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Wellness Wednesday Newsletter
This Week's Theme: The Tool Is Not the Plan
I hope you’re having a wonderful week!
There are more tools available to support our health than ever before.
Medications. Supplements. Detoxes. Protein powders. Apps. Meal plans. Wearable devices.
Some of these tools can be incredibly helpful. They may help us feel better, create momentum, or make a difficult goal feel more manageable.
But a tool still needs a purpose.
This week, we are talking about GLP-1 medications, supplementation, and the questions we should ask before adding something new to our wellness plan.
Inside this week's newsletter:
- A Note from Me - Why the growing GLP-1 conversation among brides and couples made me pause.
- Wellness Tip - One question to ask before adding another wellness tool.
- From the Coaching Room - Where supplements fit and why the right product depends on the person.
- From My Kitchen - A simple way to nourish yourself during a busy week.
- What's Happening in HFG -Support for turning information into something you can actually use.
- Reflection of the Week - Are you asking one tool to do the job of an entire plan?
My hope is that you walk away with a clearer way to evaluate the tools you are using, or considering, without expecting any one of them to do everything.
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A Note from Me
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Over the past few weeks, I’ve found myself thinking more deeply about GLP-1 medications and how they are showing up in the wedding industry, in wellness spaces and, if we’re being honest, just about everywhere.
I understand why brides and couples are interested.
A wedding comes with a date, pictures, fittings, and often a lot of pressure to change your body before you get there. When something promises to make weight loss feel faster or more manageable, it makes sense that people want to learn more.
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My concern is not that someone may choose medication.
My concern is whether education and support are keeping up with how easy these medications are becoming to access.
If your wedding were not six months away, would you still be considering a GLP-1 or another peptide?
Do you know exactly what you are receiving and who will monitor you after you start?
Would you recognize when nausea, vomiting, digestive discomfort, or an inability to keep food down requires medical attention?
These are not questions meant to frighten you or tell you what decision to make. They are questions I believe everyone deserves to ask before beginning a medication that may affect their appetite, digestion, and overall health.
This week, I wrote Part One of a new blog series for brides and couples who are considering a GLP-1, currently taking one, or simply trying to understand the conversation.
This is not an anti-medication conversation.
It is an informed-decision conversation.
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Wellness Tip: Give the Tool a Job
Before adding a medication, supplement, detox, or wellness product, define what you actually need it to do. Instead of asking, “Will this help me?” try asking:
- What specific problem am I hoping this will address?
- How will I know whether it is helping?
- What will I still need to do alongside it?
- Is this something I can realistically maintain?
A tool without a clear purpose can quickly become another expense, another unfinished bottle in the cabinet, or another reason to believe you failed when it did not create the entire result.
But when you understand the job of the tool, you can make a more informed decision about whether it belongs in your plan.
Sometimes a product can help you feel better, provide extra support, or give you the boost you need to build momentum.
It just should not be expected to do everything.
If you are unsure whether a product fits your needs or simply have questions about where to begin, we can hop on the phone and talk it through.
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From the Coaching Room
One conversation that frequently comes up in the coaching room is supplementation.
How do I know whether a supplement is good quality? Should I do a detox? Is there something more natural I can try before considering medication?
My answer usually begins with another question:
What do you need this product to help you do?
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Are you feeling so depleted that you need support rebuilding your energy? Are cravings making it difficult to follow your plan? Are you struggling with digestion, hydration, or eating consistently?
There are thousands of supplements available, and many of them make impressive promises. But the right product depends on the person, the need, and what is happening alongside it.
I have used supplements throughout my own health journey, but I have never expected a product to create the entire result. The products that helped me most were the ones that had a clear purpose and were paired with consistent eating, movement, and other supportive habits.
That distinction matters.
Sometimes the right product can help you feel better, provide additional support, or help you build momentum. That is why I think of supplements as tools.
A tool does not have to do everything to be useful. It simply needs to have a clear purpose within the larger plan.
If you are considering a supplement but do not know what would actually fit your needs, reply to this email and tell me what you are hoping it will help with. I would love to start the conversation with you.
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From My Kitchen
Lately, I have been eating a lot more fish and looking for simple ways to make it feel like a complete, satisfying meal.
This week’s recipe is pan-seared haddock served with creamy mashed potatoes and green beans.
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Haddock is a mild, lean white fish that provides protein along with nutrients such as vitamin B12, selenium, and phosphorus. It cooks quickly, which makes it a great option when you want something nourishing but do not want to spend the entire evening in the kitchen.
The mashed potatoes provide a comforting source of carbohydrates, while the green beans add color, fiber, and another vegetable to the plate.
It is simple, balanced, and proof that a nourishing dinner does not need to be complicated.
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What's Happening in HFG
Knowing what to do is rarely the only challenge.
The harder part is often following through when your schedule changes, your energy drops, you are not feeling hungry, or the plan that looked simple on paper meets real life.
That is why I created Coach in Your Pocket.
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Through Voxer, you have a place to ask questions, talk through obstacles, and receive support with nutrition, movement, hydration, routines, and accountability throughout the week.
This support does not replace your healthcare provider or medical care. It helps with what happens between appointments, when you are trying to turn information into something you can realistically use.
If you are considering a new wellness tool, already using one, or simply want more support following through on your goals, I would love to talk with you.
Episode 3 is out!!! Charted Territory
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If you have ever wanted to get to know me beyond the newsletter, hear more about my story, and understand how I got here and why I work with brides and couples, I would love for you to listen to this episode of the Charted Territory Podcast.
Dr. Lisette is not only a wonderful host, but also a great friend. I think you will hear that friendship in the way the conversation unfolds when we get together.
We talked about my health journey, the work I do today, and why supporting people during the wedding season has become such an important part of Humble Foods Guidance.
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What are you expecting a medication, supplement, or wellness product to do for you, and which parts of the plan will still require your participation?
You do not need to avoid every tool or do everything without support.
You simply need to understand what role the tool plays and what it cannot do for you.
Thank you for spending part of your Wednesday with me.
Remember, wellness is not created by finding one perfect product. It is built through informed choices, appropriate support, and small steps you can continue taking in real life.
Be well,
Mariana Santiago-Jimenez, HWC
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