If you want to lose weight, but don’t know where to start, you’re not alone. More than 50% of Americans are trying to lose weight (via Ipsos), but many are not getting the results they are working toward. Some studies suggest this could be because their diet methods are not effective (via WebMD). In addition, research suggests that physical health and mental wellness are connected — many people struggling with weight and physical health problems also experience mental health struggles like anxiety and depression. Habits like exercise and eating healthy can not only support your physical health, but also your mental well-being (via Mental Health Foundation).
But how do you begin — especially if you’ve seen a lack of results before? According to health and fitness guru Mari Llewellyn, “Find things that you enjoy and are easy to incorporate in your routine … Also, know that what’s going to work for you isn’t going to work for everybody, and vice versa. Everyone’s so unique … It’s important to find what works for you.”
After hitting rock bottom, Llewellyn found a food and exercise plan that worked for her and stuck with it — she lost 90 pounds. She began sharing her diet and workout routines with others and eventually created the SLAY app. Soon after, she launched her company, Bloom Nutrition, which offers a product line of high-quality supplements with natural ingredients to help support your workout routine and a healthy diet. In an exclusive interview with Health Digest, Mari Llewellyn shared her steps to success and tips for how you can reach your physical health and mental wellness goals.
When Mari Llewellyn first started out, she wasn’t even going to the gym. She simply started by going on walks and doing small workouts that felt achievable for her in the moment. Moving at an enjoyable and doable pace is key.
“When I first started, the concept of losing 90 pounds, which is what I did ultimately, was very overwhelming. I went about it in small chunks. I told myself if I can lose X amount in one week and stick to nutritious healthy food five days of the week, that’s manageable for me — doing it in baby steps,” said Llewellyn. Ultimately, she got into weight training, which is how she lost the majority of her weight.
She also created a supplement that was not only healthy but also tasted good. “The one thing I had a hard time finding on my journey was supplements that felt approachable for me as a female beginner to fitness … so we created Bloom Nutrition,” said Llewellyn. According to her, you’ll be more dedicated to your diet if it tastes good, too. “A lot of people are scared of greens because they look disgusting, and ours tastes incredible,” she noted.
Another key element of any health journey is mental well-being. “I don’t think people realize how much food has an impact on our mental health and our gut,” said Mari Llewellyn. As a big advocate for mental health, she recommends focusing on eating foods that nourish your brain, like fish oil, as well as incorporating other mental health support activities into your daily life, including meditating, journaling, and therapy. But most of all, it’s important to believe in yourself.
“You can do anything that you decide to dedicate yourself to. You’d be surprised how far you can get with setting small daily goals and daily habits,” she said. “We are what we do every day, and starting small and getting better and better each day, you’d be shocked at how far you can go.”
You can follow Mari Llewellyn on Instagram and TikTok. Find Bloom Nutrition products at Target starting October 10, 2022.
