Greater Strength, Restored Energy: Kimberly’s Vitality Story

In 2023, as Kimberly entered perimenopause, she noticed she was losing energy and experiencing more body aches. That’s when she visited the Elevé website, seeking a way to boost her energy and feel better.

“I felt tired and I looked so tired,” Kimberly says. “I thought, ‘Maybe I’ll go to Elevé and get some Botox or some other wellness services to help me look and feel better.’”

That’s when she noticed a link to Elevé’s Vitality Program. The tests it offered were similar to what she’d been reading about in a book by Dr. Peter Attia, a physician focused on longevity and preventing illness. Those tests include the DEXA scan, which measures body fat and bone density, and VO2 Max, which measures the body’s oxygen uptake during exertion.

“I knew something was wrong, so I decided I needed to have the testing done to see what was the matter,” says Kimberly, who has worked as a nurse for 30 years. “I was just feeling so tired and my joints hurt so badly, and I couldn’t do the things I used to do. I thought I’d have to travel to a larger city to get help, but I found it here at Elevé.”

Gathering information to begin healing

Kimberly also was experiencing symptoms like hair thinning, dry skin, and poor mood. “I was very tearful and angry for no good reason,” she recalls. Her regular health provider told her that all of her symptoms were normal for her age (48 at the time). She was prescribed an antidepressant and a sleeping pill.

“I said, ‘But I’ve never been depressed and I’ve never needed a sleeping pill before,’” Kimberly says. “I took them because I didn’t know what else to do.”

Elevé provided her with more options. Kimberly made an appointment with Wellness Coordinator Katrina Krenz, who scheduled Kimberly’s lab work and a consultation with a nurse practitioner. Shortly afterward, Kimberly met with Dr. Joseph Babiarz for an assessment of her results.

“I told him, ‘I used to run, I used to be strong, I used to do things—but my body just really hurts now.’” Among her concerns: Her Achilles tendon hurt, her asthma was acting up, and she was having vaginal pain.

In addition to the DEXA scan and VO2 Max testing, Kimberly had her bloodwork done, which showed no obvious red flags. Her glucose and thyroid were healthy, though her cholesterol was high, likely because of genetics. Dr. Babiarz suggested Kimberly could perhaps exchange 10 pounds of fat for muscle, which would require a trainer.

Working with partners for holistic health

Elevé also sent Kimberly to board-certified OB-GYN and menopause expert Dr. Hajira Yasmin. Kimberly was prescribed hormone replacement therapy, including the estrogen patch and progesterone to help improve her sleep.

“Dr. Yasmin told me I was too young to be feeling this way, but that we could fix it,” Kimberly says. “It was crazy because within a week, I could sleep just like a baby. I took the progesterone at night with magnesium, and I didn’t need a sleeping pill ever again.”

Kimberly’s skin improved quickly and her hair started becoming thicker. She could take deep breaths again, her sexual health improved, and within six months, she regained the stamina to exercise regularly and without pain.

Then Kimberly began working with a fitness trainer to build that extra muscle to help sustain long-term weight loss and health.