Before the Change : Taking Charge of Your Perimenopause

by Ann Louise Gittleman, Jonathan V. Wright

Editorial Reviews
Hyla Cass, M.D., assistant clinical professor, UCLA School of Medicine
"Practical, jargon-free guidelines for a healthy passage into menopause and beyond."

Natural Health
"American natural health doyenne, Ann Louise Gittleman describes the changes women experience before the change and presents a program for countering unpleasant symptoms. . . .
Before the Change is very readable, and its helpfulness is increased by its resource lists and product recommendations."

Joan Borysenko, Ph.D., author of Minding the Body, Mending the Mind and A Woman's Book of Life
"The single best book you can read on cooperating with nature as your body shifts gears in preparation for the powerful menopausal years."

Book Description
With this essential do-it-yourself program, you can say good-bye to hormone havoc and sail through your perimenopause, the period of about ten years leading up to menopause, by understanding and controlling its symptoms.

Before the Change . . .
clearly explains the symptoms of perimenopause and offers a self-diagnosis quiz details safe and natural alternatives to hormone therapy, including healing vitamins, minerals, herbs, and natural hormones gives you a powerful "Changing Diet," with tips and recipes for foods that prevent and alleviate symptoms.

This breakthrough book details a gentle incremental program for understanding your own changes and offers a wide range of options for taking care of yourself. By following the author's proven techniques for controlling the symptoms of perimenopause, you can continue to feel great through this vital phase of your life.

Synopsis
Head off depression, mood swings, weight gain, memory loss, hot flashes, and other menopausal symptoms before they start. "Before the Change" addresses perimenopause, the phase preceding menopause, providing women with the power to understand and control its dramatic, often frightening symptoms. Chart & graphs $50,000 national marketing. 8-city author tour. Targeted print ads . --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author
Ann Louise Gittleman, M.S., C.N.S. is the author of ten health, including the best-selling Beyond Pritikin. She maintains a private practice, consults for medical establishments, contributes regularly to national magazine features, and is a popular guest on Television and Radio.

The publisher , January 13, 1998
Manage Your Perimenopause Safely, Simply, Naturally
An estimated 35 million women are now in perimenopause--a period of about 10 years of profound hormonal, physiological, and psychological changes leading up to menopause. Its symptoms are often mistaken, even by doctors, for signs of stress, anxiety, or heart disease. In many cases, powerful medications such as Prozac are needlessly prescribed. Why are so few medical professionals knowledgeable about this very important phase in a woman's life? And what do women need to know to get themselves through perimenopause?

Finally, some answers to help women alleviate the often misunderstood symptoms of perimenopause. BEFORE THE CHANGE: Taking Charge of Your Perimenopause by Ann Louise Gittleman offers a safe, effective, natural alternative for both women and the medical community with its clear definition of the perimenopause; thorough exploration of popular hormonal treatments and fads (hormone replacement therapy, DHEA, soy products, wild yam root, and more); and a detailed guide to diet, exercise, and natural treatments that can help women take control of their own health during this transitional time. Menopause is associated with a drop in estrogen; perimenopause, by contrast, is brought on by a decline in progesterone. Women as young as 35 experience the effects of this decline--sudden bloating, missed periods, insomnia, decreased sex drive. While this can be alarming, we all have powerful resources for treating ourselves right at our fingertips. Many simple changes to diet can clear symptoms immediately. Sometimes the addition of a nutritional supplement will do the trick.

The first book of its kind, BEFORE THE CHANGE is a do-it-yourself guide to alleviating perimenopausal symptoms, including nine simple "Peri Zappers," her safe, all natural remedies. It also happens to serve as a kickoff for a weight loss program. Gittleman believes that we gain weight because we're eating the wrong foods for our body. When eating the meal plan based on the 40/30/30 concept (40 percent carbohydrates, 30 percent fats, 30 percent protein), the body finds its natural low weight. BEFORE THE CHANGE offers invaluable advice for losing--and keeping off--those extra pounds, while heading off the worst symptoms of menopause before they start.

CUSTOMER REVEIWS:
A MUST READ FOR EVERY WOMAN 35 AND OVER! February 3, 2000
Reviewer: Jennifer from Florida
Brief synopsis - After feeling lousy (headaches, mood swings, anxiety, depression, insomnia, etc., etc., etc.) since the age of 37 (now 43), I had tried everything conceivable to help myself to feel better with minimal and non-lasting results. In early January I happened to come across this book on the net. I immediately purchased this book and then devoured it in all of 2 days, practically highlighting 2/3's of it. I can't tell you how many times, while reading it, I would say to myself, "why don't doctor's and Gyn's tell you this stuff? " I've been following the plan religiously for almost 4 weeks, and ladies, I can hardly believe it myself, but I haven't felt this good in 6 years! To say I am feeling 100% better would not be an exaggeration. All of my symptoms of perimenopause have improved dramatically. Doctors and Gyn's PLEASE READ THIS BOOK so you can be of better help to your patients AND advertise this book in your offices - it will enable all woman to better help themselves during this time of their lives and you just may find yourselves writing less prescriptions for anti-anxiety and anti-depressive drugs (yeah, I know, the pharmaceutical companies don't like to hear that). Ladies, do yourself the biggest favor and RUN, don't walk, and get your hands on this book -and THANK YOU

Ann Louise Gittleman for all of your expertise, dedication, compassion and common sense for writing a book like this that was so long overdue.

