woman ILLINOIS VALLEY
March 2020
WILDLIFE SANCTUARY Nancy Johnson works tirelessly to care for helpless animals
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contents
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALI BRABOY
Stay Trendy Looking to update your shoe collection as the weather warms? Stay trendy – and comfortable – with these local footwear collections. Page 18
Making history 5
On the cover Nancy Johnson started 2nd Hand Ranch and Rescue as a sanctuary to senior pets, farm animals and some wildlife unable to be released. Page 11
Illinois Valley Woman
Three female judges share challenges faced before being handed the gavel.
Pamper your face
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT ANDERSON
8
Not sure if you should get a facial? Estheticians say you should definitely put it into your routine.
Health before body
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A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Woman | March 2020 3
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4 March 2020 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
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‘I never thought I would be a judge’ A history-making number of female judges discuss how they made it By Tom Collins
T
hree of the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court are women - the most at any time in history - and there happen to be three female judges - also a historic high - in the circuit that includes La Salle, Bureau and Grundy counties. The local trailblazer was Circuit Judge Cynthia M. Raccuglia, 64, of Peru, who was appointed associate judge in 1990 and then elected circuit judge in 1994. She has since been joined by longtime colleagues and friends Karen C. Eiten and Michelle A. Vescogni. Eiten, 61, was appointed associate judge in 2011 and assigned to La Salle County’s family division. Vescogni, 46, was appointed associate judge in 2016 and also serves in the family division. We asked the judges to sit for a roundtable discussing the challenges they faced before being handed the gavel, and what advice they would give a young woman contemplating a career at law.
If someone had, in your youth, told you you’d be a judge someday then what would you have told them? Eiten: I would never have ever believed that — never. I was gob-smacked that I had a chance to be a lawyer. I revered lawyers. I was the first one in my family to graduate from college, so to think that I could go to law school and maybe be a lawyer was amazing to me. So I would never have aspired to this. My third year of law school I was dating someone I had met in college who became my husband. My mom said, “I thought you were going to law school and marry a lawyer.” That’s not what I went to law school for. It all worked out just lovely, but truly my mom thought I was going to go snag a husband. Raccuglia: My father did not want me to go to law school and wanted me to do something else. He wasn’t real happy I was in the law profession. He thought I
would run into a lot of prejudice. So it was a fight between us. He finally was very proud and accepted it. Vescogni: My parents did not go to college. I was the first in my family to go to college and when I told my mom I was thinking about law school, she said, ‘You absolutely go to law school. If that’s what you want, you do that.’ They were supportive of me throughout my education. How many women were there in law school? What was the approximate ratio at that time? Eiten: It wasn’t 50 percent, but it wasn’t that much below 50 percent. The difference was when you get into litigation. There are a lot less women in litigation. Raccuglia: I had about 40 percent women in law school. Vescogni: I just checked on this today because I wanted to be prepared to answer this question. When I graduated See Judges page 7
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT ANDERSON
Illinois Thirteenth Judicial Court judges Michelle Vescogni, Cynthia Raccuglia and Karen Eiten pose for a photo in a courtroom at the La Salle County courthouse downtown Ottawa. In a career dominated by males, female judges are becoming more prevailing in the court room.
6 March 2020 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
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“... you don’t start as a judge. There are many things you have to do to get there.” ~ Michelle A. Vescogni, associate judge
Judges FROM PAGE 5
in 1998, 48 percent of my graduating class was women. Today’s class is 52 percent. Now, women are outnumbering men. Why is that? Why are there more women in law school today? Raccuglia: More firms want women lawyers. There are more jobs available to women. It may be coming to an end now, but there was a real surge of people telling people that if you are a man, then I’m not sure law school is for you because law firms, for obvious reasons, were looking for women. Eiten: It’s just directly contrary to when you and I started… Raccuglia: Absolutely. Eiten: …my first job, I was a law clerk at a patent and trade firm in Chicago. The fellow who hired me was an associate and he came to me after a substantial time and said, ‘You know, I almost lost my job over hiring you. They never had a woman attorney and they certainly never had a woman clerk before. When they found out I hired a woman they were very upset.’ They offered me a job as a lawyer, so they got over it. Had things changed when you came out of law school, Judge Vescogni? Was there less resistance at the hiring table? Vescogni: Yes. I had several job offers and I did not experience ever feeling that I was not hired because I was a woman. I didn’t have that issue. I just don’t see that being an issue.
