Some couples settle down after they get married. Margaret and Peter Denton sped up.

The Punta Gorda-based parents of a young son (and a second baby on the way) met while loading a shuttle bus to the start of the Boston Marathon in 2012. The duo has built their world around fitness. When they’re not logging laps in the pool, chewing up miles on their bikes or sprinting down trails, they’re coaching athletes, building a sports apparel company and encouraging others to stay active.

Margaret’s social media gives some insight into the couple’s life together. You will see adorable videos on her Instagram account, @irongirlexperiment, of the couple running behind their 5-year-old, Gabriel, after he finishes a 1-mile race and inspiring clips of the 38-year-old sweating through runs in Florida’s 90-plus temperatures, repeating her mantra, “The hard is the good.”

[caption id="attachment_71947" align="aligncenter" width="850"] This fall, the Dentons launch Bomboom, a line of triathlon kits and activewear at accessible prices. “People can feel [properly] dressed for their sport without having to drop hundreds,” Margaret says. Photography by Brian Tietz[/caption] 

Being active has been part of the Dentons’ fabric since childhood. Peter, who recently turned 40, grew up on the water (when he was 10, his family sailed from Maryland to Seattle through the Panama Canal), and he excelled at track and cross country in high school. Margaret comes from a family of elite athletes—one sibling played professional baseball, another semi-pro soccer and a third was her college softball team captain. Besides a brief stint playing tennis (she says she wasn’t very good), the Californian didn’t take up sports until after college, when a roommate suggested she couldn’t run a marathon. It’d be too hard, her friend advised. But, Margaret thrives in the challenge zone. After four months of training, she finished the 26.2-mile Las Vegas Marathon, sparking a love of endurance sports. She longed for the feeling of pushing her body as she flew through the miles.

The Dentons still find plenty of common ground through their competitive spirit and love of living life full throttle. Early on, they lived on an 83-foot-tall ship docked in California, where they’d leap into the ocean for open-water swims. When they moved to Washington state, Margaret commuted to work on two wheels and fell in love with cycling. Eleven years later, she feels strongest on a bike. “It’s my floater skill,” she says, referring to the edge she gains on her bike during races as she speeds past competitors.

[caption id="attachment_71948" align="alignleft" width="683"] Margaret’s also launching the Bombloom nonprofit to provide gear for women at every stage—whether it’s young girls being introduced to fitness at an early age, moms looking for balance or older women in need of a healthy outlet. Photography by Brian Tietz[/caption]

In 2017, Margaret set a new goal: race a full Ironman triathlon—a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run. “I bite things off in really big chunks,” she says. She taught herself proper swimming form watching YouTube videos and mastered tri bikes, learning to click her shoes in and out of the pedals to improve her efficiency and crouch over drop bars to capitalize on aerodynamics. That year, Margaret competed in Ironman Canada-Whistler. Despite competing on a heavy, entry-level bike and combating about 7,500 feet of climbing on the notoriously hilly course, she finished a respectable 18th in her age group. “It was magic,” she says. “I got all the finish line feels and magic of an Ironman.”

Margaret also felt fitter than ever after training in the three disciplines. Her enthusiasm spread to Peter, and the two participated in Ironman Louisville in 2019. Right after the race, they learned she was pregnant with Gabriel. Early parenthood slowed them down some—but not much. Two years later, Margaret placed in the top 10 in her age group at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Utah. Sponsorships with Bumbleride strollers, Pit Viper sunglasses and New Wave Swim Buoys started rolling in.

The couple’s athletic discipline translates into daily life, allowing them to deftly juggle myriad responsibilities and the hits that come with life. In 2022, the family relocated to Punta Gorda after Peter landed a new job as a firefighter. Within the year, Hurricane Ian walloped the region, destroying their home. Remodeling and repairs consumed resources and threw a kink in their racing plans.

But they kept going. While Peter has been focusing on his firefighting career, Margaret returned to the sport full force this year. She’s already done a half marathon and Olympic-distance triathlon and has a half-Ironman in the books for December—as she enters her third trimester. She’s eyeing half- and full-Ironmans for next year.

They make it a point to move daily. Peter focuses on running, cycling and CrossFit training, and spearfishing keeps the water lover (who can hold his breath for a whopping 5 minutes and 45 seconds) in competitive swim shape. Margaret trains about 20 hours a week, running 5 to 6 of those hours—often while pushing Gabriel in a stroller, sometimes with Peter pacing her. Cycling takes place mostly indoors on her stationary trainer.

As parents with full-time jobs and a new company on the rise (this fall, they launch Bomboom, a line of price-accessible triathlon kits and other athletic wear), the Dentons squeeze in most of their training separately, but they still run and swim together. Running with her husband—whose marathon personal record is 2 hours and 37 minutes—has made Margaret faster. Traveling to races on weekends strengthens their bond, too. “Whenever you’re really into something, it can get weird, so it’s good to connect with someone on the same level,” Peter says with a laugh.

