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This is the Pursuit of Wellness podcast and I'm your host, Mari Llewellyn.
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What's up guys? Welcome back to another solo episode. Today we are talking all things my current morning routine. And I think this will be a good episode to do now because things have changed a decent amount probably if you've been with me for a while. They've changed a lot because my morning routine used to be super intense and there's definitely a time and place for that. But that time is not now for me. My morning routine lately has been much more mental health slash fertility hormone focus. Like let's say it's my feminine era morning routine. It's been way more flexible, it's been way more enjoyable. I would say definitely still some health things sprinkled in there and some non negotiables. But I, you know, if you've been following me lately, I've been going through IVF and it's definitely taken a mental and physical toll on me and I don't have the bandwidth that I used to have. And although exercise is still an important part of my life, it makes me feel so good it's not, it's no longer a top, top, top priority. So I want to fill you guys in on what that looks like and give you an if you've been with me for a while, as I said, I used to wake up at 5:30am and roll out of bed and go directly to Gold's Gym and do a crazy workout for an hour and a half. And it's okay to evolve and grow and change. I think that's such a big thing I want to emphasize because the old me, I had such a hard time letting go of my routines. Like nothing could get in the way of me waking up at 5:30 and going to the gym. And if anything changed, like if I was sick or going through something or if there was like a workout class I got invited to, I would say no every time and just keep doing my thing because I think I was so reliant on my routine for some reason as like a safety blanket. And now I kind of like change things day to day depending on what my mood is or what's going on, which is really nice and it's given me like a sense of freedom that I didn't have before. So yeah, let's hop in and give you a look at what it looks like now. And truthfully, it changes every day. But I will give you a look at what it is like typically and there's some things in here that don't change. So lately I wake up between 7 and 7:30, which still feels like a luxury when I went so long. Waking up at like 5, 5:30, 7 to 7:30 feels really, really doable. Something that I've been doing recently, which was actually inspired by Michael Chernow, who came on the show very recently. If you go back and look at my recent episodes, he talked about sobriety and gratitude and prayer were a really big part of his routine. And what he does is first thing in the morning and last thing at night he gets on his knees and says a prayer. And as you guys know, I've been just like leaning way more into like my spirituality and praying and gratitude and things like that during my IVF journey. And I have started saying a prayer every single morning. And I say something, you know, in my head for people in my life, for things I'm going through, for, you know, just like giving me the strength to get through what I need to get through that day or whatever it may be. And it's just this moment of like gratitude, asking for help and being present. And I feel like it has put me in a really good headspace to take on the rest of the day, which is so nice. And then you know, last thing at night saying thank you. You know, thinking about the great things that happened to me that day, just like taking a moment to soak it in because it's so easy to just blast through everything and focus on the negative. So that is something I've implemented that I really, really love. The next thing I do and also I should mention before I say the prayer, I open the blinds cuz I want to see outside right away. And then I turn off my hatch rain noise machine that I have going and I head into the bathroom, do the normal things, brush my teeth, brush my hair, throw on some kind of activewear dog walking outfit. It's been super cold in Austin lately, so. So I bundle up and then it's time to head into the kitchen. The very first thing I do in the kitchen is take any medication that needs to be taken on an empty stomach. Pretty sure my thyroid medication is what I take. And then I make a hydro flask. So I take a big cup like this if you're watching on Spotify on video. I take a big cup of water and I add all my fancy things into it so that I have that going for the day. So I'll throw in some like electrolytes or something. I always throw in a scoop of bloom colostrum and collagen peptides. That has been amazing for my skin and gut health. And I do it every single day. If I'm exercising, I throw in my creatine, which has been amazing, and I'll throw in a scoop of glutamine, which is great for gut health, and then some ice cubes. And honestly, it tastes really good. And I'll, like, drink it while I exercise or whatever I'm doing. Then it's time to go let the prince