We’re doing this right. Right?
“We Are Doing This Right. Right?” is your go-to podcast for humor-infused discussions that empower women to lead, succeed, and grow. Join us as we explore the smart side of life, business, and friendship, all while navigating the balancing act of parenting and work life. Get ready to laugh, learn, and find your path to success with a community that's cheering you on every step of the way.
We’re doing this right. Right?
Empowered Health: Navigating Nutrition and Advocacy with Julie Palumbo
Text us! We know you feel like part of the conversation! We want to hear your input!
This week we have special guest Julie Palumbo, a Certified Nutrition Consultant and Holistic Health Coach. She inspires individuals who are on a mission to feel better physically and mentally in order to boost daily energy and productivity. Rather than focusing solely on what one should and should not eat, she focuses on long-lasting habit changes and mindfulness that provide individuals with the proper tools to lead a healthier and happier life.
She is very passionate about women being their own advocate when it comes to their health, and taking matters into their own hands by being proactive.
In this episode, we discuss the importance of actively seeking multiple opinions for health-related issues and not just settling for the first diagnosis. Julie also details her personal experiences with Crohn's disease and emphasizes the need for tailored health plans and proactive healthcare decisions. The episode offers practical advice on how to integrate healthier habits into a busy lifestyle and the significance of investing in one's health for a better future.
Connect with Julie:
IG: @juliempalumbo
00:00 Introduction and Initial Thoughts on Health and Opinions
01:50 Meet Our Guest: Julie Palumbo
01:59 Julie’s Approach to Nutrition and Health
03:34 Personal Health Journey and Career Shift
04:51 The Importance of Long-Term Health Investments
07:19 Diet Culture and Body Image
10:31 Parenting and Body Positivity
20:56 Advocating for Your Health
27:50 The Importance of Seeking Second Opinions
28:09 Personal Medical Experiences and Challenges
28:43 Medical Gaslighting and Its Consequences
33:10 Strategies for Navigating Medical Appointments
42:37 The Role of Health Coaches and Personalized Plans
46:51 Balancing Health and Lifestyle
50:59 Final Thoughts and Contact Information
I was thinking too, going back to your like analogy of know, finance and health and things like that. Like we are very quick to get three quotes on getting your deck repaired. Right. Three quotes on being a cheaper price for something or the best price or the best quality. Like pretty standard, right? Like if you're going to have a contractor come to your house, you're not just going to go with the first guy, right. Or a woman, but like. When it comes to our health, there is that fear or there is that like, well, they're supposed to know and that's just what they say. So maybe that's something that's very to kind of think about moving forward for us and any of any of our listeners is like, get, get more opinions about
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:We're doing this right.
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:Oh, you brought the singing back.
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:I think I bring the singing out when I'm most stressed.
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:well, it's been a big week for us, right? Today's a big week yesterday for me and today for you. First day of school for the kids.
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:Yeah, we're
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:excited
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:So,
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:we're back. Back, baby.
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:Let's do it right. Okay. So we have a guest today. Julie. Julie, how do I say your last name? Palumbo?
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:Yes.
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:Okay, I nailed it. Go me. So Julie is a certified nutrition consultant and a holistic health coach. She inspires individuals who are on a mission to feel better physically and mentally in order to boost daily energy and productivity, rather than focusing solely on what one should and should not eat. She focuses on long lasting habit changes and mindfulness that provide individuals with the proper tools to lead a healthier and happier life. Well, I'm so glad you're here.
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:Yes.
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:Yeah. I'm so glad you put that in your bio. The not focusing on what people should and shouldn't eat because I feel like that's like a really big, You know, you see that all the time, eat this, not that, or don't eat this or whatever, man, I'm like, okay, well, what the hell am I supposed to eat? Because sometimes people are like, grapes are bad. And you're like, really? Like,
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:Yeah. Yeah. I, I love when people are like, oh, I shouldn't, you know, I, fruit has sugar in it, but yet they still are eating dessert. It's like, well, let's, let's conquer one thing at a time, you know, like, Let's not get that picky and that specific and I think the most that people should take away from anything is that every body is different and what works for one person might not work for someone else. So if, you know, if, if you're told that you should be eating more kale and spinach, but you can't digest leafy greens, that's okay. Like you're not doomed. There's always another option.
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:oh my gosh, I love that.
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:Yes.