Margaret balances her training with running her marketing business and working with about 10 athletes—including her 73-year-old father-in-law—through her online coaching service. She’s also launching the nonprofit Bombloom to help reduce barriers to entry for girls and women getting into athletics by providing gear. “Triathlon is an incredible way to get fit fast and have community and do something that’s fulfilling and incredibly motivating,” she says. Margaret wants to help other women focus on themselves—whether it’s the 11-year-old girl she met at the pool who couldn’t afford swim classes or moms like her looking for a healthy outlet. “[The demands of] motherhood, getting hit by a hurricane—all of these things that come against you in life—how do you push past those and maintain motivation to do the thing that brings you balance and joy?” Margaret poses. “Well, you have to have the tools.”

[caption id="attachment_71949" align="aligncenter" width="850"] Margaret and Peter are avid runners. “Running is where I fill my bucket,” she says. “It’s spiritual and physical and emotional.” The couple likes to hit trails at Peace River Wildlife Center preserve and Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center. Photography by Brian Tietz[/caption]

It’s a busy life, and finding balance isn’t always easy. “I have to constantly check my priorities,” Margaret says. “I find if I don’t prioritize triathlon, two things happen—training doesn’t get done and I’m crankier.” But, the payoff is huge. “It’s like one big date,” she says. “We’re always hanging out with each other.”

[caption id="attachment_71950" align="aligncenter" width="850"] Photography by Brian Tietz[/caption]

The post This Punta Gorda-Based Couple Run, Ride and Thrive Together appeared first on Gulfshore Life.

Body & Soul Healthy Meal Plans

Fresh Fit Foods

Jonas’ Vegan Kitchen

[caption id="attachment_71052" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Getty Image[/caption]

The post Maximize Nutrition and Minimize Effort with Healthy Meal Delivery in SWFL appeared first on Gulfshore Life.

Alyssa Nemes

A former bodybuilder’s journey to peace and self-love

By Reine Dugas

People have praised Alyssa Nemes’ athletic ability all her life. From toddler team soccer to middle and high school cheerleading to her invitation into the world of bodybuilding, physical excellence defined her identity. At 19, the now-owner of Naples’ Higher Self & Sound found immediate success and renown as a bodybuilding figure competitor, but in time, the cliquey, appearance-based culture started wearing on the young athlete. “I was young, and my body wasn’t mature enough. I couldn’t reduce my body fat enough,” she says.

Her days began at 4 a.m. with an hour of cardio on an empty stomach and ended with lengthy gym sessions. She worked in a sub shop and a bakery surrounded by treats she would not—could not—touch, and brought her own meals to parties. “It definitely created a form of body dysmorphia that I have struggled with since,” she says. Through her self-love healing journey, Alyssa has come to feel at home in her body, but back then, she never felt good enough. “I didn’t look like myself anymore,” she says. “I didn’t feel like me.”

At 21, Alyssa left bodybuilding and took two months off from exercise. Then, the a local CrossFit gym owner invited her to come by. The no-pain-no-gain environment fulfilled her competitive drive while encouraging a food-as-fuel mindset. New challenges surfaced. Her heart started racing uncontrollably during exercise. She flashed back to a high school flag football game when she suffered a similar attack. “Why does it look like there’s a machine gun in my heart?” she remembered asking herself.

The once infrequent episodes became regular. She couldn’t control the symptoms—or the related fear. A year later, she was diagnosed with supraventricular tachycardia (an arrhythmia) and underwent an ablation procedure that zapped her heart’s misfiring tissue. A week of excruciating, nearly motionless recovery followed. Months later, she moved to Naples and found a new way forward.
Yoga provided a more introspective path to wellness. Coupled with sound work (gentle, vibrating frequencies that facilitate mediation), the practice helped Alyssa process hard-to-face physical and emotional pain.

“Surrendering the need to control an outcome—that to me is true growth,” she says.

As she found harmony within herself, Alyssa felt called to guide others; within nine years, she became a certified yoga instructor, sound practitioner and reiki master. Today, she leads group and one-on-one sessions at her studio. Sometimes, there are tears at the end of a class. Working through pain can be overwhelming, but hope now fills the scarred areas. “I feel joy and happiness and contentment,” she says.

[caption id="attachment_71046" align="aligncenter" width="200"] Photo By Brian Tietz[/caption]

Cherline Louissaint

A runner’s path to breathing freely

By Misty Milioto

When Cherline Louissaint crossed the finish line of the City of Palms’ half marathon in 2022, it wasn’t just an athletic achievement. It was a childhood dream fulfilled. The owner of Fort Myers’ Increase the Peach Health & Fitness Studio, known as Coach Chè, flashed back to her younger self, the girl who raced the neighborhood boys and idolized track-and-field star Florence Griffith Joyner.
Her lifelong breathing issues reached a fever pitch at 8 when she tried out for the track team. “That’s when my little lungs decided to stage a rebellion, putting an end to my Olympic dreams in one swift blow,” she says. A doctor diagnosed Chè with severe asthma.