Tell me what you felt when the robes went on for the first time? How did it feel? Raccuglia: It was unbelievable because it never happened before. And my father and I never thought it would be possible working together because there never was a woman judge, there was no role model. It was the most unbelievable moment in the world. I felt numb, as if I had died and gone to heaven. Vescogni: I never thought I would be a judge. That was never part of my plan. You don’t think about that. You graduate from law school, you get a job and you start your firm. We have had, truly, such a good judiciary and to be part of that was really overwhelming, and I was just so grateful. Eiten: That was a big deal for me and my mom. This is the best job ever. Even though today we did 300 cases on the small claims call, it’s still the best job ever — even on the worst day. If a young woman were to come up to you and say, ‘I want to be a judge someday,’ what would you tell her? Vescogni: Here’s what we would first say, and I think I speak for all of us: The market for lawyers is saturated. The bigger problem is the self-represented litigants and this culture of people wanting to represent themselves. In our county in 2019, 60 percent of new divorce filings had at least one person representing himself or herself. So not only is the market saturated with lawyers, but people are not using lawyers like they once were.
But I would say, you don’t start as a judge. There are many things you have to do to get there. Raccuglia: I have a totally different perspective. The profession is saturated with lawyers but it’s not saturated with good lawyers… Vescogni: That’s true. I agree with that. Raccuglia: …I would tell a young lady, ‘If you want to be a lawyer, and you want to be a judge, then go. But understand that in order to achieve what you want you have to be the best, which is 24/7.’ I would never discourage a young woman if she wants to be the best. There’s not enough good lawyers. So you work hard, be prepared and understand the culture of the community in which you work; but never have the goal of being the judge, because that isn’t going to happen overnight. Have the goal of being a great lawyer. Eiten: Way back when I started, the American Bar Association Journal — I’ll never forget reading this — had an article geared toward female attorneys. It said, ‘If you wake up and you don’t feel well, put on bright red lipstick and go to work.’ That’s the way it was. Nobody was going to give you a pass. Working hard seems to have become a little bit passé, but you’re not going to get anywhere by not working hard. So if people aspire to a position that we have been lucky enough to get, they’re not going to get this position by not working their tail off. And that’s true in all professions.
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT ANDERSON
Have you ever gotten a facial? It will help your skin. Janessa Wyatt receives an antioxidant moisturizer facial treatment at the Soderstrom Skin Institute in Peru. Facials will help make your skin radiant, beautiful and glowing. They can also improve acne and offer anti-aging treatments.
8 March 2020 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
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Make facials part of your routine By Kim Shute
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re you a queen of selfcare or someone who rarely indulges in treating yourself? Whether you’re new to the skincare game or a seasoned pro, facials are something estheticians say you should definitely put into your routine. Nicole Norris, of Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa in La Salle, says facials are indeed for anyone. “They’re superficial exfoliation and cleansing with just a little bit of irritation so you’re getting rid of any impurities in your skin and getting off all the old skin to turn over new skin,” she said. “It’s very healthy for skin and the bonus is you’re going to leave very relaxed and stress free. Norris said the first thing a client will receive is a thorough consultation to determine their skin type and right type of facial for their skin. She said all their signature facials include dermaplaning, which removes the superficial layers
of skin and peach fuzz, leaving a glowing complexion behind. Though a single facial is beneficial, Norris recommends it become part of a regular routine. “I like to say we’re like going to the gym,” Norris said. “You can’t just go once and expect results.” Because the skin naturally has a renewal cycle of four to six weeks, Norris recommends monthly or at least every-other-month facials. Currently, she says hydration facials are particularly popular because people are suffering from dry and dehydrated skin this time of year. Expect to be at your appointment for about an hour. If a facial is new to you, or you’ve considered one, but don’t know where to start, Jessica Brown, a licensed esthetician and makeup artist at Soderstrom Skin Institute, is here for you. Brown said facials can
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be for everyone, regardless of skin type: dry, combination, oily or acne-prone, there’s a facial designed for you. Glycolic facials, using exfoliating acids, she says are particularly popular for giving the skin a refreshed glowing look. “A facial is great for getting skin really as clean as possible,” she said. “And most women like the general rejuvenation. The goal of a facial is to exfoliate more than you can at home to expose the freshest layer of skin.” “We offer everything from a quick 15-minute lunchtime treatment to a full hour to suit the needs of each individual,” she said. “We have a 30-minute session that includes pore cleansing and anti-aging, which is perfect for a lot of people.” During many facials, Brown said the client’s shoulders and decolletage also are treated since they show signs of aging, just like the face. Brown said for those new to a facial regime it’s important to note that in some cases the skin can get worse before it gets better. “You will leave with soft and glowing skin, but there is a possibility the skin can purge in the days afterwards,” she said. This means treatment may bring to the surface some blemishes, but that is an expected result. “That’s kind of what I call a controlled purge,” she said. “It’s important to fol-