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:Well, first tell us, like Cheryl does the mini bio, but tell us all about yourself because there's, we know that there's more to that
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:Of course. Yes. So I, in addition to being a health coach and nutritionist, I am a mom of three. So we have an almost five year old two and a half year olds and a one year old. So we are very busy in this house. And I'm also a Crohn's patient. So having Crohn's disease which is why I brought up the leafy greens. I could, I could digest them fine, but I have been gluten free since 2013. To help with my Crohn's and it drastically changed my life That's not to say everyone should be gluten free, but that worked for me and I saw the benefit it had I am a reformed financial advisor. So I did that for 10 years My health suffered. I was constantly stressed I was stuck in this vicious cycle of being sick and stressed for most of my 20s and It wasn't until I changed my own health that I realized that there was so much more out there that could be accomplished when you're healthy. And I was opening up to my clients about it and they were sharing with me their own health journey. And I thought, well, like why accumulate all this wealth for a great retirement that we were building or this great future, whether it be, you know, like they want to send their kids to college and they want to buy a shore house and all this stuff, what good is it if you're not healthy enough? To see it and to enjoy it. So I just shifted my priorities to all things, health and wellness. I'm still coaching people in a very similar way in that, you know, it's about making the investment today for a better tomorrow, it's the small changes you make today that lead to a better chance of success down the line, as opposed to playing catch up when it's too late, my subject matter just changed from money to. Yes,
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:I really love that analogy of like taking a Like that perspective of financial advisor, like the little things that you're doing today are going to have big impacts at the end. Like, I don't know that I've ever heard somebody say it or frame it in that way. And I think that that is pretty impactful because I think, especially for people in our audience, right? Like a lot of them are entrepreneurs or executive women or whatever. And we're doing things all the time to set ourselves up successfully or even financially. But think about this from a health standpoint is. Equally as important. And so I think that that's a really cool and really impact, at least for me, really impactful way to like, think about it because you know, I'm like, Oh, if I put, if I buy this, you know, put a little bit of money aside for my kids now that compounds in the next
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:exactly. Yeah. And it's, it's the same thing. Like you don't blow all your money when you're in your twenties. Like you save in, you know, if you have a corporate job, like you save it a 401k or, you know, you've had savings that, you know, doing a little bit at compounds and it adds up. And it's the same thing. Like when you're in your twenties, it's so easy to just be like, yeah, I could eat and drink whatever I want. And then, you know, you don't want to have to play catch up later. So maybe it's that you are more choosy about what you're eating and drinking. You're being more aware of what foods react to your body in such and such a way so that you're not in your fifties and saying, Oh shoot, now I'm pre diabetic. I shouldn't have been doing what I was doing. So it's the same thing. Like it's not an all or nothing approach. You know, you can still enjoy your alcoholic beverages and your treats and everything, but you know, don't overdo it and just kind of be smart and, and I like to tell people, make it count. You know, like instead of just picking on M& Ms in your home, maybe you just have a really good dessert when you go out to dinner once a week instead, like just make it, you know, high quality and make it for a good reason and not just because it's there.
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:Yeah. Not just the mindless eating snacking or whatever. I was just thinking. Yeah, I
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:Yes,
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:when I hear you talk about this, you said the all or nothing thing. And I think that that is something that, you know, for people who struggle with or weight or whatever it is,
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:mm hmm.
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:And for a lot of us who are in our late thirties and early forties, like that diet culture we've shown, I've talked about this a million times, but that eighties and nineties diet culture is so ingrained and it is an all or nothing thing. Like, that's kind of what it was. It was
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:Yeah.
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:do this diet and if you mess up, you're fucked. Excuse my
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, it's funny It's funny you say that because just this weekend I was talking to my my mom and I think even after six years of doing what I'm doing my parents still don't really get What I do and my so I was telling my mom I I had a client send me a before and after picture that she wanted me to, to post. And like, it was, she's young and like, it was like a huge transformation. And my mom was like, well, what happens if they cheat on their diet? And I was like, Oh my gosh, like those words, that's not even a saying anymore. Like, that's like, well, like what if, you know, the power cord on your ethernet goes like that? It's just like, not something that this. Generation even Formulates in a sentence like to cheat on a diet and I was like, well It's like I want she's young. I want her to go out with her friends and enjoy dessert and To occasionally get a treat at starbucks, but it's what you do For anyone, what you do a majority of the time is, is what's going to dictate your health. So if you eat like crap all the time and you have one good week of eating, that you're not going to suddenly be healthy. And if you eat really well and you have one week that you're on vacation and you splurge a little bit, it's not gonna make you unhealthy. So as long as you have that mentality, that. You're making these empowered choices because you know what foods serve you better and make you operate better. You're choosing to eat a certain way so that you have high energy and you're not feeling like if you're, you know, drinking excessively, so you're not hung over the next day. Like you could always have those, you know, and I, I even hate like the term, they still be like cheat meal or cheat day. You're not cheating. You're just enjoying something occasionally, just like, If you bought an expensive pair of shoes every now and then, like, you're not going to go bankrupt, but, well, you shouldn't, but, you know, it's just, it's just a treat, you know, like, it's just something that you're, you're choosing to do and, and I just think, I, I don't use the words, there's four words I don't, I don't use, I don't use, I do not use the words unless I'm talking about a food group. I I do not use the word skinny. I I hate the word skinny I don't use the word diet and I also and like honestly, I don't even use the word cheat Like that is just it just makes no sense to me So though and the words fat and skinny are just off limits in this house. We do not comment on body makeup or anything like I just to me it's it's like a it may as well be a four letter word like I just Don't use it Want my children to grow up hearing fat and skinny and like think that there's a good or bad way about it
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:How are you teaching your kids not to comment on people's bodies? Because that's a, I mean, this is not a parenting podcast, but please help me.
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:Yes. Yes. Yeah, and it's so easy. Like I feel like Again, growing up in the eighties and nineties, like my mom was very hyper critical of how she looked and how other people like to this day, she still comments, but like how other people look I never speak negatively about myself. It became, so my daughter, my oldest daughter is going to be five and our youngest just turned one in May. So, and then I have a son in between, so I know the girls are a little more like susceptible to body image. And. My older daughter, like she's in dance and everything. And I just don't talk about my body and I don't talk about hers or what you're eating. I never point out, like, we talk about healthy foods and unhealthy foods. And she'll be like, she'll say like, Oh, strawberries are a healthy food. Right. And I'm like, yes. And she'll say like, Oh, Oreos are not healthy food. And I'm like, right. But back in the day, I feel like they used to use the word like fattening. Like, Oh, like, is it a fattening? But like, Oh my gosh. No. And, and, and I learned, you know, my daughter was only two and like, she was imitating how I was getting ready. Like she was using like an eyelash curler. I'm like, wow. Like obviously I never taught her how to do that. She's just picking it up. So they pick up on things and my daughter, she'll ask, now she'll ask me, she's like, is this gluten free? So like, I know like she hears me ask that all the time. And You know, there's certain discussions we have about that and why mommy has to eat a certain way, but like, we never, I never comment negatively about my body. I never talk about her and her eating ways or me and my eating ways. It's just not even an issue. It's just, I'm choosing this because it's a healthy food and it makes me feel strong and energized and that's why you should do it too.
