How to turn an insult into inspiration

When Brett Blumenthal walked through her dorm one evening during her freshman year at college, she landed in a crowd of men who were rating the women who came into the lounge. The numbers she saw stirred up emotion that ranged from anger to inadequacy, and also started her on what has since been both a personal and professional reinvention.

Digging deep, Brett chose to use the experience to help herself eat better, exercise more, and feel better in her body. Not only did she physically change, her mindset shifted as well.

Brett explains how one disheartening night in the dorm set her on a journey that has led to creating a website, writing a book, and feeling confident no matter where she walks today.


How did you feel about your body in your late teens or college years? How do you feel about it today?

Did you experience any of your own lightbulb moments in a dorm room or classroom or your first apartment that led you to reinvent your own eating or exercise plan?






The You. Reinvented. specialists featured on Shine were given FlipCams to film their personal stories. Participating Motherboard bloggers were compensated additionally to participate.