THE POWER OF PERSONAL STYLE

Andrea's Before and After Photo Shoot

By Hannah Martin - The Fashion Cookbook

For me, styling has always meant more than dressing women in clothes... It’s about helping women gain a stronger sense of self-confidence and self- worth, as well as help them to unlock their untapped potential. You can imagine my excitement then when I found an incredibly talented local photographer and 50 ShadesOf 50's own Kim Chapman to partner with on a special project that documents women’s inner and outer transformations.

I’d like to introduce you to a very special woman named Andrea Garland, who over the last year has gone through so many life changes and was brave enough to not only share her story with me but with you, the readers of this blog. After hearing from her doctor that she could die from high blood pressure due to her weight, she lost 200 pounds. To commemorate her weight loss journey she worked with me on personal styling and Kim photographed her outfits that I’m eager to share with you.

While her “before” and “after” photos are striking, I do not want to glorify extreme weight loss. It is not because Andrea is now slim that she is beautiful. The truth is she was just as beautiful before, she just didn’t know it or believe it to be true. The way she dressed before was to hide from the world. Today, not only does she maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle, but she dresses to showcase her charming personality and to feel good in her own skin. Keep reading to hear from her own words what she took away from this experience of being styled by an image consultant and photographed in the process.

“After hearing from her doctor that she could die from high blood pressure due to her weight, she lost 200 pounds.”

ANDREA'S JOURNEY

Can you describe your weight loss story? So, I’ve been heavy my whole life... I gained and lost weight more times than Oprah! I never used to have a problem with my blood pressure, diabetes or cholesterol, however, that changed in 2018. I was having headaches, bloody noses (one so bad, I had to go to the emergency room by ambulance). They asked if I was being treated for my high blood pressure. I told them I didn’t have high blood pressure. Well, I did. And it was very high! My doctor started me on medication but they made me sick so I wouldn’t take them, my blood pressure got higher. To the point that my doctor took me out of work permanently because she thought I was going to have a heart attack or stroke. She started me on blood pressure patches – there are 3 levels of meds and I ended up on the highest dose plus 1 pill. But my blood pressure was still high, better but high.

She recommended weight loss surgery, which I looked into years before and it had scared me and my husband, so I didn’t do it. I told her I’d go back and look into it again. My daughter was pregnant with twins at the time and I thought I was going to die and never see them. I sat with my husband and just cried... I was scared of the surgery but felt I had no choice.. I could die either way...

I started the Program at Maine Weight And Wellness in October 2018, I had gastric sleeve surgery in April 2019. In total, I lost 200 pounds from 310 to 110. I stopped the blood pressure pill the day after surgery. I was weaned off the patches, I actually just stopped them in January. So in total 22 months after surgery. Now my blood pressure is great and I babysit my twin grandsons every week. I have a second chance at life and I’m enjoying every minute of it!

What made you want to get professionally styled and do a photoshoot? I wanted the makeover to reward myself for all the hard work I did. Weight loss surgery is just a tool.. you still have to eat right and exercise.

What did you think about the photoshoot experience? Was it what you were expecting? Did anything surprise you? The photoshoot was amazing!! I had so much fun! What surprised me is how different/good I looked. Most people who lose a lot of weight don’t see the change when they look in the mirror...we still see the person we used to be. Kim, the photographer, helped me see the new me! I felt like a supermodel for the day! Your eye for clothes and Jessica’s makeup expertise transformed me.

If you could go back in time what would you tell yourself a year ago based on what you know about yourself now? If I could go back in time to a year ago, I would tell myself you’re a very strong woman and you’ve got this!!!

Do you have any advice for other women with a similar experience to you? My advice to other women is to go to the doctor regularly. High blood pressure can kill you if it goes untreated. I would recommend weight loss surgery to anyone!! I honestly wish I did it years ago, it saved my life!! It’s not the easy way out as people like to say... it’s a tool like a treadmill or a diet pill. You still have to put in the work to be successful.

From a styling perspective, I ask all my clients, what their favorite features are. Andrea explained she loves her eyes and I wanted each of her outfits to make her stunning blue eyes pop. They say the eyes are the window to the soul and what I love about how these photos came out is how well Andrea connected with the camera. Not only does she look fantastic, but on a deeper level, she finally looks like she wants to be seen. That day inside Kim’s photo studio we had makeup artist Jessica Griffin on set to do her hair and makeup. We wanted to incorporate as many confidence-boosting tools as we had to lift up Andrea and make her feel comfortable in front of the camera. She was a natural! From looking at these photos can you believe Andrea had never modeled before this shoot?!

I want all my clients to have the option of documenting their epic style transformation and use the act of being in front of the camera as an exercise in building confidence. So together, Kim, Jessica, and I are now offering a special bundle package. My hope is that clients will upgrade so that they can have a physical reminder of their experience. You’ll also have the option of purchasing prints so you reflect on how far you’ve come in a tangible way. My hope as we expand this partnership is that friends and family will gift their loved ones this experience, as well as clients, can choose to go a step further to honor themselves with such a special and unique opportunity to develop more self-love and push their creative boundaries.

To book a styling session or learn more email info@thefashioncookbook.com

Credits: Photography: Kim Chapman

Hair & makeup: Jessica Griffin

Styling: Hannah Martin