Pursuit of Wellness - Girl Chat: Entrepreneur Of The Year, IVF, Fi’s Ozempic Update & Controversial Guests

Episode Date: June 20, 2024

Ep. #109 Today Fiona and I are doing another exciting girl chat episode packed with updates and insights. From Greg and I’s entrepreneurship journey and recent accolades to our LA adventures and personal health updates, we cover it all. Tune in as we dish on everything from wedding goals and travel plans to health updates and favorite recipes.  Leave Me a Message - click here! For Mari’s Instagram click here! For Pursuit of Wellness Podcast’s Instagram click here! For Mari’s Newsletter click here! For Fi's Instagram click here! For POW Brand Promo Codes click here! Show Links: Bloom Colostrum  Dr. Daniel Amen On How To Fix Your Brain & Reverse The Effects Of Caffeine, Sugar, Alcohol and Fame Sponsored By:  Right now, Chomps is offering listeners 20% off your first order and free shipping when you to chomps.com/POW.  Head to eightsleep.com/pow and use code POW to get $350 off Pod 4 Ultra. Currently ship to United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Europe and Australia For a limited time, you can get $30 off the first box - PLUS free Croissants in every box - when you go to Wildgrain.com/POW and use code POW to start your subscription. 

This is the Pursuit of Wellness podcast and I'm your host, Mari Llewellyn. Hi guys, welcome back to the show. I am here today with Fiona. Hello. Hi. Hi. We're here for another Girl Chat episode. Before we hop in, I wanted to say a couple things. Firstly, thank you guys so much for the support on our new colostrum and collagen peptides product. It's been kind of flying off the shelves, especially on Amazon. I was like

pretty surprised at how just like excited everyone was and how like it's selling out at this point. So if you didn't hear my update last time, we just released a colostrum. What is so special about this? And you guys know how intense I am about sourcing. So when the team said, hey, I think we should make a colostrum, I was like, I agree, but it has to be sourced very well. So this is sourced from family dairy farms here in the US, and we use a calves first process, which means the baby cows get their supply of colostrum first and we only use additional colostrum, which is kind of a cool thing because I know like, you know, there's obviously corrupt companies in the US who take colostrum when they shouldn't.

So I really love that approach. And then we use grass fed collagen, obviously, which is great for her skin and nails. Colostrum is really good for gut health, immunity. I know you really like it. Yes, I was gonna say I've like we've been traveling a bunch and I have some travel coming up. So I put some in my iced coffee this morning. And I'm gonna do it every day and bring it on my trip too. Because your girl's a little beat down right now. Yeah, you should. Yeah, you're kind of not doing well. You should take this with you i i'm gonna yeah i know i was even gonna i was making maybe gonna put it in a little ziploc bag but i should probably leave it in the container because like either one i mean they'll probably check it but

it'll get through fine and then um this is going to be really great for me and greg to rebuild our gut after this whole antibiotic uh process that we're on right now. A journey. A journey. So yeah, thank you so much for the support. And it's still available on Amazon and our website, I believe. And today we're just going to give you guys, I mean, we have kind of some exciting updates. We're going to do a Q&A where we kind of go back and forth asking each other questions. And yeah, so where should we begin? Like so much has happened yeah i mean just in the last week

we were traveling a bunch and a lot of exciting stuff in la if you want to talk about that we got back from la two days ago and yeah honestly peak of my career probably um greg and i won entrepreneur of the year for the Los Angeles area. Entrepreneur of the Year is like a very prestigious award for any entrepreneur. I knew it was a big deal, but I didn't realize like how big of a deal until we were at the event. So I think I've been, you know, telling you guys about the process, but we've gone back to LA for the judging, for speed round interviews. It's been a very long process of filling out forms

and going on Zoom calls and judging. And we were up against the best entrepreneurs in the LA area. And LA is the entrepreneurship capital of America. So it was definitely competitive. We were in there with brands like Dave's Hot Chicken, the entrepreneurship capital of America. So it was definitely competitive. We were in there with brands like Dave's Hot Chicken, Colt Gaia, Tower 28. What were some other ones that really stand out for people?

There were some financial firms. Oh, LAFC, the football club. Oh, the football club. They won too. Yeah, owned by Will Ferrell. So basically, they said there were more applicants than any year ever. So I think it was over 200 applicants narrowed down to about 20 finalists or something. It might have been a couple more than that. Like in the final round. Yeah. 30 finalists. And then how many winners were there?

11 winners. So to win your first time is apparently pretty unheard of and quite unique. So I wasn't fully expecting us to win. However, like I'm not a very competitive person in general. I'm competitive with myself, but not really other people. This was the first time that I was like, oh, I want to win. Like I want to win. I was going to be sad like oh I want to win like I want to win I was gonna be sad like if I didn't win and it was this big event it was at the Beverly Hills Hotel it was black tie so I think that's our first time ever being in black tie together I don't know if I've ever been in black tie I don't think either or anything it was so cute though the whole team like a couple of people the team came and it was so cute like everyone was all dressed up in their gowns and I was like wow we usually just see each

other like I know most dressed up we get is like jeans seeing the team it was really cute and everyone was kind of nervous and excited and we'd bought a table to celebrate with the team like you don't necessarily have to do that but we wanted the team there and um when we arrived at the Beverly Hills Hotel and just seeing everyone in black tie at this beautiful venue it was pretty have to do that but we wanted the team there and um when we arrived at the beverly hills hotel and just seeing everyone in black tie at this beautiful venue it was pretty insane um we go in we go to the step and repeat we're taking photos greg's in his tux leo's in his tux fees in her gown the team is there the venue's stunning it's my first time at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Me too. Wow. Amazing. It was beautiful.