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:I've been really adamant with my kids about telling them, you know, bodies are always changing. Mommy's is changing. Yours is changing. Like, it's normal for our bodies to change and that's fine. And then I have like, after being on prednisone for my own health journey and then having all the kids, You know, my body doesn't look like it used to look. It's bigger than a lot of the other mom's bodies. And they have questions about that. And I just say like, this is the size that mom's body is right now, but mom's healthy and doing well. And I'm putting healthy food in my body to give me energy. And then we also will talk about like, they are sugar free. And I'm
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:Mm hmm.
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:not make you feel good later. So like, let's think about that. And I have really tried to frame it around like how you'll feel because truly at this point in their life, it's a behavior in a, in like a sugar crash situation that I don't want to
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:Yeah.
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:the path with. know, we try and talk about, we might not feel good later if we eat all of that right now. Like that's a fun food and that's fun sometimes, but let's start with
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:yeah,
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:foods that will make us feel good first.
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:They can't, first of all, their kids, their metabolism is going, even like the girl I just worked with, she's going to be a senior in high school, like calories aren't an issue. Like they think kids need more calories, but I love that you say that, like, how are you going to feel after what are these energy, high energy foods? And our daughter knows, like, I don't know, red food dye in her just don't mix well. And she knows that like, I can't have the red food dye and she will stick it. And I'm like, okay, good. And you know, if we talk about teeth, Too. We're like, Oh, sugar could cause cavities. Sugar can make your belly upset. You know, like we definitely, that's what we talked about is like your overall body, how you feel and not like, like, cause they don't have the concept, like, Oh, you're going to gain weight. Like who cares? They should be gaining weight.
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:Right. You
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:My kids, it's funny. I, my mom sounds similar to your mom was very much like very body focused and had a lot of her own insecurities and put me on a diet when I was six and all of that stuff. so I have a scale, right. And I am always working on my strength. And that's what I talk about now is like, I'm trying to make my body stronger. but
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:Yeah. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yeah.
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:that cringes like that. I'm like, oh, but when they're doing it, have like, no, no emotion attached to it. They're like, how much do you weigh? I weigh more than you. I am in like, none of that is bad. It's just. An interesting fact for them, right? I, but there is that part of me, you know, that growing up, that, that starts to feel stressed out when they get on the scale. And I'm like, but I don't say anything.
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:to
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:I
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:them
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:said,
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:Yeah.
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:yeah, be cool. Be cool. Don't be weird. Cause I have, you know, like I have a 10 year old daughter and she has a very different body type than I do. And she is, um, know tall and thin and that's just how her body is very early on my mom would make comments kind of what you were saying like Oh, she's so skinny or oh, she's so thin like look at how cute she is or look at and I said to my mom like You are not to comment about her body, you know, active. This was a very positive thing, right? But was very conscious of the fact that,
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:changes and she's all along had the person telling her that you're so cute because you're so thin. And then if at some point her body is no longer thin, then there's the, well, maybe I'm not cute anymore because I'm not thin anymore. And God forbid, we, Give that to our poor children. Mm
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:right. And I didn't want her value to be based on her looks, right? Like that's very important to me is that I did not want her self worth or her values. And she is beautiful. She is objectively beautiful. Right. But I read something very early on because it sounds like you, Julie, like I'm very conscious of having a daughter and what that. Is like and making sure that I'm helping to foster like strength and confidence, whatever, but I read something very early on when she was young that said, like, when you're talking, when most people talk to little girls, they say, your dress is so beautiful, or you're so beautiful. And when they talk to boys, they say things like, you're so smart, or you're so good at that. Right. But what we, you know, one of the things that we can do instead is. still compliment them on the dress, but maybe it's, Oh my God, cool that you chose to wear that dress today. complimenting the choice and complimenting their gin making. Like, I love that you chose that outfit to wear today. Like, how cool is that? It was like, you're so smart, you're strong, blah, blah, blah. But like, that to me, Was really impactful really early on and stuck with me. And so, listen, I'm not perfect, but I am trying so hard with her and we don't talk about bodies at home and we don't talk about other people's bodies. And I, they see me exercising they like to come in and do exercise, you know? And we make that just a normal thing. So I don't know. I don't have all the answers. You have way more answers than we do. But I think like there is hope for women of our generation who are, are breaking these generational curses, if you will, on bad image and things like that.
