As a current Air Force veteran, I have first-hand knowledge of the challenges female veterans are burdened with after separation. They are a group at increased risk of many mental health and overall wellness conditions, with uncertain access to appropriate health and wellness care. The increased risks are the result of the many tensions and realities of serving on a military deployment. Not only the sensory exposure to the dead and dying, but the personal and emotional conflicts inherent in caring for the sick and wounded in a war zone.

Absence from family also has an impact on female veterans that is unique to their experience. The internal torture of not being home to support loved ones in times of need or any financial stress that could potentially overwhelm them can be a lifelong ordeal. We carry our concerns even after our children are grown, wondering if we provided them with the necessary tools to excel in life despite our absence.

During my time in the service, I was on my feet for 70% of the day on most of my career assignments, and food was my best friend. I could eat pretty much anything; bagels for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, and good hot meals for dinner. There was always room for snacks and dessert without much of an impact. The struggle began after having my babies and then became a lot more noticeable when I began my first sedentary job.

Since I didn’t have to wear my military uniform every day and casual wear was the norm, at some point I traded in my belted slacks for elastic waist band joggers. It felt more comfortable. My college friends and I tried it all: weight watchers, salads, juicing, and meal replacements. We even had workout routines for PX90, Billy Banks for over 40, and several other fitness programs. They were all temporary fixes. Soon, the joint pain became more uncomfortable.

I enjoyed working out but never did it consistently. I had other priorities and family concerns that I chose to put first. When my name popped up 2-3 months before fitness testing, it was time to put my game face on. Being in relatively good health, I successfully passed all my tests except one. Every now and then, I wondered if I really needed to maintain this lifestyle when I retired; the mental pounds would just start piling up.

When I experimented with intermittent fasting, water fasting, and The Atkins Diet, I felt truly in control of my metabolic condition. But I didn’t have the knowledge or education to sustain any of the gains that I made back then. I can confidently say that thanks to the on and off experience, my pre-diabetic condition did not become full blown. I would then be facing a more challenging battle.

Diets have always seemed temporary, and I knew that whatever choices I made needed to be a way of life that I could live with, so I began to research and follow evidence-based information to improve my well-being. My first sign of progress was after I eliminated gluten, which prompted me to adopt a low carb lifestyle. I began to see steady progress on the scale, my joints, and my general wellbeing. Next was my microbiome; I needed to balance my gut bacteria. For the first time in years, I had bloating under control, which led me down the path towards the Keto and Carnivore communities.

Being able to support friends and family towards positive health outcomes and living optimal lives has motivated me to be a part of Primal Health. The Primal Health community provides resources and education to support its coaches in a well-rounded approach to guide their clients to take the necessary steps to improve their wellbeing by creating adaptable, holistic mind-body health plans.