I like, I kind of get it now. Yeah. And it was busy. Like people had brought their parents, their kids. Like it was clearly a really big deal. Beautiful event. And then they take you into the banquet hall and there's different tables for each company.

So our table had like a Bloom Nutrition sign. It had the LA Business Journal sign it had the la business journal where we had a full spread of the greens which was really cool and i was just like really emotional and just like taking it all in yeah i feel like it hit us like right when we sat down and they played this first video you guys kind of just like a what makes entrepreneurship like what it is and why it's so powerful i look over at mar Mari and Greg are like, I was sobbing, teary eyed. It was really cool. It was really, really cool. I think what, what was so special about it and Greg and I have talked a lot about it since entrepreneurship is a very lonely life. And I feel like it's only very

recently in the last year that I really feel like I have a community and I have friends. Like, I know that sounds silly, but for the first three years of Bloom, Greg and I didn't leave the house and I pretty much just had Greg. And you become quite isolated because you're doing this thing that no one else can relate to. You're working long hours, you never really clock out. The pressure is insane. You know, like even Greg and I are still kind of weird about staying out to a certain time, like saying yes to everything.

It's especially for Greg, really difficult. And also, you know, I'm front facing. I'm a little bit more public. So I get more recognition than Greg does. For Greg, as the CEO, he is constantly telling everyone on the team they're doing an amazing job. You know, it's his job to lead them and congratulate them and hype them up. No one really ever tells Greg he's doing a good job. Yeah, you don't really get a lot of recognition in that world, I feel like.

And you're so focused on like, great, something sold out or you had like a huge end cap at Target, but then it's like, okay, that was awesome. Like onto the next thing, because we have a million other things going on and you don't really take the time. Like you don't really get the time to like actually sit there and clap for yourself or have other people clap for you. Such a good point. Like Greg and I, we honestly need to get better at celebrating because whenever something amazing happens, we just keep going. You know, even when, you know, our deal went through with Nutribull, like we just kind of continued and it's very rare that we stop and look back at everything we've done. And I think in that moment,

it was like, holy crap, like, this is the moment, you know, it's not everything we've worked for, but it's nice to have this room of other successful entrepreneurs and to just recognize entrepreneurship and i don't mean to talk about greg too much but he you know fee obviously knows him very well and for anyone who's met him greg is the textbook definition not textbook definition greg is an entrepreneur like that is who he is to his core. And I watched him from college years, you know, really struggle academically and kind of have a very bad relationship with school. And always kind of felt like he was less than because he struggled so much to watch him grow and be this incredible leader and incredible CEO and grow this company together has been insane.

And I 100% would not be here right now without him. And for me, when I was in that event, like, yes, it was incredible for me as well. But I felt so like happy for Greg and so proud of him to be recognized for something that I feel like is just innate to who he is yeah um anyway um yeah it was really really cool and then we watched the intro video i'm sobbing crying already and then they basically tell us they're going to be announcing winners throughout the evening from 7 30 to 9 30 basically to prevent people leaving leaving um so they're doing these like fun videos on each company. You know, we'd filmed interviews beforehand when we did the judging on green screens.

So they were showing all the videos of our answers and, you know, this really cool video and Will Ferrell's up there and it was hilarious. He didn't come to the event, by the way, because I personally think it was intentional because it would have drawn too much attention. But his whole team was there for LA Soccer Club. It was really, really cool. And then they go to announce the first winner. And the guy on the microphone goes,

this company is based on transformation, women's health, positivity. And if anyone's been on my instagram and seen the video of me and greg my face i'm so serious and in my head i was wait which other company here is about that like is anyone else about women's health like am i it can't be about us like this has to be about someone else like who else has a transformation like i'm going through my brain. And then he goes, Greg LaVecchia, Mari Llewellyn of Bloom Nutrition. And it was just like crazy. It was surreal. We were the first people. We were a little caught off guard.

Yeah. Like it happened really fast. And we were all just like. I think everyone there was caught off guard. Even the judge on the stage. Because so a little BTS tea for you guys. We were told to have a one minute speech ready um and i had some bullet points i don't think greg prepped at all but i knew i would have to give this speech

so when they announced us greg and i go up on stage we hold our trophies we take a photo with the judge and then i'm ready to give my speech but the judge kind of indicates that we should leave the stage and under my breath i like, should we not say something? Like, shouldn't we be giving a speech? And the guy goes, no. So I got down and went back to the table and we were all like, oh, that was weird. I was like, what happened? I know.

I had to give a speech. I know. He told me to come back down. I was like, okay. So then they announced the next winner and the next winner gives his speech. And we're all like, wait, what? And then the judge on stage goes, Bloom, come back. Like, we messed up. So Greg and I had to the judge on stage goes bloom come back like we messed up

so greg and i had to go back on stage and give a speech and you made the best of it yeah yeah and marie's like we're back yeah i was like we're back on the stage hi um but also the the way the microphone was on the stage it was a bendyy microphone. I know I'm, I can't stop talking about this. I'm just so embarrassed. There was like a see-through podium and a bendy microphone. I didn't realize it bent. So I crouched and I'm tall. I'm 5'10". I crouched all the way down to the microphone. I gave my whole speech like this. Oh guys, thanks so much. Bent in half. Bent in half. And I didn't stand up really once. So that was embarrassing. But either way, the speech was really cute. It was. So yeah, like really, really magical. Like all of us were crying and hugging and it was just like insane.