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:it really, a lot of the work I do with clients is that image shifting and it's, you know, it's confidence. It's not about the size you're wearing. It's not about the number on the scale. My motto is, it's not about being small. Skinny, it's about being your best whole self and that's mental and physical health. And I was at my skinniest when I was, and I, again, I hate using that word, but I weighed my least when I was sick with my Crohn's and I felt like a shell of myself and my mental health was awful and I just felt. Disgusting and my friends are like, Oh my God, girl. Like your bikini body is going to be amazing this year. Cause they had my surgery in April and I'm like, yeah, I literally am on a liquids only diet because I have a chronic illness. This is not, Ooh, bikini bod. Look at me like this is miserable. And. I just want my clients to feel confident and I have a client now and she said her goal when we start working together was she said I want to look hot in whatever I wear and I got her a mug on Etsy that says she looks hot in whatever she wears and that is the mentality. She's a lawyer in New York and she wants to be able to put on anything in her closet and feel confident and I don't care what No one can tell you what that looks like. I have clients who say, well, my husband compliments me, but I don't feel it. And that is just as important as if, as opposed to like, if you said, I am confident in my body and other people don't compliment it, like it doesn't matter what other people say. It matters how you feel. And I want that to transfer through because it, it really affects that. Self and how you interact with your spouse and your children and your job. And like it radiates. So whether you like, you just need that confidence. So I am never going to tell someone you need to drop X amount of pounds. Or like I work with clients who have to gain weight because they're in a similar situation as me, that I was years ago. I'm never going to tell you what your ideal weight is. It's, it's. Being strong. It's, you know, it, and I don't even like using a scale because you could lose inches and the weight on the scale does not change at all. So I say go according to how your clothes fit. If I, my first ever client was a volunteer firefighter who had Crohn's disease, he couldn't. Carry the weight of his equipment and he couldn't hold the hose himself. And his goal was to gain weight so that he could hold the hose himself. So we had him gain weight in a very healthy way, not just eating. Cause he, of course he has problems. Like when he's eating sugar, it's going to hurt his stomach. So it's never like, there's not a one size fits all approach and there is not a right or wrong in your body size. And I love your, your idea of saying like, that is so true. I'm glad you chose that or that is really cool or you rock that or like, you know Like you look really confident in it and as opposed to You look pretty in it because like why put all the emphasis on that Sure,
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:good in that. That's so fun. Good for you. You know one of the things that you've shared that you're passionate about is women being their own advocate when it comes to their health. So I know you've traveled through your own health journey. And I think that time goes on more and more and more people, everybody's kind of encountering something along the lines. So let's talk about some tips to be your own advocate. Maybe tell your story, how you advocated for yourself and then how we could others feel empowered to advocate for themselves.
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:absolutely. So living with crones. I I actually say I am Lucky that I have Crohn's because it forces me to pay attention to everything going on in my body. And if you haven't noticed yet, I am also an optimist and I just like to see the silver lining and not out of delusion, but just like, hey, like you're stuck with this situation. You know, you make the best of it and, and, and go with it. And I feel like with my Crohn's, that has given me the opportunity to be so in tune with my body that I know if something's not right and I'm not afraid to. Press forward to say, I need a second opinion. I had very randomly. I mean, if you're someone living with a chronic illness, you are probably aware of the fact that you get very random things that happened to you that don't happen to most normal people. So I had scarlet fever. Years ago, because I had strep throat that then led to scarlet fever. If you have never had scarlet fever, it's basically just like hives all on like your chest up to your neck that are so itchy. Like I felt like I was wearing a wool sweater. It just like wanted to rip my skin off. So. I was told at first it was a drug rash to the antibiotic I was on for the strep throat. I was told it was a reaction to the Humira I was on at the time for my Crohn's. I was not getting any relief. I was going to the ER. I finally, on my own, I just went to a dermatologist and I was like, this is obviously a skin issue. And he took one look at me and he's like, you had strep? The same virus that, or the same bacteria that causes strep causes Scarlet fever, put two and two together, boom, I was, I was cured. And it was because I didn't, I didn't accept any answer basically that they were saying. Another example, like not even, I mean, this is for women who have children during pregnancy. I, first of all, I got a colonoscopy before every time we try to conceive to make sure that my Crohn's was in check. And my friends laugh at me. They're like, you're the only one I hear of who requests a colonoscopy. I requested one two months before my wedding. Cause I was like, I don't want to risk. Being in a flare for my wedding. I did it before trying to get pregnant because I didn't want to risk having it. I've been in remission now since 2016, but you never know. I got married in 2018 and then had kids 19, 21 and 23. And every time I checked out, it was great with my first pregnancy. And it's your first pregnancy. Like you don't know what to expect, but I started getting really itchy on my hands and my legs. At after a certain period of time in the day, it was like 10 o'clock would hit and I would just start scratching and I saw I went to like my monthly OB appointment and I had a nurse practitioner instead of my regular OB. But I, I really had this message and she's like, Oh, but you don't have a rash or anything. I said, no, she's like, Oh, that's really interesting. And she put the notes in and she's just like, let me know. Maybe it's like a soap that you changed and thinking in my head, like I didn't change anything, but okay. So then I was like putting aloe on at night and like, I. It was an itch you could not scratch like I was like rubbing my feet into my carpet to like scratch my feet. It was awful. So I'm up at one in the morning googling like third trimester pregnancy itchy lower extremities nighttime. First thing that comes up is colostasis. It was like textbook and I was like I
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:that.
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:I messaged my OB and the timestamp was 106 a. m. Like, I will never forget this. Laying on the couch, 106 a. m. I said, you will notice the time. I am up scratching. I relayed this to your NP last week. I have to be tested for cholestasis because if you deliver past 37 weeks, you're at risk of stillbirth. And I was, I was in my last trimester. I demanded a blood test, they checked it and it takes like 10 days to come back because there's one place in the country that does it. So, they did that and even they were like, okay, maybe we should wait a little to, I had a scheduled C section because of my Crohn's, so they were like, we'll move it up a week. I said, no, that's still 38 weeks. Then I had to start getting non stress tests and they wanted to bump me up to deliver at 36 weeks even. And I was like, should we do something in between? And I met with another doctor from maternal fetal medicine. And he was like, yes, like if we could wait, you know, like any day after 36 weeks, like let's get as close to 37 as we can. And I remember the midwife coming in and she said, You know, you are going to be a great mom because you are already sticking up for your baby and your body now, even before the baby's born. And I was a nervous wreck being pregnant. Like I was not the counting down the days by any means. Like, I was like, this is, this is not even happening.
