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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. Mona Vand is not only one of my dearest, most supportive friends who I met online. Actually, we met on social media. We have just always bonded over our love for wellness, spirituality and of course, healthy food. We discuss her moving to New York City from LA. Yay! I was so happy about that. And just getting really clear on what being your true self means to her and what it was like you guys. She took two years off social media. We have a little surprise in there about her and her partner, which I love, Gary V. And we talk a little bit about gut health and we tell a story about when we were supposed to go to the Jodus-Benza retreat together. Dr. Jodus-Benza is an incredible lecturer and he puts on these magnificent meditation retreats that really move some things. They move some things in your life. Mona is truly one of the sweetest souls that I've not only met but that have such a strong presence in my life. She shares so much knowledge and just tangible takeaways on how to really walk through this life as your true self and all of the practices that support her in showing up in this way. Having people in your life that truly want the best for you and you've always been that for me. I know our relationship is still consider you. I mean, you're a newer friend. It's not like we've known each other for like 10 or 15 years. What, six? Are we at six? It feels longer but I was going to say we've kind of crossed over and now we've been friends for a while. We have to share how we met because I love that we just dove in because we met on a blind. I feel like it was a social media date. It was a social media date. I mean, thank you, Jason. Jason Strauss. He gets a shout out. I saw you. You had re-shared something I posted and then I was like, oh, who's she? And then I saw you knew Jason and Noah, obviously Noah. I didn't know him. I just knew Jason. He was like, oh, that's my partner's wife. You should reach out. She's really into the wellness space in New York. We were DMing and we were like, let's get together in LA and have dinner. We did. Well, it's so funny because Jason was so different with me. He's like, how are you not friends with Mona? He's like, you're in this scene. But you're not friends with Mona. I was like, actually, I've had my eyes on her. Oh, my God. I was already into everything that you were sharing because we have that same... We were both plant-based and food combining at the time. Yes. We've evolved, but still. A lot has changed in our lives since that time. But I remember it so vividly. It was at Beauty and Essex in LA. And our table, I think we had a few other friends there too. But I stood outside and I waited for you because I felt like I didn't want you to walk in and feel intimidated by a group. Which I would have at that point in life for sure. And it was just instant connection. It really was. It was very... I think you were so warm and we both have that. I think as people, we're very warm to everyone. And I felt instantly... We just felt instantly close. Instantly. Right? Yes. Like we started traveling together right after. And we got very close. I know. You came to Singapore. Yeah. And it was just we were like eating in bed all jet-legged. No, it's... I always love. This is the beauty and the power of social media really when it's like utilized, I think in the best way. Yes. And to the best use of its potential, which is massive as we know. But it can... Clearly, there are so many sides to it, but I feel like you are without a doubt. Like one of the greatest things that ever happened to like, you know, me making a real friend that came through Instagram. So it's kind of crazy. Honestly, you too, because I mean at the time, even it was just you and I, I was living in LA. But moving to New York, when I really think about it, I'm like, God, like that one person that just connects you and is the beginning of that branch to everybody you know. And you've just been such an integral part of my friends and the relationships I've made in New York. So you really are the best thing that came out of it. Well, I'm so happy you live in New York now because I remember it first when you were coming from LA. You were so like unsure. Like you didn't love it. At all. And what shifted? When I first got here, I think I was still in a very LA mindset where aesthetic was everything. And I was like, I'm used to palm trees and sunshine and beautiful modern buildings. And I came to New York and I was like, what is this? Like I go to the nice and a lot of studio and it was like lugging up five flights of stairs and this like weird little dark room. And I was just like, Oh my God, I was so beauty was different to me then. And then, I mean, then COVID happened and I was stuck here and then it just something during that period. Maybe I was home so much where it felt like my home. And I think being in love and like that's, you know, that now this is my home. And all of a sudden something shifted where I'm just like, I get it. Like I find the beauty in all the rustic, like different people, like old buildings, almost like the grit of it. I love now. So I've fully shifted. I'm so happy. It makes me so happy. I always love when people like become a diehard, New Yorker. Because like, come