Detailed Summary of "Solo Q&A: IVF Results, Home Cooking Tips, and My Favorite Snacks" – Pursuit of Wellness Podcast by Mari Llewellyn
In this engaging solo episode of the "Pursuit of Wellness" podcast, host Mari Llewellyn delves into a comprehensive Q&A session, addressing a wide range of topics from her personal fitness routines and dietary habits to her ongoing IVF journey and lifestyle choices. This episode offers listeners a deep dive into Mari's holistic approach to wellness, blending personal anecdotes with actionable advice.
1. Returning to Fitness Post-IVF [00:00 – 02:00]
Mari begins by discussing her renewed commitment to fitness after a brief hiatus due to her IVF treatments. She outlines her current workout regimen, emphasizing a balanced approach to strength and flexibility.
- Workout Split:
- Weightlifting: 30 to 40 minutes, three times a week, alternating between lower and upper body.
- Pilates: 1 to 2 times a week, focusing on core strength.
- Daily Activity: Aiming for close to 10,000 steps each day, despite the challenges posed by the cold weather in Austin, Texas.
“Walking, Pilates, weightlifting, just focusing on getting a lot of protein in.” [00:45]
Mari highlights the importance of incorporating varied exercises to maintain overall health and stamina, especially during the physically and emotionally demanding IVF process.
2. Personal Care: Nails and Beauty Preferences [02:00 – 03:30]
When asked about her preferred nail shape and color, Mari shares her flexible approach to beauty, reflecting her dynamic lifestyle.
- Nail Shape: Almond-shaped.
- Nail Colors:
- Alternates between nude shades and vibrant colors.
- Currently favoring dark red, with past preferences for dark green and plans to try navy next.
“I kind of go between like color nude, color nude. Right now they're this dark red, but I did dark green before.” [03:10]
Mari's beauty routine underscores her belief in self-expression and adaptability, key themes in her wellness journey.
3. Diet and Nutrition: Home Cooking Over Eating Out [03:30 – 05:30]
Mari emphasizes the benefits of cooking at home as a strategy to maintain a clean and controlled diet.
- Main Advice: Reduce eating out to avoid hidden and potentially inflammatory ingredients like seed oils and excessive sugars in restaurant food.
- Home Cooking Benefits:
- Control over ingredient quality.
- Ability to customize meals to dietary preferences and health goals.
- Enhances enjoyment and creativity in the kitchen.
“I think when you cook at home it eliminates a lot of the BS that they're putting in food.” [04:20]
She advocates for preparing favorite dishes, such as burgers and fries, using high-quality ingredients like grass-fed meat and homemade fries to enjoy indulgent foods healthily.
4. Favorite Snacks: Hyper-Fixation on Raw Bars [05:30 – 07:30]
Mari discusses her longstanding preference for specific healthy snacks, highlighting her commitment to nutritious eating even outside of main meals.
- Preferred Snack: RAW-R Tiny brand protein bars.
- Features: High in protein (approximately 20 grams per bar), family-run, requires refrigeration, and has a limited shelf life.
- Personal Endorsement: Mari consumes these bars daily and appreciates their quality and taste without any sponsorship influence.
“I bring them everywhere. I eat them every day. Hyper fixation 100%.” [06:10]
Her dedication to these bars reflects her broader commitment to maintaining a balanced and protein-rich diet.
5. IVF Journey: Embryo Status and Future Steps [07:30 – 16:30]
Mari provides an in-depth update on her IVF journey, sharing both the emotional and technical aspects of the process.
- Embryo Status:
- Holds frozen embryos with top grades, indicating high quality.
- Plans for genetic testing to assess embryo health without seeking gender selection to preserve the excitement of a gender reveal.
“The grading system we have is good, good, good, fair, and fair, fair. And the majority of our embryos are good, good, top grade.” [14:10]
- Emotional Experience: Mari expresses the anxiety and anticipation involved in waiting for IVF results, highlighting the importance of community support and maintaining a positive outlook.
“I have really good feelings about it.” [15:00]
- Privacy Considerations: She chooses to keep specific details about the number of embryos private to avoid external pressures and comparisons.
“I just think that might be too private.” [15:30]
Mari’s transparent discussion about her IVF journey offers listeners a candid look into the challenges and hopes associated with fertility treatments.
6. Mental Health and Faith: Finding Support Through Church [16:30 – 22:30]
Mari explores how faith and community have played a role in her mental well-being during her IVF journey.
- Church Streaming:
- Began streaming church services to create a positive and uplifting environment.
- Views church as a meditative space rather than a religious commitment.
“It's really just to be honest, going through IVF has been really mentally challenging...” [18:00]
- Mental Health Benefits: The act of streaming services provides her with a sense of community, reduces anxiety, and offers a space for reflection and prayer.
“I need that support.” [21:00]
Mari’s approach underscores the importance of finding personal and spiritual practices that support mental health during challenging times.
7. Home Life and Pets: Chickens and Horses [22:30 – 30:00]
Mari shares insights into her home life, including her experiences with pets and livestock.
- Chickens:
- Recently added chickens to her backyard, ensuring they can roam safely away from dogs using bamboo bushes for protection.
- Observes increased egg production with vibrant yolks, indicating healthy chickens.
“They're out all day, which does scare me. I am so worried about a hawk...” [24:00]
- Horses:
- Previously owned a horse named Beau, a paint horse that was instrumental in her introduction to horseback riding.
- Sold Beau due to mismatched riding styles and emotional strain, prioritizing the horse’s happiness over her own attachment.
- Now owns a gentler American Quarter Horse named Red, who suits her current lifestyle and riding preferences.