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generation of the pod, the Pod 4 Ultra, which is what Greg and I have. It cools, it heats, and it now elevates automatically. It is also clinically proven to give you up to one hour more of quality sleep per night. It can cool down each side of the bed to 20 degrees Fahrenheit below room temperature, keeping you and your partner cool even in a heat wave. It is so hot here inin and i highly recommend you guys try this out if you're here there's just nothing else like it on the market i feel like i saw a dramatic improvement in my hrv since using the pod and i've noticed that greg also feels the same way and i really love the fact that we can have different temperatures on each side of the bed so there's no marriage arguments happening i feel like sleep has just greatly improved my mental health,

my energy, the way I show up for work every day and I feel like the 8sleep has so much to do with that. Head to 8sleep.com slash pow and use code POW to get $350 off Pod 4 Ultra. It currently ships to the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Europe and Australia. currently ships to the united states canada united kingdom europe and australia um and then we did a nine hour photo shoot the next day yeah yeah ellie was a whirlwind that was a lot it was a whirlwind it was really fun yeah but um yeah we needed to do this photo shoot because we have a new product coming

i that's the one i've been talking about so much guys like that's on the way uh july late july so we did a full photo shoot for that we were on set for what nine hours yeah in woodland hills um we got so much content done it was really productive and then we went to taverna tony which is our favorite greek restaurant in malibu best tip yeah i ate way too much but it's okay i was actually just telling i ran into a girl who was a fan at a coffee shop and she was like telling me about you know her listening to the podcast and it helping her with food mindset and stuff and i was like yeah like i have sometimes i have days where i definitely go off the podcast and it helping her with food mindset and stuff. And I was like, yeah, like I have, sometimes I have days where I definitely go off the rails and like, you just get back on. It's okay.

Um, she brought up her Zen pick. She was like, all my friends are on her Zen pick. Yeah. I was like, yeah, I get it.

I get the feeling. I got a lot of questions about that. You did. Yeah. I was assuming you would. Wait, you got to send me them so I can ask you. Okay.

Um, sorry. I kind of just talked for a while. What are your updates? That's okay. Other than breaking your back and... Oh my God, yeah, guys, I hurt my back somehow. I wasn't even... Like, I don't know what I did. I don't know if I slept weird.

We carry these big backpacks everywhere we go with us. We've been traveling a lot and I tend to overpack mine. Like, I just stuff it. Maybe it's my backpack. I don't know. But your girl girl it gets better for a day and then like this morning I don't know what happened I laid on a heat pad all day yesterday on the couch like did not move from the couch laid on a heating pad all day I was like in so much pain yeah it was not fun so I don't know what's wrong with that but we're gonna work on I would assume it's just travel and yeah I felt a little better this

morning and then I went on a long walk with my dog and i got back home and i was just i got in the shower and i was like i couldn't bend over like i couldn't pick up my body wash i was like oh that's bad so i don't know what that is we're gonna have to figure that out um loved la i was actually in la the weekend right before so i was in la for my best friend's wedding that weekend and then i came back for two days and then we flew back to LA right we had some big interviews the two days here in Austin so the wedding was beautiful my friend Sydney got married to her love of her life John and it was really cute I can't believe like my friends are getting married I mean obviously you got married two years you were a bridesmaid too I was a bridesmaid that was my first time being like an like an official bridesmaid I

was like kind of your bridesmaid like I got ready with you and helped you but like that was my first time being like an official bridesmaid. I was like kind of your bridesmaid. Like I got ready with you and helped you. But like that was my first time like getting in matching dress and like walking down the aisle, which like I actually felt like I did a good job. I was really nervous. I get really nervous about stuff like that. Like I tend to black out. And I got to my seat and I was like, did I just walk so fast? And everyone was like, no, it was great. I'm like, I felt like I was like sprinting, trying not to trip either. Imagine you being on the Sports Illustrated runway. Oh, I can't even imagine doing it. I would totally black out. I don't know how those girls, at least they're barefoot. I was in these big old heels with a long dress that kept like getting stuck a little bit. And I was like, I'm going to eat it down the

aisle. But I didn't. It was great. It was a really cute trip. Yeah, kind of same old, same old. I have some travel coming up. I'm going to Italy at the end of the month so I'm very excited don't you leave in a couple days next Wednesday okay like a week and a half yeah yeah but I'm very excited Kenny and I are going to Italy he's never been to Italy I studied abroad there so like and I haven't been back since I studied my junior year so very excited Fi is flying from Europe to New York and meeting me on long island and if you've been following me for a while you know um the north fork in long island is like me and greg's stomping ground it's like where we we've been going our whole relationship so it's like a

and it's where greg's parents live it's like a very special place to us so fee's never been so she's coming and we're going to celebrate her birthday and fourth of july and all the things so i'm gonna be very cute i've been to long island just never like further than like i don't i don't know where my mom's from i'm so bad about it i don't know where she's from on long island i've never been up to like the forks yeah like i've never been to the hamptons or anything like that so i'm very excited so i'm going to show her around like north fork orient greenport we'll go to the vineyards we'll go lunch we'll go do all the things fireworks we'll do a day trip to the Hamptons it'll be nice and what's that place Duryea's Duryea's

now I see it everywhere the lobster cob seeing it everywhere yeah it's famous i had to go there i know i want some rose hopefully i can drink by then i know a little antibiotic update oh yeah my round of the antibiotics ends wednesday and then i take a 24-hour break and then i go on the parasite cleanse um i've noticed a big difference in my skin i feel like well i have makeup on right now but it's flat like the bumps are gone it's just like red it's not like inflamed anymore no and there's no like i used to wake up every day with a new zit and that isn't happening as much and i feel like everything's flat and like red so it it's healing, which is pretty cool. My biggest fear is that it comes back, but we'll see how the parasite cleanse goes.

