Ask Melissa Anything #3

Hi, this is Melissa Wood-Teperberg and this is the Move With Heart podcast. Are you ready? Just breathe it all in. I want to talk. I can't lie. I was like, it's going to be short, sweet, and very spicy. And we're going to get right into it because apparently some of you are going to talk too much. Okay, should we just ground for a minute? Yes. Okay, hands together. I'm going to walk you through what I say. I've never shared this before. Before I speak or just do anything where I give my soul, coming back to your breath, asking your love to move through you. And I pray for my higher power, my spirit guides, and my arc angels to show me and guide the way. Namaste. Namaste. It's going to be that written down. I'll write that one down for you. Great. Well, thanks for being here. I feel like I'm in the hot seat. You are. I'm so excited about this one, by the way. I know we got some really good questions. Okay. Good. Okay. Should we dive on? Should we say how we pulled these? We love to take a poll on Instagram and Dylan pulled all of the questions. Yeah. That she wants. She felt word. The ones I needed to answer. Yeah. All right. My favorite topic, food, jumping right in. What is your current relationship with meat? My current relationship with meat and just food in general is I'm really living in this intuitive flow and allowing that to guide me towards like what I want to eat when I want to eat it. I mean, you saw what I just ate for lunch. I literally had salami and cheese in this new sweet green salad. And when Ava was like, do you want me to get this and take out the cheese and the salami? I'm like, no, I'll take it as is. And I think a lot of the reason for me is having had previous struggles with food and really strengthening my relationship to myself has helped me just lean into food in a different way. And it's interesting because it's been so fun. Like it's so crazy to say that, but I feel like I've put the joy back into my meals. And sometimes I think when you're regimented and eat a certain way, which there are things I love and I thrive and I have daily, but it can get robotic. And I've just, I had a summer of just like letting everything go and literally eating what I wanted to eat, what I wanted to eat it. And it's felt so good. And I will also share on the flip side of that I feel like I went to a spectrum where I'm like, okay, it's really good to know that if you want something, you allow yourself to have it with no guilt, no shame and just enjoy and indulge in every bite. But I have gotten to a place where I'm like, I'm feeling a little foggy. I'm not a sharp. I'm not feeling 100% so it's been this other intuitive pull to be like, okay, it's great to have freedom with food. But let's really tap into the foods and the things that you will meet the most. So I've been really just going back to that kind of reboot and realignment with myself. And it's not restricting at all. It's just really leaning in and filling myself up with the things that serve me most. I was going to say lean in. Yeah. That's the phrase we always go back to. It's in constant food. Yeah. I love it. I love seeing you have fun with food. I mean. It inspires me. I love it. Yeah. Like you started eating eggs. I started eating eggs. It's true. And you said you've been having cheese too. Yeah. Right. Which I feel like I've consumed too much to the point where I'm like, okay, it's great to have these moments where you can go to eat what you want. But I do feel best when I avoid certain things. So I think it's like, it's good. It's good to kind of have these check-in moments with yourself and being honest with how you're thriving or surviving or just not operating at optimal level. And I don't feel like I'm operating at optimal level right now. So I'm just, I'm having a little check-in. Mm-hmm. I love it. Okay. How do you stay positive when things feel off? It's challenging. I feel off, often. I want to share that with so much honesty because I think that even though I feel as if like I'm in a place in my life where I'm meant to be, I can be thrown off quickly. Like I have a lot of upcoming travel. I have so much transitions going on and it jars my system. Like I easily feel overwhelmed, which is why I prioritize regulating my nervous system because I'm so sensitive. And it's a lot of the time. It's taking on the other energies around me that I'm really working on creating these stronger boundaries with myself and also just having this open dialogue when I'm like that is not your stuff. That's going on over here. Like you don't need to take it on over here. But the thing that really keeps my head above water is, and you know, it's like I could say it's cliche, it's this, but I really think it's the thing that, keeps me going is like being knee deep in gratitude for everything in my life, for the roof above my head, for the food that I get to eat, for my beautiful family, for the love I have in my heart and my soul, for everything that I do, for my friends, for the community that I've built for being able to move in this way. And I think it takes sometimes just like one situation in your life. Like I did something that tweaked my back. I couldn't believe how the act of like getting up and walking and like picking up my daughter would just throw me off. And sometimes it takes having a bad situation come into your life to really check in and to be grateful and to live from that place. That's beautiful. I know. I feel that I felt the same way when I tweaked my back this summer. It's like just to get out of bed and feel good. Yeah, like how many people can't, like you walk by people in wheelchairs at that need, you know, assistance to walk or breathe. And it's just, I think we take so much for granted, our loved ones for granted. And everything that we have in the ability of all of the things that we're