Pursuit of Wellness

I'm back, guys! Almost ten months postpartum, and I finally feel like I'm getting back to myself. Motherhood has changed so much about my life, including the way I approach health and fitness, and I'm ready to share what that journey has really looked like. From navigating breastfeeding and finding time to work out to rebuilding my strength and confidence, I'm getting into everything that's helped me feel like the best version of myself again.

I'm breaking down my current workout routine, how I've incorporated weightlifting, HIIT, hiking, and tennis, and what my nutrition looks like now that I'm juggling life with Kai. We talk about losing the baby weight, rebuilding my core after a C-section, my experience with peptides, and why I've had to rethink what prioritizing wellness actually looks like as a mom. Plus, I'm sharing a personal update I haven't talked about publicly yet: my recent breast lift, reduction, and fat transfer with Dr. Anne Steve in New York, why I decided to do it before baby number two, and what recovery has been like.

I'm also answering your questions about postpartum weight loss, building muscle, balancing sleep and exercise, and staying consistent when life looks completely different than it used to. If you're navigating postpartum, trying to find your way back to fitness, or just figuring out how to make your health a priority in a new season of life, this one's for you.

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Dr. Cameron Chesnut is back for Part 2, and we're getting into everything. What we actually did to my face, what the recovery has really looked like, and the honest timeline for results.

I came to Dr. Chesnut with acne scarring, hyperpigmentation, and some volume loss. We break down the custom laser cocktail (four lasers total) paired with stem cell-rich fat transfer, why he tailors every treatment differently, and how to shop for a laser provider without getting sold whatever device they happen to own.

We also get real about filler and Sculptra, including what filler actually looks like when Dr. Chesnut removes it surgically and why he takes a more cautious approach to biostimulators. Plus, the full recovery protocol I followed: hyperbaric oxygen, microplastic-free IV nutrition, red light, PEMF, and more.

If you've been curious about CO2 laser, fat transfer, or whether going the long-play route is worth it, this one answers it honestly.

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Fi is back for the first time in nearly a year, and this episode feels like the best kind of best-friend catch-up — nothing off limits. Fi gets fully honest about going off her GLP-1 medication, thinking she'd cracked the code, only to have the food noise come back full force and gain everything back in two months flat. She breaks down what she did wrong the first time, what Oprah's book Enough shifted for her, and how she's approaching round two differently. Mari opens up about an emotional spiral she had the day before recording — staring at Cai and being blindsided by grief and anger about her own childhood — and the two get into one of the most raw conversations the show has had about parenthood, the past, and what it means to protect your kid the way you wished someone had protected you. They also finally tell the real story of their friendship — the codependency, the hard conversation, the awkward in-between — plus Fi's booming real estate career, her baseball player boyfriend who actually shows up, CO2 laser updates, internet mom-shamers, and one nap they catastrophically destroyed together.

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In this Part 2 episode with my husband Greg, we get real about what actually happens after the baby arrives. The emotional shifts, the unexpected challenges, and the moments that completely reshape how we see life, marriage, and even our careers.

We talk about what surprised us most about newborn life, how becoming parents impacted our relationship, and why the changes were way more mental and emotional than we ever expected. Greg opens up about when it finally “clicked” for him as a dad, and I share what it feels like to experience both the deepest joy and the most intense fear at the same time.

We also get into:

How parenthood changed our outlook on life and business

The reality of decision-making as new parents

The emotional weight of raising a child and wanting to do everything right

Marriage dynamics after a baby

Our thoughts on having more kids and growing our family

The truth about building a business during different seasons of life

Advice for anyone starting in content creation and why “cringe” is actually your advantage

Dog training, routines, and managing a household with a newborn

How we got through hard business seasons and what keeps us going

This episode is honest, unfiltered, and a continuation of a conversation so many couples are navigating but not always talking about openly.

If you’re a new parent, thinking about becoming one, or just curious about how life really changes, this one is for you.

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On today’s episode of Pursuit of Wellness, I sit down with Dr. Cameron Chesnut, a plastic surgeon with a passion for blending functional medicine and progressive thinking in his practice. We dive into his unique approach to patient care, focusing on everything from nutrition and peak performance during medical school to the latest in regenerative medicine, including stem cells and red light therapy. Dr. Chesnut shares insights into popular procedures like CO2 laser treatments, fillers, and lymphatic drainage massages, while also emphasizing the importance of educating patients and turning down unnecessary surgeries. We explore the balance between aesthetics and wellness, and what true health means in this evolving field.

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Mari sits back down with her husband Greg for their first real conversation since welcoming baby Cai, and they don't hold back. This is Part 1 of a two-part episode and it covers everything they've been quietly navigating over the last four and a half months.