And then we go into the rebuild phase. And I think I told you guys, I was like experimenting eating eggs again after not eating them for like a long time. How's that going? I don't think it's... Really? I don't know.

I think I tried it. I think I had them like a couple of times and it made me break out, I think. And I asked Dr. Gabrielle and she said to just hold off. Yeah. Probably until like you're like clear until you do a test and it says it's gone. Yeah. Like you don't, even if you're fighting it with medicine, you don't want to like be feeding it something that's, or it's it irritated right like it's not the eggs it's like what you it's the h pylori and stuff that's like yeah reacting to it yes it's not your actual natural body yes i agree so i need to wait for it till it's actually gone which is sad because i love my eggs but hopefully by the time my chickens are laying i was just gonna say i'll be ready there you go you know what i mean yeah and then a little fertility update which is pretty exciting um i wasn't sure if i was going to share

this because i'm not sure if it's too early but i just feel like why not share with with the group because i've been sharing everything anyway um so obviously i'm not pregnant yet um and you know i was seeing a fertility clinic here in austin and to be honest i didn't have the most amazing experience like i just felt like it wasn't very individualized a couple things happened that i wasn't super happy with um and my friend taylor used to work for an amazing fertility clinic in New York called R-M-A-N-Y. So it's in New York. And they're apparently like the best of the best. So I was like, you know what?

Why don't I just have a call with them? Let's see what happens. And I really am so happy I did because we were just chatting about my situation and, you know, Greg's sperm analysis test and my tests and everything looks really good. And she asked me, you know, how many kids do you want to have in the future? And I said, two or three. And she was like, well, you know, if you want to have more kids in the future, you might want to consider IVF anyway, just so you have embryos ready to go and you don't have to go through this stressful period of time again. Because it really has been, I mean, I feel okay

now, but the ups and downs of this journey have been insane for me and Greg. So to have some control and a plan and to know that at any moment I could choose to have another child is really comforting. So my plan is to continue to try naturally through the summer. And then Fi and I went through the calendar and found an open window of time because technically I need about two to three weeks in order to do IVF and to make embryos. So we've kind of loosely planned for October. We're going to, you know, freeze Greg's sperm and I'm going in in July and we're going to go talk to them. But it is so comforting to me to have the October dates set because now I know, hey, if this doesn't happen for me, in October, I have this plan. Plan B. Plan B. Oh, maybe not the best phrase for that one.

Plan C. Plan C. So anyway, I just wanted to give an update on that. And, you know, if I do go through with IVF, the same way I've been transparently sharing about everything fertility I'd love to continue because I think IVF I don't know like I would want to watch that as someone who was trying to get pregnant I would love to hear more about that I talked to my mom about it yesterday and she actually met with the father of IVF when she was trying with me in London, the guy who sort of like invented it. Which I was like, what? She didn't end up doing it because she got naturally pregnant, but she had such a hard time having me. She had an ectopic pregnancy. She had multiple miscarriages, like awful, that she ended up seeing this guy. So I thought that was really

interesting. But anyway, guys, I'll keep you updated on that we'll see how it goes apparently ivf is quite challenging on the body which is why i sort of was hesitant for a while but you got to do what you got to do so any girls listening that have done ivf let us know let us know like i'd love to hear your experiences some reason, our voice message system is down at the moment, but we're going to get it back up and running. And if anyone's willing to share, like I'd love to hear, you know, how you felt when you did IVF

and what the sort of side effects were. Apparently I'm going to be really bloated and really angry. So that'll be fun. We'll see who wants to hang out with me during that time should we hop into our q a yes my husband has a tradition of bringing his guy friends over every weekend on a sunday and working out they're in the gym downstairs for hours and then they come upstairs and I make croissants, fresh croissants from

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customize your wild grain box so you can choose from any combination of breads, pastas and pastries. You can even build the box of only breads, only pastas or only pastries if you'd like. They also have amazing cookies, you guys need to try them. For a limited time, you can get $30 off the first box plus free croissants in every box when you go to wildgrain.com slash pow to start your subscription. You heard me, free croissants in every box and $30 off your first box when you go to wildgrain.com slash pow. That's wildgrain dot com slash pow or use promo code pow at checkout the first one i saw that i wanted to ask you four feet what kind of wedding if any do you envision having oh that's a cute question um I have always kind of felt like I

will have I would say like under 150 people which is considered a small wedding not like an intimate wedding an intimate wedding would be like friends and family but probably like around 100 to 150 um when I lived in LA I used to think like Malibu or something like that but now that I've moved I definitely don't want to have it there not that there's anything wrong with that I When I lived in LA, I used to think like Malibu or something like that. But now that I've moved, I definitely don't want to have it there. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I think I looked at Malibu and it was really expensive. It was really expensive. Just like, which I get, like it's beautiful and it's California, so very expensive. But I think like I'd love to do one here in Austin. I think it's nice to be local to your venue. You can go out and see it. It's just like a lot easier.

I know like Sydney did hers in California because John's from California and their venue was gorgeous. But like they had to fly back from New York a bunch because they moved to New York. So I just think local would be nice. I think Austin has a lot of really cool venues. So probably here. I don't really know a ton of details past that. What vibe? Definitely like modern, clean, maybe a little bit of color. I don't want like all neutrals.

I know that, like colorful. But there's one specific venue in Austin that I really love that's like a very, almost like a modern farmhouse look. I like that look. Like I prefer that over like Garden Fair almost like a modern farmhouse look um i like that look like i prefer that over like garden fairy tale or over i feel like i had some southern castle yeah like a little southern but like clean like kind of like a blank canvas that we can do whatever we want to it so cute and like i think for like a dress like classic nothing crazy I'm not really into like beaded or like sparkle like very simple I feel like you found a designer you liked right I do I found one they're

called kaya I think Australian yeah they actually just had a pop-up here in Austin I wanted to go so bad but I was like okay I should wait till I'm engaged to go try on yeah I had to stop yeah she did I oh I just like wanted to see them in person, but it's fine. They have like a New York showroom, so I'll probably go. Yeah. But they have gorgeous dresses. And they're very basic and like, not basic, but just like timeless to me, like classic timeless.

