Nicolette Mason, a prominent figure in the fashion industry and co-founder of the fashion line Premme, embarked on a wellness journey that resonated deeply with her commitment to body positivity and overall well-being. Her experience highlights a shift from traditional weight-loss focused approaches to a more holistic perspective that prioritizes health, stress management, and self-love. This article explores Mason's journey, the principles behind her approach, and the positive impact it had on her life.
Embracing Body Positivity
Nicolette Mason has long been an advocate for body positivity, a movement that challenges societal beauty standards and promotes acceptance of all body types. Her work in the fashion industry and her online presence have made her an influential voice in the body positivity movement.
Mason's journey toward self-acceptance and body love has been a long one. She emphasizes that she is not trying to make drastic changes to the way she looks. Her goal, instead, is to just feel her best, especially in terms of managing her pain symptoms and stress.
A Wellness Plan Tailored to Individual Needs
Mason collaborated with celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak to develop a wellness plan that aligned with her values and addressed her specific health needs. Pasternak, known for his work with stars like Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, took a personalized approach, recognizing Mason's desire to improve her health, manage stress and anxiety, rather than solely focus on weight loss.
Dietary Adjustments
Mason has Celiac disease and fibromyalgia. To her delight, Harley’s plan was so similar to how she already eats that it felt really seamless, approachable and realistic for her to make the modifications to successfully stay on plan. Mason's dietary plan emphasized fresh, whole foods and balanced meals, aligning with her existing eating habits. She focused on incorporating protein, fat, and fiber into each meal, which helped her feel full and satisfied throughout the day.
Read also: Easy Mason Jar Meals
A typical day included a smoothie for breakfast, followed by meals consisting of salads, fresh vegetables, grilled fish and seafood, quinoa, and fruit. This approach eliminated the need for fad diets and promoted a sustainable, healthy way of eating.
Incorporating Simple Exercises
Recognizing Mason's busy schedule, Pasternak introduced her to seven simple, low-impact, non-contact exercises that she could do anywhere. These exercises targeted major muscle groups and could be easily incorporated into her daily routine.
In addition to these exercises, Mason set a goal of walking 12,000 steps a day, tracked using a FitBit. This encouraged her to be more active throughout the day and provided a tangible way to monitor her progress. The movement reminders became little benchmarks for her to take breaks from her work, which actually made her feel way more productive, too.
The Positive Impact of a Holistic Approach
Mason's wellness journey had a profound impact on her overall well-being. By focusing on balanced nutrition, regular exercise, and stress management, she experienced significant improvements in her physical and mental health.
One notable benefit was the reduction in anxiety symptoms. The FitBit provided a sense of control and allowed her to proactively manage her anxiety. Anxiety attacks have absolutely been one of the triggers to her fibromyalgia flare-ups, and though it’s only been a few weeks, her chronic pain has definitely dissipated a lot.
Read also: Convenient Meal Prep: Mason Jar Ideas
Harley Pasternak's Principles
Harley Pasternak's approach to wellness is based on several key principles:
- Balanced Nutrition: Emphasizing whole foods, lean protein, healthy fats, and fiber.
- Regular Exercise: Incorporating simple, effective exercises that can be done anywhere.
- Stress Management: Utilizing tools and techniques to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation.
Pasternak’s diet is a weight-loss diet, totaling 1,650 to 1,800 calories a day. A maintenance diet is, for the average woman, 2,000 calories a day. He advises to eat three meals and two snacks every day. Each meal should be approximately 400 calories total and include servings of protein (at least the mass of your hand), high-fiber whole grains or high-fiber fruits (a handful size), unlimited non-starchy vegetables and two thumb-size portions of healthy fats like nuts, seeds, olives and avocado. Snacks should be between 150 to 200 calories each and include protein and fiber.
His 'Simple seven' exercises are:
- Reverse lunge.
- Superman.
- Lying dumbbell triceps extension.
- Stiff-leg dumbbell deadlift.
- Standing dumbbell curl press.
- Single-arm dumbbell row.
A Sustainable Lifestyle
Mason's experience demonstrates that a holistic approach to wellness can lead to sustainable lifestyle changes and improved quality of life. By prioritizing self-care, managing stress, and embracing body positivity, individuals can achieve their health goals without sacrificing their well-being.
Read also: Health Journey Details