In 2006, as a Florida International University freshman, she went all in on yoga. The practice’s focused breathing techniques reminded her of the kung fu films she loved as a child. “From there, I began to understand my triggers and experimented with different breath patterns for various activities,” she says.

Chè mastered diaphragmatic breathing to increase lung capacity, Ujjayi breath for enhanced focus and relaxation and the pursed-lip technique, which helps ease anxiety.
As Chè got control of her life, she started weight training, and 13 years after her first asthma attack, she started running again. By learning to control the symptoms, Chè has managed to avoid using a rescue inhaler for 13 years. “I learned my limits and how to push past them,” the trainer adds.

Chè incorporates breathwork at her boutique fitness studio, Increase the Peach Health, where she leads classes that blend mobility, stretching and lifting—all executed with controlled breathing to maximize impact and sustain endurance. The 5-foot-3 muscular trainer is now the picture of health, running regularly, teaching classes weekly and leading energized groups at FitMix Fest—an annual nonprofit festival she launched in 2022 to foster conversations about and provide resources for holistic wellness in Fort Myers.

But, mere months after her milestone half-marathon, Chè had a setback—she was diagnosed with COVID-19. Her symptoms were minor, but the lingering effects derailed her. “I went from running 45 to 50 miles per month to just 5 to 7 miles per month,” she says.

Undeterred, Chè shifted from cardio to strength training, meditation and underwater breathwork—alternating patterns as she holds her breath in a saltwater pool—to restrengthen her airways. Two years after her COVID-19 diagnosis, Chè is running further, faster and longer every day. “Over time, I stopped thinking about limits and focused on what I could achieve,” she says. “Now, I get to help others do the same.” 

[caption id="attachment_71045" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Photo By Brian Tietz[/caption]

Jordan Dunin

An entrepreneur’s quest for health and happiness

By Fritz Esker

When Jordan Dunin dove into Ontario’s Lake Muskoka in 2016, he knew something was very wrong. Despite profuse bleeding and a dull, persistent pain from hitting his head on the bottom of the lake, he managed to get to his boat and call for help. He received 15 staples in his skull.

Jordan had spinal damage and brain swelling, leaving him in a cervical collar for four years. “I was told I would probably be handicapped for the rest of my life,” he recalls. Years later, the founder of Naples’ HatchPath, an online wellcoach-coach finder, sees his experience as a blessing. Back then, he felt hopeless.
The dean’s list college student had to pause his business studies, and was taking six to eight Advil a day. He couldn’t ride in a car, read, focus or watch TV. Meanwhile, he felt overwhelming guilt for choosing to dive into the lake. “I felt like I had let my family down, myself down,” Jordan says.

A year later, Jordan was diagnosed with Lyme disease, which caused extreme brain fog, fatigue and pain. By this time he had lost 60 pounds and was in unbearable pain. “I was at rock bottom,” he says.

By 21, he had gone through a round of antidepressants that made him feel suicidal, had multiple surgeries to treat infections, was on a steady diet of antibiotics that wreaked havoc on his gut, and he’d tore his hip labrum. A year had passed since his accident, and he wasn’t getting better.

Then, Jordan’s now-wife, Lauren, a holistic nutritionist, introduced him to meditation and clean eating. The effects were transformative. “I could breathe better and just felt more mentally clear,” he says. Jordan started working with a health coach who helped him realize he needed to release his guilt to truly heal. He also worked with Bec Symonds—a mindset coach and hypnotherapist, who is now part of HatchPath’s hive of approved coaches.

Meanwhile, Jordan sought out complementary, alternative treatments. He tried electromagnetic therapy with the Rife machine—a device believed (but not proven) to treat certain conditions—and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections—said to trigger cell production and tissue regeneration. Often, he’d feel worse during treatments, but after eight months, he felt symptom-free.

Jordan went on to earn a degree in commerce, spent a year as a Lyme disease health coach, and debuted HatchPath. “I wanted clients who were struggling to have a trusted person on the other side who isn’t a scam artist,” he says. He’s also training for his first Ironman race this month—a major milestone in his journey.
Eight years ago, Jordan returned to Lake Muskoka for a Canada Day party, where he met his wife. Jordan credits her most his recovery. “Where I was hurt, I was healed,” he says.

[caption id="attachment_71047" align="aligncenter" width="200"] Photo By Brian Tietz[/caption]

Michelle Konkoly

A swimmer’s road to limitless strength

By Fritz Esker

Michelle Konkoly vividly remembers the night of January 11, 2011. The elite Division 1 (D1) swimmer had just entered her second semester at Georgetown University. There, in her stuffy fifth-floor dorm room, she found herself lost in dreams, imagining her name on the collegiate pool’s record board. As the atmosphere in the room shifted from muggy to stifling, Michelle climbed onto her desk to open a window—something she and her roommate had done countless times. Then, her memory cuts.