out. I head upstairs to Arnold's bedroom, which is so funny that he has a whole room. We haven't really filled the rooms upstairs yet because we don't have kids yet or anything. So Arnold has his own bedroom and his crate, and he loves his crate. So I wake him up and let him out, which is so cute. I give him a little cuddle and then he just shoots downstairs like this. He basically flies down the stairs, he's so fast and crazy. Then I feed him, which is a whole thing. He goes and sits on his little place, we call it I go place, and he goes and sits on this platform. Arnold's a very crazy dog. Like, very high energy, very food obsessed. So we have like a whole system with him because otherwise it's just madness. So he goes on his place. I put his collar on, then I put his snood on, which is like this thing that holds his ears back. I'm. I'm doing a deep dive right now on to Arnold's routine, but it's just necessary. I have a snood for him, which, like, if you haven't seen it on my story, it's so funny. It's like a little scarf because his ears get in his food and the snood has, like animal eyes on it. And it's just the cutest thing. I have like a frog one and a bear one. And he looks so funny. So I do that. Give Arnold his breakfast, and then it's time to let him outside because he needs to be outside immediately. So let him out. And then him and I go on a walk. We kind of switch up the walks we do in my neighborhood, but we get outside, I get some steps, I get some sunlight. Arnold gets his steps, he gets his playtime. It's honestly, like the nicest way to start the day. And I normally walk for like 30 minutes with him. It's a really nice way to get some sunlight. Like, stay off my phone, be present, get outside. And also, I should mention, Greg handles Lulu. Like, we divide and conquer responsibilities. So he handles Lulu. I handle Arnold and that's that. So then I get home and I either make myself a coffee in our Breville machine or I grab an energy drink. Depends on the mood. If I'm weightlifting, it's probably an energy drink. If I'm headed to Pilates, maybe it's a coffee. My new favorite flavor is our juicy orange. It's subtle, orange, fizzy, so good. At this point it's time for my exercise. So I'll either change into a workout outfit or I'm already in one and I'm either heading down to our garage from for our home gym to do a weightlifting session, which I probably would have already decided what I'm doing. I'm either using the strength app, which is my fitness app that I've been developing since I started this career. Like it's all the workout plans I've been following since the beginning and there's videos and different workouts for different body group, body like, muscle groups etc, and then I'm either doing that or I'm doing pilates, maybe walking, whatever it may be. So I that's what I've gotten really flexible with to be honest. Probably weightlifting like three times a week, Pilates twice a week. Sometimes I'll do a bar's class, sometimes I'll go walk around the trail. Just depends. I just try and switch it up every day I weightlift for about 40 minutes. Pilates is for an hour. Maybe I'll walk on the treadmill to get some steps as well. Like I'm definitely trying to hit that 10k steps every day. It is tough when it's cold outside.
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Yeah and I really enjoy pilates. I find it to be very hard, especially the class I take here in Austin which is called Former and it's literally impossible. Like I'm shaking. It's torture. So yeah, I'm doing one or the other. After I'm done exercising it is time for breakfast. I am a breakfast girl. Like I will never be someone who skips breakfast. I know girls who wait till lunch or they intermittent fast. Couldn't be me. I wake up starving and I like breakfast food. I lately eat sourdough which I've been making myself. I actually need to make another loaf ASAP because I'm running low. I use the Ballerina Farms recipe from YouTube. She posted it two years ago and it Makes two loaves. And what I do is I eat one fresh, and then I slice the other one and put it in the freezer. And honestly, toasting from frozen is amazing because it's frozen, like, at the freshest time. And then I eat my eggs from my chicken coop. This is, like, my dream situation. Like, the fact that I can even say that, to me, is the coolest thing. I do want to grow my own berries at some point and have a garden, but I'm not. I'm not all the way there yet. I'll figure that out at some point. Sometimes I'll do, like, a yogurt bowl with granola. But, like, protein is so, so, so important to me. So if I'm doing yogurt, I want to use something that has a high protein content. Like, there's a Sky Skyr Skyer has high protein in it. I'll do that. You could do Phi A. Whatever. I've also been drinking this juice every single day. I either drink it with breakfast or dinner. And it's for fertility. So any queens listening who are doing ivf, trying to have a baby, trying naturally, doing IUI whatever you need to be consuming pomegranates. Like, I'm sorry. Pomegranates are my new personality. I'm