capable of doing. Absolutely. Speaking of pain, did you ever deal with me pain by working out cardio weight training before you developed MWA? Did I ever? It's actually one of the things that had me checking in with myself. When I was going out to the Hamptons in the summer to cocktail waitress, I would wake up. This was like after waitressing all night, mind you, I was like taking out or all at this time, be completely transparent with that, slept a few hours, I would get up and run like seven miles. On top of being on my feet all night in heels, I worked in heels when I was cocktail waitressing, when I worked at the Chanel counter, like I always had to work in heels. So I cannot even picture that. I destroyed my niece. And it was mostly my left knee. And then it was like going into these intense classes, I felt it immediately. And I remember, I mean, this is actually really interesting because I had an x-ray recently where I started to feel something and I was like, you know what? It's been 10 years since I had an x-ray. Let me just check it out. And Dr. Josh Dines is amazing. I went to see him and he was like, it's actually insane how your knee looks today compared to what it looked like 10 years ago. Like I reversed damage from doing low impact movements from no longer running. I lessen the wear and tear and like I don't need knee surgery, nothing. And I think that is astounding. That speaks for itself right there. It says telling everyone telling you have to listen to your body. Yeah. Totally. Okay. You're doing a really good job. She told me to keep it tight. You guys before that. She was like, keep it tight. No long answers. I was like, Dylan just told me to shut up. I can talk. But that's why we're here. Exactly. Okay. This is a fun one. What are some things you would like to do if you had more hours in the day? No. You might be surprised by this or maybe not. I would love to be alone more. I'm not surprised. I really would. And it's because I tap into my creativity when I have the most space with myself, which is why I like to wake up early in the morning, strive to get up before the kids, before the madness, before the chaos, because you can't hear yourself think when you are waking up, touching your phone and just living by the demands of what everyone needs from you, except for checking them with yourself with what you need for you to be the absolute best person that you can be every single day. And yeah, I would have more breathable space in between the day, which, you know, I feel like right now, as I've learned to understand the creator that I am, the business woman that I am, and the way that we've set my schedule up now, we're like, I try to block off the morning until the early afternoon with my creative space. Like it just gives me that time to let things flow through me, which is what birthed MWH in the first place, like I started meditating. And when you meditate, you're able to hear all of the things that you push down in your life. And we're all so busy running away from ourselves that we don't even give ourselves an opportunity to listen at what is going on at the root, like what's the root cause? And you know, we spend so much money and time on resources, on discovering and unveiling all of these things that it's amazing when you get still. And just to be clear, when you get still, it doesn't mean you're turning anything off because thoughts will come, noises in your environment are still going on, but you are able to redirect your focus when you meditate, whether it's on your breath, whether it's mantra or whether it's listening to the words that are guiding you. And that is where the most monumental shifts in my life have come. And to this day, it's like, I get real downloads. I wouldn't have started a podcast. You encouraged me to do this years ago. I wasn't there. And I'm glad that I didn't start then because I would have stopped. Now I picked it up when I felt it moved through my soul where I was like, yes, I'm scared. Okay. All of the things were coming up, but I was able to be with what was coming up. And it was like, it was a vivid yes. And it's been such an incredible journey. I obsessed with it. I love it. I'm literally doing three today. And that's what I know. I'm just like, I'm in my element. I know. I love it. I love seeing you like that. But I wouldn't be here if I didn't come back to my practice. And that is the truth. It's about putting the phone down. I mean, I love a long time. Let me tell you. Put the phone down, you guys. Yep. I mean, if you're feeling down low energy and your vibration has dropped, it's probably because you're taking most of your precious time that you could be turning towards yourself and you're putting it towards everything and everyone else, but you reach. I just love so Cara. I love how their science backed ready to eat meals, just show up at your doorstep. And they are very specifically designed using organic plant-based ingredients that I can tell you help ease bloat, boost your energy, and clear your skin. So Cara brings expertly designed organic nutrition programs and wellness essentials, like I said, right to your door. Please sign me up. But the best part about it is that you just don't have to think about it and it is there and it is ready to eat and it's delicious. Right now, Cara is offering our listeners 20% off their first order when they go to secara.com slash MWH or enter code MWH at checkout. That's secara S-A-K-A-R-A.com slash MWH to get 20% you guys. That's huge off your first order. It does not disappoint. I have been a secara light since they launched and I cannot rave enough about these incredibly designed organic plant-based meals. Okay. What is your number one piece of relationship advice you and Noah are goals? Thank you. That's so sweet. I mean, relationships are work. And one thing that I will say after being