Gena Lee Nolin

Canada’s Favourite Health Magazine
ISSUE 90 Sept/Oct 2013
Proven
Relief
from Digestive
Disorders
including
Inflammatory
Bowel and
Crohn's Disease
Health Canada's
Allergy
Awareness
for School Lunches
Interview with Actress
Gena Lee
Organic Planet Feature:
Nolin
We can’t ignore the little things that keep us alive
By David Suzuki
Y O U R
C A N A D I A N
H E A L T H
A N D
W E L L N E S S
C O N N E C T I O N
www.vistamagonline.com
Cover story
Changing
Roles:
From TV Star
to Health Advocate
Gen
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Tidsbu
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By
Photo credit: Phyllis Lane
www.vistamagonline.com
People say, “Wow! My wife has
that or my daughter has that ”
P
erhaps best known for her role as Neely Capshaw in the 1990s
television series Baywatch, Gena Lee Nolin’s professional resume includes work on television on The Price Is Right, The
Young and the Restless, and in the lead role of Sheena. Add to that an
extensive list of modeling and magazine credits, and Gena Lee has one
of those instantly recognizable faces, one that makes people go, “Wait!
Isn’t that ….?”
Her latest, and perhaps most challenging, role is born out of her
own life experience. Following years of struggle with a variety of
symptoms, she was diagnosed – during her third pregnancy – with
Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, an autoimmune disease that attacks
the thyroid. Since then, she has stepped forward to employ her public
profile in the promotion of awareness and action around thyroid issues, establishing a Facebook page and now getting ready to launch
her book, Beautiful Inside and Out: Conquering thyroid Disease with a
Healthy, Happy, “Thyroid Sexy” Life.
On the effort required to
begin to build momentum…
”Yes, that is it exactly. And it’s so important to me. I really am deeply
interested in helping people. I am getting attention from the medical
side of things and you know, I’m telling you, that some of the endocrinologists out there are very traditional. You know; I get the mix
– people that support me and those that don’t . As far as my book on
medication is concerned, I think that some people seem to be very
open and other doctors say that synthetic is absolutely the only way
to go and that’s what we’ll prescribe – so it’s sometimes kind of sad.”
On the growing awareness
of thyroid issues…
“There are so many people who have been suffering… and now, I find
as I’m coming out in public about it… it is really catching on and getting the attention that it deserves. I’m just happy that now people are
finally getting the diagnosis of whatever it is that is ailing them because
people overlook it all the time.”
To say that her voice on the issue has struck a chord is to engage
in understatement. Her Facebook page, “Thyroid Sexy”, has attracted
tens of thousands of followers.
“You know, it is. When I went into this, really, on a personal level, I just
wanted to find some support for my own struggle with the issue and in
doing that, I went out there and I started “Thyroid Sexy” thinking that
I was just going to get someone to talk to, someone who would know
what I was going through. I was hoping for 5 people to join the page
and that was how it started. With the amount of attention that it is getting now, it’s just so overwhelming. It’s gratifying to see… now that it’s
over 50,000 people… with what I went through… with the hardship
and hard times…the suffering that I went through is helping people to
see that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
“Really! It’s just so wonderful to see that what started as just this
little tiny seed has blossomed into this beautiful garden.”
A certain amount of frustration can be detected when we talk
about the way that the same process seems to be played out for every
emerging health issue. Each time, the problem flies under the radar
until extensive effort is expended to drag it into public awareness, to
mobilize action.
VISTA MAGAZINE ISSUE 90
On whether the message
is being well received…
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www.vistamagonline.com
Cover story
On what to expect
from the website…
“What is really cool is that it is going to have a video per month featuring different things, like maybe in the kitchen cooking gluten-free,
dairy-free dinners. And there is going to be a newsletter. We’re going
to have a conference call with me every month along with an expert
or a doctor or a naturopath – so it’s not just me - and a couple other
surprises. It’s only going to be like $4.99 a month, and the proceeds are
going to go a thyroid foundation, towards something that will help to
really get the message out there. I am getting a lot of responses from
doctors and naturopaths… and they are truly thankful for what I am
doing.”