obsessed with them. They literally work. Like, I've watched it happen in other people. Pomegranates are nature's fertility medication, I think because they have such high folic acid, they help with the lining of the uterus, they help with embryo implantation. So I am chugging pomegranate and beet juice to help with the chances of my embryos implanting right away. I shouldn't say embryos. That sounds like I'm gonna have twins embryo. So I am consuming pomegranates regularly. I'm eating the seeds, I'm drinking the juice. I'm doing all the things. So what I do is I mix pomegranate juice pure. You want to get pure? I think my brand is called Lakeway. The ingredients should say pomegranate seeds and water, and that's it. So that plus pure beet juice with some seltzer, ice cubes, and a straw, because that stuff's like, it's going to dye your mouth, so you want to use a straw. And I drink that every single day. You could also sprinkle, like, pomegranate seeds on your yogurt or, like, whatever, but you need to be consuming that if you want to have a baby. That is my opinion. I'm having breakfast. I cook it myself every day. I cook with butter, by the way, or ghee. I don't cook with olive oil. And I put butter on my sourdough bread with flaky salt. Yum. I don't put honey because, like, I. I can't have sweets in the morning. Like, I have a really hard time with that. It makes me, like, feel brain foggy, so I skip that. And honestly, when I eat breakfast, this is a time where I, like, check my phone, see what's on the cowl for the day. Has anyone texted me? I go on Instagram, I see my TikTok stuff, which is honestly scary. Like, every time I click on Tick Tock, I get scared because I feel like anything could have happened on there overnight. Do you know what I mean? Like, what's going on? And then after I've eaten, that's when I really take all my supplements. So it is a lot more simplified than it used to be. Like, if you've listened to this podcast for the last two years, I used to take a crazy amount of supplements because I thought it was helping my skin or like, whatever I was doing, like going through it. Now it's way more like fertility focused and I'd say simplified. So normally I'm taking my bloom greens every day to get in all my vitamins and nutrients. Or you could mix that in with your hydro flask or with your pomegranate beet juice. I actually saw a girl comment on my Tick tock saying she mixes her pomegranate juice with her greens, which I think is genius. I also told you guys I take this IVF egg freeze pack, like a supplement pill pack. If you just Google that, you'll find it. It has everything you need in that one pack, which is fantastic. Then I also take. Right now I'm taking like vitamin D because I'm. We're not getting enough sun. Like, it's too. Not sunny enough here in Austin. And zinc, and that's pretty much it. And like, any medication that I need to be taking, I really feel like that's all you need. And then, you know, obviously at night I'm taking like magnesium and stuff, but way more simple than it used to be. Thank goodness. After my supplements, it's time to head into the bathroom to get ready. So this is a moment where maybe if I'm feeling extra fancy, I'm gonna do red light therapy. You guys know I love Bon Charge. I love the face mask. Really good for acne, scarring, wrinkles, like, whatever. Great Way to like, you know, meditate, read a book, do something. Or I'll do one of my Epicutus sheet masks or I'll do Jouer eye patches. Just something to like vibe out. I wash my face with clear stem. Always do all my serums, moisturizers. Lately I've been gua sha ing. I do not know if I'm doing it right, like a little whatever jaw, cheekbone, down the neck, trying to flush the puff and the toxins. I feel like with everything going on with me lately, hormonally, like I feel like a science experiment. I like my face looks different every day. So it just makes me feel like I'm doing something, like I'm chiseling something. So I'll do that for a minute when I'm like moisturized. And then unless I'm recording, like if I'm recording like this and I'm on camera or I'm doing a shoot, then I'm going to do makeup. And I never put a ton of makeup on. But like for me this is a lot right now and I've like found a lot of things I really like. Like actually I use some new stuff today that I got because of my friend Hannah Chodi because she's like a beauty influencer and posts really good makeup. And I put like Bobbi Brown vitamin something as a face base. And I do a say slip tint moisturizer and I do Westman atelier concealer. If you want to see my makeup routine, honestly, go on my TikTok because I've done it on there a couple times but most of the time I literally just put color science sunscreen which is acne safe and it has tint to it so it makes your face look a little more tan. Maybe I'll do a little bit of concealer on like acne scars, little bit of like the road freckle blush. I have an acne safe powder that I'll sometimes use Eyebrow gel by Victoria Beckham Benefit Lip Tin. And that's it. Like I like it to look really, really natural.
