How Elizabeth Lost Weight Sustainably With a Thyroid Diagnosis at 60 Years Old

Elizabeth Dykes and I first spoke when she was recovering from an ankle surgery and hadn’t been able to walk for four months. She has a thyroid diagnosis that made weight loss almost impossible, especially at 60 years old and that’s what she wanted to help herself – to shed pounds sustainably.

She had tried keto, paleo, and Weight Watchers with NO improvement on the scale.  

She also had high blood pressure, high cholesterol and was in constant physical pain. 

She was fearful that the health conditions that run in her family were going to eventually affect her.  She was beginning to feel hopeless. 

So, she did something that changed everything... she hired me, Nutritionist, Trisha Mandes, MPHN, to shed pounds sustainably and turn her health around with Optimal Eating. 

After just 11 weeks of working with Nutritionist, Trisha Mandes DURING the holiday season Elizabeth…

• Lost 21 pounds in 10.5 weeks – more weight than she thought she’d lose because of her Thyroid diagnosis!

• In just two weeks she could walk down the stairs normally again from reducing inflammation! No pain, no struggle! In just two weeks! 

• Doesn’t have ankle pain getting out of the car anymore! It went from a 5/10 in pain to a 1/10 in just two weeks!

• Isn’t limping anymore!

• Started walking again within 2 weeks of eating optimally.

• Balance is back and she can do balance exercises for up to 30 seconds now instead of 5 seconds.

• Is down almost 2 pant sizes while still eating food that she loves! 

What an amazing and inspiring woman!  

Click the video below to watch my personal interview with Elizabeth.  You’ll leave it feeling hopeful and inspired.

To quote Elizabeth…

“Im 100% glad that I did this. I feel so much better in my own body and I'm capable of doing more than I could before. I feel younger.”

I’m so proud of Elizabeth and it was truly an honor being by her side as she Shed Pounds Sustainably eating yummy foods she loves!

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Ready to chat with Trish like Elizabeth did before she enlisted her help?  Schedule a time to chat with Nutritionist, Trisha Mandes, MPHN here and see what health and sustainable weight loss results are possible for you.

How Jan Lost 122 lbs at 83 Years Old Eating Optimally

Are you scared to lose weight because you think you won’t be able to enjoy the food that you eat anymore? Most of my clients come to me with that same fear and hesitation. 

Jan Belluchi, one of my most inspiring clients, is going to show you what’s possible to achieve with your health and weight amongst those fears AND at 83 years old!  

Jan came to me after having gained a lot of weight during the COVID shut-down and recovering from double knee replacements. She had become immobile during that time and was getting around using a motorized wheelchair. She wanted to lose about 120 pounds.  She was also on a handful of medications for arthritis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, gerd, and anxiety. 

Her #1 goal working with me was losing weight and improving her strength and energy so she could walk again. During her year and a half in the program, Jan continued setting goals after achieving them and never stopped showing up for herself. Look at what Jan accomplished Eating Optimally with Nutritionist, Trisha Mandes, MPHN… (you can also watch her interview below!)

Jan…

• Lost 122 lbs in 1.5 years! (She lost 40 lbs in her first 10 weeks!)

• Has the energy to cook again and take care of herself

• Is using a walker to get around on her own instead of a motorized scooter

• Eliminated a blood pressure medication within the first 10 weeks

• Eliminated arthritis medicine because she wasn’t in pain anymore (which also helped her improve her kidney disease!)

• Eliminated her cholesterol medication

• Reduced her sleeping medication

• Reduced her anxiety medication

• Reduced her A1C level to normal and is no longer pre-diabetic.

• Improved her kidney disease: went from stage 3b kidney disease to stage 2

• Is going to the gym and working out again!

• Rides a stationary bike inside her house

• Takes care of her two cats without help (yay for independence!)

She did this by eating optimal food that she LOVES. To quote Jan…

“It was scary thinking of changing how I was going to eat but it hasn’t ACTUALLY been scary – I still get to eat all of the things that I love, just prepared differently. I love pasta, sweet potatoes, and chilli.” 