At the emergency room, the doctors filled in the blanks—she’d slipped on her desk and fallen out the open window, fracturing her vertebrae and damaging her spinal cord. The college freshman was paralyzed from the waist down. But, Michelle clung to a sliver of hope—she could wiggle one toe.

Intense rehab and multiple surgeries filled the months that followed, including a spinal fusion of most of her lumbar region. After months of acute care, in-patient rehab and outpatient therapies that ran five days a week for six weeks, Michelle could walk again—but her left leg would never be as strong as her right.

When the swimmer returned to practice, she realized she couldn’t keep up with her D1 teammates anymore. Frustrated by her limitations, Michelle was looking for a new way to compete when she heard about the Paralympic Games. “We literally Googled ‘swimming for people with disabilities,’” she recalls.

A year and a half after her injury, Michelle qualified for the 2012 Paralympic Trial, breaking a world record in the 50-meter freestyle race. She didn’t make the team but doubled down on training. Michelle deferred medical school to train at Community School of Naples’ long course pool, linking up with T2 Aquatics’ Paul Yetter and Derek Touchette, owner Naples’ Total Athletic Performance.

Michelle worked with Paul daily and with Derek three to four days per week for 18 months. By 2016, Michelle qualified for the Rio Paralympics and won two gold medals, one for a world record-breaking time in the 100-meter freestyle race. “Derek was instrumental in building my strength and agility,” she says.
The 32-year-old is no longer competing as she works through her fourth year of residency at multiple hospitals, including Nemours Children’s Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware. But she stays active using a spin bike, weight training at the gym and swimming at public pools.

After the 2012 Paralympic trials, Michelle got a tattoo to remind herself of how she’d endured. Scrawled above a scar on her side, the etching recalls the slogan of Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, where she pushed through her early recovery—a single word, “Believe.” 

[caption id="attachment_71048" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Courtesy Elite Sportswear[/caption]

The post Local Survivors Find Strength in the Face of Adversity appeared first on Gulfshore Life.

The Crop Crusader

“This is wisdom that took thousands of years to develop.” —Erica Klopf

The Produce Promoter 

The Food Forester

[caption id="attachment_71062" align="aligncenter" width="300"] He gets to snack as he works, thanks to the bounty on his nearly 1.5 acre homestead in Golden Gates Estates. Photo by Anna Nguyen[/caption]

The post Grow Your Own Food in SWFL appeared first on Gulfshore Life.

After having her first baby in 2022, certified holistic nutritionist Jennifer Khosla saw the world differently. Physically, she felt stronger than ever; within, she sensed a softening. The entrepreneur’s consistent drive to do more had lost its luster. Welcoming her second child, a girl, last fall sealed the deal. “Having my two babies back to back was such an invitation to slow down and focus on things I would overlook before,” she says.

The Florida native spent nearly a decade building her Lean and Green Body empire, which included fitness and yoga training, nutritional coaching, brand collaborations, managing a team, and creating a steady stream of content for her thousands of blog and social media followers.

[caption id="attachment_71019" align="aligncenter" width="200"] “I struggled with fertility for years before I became pregnant with my son, not realizing how many endocrine disruptors are in everyday products.”—Jennifer Khosla[/caption]

She’s since dissolved the company and rebranded under her name. Her mission is laser-focused now, too: she wants to help fuel, heal and nourish feminine energy. Knowing the barrage of nutritional research can be overwhelming, she aims to streamline information for women into actionable takeaways. “It’s all very complex, but it doesn’t have to be,” she says. “I’ve done eight years of post-grad schooling to get here. Once you have the foundation, you can go through the science easier and simplify it.”

Naturally, while she’s in her self- described #momera, Jennifer hones in on nutrition for mothers pre-, during- and post-pregnancy. This summer, she launches a few e-books with recipes geared around healthy eating for women and babies (as they’ve introduced solid foods into the kids’ breastfed diet, she and her husband have made all foods—even bars, frozen pops and snacks—for their 2-year-old son, Bodhi, and 9-month-old, Suri). She offers all her insights and resources for free through her Instagram and e-books.
At the core of strong female nutrition, Jennifer stresses eating for hormone health. “I struggled with fertility for years before I became pregnant with my son, not realizing how many endocrine disruptors are in everyday products and how big of an issue it is,” she says.

[caption id="attachment_71021" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Through her Instagram (@jennifer.khosla) and new e-books, the nutritionist simplifies complex nutritional science into easy-to-digest tips and recipes for optimal female health. She intentionally offers all her resources free of charge.[/caption]

And, it’s not just what you put into your body. “Hormone disruptors can be found in everything from our makeup to our snacks and even our cleaning supplies and laundry detergent,” she says. (Look out for ingredients like phthalates; compounds with ‘parabens’ in the name, which are said to mimic estrogen; and anything with ‘fragrance,’ a protected trade-secret ingredient that can hide a litany of chemicals.)

