I’m Melanie Banayat, CEO (creative expansion optimist), founder of MiliGirl Wellness. I am a 47 year old "former" stress junkie & emotional eater that is passionately dedicated to supporting women in reaching their health & lifestyle goals.
I am also a daughter, sister, wife, mother, and friend.
I have classic type-A personality tendencies, which is why I have always been interested in being an entrepreneur. I have owned four different businesses in my lifetime thus far. I had a freelance graphic design business for 12 years back before computers were widely used in the advertising industry, I was part owner/operator of Olallie Lake Resort in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon for 11 years, and currently the owner of Miligirl Enterprises, which consists of my fine art wellness products and Holistic Health & Nutrition Counseling - "MiliGirl Wellness".
In recent years I have developed an intoxicating love affair with whole foods nutrition, personal development and natural health! MiliGirl Wellness is my way of sharing that passion with you. Here you’ll find my favorite healthy recipes, nutrition tips, product reviews, and lots of information to help you live a healthy & happy life.
Click here to learn more about my one-on-one coaching practice or to book a consultation with me!
My life has not always been on the Healthy track. On the contrary, my friends! A few years ago, after losing everything of value to me in a traumatic divorce, immediately followed by the downfall of our economy causing my fine art business to flounder, I mindlessly turned to things like overeating, processed foods, a sedentary lifestyle, too much booze, and zero desire to develop any new deep and meaningful relationships…you get the picture! That lifestyle didn’t nourish me physically, emotionally, or spiritually. As a result I gained weight and my health began to deteriorate.
I have been a professional artist most of my adult life in one form or another either in commercial art or fine art. But when my art career was threatened by the onset of Rheumatoid Arthritis in my hand I finally started to pay attention to what my body was trying to tell me.
I was about 25+ pounds overweight, with a family health history of diabetes, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and allergies. I was on the fast track to self-destruction even knowing that all of these health issues have preventable measures.
I find it interesting that it wasn’t the weight gain that motivated me to change; it was the daily chronic pain in my hand and arm. I couldn't close my hand due to inflammation. The joints in my fingers were swollen and becoming disfigured, which prevented me from holding my painting tools for very long, and the pain in my feet hindered my ability to dance with my loving partner on our weekend dates. With food and lifestyle changes that were customized to my individual needs and preferences I was able to eliminate the symptoms of my RA, and as a nice side benefit the weight came off as well. It was actually much easier than I imagined it would be.
In addition to the RA I also suffered with debilitating migraines, depression, allergies, painful cystic acne, fibroid cysts in my breasts, drastic mood swings as well as pre-diabetes with out of control sugar cravings, which was dangerous with my family history. I was hypoglycemic and fearful of crossing the line into full blown diabetes like so many of my family members; some are on medications or taking daily insulin shots and constantly having to monitor their blood sugar levels.
What I realized is that a large part of why I was in such poor health included a lot of deep-seated beliefs, fears, practices and habits that needed to change. But most of all I needed to allow myself to get the "right kind of help" in order to be able to finally live the life I was intended to live. A life that was not imprisoned by regular visits to a medical doctor, dependence upon pharmaceutical drugs, and ruled by how well or unwell I felt at any given moment, which affected every other part of my life -- my relationships, my career, my spirituality and how active I was able to be.
And to be completely honest and realistic, the fact was, I needed to focus on weight loss for women over 40, because there are certain issues that women over 40 face that are much different than women in their 20s and 30s.
This personal experience inspired me to want to learn more and share my knowledge with other women to help them make healthy changes in their life, too.
When I discovered how to cure my rheumatoid arthritis through nutrition and a healthier lifestyle, I became passionate about healthy foods, cleaner living, and embracing a deeper more meaningful life. It’s been quite a journey so far! I’ve learned that being healthy doesn’t have to be about deprivation. For me, it’s about feeling great, having fun, experimenting with new things and enhancing life every day. My passion for finding delicious and nourishing ways to be healthy led me to create MiliGirl Wellness, and I hope it inspires you to become a MiliGirl, too!
Peace, Love and Good Health to All!
Melanie Banayat
 (aka, Miligirl)
Read this Interview with Melanie
Artwork Copyright 2007 Melanie Banayat.
Including images shown on this webpage: Blue Boots (top right), Pondering (center left), and Obos - Stack of rocks (bottom right).
Melanie's artwork, prints and notecards may be purchased at www.MiliGirl.com
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Melanie Banayat | Miligirl Enterprises | P.O. Box 11595 Prescott, AZ. 86304 | 928-239-5656