They talk about what it actually looks like when two entrepreneurs have a baby. The identity shifts, the separate journeys, the roles that don't come with a manual. Mari opens up about struggling to show up online when she doesn't fully know who she is right now, the pressure she feels from online narratives about what a "good" dad looks like, and how motherhood has completely rewritten how she shows up for herself and her friendships. Greg gets honest about picking up his personal brand while Mari slowed down, his longtime insecurity around reading, and how becoming a dad pushed him to finally commit to books and why it's changing everything.

They also get into: navigating colic, baby gadgets that actually helped, why they're both figuring this out in real time, and the philosophy book Mari is currently reading that's making her rethink people-pleasing, trauma, and forgiveness.

Raw, real, and genuinely funny, this is the conversation you didn't know you needed.

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I’ll be honest, postpartum has challenged me in ways I never expected and this season of fitness looks nothing like my first journey.

In this solo episode, I’m sharing my real postpartum fitness update, what’s working for me, what has felt hard, and how I’m approaching weight loss, strength, nutrition, and recovery after pregnancy, a C-section, and breastfeeding.

I talk about why I personally found it difficult to lose weight while breastfeeding, how my mindset has shifted since becoming a mom, the exact training split I’m following right now, what I’m eating, the supplements I’m loving, and why I’m being transparent about exploring peptides and possibly GLP-1s.

This is not about bounce back culture. For me, it’s about feeling strong, energized, confident, and more like myself again so I can show up better for my son, my family, and me.

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Being a new mom is beautiful and messy and sometimes completely overwhelming.

In this episode, I'm getting real about the mental side of early motherhood. From the fear of driving Cai alone for the first time to pulling over on the side of the road in downtown Austin while he screamed, I'm sharing the moments that knocked my confidence and the small wins that slowly built it back up.

I talk about the pressure I put on myself to get out of the house, the guilt I feel when I take time for myself, and how hard it is not to compare my experience to what I see other moms doing on social media. I also open up about the resentment I didn't expect to feel toward Greg, the biological differences that hit you like a truck postpartum, and why I had to learn to accept that our roles just aren't the same.

We're also diving into the little things that are helping me feel more like myself again, working out three times a week, going to baby music class, saying yes to outings even when they scare me, and reminding myself that every rep counts.

I answer your questions about formula, sleep routines, guilt, and how I'm handling Cai's fussy moments without losing my mind. This episode is honest, unfiltered, and full of the stuff I wish someone had told me before becoming a mom.

If you're postpartum, struggling, or just trying to find your footing in this new identity, I hope this episode reminds you that you're not alone and that it's okay to still be figuring it all out.

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Breastfeeding has been such a meaningful part of this season for me and it also challenged me in ways I did not expect.

In this episode, I’m opening up about my breastfeeding journey and the mental load that came with it. From the early days of colostrum, cluster feeding, and pumping to navigating oversupply and constant feeding schedules, I quickly realized how much of my life started to revolve around breastfeeding.

I talk about the anxiety of leaving the house, planning everything around feeds, and the pressure I put on myself to keep up. Even simple things like driving alone with Cai or going to a class felt overwhelming when I was constantly thinking about milk, timing, and whether he had enough.

We also get into the emotional side of it all the guilt, the comparison, and how breastfeeding impacted my mental health more than I expected. I share what led me to introduce formula, start weaning, and how that decision helped me feel more present, balanced, and like myself again.

I also touch on real-life moments, navigating outings, and the confidence that slowly comes with doing hard things for the first time as a new mom.

If you’re breastfeeding, combo feeding, weaning, or just trying to figure out what works for you, I hope this episode makes you feel less alone.

You’re allowed to choose what’s best for you.

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I'm back and so excited to reconnect with you all! In this episode, I'm answering your questions about motherhood, postpartum life, and everything in between. From the chaos of breastfeeding and pumping to the reality of finding help, managing relationships, and navigating the fourth trimester, I'm getting real about what these first three months with Cai have actually been like.

I talk about the mental load of exclusive breastfeeding, why I decided to start combo feeding, and how that choice gave me my life back. I also open up about the guilt, the fog, the anxiety around leaving the house, and the pressure to bounce back while your body is literally feeding another human.

We also dive into building a village when you don't have family nearby, the importance of finding the right help, how my relationship with Greg has shifted, and why I'm finally stepping back into my fitness routine without the rush.

This episode is unfiltered, honest, and full of the things I wish someone had told me before becoming a mom. If you're postpartum, pregnant, or just curious about what this season really looks like, I hope this brings you comfort, clarity, or at least a little solidarity.

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Leave Me a Message click here! (https://sayhi.chat/pursuitofwellness)

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