Heather and Jake Butler are constantly moving. For them, a typical day looks like waking up at 6 a.m. or earlier. As an endodontist, Jake, 38, performs back to back root canals. Heather, 35, gets their four children — ages 8 to 14 — ready for school and has a jam-packed afternoon filled with appointments and activities, from her son’s tennis match to running a 5K alongside her daughter. After dinner, Jake takes their youngest son to basketball practice. “From the time we get up to the time we go to bed, we’re going, going, going,” Heather says.
That pace began to take a toll on the Kansas-based couple. “We were both really tired and stressed,” Heather says. “We didn’t want to depend on caffeine as a band-aid solution.”
Heather was also struggling with hormonal acne and a dry scalp since the birth of their youngest child, while Jake hoped to see bigger strides in his physical fitness and body composition. The couple wanted to reach their peak physical and mental health — and stay there for years to come. “As our kids get older, we want to feel healthy to explore, travel, and hike to the top of the mountain with them. We want to do the things we love into our 50s, 60s, 70s, and beyond,” says Jake.
‘Too Young to Worry About Hormones’
Heather and Jake vowed to get proactive about their wellness, but they hit roadblocks with their usual physicians.
Heather went to several doctors — including a family physician, a dermatologist, and an endocrinologist — about her acne. “I became so frustrated because they said it was hormonal, but they didn’t do anything about it. They didn’t even test my hormone levels despite my request because they said I was ‘too young to worry about hormones.’”
Jake got a similar response when he asked his primary care physician to check his testosterone levels because he suspected they could be optimized. “The doctor said, ‘We’ll worry about that when the time comes,’” Jake explains.
Jake and Heather were done waiting. When one of Jake’s partners and mentors at work recommended Tony Robbins’ Life Force book, he and Heather immediately listened to the audiobook. That inspired them to become Lifeforce members in April 2022.
“I realized that through Lifeforce I could see all the biomarkers that I wanted, and not only see them as a baseline, but also be able to monitor them every three months,” Jake says. “It was exciting!”
Their Lifestyle Shifts
When Jake and Heather took their first diagnostic, they were shocked by the results. “All my hormones — estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone — were low,” Heather says. “They were almost like the levels of a postmenopausal woman or someone who had a hysterectomy. I was also surprised I had high cholesterol because Jake and I are pretty fit and we ate pretty healthy.”
Jake learned that while his total testosterone was within the optimal range, his free testosterone was suboptimal. (Free testosterone is the portion of testosterone that is not bound to proteins, so it is available for the body to use.)
The couple worked hand in hand with their Lifeforce team — including their physician Dr. Russell Van Maele, DO, and their certified health coach — to make a plan of action. Step one: Make their workouts work better for them.
“Dr. Russ and my coach helped me realize that prioritizing exercise in the morning is going to make everything go better for my hormones, energy, and sleep,” Jake says. “He also encouraged me to change the number of days per week I do cardio vs. lifting, and to focus on training large muscle groups to help increase my free testosterone.”
Heather also began giving more weight to weight training. “I’ve always been a runner, so I thought I needed to run more to lower my body fat percentage, but I've learned the importance of lifting.” Now they both mix resistance workouts with Zone 2 training, which involves longer periods of an activity that keeps your heart rate lower, such as walking at an incline.
They have also started prioritizing protein in their diets and limiting added sugars. For an additional boost, they supplement with Peak Rise™️, Peak Rest™️, Omega, Vitamin D + K, Peak NMN™️, Peak Healthspan™️, Methylation, DHEA, and Sermorelin peptides.
Their Results
The payoff from these shifts is showing — both inside and out. “I don’t feel as stressed, tired, or groggy,” Heather says. “Physically, I can definitely see a difference in my physique. My body fat has gone down 6% in a year. I’ve also seen a significant improvement in my hormonal acne, more skin elasticity, and my hair is growing stronger. Plus, my dry scalp has completely resolved now that I have my hormones under control.”
Jake is also thrilled with his results. “I have more energy, I’m stronger, I can run faster, and my performance at work has increased,” he says. “My hair is thicker and I have fewer wrinkles. I’ve decreased body fat. I have visible abs for the first time since I was 18. Honestly, I feel better now at 38 than I did at 22!”
Even his patients are noticing the glow up. “I’ve had people ask me if I’m old enough to do root canals,” he says. “It’s incredible to experience this in less than a year with just a few tweaks!”
Their Biomarkers
Their Lifeforce Experience
Heather and Jake have had four retests so far, and every time, they look forward to getting their results. “It’s exciting because we can track and see what we’re doing well and where we need to improve,” Jake says. “I like the nerdy stuff.”
Jake has also been able to geek out about wellness and longevity trends with his Lifeforce team. “I’m always looking at stuff that I come across on Instagram or TikTok and I run it past my doctor and health coach. I ask, ‘What do you think of this? Should I be trying this?’” he says. “It’s so different from traditional medicine. I love the relatability of the doctor/patient relationship.”
Power Couple
Another relationship that’s stronger than ever: Jake and Heather’s bond. “I feel like we’re a better pair now that we’ve gone through this,” Jake says. “We are less stressed and anxious, and we spend more time together, like taking walks around the neighborhood. Optimizing our health has also increased our physical attraction. That’s been a pleasant side effect that has been rejuvenated.”
Heather agrees that their health journey has been better together. “We can bounce ideas off each other, and we’ve been able to connect in a new way,” she says. “Being able to encourage each other to hit our next goal has been so positive and fun!”
Ready to hit YOUR next goal? Learn more about Lifeforce and join Heather and Jake HERE.
*Statements for dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
**Results will vary based on individual medical histories, personalized treatment regimens, lifestyle, and additional factors.
Pharmaceutical products are only available to Lifeforce members and are contingent on blood tests results and clinician telehealth visit.
This article was medically reviewed by:
Vinita Tandon, MD, ABIM Board Certified in Endocrinology and Metabolism
Russell Van Maele, DO, ABIM Board Certified in Internal Medicine