It sounds simple because, frankly, it is. BeBalanced’s weight-loss and hormone therapy program delivers “Balance.” As we age, it is very likely the imbalance in our hormones, our nutritional intake and our stress levels that lead to weight gain, fatigue, mood swings, insomnia, anxiety, brain fog, headaches, lethargy and many other symptoms associated with either menopause in women or reduced energy and vitality in men.
Overwhelmingly, what clients of Jan Benjamin’s BeBalanced in Leesburg cite as the most compelling reason why this program – combining nutritional guidance with a homeopathic Metabolic Correction Blend and other supplements – works is how simple it is to integrate into their daily lives. It boils down to daily intake of two protein, two vegetable and two fruit servings, hormone drops and creams, and supplements that support your liver, immune system, blood sugar, and stress response.
Oh, there’s a lot of “re-learning” involved, especially when it comes to how much chicken, fish or other protein constitutes a meal portion, and what to kiss good-bye. No healthy eating program can change the scales for either your food intake or its impact on your own weight, and none considers ice cream a healthy food group! But BeBalanced’s manuals for logging what you eat, combined with lists of acceptable types of vegetables, fruits and proteins and their amounts, along with its organic hormone therapies, offer a roadmap to rejuvenation.
You don’t have to take our word for it. Once a month Jan meets with her staff, all of whom have come through the program, and shares a meal. The event gave us an opportunity to explore why the program works for them. As a group, they’ve lost more than 250 pounds.
Amy Schrock, 45, has been on the program since June of last year, and has lost 65 pounds. She initially explored it because, “I just felt I wasn’t balanced. I couldn’t lose weight; I had low energy – all of the things described in BeBalanced’s literature. Everything they said fit, so I said, ‘Why not give it a try?’” She’s lost the weight in stages, taking occasional breaks from the program, but considers incorporating the food and meditation / relaxation journaling one of the most important additions to her daily routine. “It’s actually therapeutic for me, and gives me focus.”
Betty Derting, 71, started the program back in 2019, “and I fell in love with it. I'm a very organized type of person so what I loved was that they gave you a list of what to eat. It said, you can have these vegetables and these meats and on Sunday you can make up a batch of meals to take to work with you. It was just so easy.... I've tried other programs and I get very anxious and nervous around making choices. I’m a person who likes a routine. I lost 20 pounds in the first round and still follow it. I sleep better at night using their creams.” Even though she is semi-retired, she works as a receptionist in the Leesburg office of BeBalanced because she enjoys being an advocate for the company and meeting people. “The work is interesting, and I really believe in the product.”
Lorraine Giles, 55, was looking for a “natural way of losing weight.” She knew hormones were at the root of her inability to lose weight, but didn’t know the solution until she found BeBalanced about 18 months ago. She lost 22 pounds in 32 days and now considers the program just a way of life. A former fitness competitor, she has always been into health and nutrition, and worked for Jenny Craig 27 years ago. “I have a lot of experience and understanding of what's behind dieting, so I believe dieting is not always the answer” to maintaining your perfect weight. “Dieting can actually damage your metabolism,” she asserted. BeBalanced works well without synthetic hormone treatments, so it’s the best choice for her. “It's a personal journey for everybody. Everybody's journey is different,” she adds.
Courtney Partain, 65, stumbled across BeBalanced by walking her dog by the office and then investigating what it was all about, but it was her husband, who works in a medical field, who actually recommended it to her when she complained of insomnia and night sweats. “My husband had done all the research and said it was a very gentle approach to balancing your hormones and here I am!” She lost 20 pounds, but more important to her was the feeling of well-being that came to her by using the creams and applying the dietary principles. She now helps educate new or potential clients on the program part time and likes that there’s always something new to learn about the program, which is always evolving.”
Courtney adds, “I feel like we're always training because no client is the same, and there are always new products to address all these symptoms” nearly all of which can be attributed to eating too many over-processed foods lacking in real nutrition. One thing about which all BeBalanced advocates agree is that focusing on core nutritional principles has eliminated many empty calorie foods, soda and alcohol from their diets and restored their enjoyment of all natural fruits and vegetables.
More than 400 clients have used Jan’s BeBalanced’s protocols for probably as many reasons, including symptoms related to addressing problems caused by a “leaky gut” or other digestive issues and getting rid of the associated inflammation that these conditions cause. There’s a whole separate program geared just for people who suffer from digestive maladies for whom weight loss is just a side benefit, Jan explains. “We’ve seen clients with fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and even diabetes eliminate the need for medication just through a natural process of detoxing. By isolating and eliminating certain foods, you can discover what foods you are intolerant of,” she added.
“BeBalanced is completely personalized to each client’s needs, and the customer support we offer is intended to provide individualized answers to each person’s needs through their own journey,” Jan said.
That said, we also seized upon some smart, universal “hacks” to help make it easier to eat healthy, and offer just one of many great recipes in the BeBalanced “Phase II Recipes” booklet. For more information, reach out to Jan at Jan.Benjamin@bebalancedcenters.com.
BeBalanced Hacks
1. Freeze homemade broth in ice cube trays, then use one or two cubes heated in a skillet to sauté proteins, veggies, cauliflower rice, etc.
2. Sauté fish in a Tbsp. or two of lemon juice.
3. Batch cook larger portions of your favorite recipes and freeze individual portions for grab-and-go lunches.
4. Use unsweetened canned coconut milk as a creamer. 1/2 of a Tbsp. with a little Stevia is a great treat.
5. When out with friends, use a similar glass to the glass that they’re using. A wine glass with mineral water and lime still makes you feel festive while sticking to your no alcohol plan.
6. Always have 1/2 dozen eggs hard boiled in the fridge. They’re so easy to grab and take on the go. They can be used on a salad or to make BeBalanced’s egg salad recipe.
7. Try some new recipes, veggies or spices you have not tried in a while. Variety cures the boredom that can sometimes lead to abandoning a more rigid regimen.
*** Homemade Broth Recipe: 3.5 oz. chicken, water, parsley, onion powder, garlic, thyme, rosemary, oregano, basil, bay leaf, sea salt and pepper. Fill a saucepan 3/4 full of water. Bring to boil. Add chicken and seasonings. Boil for 20 minutes. Remove boiled chicken and serve or refrigerate and save for later. Strain out the bay leaf and seasonings. Let broth cool to room temperature. Skim fat off surface (if any). Refrigerate broth. Once cold, skim the rest of the fat from the top (if any). Store in refrigerator or freezer for later use.
Eggroll in a Bowl
· 1 lb. ground chicken or turkey breast 1/2 onion, diced
· 1 1/2 tsp. minced fresh ginger
· 2 cloves garlic, minced
· 1 (14 oz.) bag coleslaw mix
· 3 Tbsp. coconut aminos
· 1 Tbsp. raw apple cider vinegar
· 1-2 tsp. MCT oil
· 2 green onions, sliced
· Fresh cilantro leaves as garnish (optional) Hot sauce, no sugar added (optional)
Directions: In a skillet, cook the ground meat until fully cooked. Drain excess fat. Add all remaining ingredients expect MCT oil, green onions, and cilantro. Saute until cooked tender-crisp. Remove from heat and toss with MCT oil. Garnish with green onions, cilantro, and or hot sauce as desired.
Servings: 4, 1 protein, 1 vegetable per serving