Jan Belluchi, of West Des Moines, Iowa, is a powerful example of resilience, determination and also what believing in yourself looks like amongst a challenge.

Jan continued to say in our interview…

“I wasn’t terrified of failing.  I was terrified of eating a different way. That certainly disappeared right away. You don’t need to be terrified because there’s Trisha and her team and clients in the group that work with you and keep you going. After 1-2 weeks you’re going to love the food and see results.”

I’m so proud of Jan, especially for taking another chance on herself because look what happened. Jan has been an inspiration for many of my clients and I hope she inspires you too to take a chance on YOURSELF!

Ready to do just that and shed pounds sustainably?  Schedule a time to chat with Nutritionist, Trisha Mandes, MPHN here and learn what’s possible for your unique situation (that’s exactly what Jan did before she started losing her first 40 pounds in 10 weeks).

Now I’d love to hear from you…

What inspires you most about Jan’s story? 

Comment below.

Watch even more successes of women 60+ eating optimally and Shedding Pounds Sustainably here.

Trisha's Go-To Holiday Recipes

I hosted friends at the cottage this weekend for an optimal Thanksgiving meal. The below four recipes have been my go-to optimal recipes for feeding friends and family over the holidays.  They're such crowd pleasers that I've been serving them for the last 5+ years and are great for any special holiday occasion.

Here's four optimal holiday recipes:

1. Creamy tahini mashed potatoes

2. Mushroom gravy baby!

3. Garlicky kale (my friend’s favorite)

4. Lentil loaf

These recipes could help you shed pounds sustainably (my clients lost weight over Thanksgiving week eating these and other optimal meals).

Cheers to eating delicious food that nurtures that sweet sweet bod of yours!

Take Control Now!

Would you try this recipe?  Let me know what you think in the comments!

Optimal Mushroom Gravy Recipe

This optimal mushroom gravy recipe is a crowd pleaser for the whole family because it tastes that good!  I've served it to many non-optimal eaters and it's always a favorite.  It's also low fat, vegan and gluten free.

Ingredients:

1. Cimini aka baby bella mushrooms (16 oz package equally sliced).  You can also substitute or add gourmet mushrooms like shiitakes 

2. Garlic chopped, ½-1 head depending on your flavor preferences 

3. Shallots, 4, diced

4. Vegetable stock

5. Soy sauce

6. Thyme (fresh is best)- 1 tsp. 

7. Poultry seasoning - ½ tsp.

8. Corn starch (or potato starch) - any thickener

Directions:

1. Saute the shallet with vegetable stock and add thyme until translucent

2. Add garlic with more stock so it doesn’t burn sauteeing for another 2 minutes

3. Add mushrooms and poultry seasoning and sautee until cooked adding more stock as needed

4. Add more stock to make it “gravy consistency”

5. Turn heat down to medium low

6. Add 3 tb of soy sauce. Taste. Add more until you like how it tastes

7. Add cornstarch to thicken. Mix/whisk

8. Taste, cook on low until ready

Take Control Now!

Would you try this recipe?  Let me know what you think in the comments!

Garlicky Kale Recipe

When I cook my kale like this, I can eat an entire head of it within 24 hours.  That’s how good it is! I hosted friends for dinner last week and this was their favorite item!  Even my friend who never liked kale said this was his favorite.  It's also low fat, vegan and gluten free.

Ingredients

• A head of kale, trimmed and chopped into large pieces

• A half to a full head of garlic finely diced 

• Vegetable stock 

• Salt

Directions

1. Sauté garlic in a large pan with ample veg stock until cooked (1-2 minutes)

2. Add kale, toss in veg stock (add more), then cover for 5-10 minutes (until bright green and a texture you’d enjoy eating). Add more veg stock and salt if needed through cooking process

Take Control Now!

Would you try this recipe? Let me know what you think in the comments!