Beyond the Fitting Room: Answer Yes I Can and Build Your Self Esteem with Lisa Cole and Cathy Alessandra
Ask yourself this question: do you really love your body? What if you don’t, or feel as though your body is not the best representation of how you see yourself? Would you take the risk and begin a journey to have the body you love, at the size that works for you? It’s a big question, and it’s not easy for any woman to answer. Self esteem is a fragile part of all of us and many women feel that theirs could use reinforcement every now and again.
Weight gain or loss is one of the trickiest subjects to talk about. You could be a new mom holding on to baby weight, or the “freshman fifteen” you once acquired have now turned into thirty pounds or more over the years since graduation. When it comes to helping women to embrace a positive self image, I find that weight is the topic of conversation nobody is comfortable discussing. That is what I love most about fitting bras—it doesn’t matter what size you are, it’s about the right fit. The right fit happens when you feel lifted, confident, and possess a deep sense of your inner and outer selves match perfectly. Whether talking about bras or a reflection in the mirror, I believe the right fit is a metaphor for life.
In 2006, I met Cathy Alessandra, a dynamic speaker and creative entrepreneur who built a media enterprise through a family magazine publication and events series. What’s Up for Kids, Cathy’s business, focuses mainly on family dynamics and relevant issues kids face today. Cathy didn’t stop with just one focus, though; she has also successfully launched Today’s Innovative Woman for emerging women entrepreneurs in any stage of their professional journeys. Cathy is no stranger to success, but her personal life has not always found the same results.
Just last year Cathy realized her buckets were full of success, but her personal life had taken a toll and the evidence was in her weight gain: over fifty pounds overweight on her 5″5 frame. Cathy took a step back and realized how overwhelmed she was when it came to her personal care. From that point forward, she worked to shed the weight and also launched two signature inspirational programs for women. Yes I Can!, and Your Daily Yes help women to practice the same “self care” Cathy forgot about while pursuing professional success. At the core of each project, Cathy’s goal is to teach and inspire women to answer Yes, I can! to every difficult question or tricky personal goal that arises. I asked Cathy to share her self esteem journey with me:
What was your primary motivation for losing weight?
I had a lot of events planned that I was launching across the country, a hectic travel schedule, and the thought of running through the airport with the extra weight made me realize I could not handle it! It was about my health, and it needed to be about me. I was on blood pressure medication, and I simply was not comfortable anymore. I needed to take care of myself for a change. Food was a substitute for dealing with painful emotions, fear, doubt and just not coping correctly. The weight also affected my speaking to other women. I didn’t feel like I was at the top of my game. Do they believe me? My business was a success, but my internal barometer was failing. I needed a change.
What has losing weight done for your confidence? Do your bras fit, have you broken out the bikini yet?
Now I have the confidence to wear pretty, sexy bras. I was wearing “frumpy” and basic styles. I remember you saying in one of your presentations how when you wear sexy lingerie, it takes your confidence to the next level even if you’re the only person who knows what’s going on underneath it all. I have my sexy back and I love it! Yes, I have a bikini! I am going to places like the Oaks Health Resort and Hawaii. I now have options to choose from that make me feel empowered. Now when I speak, I can share my story, and tell women about my journey from a powerful place. I limited myself and my opportunities based on my weight and self perceptions. I needed to do this for me.
What can women expect from the Yes I Can event that were hosting at The Oaks Health Resort in Ojai, Ca on July 25-27 and August 22-24?
I will share in depth my own Yes I Can Journey with women. I will be sharing the top three things I needed to do to practice “self care.” The women attending will learn how to set boundaries, and say yes to things that will support them and their mission in life. We will talk about support, and how your friends play a major role in your journey of self care. This will be a place to kick start their own journey of self care. Healthy eating, exercise, creating a vision board are some of the planned activities. What do you want your life to look like? Women don’t answer this question because they are busy taking care of everybody else. It takes daily work. This will be a launching pad for your own Yes I Can! moment.
In addition to Cathy’s itinerary, I will be speaking and providing private consultations to women on proper bra fit featuring Leading Lady Bras, shaping solutions, and what’s currently trending in fashion with a fun and interactive presentation. I thank Cathy for sharing her story of self care and making her personal shift. I will bring a follow-up post in August. Stay tuned Leading Ladies, and remember self care equals self love. Say yes to making new choices in your life today that empower and inspire a better you!
If you would like to join us, please email 
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