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:that you
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:Oh my God. I was like, yeah, like I was like, I was terrified of becoming a mom, but that actually reassured me. Cause I was like, yes, like. I have taken care of my health so well up to this point. I'm not afraid to ask questions. I'm not afraid that someone's going to be like, you're crazy. Cause I know a lot of people are, they don't like to push too much because they think people are going to think they're crazy. Like worst case scenario, they're like, it's nothing, you know, move on. But what if it is something like in my case, it was, so I delivered her at 36 and four and she was great and she's the one who's going to be five now. It, it blew my mind. I started posting about it on Instagram about has anyone experienced Itchiness and people are like, Oh, try this lotion. Try that lotion. Other people, like there were a few were like, I don't want to scare you, but you might want to ask. And by this point I already had like the blood work like in motion, but it just goes to show, like, it scares me that there are patients out there who just take things at face value and don't decide to pursue because whatever their doctor says is like Bible and you have to do your research and only you know your body. So if you know, something's off, don't be afraid to get it checked out. If it's nothing great, if it is something even better, you caught it. The worst case is that you let it go and it is something and you should have spoken up. Right. Yeah. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yeah. Right. Right. Yeah.
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:I say that something's going on because I have many things Like documented wrong with me, but if you don't have that, it's even more important to speak up and like, if this doctor is not listening to you, this is not the right doctor. If this doctor tells you you shouldn't have a second opinion, we should report them to the medical board. Like it is just not okay to be ignored. I, this week shared experiences. I, I have. had like a really wonderful medical team for the most part. There have been a couple of doctors that have been just terrible. And my friend reached out this week because her eyesight is having trouble and she's on an antidepressant and her eye doctor said well, when you get over the loss of your mom and the stress of that and get off the antidepressant, your vision will improve. And she's like, no bro. What? So she reached out to me because she's like, I need a female practitioner because I need someone who's going to listen to me. And I was like, well, yes. And then I was, she was talking about these boomer male doctors, no offense to, there are great ones, but a lot of them are just like, no, no, no, just
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:Don't worry. They're not listening.
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:I
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:not here.
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:had a rheumatologist tell me that, and this was at UCLA medical center in LA, tell me that I had fibromyalgia, which is the trash can diagnosis they give you when you feel like shit, but they can't figure out why which I have several diagnoses. So now we understand why, but he said, you have fibromyalgia and you should never have children because all moms are tired and no one will feel bad for you. What the fuck is wrong with you? Then I had a neurologist that I was seeing for migraines and I was taking Topamax, which has the nickname Dopamax because it makes you stupid. makes you forget everything. So I had a couple of very scary things while I was on those medications. One was I almost backed into my friend's door, which like, okay, that could happen to anybody. That wasn't the part. It was the part that I couldn't figure out why I went backwards when I was in reverse. There was like a disconnect. And then there was times where I'd get to a stop sign and I'd kind of be like, Oh fuck, I don't know what I'm supposed to do next. Like, I just like, I couldn't connect, like what was coming next. when I told the neurologist, he said, I mean, you're just blonde. I'm like, are you for real right now? Obviously, both those doctors were fired immediately and those are extreme cases, but there's a little bit of this medical gaslighting happening everywhere and it's not okay. like truly just do not take no for answer. If you know exactly what you're trying to be, I know something's not right. stop looking until you find it. I almost got diagnosed with the kidney disease because the urologist said sometimes people just have protein in their urine and we have no explanation. No bro, my kidney is being chronically attacked by my immune system right now and you almost let that go.
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:Yeah,
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:Crazy.
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:well Cheryl and I think that you know, it's interesting we say like these things happen sometimes I feel like it's happening all the time because have three people here and while I've not experienced this personally, the same thing happened to my sister who had a fucking brain tumor and,
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:Wow.
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:know, like, again, some, you know, somebody at UCLA was like, you just need to take this medicine for the rest of your life. And you're never going to have kids. And, and my mom, my sister was like 20, she was at 20 at the time. And my mom stood up and she was basically like, fuck you. We're going to go get a second opinion. And then she was able to have, you know, then there was a very, not simple, but a surgery that she could have. And she has a 16 year old son. Right. And so it's like, well, we're all here saying like, this This happens sometimes. It sounds like it's happening quite a bit.
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:Right.
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:it sounds terrible.
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:and it's like, it's it I, in my experience, I feel both professionally and personally, I feel like it's almost the anomaly to be like, Oh, it really was nothing and my this like my attitude about everything is like everyone is always right So like if you see five doctors and they all say the same thing chances are that's what it is If you have and you have one outlying doctors a little bit Like I don't know if I would you know consider that same thing. Like I always thought like, you know, like If you're dating a guy who's terrible and like everybody says he's terrible, chances are he's terrible. Like if you have that one person who's like, like he's good, they're just being nice. Like whatever the general consensus is typically is right. So if you're going to doctor after doctor and you're getting the same story, chances are, you know, that's what it is. And every now and then, you know, there is someone, and if you want to try something different, fine, but. It blows my mind when people go to one doctor, they say, this is what was said. This is it. It's like, it just blows my mind. And to your point too, Cheryl, like you said, if the doctor says like, don't get a second opinion, then they're not. They're not a good doctor. Like you should, all my doctors have said, like, get second opinions. I have gone on my own to get second opinions, just to make sure that what I'm doing is right. Not that I wanted to change what I was doing, but just to confirm that my treatment for my Crohn's was right. So I went to the head of research at the hospital at the university of Pennsylvania to make sure that what I was doing was right. And like, you just can never be too careful. And the, the negative, like the downside is just. Not worth it. And, and I, and I do, I work with clients to like create that plan going, I think. That they're intimidated
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:Yeah.
