M’Lou Arnett always considered herself an active person and her athletic resume backs up that claim. Her youth predated widespread opportunities for girls to play in organized sports, but by the time she reached college, M’Lou was a member of the soccer and lacrosse team. She also skied and played golf.
It was part of who she was.
Until she had her children. While she still felt she had active lifestyle, her participation in organized sports faded as her responsibilities at home and at work took up the majority of her time.
“I was never a gym goer, because I had an active lifestyle and always wanted to do things with a purpose. When I had my first child, I had work and I loved being a mom and the idea of leaving my baby to go for a run wasn’t something I was interested in. If the opportunity came by to play tennis or a round of golf, I’d happily take it, but it wasn’t something I sought out.”
It’s a familiar story for many women -- having an active lifestyle waned as work and family responsibilities increase.
But for M’Lou, it was the trials of her children, which got her back into seeking out those athletic opportunities and bringing her a better focus on healthy living.
It was about five years ago when her now 18-year old was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease -- an inflammatory bowel disease, which can lead to abdominal pain and malnutrition.
And that diagnosis changed a lot in her own life.
For starters, M’Lou began competing again, this time with a purpose. She knew of a friend who had raised money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through their popular Team in Training Programs. While searching the Internet for information on Crohn’s Disease, M’Lou found a similar program -- Team Challenge. In 2008, she ran a half marathon in Florida and raised $10,000 for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.
“It wasn’t so much a drive get back in shape. My kids were older, I was starting to walk more and do a bit of running. I thought, ‘I can do this for my child.’ I can’t fix him. I can’t fix his disease. I can’t apply any medicine. But I can go out and show him that I’m fully engaged and try to raise money for the disease.”
Successful in that endeavor, she kept up with running and became more aware of general health principles, seeing how those decisions made her not only a better runner, but more able to fully embrace everything her life had to offer, particularly with an 18-year old son, 15-year old daughter and 13-year twins.
“Overall, my whole approach over time and through training and running was that when I started to eat better and exercise I noticed a direct link to how I felt. I don’t want to overstate it, but with four teenagers, launching my own business and being on three volunteer boards, I’m constantly going. I found the better I fuel myself, the better I could do it.”
As she learned about better products to put in her body, M’Lou started to think about the products she put on her body. With a background in working with over the counter products from marketing to brand management, she and a partner researched and launched Puristics -- a line of anti-aging skin care, feminine protection products and a baby care products that are designed to be free from potentially harmful chemicals and effective.
“In the past, if you wanted a pure, safe product, you had to already be in the natural and organic space and if you found them, there was no assurance it would work. We know how to get products developed, do clinical trials and put together the proof that something is pure and effective.
“We look at ingredients in packaged foods. We want women to turn around and read the labels and see the ingredients of what they’re putting on their bodies as well. We want them to make that connection.”
That connection between mind, body and spirit was nourished for M’Lou through two Women’s Quest retreat -- a mother-daughter retreat and a space for herself at the adventures retreat in Vermont.
“Women’s Quest was wonderful because it was like finding out I wasn’t alone. There was the fitness side of it, but there was a deeper connection to what I valued and what I thought was important in life.
“We have venture funding for our business and we made our proposals the month following the collapse of Lehman Brothers. It takes an inner strength to see the financial world crumbing and insist your business is so important that somebody needs to invest in you. Whether that’s a lesson I drew from Women’s Quest or a reaffirmation, I’m not sure. But that’s part of the journey and something I want to set an example for with my children, and my daughters especially.”
Written by Amy Moritz, a freelance writer, triathlete, Women’s Quest alum and general adventure seeker. Follow her at http://www.amymoritz.com
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It was about five years ago when her now 18-year old was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease -- an inflammatory bowel disease, which can lead to abdominal pain and malnutrition.
As she learned about better products to put in her body, M’Lou started to think about the products she put on her body. With a background in working with over the counter products from marketing to brand management, she and a partner researched and launched Puristics -- a line of anti-aging skin care, feminine protection products and a baby care products that are designed to be free from potentially harmful chemicals and effective.
