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October is here, ladies! And I have a question for you.
How do you want to LOOK and FEEL walking into the holidays this year?
A few pounds lighter? Less belly bloat? More energy? Beautiful, glowing skin? Feeling absolutely FABULOUS in your holiday outfits?
Well, I’ve got some good news.
We’re NOT waiting until January!
September was the NEW January. But September is over, and we’re not stopping!
I’m officially kicking off my HOLIDAY GLOW-UP for women over 45!
We’re combining three things I absolutely LOVE: wellness, beauty, and fashion.
And we’re starting NOW so we have time to make meaningful progress before Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s.
Because December You Will Thank October You!
1. THE WELLNESS GLOW-UP: Let’s Start From Within!
Let’s talk about those stubborn midlife pounds.
If you’re over 45, you probably know that maintaining your weight can feel different than it did in your 20s and 30s.
Hormonal changes, disrupted sleep, stress, and changes in muscle mass can all influence how our bodies look and feel.
But here’s what I DON’T want you doing.
Starving yourself. Skipping meals. Spending hours doing punishing workouts. Or jumping on another extreme diet because you want to lose a few pounds before the holidays.
We’re going to approach this differently.
My Holiday Glow-Up starts with the same simple habits I used to build a healthier lifestyle and maintain my approximately 30-pound weight loss for the past six years.
My 3-Step Habit System
HABIT #1: PROTEIN FIRST!
Prioritize protein at every meal.
Protein helps maintain lean muscle, supports satiety, and plays an important role in healthy aging.
Start with your protein. Add fiber-rich vegetables. Then round out your plate with carbohydrates and healthy fats.
HABIT #2: ONE SALAD EVERY DAY!
This is such a simple way to add more fiber, vitamins, minerals, and colorful produce to your daily routine.
And I’m not talking about a sad little bowl of lettuce!
Add chicken, salmon, eggs, chickpeas, lentils, or another protein source. Make it satisfying.
HABIT #3: WALK 10–15 MINUTES AFTER MEALS!
You don’t need an expensive gym membership or a complicated exercise routine to get started.
A short walk after eating can help support healthy blood sugar regulation.
Can’t get outside? Walk around your house!
The goal is consistent daily movement.
Three habits. Nothing extreme. Just a healthier foundation to build upon.
The 5/7 Principle: You Can STILL Enjoy the Holidays!
Ladies, here’s something else I want you to remember.
Healthy living doesn’t require perfection!
I follow what I call the 5/7 Principle (my version of the 80/20 Rule).
It’s SIMPLE!
5 DAYS A WEEK: Focus on your healthy habits. Prioritize protein, eat your daily salad, move your body, and make nutritious food choices.
2 DAYS A WEEK: Give yourself a little more leeway!
Enjoy dinner with friends. Have a slice of pumpkin pie. Indulge in your favorite holiday treats. Enjoy that special family recipe without feeling guilty!
The goal isn’t to throw healthy habits out the window for two days. It’s to build flexibility into your lifestyle so you can enjoy the foods you love without feeling deprived.
And there’s no need to punish yourself or skip meals the following day. Just return to your regular habits.
Consistency beats perfection EVERY SINGLE TIME!
The holidays are meant to be enjoyed. We’re building a healthier lifestyle that makes room for LIFE, not another restrictive diet that falls apart at the first Christmas cookie.
That’s the beauty of the Holiday Glow-Up! 🍂✨
2. THE 3-STEP BRAVENLY SUPPORT SYSTEM
Healthy habits come FIRST.
But I also incorporate targeted nutritional support into my daily wellness routine.
My three-step Bravenly support system focuses on gut health, metabolic wellness, and daily antioxidant support.
STEP 1: Gut Health Duo (Renew + Refresh)
Let’s start with the gut!
Digestive discomfort and irregularity can make us feel uncomfortable in our clothes.
Renew and Refresh provide complementary gut-health support, including support for a healthy digestive environment and microbiome.
Our goal is to support digestive wellness while continuing to prioritize fiber, hydration, and balanced nutrition.
STEP 2: Balance
Healthy blood sugar regulation is an important part of metabolic wellness.
Balance is designed to provide nutritional support for healthy blood sugar metabolism and appetite management.
I pair this with protein-first meals and short post-meal walks.
STEP 3: Gold
My daily golden habit!
Gold features ingredients such as turmeric, apple cider vinegar, and cinnamon for antioxidant and overall wellness support.
It’s one of my favorite additions to my morning routine.
A VERY IMPORTANT REMINDER!
FOOD AND HEALTHY HABITS ALWAYS COME FIRST!
Supplements are exactly that. They SUPPLEMENT your nutrition by helping fill nutritional gaps. They aren’t magic pills, and they won’t magically make you lose weight on their own.
Even GLP-1 medications work best when paired with healthy nutrition, adequate protein, and regular movement to support sustainable results and preserve muscle.
There are no shortcuts around healthy habits. Supplements are simply additional tools to SUPPORT the work you’re already doing!
And if you’re working with a smaller wellness budget, start with the foundational habits. You do not need to purchase every product to participate in the Holiday Glow-Up!
3. THE BEAUTY GLOW-UP: Skincare From the INSIDE OUT!
Now let’s talk about something FUN!
I don’t just want us feeling better this holiday season.
I want us GLOWING! ✨
Our skin changes during midlife, too.
As estrogen levels decline, changes in collagen, hydration, and elasticity can become more noticeable.
Of course, I’m a big believer in a good skincare routine. But what we put IN our bodies matters, too.
That’s why I’m adding an optional Beauty From Within routine to our Holiday Glow-Up.
Bravenly Glow: Collagen & Beauty Support
Glow is our beauty-focused nutritional supplement, designed to provide collagen and complementary nutrients that support healthy skin, hair, and nails.