on, it's just the best place ever to live. I actually remember we were, I was visiting once, it was Halloween or something. And I would always go around with you and the kids. I would like go pick them up with you when I was visiting New York and we went to this little mini grocery store. And you were like, Oh, let me just stop to get some stuff. And I was like, Oh my God, this grocery store is so old. And I was like, is there anything in here that's even I'm used to like air one. And I was like, Oh, I don't like New York. And now that I live here, I just want to say like those are the most organic best grocery stores in the city, those little tiny ones. The little tiny ones are the best. The little full in the walls. Your perception just shifts. I think it was just what my norm was. And now I'm like, I love it all. Ah, it makes me so happy. I mean, as you were saying, like you were so into aesthetic, it just made me think back to like even when we first met. And I feel like you were also like even I like remember having conversations about like Instagram grids and like you were so into aesthetic and it was so aesthetically pleasing and beautiful. And I feel like just as I've really witnessed your evolution and just like becoming more of who like I really have always known you really are and just more comfortable being you. A lot of that changed too. And like even with your social media journey, I feel like for anyone who is new to you, I mean, first of all, like Mona is one of those people that just has, she's like you're filled with so much knowledge. That's what I gravitated towards with you. And we always say like you're the science base and like I'm the soul base. And like we've always had that like soul and science kind of connection because we're quite opposite in that sense, but like the blend. Like our Facebook page that we created. We had a Facebook show called Beautifully Balanced. Is it still thriving? It's still up. I remember I was working with Facebook and they were like, by the way, like you guys have like 20,000 likes on these. We have to give them 20 year pages. And I was like, no, you leave them there. Like we're not going to just take it on beautifully balanced. We'll stay. No, that was really fun. And I feel like I still love the name. Me too. Beautifully balanced. That's such a great name. But walk us through kind of how everything shifted for you because it's been such a journey and you took a massive break off social media. I remember vividly that time and just what brought you to the point of kind of being where you are now. I think I was always this person and then I think I lost it when I moved to LA because when I really think back to when I was in college, I was like high school and college. I was like the funny goofy one, my friends. I was the one prank calling and like, yes, I have a, like I really have a sense of humor. And I swear, no, no, no, not that far. But I feel like on social media, people might not know that. It's true. No, you are super silly. Yeah, I'm barely like, and I think when I got to LA, there was so much. I just so badly wanted to like get into this circle and I saw a certain life for myself. And I was like, I love entertainment. I want, and then of course I was working as a pharmacist and all of my friends were models and reality stars. And I was like, why don't I have a life like that? Like, what am I doing killing myself for 10 hours a day? Of course, nothing is as great as it seems. So something just shifted and I think the group of friends that I gravitated towards. Because LA has amazing people, but it just so happens that I think the ones that I was just surrounding myself with you kind of become your surroundings. And I think I just, even my idea of what normal beauty was got morphed. Because you don't realize when you're in this bubble, like not everybody has a lot of work done and is very glamorous and is just this kind of bombshell. You walk into a restaurant in LA and I mean, you see it. Oh yeah. It's just like beauty is everything. And when I would leave LA, I was like shocked. I really like that became my normal. So I think moving to New York was the first step, just kind of shifting what my normal was. And then I really think my gut health issues. Because I was trying everything, all these different diets, antibiotics, herbal. And then I think what happens is you end up like, okay, what's my last resort is going into the like mental health spiritual, I guess, or something deeper going on. And then when I started to dig into that, I think I just slowly became more of who I really am. Like I feel more myself now than ever. You're so grounded. Thank you. And centered. But I think you always were, but I feel like you didn't trust yourself. Yes, you're right. You always guess like second guessing. That's the thing. Like in my soul, I was always this person. And then I was just a little distracted. And I think that's why I connected with people like you because you knew it. Like it wasn't like I was this bad person. I was just very distracted and then social media too. You know, it's easy to get lost in the whole aesthetics of it. Also were the millennial, like we were that time where everything was beauty and filters and looking perfect. So I think it was just the perfect storm of distracting me from who I really am. Oh, that is so