with Noah for 13 years and being married for seven in less than a month is that I mean, I'm laughing because I'm thinking about when I had him here and I was like, I let you be you and you let me be me and it was like sometimes. And honestly, that is truthful. You know, I think when I started dating Noah, he worked in hospitality, right? I met him as friends when I was working for him in the club. It's not like he wasn't living this life before we started dating. So for me to come in and think that I'm going to change everything about that man that never would have worked. And that's why a lot of previous relationships didn't work for him for myself. And I accepted those parts of him. And yes, there were some things like when it came to his, his health and wellness that I believe I've been a positive influence on and have encouraged some shifts in that lifestyle, which I think have really served him and our relationship is letting your person be their person. They have to have their things and you have to be cool with them doing it without you. I think neediness and gripping on so tight is the cause of why most relationships fail. My God. We need freedom of self, like I need freedom, everyone needs freedom to be themselves. And I think it's the only thing that will really make things work in the long run. And look, we have trust, like we built a foundation, a really stable foundation that sets you up for longevity in a relationship with this trust you guys have is really beautiful. It is. Thank you. Yeah. And I mean, I lived with them back in COVID. So I've seen it firsthand and you guys really are the, you're just the best. You really work so incredibly well together. I don't think people necessarily see that on Instagram all the time. So thank you. I mean, we're also very like we have banter, you know, bust each other's balls, mostly me bus, but like he gives it back to me too. And I think that that's really great. And I, there's one more thing that I stand so strong behind and it's you have to create your own identity yourself. You need your own self independence. That is something that I believe so strongly in because if you are relying on your person to be everything for you at all times, like it's exhausting. And it's just, it's like do the math how it eventually will burn out. So having your own self independence, finding the things that make you tick that like get you excited for life, like spending your time doing those things and not just doing every single thing with your partner. Like you need to have a life outside of your partner. You guys are really good at being independent and then really good at coming together. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. How to deal with feeling like you've outgrown friends. How to let go and maybe find new. It's a tough one. It takes practice and a lot of self awareness. And I think it really comes back to just accepting where you are in that relationship. Some friends will be your friends that are great to have coffee with and other friends are friends that you want to have dinner with. And then other friends you want to travel with. You don't want to travel with everybody. And it's okay. Like every friend doesn't have to be every single thing or fill every bucket. But if you feel this real divide and just where you are, things are no longer aligned, I think it's really important to let go with love and it doesn't mean that you can't say hello. If you run into each other and it hurts, it feels like a breakup because it is. But I think you, a lot of people spend a lot of time and energy with people who bring them down and it's your job to do that real investigating and observing and see who makes you feel more alive. And I mean, I love that saying like, you should only spend time with people whose eyes light up when you see them and like, I've never heard that. You haven't. I sense I've turned 40 like that's my ultimate. I don't want to be around anyone who doesn't have genuine love for me and for just like the person I am, not what I can do for someone but like really loves me. Yeah. And same in the reverse. And same in the reverse. Yeah. Have you ever experienced fear of success and money if so, how did you overcome that? Absolutely. You know, I think growing up, having no money and being so aware of almost not fitting in for so long because I felt like most people in the high school that I went to like all, they were all at least comfortable. It really made me realize that the moment I could make my own money, that was the first thing that I was doing. And I did. I mean, I started working really, really young because I was so afraid that maybe I want to have money for lunch or you know, it's like when you grew up in a big family, broken home, parents are doing the best they can to make ends meet like there's been times when I like forgot my quarter for quarter lunch and wanted to like crawl into a hole because I didn't have the money and of course I have to ask a teacher for it and it really scarred me. But as I got older, it motivated me. It started with fear around the way that I knew I didn't want to live. But then it gave me a choice to be a real go-getter and to make choices for myself so that I could provide for me and even my sisters and my family to stay. That's so beautiful. I mean, your story is because some people don't know where you come from. So hearing that, it's just like, it's inspiring. There's only people. Okay. One, ideal day of food, go. Oh. You know, I would honestly, because I love, I do really love my routine and it just like gives me so much energy. I would wake up, I would still have my green juice. I would have my, like, skip a step, what, my warm water with lemon? Yeah. Well, I feel like if it was ideal, I probably skipped one thing or so. Okay. Like, we're skipping that. Warm water and lemon. It's not like, you