Sometimes, a major life upgrade that might seem like a setback ends up opening doors to possibilities we wouldn’t have explored otherwise. For actress and model Maren Jensen (many know her for her role as Lieutenant Athena in the old TV series). Battlestar Galactica), chronic fatigue syndrome early in her career led her to take another path, turning what could also have been a devastating end into a new professional chapter.
She co-founded Stila Cosmetics in 1993 with famed makeup artist Jeanine Lobell, which temporarily became one of the most no-nonsense makeup brands of the decade and was eventually acquired through Estée Lauder Companies. Her pursuit of long-lasting fitness and the role of nutrition and supplements as she adjusted to life with chronic fatigue syndrome ultimately served as the foundation for her new venture, Glow Beauty Fuel, a line of protein bars designed to nourish the skin from the inside out. with ingredients such as collagen, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and hibiscus flower.
On Zoom, Jensen how he framed that setback into a new journey.
When asked about his early days seeking a diagnosis of the symptoms he developed after a virus, Jensen said: “Very little was known at the time. It was very difficult for me to get a diagnosis. I’ve even been to well-known clinics where they would tell me, “Oh, you want to paint more” or “Oh, you’ll just have to be depressed” — not unusual court cases where people are harassed. However, she said, she was grateful to get an official diagnosis after two years of struggle: She got an official diagnosis of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).
Robin Foroutan, MS, RDN is an integrative and functional nutritionist with expertise in chronic fatigue syndrome and similar conditions. She says this experience of a delayed diagnosis can be quite common. “Many fitness professionals mistakenly believe that there is no remedy and that more rest will increase this type of excessive fatigue. Of course, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Although there is no single cause that fits all, there are categories of root causes that commonly occur in other people with chronic fatigue syndrome. And for anyone suffering from chronic fatigue, there is a way forward, even if what works for one user may not work for another.
And he adds: “You can think of chronic fatigue syndrome as a short circuit in the way energy is produced in the frame: it is like a blown fuse and it is a protection mechanism. The body is facing some kind of major challenge and needs rest, so overwhelming fatigue sets in and forces it to rest. The most difficult and most important thing is to discover what the fundamental reasons are for each individual. These symptoms do not deserve to be treated, they deserve to be treated by a qualified healthcare professional who knows how to do it.
Some of the most common contributors to CFS and fibromyalgia she sees in her practice include nutrient depletion, prolonged stress, accumulated toxicant exposures, hidden infections and over-medication of certain prescriptions.
The integrative physician in Los Angeles who diagnosed Jensen helped spark his interest in the price of treatments of choice beyond allopathic medicine. ” I was able to experience, in real time thanks to his treatments, the benefits of acupuncture, with which he closed each session, homeopathy, supplements and herbs, all this in addition to Western medicine. “
Still, it took a while to feel better. ” I wasn’t fully functional until I was 30. The rethinking of my scenario came because I had a lot of pent-up desire to achieve. My other career was cut short, just as I was getting started, so is how I felt. The concept of running for myself got here because I can control my hours, I can control the speed at which I work. The irony is that when you start your own business, you end up working more hours than for any employer. At least was the driver.
“I had to adopt wellness practices,” Jensen said, “otherwise, I wouldn’t have a life. “Because she was bedridden most of the time, from the beginning she gradually expanded her routine. She tried a number of healing diets and supplements and also discovered along the way that mindfulness and affirmations made a huge difference for her. One of the non-negotiables of your self-care, she said, is “practicing meditation every day without fail. “
Foroutan advises its clients to prioritize nutrient-dense foods and eating habits that help detoxification processes, tension reaction, and circadian rhythm and fight inflammation. It’s also important, he says, “to balance blood sugar, minimize caffeine, promote deep sleep, and get outdoors to sunbathe during the day, but especially early in the morning, without sunglasses!» In addition, it emphasizes the importance of cuidarse. de fitness nervous formula through tension management, making restful sleep a priority, and opting for workouts that make you feel smart afterward, “not exhausted. “
Sam Schleiger MS, RDN, CD, CLT, IFNCP is a functional dietitian specializing in women’s fitness and owner of Simply Nourished Functional Nutrition, a personal practice founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She says, “Remember that each individual’s reaction to nutritional adjustments will likely vary and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Working intensively with fitness professionals to extend a personalized meal plan is a must. This also applies to paint and other lifestyle factors. “Be your own advocate on your fitness journey. If you feel rejected or ignored, seek immediate feedback or seek out a fitness professional who takes your considerations seriously.
Health care experts prioritize stress management and rest as components of adjusting to life with a chronic illness.
Foroutan says having the right mindset is imperative to adjusting to a chronic, life-changing illness. “The road to recovery is not linear and can be fraught with obstacles. You have to expect ups and downs, but I explain to my clients that as they continue to heal, the lows may not be as low and the highs will be much higher, and they want to hope that their overall benchmark will improve. Improve continuously, despite doing little. symptoms appear.
Schleiger adds, “Be kind to yourself and avoid blaming yourself. Chronic diseases are not the result of personal failures but of complex medical conditions. While you may not be able to bear the presence of chronic fatigue, focus on what you can in your life, such as lifestyle choices, stress management, and seeking support. Change your focus from curing the disease to improving your overall quality of life. Celebrate even the smallest achievements and advances you make in managing your symptoms and achieving your goals. .
When asked what he wishes he had known at the beginning of his journey, Jensen said, “What I tell myself now is that life is long. We were raised to believe that life is short, but I think I need to look ahead to what awaits us. I think that at that moment I really wanted to get better and I was also very ashamed, because at first I didn’t understand why I had this condition. Well, I caught a virus (probably more than one virus) and it caused my immune system to become dysregulated, but many other people didn’t realize it.
She added: “I would also tell myself that you have to treat yourself kindly. For me, it’s the hardest thing to do because I’m a perfectionist. I would also say that, uh, taking risks is good, even though there’s not much to do. ” What I can do, getting out of my comfort zone, little by little and in slow steps, is part of how I improved.
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