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:think that that's a big problem here to to even talk about like Why aren't you healthier? Why aren't you trying things? I think the intimidation game is really strong and Us talking the way we are if there's a listener out there hearing how we've been disregarded so many times Then they're not going to feel confident in saying hey like, okay now i'm gonna so I already had one doctor not believe me Now I potentially have to put myself through this again You To have another doctor not believe me. I think that really could wear on, you know, on your, your everything, mental, physical health. So I think going into it with a plan is really beneficial and knowing like the right questions to ask, even bringing someone with you. To the appointment so that, you know, you might be overwhelmed with what they're saying. So have someone who is like an unbiased third party, like kind of taking notes and writing down questions. I always had, like when I was, I was always hospitalized for flares for like the first five years of my diagnosis. And I would just have a pencil and paper. Cause you think of things and then the doctors do their rounds and you're always, well, at least I was always like tongue tied, like, Oh, okay. And I would go back to my questions that I would have. Like, And, and I am, I am a very big fan of like the conservative nature first. Like they would be talking about like, Oh, down the road, blah, blah, blah. I'm like, let's, let's focus on the here and now, you know, like that's a big thing, but I do think, you know, just, just kind of having all the facts in front of you, all the questions prepared so that when you go into this appointment, you're not, you know, they're not. They're not discouraging you from asking additional questions. Like go in there with a plan and say, okay, this is what I hope to get out of it. These are the answers I want. And if you want someone to go with you to make sure that you're not missing anything, that that's a really good plan too.
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:You can also always voice record. That's a good option in the doctor's office. And occasionally, like, I would FaceTime my mom in. Like, my mom lives five hours away. She couldn't be here. But yeah, having a second person there that could hear it with you, so crucial. And because, the day that I was diagnosed with the kidney disease, past the, uh, Like name of the diagnosis. I heard nothing else like
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:yeah.
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:sucked out of the room. he's referring me to UCLA. It was just like this whole, I'm like, what the fuck's wrong with me? And I had Alex and my mom there. We all heard different things. I heard next to nothing
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:Yeah. I was thinking too, going back to your like analogy of know, finance and health and things like that. Like we are very quick to get three quotes on getting your deck repaired. Right. Three quotes on being a cheaper price for something or the best price or the best quality. Like pretty standard, right? Like if you're going to have a contractor come to your house, you're not just going to go with the first guy, right. Or a woman, but like. When it comes to our health, there is that fear or there is that like, well, they're supposed to know and that's just what they say. So maybe that's something that's very to kind of think about moving forward for us and any of any of our listeners is like, get, get more opinions about it.
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:Yeah,
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:Get three quotes about your diagnosis because that's where you're spending your physical your your health if you will,
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:yeah,
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:what it
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:yeah.
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:That's how you're spending your health like and that is important
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:Oh, I love that. I love that. That's so good. And I love too, how, yeah. Like I, and I do feel like it is, I mean, doctor's appointments aren't easy, and like they're long. And I think if they were easier, you know, and you wouldn't have to wait for an hour, that'd be different. But all that aside, like, yeah, why not? Because, and, and I do a lot about like, you're, you're investing in your health. It's gonna, it like your health costs money or time, like it costs. Something and I, I'm a contributor for inflammatory bowel disease. net. So I write a lot about having Crohn's and one of the articles I wrote about was the cost of Crohn's and. You know, medication costs a lot. Doctor's appointments costs a lot. Losing time off work costs a lot. Like all it costs something, whether it be preventative care or. Your time or whatever. So at least make sure that you're spending your time and money where you're improving. So if it means that you have to spend an extra three hours total to see two more doctors. So what you're like, it's better than spending three hours, right? It's better than spending three hours, you know, or. Three days hospitalized because you're not doing the right thing. So like, like look at where you're spending time and money and prioritize because it may be worth spending more in the short term, like more time doing one thing to save you time later on. Or it may be that you're spending more money now working with a health coach, be, but it's going to save you from being, you know, getting sick days down the road, even if you're not like chronically ill, you know, like it's, It's just the cost of, you know, of living, essentially,
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:Hmm
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:And the other one, you are at the mercy of when your body gives out. So would you like to be in control of your schedule? Or would you like, do you, or do you want to be reactive to like, when your body's given up?
