In this episode of Wellness for Real Life, Marci and Lauren take on a candid conversation about stress, setbacks, and the role alcohol can play in our lives. With both of them having very different pasts with alcohol, they offer unique perspectives on navigating life’s challenges without turning to alcohol as a coping mechanism. They reflect on the difficult weeks they’ve had, dealing with unexpected stressors like car troubles and technology breakdowns, and how they managed to get through it without relying on alcohol or unhealthy habits.

Key Moments:

• [07:11] – Transitioning into the episode’s theme, Lauren and Marci talk about how moments like these can trigger the desire to turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism.
• [09:55] – Marci shares her personal decision to be alcohol-free, not due to addiction but for health and wellness reasons, and how it's helped her manage stress without the physical and emotional hangover that alcohol can bring.
• [19:23] – The duo discusses how cutting back on alcohol can lead to better sleep, less brain fog, and greater clarity, even though making the change can feel daunting.
• [22:35] – Lauren talks about how transitioning away from drinking led her to find new hobbies, like starting her Instagram account and sharing her health journey, which became her new outlet for stress relief.
• [30:52] – Marci and Lauren acknowledge how deeply ingrained alcohol is in social settings, making it a challenge for many people to consider cutting back, especially in relationships where alcohol is a big part of shared experiences.
• [35:07] – They touch on the importance of being intentional with alcohol consumption—whether that’s celebrating or simply socializing—and how to avoid using it as an emotional crutch.

Join the Conversation: Have you ever tried to reduce or cut out alcohol? How did you manage it, and what were the results? 

DM Lauren or Marci on Instagram with your stories and feedback. They’d love to hear from you!

In this week's episode of Wellness for Real Life, Lauren and Marci dive deep into the realities of staying consistent with your health and fitness goals, even when life throws you curveballs. 

From Lauren's personal chaos of selling her home and managing high-maintenance cats, to Marci's reflections on maintaining habits through life's challenges, this episode is packed with actionable tips and real talk.

Key Moments:

• [07:11] – The importance of doing the hard things, even when life is hectic, and how to dial back intensity without losing progress.
• [09:20] – Why maintaining progress is harder than most people think and how to embrace new habits for long-term success.
• [12:14] – Lauren shares how using a client success rubric has helped her clients see where they need to improve for better results.
• [13:29] – Marci opens up about the hard conversations she has with clients about being honest with their efforts and the real reason they’re not seeing progress.
• [20:44] – How simplifying your meals and routines can actually lead to greater success and ease in tracking nutrition.
• [27:52] – The emotional component of tracking, food habits, and why avoiding honesty with yourself can hold you back from true progress.
• [29:22] – “F*** Your Feelings, Follow the Plan”: Why emotions shouldn't dictate whether you stick to your goals, and how to push through discomfort for real results.
• [41:09] – The difference between being busy and being productive. Are you truly doing the work that will lead to results?
• [43:39] – Marci and Lauren wrap up this week's episode by discussing the importance of being ruthlessly honest with yourself and taking radical responsibility for your actions (or lack thereof).

Key Takeaways:

• Doing the hard things, even when life is chaotic, is necessary for long-term success.
• Maintenance is harder than most people think and requires consistent effort to sustain.
• Be honest with yourself about the effort you're putting in—are you truly following the plan?
• Simplifying your meals and routines can make tracking easier and less overwhelming.
• Your feelings are valid, but they shouldn’t dictate whether or not you stick to your goals.

Join the Conversation: What part of this episode resonated with you? DM us on Instagram @thislifeuncluttered and @marcinevin and let us know! If you have any topics you’d like us to cover in the future, we’d love to hear from you.

Welcome back to another episode of the Wellness for Real Life podcast! 

This week, Marci and Lauren discuss major life transitions and how to trust yourself through it all. They share personal stories about homeownership, career shifts, and how we’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) to listen to our bodies and intuition. Whether it’s selling a house or leaving a long-term job, today’s episode covers the importance of trusting your gut and knowing when to take action.

Highlights & Timestamps:

00:02 - Lauren's Big Life Update: Selling My Home Lauren shares a major personal update—deciding to sell her home and move to simplify life

03:16 – Marci's Career Shift: Leaving a Long-Time Job Marci opens up about leaving a company she worked for over the last three years. 

06:28 – Listening to Your Body & Knowing When to Leave They talk about the importance of tuning into your body’s signals when things feel out of alignment, whether in your career, relationships, or other aspects of life.

11:45 – Why “Forcing” It Doesn’t Work They dive into the idea of pushing ourselves to make things work—whether it's career, relationships, or personal goals.

22:08 – Decision-Making: When Is It Time to Act? Marci and Lauren both talk about their experiences of waiting to make big decisions, and how, despite the fear, trusting their gut has always worked out in the end.

