02-Holistic Health: Practical Tips for a Balanced Life with Mandi Holden

The Conscious Wellness Podcast with Christine McDonough

On today's episode, Christine speaks with Spill Your Guts w/Rachel & Mandi Podcast co-host Mandi Holden; a passionate advocate for holistic wellness and self-acceptance. With a diverse background in youth leadership, fitness coaching, and Reiki healing, Mandi brings a unique perspective to the world of wellness. As a former youth pastor and fitness professional, Mandi understands the importance of creating safe spaces for people to explore their own paths to health and personal growth. Through her blog and support group, Mandi has helped countless individuals make powerful connections between body, mind, and spirit, fostering a universal approach to well-being that has transformed lives.
Timestamped summary of this episode:
00:00:15 - Introduction,
Christine McDonough introduces her guest, Mandi Holden, who is a motivational coach, speaker, and a fitness enthusiast.
00:06:27 - Mandi's Fitness Wellness Transformation,
Mandi shares her journey of embarking on a wellness journey in 2014, motivated by her daughter starting kindergarten. She started documenting her journey through a blog and found the perfect gym that helped her change her life.
00:09:54 - What is Wellness?,
Mandi and Christine discuss the overused term "wellness journey" and how it implies an endpoint. Mandi defines wellness as a constant pursuit of self-improvement in all aspects of life, including physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, financial, and professional wellness.

00:19:00 - Journey vs. Transformation,
Mandi and Christine discuss the overuse of buzzwords like "journey" and "self-love" in the wellness industry and the need for a more nuanced understanding of transformation.

00:24:17 - Mandi's Personal Journey,
Mandi shares that she is still technically considered "big" by external measures, but emphasizes that her personal journey is ongoing and involves more than just weight loss.
00:30:03 - The Misconceptions of Weight Loss,
Mandi cautions against the belief that weight loss automatically equals health. She highlights the importance of holistic wellness and finding freedom in wellness by releasing weight loss as the only goal.
00:37:28 - Two Week Magic,
Mandi shares her belief in the concept of two week magic, which involves committing to a consistent fitness routine for two weeks, even if it's just a short walk or bike ride. She acknowledges that the first two weeks may feel difficult but emphasizes that something happens after that period that makes it easier to continue.

00:43:18 - The Importance of Looking Beyond the Scale,
Mandi and Christine discuss the importance of looking beyond the number on the scale when monitoring progress. They highlight the significance of considering factors such as muscle mass, bone density, guts, and blood, and how all these contribute to overall health.
00:50:49 - Gamifying Fitness,
Christine and Mandi discuss the benefits of gamifying fitness, including setting step goals and using fitness trackers to monitor progress. They highlight the competitive nature of fitness challenges and how they can be a great way to motivate individuals to reach their goals.

00:57:35 - Wrapping Up,
Christine thanks Mandi for being a guest on the show and encourages listeners to share the episode with anyone who may benefit from it. She reiterates the importance of building a community of like-minded individuals to create wealth.
Connect with Christine here:
www.christinemcd.com
https://www.linkedin.com/linkedin.com/in/christine-mcdonough-aaa6b778/
Connect with Mandi here:
On Instagram @mandimondimon04
On Instagram @spillyourguts_podcast_