Tag archives: montecito health coach

The Empty Room: Navigating Your Grief When Your Child Leaves for College
By Deann Zampelli   |   September 1, 2026

The past 12 months felt heavy with our son’s upcoming departure for university. The marathon of applications, studying, testing and waiting finally gave way to victories; getting into a college he loved, Prom, Graduation, and senior trips. Then, the final days of summer arrived. And while he will always have a home here, my daughter […]

Raising the Bar: Why this local fitness studio has everyone shaking
By Deann Zampelli   |   August 17, 2026

In the last few years, it has become increasingly more important to me to find workouts that are sustainable as I am getting older. Swimming, weight training, walking and yoga continue to be leading contenders, but I felt that something was missing from my repertoire. Something fun. Like always, I started doing some research and […]

How Sweet It Is: The Bitter Taste of America’s Sugar Addiction
By Deann Zampelli   |   August 4, 2026

Last week my husband and I were taking a walk through London’s Battersea Park. Trying, and failing miserably to survive the heat wave, we left for our walk bright and early. Eschewing breakfast in favor of the morning cool, we took a break at what promised to be a cart offering fresh juices and cold, […]

Who Are You Kiddo-ing? Is the word condescending, or just annoying?
By Deann Zampelli   |   May 11, 2026

When I was growing up, we had a weekly show called Movie of the Week or Hallmark Movie of the Week or Afterschool Special or something equally 1970s. Invariably, there was either inappropriate content for a seven-year old, or worse, adults sending a not-so-subtle message to the youth of the day. “Kiddo, there’s no free […]

The Art of Wellness: How Creativity Is Good for Your Health and Happiness
By Montecito Journal   |   March 17, 2026

Each time my husband and I watch an episode of The Great British Bake Off I am immediately inclined to whip something up. Watching these talented chefs mix, stir and whisk their masterpieces into creation never ceases to inspire me. When I bake, I feel free but challenged and I often play around with recipes […]

Perspective and Positivity: The Dynamic Duo We All Need
By Deann Zampelli   |   February 3, 2026

The other day I was working with a client who has been battling debilitating insomnia as a side effect of a chronic illness. As part of our check-in, I asked her how she had been sleeping since I had last seen her. “Well, last night I only got about six hours,” she replied. “Six hours!?” […]

The Connection Between Over-Giving and Disease; Are you The Giving Tree?
By Deann Zampelli   |   November 11, 2025

When my kids were very young, an old friend of mine gave us the book The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. The book is a classic and can be found on most bookshelves of anyone with children, and often on those without.  The story is about the relationship between a boy and a tree. They […]

Filling the Void After the Kids Leave Home: Who Are We When We Aren’t Being Parents?
By Deann Zampelli   |   September 16, 2025

Last week, a dear friend of mine drove her eldest child off to college. It is every parent’s dream – your child is healthy and strong enough to leave the nest, to embark on their own adventures, to experience independence and to become whoever it is they are supposed to be. It is a testament […]

Divorce: Scarlet Letter, or Badge of Honor?
By Deann Zampelli   |   July 8, 2025

A few years ago, I ran into a couple that my husband and I knew from our “pre-kid” lives in Los Angeles. They were visiting Montecito and had ridden their bikes to the lower village to have lunch together. As they walked into the restaurant, their hands found one other, instinctively entwining by their sides. […]

The Empty Nest Syndrome: When Your Children Leave Home, Are You Ready?
By Deann Zampelli   |   December 17, 2024

When my sister’s fifth and youngest child was about to leave for university, she and my brother-in-law made a plan. They knew that after he left, they couldn’t face their once full, noisy and vibrant home. So, they packed the car and when he took off, they took off.  It turns out that this wasn’t […]

Adrenaline: Friend or Foe?
By Deann Zampelli   |   October 8, 2024

I am sitting in the shade of military-grade netting that has been – carelessly but effectively – erected to protect us from the relentless midday sun. The camouflaged men and sole woman are readying their weapons. Hip Hop blares in the background; more distraction than entertainment, but it also aids in dulling the soundtrack of […]

The Anxiety of Accomplishment
By Deann Zampelli   |   July 2, 2024

My 16-year-old son recently came home from school, freaking out that he might get a B in an AP class. Historically, this has not been his M.O., but at the beginning of his sophomore year it started to dawn on him that it was time to get to work. He was hearing and feeling the […]

Longevity: Why are we all so focused on living longer instead of living better?
By Deann Zampelli   |   April 16, 2024

I admit it. I am an obit reader. I look at the photo first to see if I know them and then almost reflexively at their age. 89? Not bad. 76? Too early. 56. Damn. Too close to home. Of course, I then have to know how they died and if the cause of death isn’t […]