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And then for my hair, I I mean I'm not much of a hair gal lately I've been super into like getting a blowout and trying to make it last as long as possible. So like you go to like milk and honey if you're here in Austin or Chicago or la, get a blowout. Make it last. My hair gets greasy quite easily so actually I recently got the Crown Affair Dry shampoo and it's pretty fantastic and that will help me make it last longer. So I'll make it last for like four days is like my max and that's like an efficient way of doing my hair. If not, I love my Dyson Air wrap. I did that today for the flippy ends. Or I really like the Air Straight. That's a new Dyson product that you could like blow out. And it's like a straightener and it goes from wet to dry and it's completely straight, which is like, kind of crazy. But yeah, I'm not like a huge hair girl, so I just do what I can and then we go into the closet. Today I'm wearing like a real outfit. Like today I had to wear jeans and like a whole thing because I did a shoot at Walmart, but normally I'm wearing activewear and like, trying to make it look cute, you know what I mean? Like, I'm wearing a workout set and I'm trying to make it like, good for real life. And then depends on the day. Sometimes I'm working from home in my upstairs office or I'm heading into the office. Like right now I'm in the studio. Then I'll probably dress a bit nicer. But usually by like 9, 30, 10, I'm heading out the door, going somewhere for work, whatever it may be. And that's the morning. That really is the morning. And that's way more chill than I'm used to. But I'm loving it and I'm really enjoying it. And I, I know it wasn't too, too biohacky, too crazy, too wellnessy, but I just want to be honest, like, this is where I'm at. This is what the bandwidth of what I am able to offer right now. And that is okay. And I hope you got some little tidbits from here, guys. And I know I mentioned a few products, so maybe we'll try and link them in the description box. If you want to try the Bloom energy drink, it's at Target, Walmart, Kroger, Maya. It's in a lot of retail stores now. You can also get it on Amazon, our Variety packaging. You can get our colostrum and collagen peptides at Walmart and Target. And yeah, guys, I really appreciate you listening. A reminder, I know a lot of you listen, but not all of you are subscribed to the show. And if you're not subscribed, you might miss an episode. And we have really, really fun episodes coming out. A lot of solos. I know you guys really enjoy the solos in the girl chats. There's a lot of those coming because right now I'm very much feeling pulled to doing more solos. I feel like I'm going through a lot in my life and although I love my guest episodes and my experts, I'm just in an era where I'm really like focusing on what I'm going through and wanting to chat with my friends and things like that. So a lot more girly chats coming. So make sure you subscribe to the show, leave a review. If you loved it, go follow me on TikTok and Instagram. We'll link all of that in the description box and I'll see you guys on the next episode. Bye.
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Thank you 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 Receive my favorites@marilewellyn.com it will be linked in the show Notes this podcast is a Pursuit Network production brought to you by Michaela Phillips, Joel Contartese, Daviel Waldner, Jen Lauren and Mackenzie Meisel. You can also watch the full video of each episode on our YouTube channel at Pursuit of Wellness podcast. Love you POW girls and POW boys. I will see you next time.
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The content of this show is for.
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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.
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As always, talk to your doctor or health team.
Pursuit of Wellness: Solo Episode Summary Episode: "My Updated Morning Routine for Emotional & Hormonal Balance" Host: Mari Llewellyn | Release Date: February 17, 2025
In this insightful solo episode of Pursuit of Wellness, Mari Llewellyn delves deep into her revamped morning routine, emphasizing emotional and hormonal balance. Drawing from her personal experiences, especially her ongoing IVF journey, Mari shares practical adjustments and holistic practices that have enhanced her well-being.