On the nutritional side, Jennifer knows women need protein, complex carbs and healthy fats, along with higher doses of certain micronutrients like magnesium, B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D to balance the endocrine system. Fiber is also crucial, since it helps remove excess hormones and toxins from the body and increases feelings of fullness.
Her ideal diet includes plenty of whole fruits and vegetables; fibrous legumes and nuts; omega-heavy avocado, flaxseeds and salmon; vegan (or lean, grass-fed proteins, if you eat meat); and no processed or refined foods. “Produce that’s herbicide- and pesticide-free is also more nutrient-dense, so you don’t need as much of it to meet your nutritional needs,” she says.
Perfection is not the goal—she supports incremental change and making small tweaks that can make you start feeling better right away, like drinking more water. “Our bodies work so hard when we sleep—start by drinking 8 ounces of room temperature water when you wake up,” she says. “Second: Get outside and get sunlight first thing to wake up the body and regulate your system.”

[caption id="attachment_71022" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Jennifer and her husband make most of their family’s food from scratch. Their toddler, Bodhi, helps with the prep, too. “He knows all the ingredients and the 2-year-old version of ‘why we use them,’” Jennifer says.[/caption]

Jennifer likes to layer superfoods into her recipes, with nutrient-rich maca, fibrous hemp hearts and spirulina, which is said to help with PMS symptoms. She shuns refined carbs (white pasta, white bread)—these are linked to decreased glucose and exacerbated mood and fatigue issues—in favor of complex carbs like starchy and root vegetables, and, her favorite, quinoa.
The Springfield College Boston athletic training and nutrition-grad stresses the importance of protein as a building block for estrogen. The recommended dose changes for every body and level of activity. On average, experts suggest .8-1 grams a day per kilogram of body weight, and recent studies say plant proteins are most beneficial. Spread out your legumes, nut butters and other protein sources among your daily meals for sustained energy. And, always balance it with high-quality vegetables, fruits and healthy fats, like avocado and salmon (omegas and other healthy fats are also hormonal powerhouses).

Jennifer and her family make much of what they eat from scratch. Date nights with her husband, Ricky—an engineering supervisor at Arthrex—often involve cooking classes, and she’s loved seeing Bodhi get involved, too. The toddler hops on his kitchen tower and hands her fruits and veggies for juicing, helps make bread and homemade butter, and taste-tests his favorite muffins, reinforced with leftover carrot-juice pulp. “He knows all the ingredients and the 2-year-old version of ‘why we use them,’” she says.
Cooking feeds the slower, more mindful lifestyle Jennifer has adopted—a big shift from her entrepreneurial, boss-lady days. But, success looks different to the 38-year-old today. A productive day now means preserving her energy (she surrounds herself with as many positive people and situations as possible), spending time with her family and helping other women learn how to best nourish themselves. “Most people have no idea how amazing their body is naturally designed to feel,” she says. “People don’t have to live fatigued, overweight, bloated, constipated, or with heartburn, IBS, brain fog, anxiety—I want women to understand how amazing they can feel—how energized, how much peace they can feel.”

JENNIFER’S NOURISHING TIPS

Hormone health is at the core of female wellness, and your foods play a major role.

FEED YOUR ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
“Focus on eating real, whole foods in their natural state and consuming enough protein, healthy fats and fiber,” Jennifer says. She advocates for plates of vegan proteins, omega-rich salmon, whole grains, and tons of raw leafy greens and fruits and vegetables. Unless advised by your doctor, avoid strict diets that severely limit or increase calories, carb, protein or healthy-fats—your system can go haywire as hormones try to compensate. Jennifer likes protein shakes for a cooling, hormone-healthy snack: “I love a clean vegan protein powder, MALK Organics nut milk, mixed with some healthy fats, greens and berries.”

REGULATE YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM
A stressed body—whether from poor diet, illness or physical chronic stress—prioritizes survival over reproductive functions (everything from actual baby-making systems to PMS and menopause to your daily mood, weight management and stamina), causing a slew of mild-to-severe symptoms. “Energy is everything,” she says. “I try to surround myself with positive uplifting people as much as I can.”

REASSESS AS YOU AGE
Nutrition needs change with shifting hormone levels. Limit alcohol, refined carbs and processed sugar always, but especially if you’re trying to conceive and preserve hormone health in your 20s and 30s. Increase protein in your mid-30s and 40s, when muscle mass starts to decrease and body fat and glucose creep up (why women start to see weight gain even though their habits don’t change). Protein is closely linked with neurotransmitters related to mood and motivation, so it’ll feed your mind, too. As you move into menopause, protein needs increase—especially post-workouts for muscle growth—along with calcium and vitamin D to preserve bone health as estrogen dips. “If we follow our hormones and our menstrual cycles, it can be a really great guide,” she says.

USE FOOD TO COPE
For PMS-related irritability and energy issues, she suggests eating foods high in calcium (shown to reduce fatigue, cravings and depression) and B vitamins (especially B6 for mood; try kale and bananas). Reducing bloating salt and caffeine—which can exacerbate stomach and sleep disruptions (have antioxidant-rich matcha, instead, she says)—will help, and zinc-rich beans can soothe cramps. During menopause, peppermint and chamomile tea and ginkgo Biloba are said to aid with hot flashes, mood swings and sleepless nights.