Collagen is an important structural protein in our skin, and collagen production changes as we age.
Some studies suggest that specific oral collagen formulations may modestly improve skin hydration and elasticity over time, although results depend on the formulation and individual.
Think of Glow as an addition to your daily beauty routine, not a replacement for topical skincare.
Bravenly Hydrate: Hydration Is Beautiful! 💧
Ladies, let’s not overlook hydration!
Proper hydration supports normal skin function, physical performance, and overall wellness.
Bravenly Hydrate provides electrolyte support to help replenish fluids, particularly when we’re active or need additional hydration support.
And here’s what REALLY surprised me!
AI skin imaging showed that after drinking TWO Bravenly Hydrates a day for just THREE WEEKS, the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and pores in MY skin had visibly diminished!
I’m talking about changes identified in my own skin imaging results, not just what I thought I was seeing in the mirror!
Of course, individual results will vary, and this was my personal experience—not a controlled clinical study establishing that Hydrate caused the changes.
But it certainly reinforced why hydration has become such an important part of my personal beauty-from-within routine! ✨
Bravenly Gold: Your Daily Golden Habit! ✨
Gold makes another appearance in our beauty routine because of its antioxidant-focused ingredients.
And here’s something I LOVE!
So many of us who use Bravenly Gold absolutely SWEAR by the healthy, golden GLOW it gives our skin!
We affectionately call it our GOLD GLOW! ✨
While everyone’s experience is different, that radiant-looking skin is one of the reasons Gold has become such a favorite in our daily beauty-from-within routines.
It’s a natural bridge between wellness and beauty—and one of my favorite golden habits!
4. THE FASHION GLOW-UP: Your Holiday Outfits Are Waiting!
Now for my FAVORITE part!
Because my philosophy has always been:
Wellness is the foundation. Style is the expression.
Ladies, I want you to imagine something.
It’s December.
You’re getting ready for a holiday party. Maybe it’s Christmas dinner, a New Year’s celebration, a family gathering, or a special evening out.
You slip into that gorgeous holiday outfit.
You look in the mirror.
And you LOVE what you see!
Maybe you’ve lost a few pounds. Maybe you’re feeling less bloated. Maybe you have more energy or simply feel better because you’ve spent the past several weeks prioritizing yourself.
And the best part?
You don’t have to reach some magical number on the scale to dress fabulously!
Throughout our Holiday Glow-Up, I’ll also be sharing modern holiday outfit inspiration for women over 45.
Think beautiful dresses, flattering trousers, cozy cashmere, gorgeous holiday colors, and stylish outfits that are comfortable enough to actually enjoy your celebrations.
We’re talking modern, not matronly.
Fashionable, not frumpy.
And confident at EVERY age!
5. YOUR HOLIDAY GLOW-UP ACTION PLAN
So, where do we start?
I don’t want this to feel overwhelming. You don’t need to overhaul your entire life on October 1st.
Here’s how we’re approaching the next several weeks.
OCTOBER: BUILD YOUR FOUNDATION
This month is about consistency.
Start your three daily habits. Establish your wellness support routine if you’re using one. Begin prioritizing hydration, sleep, and skincare.
Focus on showing up for yourself every day.
NOVEMBER: KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING
The holiday season gets busy, but that doesn’t mean your wellness goals disappear!
Keep prioritizing protein, movement, hydration, and your daily routine.
And remember, you can enjoy Thanksgiving without abandoning your progress.
DECEMBER: LET YOURSELF SHINE!
This is what we’ve been working toward.
Not perfection. Not an unrealistic transformation.
Just feeling healthier, more energized, more confident, and ready to enjoy the holidays.
And, of course, wearing something FABULOUS!
6. NEED HEALTHY RECIPES? JOIN MY FREE FACEBOOK GROUP!
You don’t have to figure out what to eat on your own!
Join my FREE Facebook community, Midlife Metabolism Kitchen, where I share delicious, healthy recipes to help you stay on track throughout your Holiday Glow-Up.
Think protein-packed meals, healthier comfort foods, easy meal ideas, and satisfying recipes that make healthy eating something to look forward to.
Because healthy eating doesn’t have to be boring. And it certainly doesn’t have to stop when the holidays arrive!
Come cook with us!
7. STAY TUNED! HOLIDAY FASHION & BEAUTY ARE COMING! ✨
Our Holiday Glow-Up isn’t just about wellness and weight management.
Throughout October, November, and December, I’ll also be sharing holiday beauty tips, skincare inspiration, and FABULOUS holiday fashion for women over 45.
From glowing skin to gorgeous holiday outfits, we’re bringing everything together so you can look and feel amazing from the INSIDE OUT!
YOUR HOLIDAY GLOW-UP STARTS TODAY!
Ladies, we still have time.
Time to work toward losing a few stubborn pounds at a healthy, realistic pace.
Time to establish better habits.
Time to prioritize our skin, energy, digestion, and overall wellness.
And time to find those gorgeous holiday outfits!
But here’s the thing.
The holidays will arrive whether we start today or not.
So why wait until January to prioritize yourself?
December You Will Thank October You!
Let’s make this holiday season about more than looking fabulous.
Let’s FEEL fabulous, too!
Cheers to our Holiday Glow-Up! 🍂✨
Valarie
NASM Certified Nutrition Coach
AFPA Certified Gut Health Nutritionist
A Gentle Disclaimer 🤍
This information is shared for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. I’m a Certified Nutrition Coach and Gut Health Nutritionist, but I am not a physician. Always consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new supplements, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition.
Every body is different, and results may vary—but my goal is always to support you with simple, effective strategies that help you feel your best.
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