Mari begins by reflecting on the evolution of her morning routine, highlighting the importance of adaptability:
“It’s okay to evolve and grow and change. I think that’s such a big thing I want to emphasize because the old me, I had such a hard time letting go of my routines.” (02:15)
Previously, Mari adhered to a rigorous schedule, waking up at 5:30 AM for intense workouts. However, recognizing the physical and mental toll of her fertility treatments, she transitioned to a more flexible routine that prioritizes mental health and hormonal balance.
Inspired by guest Michael Chernow, Mari incorporates spirituality into her mornings:
“I have started saying a prayer every single morning. It’s just this moment of like gratitude, asking for help and being present.” (03:10)
She emphasizes the significance of starting and ending her day with prayers, fostering a sense of gratitude and presence that sets a positive tone for the day ahead.
Hydration plays a crucial role in Mari’s routine. The first step in her kitchen involves preparing a nutrient-packed hydro flask:
“I always throw in a scoop of bloom colostrum and collagen peptides. That has been amazing for my skin and gut health.” (05:45)
Depending on her exercise plans, she may add creatine and glutamine to support her fitness and digestive health, ensuring she starts the day nourished and energized.
Mari incorporates quality time with her dog, Arnold, into her morning:
“I wake him up and let him out, which is so cute. Then we go on a walk. It’s a really nice way to get some sunlight, stay off my phone, be present.” (07:20)
This routine not only benefits Arnold but also provides Mari with essential sunlight and movement, enhancing her overall mood and physical health.
Despite reducing the intensity of her workouts, Mari remains committed to regular exercise tailored to her current needs:
“Probably weightlifting like three times a week, Pilates twice a week. Sometimes I'll do a bars class, sometimes I'll go walk around the trail. Just depends.” (09:10)
Her flexible approach allows her to maintain physical fitness without overwhelming her system, especially during the demanding period of IVF treatments.
A steadfast breakfast enthusiast, Mari prioritizes a hearty morning meal:
“I wake up starving and I like breakfast food. I eat sourdough and eggs from my chicken coop. Protein is so, so, so important to me.” (11:50)
She shares her love for homemade sourdough, emphasizing the importance of protein-rich foods to fuel her day and support her fertility journey.
Mari highlights specific supplements that aid her fertility:
“Pomegranates are nature’s fertility medication. They have such high folic acid, they help with the lining of the uterus and embryo implantation.” (14:30)
Her daily regimen includes pomegranate and beet juice blends, along with fertility-focused supplements like bloom greens and an IVF egg freeze pack, simplifying her intake while targeting her health goals.
Transitioning from a complex supplement stack, Mari now focuses on essentials:
“Now it’s way more like fertility focused and simplified. Normally I’m taking bloom greens, IVF egg freeze pack, vitamin D, and zinc.” (16:20)
This streamlined approach ensures she receives the necessary nutrients without the overwhelm of excessive supplementation.
Mari integrates skincare and self-care into her morning routine to promote physical and mental wellness:
“I might do red light therapy or a face mask. I do gua sha to flush the puff and toxins. It’s a way to meditate and vibe out.” (17:05)
These practices not only enhance her skin health but also provide moments of mindfulness and relaxation.
Preferring comfort without sacrificing style, Mari opts for versatile outfits that transition seamlessly from home to work:
“Normally I’m wearing activewear and trying to make it look cute. Depends on the day, sometimes I dress a bit nicer for the office.” (20:05)
Her streamlined wardrobe choices reflect her current lifestyle needs, balancing functionality with personal style.
Mari concludes by expressing her contentment with her current routine and encourages listeners to embrace their personal journeys:
“This is where I am at. This is the bandwidth of what I am able to offer right now. And that is okay.” (22:30)
Her message underscores the importance of self-acceptance and adapting routines to align with one's present circumstances and well-being.
Mari Llewellyn’s updated morning routine serves as an inspiring example of how to prioritize emotional and hormonal health amidst life’s challenges. By embracing flexibility, integrating spiritual practices, and simplifying her approach to wellness, Mari demonstrates that true wellness is about honoring one’s current needs and fostering a deeper connection with oneself. This episode offers valuable insights and practical tips for anyone seeking to cultivate a balanced and fulfilling morning ritual.