29:04– Support for Wellness Journeys: Don’t Be Afraid to Be the Oddball They discuss how wellness and weight loss goals can often feel “out of the norm” and how important it is to find support in these areas. 

35:25 – Trusting Yourself in Hard Situations They wrap up this episode by encouraging listeners to trust their intuition, especially when facing big life decisions

Key Takeaways:

1. Trust Your Body: If something feels off, your body will often signal it before your mind catches on. Tune in and listen.
2. Let Go of Perfection: Whether it's pushing through a job, a relationship, or even a blogging streak—sometimes the best action is knowing when to let go.
3. Embrace Uncertainty: Big changes are scary, but trusting your gut and taking action is often the path to growth.
4. It's OK to Be the Oddball: Prioritizing wellness might make you feel like the odd one out, but it’s essential for your long-term success.

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review. Catch you next week!

In today's episode, Marci and Lauren chat about the surprising parallels between dating after 40 and staying consistent with your fitness goals. 

Here's what we cover:

[07:00] – Dating Post-Divorce

Both Marci and Lauren have been through divorce, and they dive into the rollercoaster of online dating in their 40s. They share their experiences, frustrations, and even some laughs about the whole process.

[20:15] – Dating vs. Fitness: The Unexpected Parallels

Believe it or not, the mindset for dating success is similar to what’s needed for fitness goals. They chat about the importance of setting priorities, being consistent, and how showing up (even when it’s hard) is half the battle.

[31:30] – Overcoming Perfectionism and Fear

Whether you’re looking for love or trying to lose weight, perfectionism and fear can hold you back. They dive deep into the importance of embracing discomfort, taking messy action, and letting go of the idea that everything has to be perfect.

[39:20] – Declare Your Goals

Ready to finally get the results you want? Marci and Lauren talk about the power of deciding to go after what you want—whether in your fitness journey or dating life. Declare your goals and put yourself out there!

Key Takeaways:

1. Small Wins Matter: Cross those lingering tasks off your list to create mental space for bigger goals.
2. Embrace the Discomfort: Both dating and fitness require stepping outside your comfort zone. Don’t wait for things to be “perfect.”
3. Declare Your Intentions: Whether it’s a fitness goal or finding a relationship, declare what you want and start taking action.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Weight Loss Blueprint: Want help staying consistent with your fitness goals? Check out Lauren's group coaching program [here].
• DM Lauren or Marci on Instagram if you want to chat more about fitness coaching, dating stories, or just about the episode!

Thanks for tuning in! If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review. 

See you next time! 💕

In this episode of the Wellness for Real Life podcast, we dive into a topic that’s both timely and challenging—navigating family dynamics and how to explore practical strategies for setting boundaries, managing stress, and maintaining harmony, even when opinions clash. From staying grounded in your routines to finding ways to connect that don’t involve heated discussions, we cover it all. Whether you’re dealing with political tensions at home, with friends, or even at work, this episode offers valuable insights to help you navigate these conversations with grace and empathy.

[3:07] - Lauren shares how her family dynamics shifted over the years and what led to more harmonious interactions

[6:31] - The importance of setting boundaries and how to communicate them with loved ones

[11:47] - How childhood experiences shape our current responses to conflict and stress

[16:42] - The role of self-care and stress management in maintaining your well-being during tense times

[24:43] - The impact of constant news exposure on mental health and how to set boundaries with media consumption

[30:39] - Practical tips for keeping the peace in politically diverse environments, both at home and at work

Links & Resources:

• Check out Lacey Healy’s “30 Days to Regulate” program for effective tools to manage stress and maintain calm in challenging situations.

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, follow, share, and review the podcast. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic—reach out to us on Instagram and keep the conversation going!
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Welcome to the first episode of the Wellness for Real Life podcast! 

We're Marci and Lauren, and we are thrilled to kick off this journey with you. 

In this episode, we dive into the importance of structure and routine, especially during those high-functioning months when life feels chaotic. We share our personal experiences and insights on how to keep wellness simple, manageable, and realistic, even when life gets busy.

[2:18] - Marci shares her journey back to podcasting and why she felt it was time to return

[6:47] - The challenges of August: How seasonal transitions can disrupt routines and what to do about it

[11:07] - The benefits of keeping meals and routines simple and repeatable

[21:09] - Understanding and applying the concept of "bare minimums" in wellness

[30:24] - The importance of sleep and why your body knows the time even if it doesn’t know the day

[41:07] - Practical breakfast ideas that are quick, filling, and nutrient-dense.

Links & Resources:

• Check out the Factor meal delivery service for convenient, nutritious meals.
• Follow Marci and Lauren on social media for more tips and updates.

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, follow, share, and review the podcast. We’re just getting started, and your support means the world to us. Let us know what topics you’d like to hear in future episodes—your feedback is invaluable as we continue this journey together!