Lipedema and Me Poll and Scroll for August 27th
Open Enrollment, a wrap recipe, and other tidbits!
I know it’s only August, but Open Enrollment is quickly approaching! Open Enrollment is when health insurance updates and renews your benefits. Most insurance plans start Open Enrollment in October and renew plans beginning January 1st. But some plans renew at other times. Let me know when your insurance plan renews:
During Open Enrollment, you get updated premium rates and snapshots of what they will cover for you. As the recipient, these plans will provide you with a menu of options. Depending on your work status, your options vary. Do you have options? Let me know in the poll below:
I’ll start writing about Open Enrollment beginning in October. Let me know if you’d like to know something in particular.
From The Archives
Each week, I’ll share a Lipedema and Me archived post. For those who are unsure if they have Lipedema, here’s a list of identifiers:
"Living in a Fat Suit" 23 Signs and Symptoms of Lipedema
Last year, I diagnosed myself with Lipedema. As a nurse, I’d never heard of this disease, and neither had any of my medical colleagues. It was only when I came across an article a woman wrote about her diagnosis that I started searching online to determine if my body issues matched that of Lipedema…
Lipedema: A Relatively Common Disease with Extremely Common Misconceptions ~Pub Sage article about Lipedema.
Although you need a diagnosis for surgery, I also encourage everyone to work on getting a Lipedema diagnosis as early as possible, even before contemplating surgery. The more of us with a Lipedema diagnosis, the more it will become recognized as a legitimate medical condition, and the less struggle will be placed on us to suffer from the mistreatment of the medical industry.
Ignorance of a disease does not mean it doesn’t exist” ~statement from a Lipedema advocate.
Recipe of the Week!
Collard Green Harvest Wraps
I chose this type of “recipe” because everything in the garden is ripening, and there are plenty of fresh veggies right now. And why not pre-cook those veggies and wrap ‘em in something healthy? I chose this recipe because it’s low-carb, keto-friendly (I think?). This vegan recipe is also:
Budget-friendly and super nutritious
Easily customizable & meal prep-friendly
Ultimate healthy grab-and-go lunch
Weight loss-friendly yet satiating
Gluten-free and made without any flour
Different layers of texture and flavor
Ingredients needed
Collard Greens: Keep them raw or blanch them first; they can be swapped with Swiss chard, lettuce, or kale!
Millet: a sweet and nutty gluten-free grain that can be swapped for rice, couscous, quinoa, or other grains.
Chickpeas: our favorite legume for this wrap!
Veggies: This recipe calls for red cabbage, carrots, radishes, and roasted eggplant, but the possibilities here really are endless! The best part of this recipe is you can stuff the wraps with any veggie you like or legume you want!
Soy Yogurt, Mustard, and Orange work in unison to create a simple yet flavorful vegan sauce that holds everything together beautifully.
The best part of this recipe is you can stuff the wraps with any veggie you like or legume you like!
How to make collard green wraps
Preheat your oven to 400°F/200°C and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Toss the cubed eggplant with delicious spices, then arrange them in a single layer on your prepared baking sheet and roast them for 25-30 minutes.
Cook the millet according to package instructions. Once done, set it aside.
Make the yogurt sauce by combining soy yogurt, mustard, orange juice, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
Prepare your collard greens: Trim the tough spine without cutting the leaf so it can be rolled and folded without cracking!
You can leave them raw or blanch each leaf separately in hot water for 20-30 seconds. Transfer your collard greens to a bowl of cold water for 15 seconds and dry them with paper towels.
Fill your collard wraps once all of the components are ready! Divide the cooked grains, chickpeas, sliced veggies, and orange mustard sauce between your collard leaves. Make sure that you don’t overstuff them!
Fold in the sides and roll your collard leaf up like a burrito! Repeat with all collard greens, then slice and enjoy your wraps!
Don’t forget to order Lipedema merch through Custom Cruise Wear and help raise funds for further research and awareness. 100% of profits go to The Lipedema Project. Thank you, Angela Gray, for creating this ‘fun’draiser!
Even if you think you’re not good enough, someone in your life believes in you. You are strong and capable, and no matter how long it takes to get through something vital to you, keep going!
I am a strong advocate for Lipedema women. I'm here for you if you’re struggling somewhere in your process. I always appreciate comments and direct messages (here and on my socials).
I now have SIX different programs. I’ve added a consult for a pre-authorization packet review. If you have your pre-authorization packet ready to send to your insurance and need an expert review, visit my appointment schedule here. I also do 1:1 phone consulting, starting with an initial call, for $40. Find my schedule here.
My fees are reasonable, and I give you a ton of information specialized to your needs.
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Visit and follow my social media links and support my work.
Take care,
Michelle