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:right? 100%. Yeah, and you either, you're either proactive or reactive. And I'm always in the position of being proactive because things don't go away. I think that's the thing, too, that people think, like, if I just ignore it for long enough, it'll go away. And it never does. It only gets worse. So, like, I have clients who are like, oh, like, I have this little thing, I'm afraid to make an appointment, and I get that, like you, especially, you know, you get bad news after bad news, you just kind of want to bury your head in the sand and be like, if I ignore it, it's going to go away, or it's not real. But, that means then you're also not treating it, and, you know, you want to get to the root cause. And, same with people who like, they know that if they get blood work, it's not going to look good. Whether you know it or not, the numbers are the numbers. Like, you have high cholesterol whether you know it or not. So the sooner that you could address it, and, and, and I do feel like, you know, medication goes only so far. Like, I think, you know, like I'm on a medication, but I think my diet is a big part of it. And I like to give the analogy, you know, like if you're sitting here banging your knee on the table and it gets red and swollen and you take Motrin to get rid of the swelling and redness, but you keep going back to banging your knee on the table, you're never fixing the problem. So by just like ignoring it and being like, it's going to resolve itself, or I'll just take this to like, to cover it up or, you know, deal with the ailments until you get down to the root of it. And like, you know, See your doctor or whatever like it's just not gonna go away. Like you really just have to address it head on Yeah,
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:Period of my life where like, it felt like every time I went to the doctor, I was getting a new diagnosis and it was, it was hard. And I, it was, it was very, it brought me down. Like every time I'd go, I'd feel so discouraged, like, Oh God. Like, and then I had this reframe of like, I didn't change. When I walked into that office, like I didn't, it wasn't a different person from when I walked into, when I walked out. So what those appointments did was give us information and we were, we could then do something about it, but I wasn't any different. So I was like, I don't need to feel bad that now they tell me I have Sjogren's syndrome, or I have all of these things. Like, that's not something to feel bad about. It's just information we have so that I can. I can recover or position myself to feel the best that I can with what I've been given. So, but it was like reframing to like, okay, well, don't get so down when you leave. You're no different than when you walked in. Okay, they called you a new name. Big fucking deal. It's just information. Now we know we can
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:yeah.
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:about what I've already
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:Well, it's actually, people who have not been properly diagnosed with anything, wish to have a diagnosis. Like, I was diagnosed with my Crohns disease by accident, and I feel like one of the lucky ones, because The second that something started happening, we knew what it was. One of my best friends went years without being diagnosed with celiac. It just was overlooked. And I think that's the most frustrating thing was when, you know, something's going on, it's not diagnosed. I would rather get a diagnosis so that you could treat it. Who cares if it's like you said, it's happening in your body anyway, at least be able to pinpoint it and treat it and not just be like, Oh, it's just something, or it's just what your body's like. It, that is infuriating. I think it's infuriating when people say, Oh, it's all in your head. You know, like, I, I just think that there are just better ways to approach it. And yeah, it, you know, Again, second opinions, get a second opinion. If you get that, that answer.
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:three quotes on your body.
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:Three quotes. If somebody wants to work with you, what does that look like? Like how, if they're like, know, they're like, Oh, you said, they're listening to this and I'm like, wow, she sounds so cool. I want to work with her. that look like? You know, like
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:Yes.
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:you do that remotely? Is that all you do? They have to be local.
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:Yeah, no. So it's all by zoom. I work with clients in four, six and eight week sessions because it takes at least three weeks to form a habit. And that's exactly what we're doing, regardless of what your goal is. Like I said, from the beginning, like. Losing weight, gaining weight, you know, lowering cholesterol, whatever it is. If you're a newly diagnosed with an illness and you need a plan, no matter what, it, it, I, it can't just be like a one off. So we work together at least let's say four weeks. So we meet once a week so that we can identify what's going well. What are we going to address that our challenges are sticking points? I assign action items. So maybe it's. to, you know, make that appointment or if you want to start cooking more meals at home, it's let's start cooking at home. Can you do it three times this week? Just three. Let's start with three. Then we'll work up by the next session. I'll say, okay, did you. You know, did you make your three meals? Did you make that doctor's appointment? I'll ask you to set your own goals so that you could track your progress regardless of what that means. You know, I want to lose a pound this week. I want to, you know, go on three runs this week, whatever it is. And then we recap and see what's working and then we build upon that. So we are Just keep doing step up, step up, step up through the whole program. You always get detailed notes after a session. So if there's anything I suggest, like a recipe or I don't know, a protein powder or something, like I'll send it to you. And you also, it's cool to look back to see like where you start at week one, like what your challenges were and then like where you are by like week six. And you're like, wow, like I really came a long way. And you always have like your action items in front of you. So you know, What you're doing. Everyone always gets access to me 24 7. I reach out a lot in the beginning to say, Hey, like you said, you were going to go to the grocery store yesterday. Did you do that? And then I have clients who will screenshot me like a menu where they're going out to dinner that night and say, Hey, like, what are my, like, what are the top three options that I should choose? And we just, I, I like to meet clients where they are too. Like back to my, my first thing I said about like, if you can't tolerate leafy greens, like then we'll go with something else. If you say like, Julie, it is impossible for me to make dinner at home seven days a week. Well, you don't have to, let's just do what you're doing, but make it healthier. Let's say you're in a career that you take clients out for lunch. You could still do that. There's just a healthier way. I had to figure it out. I was taking clients out for lunch as an advisor and I was gluten free. So I would show up to the restaurant 15 minutes early to talk to the waiter. So I got all my questions out before anyone even had to be present. And a lot of what I do is the how it's not just saying, okay, this is what you should be and what you shouldn't eat. Yeah, everyone knows that it's how is it going to work for you? How is it going to work for your body? And most importantly, how is it going to work for your lifestyle?
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:Yeah.
