Talking with your doctor isn’t always easy. Whether you are afraid she will judge you, you just don’t feel comfortable sharing the intimate details of your life between the sheets, or you can’t think straight with a speculum between your legs, many people get tight lipped in the doctor’s office. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have questions.

We thought we’d help and every Thursday our friend Dr. Lissa Rankin will be answering your questions. The ones you couldn’t ask your doctor in person. Just leave your questions in the comments, or send em over to us. (We’ll keep it all anonymous for you.) Dr. Lissa will answer anything – really, anything – about sex and other lady things. Don’t be shy; she’s waiting for ya!

Q: I know it’s pretty typical in college, but I always feel tired and lethargic.  I try to eat as healthy as I can, but even adding nuts and more protein to my diet isn’t working. I was wondering if you had any ideas of things I could do (specific vitamins/things I should be eating) that will help me feel more awake and less foggy on a day to day basis. Thank you.

A: If you’re feeling tired much of the day, you’re not alone. Fatigue and lack of energy are probably the most common reason patients come to see me at CLEAR Center of Health (www.clearcenterofhealth.com), the integrative health center where I work.  Even if the rest of your life is going brilliantly, if you feel tired all the time, it’s enough to sap you of your mojo.

While it may be tempting to grab a triple shot caramel macchiato to get you through, that’s only going to make matters worse. Here are a few natural tips to help you feel more vital. Read More »

Those of you attempting to keep track with me and my diet – or those who just notice the blogs as they work their way down the page – might have noticed that I haven’t been updating recently. Nothing has gone wrong, really. In fact, nothing has gone on at all, and to say that I’m disappointed and put out is an understatement.

Really, I have no reason to be complaining. I’ve noticed a definite increase in my energy level, and while I can still quite happily sleep until noon, I don’t find myself passing out during the day as much as I used to. And while my allergies are still being a pain, even my asthma seems to be less aggressive. I’ve gotten to the point where I like and even look forward to going to the gym; I’ve perfected my iPod routine and work out for the entirety of an album (double albums don’t count) before I hit the showers.

But I’ve barely lost any weight. My endocrinologist swears I don’t have anything wrong with my metabolism, but I can’t help the sinking feeling that I’m not going to reach my goal weight when I wanted to. I’m not expecting anything ridiculous, but I would like to see a little progress, you know? Read More »