know, I, I, yeah, it's like fine. I do it. But I would actually, let's, okay, you're right. I'm going to, I'm going to bring it back. I would have a coffee in a mug, the size of my head. And I would just literally marinate in that coffee and I would drink it alone in peace with no kids. And it would be boiling hot where it like burns my mouth. That's how hot I like my beverages. So I would start there. I would have half almond, half oat latte. You know what? We're going to skip three juice. We're going to go for the smoothie with my happiness powder because it swear it makes me happier. Which is like my fully loaded smoothie right now. Should I say what it is or do you want the nitty-gritty? Yeah. Okay. I want to know. So I do half a cup of the two trees almond milk, half a cup of coconut water. A banana could be frozen or not. Frozen strawberries, frozen wild blueberries, two cups of spinach, half a cucumber, keep the peel on, a scoop of artisanal almond butter. I'm really loving the tajari protein powder. It's insane. All organic. It tastes good. And not all protein powders taste good. I also love philosophies, cacao magic, those are two of my top. I add a massive heaping scoop of the Anima Mundi happiness powder, which is just like a dopamine boost telling you I swear by this thing. I've gone through two jars in two months, like I eat it by the scoop, and oh, can we get a refill on that? Yeah. I'll work on that. I live for it. I put two dates, pitted dates, and blend that baby up thoroughly, like a minute and a high speed Vitamix blender, and it's so good. It gives me so much life. And it fills me up for a good like hour and a half, sometimes two hours. And then I would have like avocado toast on a thick sourdough toasted bread with butter and avocado, sea salt, Jennifer Fisher, spicy sea salt, lemon, maybe some eggs over easy on top, break the yolk, let it like go down your hand when you're eating it. And then I would have like a really delicious, like the salad I made you the other day. I've been dreaming about it. I salivate for it. Yeah. It's like, I need that every single day, and I like a massive salad. Romaine, arugula, hearts of palm, cucumbers, tomatoes, pepperoncini, black olives, a lot of white onion. That is the secret ingredient, believe it or not. Maybe throw some capers in there, some sourcrout, Hawthorne Valley, it's one of my favorites. And then with my simple salad dressing. I really am a creature of habit. And for dinner, I would have the lobster from Sochi, no Hana. It is. Oh, okay. It's insane. It's one of the best lobsters I've ever had. And yeah, maybe with like a side of sushi. Okay. A toral roll or, yeah, loaded rolls. Okay. That does. That feels really good. Yeah. And like a ginger salad. That whole meal is from Sochi, no Hana, which it's just don't walk. No, seriously. It's one of my favorite. I gotta try it. Yeah. That sounds like a dream of a day. That was great. And then I would have some dessert. I don't love dessert, but if I was going to have dessert, I would have hot tea. I know. And no, that's not it with a bag of the unreal M&Ms. Okay. There's a little bit of like human in you. Yeah. No, I love those. You get down with like a good chocolate chip cookie sometimes. Totally. Yeah. Like if I had to really pick or a peanut butter cup and M&Ms or like peanut M&Ms, that does it for me. But I need the hot tea because I need the chocolate to melt in my mouth. I can't have chocolate without tea. And don't ever put chocolate in the refrigerator. The freezer. I find that odd. Oh, good too. No, I want it to melt in my mouth. Okay. Good smell. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Do you freeze your chocolate? No, but I'm going to start not doing that. I'm telling you. Rick. Last question. Okay. This is a little juicy one. Oh, okay. I said juicy. I know. Well, I feel like these were pretty juicy. Yeah. I mean, someone asked, they said you felt a little bit uncomfortable with the sex talk on the Danielle episode. So what is your philosophy there? So interesting. You know, I am really open and I share so much. There are certain boundaries that I have as a woman that I don't feel comfortable talking about. I don't think everything is for everyone. And it's not that I am uncomfortable about sex. I just, I know for myself, it's a sacred thing. And I like to keep that to myself. That's not for everyone. Mm-hmm. And that's just my opinion. It doesn't mean that you can't go out and do what and who you want to do. Like do you, I'm just, there's just certain things that I have to talk about. Yeah. I kept very sacred. Yeah. And that's just one of them. I think you need really strong boundaries in life. And especially being a presence on social media, like you need to know what you're comfortable talking about and things that you want to keep private. And I'm pretty clear on that. Yeah. I mean, you can't, can't let it all out. No, I want some things close. Some things are no one's business. Oh, my God. I'm okay. I'm okay. I'm okay. You guys. Okay. We're done because Uba has entered the building. Yeah. I hope you enjoyed that episode. We have a special offer for our Move With Heart listeners. When you join MWH as a new member, you will receive an entire month that's 30 days for free. And this is in addition to our seven day free trial. All you have to do is head to Melissawoodhelp.com and use code Move With Heart. At MWH, we believe this practice is not just about building this body you desire. This work is about building a better, stronger relationship with yourself. And that is why we offer everything from movement, meditation, and nutrition to help you not only look, but most importantly, feel your best. Follow me on Instagram, at MelissawoodTeperberg, and at MWH at Melissawoodhelp. Tune in for an all new episode next week, and I cannot wait to see you all on the mat.