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT ANDERSON
Jessica Brown, licensed esthetician and makeup artist, applies Guinot antioxidant moisturizer to Janessa Wyatt’s face during a facial at the Skin Dimension Day Spa at Soderstrom Skin Institute in Peru. Soderstrom offers hydrating glycolic facials, cleansing express, seaweed and much more. low up with any treatment plan at that stage to minimize the effects.” What are the steps to a facial? Though there are many different types of facials, for the uninitiated, the general process is: n Cleanse, remove any makeup you’re wearing n Consultation n Steam n Exfoliation n Extraction n Massage n Facial Mask n Final Applications
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Spring Ahead…..Leave Fat and Loose Skin Behind without Surgery When the temperatures start to warm, and the sun shows itself more brightly, every woman thinks about the new beginnings of spring… and the next season’s wardrobe! Many women start planning the new season’s wardrobe at the sprout of the first crocus and inspect what they have from the last warm weather season to wear again. Unfortunately, winter’s dullness and lack of outdoor activity often leaves us feeling a little fluffy around the middle. Panic sets in when the clothes from last spring and summer do not seem to fit or look as good. Exercise and dieting ensue. When exercise and dieting are not quite enough to get back in your warm weather wardrobe, there are fortunately other options that don’t involve medication or surgery. Dr. Nicole Norris of Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa in Peru, Illinois now offers her patients effective non-surgical fat destruction with a WarmsculptingTM laser, but also non-surgical skin tightening and cellulite reduction with another device, TempSure FirmTM. We decided to ask her questions regarding both modalities so our readers can learn if one or both are right for them. What exactly is WarmSculptingTM? “WarmSculptingTM, also known as SculpSureTM, is powerful laser energy that is only attracted to sub-cutaneous adipose tissue (pinchable fat). Because this laser energy is only absorbed by fat, it is very safe, with no absorption of energy to the surrounding tissues. In one 25-minute treatment, my patients can expect to lose an estimated 25% of the pinchable fat in the treated area. Areas treated include the abdomen, flanks, thighs, legs, back, and fat under the chin. The destroyed fat cells are permanently cleared from the body over the course of an average of 12 weeks. There is no downtime after the procedure and most patients describe the treatment to me as tolerable, but not relaxing. We offer relaxing medications and even nitrous oxide (laughing gas), if needed, to get you through the short treatment. Patients who have a healthy lifestyle, can maintain their weight, and have areas of stubborn fat are ideal candidates for WarmSculptingTM.” What exactly is TempSureTM? “TempSureTM is a device that creates radiofrequency energy. Radiofrequency energy warms the water in the skin to a point that causes skin to become tighter and stimulates collagen production. This heat energy is very comfortable and produces results in one to six treatments depending on the laxity of the skin. Radiofrequency energy can be used on the face, neck, abdomen, thighs, knees, arms, elbows and
even female-only regions for skin and tissue tightening. Patients with mild to moderate skin laxity and wrinkles are great candidates. Those with extremely loose skin will see some improvement but should still consider surgical options. Radiofrequency energy has also been shown to temporarily treat cellulite and is one of the few devices that can improve this menacing problem. Radiofrequency energy is safe for everyone, except those who have implantable devices with an on/off switch somewhere in the body, such as a pacemaker or defibrillator.” Can I have both? “WarmSculptingTM and TempSureTM can be used to treat the same area of the body on the same day. In my experience, many patients need both! If this is the case, we do WarmSculptingTM first and then TempSureTM. On average most patients require two WarmSculptingTM treatments on areas to reduce stubborn fat and then 3-4 treatments of TempSureTM for skin tightening and/or cellulite. We set up custom packages for our patients that include both technologies. A popular regimen is to have WarmsculptingTM and TempsureTM together then 3 weeks later only TempsureTM then 3 weeks after that WarmsculptingTM and TempsureTM. Together or separate these 2 treatments make my patients very happy and look good in their wardrobe, whatever the season!” If you are interested in learning more, call Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa in April for a free consultation to see if either or both is right for you. During April, packages of either procedure will have special pricing and additional treatments may be free when you do both! Don’t miss our evening event Thursday, April 23, 5:30pm to 7pm that you can attend with friends and see a WarmSculpting and TempSure treatment LIVE at 6pm! Get all your questions answered and enjoy Wine with Raffles! RSVP to the event or call to make your appointment for a free consultation 815-780-8264!