That's like the vibe I like. So yeah. Hot topic, would you ever consider bringing on a doctor who is against vaccines? Oh, we have done that. Yeah. Yeah, we've had a couple guests talk about it. I think Dr. Abin was one of them, a brain doctor.

Amazing episode if you want to go listen. And not all vaccines necessarily, but like certain ones. Certain ones. Yeah. Like I, you know, I think a lot about this, honestly, with the, the way the internet is right now. And I'm definitely not one of those people who wants to build my career on controversy and negativity. I think there's some people out there who do that and it's just a bad vibe. Like reality is we live in a modern society. There's processed food and toxins everywhere. Like I'm not perfect.

I can't avoid everything. And I think bashing brands and bashing people is just like a negative way to be. Like I don't want to exist in that fashion. However, I love information and I love hearing other people's perspectives. And I've learned a ton, like, listening to other people. So if I were to bring on someone about vaccines, it would be from pure curiosity and not a place of wanting to cause, like, an uproar or controversy. Like, I don't want to create negativity. I just want't want to create negativity. I just want to sort of be open.

I feel like one of the things we talk a lot of on the podcast are like bio-individuality. Yeah. Like what works for one person might not work for other people. Yeah. And like everyone should be allowed to make their own choices. Yeah, but make an informed choice. Like know the information.

Yeah. I mean, I just keep thinking about the episode we just recorded with Callie Means, which probably hasn't come out yet. No, not yet. But you guys are going to freak out. This guy, I mean, he used to be a consultant for Big Food and Big Pharma, and he was literally in the meetings figuring out how to convince people to buy processed food and take medications

so to hear that perspective and just hear the facts and the economics of it was like really eye-opening and i like the fact that he wasn't necessarily preaching he was just like this is the information that i know do with it what you will yeah good question yeah um okay oh can you give us an update on the ozempic yes i actually was just thinking about this this morning so to be honest i mean i like i feel good for the most part after like injection days i definitely feel a little run down, like nothing major, but like just not 100%, like definitely a little tired. Sometimes my stomach can feel a little like uneasy, but nothing drastic. Like I know I've seen some drastic things people experience, nothing crazy. To be honest, I feel like I, like I've lost a couple pounds, but like I haven't seen anything

crazy. So it's always very interesting to me when I meet people or, like, see on the internet people that are, like, I lost 30 pounds in a month. I'm, like, how? Like, you really must have, I don't know, unless, and I know, like, if you have, like, kind of more to lose, like, it's easier at the beginning and you kind of lose more. But, like, I have not experienced that like I think I've lost a couple pounds and like I feel good but I have not felt like a drastic weight change like if anything I'm like okay waiting but at the same time I know it is a medication that's like you you have to be on it for some time like I don't think it's like do it for three months and then just get off of it.

Like it is your body has to get used to it. And also like I was talking with you about it, like the dosing, like at least the place I went through was very conservative dosing. Like the first three months are still like just enough that your body's getting used to it. Yeah. Which again, everyone's bodies react differently. Maybe someone that's a little more like insulin sensitive like would have more drastic weight change yeah um it definitely has like affected my my appetite I feel like I pretty much have a normal appetite throughout the day but towards the end of the day I'm a lot more full like by dinner time I'm like oh I'm still kind of full

from lunch feeling you're like digesting yeah because you digest exactly like I think I still have food in my stomach whereas like before I would like I would was just an empty pit could eat forever so but I do think like the mindset stuff's been helpful um I plan to be on it for probably a couple more months see how it goes but yeah like overall really good again like I would talk to your doctor and see if you're a good candidate for it just because you see everyone on it doesn't mean you need to be on it but also like if you're interested in it check it out like yeah I was gonna say that as well guys for anyone listening and the only reason I say this is I've had a couple people reach out or people say things even the coffee girl this morning mentioned it just because you're listening and

fee is taking it or someone that you love is taking it doesn't mean that you necessarily should and just to give another perspective like from my point of view you know I was someone asked me if you had had ozempic back when you did your fitness journey would you have taken it when i was 250 pounds and my answer is no one i couldn't really afford to do it back then but number two like i wouldn't have learned all the things i had to learn to get to where i am like i wouldn't have the work ethic i wouldn't have the nutrition knowledge i wouldn't understand weight lifting but you're a different situation because you've been trying and doing all the right things for years and years and years.

So I just want to say, guys, just because we're talking about it transparently on the show and fees opening up, she's not recommending that you guys do it. And that it's like this. And clearly, like from what you're saying, it's not a magic drug. That's like where I'm struggling the most with it is like, I feel like I maybe some people are having that experience, but like, I feel like I'm working out and having to eat just as healthy as I was before. Like, I really don't feel like it's like a cheat code by any means. And like, I see, I follow a couple of girls like on TikTok that have been on it that like, they feel the same way and like they think it supports them a little bit bit but they still are having to work out more than they ever have you know like it it definitely requires work at least in my experience again everyone's different so

yeah weight is not just like falling off of me yeah and if you guys are listening and you haven't tried first to clean up the diet focus on whole whole foods, move your body. Like if you haven't done that first, I don't think this is the right path for you yet. I also have an interesting perspective I want to add. So since I like announced that I've been on it, I like whenever I post a photo now, I get comments or DMs like, oh my gosh, the Ozempic's working. Like, wow, I can really tell. Like, you look so great. I've like literally lost like five pounds. Like I have not lost anything crazy to be very honest. And so like when people say that, I'm like, I actually don't think I look that. I mean, maybe it's just me. I don't think I look that different. But I think because people

now know I'm on it they're like oh like you've lost so much weight and I'm like no I really haven't and I think it's interesting I just want to add that like I I'm like I don't know it's a little weird being on the back side of it and I do have to admit like in a way it is a little frustrating when I still feel like I'm eating well and working out and now people are just being like, oh, you look great. Like the Ozempic's working. And I'm like, I'm doing so much work still too. And I don't know.

