Stylewell

In last week’s blog, I talked about authentic style.

​I promised that I would add to that in this week’s post by talking a little bit about health and wellness.  Before my husband and I opened our store, Nostalgia, and prior to my adventures with Spirits of Fashion, I worked for a time with style and wellness.  

Through my company, StyleWell, I focused on helping others to look and feel their best.  My background as a Registered Dietitian has equipped me for this challenge in so many ways.

Although I no longer work with patients, I still enjoy helping others to be the best they can be.  I became a certified Style Coach a few years ago and, although I love focusing on authentic and personal style, I believe that a big part of being stylish is feeling physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy and fit.

I think that women over 40 are particularly vulnerable in their quest for looking and feeling great.  As we age, we run into so many physical issues that seem to prevent us from doing things we used to love to do.  This may include exercise, as some of us have a harder time putting in the effort it takes to keep up the fitness level of our youth. 

For some of us, our diets change too, due to hormonal fluctuations that seem to create monstrous cravings.  You know what I mean, ladies!  But as belly fat grew and hot flashes raged, I looked for ways to battle these mysterious changes.  Along with these issues, I also noticed that I was having digestive problems and discomfort more often, especially after consuming meals that included lots of starchy foods. 

Fortunately, I came across a book called “The Virgin Diet” by JJ Virgin.  This book gave me a new perspective on health and diet.  Working as a traditionally trained dietitian for so many years, what I was reading in JJ’s book was the opposite of what I used to tell patients.  Back in the ’80s and ’90s, it was all about consuming less fat and eating more carbohydrates (they formed the bottom portion of the food pyramid, after all!).  This way of eating was no longer working for me.
What I discovered in The Virgin Diet was a way to figure out which foods were the culprits in my distress.  Once I tried this elimination diet as best I could (I AM human!), I not only lost the extra weight that plagued me since the onset of menopause, but I stopped having the symptoms that went along with it.  I, like many women, thought that we were doomed to this hormonal fate, but this does not need to be the case.  The scary changes I made in my diet were well worth the effort. 

Of course, the gluten-free, dairy-free path has become extremely popular in the past few years and food companies are trying to meet that consumer need.  The bottom line is, ladies, that as a friend said to me once, “We are NOT going down!!”

What does this have to do with fashion and style?  For me, the better I feel, the better I dress and the more I care about my personal style.  I put more effort into it.  It’s as if one positive change leads to another, and that goes for diet, exercise, and adorning the self.  Speaking of exercise, think of it as an investment in health.  I don’t always feel like doing it, but I pay a price if I don’t do it.  I find that the physical benefits and the clarity of mind that come with a workout make the effort worthwhile every time.  That said, I hope I have inspired women out there and given them hope that aging doesn’t necessarily mean the end of looking and feeling fabulous!
If you need help in this venture, please contact me with diet, exercise or style questions, and I’ll be happy to assist you!
Best, Ren