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10 March 2020 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
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Princess enjoys some time with 2nd Hand Ranch & Rescue owner Nancy Johnson before a new family arrives for adoption day.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNETTE BARR
‘I was just meant to be here’ By Annette Barr
W
hen Nancy Johnson discovered a five-acre lot in Bureau County in 2003, she knew she found a place to build her dream house. However, it was several years later following a battle with cancer that she realized she had actually found her home. Born in Minnesota, Johnson spent a year living in Greece with her mother and her mother’s boyfriend before making Chicago, specifically the Rogers Park
neighborhood, her home when she was just entering double digits. By age 15 her mother died and Johnson became an emancipated minor. In 1981, on the day she turned 16, she got a job at Nightingale-Conant, a producer of audio programs aimed at self-help and personal development. She stayed there 16 years. It was in 1996 when Johnson and her then-husband moved to Ottawa to work at Skydive Chicago. “We fell in
love with the Illinois Valley,” Johnson said. “I was just meant to be here. It’s just a great community.” While active in the community and the Ottawa Garden Club, she made a trip to Hornbaker Gardens in Princeton following her divorce in 2003. That is when she discovered the timbered lot that would become her home and 2nd Hand Ranch & Rescue. See Ranch page 13
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Nancy Johnson takes a pig on a walk at the 2nd Hand Ranch and Rescue in Princeton. Johnson is a licensed Illinois Department of Agriculture companion animal rescuer. You can help donate to 2nd Hand Ranch and Rescue on their website www. 2ndhandranch.com. 2nd Hand Ranch is a 501 (c) (3) charity.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT ANDERSON
12 March 2020 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
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Ranch FROM PAGE 11
“It all started because back in 2006 I found a baby squirrel here and couldn’t find its mother,” Johnson said between sips of hot tea with cream and sugar. She had grown up seeing her own mother nurse baby birds, injured squirrels and the occasional kitten back to health, so it wasn’t much of a leap to take on the task herself. In 2008 she became licensed with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and in 2011 2nd Hand Ranch & Rescue became a licensed nonprofit. The ranch serves as a sanctuary to senior pets, farm animals and some wildlife unable to be released. Others are rehabilitated and returned to the wild. Some pets find a second chance with a new family through adoption. In the midst of caring for her growing brood on the ranch and commuting daily to DeKalb for her job with the Illinois Department of Agriculture as the Gypsy Moth Program Manager, Johnson became sick. It was 2015 and the diagnosis was cancer - Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Unable to work and keep up with daily chores, and spending six days at a time in Peoria for treatment, Johnson needed help. Friends and volunteers stepped up and took care of the ranch and its inhabitants. A fundraiser brought in $25,000. Cops 4 Cancer, an organization made up of police officers from throughout the Illinois Valley, paid her mortgage a few times. She was able to finish treatment without owing any bills. And that’s when Johnson knew she belonged in Starved Rock Country. “Then I truly knew that this was home … Even with being sick we kept on going. It was like having a wake but you’re alive,” Johnson said reflecting on that year. “I didn’t know See Ranch page 16
SON
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT ANDERSON
Above: Nancy Johnson smiles as a squirrel looks at her. Johnson rehabilitates animals of all kind at 2nd Hand Ranch and Rescue.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNETTE BARR
Below: Winkin’ was one of three African guinea fowl at the ranch last spring.
14 March 2020 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNETTE BARR
Above: Pumpkin is a rescued fur-farm fox. He and Know, a black fox, are not wild or native to the area.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNETTE BARR
Below: Johnson holds Know, a black fox, in the remodeled fox enclosure.
