The Image & Wellness Company

What you wear affects how you feel...and how you show up.

It also affects how others treat you.

Clothes aren’t superficial. They’re signals — to ourselves first, and then to the world.

When you put on something that makes you feel strong, polished, comfortable or beautiful, you carry yourself differently. You stand a little taller. You take up a little more space. You feel more like you.

And whether we like it or not, people respond to that.

So wear the outfit.
Use the good perfume.
Put on the lipstick.
Choose the clothes that remind you of who you are.

Not for anyone else’s approval — but because it will make you feel good in your own skin - and you deserve that!

Photo credit to Jennifer Aoun https://unsplash.com/

What you wear makes a difference to how you show up. And what you wear makes a difference to how others treat you.

As a woman now in my 60’s, one thing I’ve become deeply aware of is just how important strength becomes as we age.

Not “skinny.”
Not smaller.
Strong.

From around the age of 40, our muscle mass and bone density begin to decline naturally — and if we don’t actively work to maintain them, we slowly become more vulnerable with each passing year.

I see so many women worrying about wrinkles (hey, I used to be one of them!) while completely overlooking one of the biggest predictors of healthy ageing: strength and stability.

A simple fall in an older person can change everything. Loss of mobility can quickly lead to loss of confidence, loss of independence, illness, and in many cases, rapid decline.

This is why I have always been such a huge advocate for weight training and resistance exercise as we age. Not to look like a bodybuilder — but to remain capable, steady, independent and strong.

Strength training helps:
• Preserve muscle mass
• Improve bone density
• Increase balance and coordination
• Protect joints
• Improve posture and mobility
• Reduce the risk of falls
• Maintain autonomy and quality of life

I want to still be able to carry my groceries, travel, lift things, get up off the floor easily, and continue fully participating in life for as long as possible.

Growing older is inevitable. Becoming frail is not.

And feeling physically strong in your 60’s is incredibly empowering!

Sometimes we all need a helping hand — and sometimes what we really need is help knowing where to start.

The “old-school” wellness coach in me would say that this is the answer to most weight-related struggles. But I also think we need to acknowledge that obesity today is very different from what it once was. We now live in a world where ultra-high processed foods (UHPFs) are everywhere — cheap, accessible, heavily marketed, and increasingly accepted as the standard diet, rather than the exception.

In that context, it’s easy to see why weight-loss medications can feel like a good option. When people start to see the scales move, they feel proud, encouraged, and inspired. Progress creates momentum.

But this is where my concern lies.

The downside of weight-loss drugs is that the inspiration often becomes focused on taking more of the drug, rather than doing more of the things that will actually sustain long-term health. Too often, people prescribed these medications are not also supported with an exercise routine, nutrition education, or a healthy eating plan.

So when the medication stops, what happens?
We return to our “normal” lifestyle and way of eating — and unsurprisingly, the weight returns.

Which is why weight-loss drugs may not be the silver bullet they’re being touted to be. As with anything, if something seems too good to be true, it usually is.

That said, I do believe that with greater responsibility on both sides — the prescriber and the person being prescribed — weight-loss drugs could form part of the solution to the obesity crisis. Used alongside structured movement, education around food, and long-term behaviour change, they may act as a bridge, rather than a crutch.

Weight-loss drugs can be a tool, but they are not the answer on their own. Sustainable health still comes from learning how to nourish the body, move it regularly, and build habits that support wellbeing long after the medication ends.

Until those pieces are fully integrated into the conversation, we’ll continue treating the symptom rather than the cause.

I’m back.

After being absent for quite some time, I feel it’s finally time to make a bit of a comeback. There are so many conversations happening that I can no longer ignore.

To be completely transparent, my hiatus was because I was mentally unable to focus on advising others on wellness while I was struggling so deeply with my own. In May 2022, my partner died unexpectedly, and everything I thought I knew about coping, resilience, and strength was tested.

Since then, I’ve been trying to find my footing again. It hasn’t been easy. Grief has a way of dismantling even the most well-intentioned plans, and I learned — very humbly — that I wasn’t as well equipped to handle the downs of life as I thought I was.

They say on a plane, “Put your own oxygen mask on before assisting other passengers.” That’s exactly how this period of my life has been. I had to step back and focus on myself before I could be present for anyone else.

What this journey has taught me is that emotional health is just as important as physical health — and just like our bodies, our emotional wellbeing needs regular care, attention, and exercise.

Going forward, I’m dedicating this space to sharing my experiences — particularly around grief, loss, and despair, but more importantly, recovery. If something I share resonates with you, helps you feel less alone, or offers even a small sense of hope, then it’s worth sharing.

And of course, I’m always here to chat.

💛

Below is a painting of one of my cats I did during Covid. She was a source of constant comfort and continues to be today. Animals have a wonderful way of soothing our souls - perhaps because they see them! ❤️