Cover Story Sabine Gruchet

HAPPY IN THE middle

BY SHARI HALL

With her glowing smile, stunning wavy brunette hair, head-turning body, and a winning personality that grabs your attention from the moment she walks into a room, it’s hard to believe Tahitian-born, with a French Polynesian father, 47-year-old, 5'10" Sabine Gruchet felt she wasn’t good enough.

Gracing the covers of magazines worldwide from London to Sydney for more than 30 years might seem the epitome of a successful modeling career. But, for this French Polynesian beauty, there was a point when she simply asked herself, “Is it worth it?”

For seventeen years, Sabine was a size 6/8, the desired average size of a straight-sized model. The pressure to sustain her “sample” size measurements was incessant. If it wasn’t from her agent or the brand she represented, then it was from her 5'1" mother, a mirror twin petite, slim woman who was an entrepreneur, singer, and model herself.

“The psychology of being told not to gain weight, made me gain weight! My mum got upset if I was gaining weight. Yes, she praised me and instilled confidence in me when I did the right thing, but she would also tell me off,” Sabine recalls. This led to years of binge eating and other self-sabotaging behaviours. For Sabine, it was a mentally unsustainable way to live. She saw how stress and overwhelm affected her mother.

“I learned the mind is a very powerful thing. My mum, who began as a singer, moved on to own a chain of boutiques, she started me in fashion, she definitely worked too hard, and every time she got stressed, she got a new lump. She had many cancers throughout her life and died while I was in my twenties.” The average woman wears a size 16/18, yet most models promote size 4/6, which is not even 5% of the population, according to Sabine. Her body changed shape when she was in her thirties, and it was getting harder and harder to maintain her physique. She made the decision to switch to “plus-sized” modeling. Ironically, at a size 14, Sabine was told she was too small and needed to be at least a size 18 to 22. She was encouraged to be bigger and to eat more. Originally, she thought, “How great! I can eat whatever I want!” Her size increased easily, and with confidence and humour, she embraced her new curves. Her highly-relatable demeanour and authentic presentation style had her instantly selling out every item she advertised on shopping TV. Yet even at 95kg, the pressure remained the same. She was measured every day, like a live mannequin, to fit the samples, often being told, “Your arms are too small,” or “Your waist is still too small.” So, she ate some more, to the point where it became out of control and she just couldn’t stop. When she returned to Australia, she was shocked to find she was a size 20/22 and 103 kgs. It seemed there was no way to halt the weight gain. Fate would have it that the right opportunity came to her at just the right time – to become an ambassador for Nestle’s Optifast.

The Optifast Program, developed in 1974, is a clinically proven, scientifically designed very low calorie diet, doctor recommended for the management of obesity. Placing her in a state of mild ketosis (the process where your body begins to burn fat rather than carbohydrates for fuel), she was down a dress size in six days. The rapid results motivated her to continue. With the combination of shakes, bars and low starch vegetables, thirteen weeks later she found herself 20kg lighter, having lost thirty percent of her body weight. Thereafter, she continued to lose one to two kilograms per week until she reached her desired 30 kilo weight loss - not too skinny, not too fat, but happy in the middle. Describing herself as a “natural psychologist,” Sabine intuitively knew that how you feel inside can dramatically affect how you show up in the world. An entrepreneur since the age of 17, (as the owner of two lingerie boutiques), it was time for her to use her lifetime of knowledge and experience in the lingerie industry to create a

Working with a technologist and improving upon the very best brand samples she’d modeled in the past, Sabine created the Miracle Shapers. Available in nude and black, with sizes ranging from small to 6XL, there are multiple styles to empower every woman, allowing each to embrace her unique and beautiful body shape. “If you feel good underneath, you can wear anything! Contrary to popular belief, the Miracle Shapers are not just for big girls. Our most popular sizes are 10-14. We have styles for the waist, bottom, thighs, whist improving posture that make any outfit look great. It’s a happy, fun business,” she says.

Sabine is as busy as they come managing her business, and soon to be selling real estate with the McGill group, inspiring people to exercise and walk more as a footwear model with Freeworld Comfort line, and maintaining her own photography and modeling studios in Sydney and the Sunshine Coast. But she keeps it real with the support of her family and friends, taking the necessary “me time” to rest and recharge. It’s not unusual to see Sabine walking in the park or along the beaches of the Sunshine Coast with her Great Dane English Mastiff, Thumper. On first impressions, his massive size would have anyone giving a wide berth. But Sabine loves that when he meets another dog, he cuddles and kisses them, and never fights back. Thumper is as gentle as they come, and he loves to have a play, reminding us all, as the old adage says, to “never judge a book by its cover,” or a woman (or dog!) by her size. SABINE’S 10 TIPS FOR EMOTION-FREE EATING: 1. Change your perspective and focus Food isn’t naughty or nice, it just simply is – an amazing plethora of scrumptious, nutritious choices in which to fuel your body. Rather than focusing on foods you can’t have, appreciate the healthy options you do have, and with gratitude say “Bon appetit!” 2. Love yourself The world may judge you, but you don’t have to. Remind yourself daily, with positive affirmations, of all the amazing things you are! Be kind, take a look in the mirror and reflect on the beauty you see inside and out. 3. Enjoy moving your body Exercise comes in all forms. Dance, walk, swim, run, cycle, paddle-board, go to the gym, take a class, or simply play in the park! Just move your body whenever and however you can, alone or with others. Make it fun and your body will thank you. 4. Dish out the praise! Instead of commenting or criticising others on their eating habits, praise them when they make healthy choices. Instead of shaming their cake indulgence, celebrate their choice of an apple or a walk after dinner. It will inspire them to repeat the behaviour. 5. Make healthy substitutions Food can be fun, so get creative in the kitchen with some of these suggested substitutions: spiraled zucchini for pasta, mashed cauliflower for rice, lettuce leaves for flour wraps, baby cucumbers for packaged chips (they’re crunchy too!), herbal tea for coffee or soda – just to name a few. 6. Take a day off Go easy on yourself and enjoy a day of food freedom. A once-in-a-while departure from the routine will rev up your metabolism and eliminate boredom. 7. Nurture yourself with nature Get outside and breathe some fresh air. Take a walk with Mother Nature and soothe your soul. It’s also a great way to get from point A to B and meet some of your neighbours! 8. Catch some z’s Good sleep habits are a must when trying to maintain a healthy weight. Create a wind down routine that’s inviting for slumber so you can wake up refreshed and energised for the new day ahead. 9. Put on a happy tune Music is an automatic state changer. It can elevate your mood, distract you from mindless eating, and signal your body to move. Whether you are at home, on a walk, in the car, or at work, crank up the tunes and feel your heart soar. 10. Be prepared Take the time to prepare healthy meals and snacks a head of time so you are never tempted to indulge. The extra prep time may save you from self-sabotaging behaviours in the future. *Bonus tip – keep it to yourself and lead by example – You may have heard that making your healthy lifestyle choices public garners support and applause. But it may actually do the opposite.

Telling everyone you are on a “diet” puts a lot of pressure on both you and them. You may even find those closest to you become the first to sabotage your efforts to stay on track.

Instead, lead by example, just do you, and let go of the need to guilt others who don’t fall in line with your plan. In time, they will see your results and the glow you emanate to the world and be inspired. a Sabine Gruchet // 0405 751 646 www.miracleshapers.com.au www.mullensstreetstudio.com.au www.themcgillgroup.com.au www.missdaisies.com.au www.theright.fit/sabineg