If you are like me, you’ve been keeping track. Let’s see: Facebook
page, website, writing a book, preparing for an upcoming book launch,
pursuing a very public career, and raising a family.
Where there is a positive response from the health professionals,
it often contains a mixture of relief and gratitude at what can be accomplished by someone with a higher profile, who is able to garner
attention from a broader spectrum of the public.
On the positive responses
from some practitioners…
“They are just so pleased with my advocacy and how it’s bringing the
issue forward. They can’t believe it because they have tried to get the
press and the attention and have local things going on, and nothing
would come from it. And the level of response is unbelievable.”
The astounding response to the “Thyroid Sexy” Facebook page has
prompted expanded efforts in digital media as well.
On what comes next
for “Thyroid Sexy”…
VISTA MAGAZINE ISSUE 90
“My page went from five people and now it’s still growing. And next
month we’re starting a membership thing – actually launching a website: www.officialgenaleenolin.com. I can’t rely on Facebook forever,
and you have to be careful because this is so big and it’s helping so
many people that I want to make sure that I have something that is
more private for members. I know a lot of people are really nervous
about posting private information on Facebook where it might be seen
by friends or family. They just don’t want everybody to know their
business.”
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On how to
manage
all those
competing
demands…
“I don’t know… I guess
that’s the real answer right?
I sometimes honestly don’t
know. It is a balancing
act and first and foremost
comes my health and my
family…keeping that in
check and really listening to
my body and what I need. I
tend to take care of everybody else and I sometimes I
forget that I need something
or I’m really not feeling well
or whatever. So, I have to focus a bit on myself every morning and ask myself, “What do I need?”
regardless of what it is.
“Once you have yourself healthy and look after yourself, you can
look after your family and do what you need to do. And a lot of it is
time management… I’m getting busier and busier. I’m off to LA a lot
and I am going to New York soon for the book. There are just a lot of
things I have to plan. Having grandma here helps too. Having family
nearby is great blessing!”
“I’m just happy that now people are finally getting
the diagnosis of whatever it is that is ailing them.”
www.vistamagonline.com
“Once you have yourself healthy and
look after yourself, you can look after
your family and do what you need to do.”
“We’re doing lot of preparation now: press in LA and lots of shoots.
We are going to be on the cover of US Weekly magazine and even have
a guest spot of Hell’s Kitchen with Gordon Ramsay – so many exciting
things going on.”
The role really is changing, from being recognized from a TV
show to being acknowledged for the impact that her work on thyroid
issues is having on the lives of so many people.
On being recognized for
something more than TV…
“There are so many positive things that I’m involved with and my
awareness of how much the message is spreading is growing too.
People say, ‘Wow! My wife has that or my daughter has that.’ People
are coming up to me and saying things like: “I remember you from
Baywatch. I changed my doctor and I got on the right medication. You
really are a life saver!” I can’t tell you how many times people stop me
and talk to me when I am at speaking engagements, or wherever I am.
“Let me tell you, I push everything else aside. I am so pleased to
be known for my advocacy. For so many years, it was “Oh my gosh!
That’s…,” “You look great…,” or whispering, “Oh! She doesn’t look so
great…” It’s really been difficult but now it’s OK. Maybe I do a photo
shoot and it looks great or whatever and then I’m 10 pounds lighter
in two weeks because my weight goes up and down… you know people really relate to me. It’s wonderful, especially from other women.
There’s a relatability there… as a woman, a wife, and as a friend, it’s
really nice to get that feedback.
“Speaking woman to woman - it’s the best compliment one can
get. Truly!”
Keep an eye on what comes next. Follow “Thyroid Sexy” on Facebook. Check out
www.officialgenaleenolin.com and don’t forget the soon-to-be-released Beautiful
Inside and Out. The role of being Gena Lee Nolin just keeps on evolving.
VISTA MAGAZINE ISSUE 90
On the upcoming
book launch…
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