TAKE YOUR VITAMINS
Jennifer’s a fan of supplements, including nonsynthetic, whole-foods multivitamins and probiotics. “It’s rare that people are actually getting every vitamin and mineral from their diet,” she says. She boosts her intake with vitamin C (“Every organ in our body needs it—not just our immune system—and it can help with so much, including fertility,” she says.) and magnesium (the World Health Organization says most Americans are deficient). But, a clean, balanced diet is your backbone.

GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK
PMS, postpartum, menopause—they’re all normal stages. Above all, Jennifer wants women, especially new mothers, to focus on fueling their bodies, not watching a scale. “This time is not about bouncing back or focusing on weight loss—it’s about healing and nourishing yourself and your new baby,” she says. “Taking care of ourselves is so crucial. We can’t properly take care of anyone else unless we are taking care of ourselves.”

Photography by Anna Nguyen

The post How to Eat for Better Hormone Health, According to a Local Nutritionist appeared first on Gulfshore Life.

Self-proclaimed ‘aging influencer’ and aspiring model Ei Leen Simone may look effortlessly chic strutting down runways, posing in swimsuits, and sporting her silver locks in a high pony as she films at-home workouts for her 20,000-plus Instagram followers. But, the 63-year-old Cape Coral resident has had to work to develop her age- and body-positive mindset. “Something triggered me to say, ‘Hey, you can do something about it,’” she says. “‘You just have to have the want.’”

The Malaysia native went to college in New York and worked as a lab technician for beer icon Anheuser-Busch for 28 years. “I had fun making beer, drinking beer, traveling the world,” she says. Blessed with a quick metabolism, Ei Leen wasn’t much concerned with health and fitness for the first half of her life. “I wasn’t working out or worrying about what I consumed,” she says. “Then, forties came along, and late forties came along, and menopause started happening.” She noticed her clothes no longer fit, her silver roots kept relentlessly peeking through, and her usually patient and cheerful mood was replaced with a short temper. She got snippy with people over minor issues. She recalls an out-of-body experience, questioning, ‘Who is this person?’ as she complained to airport staff over a flight delay while on a work trip. “It’s crazy how it all sets in, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally—I just didn’t like myself,” she says.

Ei Leen retired from Busch at 50, launched a food safety consulting firm, and moved to sunny Cape Coral in 2011 with her husband. Here, Ei Leen slowly started shifting her mindset on self-care. To start, she ditched the hair dye and let her silver locks shine: “It was just a confidence booster. I found myself saying, ‘Hey, I’m not hiding anymore—this is who I am.’”

She spent years toggling workout regimens and diet plans, from Weight Watchers to keto, to find something that worked with her travel schedule and aversion to standard gyms (“I’m not a gym rat—I wouldn’t know what to do,” she says). In 2018, her step-granddaughter introduced her to BODi (formerly Beachbody); Ei Leen quickly adapted principles from BODi’s 2B Mindset, the brand’s nutrition program that emphasizes drinking tons of water throughout the day to stay hydrated and less driven by cravings and having tons of veggie-forward meals, with easy-to-eyeball portion recommendations for each meal. She swears by the approachable bodyweight workouts and adaptable guidelines, like drinking half your body weight in ounces of water daily. “Yes, I do go out to eat and drink, but those are my treat times,” she says. “The way I order, if it’s dinner, it’s going to be protein, and then I’ll sub the carb sides out for veggies.”

Another friend also got her hooked on the small-group, instructor-led classes at Orangetheory Fitness. The cultish studio blends high intensity interval training (HIIT) with traditional cardio for super effective, 60-minute workouts. Now, she attends up to five classes a week. “I drank the Kool-Aid, the orange-aid,” she says, laughing.

Two years ago, with her health—including her mood, energy and self-esteem—on track, Ei Leen was itching for a new challenge. “I always had people come up to me and say, ‘You should model,’” she says. She signed with an agency and has since posed for independent brands, such as L.A.-based Babykakes resort wear; dabbled in acting via infomercials for products like Duo Pain Relief cream; and walked for shows during Miami Swim Week and New York Fashion Week. During this year’s Naples Art Institute Scene to be Seen gala and runway show, Ei Leen wowed the crowd in a floral-adorned, two-piece sundress made from woven Publix bags and discarded book pages by local artist Karina Papanikolaou.

Throughout it all, she posts her journey on social media to show other women that they can achieve body positivity at any age. “I know there’s a lot of women out there going through the same situation I went through,” Ei Leen says. “I hope that seeing how I found [myself] can help you find [yourself].”

[ngg src="galleries" ids="430" display="basic_thumbnail" thumbnail_crop="0"]Photography by Kelly Jones

Styling by Erica Thebaud

Shot on location at The Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Estero

Wardrobe courtesy Marina St. Barth on Third Street South in Naples

The post Ei Leen Simone is Reclaiming Her Health (and more) in her Sixth Decade appeared first on Gulfshore Life.

