Meet Dr. Amanda Rafter!
Amanda is an Internal Medicine Physician, weight loss consultant, entrepreneur and enthusiastic about metabolic health.
Amanda knew from an early age that she wanted to impact people’s lives in the field of medicine. She is a board certified Internal Medicine Physician and has over 10 years of clinical experience. She has continued specialized training in metabolic health and is working toward her obesity medicine board certification.
She spent the early part of her career working in hospital medicine. She loved many aspects of caring for patients in the setting of acute crisis, but felt she wasn’t able to help patients make necessary lifestyle changes to prevent these debilitating conditions in the first place! In the current medical system, she was left with no choice but to prescribe pills, instead of working with patients to fix the root cause.
She knew there was a better solution!
She has a deep desire to spend quality time with patients and she feels that with appropriate knowledge and simplified practices, patients can learn the tools they need to heal their bodies, lose weight and improve so many aspects of their health.
Combining her knowledge of science and passion for teaching, she now works 1:1 with clients to help them lose weight through understanding and applying simple lifestyle changes. She offers a highly personalized and individualized experience to educate clients about the basics of nutrition, metabolism, movement and mindfulness, to bring about lasting changes that get results.
- She knows how you feel, based on her her own experience...
How did it get this way?
I struggled with my own health and weight issues over many years. As the seasons of my life changed, I went from very active as an athlete in college to quite sedentary in the early part of my career. Year by year, I slowly began to accumulate extra weight. Before I knew it, none of my clothes fit. Workouts I had previously enjoyed, became a dreaded task that I honestly didn’t have the time, energy or motivation for.
As I married and became part of a blended family, I became highly involved in the activities of mom-life, plus my career. All of my energy and efforts were focused on the activities and well-being of my family and my patients. They were my top priorities. I let my physical and mental health take a back seat, and over the years the weight of it all continued to accumulate.
I constantly felt puffy and bloated. I dreaded my closet. Nothing felt good or fit right. I avoided pictures and outings with friends, and was embarrassed that I no longer recognized the person in the mirror.
At work, I had to hide behind the drawstring of my medical scrubs and cloak of my white coat, for fear that patients would equate my lack of personal health as lack of professional competence.
I attempted to lose weight at nearly every turn. I tried different diets including pre-packaged foods like ideal options as well as keto, and fasting. I took weight loss supplements. I tried the - eat little, exercise more - method. I tried various online work-out programs, specialized classes including barre and pilates and purchased multiple gym memberships. In the end, all methods failed to help me lose weight and keep it off.
I developed high blood pressure and pre-diabetes, and was started on medication. My weight was at an all-time high, and my personal confidence at an all-time low.
I no longer felt that special spark in my life that makes me, “Me.” I thought, “this is just how life is for busy women with a family and a career.”
I didn’t know how different it could be!
But Then Everything Changed...
After more than 7 years struggling through my weight loss journey, I finally found a solution that works! It not only helped me to lose weight, it also gave me back my health and my life.
When I finally decided to make myself and my health a priority, that is when it all changed for me. It was simply a decision to start. Once I made that commitment, I knew I had a responsibility to see it through.
I started committing to simple daily changes, being more intentional about my movement and the quality of my nutrition. I ate healthy foods that I liked. I stopped focusing on the scale and instead really listened to how my body felt. I started making small chunks of time in my day for things I could truly enjoy. I sought out the sun and spent more time outside, I listened to music, I read for fun. I stopped feeling guilty about taking time for myself, and started to give myself grace and forgiveness.
That is when I noticed some big changes. Sooner than anticipated, I began to think clearer and have more energy. I started sleeping better at night. I didn’t have constant anxious worry and could handle stressors with more peace and calm. I actually wanted to be active again!
Surprisingly, by allowing more time for myself, I was able to show up in more of a quality way for my family and friends.
And before I knew it, my clothes were looser too! I was able to be more active without joint pain or difficulty breathing. I was able to get off medication for blood pressure. I no longer avoided pictures, and I greatly enjoyed gatherings with friends. My smile became a bright reflection of the peace and confidence within.
In short, I started to feel like “me” again.
...Some secrets were meant to be shared!
I spent years battling my weight and the associated high blood pressure and pre-diabetes that came with it. I tried restrictive dieting, strenuous work-outs and weight loss supplements. I wrestled with anxiety, insomnia and low self-esteem. I struggled to find solutions that had any degree of impactful and lasting results. And I knew I wasn’t alone.
Once I realized how simple, fun and empowering it could be to lose the weight and regain my health and my life, I knew I wanted to help others. I knew I wasn’t the only busy woman with a lot on her plate that was looking for better solutions.
No more fad diets, no more confusing advice. I created a program that relies on simple changes with intentional focus that can bring about significant impact in both physical and mental health. My program teaches women what I learned in my experiences as a physician and what I learned through my personal transformation, so they can apply similar principles in their lives to lose weight, gain confidence and take back their health.
I love being outside
I enjoy camping, hiking and boating!
I'm a Christian
...trust in the Lord with all your heart...and he will make straight thy path.
I live in the Pacific Northwest
... and love all four seasons
I was a college athlete
I played soccer and basketball at Pacific Lutheran University
I have a great dane
His name is Levi!
