Wellness is achieved by optimizing health of the body, mind and spirit. Information on this page will help you to navigate some areas of medicine that can help you achieve balance and a healthy outlook on life. "Holistic" medicine attempts to treat the patient as a "whole" person. "Natural" is usually "good" but natural treatments can be potent and can have side effects, so please use caution when developing your own plan for wellness.
BODY: Ideally, women who are trying to conceive should be at a normal BMI. Evidence suggests that regular moderate exercise positively influences pregnancy. Some conditions, such as PCOS, are associated with a higher BMI and weight loss is beneficial to treatment. Excessive exercise and low BMI (being underweight) can negatively affect fertility. Anti-inflammatory diets may improve fertility. For men, diet and exercise may affect sperm count and quality. It is always a good idea to discuss your ideal weight, diet and exercise plan with your healthcare provider. Our weight loss coaching group can help you achieve permanent weight loss.
MIND: "Just decrease your stress level and you will get pregnant" is never what a couple facing fertility issues wants to hear. However, stress does negatively impact fertility. Fertility treatments, negative pregnancy tests or recurrent pregnancy loss can all increase stress levels. Relationship issues including communication difficulties and trouble processing stressful medical conditions, tests and results also contribute. It often helps to acknowledge stressors, discuss how they impact wellness and to develop a plan for stress management and prevention. Dr. Holmes offers a coaching group to help!
SPIRIT: Spirituality is an important area that is necessary for wellness. By nature, we are all sinners and fail. However, Christ's death on the cross redeems us and gives us new life. Suffering is often a part of life and a strong faith life allows us to suffer through the strength and redemption of Christ. So often I hear the phrase "God will only give me as much as I can handle" but I believe that He "gives us more than we can handle" so that we will learn to turn it over and rely on Him, for "all things are possible for those who believe" -Mark 9:23. A personal relationship with the Lord can be achieved through prayer, worship, reading the Bible, attending church and often through community involvement.
INDIVIDUAL COACHING: Coaching is an alternative to therapy that improves mindfulness and awareness. It improves mental and physical health and helps to provide clarity. Offered on a limited basis, please email Dr. Holmes at NaProDrHolmes@gmail.com for details.
BODY: Ideally, women who are trying to conceive should be at a normal BMI. Evidence suggests that regular moderate exercise positively influences pregnancy. Some conditions, such as PCOS, are associated with a higher BMI and weight loss is beneficial to treatment. Excessive exercise and low BMI (being underweight) can negatively affect fertility. Anti-inflammatory diets may improve fertility. For men, diet and exercise may affect sperm count and quality. It is always a good idea to discuss your ideal weight, diet and exercise plan with your healthcare provider. Our weight loss coaching group can help you achieve permanent weight loss.
MIND: "Just decrease your stress level and you will get pregnant" is never what a couple facing fertility issues wants to hear. However, stress does negatively impact fertility. Fertility treatments, negative pregnancy tests or recurrent pregnancy loss can all increase stress levels. Relationship issues including communication difficulties and trouble processing stressful medical conditions, tests and results also contribute. It often helps to acknowledge stressors, discuss how they impact wellness and to develop a plan for stress management and prevention. Dr. Holmes offers a coaching group to help!
SPIRIT: Spirituality is an important area that is necessary for wellness. By nature, we are all sinners and fail. However, Christ's death on the cross redeems us and gives us new life. Suffering is often a part of life and a strong faith life allows us to suffer through the strength and redemption of Christ. So often I hear the phrase "God will only give me as much as I can handle" but I believe that He "gives us more than we can handle" so that we will learn to turn it over and rely on Him, for "all things are possible for those who believe" -Mark 9:23. A personal relationship with the Lord can be achieved through prayer, worship, reading the Bible, attending church and often through community involvement.
INDIVIDUAL COACHING: Coaching is an alternative to therapy that improves mindfulness and awareness. It improves mental and physical health and helps to provide clarity. Offered on a limited basis, please email Dr. Holmes at NaProDrHolmes@gmail.com for details.