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Big Changes in Life, Business, My Waistline & My Wardrobe

March 10, 2011

At this time last year, I had a 3 month old baby and was just getting back into the groove of work and life.  I’d lost almost all of my baby weight, but let’s be honest, I was heavy to begin with pre-pregnancy.  I remember one day complaining to my husband about my weight and he laughed as he reminded me about all the cupcakes I had eaten during the month of February.  The new cupcake shop and I had become close friends and the employees knew me by name (they’d even call me when my favorites were the Surprise Flavor of the Day)!


My husband Aaron and me before I lost weight.


I started to think about my weight a little more, but it was May before I got serious, joined a gym and went to work.  Turns out, exercise works!  I didn’t do any specific diet or program, just watched what I ate and exercised 4-6 times per week.

I’ve lost 35 pounds to date, and though I have more to lose, even 35 pounds has made the biggest difference in my life and my business.


In October when I had lost 25 pounds.


Now I’m excited to get dressed to go to business meetings and I take a little extra time to put something nice together.  I’ve carefully added new pieces to my wardrobe because I care a little more now about how those pieces go together.  Finding flattering and professional (and keeping in line with my personal style) business attire has always been a frustration for me.  And it’s even harder now that I have nothing to work from and need everything: new slacks, jackets, shirts, shoes and accessories.

An image consultant has helped me pick some things from TJ Maxx, Ross and Macy’s to get me started.  Since I have another 20 pounds to lose to hit my goal weight, I can’t afford to spend a ton of money now since I’ll need new clothes, again, in a couple of months.

I’ve got my eye on the White House Black Market 2011 Work Kit.  Have you seen it?  The kit includes tops, jackets, skirts, pants and accessories that allow the “fashion-concious career woman to create and extensive chic wardrobe without breaking the bank”.   Maybe someday I’ll look as chic as her*:

If nothing else, it gives me something to work for, right?

I have a quote hanging in my bathroom that says “I can do hard things.”  Five words have helped me lose 35 pounds and run a 5k, but they’ve also helped me reach out to fortune 500 companies, get speaking engagements and give me overall confidence in my day-to-day business to do’s.

It’s changed the way I live and more importantly it’s changed the way I feel about myself, and that self-confidence oozes into all aspects of my life and my business.  As women and exceptional muti-taskers we think that we can juggle all the balls in the air independently from each other.  In reality, each compartment of our life can ooze into the next – especially when it comes to physical and emotional health.  I didn’t realize this until I started to work on my physical self.  I always thought that what I weigh has no bearing on my professional life, and what I weigh DOESN’T.  How I FEEL about myself and my weight DOES.   I’m more confident in the decisions that I make for my business and I see the role I play in my business differently.  Kelly has always talked about being “Fit and Fabulous and ready for media at any moment.”  Before I lost this weight, being ready for the media wasn’t a concern because I didn’t want to be seen this way.  Now I say, bring it on!

Michelle McCullough: Michelle is the Startup Princess Business Development Director.  She has spent the last 12 years working in marketing and advertising. She’s worked in all aspects of the industry from production to creative and sales to management. On top of her full-time jobs, Michelle has cultivated her love for entrepreneurship by running a successful side business, Doodads Promotional Products, and raising two kids ages 3 and 1.

* Photo courtesy of White House Black Market, though White House Black Market, or any other mentioned companies did not pay for mention in this post.


Written by Michelle · Filed Under Life Balance 

Post-Pageant: What’s Stuck, What Hasn’t

June 20, 2008

It’s been one month post-Mrs. Utah pageant. Wonder what’s stuck and what hasn’t from it all? Read more

Written by startupprincess · Filed Under Life Balance 

  Startup Princess is an international network committed to empowering Women Entrepreneurs by offering resources for women in business to support, mentor, collaborate, learn from, and inspire one another. In 2006, after struggling to raise funding for an initial startup business venture, Kelly King Anderson recognized an important market niche existed for reliable resources educating women desiring to start and grow successful businesses, thus Startup Princess was developed.

Successful women entrepreneurs understand that for every business venture, they are in charge of creating, organizing, developing, managing, and assuming all the risks associated with their enterprise. That can seem quite intimidating but as other women business owners will tell you, it’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it! Success is within your grasp and Startup Princess is here to help.

First, join as a member of Startup Princess and start building a solid foundation. Membership entitles you to a listing in the Startup Princess Online Directory where we list women owned businesses. You’ll also access exclusive content like articles, videos, and audio straight from your email inbox. Coupled with feature interviews, discounts on events, networking connections, and press opportunities, your Startup Princess membership will give any woman entrepreneur a great start for her business!

Then, take advantage of Touchpoint, our annual business conference for women entrepreneurs. Practical planning meets sky-high inspiration at this high-impact event for women business owners to network and develop their approach to business with wisdom and creative direction from other women entrepreneurs across the country.

Need a little help taking your business to the next step? Wish you had a fairy godmother like Cinderella offering you a helping hand? Now you can! Startup Princess is the home of Fairy Godmother Consulting, volunteer mentors sharing tips and insights to bless the lives of other women entrepreneurs.

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