Solo Q&A: IVF Results, Baby Names, Home Cooking Tips, and My Favorite Snacks
On this episode of the Pursuit of Wellness podcast, Mari opens up about her health and wellness practices during the IVF process. She shares her fitness routine, nutrition habits - such as home cooking over restaurant meals, and supplementing with pomegranate and beet juice to promote fertility. The episode also touches on personal topics like coping with the emotional toll of IVF through church, as well as business updates.
Mari provides insight into balancing her roles as a podcaster and entrepreneur during fertility treatment. She discusses contrasting approaches with her partner Greg, from differing views on microwaves to Mari's preference for chemical-free, non-toxic cleaning products. This candid episode offers a rare glimpse into Mari's world as she navigates various aspects of her life while pursuing wellness.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the Feb 3, 2025 episode of the Pursuit of Wellness
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1-Page Summary
Health and Wellness
Mari shares her approach to fitness, nutrition, and fertility for IVF. Her fitness routine involves lifting, Pilates, and walking 10,000 steps daily, says Mari. For nutrition, Mari suggests home cooking to avoid inflammatory restaurant ingredients. Mari has incorporated pomegranate and beet juice for fertility benefits, Mari adds.
Personal Life Updates
Mari received promising news about her IVF - her frozen embryos are well-graded, Mari shares without disclosing the number to avoid comparisons. Church attendance has helped Mari cope with the emotional toll of IVF despite not being religious, Mari notes.
Business and Entrepreneurship
While Greg manages Bloom operations, Mari focuses on the podcast during IVF, overseeing creative aspects like packaging and branding, says Mari. Their approaches differ - Greg is cautious about microwaves, but Mari uses one daily, contrasting their health mindsets, Mari explains. Mari relies solely on Branch Basics for non-toxic cleaning, highlighting her chemical-free lifestyle preference.
1-Page Summary
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a fertility treatment where an egg is fertilized by sperm outside the body in a laboratory setting. It is commonly used to help individuals or couples with infertility issues conceive a child. The fertilized egg, known as an embryo, is then transferred to the uterus to establish a pregnancy. IVF can also be used in gestational surrogacy and to prevent the transmission of genetic disorders.
- Well-graded embryos in the context of IVF typically indicate that the embryos have developed in a way that is considered favorable for implantation. Embryos are graded based on their appearance and development stage, with higher grades generally indicating better quality. This grading system helps fertility specialists select the most viable embryos for transfer during IVF procedures. Embryos that are well-graded have a higher likelihood of resulting in a successful pregnancy.
- Branch Basics is a company that offers non-toxic cleaning products. These products are designed to be free from harmful chemicals commonly found in traditional cleaning products. Branch Basics promotes a more natural and environmentally friendly approach to cleaning by using plant-based ingredients. Users of Branch Basics products often appreciate their effectiveness in cleaning while being mindful of reducing exposure to potentially harmful substances.
Counterarguments
- While walking 10,000 steps daily is a popular fitness goal, some research suggests that the specific number of steps is less important than just being more physically active in general.
- Home cooking can be healthier than eating out, but it's not always practical for everyone due to time constraints, cooking skills, or access to fresh ingredients.
- The fertility benefits of pomegranate and beet juice are not conclusively proven; while they may have health benefits, relying on them for fertility might not be effective for everyone.
- The grading of frozen embryos, while a positive sign, does not guarantee successful pregnancy and implantation during IVF.
- Church attendance can be a source of comfort for many, but it's not a universal coping mechanism for the emotional challenges of IVF; others may find solace in different support systems or activities.
- Focusing on creative aspects of a business like packaging and branding is important, but it should be balanced with attention to other business operations to ensure overall success.
- Using a microwave is a personal choice, and while some may have concerns about their safety or effects on nutrition, the majority of scientific evidence suggests they are safe and preserve nutrients well.
- Relying solely on one brand for non-toxic cleaning may not address all cleaning needs and preferences, and other brands or homemade solutions could also be effective and non-toxic.
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Health and Wellness (Fitness, Nutrition, and Fertility)
Mari shares her approach to integrating fitness, nutrition, and fertility into a comprehensive wellness plan, with the goal of maintaining health while going through IVF treatments.
Mari's Ivf Workout: Lifting, Pilates, Walking
Mari's Fitness Routine
Mari recently resumed her fitness regimen after a three-week pause due to IVF. She weights lifts for about 30 to 40 minutes, three times a week, alternating her focus between her lower body and upper body. Along with weightlifting, she includes Pilates in her workout schedule one to two times weekly, prioritizing core strength. Additionally, Mari tries to accumulate close to 10,000 steps daily. While this can be challenging due to the cold weather in Austin, Texas, she stays determined to meet her walking goal.
Mari Recommends Home Cooking to Avoid Inflammatory Restaurant Ingredients
Mari Suggests Healthier Homemade Versions of Favorite Dishes to Control Ingredients
In terms of diet, Mari advocates for less frequent eating out because restaurants often cook with ingredients that could be inflammatory, such as seed oils or hidden sugars. To ensure cleaner eating habits, she recommends preparing meals at home, which allows full control over wha ...