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Nancy Johnson and Spatz, a bottle-fed goat who has made 2nd Hand Ranch & Rescue his home since he was 6 weeks old, take a rest on the deck at Dana’s Retreat. The small cottage was being constructed on the ranch to honor Dana Deutsch, Johnson’s close friend and a fellow animal rescuer who lost her battle with cancer.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNETTE BARR
Ranch FROM PAGE 13
I had such an impact in the community. It was like an ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ moment.” Vickie Scoma, from La Salle, first met Johnson when she was fighting cancer. Later Johnson helped Scoma with a dog she rescued that needed emergency vet care and surgery. “She just has that spirit that makes you feel like instant friends,” Scoma said. “Nancy brings a much needed awareness to this community about the importance of education, compas-
sion, and advocacy when it comes to animals. She works tirelessly to defend and protect helpless creatures who don’t have a voice. She gives of herself to the point of exhaustion and never gives up or considers anything impossible. She is a wealth of knowledge and expertise when it comes to rescue and wildlife rehab and she is a friend to every living creature. She teaches us that every creature deserves kindness and respect and she makes this world a much better place just by being herself. She is a gift in every way imaginable.” Walking amongst the ever growing collection of outbuildings on the ranch,
Johnson is accompanied by a goat named Spatz who seems to take his job as resident good-will ambassador quite seriously. “I would be in the hospital and I would get photos of people weeding the garden, taking care of the animals, and I knew I was part of the community,” Johnson said with a warm smile. “You would never see this in Chicago – the taking care of your own. I wouldn’t be here without the Illinois Valley … I’m alive because of this community.” For more information about 2nd Hand Ranch & Rescue visit www.2ndhandranch.com and find them on Facebook.
16 March 2020 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
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Spring & Summer shoe trends
Small business owners offer lots of animal print and comfy shoes By Ali Braboy
NEWSTRIBUNE REPORTER
W
hen it comes to spring and summer shoe trends, comfort is what shoppers are searching for. And Illinois Valley small businesses are here to help when it comes to providing fashion-forward, comfortable shoes. As the temperatures begin to climb, and the winter boots are placed in the back of the closet, it’s time to take an inventory of your not-so-heavy footwear that lets those feet breathe. And if you discover your shoe selection needs an upgrade, you don’t have to travel far to find the hottest shoe styles. Three female business owners shared what to expect when it comes to spring and summer trends. As the weather becomes warmer, the stores will continue to add more spring and summer shoes to their collections. ANIMAL PRINT IS POPULAR And those prints will remain trendy throughout at least fall, said Denna Leifheit, owner of Peaces of Fashion in La Salle. She knows because she’s already shopped for her store’s clothes that will be on sale this fall. In every brand of shoe she carries, there is at least one pair that has an animal print on it. Peaces of Fashion is located at 733 First St., La Salle.
SANDALS WILL BE AROUND FOR FUN AND FOR DRESS OCCASIONS Amia Boutique has a wide variety of sandals, ranging from formal to fun. Espadrilles - casual, flat, but sometimes high-heeled shoes, typically with a canvas or cotton fabric upper and a flexible sole made of esparto rope - are very popular, said Amia Boutique owner Christine Pellegrini. In addition to sandals, the small business carries a wide variety of shoes that can also be purchased at its two locations as well as online at amiaboutique.com. Amia Boutique is located at 223 E. St. Paul St., Spring Valley and 633 First St. La Salle. COMFORT IS KING The Ilse Jacobsen Women’s Tulip shoe is a fashionable, comfortable shoe that can be bought at NiciLynn Shoes in Princeton. The store’s No. 1-selling shoe is the Ilse Jacobsen Women’s Tulip shoe. Store owner Nicole Middleton said teachers love them. The shoe comes in a wide array of colors, and they stay popular year-round. The shoe is great for walking and vacation, as the show is easy to slide on and off, she said. NiciLynn Shoes is located at 535 S. Main St., Princeton.