Like, I just don't think, unfortunately, I think like our society right now, cause it's such a new thing. And it's, I don't know. I think Ozempic's PR is really bad. Like I think they need a new PR. I just think people think it's, like, an escape. Like, oh, you want to take the easy way out.

Well, then they have good PR. I guess. I think the reality is not as amazing as people think. Yeah. I don't know. I just, like, part of me, it makes me feel a little, like, weird. Like, people think I'm trying to take the easy way out or that, like, I lose weight it was just because of the ozempic yeah and it's like that's not the case and it's a little like I don't know kind of sucks a little bit but it is what it is then again I've

been working out and eating healthy for a while and have been struggling and you know I see girls that have PCOS and a lot of other things that like they really can't and then they take this and it falls off of them so yeah I don't know it's an interesting dynamic but i don't regret it and like i'm happy to be on it and we'll see how it goes yeah you know yeah i guess that also comes with sharing about yeah exactly and i know a lot of people keep it private which i also totally get to be honest like yeah the messages i get sometimes now i'm like oh maybe i should have just kept it myself but it's fine I think it's great that you're sharing it and even if it doesn't work out the way we want it to at least you know yeah people are hearing that um it's really a cultural phenomenon it is it's pretty insane like I'm seeing other supplement companies create like

yeah ozempic like products which is not something i would do but um yeah it's interesting i to be honest like as someone who's on it i don't know if it's good or bad i really don't know i really don't know to be honest so that's okay we'll just have to see um this one's kind of random but what is your current favorite recipe oh oh my god i feel like you share a little like you haven't you don't share as much like the food you're making now so yeah my recipes aren't as crazy anymore but one thing i've been obsessed with there's these noodles on amazon i'll put the link in the bio that are made of sweet potato like pure sweet potato they're like glass noodles and i'll do that with soy sauce and sriracha and shiitake mushrooms and bok choy and green onion and steak on top it's like a little ramen bowl

crazy that sounds really good it's insane it's insane try those yeah yeah order them immediately yeah i'm gonna get that link too yeah i've been making like an asian-y dish too yeah getting so i like love trader joe's frozen food but it's full of lots of stuff like the orange chicken and there's like a broccoli and beef one so kenny and i have been trying to like make an alternative version so i've been getting from trader joe's like shredded beef and then i mix it with like frozen broccoli or fresh broccoli if i have it um on top of a little rice and i'll use like a little coconut aminos and sesame oil and just like a little stuff. It is so good.

Kenny has been requesting it. He's like, can we start making this every week? It's so good. And it's obviously it's not like as tasty as the super syrupy version I'd get that's frozen. But like I feel a lot better eating it. Yeah. And I feel good after it. So that's like what we've been making.

I'm into it. That's a nice swap out. I appreciate that. Inspired by Trader Joe's you know yeah and those frozen meals you just gotta check what's in them guys because it has you know you never really know yeah um why do your parents not listen to your show I don't know Kathy does Kathy asked a really funny question. She did? Yeah.

What? She said, would you ever consider building a compound with puppies, horses, chickens, and babies? I mean, I'm not going to say no to that, obviously. Kathy wants to come live on the compound. That's what I'm getting. I'm getting that vibe too you both looked stunning at the ey awards give the fit and glam rundowns please you want me to go first sure um so the green dress the famous green dress was from McDougal and it's I think it's called the spaghetti strap sequin dress

and actually my friend from high school who lives in Austin showed me and she was like this would be perfect and I was like oh yes so I rush ordered it to LA because it wasn't going to come to Austin on time got it in LA sent it to a team member's house had had it Ubered to the office. I tried it on. It fit me like a square. Like it was like a SpongeBob square, like not flattering at all. So we rushed to get it tailored overnight, got it in time and it fit perfectly. So that was like a really good move. It's by McDougall. I'm so glad I wore it. I wanted to wear something that was very bloom like green yeah broidered beaded yeah flowers like very bloom vibes and it was a hit yeah um definitely stood out and then glam I did makeup with Carly Fisher who's incredible she does like huge celebrities in LA

she's so talented and I feel like she just gets like what my face looks good with. She just like understands the assignment. And then Hayley Heckman did my hair. She did an incredible like Hollywood waves. Gorgeous. Yeah, that was actually like a good wedding hairstyle. I know. I loved it. Yeah. Like a soft like straight with like the waves in the lower part. Yeah. And that was me. Oh shoes were jeffrey campbell very cute yeah my dress was from i think it's called norma kamali yeah if i'm saying that correctly i'll for evolve i was trying to find something that was like you know like tasteful and like work appropriate but still like cute you know um i ordered it last minute i just wanted something black simple it came in fit me so great was so like stretchy and comfy i have to tell you they make it in a couple colors

too but like i've read all the reviews people like i wore this to a wedding was great so got it loved it i don't know what brand heels i had on but they were comfortable um wait so funny so we get to the office so like we pack pack our stuff, right? I packed very lightly for this trip. Like I was like, I packed my dress. I packed an outfit for the shoot. Like I was like, I got my whatever, three outfits I need for this trip. Yeah, that's it. So we get to the office and I guess Mari like was talking to one of the gals, Lindsay, that was coming to the event. And like, what, like, oh, like what kind of dress did you get? And then she's like, oh, and I wasn't there at this moment, but I guess Lindsay pulled it up and it's the dress I brought and Mari's like oh oh I think

