Megan Savage: HELPcare Challenge Success Story

“The HelpCare Challenge is great because it focuses on holistic health and your individual goals, which was not something I was getting from my standard primary care physician."

Megan completed the inaugural HELPcare Challenge that kicked off on October 17, and ran through January 9, 2024. Megan says that she found the Challenge because she was really disappointed in the advice and options through her primary care clinic when she asked about how she could manage her risk for metabolic syndrome, given her history of gestational diabetes.

On our first 1:1 coaching call together, we established a specific and measurable goal to lose body fat and to (long-term) reduce her insulin resistance and risk of diabetes.

Megan’s “why” (deep down motivation) for joining the HELPcare Challenge to improve her metabolic health was to be healthy for her kids and to keep up with them, and also to not end up with cardiac issues like the patients she works with as a cardiac nurse in the ICU.

Megan had experience with using the keto diet in the past when she had gestational diabetes. But this time was different.

“When I did keto before, I got too tied up in all the fancy recipes with weird ingredients, and it was just too much work and too expensive. Keeping things simple was the key for me. Making small steps each week in the Challenge rather than trying to change everything at once made it manageable.”

As a result of participating in the HELPcare Challenge, Megan lost 20 pounds of body fat according to the pre- and post- InBody scan that measures body composition. Her pre- and post- blood lab values indicate that Megan has reversed her insulin resistance. Other noticeable improvements include more energy, clearer thinking, clothes fitting better, and just feeling better overall.

Megan attributes her success to several things:

• The structure, support, and accountability of the HELPcare Challenge which helped her make gradual changes that stuck.
• Tracking her food on Carb Manager and staying within keto guidelines
• Fasting using the Zero fasting app made the most sudden difference
• Mindset change that “hunger is not an emergency”
• Using LMNT electrolyte supplement
• Keeping things simple allowed her to consistently plan & make meals ahead so there were no more last minute panic and going out for fast food

Megan feels that her current lifestyle is manageable and sustainable.

“Our routine got thrown off last week because my husband and I were both ill, but knowing I have a solid meal plan and simple routine we could keep going with minimal bumps in the road.”

“The HelpCare Challenge is great because it focuses on holistic health and your individual goals, which was not something I was getting from my standard primary care physician. Now I’m working on gaining some muscle mass and I’m starting to teach swimming lessons this week! I wouldn’t have had the time or energy to do this months ago, let alone feel comfortable to run around in a swimsuit in front of a bunch of parents whose kids I’ll be teaching.”

Visit this page for more information and to join the waiting list for the next HELPcare Challenge!

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Jane Connell, RD

Coach Jane is a licensed, registered dietitian living in Camas, WA. She has been doing remote health coaching for the past 14 years through Optum in Eden Prairie, MN. She has joined the HELPcare coaching staff and will be coaching members through the HELPcare Challenge program.