18 March 2020 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
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Peaces of Fashion in La Salle offers comfortable, trendy shoes that someone can wear all day long. NEWSTRIBUNE PHOTO/ALI BRABOY
If you’re looking for a fashionable, comfortable shoe, look no further than NiciLynn Shoes in Princeton. The store’s No. 1 seller shoe is the Ilse Jacobsen Women’s Tulip shoe. NEWSTRIBUNE PHOTO/ALI BRABOY
Mary Jane shoes are back in style this year, said Nicole Middleton, owner of NiciLynn Shoes in Princeton. NEWSTRIBUNE PHOTO/ALI BRABOY
Shine this spring and summer with these Rhinestone Sandals from Amia boutique. SUBMITTED PHOTO FROM AMIA BOUTIQUE
Animal print will remain trendy throughout at least the fall season, said Denna Leifheit, who owns Peaces of Fashion in La Salle. NEWSTRIBUNE PHOTO/ALI BRABOY
Get a fashionable pair of espadrilles from Amia Boutique in La Salle and Spring Valley. SUBMITTED PHOTO FROM AMIA BOUTIQUE
A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Woman | March 2020 19
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A sign in the Bold and Curvy store window.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNETTE BARR
Health at every size By Annette Barr
P
rior to opening her plussize women’s clothing store in La Salle, Andrea Sugg was all too familiar with the struggle of finding options when shopping in the Illinois Valley. “Me myself, I am a plus-size woman. And so often I’ve gone into stores and have seen things I’ve wanted and say, ‘Oh, do you have this?’ And they didn’t have it in my size, only to be told there’s
that one rack in the corner where the lights are burnt out and it’s dusty,” Sugg said of the usual plus-size section found in stores while hanging new spring arrivals at her boutique, Bold & Curvy. Unsatisfied with feeling like she had to settle for something less than what she wanted, Sugg opened her store three years ago catering to the majority of American women who wear clothing
sizes extra-large and higher. In addition to casual wear and some dressier options, Sugg also sells swimsuits and activewear. “Unfortunately in the public eye a lot of different companies see being active as something that’s just for a certain size group. I call them straight sizes. So I do have customers who come in that want to be See Health page 22
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNETTE BARR
Andrea Sugg, owner of Bold and Curvy, a plus-size women’s boutique in LaSalle, organizes activewear.
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Health FROM PAGE 20
active because I don’t think being active and being healthy is size-specific,” Sugg said. And she’s not the only one. Alyssa Salz, registered dietician at Seattle Sutton’s Healthy Eating in Ottawa said the health at every size movement focuses on compassion and inclusivity while promoting enjoyable movement. “There’s an overwhelming agreement that diets fail and they are not successful at promoting long lasting change for the majority of people, even though people spend billions of dollars on the weight loss industry,” Salz said. “So the movement towards fitness at every size and health at every size is to get people to stop focusing on the scale and the numbers and regardless of your size, to break down those barriers to take the steps to lead a healthier lifestyle that makes you feel good.” While traditionally a person’s weight was considered indicative of her overall health, Salz said that a woman’s clothing size or numbers on the scale do not indicate someone’s health status. By incorporating enjoyable activities such as walking or gardening, people are more likely to make those new activities habits. The health at every size movement encourages people to listen to their bodies and give their bodies what they need including balanced nutrition, adequate sleep and regular exercise. “It’s important to stop putting your life on hold and start focusing on investing in
yourself and doing the things that make you happy,” said Salz “But finding environments where you feel accepted and empowered is probably one of the most important things that you can do.” Denetta Flamingo, owner of Ottawa Nautilus, is proud to say her gym is a body-positive environment where you will not find posters or magazines showcasing the societal standard of a “perfect” body. “Society has put it on us that we have to look perfect, be perfect, and that’s not exactly what it is. It’s your health that’s the most important. You follow your health and your body will come along with it,” Flamingo said. “I thought I had to lose weight before I could come to the gym. And once I got in here all of my fear went away because people are kind here. They’re helpful. You become a huge family, and it’s a family environment. They are pushing and helping you along the way. They’re asking where you’ve been if you don’t come. I think that’s very important that a gym is not just a gym but a community of people.” Sugg suggests body-inclusive communities and role models can be found on social media platforms such as Instagram and in pop culture. “I look at someone like Lizzo in the media and people are criticizing her because people are celebrating her size,” Sugg said. “Lizzo will do concerts back to back. She’ll do threehour concerts, run around on stage, dance, sing, play the flute and there are plenty of people I know who are size sixes who can’t do that. So to say that she’s not healthy and not working out is just mind boggling.”
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24 March 2020 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
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