Exercise — As we age, we lose muscle mass, so it’s important to build muscle. This is easier than you might think. Start slowly with wall push-ups, air squats, and walking while holding hand weights or wearing a backpack with a book in it. Once you feel more comfortable, you can explore additional hand-weight exercises. Building muscle won’t make you bulky, but it will help burn body fat and promote longevity.
Today, more than ever, wellness is at the forefront of societal discussions. From mental health to physical well-being, women are making significant strides in bringing about change, introducing innovative solutions, and setting new standards. Despite facing unique challenges, they break barriers, inspire communities, and are reshaping the very definition of health and wellness. In this series called women in wellness we are talking to women doctors, nurses, nutritionists, therapists, fitness trainers, researchers, health experts, coaches, and other wellness professionals to share their stories and insights. As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Sharon Polsky.
Sharon Polsky is a global fitness expert who specializes in clinical weight management and focuses on GLP-1 and menopause coaching. Over the last twenty years, Sharon has devoted herself to assisting women in overcoming health issues that have resulted in obesity and other serious illnesses. She is dedicated to helping patients change their lifestyles to enhance their quality of life. As a television personality, published author, and panel expert, Sharon is reaching out to the world to help people lead healthier and happier lives.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?
Itaught my first fitness class when I was 16 years old and became hooked on helping people. However, at that time, fitness was not considered a legitimate career. A lot has changed in the past 35 years, and I have turned my passion into a career. Through continuous education and a relentless pursuit of knowledge, I have evolved from being an aerobics instructor and personal trainer to becoming an expert in weight management and the go-to coach for GLP-1 patients. I currently collaborate with Health Care Providers, Longevity Clinics, and Health/Wellness facilities across the U.S.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?
About 10 years ago, I grew frustrated with attending fitness certifications that didn’t provide much useful knowledge. I spoke with a friend who is a Longevity Physician, and he recommended that I invest in medical education. So, I began pursuing medical certifications and attended my first course on longevity a decade ago. I quickly realized that I was not as knowledgeable as I needed to be to truly make a difference and that nobody would take me seriously unless I could provide value to physicians and their patients. Despite feeling out of my depth, I decided to educate myself further and position myself as an asset to busy doctors as their go-to coach for Lifestyle Intervention. This was the day I fell in love with Lifestyle Intervention, Longevity and Functional Health.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about a mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
I have made many mistakes in my career, and I continue to do so today. However, the most significant mistake I made was my attitude towards obese clients during the first 15 years of my career. I used to believe that obesity was solely a result of an individual’s lack of effort and self-control. Through education and experience coaching thousands of clients, I have realized how wrong I was. I now understand that people struggle with obesity due to various factors, many of which are biological.
Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?
We know that 41–43% of the adult U.S. population is obese. This means that this segment of our population is more susceptible to long-term health issues like heart disease, fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and dementia. By helping clients overcome the obstacles to weight loss, we can reverse and prevent these diseases. Additionally, half of the women in America suffer from symptoms of menopause and are told to accept it. I want to normalize conversations about menopause so women can seek the help that they need and no longer suffer from the side effects that our mothers suffered from.
Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing?
1 . Sleep — Work on improving the quantity and quality of sleep. If you are unable to get 8 hours of sleep, do not accept that less is okay. Find resources to help you improve your sleep quantity and quality.
2 . Stress Management — Stress can shorten your life. It’s impossible to avoid stress, but it’s important for your health to learn how to manage it. Set aside 15 minutes each day for a self-care ritual such as reading a book, taking a bath, meditating, or going for a walk to clear your mind.
3 . Hydration — It’s important to stay hydrated. This is where I like to incorporate Habit Stacking, when you stack an existing habit with a new one. Combine drinking water with your daily vitamin or medication routine. Instead of just taking a sip of water to choke down your pills, make a point to drink a large glass of water. Also make sure to have a large glass of plain water with each meal throughout the day. The goal is to drink 3 liters of plain water, and it’s non-negotiable since our bodies are made up of 60% water.
4 . Nutrition — Eating healthily is much easier than most people think. You don’t need to count calories; all you need to do is eat 3 or 4 meals per day. Make sure to include protein, high-fiber foods (fruits/vegetables), and healthy fats in each of those meals. Keep it simple to be successful.
5 . Exercise — As we age, we lose muscle mass, so it’s important to build muscle. This is easier than you might think. Start slowly with wall push-ups, air squats, and walking while holding hand weights or wearing a backpack with a book in it. Once you feel more comfortable, you can explore additional hand-weight exercises. Building muscle won’t make you bulky, but it will help burn body fat and promote longevity.
If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?
Stop shaming people for using GLP-1 Weight Loss Medications. These medications can reduce the risk of heart disease by 20%, as well as the risk of fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes. However, many people are afraid to admit that they are using these medications because they face criticism and judgment for their choices. They are often labeled as lazy and told that they don’t need the medications. Obesity is a disease, just like Type 2 diabetes, and we should be supporting these individuals instead of shaming them.
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?
Having recently experienced menopause, I wish someone had guided me through the process and informed me that I didn’t need to endure sleeplessness, weight gain, and overall physical discomfort. It’s important to provide women with alternatives to alleviate their suffering through education. First, turn to science like Hormone Replacement Therapy and GLP-1’s to help manage the side effects. Next, go to the gym and lift weights and lift the heaviest weights you can because you will lose muscle as you age. Lastly, drink less coffee and more plain water because this will really help with 90% of the symptoms.
Sustainability, veganism, mental health, and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?
These topics on the surface can seem daunting. I mean, where do you start? For me, it’s about focusing on areas where I can make a real, direct, measurable impact. I am passionate about women’s health because it relates to almost every big headline issue.
Thank you for these fantastic insights! We wish you continued success and good health.
About the Interviewer: Wanda Malhotra is a wellness entrepreneur, lifestyle journalist, and the CEO of Crunchy Mama Box, a mission-driven platform promoting conscious living. CMB empowers individuals with educational resources and vetted products to help them make informed choices. Passionate about social causes like environmental preservation and animal welfare, Wanda writes about clean beauty, wellness, nutrition, social impact and sustainability, simplifying wellness with curated resources. Join Wanda and the Crunchy Mama Box community in embracing a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle at CrunchyMamaBox.com.