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:That's so important. I, in my last career, my first two managers, you know, every year our goal was to hit this chairman's council is what it was called. It was like the sales incentive. Okay. The first two managers were like, this is, this is what. You need to do every year, hit chairmans. And here are the like the requirements of it, ready, go. And I mean, I hit it and I did it, but then my sec or my third manager, she was like, okay, this is the goal. Now, how are we going to get there? And she'd sit with me and we'd go through my clients and we'd go through my serum and we'd figure out how to structure my time. And even. You know, it was, it was right when I came back from being diagnosed with kidney disease, and I'd had to taken a year off because I was unwell, recovering from the treatment and, um. She was like, okay, so when do you have your best energy? So that's when we're going to be out cold calling, like you need to structure your day around that. And then, okay. When you don't have enough energy or you're, you know, you're not your best self, like set an appointment with an existing client that already knows you and loves you and respects you. And then you just do their service. And it was just so fascinating to see the shift of just being told what to do and then how impactful it is to be told how to do it and to like actually work with the circumstances that you're in. So
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:Exactly. And, that actually drove me to be more than just a nutritionist, but a health coach too, because the health coaching is the how, and when I had my nutritionist who had me go gluten free, like that was great, but she didn't understand my lifestyle. As a financial advisor, getting to work at 7 a. m. Not getting home till after nine because of like client events and stuff. So she was like, Oh, just make like, instead of grabbing your muffin with a bagel and coffee on the way to work, which is what I did, because I walked to work, make scrambled eggs with spinach in the morning. And I'm like, I don't have that time. Like that's not practical. So I figured out like make a smoothie to go. And like, I figured out, go to the restaurant 15, cause she's like, make all your meals at home. I couldn't do that. I couldn't pack my lunch. I had client lunches. So I had to learn by myself to like show up at the restaurant early. And you know, 80 percent of everything we do is out of habit and 20 percent is knowledge. So just because we know we should be doing one thing doesn't mean we're doing it. So I get the most joy at working with my clients, very similar to you, Cheryl, and saying like. Look at your day. Here's what to do. Like if you have to prep dinner at 8 a. m. because that's the half hour that you get as opposed to five, who cares? Like then do that, you know, like it's not like you have to do what works best for you. And here's how you're not just okay. Make dinner at home three days a week. Here's how you could take the steps to make sure that you're getting dinner on the table three days a week. Like there's a big difference in that.
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:I think too, most people know what they need to do, but the how is the house, the hard part, right? Like we all know, like, the most part, like if you eat less calories than you expend, like you'll lose weight. Right? Like theoretically that's, it all works, how do I do that? And who's going to help me
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:yeah,
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:And I'm already overwhelmed with everything else. You know, like I am somebody I'm like, just tell me what to do, you
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:yeah,
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:like
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:yeah. And, and accountability. Accountability goes a long way too as an adult. I mean, we're all adults. We could wake up every day and eat cookies for breakfast. Who's going to stop us? Like we need someone to say like, okay, you, Commit to doing this. Did you do it? You know, similar to a manager, you know, like, Hey, like, here's what we're, we're doing this together. And I think that really helps them people. And like, I get it all the time. Like I have a little Julie in my head saying, don't have that extra glass of wine. And like, if that's what it takes in the beginning, then yeah. And then eventually it's your own habit of only ordering two drinks while you're out. Like you don't need to tell you not to like you just naturally. Your new norm is drinking two glasses of wine at dinner instead of four like that's how it's really designed.
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:Yeah. And then I think we all need that person. Like I, I'll give this last example cause I know I have to wrap up, but I am 41 and I had not gotten my mammogram and one of my best friends. Was like, you need to go get your mammogram. And I was like, okay, yeah, I will. Blah, blah, blah. And she, and she would ask me like every single day if I settled my appointment and then she would send me the link and she would send me the link. And she's like, I'm going to keep sending this to you until you report back to me that it's scheduled. And it was like, so irritating, to be honest, that I was like, God, I'll just do it. And then I did it and wouldn't have done it otherwise. I would have just put it off because I was actually, I was scared. I, you know, like. the weirdest way, my grandmother had breast cancer, so I should have been more proactive about this, but I was scared. and it's fine, everything's cool, it's good, but it was like, sometimes you just need somebody to like,
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:Hold your
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:push
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:Mm hmm
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:like, Or push you or shove you, you know, like, and it just depends on what it is and what you're doing in your life. So thank you for being such a wonderful and light and coach and amazing mom to, to your kids and to so many people. And
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:My pleasure.
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:Okay. So, but let's talk about how people can find you because I'm sure
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:Yes
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:every person who listened to that. I'm sure you're like, I need a Julie in my head. So how do
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:Yes
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:Julie to be?
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:Sure. So they could go to my website, which is best whole self. com. And there is a little link. You could click to schedule a complimentary call. I have a few free downloads that you could do too. Like a few pdfs you can follow me on Instagram. It's at my name, Julie, middle initial M Palumbo. And you could also send me an email to Julie at best whole self. com. And I will be happy to answer your questions.
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:awesome.
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:Thank you so much. Okay. Go out and crush that mother of three entrepreneur hood. Okay. Keep doing it. Right.
julie-palumbo_1_08-14-2024_120928:Thank you. They are my reason. Honestly, it is. It's amazing how, and, and, you know, and, and like going back to like, just to hit the nail on the head there, like I invested in my health before I even had kids because I wanted to make sure that I could do that and that now I, Could take care of them. So I have to take care of me in order to take care of them. So if anyone's out there being like, oh, I don't have time to take care of myself and take care of my kids, you have to take care of yourself to take care of them, because if you're not, then who else is, you know, like you just really, it's important and the whole, you know, put your oxygen mask on first, it's a hundred percent true. Like you have to take care of you so that you could be the best mom, dad, partner, whomever. So yeah, it starts with you.
colleen_1_08-14-2024_120927:preach.
cheryl_1_08-14-2024_090927:Did you hear that? We need to take care of ourselves first. Sorry. It's just a little shout out to my husband who doesn't listen. All right, you guys, thank you for being here. We'll see you next week.