good. And so honest. Yeah. You know, I think so many people are living in that place right now. And so unaware of it. And I think that is, I think the thing that's most attractive about you aside from all of this, which you're just, you know, it's like you look at someone like you and you're like, Oh, oh my God. And then the more that I've gotten to know you, it's just, it's the self awareness factor and being able to recognize something and then really work at shifting it and transforming it. And I know that's definitely something you and I have always connected with always, always. I feel like this is going to go in so many different directions because I want to talk about this, but I still don't want to lose how you like changed everything with social media because you were, I'm going to go back to like kind of where I was going with like the Jota Spanza situation because that was such a pivotal moment for both of us. But how you are in this space where you're like doing all of these brand deals, you're working, you have someone managing all of your deals, you're literally pumping out content like a machine. And then you just decide you're not feeling fulfilled. Yep. It was really building up and you know I had so much support around me and I had this team like creating all the content I wanted and I was getting all these break everything was working, but I hated it. Like at the end of the day I was just exhausted and even on the days where I was filming I remember being excited to film before when I was in LA I was like oh my God this is a dream and then I just think I got lost in the like this is best practice. And then I kept trying to talk my, because it's funny as much as I don't want to focus on perfection I think naturally I'm drawn to beauty and just certain even colors aesthetics like it speaks to me. And I was even that little detail where I was like oh but yellow and purple are going to perform better on a reel and I was doing things that just didn't feel like me because it's self expression at the same time. So you know I talked to Gary about it and you know he's you know your partner you're like you can fight an anti-respect at him in that space of course and he really just pushed me to like hey like it's not a big deal you could even take two years off and I probably we really think about it in the 90 or 100 years we're going to live hopefully what's two years right at the time it feels like everything. So my plan remember was two months. I remember. I remember we talked about it. Yeah we did. We did. We did our years together. And it was interesting because everyone was on their social or talking about it and I just wouldn't even open it. But you didn't even care. I did not care. It was so good. And then I because I had told myself two months in January I was like okay time to come back and I just didn't feel ready but I pushed it. I came back for a couple months and then there was something in me that was like no just take this time off and really for that I mean it was pretty much a year after that. I started questioning everything which I think is smart. I was like do I even like social media do I even like health and wellness like what am I really doing and turns out I do love it all so it's good at the end but it was a long time to think about it. I know for myself that when I take even like a weekend off it's amazing. First of all you don't want to come back. No you don't. So it's peaceful. It's really peaceful. But it's it is such a double edged sword in this space because it's also business you know and I've really been working at my relationship with it. We're like I actually love sharing. I love sharing. I love capturing documenting. But I need so much space in between it all so like finding that balance of knowing when I need a minute and not even checking it that's the difference. I think people like will say like they're you know they like took a weekend off but they don't take a weekend off. They're still scrolling. They're still scrolling. That's like the biggest part. That's the biggest part. Yeah posting isn't a big deal. No because you can post and walk away but it's like being so locked in and feeling that need. I mean it's an addiction. It is and I also just want to say I know it sounds like it comes from a very privileged place to also take a year off because I understand I had never taken a break from high school to pharmacy you know working two jobs like basically building my brand while I was doing so I understand like not everybody can just take a year off work. Right. You know I feel like I had kind of earned it at that point where I was like you know what I just need a second and sometimes taking a break doesn't even have to come in the form of like I'm not working it's just taking a break from the thing that's like really like when I left working at the pharmacy. I took a job practically as an assistant for a year because I just want and you know like that's kind of humbling to do because I went I got my doctorate I'm like making all this money and then I leave to do something because I was that unhappy doing it. So sometimes it's just stepping away from what you need a break from and getting clear with why you were feeling so drained and the things that make you happy. Yes. And what I learned is for number one during that time which I highly