Fiona has the same one in the same both black like the same exact dress and Mari and Lindsay like run in the office that I'm in they're like Lindsay has the same dress as you and I was like oh no oh no I was like it's the only one I brought and I was like I and at first I was like oh no oh no i was like it's the only one i brought and i was like i and at first i was like oh no like we can't like we're at this little table like we're gonna look so weird wearing we're like we're gonna look like waitresses at the event like and i offered lindsey my backup dress but lindsey's also like five foot two and i'm five foot ten so i don't think it would have worked out so at first i was like do you have any other options and then later i texted her and i was like lindsey wear the dress like it's a great dress it's a black plain dress i'm like we are totally different heights like people probably won't even

think it's the same dress yeah and even though like who cares yeah um and she ended up finding another dress that looked beautiful on her anyways so it all worked out but i was like i was like there must be 2 000 black dresses on revolve yeah like how did we get the same one she's like i thought the same thing like it's good for work it was comfy i was like we should keep it for something else oh yeah no i mean it's a great dress when i bought it i told my mom right away i was like do you have any black tie weddings because you should wear this dress so yeah and it's not that expensive right no it was under 200 mine wasn't that bad mine was like $300.

MacDougall's really good. I tried a MacDougall dress for a wedding, I think, at some point. Like a beaded pink one. It was gorgeous. It just like, it wasn't the right vibe for the wedding. But their dresses are gorgeous. Yeah. So yeah, that was my look.

And then I just did my own hair and makeup. I did straighten my hair, which like, I actually have it straight today. I never really straighten my hair anymore. like I actually have it straight today. I never really straighten my hair anymore. I liked it straight. Thank you. I know I was going for the like Jen Anne, like, you know, when it kind of swoops into your face. A mission achieved.

Yeah. Like I was trying to do like the 90s Jen Anne, like black dress, just. Slay. Big slay. It was cute. It was really fun. What about this one? When's the last time you tried something new for the first time?

Oh. Kind of recently, probably at the ranch. Is it like a health question or is it like in general? They literally just said, what's the last time you tried something new? I feel like I'm pretty down for new stuff in general. Like, yes, I get stuck in my routine. But like when I went to the ranch, I tried new activities. I tried new styles of riding. I feel like I'm down for new things. I don't know.

Last time I tried something new. I asked that question. I'm sitting here and I'm like, I don't know, to be quite honest. You went on the lake yesterday. Okay. Yeah. That was my first time going on the lake here in Austin. But I didn't like wakeboard or anything. I was just like on a boat.

It was so fun though. That was a big thing for me when I went wakeboarding. I know. I got to try that. Also, the lake here is so beautiful. I know. It was so nice. I literally just laid on one of those little lily pads they put out,

like in the water. It was so nice. Were you guys like stalled or were you moving? We were stalled. We went to a little, there's like an inlet. It's like the party area basically. I've seen it. All the boats tie up and just like everyone talks to everyone. It was really fun. I've never been in the inlet. Yeah, it was interesting. I mean, I, so a little back. So I had left, I flew back from LA that morning. I woke up at 4am, got on a 6am flight,

got back for our friend's birthday here. And I was so tired, but I, like, rallied. And, like, I was very chilled. Like, a lot of people were off in the water, like, talking to everyone. I was, like, tanning on the boat. I got off at one point, but, like, I was chilling. And then they all went out that night, and I was like, I'm going to stay home. Did you drink? No.

Yeah, but, like, I, like, sipped on two, like, seltzers, like, all day. Like, everyone was, like, taking shots. I was like, I'm good. I was like, I woke up at 4 a.m. They're like, oh,zers, like, all day. Like, everyone was, like, taking shots. I was like, I'm good. I was like, I woke up at 4 a.m. They're like, oh, like, okay, never mind. Damn. No, William, the birthday boy, was like, I can't believe you even came.

Like, he thought it was really nice that I came, so. Oh, that's sweet. I tried. Sweet. Yeah. I think I'm asking you a question now. Yeah, maybe one more agent. Yeah, I don't like your questions for me.

Oh, okay. Sorry. Baby names you like but would never personally use. Need ideas for a baby girl. Oh, I have some. Let me pull my note. You like but you won't use? Yeah.

Are you positive you won't use them? I'll make sure. Okay. I'm pretty positive on the ones I want to use. Okay. Okay. Oh, I have some good ones. Junie. Nala. Oh. Willa. There's one Welsh name that I'm obsessed with. I might still save it actually.

I love the name Soleil. I was definitely going to call my baby that, but I think I just know too many Soleils now. It means sun in French. I think it's gorgeous. Solène. Oh, the next one's actually one that you're thinking of using, so I won't say it. Oh, okay.

I love the name Indie. Oh, that is a cute name. Amelie. Addie. Aurelie. Nella. Nelly. Nelly. i said nelly twice nel millie we both like the e like the the e's yes my kids are definitely all gonna have e names same hopefully me and kenny get married but like actually no mine's not i i like the oh yeah yeah yeah, yeah, yeah. You're right. I like – Kenny's last name is Hansel.

I don't know if I should put that out there. Whatever. I share him everywhere. He probably will love that. And like – That's for you, babe. A little clout. Like his Kenny Hansel, like it just sounds really nice.

