFT I have for you!

A brand spanking newly revised Supplement & Age Optimizing Guide is freshly updated and free for you. Even if you’ve downloaded it before, grab the newest version below.

I update this guide regularly with what I’m using, loving, and obsessing over… plus I always try to include discount codes wherever I can for you.

Why do you need this? You don’t lol BUT because the majority of my direct messages are asking me about “what supplement” or “what gadget” for this, that and whatever else, it makes sense to keep it in one quarterly updated guide for you!

Get the Guide HERE

A Few Other Things That Went Down This Week:

I got a massive headache from sleeping near a Wi-Fi router at my friends house last time. They keep it in their guest room because they rarely have guests! BUT then I stayed there and woke up with a massive headache.

YES EMFs and WIFI routers can do that to us. And if it is giving us a headache…what else is it doing to our bodies and health?

Since I was a GUEST I couldn’t exactly unplug it or move it or complain about it. But then I remembered I had packed my travel sized Leela Quantum Bloc. I don’t totally understand the science, but holy moly, it works. I put it between the router and my head and finally got real sleep. Woke up headache free. SO THIS THING WORKS.

📱 On the GRAM:

Trapeze. Yes, I did it. And no, not the “strap-you-in-and-fly” kind. I did the beginner ground version with my friend Allison, who is in her 60s and is totally crushing life.

It was hilarious, humbling, and one of the best reminders to try new things even when they scare the crap out of you! It is how we grow. And laugh. And sometimes scream. Or in my case, clench everything and pray.

We filmed the whole thing. One of us gave Cirque du Soleil energy. The other? “Hold everything tight and survive.” I’ll let you guess who was who. Watch it below

A Bit of Back Drama: People on social were freaking out asking how I was doing trapeze with my back. And to be fair… great question.

My L5-S1 disc is basically gone. I’ve kept pain at bay for years by building an insanely strong core (engaging it in overdrive) to take the pressure off everything else. But lately, that strategy’s failing. The nerve pain in my right leg is next-level. My hips and legs are trying to overcompensate, and my glutes have been shrinking because I literally can’t squat or do lower body exercises without major pain.

So YES I am having that surgery very soon! I’ll be getting a disc replacement, and then retraining my body to work with the new disc instead of working against everything like I’ve been doing. I’ll be sharing that whole recovery journey too. In the meantime a core and ab workout you can do anywhere (even with back issues) is linked below for you.

Did lots of shopping with my daughter (who just graduated high school). We made a funny video (of course) about the weirdness of being driven around by the baby you once birthed. It’s on IG HERE if you’re a mom of a teen, you’ll get it.

🌊 Where I’m Writing This From

Currently coming to you from what feels like a baking room… aka Phoenix. But I’m headed back to San Diego later today.

Why did I leave San Diego for Phoenix again? Honestly, someone remind me…in December. 😅

I lived in San Diego for 20 years before the appeal of the desert (kinda) took over. What I didn’t realize is that the “hot” part wasn’t optional. Phoenix is basically the surface of the sun June until October.

I go back and forth a lot now, between family, work, important appointments…and let’s not forget hair color maintenance lol. I mean, priorities. These grays don’t cover themselves.

💭 Something to Think About

If you can, move electronics out of your proximity. Especially move the Wi-Fi routers out of your bedroom if they’re in there. That radiation affects more than you think. And if you can’t move it? Consider something like a Leela Quantum Bloc. I don’t know exactly how it works (though the podcast interview I did with them goes deeper if you’re curious), but I DO know I sleep better with it.

One more thing…SAY YES to something new this week. Something a little silly. A little scary. That’s where the growth (and the best stories) live.

xo
Natalie Jill