Fighting off the Startup 15 (pounds that is)

• Name and business: Bryn Taylor, 32. The Re-Stylist, San Francisco, Calif.
  
• Then: Chinese take-out and long hours in a home office
• Now: Dog walks, grocery shopping and purposeful midday errands

I began my wardrobe consulting business in 2011. I'm the main operator, and I have clients in New York and San Francisco. I serve mostly women who are encountering a change in their life, whether it's going back to work after being home or moving from a corporate setting into a more creative one.

I have been in the fashion industry for about 10 years. I was used to a 9-to-5 schedule. So when I started my business, I tried to replicate that. But I didn't account for all the mental breaks you get when you work in an office, like talking to co-workers or just zoning out at your computer.

I'd work from the morning all the way through to six or seven with no mental break. I used to walk everywhere, now I didn't move as much. And little things like grocery shopping took a second seat to my business. I'd be tired and order Chinese or anything that could be delivered.

I put on a little weight and I was always exhausted. I had read an article about working in 90-minute chunks and so I gave it a shot. It really helped me set limits and get more accomplished. I put a stop to the takeout food, and I fired my dog walker. I began scheduling things in the middle of the day -- such as a grocery run -- to get me out of the house.

I now feel sharper and I tackle things with more excitement and gusto. I think it's important to stop thinking in a 9-to-5 way. You have to shift your mindset and realize that you can't fit everything into workday hours.

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