Like I like an E Hansel. So those are the names I'm looking at. I have a list somewhere in all my thousands of notes, but I don't know which ones I like yet, so I'm not going to share them. Okay. Yeah, I'm hearing some really, people are getting really bold with their names,

their baby names. Yeah, I think there's like the whole, I'm not trying to shame anyone, but the whole like naming, like an item. What's the word? Like a noun? Like a thing? Like rock. or like like i just don't

i don't know like uh what was whimsy that's still like a name though like yeah stone like there there are a lot of names like that which like i get it they're like the stormy like a thing apple i don't know yeah like i've seen like i know i know there's some celebrity has a kid named apple like that i get it like it is cute i just i don't know maybe it grows on you after a while i've just never really been into that but i also i like like kind of funky names like i'm definitely not like a super classic name no me neither like i don't think my daughter's name will ever be like like sophia richie named her daughter eloise yeah which actually is a classic name but i think it's but it's different it's cute like it's not like i don't want to say i'm not going to start naming

names people gonna be like that's my name but like just like a basic normal name does that make sense yeah kids are definitely gonna have like kind of cute fun names but i'm not gonna name her like yeah rock i mean stone i grew up with a very unique name like i never knew anyone called mari ever um it's a welsh name so i never heard anyone with it and honestly growing up i hated it because i felt like everyone said it wrong or i stood out and now i love love love my name so it took me a long time. Yeah. But I love a unique name that still sounds like a name. Yeah. You know? And I had the same thing.

Like when Shrek came out, like ruined my life. Quite literally. Like every boy in school was like, are you an ogre? I'm like, like literally no, it was awful. But, and I, you know, it's funny. Like my parents always were like, it's a beautiful name. Like growing up, I really did not like my name. And now, like whenever I tell anyone, they're like, that's such a beautiful name.

Like people think. And Fee is such a cute nickname. So I've grown to like it. I think the Shrek thing just really threw a wrench. By the way, guys, my mom's name is Fiona, which I don't think we've ever mentioned. It's a very British name. And my mom went by Fee Fee growing up. Really?

My friends kind of called me that growing up. Now it's just Fee. Yeah. Like more so Fee Fee growing up. Really? My friends kind of called me that growing up. Now it's just Fi. Yeah. Like more so Fifi growing up. So funny. I know. I always, whenever people call me that, I have one girl that used to call me Fifi the kitty. What?

And I was like, I hate cats. Why Fifi the kitty? I don't know. Cause she'd be like, you sound like, it sounds like a cat. Like it sounds like a poodle or something. Like, I don't know. Like sounds like a, like an animal name. Oh.

Fifi? People used to call me mars bar oh yeah yeah no but it's grown on me or ma like i went through a stage where greg only called me ma really for like college years yeah and everyone at college called me ma interesting i don't love it i've always called you mari i know it's like two syllables like it doesn't take that long more um okay i have another question okay um what do you think is going to be the next big trend in the wellness fitness space oh right i think carnivore is really having a moment but like that's like right now like animal

protein's really having a moment i think maybe to me this is a trend but i almost wonder if my for you page or my algorithm is very like you focus me focused i think people are really going back to ancestral roots grounding almost like simplifying everything like let's go back to the way we started on earth like go outside barefoot whole foods meat fruit veg limited process things um getting in the sun swimming in bodies of water raising animals maybe that's just the direction i'm leaning but i feel like things are going that way i feel like along with that like as a society i feel like people are becoming a lot more aware of ingredients and there's brands like sweet green who are you know switching from

seed oils like i'm hoping for our children and just like the future that like as a world country i would say you know country world as everyone that we're like trying to lean more back into like natural stuff and not this crazy processed like I would love if processed food just like stopped it won't I know it won't because it makes too much money but the trend that I think is going to happen, and I already see it happening, people are getting their information from podcasts and experts in the field rather than their doctor. And I feel like a little bit of that is not great

because people are getting their information from like TikTok or perhaps people who have very skewed opinions. But I think people are becoming more of their own advocate when it comes to health and tuning into information that's a bit more like specialized. So maybe you listen to Dr. Mindy Pels and learn all about hormones and then you listen to someone else when it comes to gut health and you go for experts in the field like fertility, gut health, bacteria, mold, whatever it may be.

And I think people are finding their own information rather than relying on their doctors, hopefully. Nothing against doctors. I know they serve such a fantastic purpose. But I think you have, have, have to do your own research outside of the doctor's office and be your own advocate because everything's funded like even doctor's offices are funded by a big pharma they want to give you prescriptions that you don't need that's just the bottom line yeah so yeah i think people are becoming more like self yeah resourceful i guess um yeah love it okay guys that is it for me and fee i really hope you enjoyed this girl chat episode thank you for you for joining of course it's so fun and don't forget to hit the subscribe button hit follow leave us a review it really really helps us grow the show and continue

bringing you guys amazing episodes we have some really good ones coming we post every monday and Thursday, so don't miss out. And we'll see you on the next one. Bye. Bye. Thanks for joining us on the Pursuit of Wellness podcast. To support this show, please rate and review and share with your loved ones. If you want to be reminded of new episodes, click the subscribe button on your preferred podcast or video player. You can sign up for my newsletter to receive my favorites at marilowelland.com. It will be linked in the show notes. This is a Wellness Out Loud production produced by Drake Peterson, Fiona Attucks, and Kelly Kyle.

This show is edited by Mike Fry, and our video is recorded by Luis Vargas. You can also watch the full video of each episode on our YouTube channel at Mari Fitness. Love you, Power Girls and Power Boys. See you next time. The content of this show is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for individual medical and mental health advice and does not constitute a provider-patient relationship. As always, talk to your doctor or health team.