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  Kathleen Gran is having a great time working as an Image Coach and helping people achieve a strong, personal brand. Her mission is to get people to understand the power of their visual impact so that they can thrive and succeed.

  

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  Articles Assessments Makeovers

We all have one. We all have a relationship with it, and it’s not always a good one. We often despise it, yet we are completely responsible for it. Yes, I’m talking about body image.

People that have a healthy body image will embrace their unique shape, will not obsess over their appearance and will be confident in their bodies. They will be conscious that the shape of their body does not define who they are.

People with a negative body image will feel inadequate in their bodies, will be critical of themselves and will spend a lot of energy comparing themselves to other people they deem “better looking”. For them, their bodies are something to be ashamed of. They become anxious and can develop depression, low self-esteem and eating disorders as a result.

Health Canada defines body image as “the picture an individual has of his or her body, what it looks like in the mirror, and what he or she thinks it looks like to others.” |Health Canada|.

And that’s where the problem begins. Most people nurture a distorted view of their body image because their basis of comparison is totally unrealistic. The media presents us with unattainable beauty standards that are based on computer modified or generated bodies. The result: 35% of preadolescent girls, and even boys, between the ages of 6 and 12, are dieting and entering a downward spiral of hating their bodies. As adults, women have a 90% rate of dissatisfaction with their appearance. |The Canadian Women’s Health Network|.

The dieting industry is estimated to be worth billions of dollars by selling promises of weight loss to desperate dieters. However, 95% of these dieters will regain the lost weight and will often end up weighing more!

So this month, I wanted to find out more about our eating habits and how they impact our body image. I had the pleasure of interviewing Julia Di Nardo, Ph. D.

Julia is a psychotherapist specializing in helping adults who struggle with weight management and emotional eating. During this interview, you will learn about different eating patterns and how your eating style can not only affect your health, but also the perception you have of your body image.

As an Image Coach, I thrive at getting my clients to understand their own, unique body shape and helping them maximize their natural assets. I also stress the importance of having a healthy body – a well fed, well rested, well trained body, regardless of its natural shape – in order to gain self appreciation and feel great about their appearance.

Watch my interview with Julia to discover how your beauty begins in your plate!

I had the privilege of working with Danièle a few months ago, and she was kind enough to allow me to share her transformation with my readers.

Danièle had been struggling with her look for some time, not knowing how to update her style. She felt she was at a point in her life where she needed to present herself differently to the world and didn’t know how to go about it.

I first did a short interview on how Danièle wanted to be perceived. I then did a complete analysis of her body type, face and eye shape, and colour palette and we discussed possible hair styles and hair colours that would enhance her features.

A hairstyle change is always the most frightening part of a makeover for a client. Makeup, clothes and accessories, you can always toss away if you don’t like, but a hairstyle is there to stay… at least for a couple of weeks, if not months. So it was not without hesitation that Danièle embarked on her journey. I’m glad she did.

Click to enlarge

Look at how Danièle’s whole body language is much more vibrant after her makeover! Before, her whole demeanour reflected apathy and withdrawal. There was no spark, enthusiasm, nor vivaciousness in her style or appearance. After the changes, she looks lively and dashing. She looks happy. Her posture reflects that new sense of pride and self-confidence, not to mention that she looks years younger!

Sometimes it doesn’t take much to rediscover that vibrant person that is buried inside. The result is well worth the investment!

Bravo Danièle. You look fabulous!