Becoming Fit and Fabulous

by Michele Weinstein

Becoming Fit and Fabulous

All of my life, I’ve focused on being healthy and happy, and yet, everything I had learned was contrary to how I wanted to be. You see, my brother was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when I was only five years old. This diagnosis, even though it was not my own, catapulted my life into a new realm. Instead of learning how to listen to my body and my hunger cues, I grew up learning a different kind of healthy.

I learned that measured out food was better than un-measured. I learned that being strict with meal times and exercise were only necessary.

I learned after countless grocery trips with my mom that low-fat and sugar-free foods were “healthy.”

While I can go on and on about this, society and the media only made matters worse at the time, they were marketing low-fat and low-calorie foods all the time. It was the FAD of the time, but it ended up impacting MY LIFE for years.

For me, it wasn’t just a FAD, but an introduction into restrictionwhich later led me to a ten-year battle with anorexiaand anxiety.

The reason that I’m sharing this now is to raise awareness as many who are reading this article are looking to do the same as I… To be healthy and happy. And while we all deserve to be, I’m going to share one thing they don’t share… oftentimes what’s in magazines and newsletters isn’t right for you.

Following the latest diet trends isn’t always the answer because oftentimes you will find that the same trend that works for someone else won’t work for you.

Besides this fact, there are so many other things that you read that are negatively affecting your health. I’ve seen countless of mislabeled food items at the store and I’ve also seen several reputable newspapers call avocados a protein source… which they are not. I’ve also seen many marketing campaigns that make you believe that something is healthy when it’s not.

While I can go at length pointing out the mistakes and what I’ve found wrong, one thing I do know is that in order to be healthy, you need to look towards yourself. This means that you need to try new things, find what you like, and to become as educated as you can when it comes to nutrition. To be aware of how often the ingredients on food labels change and also to be aware of how skewed the nutrition information often is. (Especially when it comes to recipes!)

But rather than go at length about all the things I’ve learned, I just want to get back to my life and becoming A Fit and Fabulous Michele. You may have seen my Instagram page

But rather than go at length about all the things I’ve learned, I just want to get back to my life and becoming A Fit and Fabulous Michele. You may have seen my Instagram page and you may already know a lot about me, but if you don’t, let me tell you more about me. I’m Michele and on paper, I’m a valedictorian with a Bachelor’s in Biology and Nutrition (a pre-medical degree). But as you already know, that’s just a piece of the puzzle. I’m also the girl that grew up with both a Type 1 Diabetic and someone with many food allergies (to corn, bananas, peanuts, and avocado). And I’m also the same girl that was inpatient twice for her battle with anorexia. There’s a lot more to the story than this, but for now, here’s what you need to know.

I founded my Instagram two years ago after I was left to fend on my own. Both health insurance and hospital guidelines prevented me from getting any help. While I should have probably died because of it, this inspired me to blog and to share my story. To bring light to the systems that weren’t working and also to showcase how systems that are in place to keep us healthy, weren’t quite doing their job so great. Because I knew, deep down inside, that if this was happening to me, it was also happening to others. And that’s how my Instagram all got started.

Since that time, I’ve had to re-train my brain using my education and degree. While I started this page eating a few foods, I’ve been able to incorporate a variety of foods since. Dark chocolate, peanut butter, salmon, juice, soups, frozen yogurt… the list goes on and on. These are some of the foods I’ve been able to add into my routine and obtain a balance that works for my nutrition and my goals.

And while I could go at length of the new foods I’ve tried and how much healthier my hair, nails, and skin care, I have to say that the most important thing that I have learned along the way is this… health isn’t just about fitness and food. It’s about balancing a variety of things including fashion (that makes you feel good), food (that makes you happy and that keeps you nourished), home decor (that makes you feel good), and a variety of factors that I write about on my blog.

So just want to end this with one quick thought, if you just live according to someone else’s standards than of your own, you will never find your fit and fabulous self. It’s impossible. Because health and happiness are related, in order to be fit and fabulous you must find and do what works for you. ~Michele Weinstein

Michele Weinstein is a blogger, entrepreneur, graduate of the University of Vermont with a Biology and Nutrition degree who is passionate about all things health. She founded her blog after a ten year struggle with anorexia and after growing up with both a Type 1 Diabetic and someone with many food allergies, including allergies to corn. This is a piece of her story that many see, but what many don’t realize is the fact that there were many stories in-between. This fact led her to create a new kind of online platform called Not a Standard which was dedicated to sharing our struggles in order to inspire, connect, and educate. Through her motivational posts on Instagram, her blog, and this platform, Michele hopes to inspire others to never give up on themselves. She’s been featured on several magazines this past year and she has a few things up her sleeve. Keep updated on what this girl is doing next… follow her on Instagram!

Www.afitandfabulousmichele.com Www.instagram.com/afitandfabulousmichele www.pinterest.com/afitandfabulousmichele www.twitter.com/afitandfabulou1 Youtube: Michele Weinstein Founder of Not a Standard: www.notastandard.com www.instagram.com/notastandard_