Chatting with Zach Higginson and Ryan Reader, founders of Estero-based G.O.A.T Paddle, is one of the most hilarious brand interviews I’ve ever done. “The Golden Rule of G.O.A.T. pickleball is you hit a winner, and you go ‘BAAAAAAAA,’” Ryan tells me. Later he adds: “We wanted to start the G.O.A.T. mafia. You’re in it, Sam. You’re a hit woman now.” From anyone else, these would sound like cheesy, rehearsed one-liners, but coming from Ryan and Zach, it feels 100% authentic—a perfect representation of pickleball’s next-gen players who treat the sport as seriously as tennis while maintaining its infectious, fun-loving sense of community.

Ryan, a former Minto US OPEN Pickleball Champion, has played for 15 years and is among the sport’s longstanding Southwest Florida ambassadors. Florida native Zach is competing on the pro circuit this year. They met while working as instructors at the region’s pickleball mecca, East Naples Community Park, where they clocked 30,000-plus hours on the courts. The duo started offering private lessons and clinics in 2018, and last year, they made their program official with the formation of their community-centric Paradise PB pickleball coaching business. Not long after, they launched their first G.O.A.T. paddles. “Ever since we’ve known each other, we’ve been talking about paddles and technology—finding the best paddle that’s going to help us hit better shots,” Zach says. “We were consulting at different paddle companies, and at some point, we were like, ‘Let’s just do this on our own.’”

[caption id="attachment_71006" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Photo By Brian Tietz[/caption]

It’s all about taking the game to the next level for Ryan and Zach. Their paddles are particularly well-suited to tennis players who’ve transitioned to pickleball—a group that comprises many of the young, elite players who’ve raised the sport’s profile in recent years. The pair based the design on their observations while teaching players of all levels. Like many other high-performance brands, G.O.A.T. starts with a lightweight, polypropylene honeycomb core encased in thermoformed carbon fiber for increased durability. The two spent more than a year experimenting with surface grit, settling on a long-lasting, three-layer, specialized carbon-fiber weave that grabs the ball, allowing players to easily create a crazy amount of spin.

They also innovated with the strongly pronounced octagonal bevel grip, more akin to tennis rackets than most pickleball paddles on the market. The defined bevels create reference points for adjusting the angle of your grip mid-play—a topic increasingly in vogue among pickleballers. “A lot of points end up in hands battles, where you’re volleying each other, trying to rip the ball as hard as you can,” Ryan says. “We built the grip for optimal timing of touch on the ball—for your muscle memory to work in the moment.”

[caption id="attachment_71004" align="alignright" width="300"] Ryan Reader (below) and Zach Higginson (pictured here) launched G.O.A.T. Paddle with a singular focus: to create the best paddles possible. Their designs feature lightweight cores and ultradurable materials, beveled grips that allow for easy adjustments mid-play, and a three-layer grit surface for a crazy spin. Photo By Brian Tietz[/caption]

It’s no coincidence the paddles are perfectly aligned with the influx of young tennis players shaping pickleball’s next phase. While the low-impact sport has long been associated with seniors, the pro circuit is flush with college tennis players who’ve found it’s easier to rise up the ranks (and make money) playing pickleball. Former pro tennis players are joining the fray, too. In 2023, top American player Sam Querrey, former world No. 5 Eugenie Bouchard and Grand Slam doubles champion Jack Sock signed on to the Professional Pickleball Association Tour. “It’s so cool to see the athleticism really rise up within even these last six months,” Ryan says, adding that he’s particularly drawn to the sport’s dynamics—what it takes to nail the patterns of ball control and triangulations. “When you get to championship-level pickleball, you have to put the work in and really understand it.”

[caption id="attachment_71005" align="alignleft" width="200"] Photo By Brian Tietz[/caption]

But let’s bring the conversation away from the million-dollar sponsorship crowd. At its core, pickleball remains a highly social, approachable, easy-to-get-into game. To that end, G.O.A.T. introduced an affordable line for casual players, who are less concerned about bevels and other performance bits. The sell-out paddles feature playful designs, like a fire-engulfed skull, a UFO-flying alien and a fierce Bigfoot who’s taken a bite out of his paddle.

In addition to developing more products (they recently launched a ball and are working on more paddles), Ryan and Zach are focused on training G.O.A.T.’s pro team, which signed 16-year-old rising star Alexa Schull out of Miami. They’re also ramping up Paradise PB’s slate of events, starting with the G.O.A.T. Bowl, an amateur tournament and party they launched in February in Las Vegas ahead of the Super Bowl. “We like to connect with people. We’re Florida bros playing pickleball, living this lifestyle to the fullest,” Ryan says. “We are blessed to be in Florida, where it happens to be a religion to play pickleball.”