“He's the most gentle, soft, healing horse ever.” [29:00]
Mari’s stories about her animals highlight her compassionate approach to pet ownership and her willingness to make tough decisions for mutual well-being.
8. Personal Life and Relationships: Best Friends and Marriage [30:00 – 35:00]
Mari reflects on her personal relationships and marriage, offering a glimpse into her support system.
- Best Friends:
- Considers her husband, Greg Llewellyn, as her best friend and primary support.
- Acknowledges having a few other close friends, a newfound experience compared to her previous isolation during business building phases.
“At the end of the day, I feel like it's always going to be Greg.” [31:00]
- Marriage and Honeymoon:
- Mari and Greg did not have a traditional honeymoon due to the demands of building their business, Bloom.
- They plan to celebrate future milestones, such as a vow renewal or a "baby moon," once they reach specific personal and professional goals.
“Greg and I didn't go on a honeymoon... maybe at some point.” [34:00]
Her reflections emphasize the importance of partnership and shared goals in maintaining a strong marital relationship.
9. Lifestyle Choices: Microwave Use and Living Abroad [35:00 – 38:00]
Mari addresses questions about her lifestyle choices, shedding light on her practical side.
- Microwave Use:
- Utilizes a microwave daily for convenience, despite her husband's reservations.
“I use a microwave every day.” [36:00]
- Living Abroad:
- While not currently considering living abroad permanently, Mari enjoys short-term stays, particularly in France, appreciating aspects like European eating habits and healthcare systems.
“I could see myself doing a month or two in like France.” [37:00]
These insights illustrate Mari’s balance between practicality and a willingness to embrace short-term cultural experiences.
10. Skincare and Fitness: Pre and Post-Workout Routines [38:00 – 40:00]
Mari shares her skincare routine in relation to her fitness activities.
- Skincare Timing:
- Generally applies skincare products after workouts, unless the exercise (like Pilates) does not induce sweating, in which case she might apply them beforehand.
“Generally, I'm doing it after. Unless it's Pilates and I'm not sweating...” [39:00]
This habit reflects her attention to maintaining skin health in tandem with her active lifestyle.
11. Additional Insights: Sourdough Recipe and Daily Structure [40:00 – 45:00]
Mari provides practical tips and personal routines related to her daily life.
- Sourdough Recipe:
- Uses a recipe from Ballerina Farms, involving a two-day process with a starter and flour.
- Bakes two loaves each time, sharing one and freezing the other for later use.
“It's really boring. But it is amazing.” [42:00]
- Balancing Podcast and Bloom Responsibilities:
- Currently prioritizing her podcast to stay connected with her community, even as she maintains her creative role at Bloom.
- Participates in weekly brand calls focused on packaging, formulation, and visual presentation.
“I feel like my best asset and value is sharing and connecting with my community...” [44:00]
Her approach illustrates the balance between personal passion projects and professional responsibilities.
12. Alcohol Consumption and Weight Loss [45:00 – 50:00]
Mari discusses her relationship with alcohol, particularly in the context of her weight loss journey.
- Past Challenges:
- Experienced problematic alcohol use during college, using it as an escape mechanism.
“I definitely abused alcohol. Blacking out was like a very regular thing for me.” [46:00]
- Current Habits:
- Limits alcohol intake to one or two drinks on social occasions.
- Recognizes alcohol as a significant factor in calorie consumption and prefers obtaining calories through food.
“But I never have more than like, if I have two drinks in a night...” [49:00]
Mari’s candid discussion highlights her ongoing efforts to maintain a balanced and health-conscious lifestyle.
13. Baby Names and Future Parenting Plans [50:00 – 55:00]
Mari shares her thoughts on baby names and her excitement about future parenting.
- Baby Names:
- Prefers short, cute, and feminine names with a British influence to reflect her cultural heritage and her husband’s Italian background.
- Has a comprehensive list for both boy and girl names, with the boy name being set for several years.
“My entire TikTok for you page is baby names... short, cute, and I like feminine names.” [52:00]
- Future Plans:
- While not considering opening a fitness studio, Mari focuses on her current roles and anticipates future life changes with a potential baby moon.
“Maybe that can be what we do.” [54:00]
Her enthusiasm for naming and future parenting underscores her optimism and hope during her fertility journey.
14. Relaxation and Work-Life Balance [55:00 – End]
Mari concludes by addressing how she and her husband manage to relax amidst their busy lives.
- Personal Relaxation:
- Emphasizes the importance of shifting from a hustle culture to a more relaxed mindset, especially during the IVF process.
- Sees relaxation as essential for reducing bodily stress and enhancing the success of fertility treatments.
“You need to shift this mindset out of like hustle, busy culture and really get okay with being a bit more still...” [58:00]
- Husband’s Work Ethic:
- Acknowledges that her husband, Greg, is still deeply entrenched in his work routine and has yet to fully embrace relaxation.
“I think we're a couple years out from that.” [59:00]
Mari’s reflections highlight the ongoing journey towards achieving a healthy work-life balance, crucial for overall wellness.
Conclusion
Throughout this solo Q&A episode, Mari Llewellyn offers an authentic and comprehensive look into her multifaceted life, blending personal experiences with practical wellness advice. From her disciplined approach to fitness and nutrition to the emotional depths of her IVF journey, Mari embodies the essence of holistic wellness. Her candid discussions about relationships, personal challenges, and lifestyle choices provide listeners with relatable content and inspiration to pursue their own paths to well-being. This episode not only deepens the connection between Mari and her audience but also reinforces the podcast's mission of fostering real and raw conversations about health and transformation.
Note: All timestamps are approximate estimates based on the transcript provided.