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Health and Wellness (Fitness, Nutrition, and Fertility)
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While Mari's fitness routine is well-rounded, some might argue that it's important to tailor exercise intensity and type to individual needs and responses, especially during IVF treatments, as some women may require a more gentle approach.
- The goal of 10,000 steps a day is a popular benchmark, but it's not necessarily the optimal number for everyone, and some may find it too demanding or not challenging enough depending on their fitness level and medical advice during IVF.
- Cooking at home can indeed offer more control over ingredients, but it's also important to recognize that not everyone has the time, resources, or skills to do so, and there are healthy and mindful choices that can be made when eating out.
- While Mari suggests avoiding inflammatory ingredients by cooking at home, it's worth noting that not all restaurant food contains inflammatory ingredients, and many establishments cater to he ...
Actionables
- You can track your daily activity with a simple pedometer or smartphone app to ensure you're moving enough throughout the day. By setting a daily step goal slightly above your current average, you'll gradually increase your activity level, which can be beneficial for overall health and complement a fertility-focused lifestyle.
- Create a personalized recipe book filled with homemade versions of your favorite restaurant meals, focusing on anti-inflammatory ingredients. Start by identifying the dishes you love to eat out and research how to make them with fertility-supporting ingredients, then compile these recipes into a digital folder or a physical binder for easy access when meal planning.
- Experiment with adding fertili ...
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Personal Life Updates (IVF Journey, Faith Exploration)
Mari shares intimate details about her journey through in vitro fertilization (IVF) and how her exploration of faith has aided her during this challenging time.
Mari Shares Promising IVF News: Well-Graded Frozen Embryos
Mari Didn't Disclose Embryo Count to Avoid Comparisons, but Is Positive About Their Quality
Mari is currently focused on her IVF process, having taken a step back from other commitments. She received promising news after a recent call informed her that her embryos, which are now frozen, received top grades. Though she chooses not to disclose the number of embryos to steer clear of comparisons or the stress from other people counting them down, she is optimistic about their quality. The majority of her embryos are graded top, with one at middle grade, and they are set to undergo genetic testing. While the testing will reveal gender and potential issues, Mari has decided she would rather not know the gender to maintain an element of surprise for a future gender reveal.
Church Attendance Aided Mari's IVF Emotional and Mental Challenges
Mari Finds Support in Church Community Despite Not Being Religious
The IVF process has take ...
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Personal Life Updates (IVF Journey, Faith Exploration)
Additional Materials
Actionables
- Create a personal progress tracker to monitor and celebrate small victories in challenging journeys, similar to how Mari appreciated the quality of her embryos. Use a journal or a digital app to note down milestones, positive feedback, or any small wins in your personal or professional life. This can help maintain optimism and provide a visual representation of progress, which can be especially uplifting during tough times.
- Establish a routine that includes a weekly reflective practice to find solace and support, drawing inspiration from Mari's church attendance. This could be a walk in nature, a quiet coffee at a local café, or a dedicated time for meditation at home. The key is to have a consistent time and place where you can reflect, find peace, and possibly connect with a supportive community or individuals who share similar experiences or interests.
- Develop a 'surprise element' i ...
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Business and Entrepreneurship (Managing Bloom Responsibilities)
Mari and Greg balance their professional duties and personal preferences as they navigate the growth of their business, Bloom, alongside personal ventures and wellness choices.
Mari Steps Back From Bloom to Focus On Podcast During IVF Journey
With divergent approaches to work-life balance, Mari has chosen to reallocate her energy in favor of her community outreach and personal health.
Greg Manages Operations; Mari Manages Packaging and Branding
While Greg, as the CEO, maintains a busy schedule bustling with early workouts, demanding workdays, dinners, and media appearances like a feature on Bloomberg News, Mari takes a more measured approach. She admits that stepping back from Bloom allows her to concentrate on her podcast, especially during her IVF journey, an endeavor she feels harnesses her strengths in sharing and connecting with her audience.
Even though her involvement with Bloom has become more selective, Mari remains a key player within the company. She's still involved in the creative dimension, a realm where her expertise shines, as she oversees packaging, presentation, and formulation. Mari remains a fixture in the weekly brand calls, where her approval gives the final nod to all visuals, ensuring the branding aligns with her and Greg's shared vision for Bloom.
Mari Uses Branch Basics As Her Sole Non-toxic Cleaning Product
Their divergent personalities extend even to household choices and health m ...
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Business and Entrepreneurship (Managing Bloom Responsibilities)
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can delegate tasks based on personal strengths and interests to maintain balance in collaborative projects. For instance, if you're working on a group project, openly discuss each member's strengths and preferences. Then, assign roles that align with those strengths, such as one person handling logistics while another focuses on the creative aspects, similar to how Mari and Greg divide their responsibilities.
- You can explore and integrate eco-friendly products into your daily routine to support a healthier lifestyle. Start by researching and trying out one eco-friendly product at a time, like switching to a green alternative for a commonly used item in your household. This gradual approach allows you to assess the product's effectiveness and make informed decisions about further replacements.
- You can make informed choices about technology use by researching its imp ...
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