The 10 peri-zappers are concise and they work ! November 2, 1999
Reviewer: A customer from Ohio, USA
As a woman of only 42, who certainly wasn't ready to risk hormone replacement so soon, I had no idea there was such valuable information available. Before you hit the hormones, definitely read this book ! I must confess that I was anxious for the quick cure, so I concentrated on the zappers rather than the diet suggestions initially. PeriZapper #2 eliminated the hot flashes within 48 hours! I am now systematically trying to add an herbal PeriZapper every 2-3 weeks, if the book indicates that it might address my symptoms. I have now read thoroughly the dietary information about the need for certain essential fats and the need to balance carbs vs. proteins. I have incorporated these suggestions into my diet. If you're feeling poorly as a result of perimenopause, BUY THIS BOOK ! You will NOT have to follow every single suggestion to achieve relief.

EXCELLENT BOOK August 24, 1999
Reviewer: A reader from Poughkeepsie,N.Y.
This is an excellent book, which leads you right up to menopause. A woman's body/emotions become complicated and frustrating, during the perimenopause stage of life. This book helps one understand the cause of hormonal emotions, and will help you, to correct all the symptoms naturally and not chemically up to the leading years of menopause. A BOOK ONE MUST READ IF YOU ARE IN THOSE PERIMENOPAUSAL YEARS OR BEFORE.

Every woman over the age of 35 needs to read this book! May 18, 1999
Reviewer: A reader from New London, Minnesota
I almost returned this book when, as I was thumbing through it, I saw something about evening primrose oil. I thought it might be too off the wall, then I started reading. I have tried only two of Ms. Gittleman's "Peri-Zappers" and I can't remember when I last felt this good. It's like a miracle! What I can't understand is why no educated physician would tell me my symptoms may be due to a lack of progesterone or a magnesium deficiency. Do yourself a favor ladies and BUY THIS BOOK. It is well organized and easy to read. Each possible perimenopause problem is thoroughly explained in plain language. Once you understand what symptoms correlate to which perimenopause problem, you can make a determination about your own issues.

Then, Ms. Gittleman presents a solution of either diet, supplements or both. She even recommends specific products and tells you where to buy them. This book has literally changed my life. I have struggled with horrible "PMS" symptoms for years, and one week with this book and I feel like a new woman. I HIGHLY recommend it and wish you all the renewed vigor I'm feeling.

Highly recommended; it worked for me!! April 8, 1999
Reviewer: A reader from Washington, DC
When I first started reading this book, the pop style made me somewhat skeptical about whether or not the information presented was solid. I have never seen so many exclamation points in one book!!! However, because I was experiencing some of the symptoms the author describes (mostly irritability and insomnia) and the advice seemed so natural, easy and harmless, I thought I'd give it a chance. I started working my way through the "Zappers" one-by-one, adding one every week or so. I started feeling better almost immediately and now a couple months later, I feel much more like my old self-- cheerful, energetic and rested. In spite of my original misgivings about the writing style, I have to admit, the information is well organized and easy to follow. Following the tips worked wonders for me, and I think I'll buy a copy of this book for each of my sisters.

Every woman entering menopause should read this book. March 8, 1999
Reviewer: Fawnhome@aol.com from US
This is one of the most comprehensive, easy to follow books on women's health I have ever used. I found the information well presented and thought out and backed by other sources I have used to try to address symptoms of premenopause.

The best Peri Menopause Book Out There February 17, 1999
Reviewer: A reader from The Bay Area, Northern California
I am going through the Change of Life and have read everything I could get my hands on. This book, written by another perimenopausal woman, answered all of my questions and then some. I started on the Peri Zappers and my sleep improved right away. Plus my skin cleared and my hair stopped falling out after starting the Progesterone she recommends. I really think that only women should be writing about this topic because they know intimately what is happening and care enough to find solutions that work.

I am sending a copy of this book to my OB/GYN. Great info. December 27, 1998
Reviewer: A reader from California
I am sending a copy of this book to my OB/GYN.. For all you 40+ that feel like PMS is getting the best of you, real life experiences with real life solutions. I --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Hard-To-Find Information November 6, 1998
Reviewer: A reader from Missouri, USA
This book really helped me understand more about what was going on in my life. As a 37-year-old woman starting to go through some rather dismaying changes, I was completely confused over various articles and other books I had read -- many seeming to contradict each other. Gittleman takes the latest information and explains it in layman terms. In one section, she provides a chart of symptoms and their underlying problems. I quickly (and excitedly) identified myself, and put into practice several of her nutritional recommendations. This lady knows her stuff! I feel so much better than I did 5 or 6 months ago. Even if you don't follow her diet plan, which I don't because I'm one of those who tends to eat on the run, the information on the appropriate nutritional supplements for your symptoms are worth their weight in gold. Before reading this book, I just had no clue about the right nutrition to help with my problems. I simply added a few recommended supplements, and they worked! Gee, if I followed her diet plan, too, I'd probably be Wonder Woman! --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

My husband bought me this book and I am grateful November 5, 1998
Reviewer: A reader from Santa Fe
Even though I never wanted to admit it, I have been in full fledged perimenopause with symptoms like anxiety, irritability and insomnia. This book probably saved my life and my marriage. I take the recommended flax seed oil, evening primrose oil, and magnesium faithfully and my husband says I am a changed person. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.