[caption id="attachment_71003" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Ryan—a 15-year veteran pickleballer and former Minto US OPEN Pickleball Champion—and Zach, who is set to compete in the pro circuit this year, met as instructors at East Naples Community Park. “Ever since we’ve known each other, we’ve been talking about ... finding the best paddle that’s going to help us hit better shots,” Zach says. Photo By Brian Tietz[/caption]

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Superfood supplements and protein powders can be a boon for health and fitness routines, but many grocery store finds are jam-packed with filler ingredients that can do more harm
than good. Gut-irritating thickeners like xanthan gum and trans-fat-laden partially hydrogenated oils are often added in lieu of expensive, quality ingredients. Not at Matterhorn Fit.

The gym with locations in Bonita Springs, Naples and soon Fort Myers, recently launched a line of plant protein, grass-fed whey protein and organic green powders (supplements laden with leafy greens and superfood ingredients). The greens are packed with clearly labeled, quality ingredients, like organic spinach leaf, fruit antioxidant-rich pomegranate extract, digestive-supporting organic cinnamon bark and probiotics.

Blend one scoop of the chocolate-flavored Clean Plant Protein powder and one scoop of the mint-flavored, organic Daily Greens with banana, avocado and oat milk for a Thin Mint-flavored smoothie. Or, drink it like former pro hockey player and Matterhorn co-owner Ryan Vesce—shaken in a bottle with water right after his workout. 

Find Matterforn Daily Fit Greens at their two gym locations.

[caption id="attachment_70978" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courtesy Matterhorn Fit[/caption]

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By now, we know we have to wear sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 daily to protect from cancerous rays and preserve our skin’s youthfulness. Who better to turn to for sun-shielding skincare than Southwest Florida skin pros dealing with the same things we do? These four local sunscreens use clean ingredients that are cruelty-free and layer beautifully without the white cast typically created by mineral sunscreens.

Alex Pfropper, founder of Punta Gorda’s ästhetik spa, didn’t cut any corners when creating her tinted Organic Mineral Sunscreen. The vegan, non-pore-clogging, reef-safe formula is loaded with SPF 50, fatty acid and antioxidant-rich botanicals, vitamins and hyaluronic acid for a hydrating, silky finish. While the current tint only suits light-to-medium skin tones, Alex is in the lab working on other shades.

In Naples, double-certified-surgeon-run esthetics studio Project Glammers leverages the body’s built-in sun guard, melanin, in its sunblock. Their DEFEND Melanin Antioxidant Facial Sunscreen SPF 40 is a fragrance-free formula that nourishes skin with vitamins C and E and has added melanin to boost the skin’s healing process (yes, any form of sun exposure and the resulting tan is actually an injury). The product’s ideal for darker, melanin-rich skin types. Plus, we love how the silky, matte finish has a blurring effect on pores and fine lines.

Your face may be extra-delicate, but the rest of your body is not immune from UV radiation’s cancerous effects. Naples-based med spa and lifestyle brand Time 4 U makes a family-friendly mineral sunscreen that’s perfect for wiggly children with its spray applicator. The ultra-lightweight Shield [Sportly] is free of chemical stabilizers (an irritant often found in spray sunscreens) and has Bisabolol (a well-known calming agent derived from chamomile) to brighten and soothe sensitive skin.

For an option that will make your skin glisten, turn to Naples Soap Company’s SPF 50 Florida Sun Defense body oil. Unlike many body oils, this one absorbs quickly, so you’re left with just a flattering glow (and no messes to nearby surfaces). The oil doesn’t have any ‘badditives’—as the brand calls the range of irritants often found in big-box products, such as gluten, silicone, sulfates and endocrine system disruptors like parabens and phthalates. It’s just another reason to embrace the sunshine and soak up the vitamin D, knowing your skin is in good hands.

Pictured: DEFEND Melanin Antioxidant Facial Sunscreen SPF 40 from Project Glammers; Organic Mineral Sunscreen from ästhetik. Previous spread: Shield [Sportly] from Time 4 U; SPF 50 Florida Sun Defense from Naples Soap Company.

[caption id="attachment_70961" align="aligncenter" width="200"] Photo by Christina Bankson[/caption]

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Naples-based Oceanfoam knows a healthy body and healthy planet go hand-in-hand. The brand debuted with a line of stylish, sturdy and sustainably made foam rollers with a signature, wave-ridged design that contours to your musculoskeletal system. “It gives you the tension you need to really dig in there,” says founder Zachary Quinn.

Zachary uses algae to create his collection of fitness gear, which now includes rollers in 30-plus colors, yoga mats and, soon, pool noodles and fishing rod holders. Algae blooms—which wreak havoc on water bodies—can be harvested, dried out and turned into naturally sourced foam that is more durable and softer than most plastic-based products on the market—all while cleaning up the waterways.

In his aim to go carbon-neutral with the venture (he plans to get there by 2025), the Minnesotan-turned-Neopolitan connected with Bloom—the Mississippi-based algae manufacturing pioneer. Beyond creating environmentally friendly gear, Zachary plans to host local cleanup events around the state. “[I want to get] people involved in these events and [see] stuff happen locally in their communities,” he says.

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