On September 5th, 2009, we brought Charlie home. We got him from a border collie rescue — the funniest looking border collie pup you’ve ever seen. The black and white markings unmistakenly border collie, but the long, long legs and pointy nose, the dancing energy tempered with an un-border collie mellowness... well, he’s not purebred.
We believe he’s a lurcher — part border collie, part sighthound. He looks a lot like the border-greyhound crosses I googled and while he creeps and herds like a border collie, he runs and lounges like a greyhound. A strange cross, but we love him.
I was walking him one morning through the arbolada (The tree-lined area I call home) and thinking about all the lessons I’ve learned from my animals.
My first dog, an Irish Setter, was a reflection of my teen-aged emotions.
The Danes I’ve had in the past were protective... I entrusted my children, my home, myself to their Nana-energy... reflecting my fear of coming out in the world.
The shepherds and border collies were so focused on the task at hand — the ball, the chickens, the agility course — that play was secondary… reflecting my intense drive to accomplish.
Most were so attached to me that they let very few others in.
Charlie is different. He engages with everyone.
I have never had a dog that got along with everyone and everything. Not a territorial bone in his body, Charlie is friends with all creatures. Never submits to aggressive dogs nor does he fight. If they’re cranky, he just goes on his way.
He plays with everyone willing to romp, getting low for the little dogs, holding his own with the big ones.
He respects the cats and the wildlife and most of all us. He heels so well, I was able to ride through town on my spirited mare and he only attended to us.
He loves hikes, runs, and most of all water. The best beach dog ever. Not a great fetcher, no, he just adores the ocean, the waves, the sand, the seabirds, the fishermen, the other dogs, the surfers, the children digging immense sand caves... never a nuisance, always respectful, yet no one can resist his sweet face and wagging tail.
Watching Charlie check his messages along our walk this morning, I realized just how much he has taught me...
Keep in contact with your friends. Check your messages and answer every one, if only by tweeting.
Smile at everyone. Hug those who need it. Gently press against those not quite ready for a full body hug.
If others are grumpy, let them be. There’s always more friends to be found.
If you’re hot, get wet.
If you’re cold, cuddle up.
Don’t enter unless invited. But once invited, thank your host profusely.
Respect cats and other creatures different from you.
Just hang out and relax, even if you have to wait a long time for your loved ones to return.
Enjoy the ride, the run, the day, the sun.
Laugh in the rain. Romp in the mud. Take your bath lightly.
Be patient with caregivers, they’re only trying to help.
If you can, figure out things on your own.
If not, ask for help.
Be ready to go at a moment’s notice.
Love your family
Love your friends
Love everyone you meet
Listen carefully to your higher self. She has your best interest at heart.
Remember Life is Joy.
Charlie seems to be a reflection of where I am now. I love my family, my friends, most everyone I meet. I try to attend carefully to my higher self. And I know without a doubt that life is joy.
Love and Light,
Deborah Maragopoulos MN FNP Intuitive Integrative Health
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can your hypothalamus cause weight gain?
Yes. The hypothalamus is the master regulator of metabolism, controlling how your body stores and burns energy through its signaling to the thyroid, adrenals, and pancreas. When the hypothalamus becomes dysregulated by chronic stress, poor sleep, inflammation, or blood sugar instability, it defends a higher weight "set point" — causing the body to hold onto fat regardless of diet or exercise. This makes hypothalamic dysfunction an upstream root cause of stubborn weight gain.
What is a weight set point and why won't mine move?
A weight set point is the body weight your hypothalamus works to defend, calibrated over time by stress, sleep, hormones, and inflammation. When you diet, the hypothalamus perceives scarcity and responds by slowing metabolism, increasing hunger hormones, and suppressing satiety signals to return you to that set point. This is why most people regain lost weight within two to five years of conventional dieting — the set point itself was never recalibrated, only temporarily overridden.
Why do I gain weight under stress even when I'm not eating more?
Chronic stress raises cortisol, which disrupts blood sugar regulation, promotes abdominal fat storage, and signals the hypothalamus that the body is under threat. In survival mode, the hypothalamus defends fat stores and slows metabolism — so weight can increase even without any change in calorie intake. The stress chemistry, not the food, is driving the weight gain, which is why stress reduction is essential to any lasting metabolic reset.
Why do I regain weight after stopping GLP-1 medications?
GLP-1 medications work peripherally on appetite and gastric signaling, but they do not address the underlying hypothalamic dysregulation that sets your defended weight. Because the hypothalamic set point is never recalibrated, the body resumes defending its original weight once the medication stops — leading to significant regain. Long-term success requires restoring hypothalamic regulation so the set point itself lowers, rather than relying on appetite suppression alone.
How long does it take to reset your metabolism?
Genuine metabolic recalibration takes a minimum of 90 days, because the hypothalamus needs consistent signals of safety and sufficiency before it will lower its defended set point. This differs from a diet, which produces temporary suppression the body quickly corrects. A 90-day reset typically moves through three phases: stabilizing stress chemistry (days 1–30), rebuilding metabolic efficiency (days 31–60), and lowering the weight set point (days 61–90).
Why does my thyroid feel slow even though my labs are "normal"?
Under chronic stress, the body converts thyroid hormone into reverse T3, which blocks active thyroid receptors and slows metabolism at the cellular level — even when standard lab values appear normal. This means you can experience genuine symptoms of slow metabolism, such as fatigue, cold intolerance, and brain fog, while your thyroid panel looks unremarkable. Addressing the upstream hypothalamic and stress signaling often improves thyroid conversion and symptoms.
Is stubborn weight gain a willpower problem?
No. Stubborn weight gain is a signaling problem, not a willpower problem. The hypothalamus governs weight through survival mechanisms that operate below conscious control — defending its set point by slowing metabolism and increasing hunger when it perceives threat. No amount of discipline can override this system; lasting change comes from restoring hypothalamic regulation through reduced stress, balanced blood sugar, restorative sleep, and targeted nutritional support.
Known as the Hormone Queen®️, I’ve made it my mission to help everyone - no matter their age - balance their hormones, and live the energy and joy their DNA and true destiny desires. See more about me my story here...
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