Can you hear that? That’s the sound of my *f.a.t. feet doing the happy *f.a.t. dance because I just got to watch my two heroes on stage together at the same time! 

No, not Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. Good guess. No, not Sigfried and Roy. Bad guess. Not Captain and Tennille. (Though I love “Love Will Keep Us Together”), and you are getting warmer…….think Seventies.

Think Crissy Snow from Three’s Company (John Ritter, may you rest in peace). Think Bio-identical Hormone Goddess meets Important Topic Amplifier. Yup! That’s right. Suzanne Somers and Oprah were together at last yesterday when Suzanne was the guest on Oprah’s show, to continue the discussion on one of my favorite topics - bio-identical hormone replacement! What more could a girl want - one of my favorite topics being discussed by two of my favorite people! 

You may think that I’m overreacting, but there really is nothing more exciting to me that disseminating information to the masses that can truly help improve their lives, and if there are any two women who have the power to help us redefine fat to *f.a.t. (Fit After Thirty) it is these two! In case you forgot to Tivo the show, I am going to give you a recap, so that you too, can experience a little of the heaven that I experienced when I watched it.

As I’ve mentioned before, I truly believe that everyone can stay Fit After Thirty long into old age, by supplementing with natural hormones. I am a huge believer in all people - men and women- should be using these plant derived hormones to replace what is missing, when their own natural levels are depleted with age. Suzanne believes the same thing, and if she is not living proof, looking as great as she does at 62, then I don’t know what is!

Here are some important takeaway points from the show:

1. Perimenopause is the time that precedes menopause and some women start to see declining hormones at that time. (This may begin as much as ten years or more, earlier than menopause) so it is important to take symptoms at any age, seriously.

2. Every woman is different and should be treated with individualized doses for her body rather than using a “one size fits all approach” as is done with typical HRT therapy.

3. Bio-identical hormones are made by pharmacies, usually compounding pharmacies, to the specifications your doctor prescribes. This allows you to get just the right amount that your body needs.

4. “Normal” ranges of hormones vary so greatly from woman to woman, so that if a doctor tells you that your blood test shows your hormones to be within normal ranges, if you are still having symptoms of night sweats, poor sleep, hot flashes, moodiness, depression, anxiety, weight gain, or low libido, dryness, then your levels might not be at YOUR normal range.

5. The blood levels you should have taken are: TSH, progesterone, estriol, estradiol, and cortisol. I suggest adding to that list free T4, free T3 and human growth hormone.

6. Just as I did in my *f.a.t.ty pick of the week post about Suzanne Somers several months ago, Oprah is recommending Suzanne’s books Ageless and her new book, Breakthrough.

7. Find a good doctor who will listen to you, and take control of your own health! 

You can see more about the Suzanne Somers interview at HuffingtonPost.com, which details Suzanne’s hormone regimen.