recommend to everyone I really broke my addiction to my phone. Like I'm the most annoying person to text now because my phone could be in the other room all night and I don't care like if I'm with the people I need to care about I'm good. I was listening to you of course on the skinny confidential and I know you said like you gave a lot of credit to Lauren with this me too. 100% that podcast episode changed me. 100% like it's so interesting that who else was it Glennon Doyle. Yes she's the one who Glennon writes. It was like when you text me or you're emailing me like you're entering my space asking for access to me on your time. But I have to respond right away. We feel like we need to. Right. So it is this training which I've really been working on it too. We're like not feeling this like knee jerk reaction to always respond to people in the moment. This takes practice guys because you feel like you're being rude. Right. Right. I feel like it but it's funny because then people you teach people what to expect from you. Exactly. Now people don't expect a response for days. I'm sorry but I'm like we have a lot going on. It's so funny too knowing just being so close with like you and Gary like we have this little group like our group text is like one of my favorite things. By the way Gary's like the biggest sweetie. The biggest. He's a little sweetie. He's a little sweetie. It's our little. No I'm just like look at that little sweetie. She's an actual sweetheart. Oh. Just teddy bear. No. Like Gary is such a G and a persona on like just a master motivator and then you like get him at dinner with that little beanie on and his little smile. He's just so sweet. I know. He really is but what I was going to say is being with men like Noah and Gary who are kind of the opposite. Yes. But not affected the way that we're affected. That's exactly it. Right. That's exactly it. We can't we don't like that. It doesn't translate well for us but they can handle it. They can handle it. Yeah. And they're blasting off like they don't things don't sit. I'm sure Gary's always clearing out his inbox. I mean it's the first thing he doesn't he wakes up is to take his phone and he's fine. So I'm honestly like you know what you know what's best for you. I think it's all on how you perceive it and how you relate to everything. It really is. And that is what brings me to because I know when we first really when we first became friends I was meditating and I know you were like you were very skeptical. I was it wasn't. Or maybe you just I don't know you tell me what you thought. No I wasn't I wanted to do it but I couldn't. Okay. I felt like you couldn't. Yes. Okay. It's very important because most people feel like they can't. Yes. So you mentioned something about having like gut health issues which I know was one of the culprits that also led to like really committing to the practice would you say. A hundred percent. Can you share a little just because I feel like so many people turn to you for health and wellness advice and I mean you I feel like you always know like the best brands why like I'm obsessed with I love when you share that stuff by the way like I love the like the food brands love everyone does Dylan does I know Dylan loves when you break all that stuff down but what. Yeah I got you to really because I love that you're such a die hard meditator now die hard die hard. It's like that's my priority for the day my non-negotiable same over working out when like I love working out but meditation comes first same. And I think a lot of people are like wait what and for me I'll just say one thing is because what I have found is when you meditate the space for all of the things that matter open it just you see it you see the space. You can't even really put into words and there's so many types of meditation right the other day I did one with Erica. Yeah. Yeah. She's amazing. She's amazing and the breath work ones are so different and it's I mean I felt like my body was a balloon. I swear like and sometimes just emotion comes out the Joe ones hit me in a different way. So having all these gut health issues and then being someone that people turn to for health and wellness there's like a lot that like happens there emotionally because I'm like I felt like an imposter I'm like how am I supposed to recommend things when I have all the stuff going on. Wow. And I even talked to my therapist about it and she was like do you not think therapists have therapists. I was like that's a really good point. Wow. That's a good one. Yeah because I was like I don't want to recommend everyone asked me for probiotics. I'm like how could I be the one to tell you when I haven't tried one that works and I will never share unless I personally know. Always. Right. You and I are the same. We're the same on that. So there was a lot of that to work through but there was something about Joe. Remember even before COVID I think I texted you a video of his and I was like we got to go to this guy I like this guy. Yes. And then. I heard things. Yes. I heard all these controversial things. I didn't want to say that but I remember you texted that. I feel like it's important and by the way he's amazing. He's amazing. Like one of the best things best gifts I've ever been given in my life was. I was so happy to give you that gift. Oh my god. From you and Gary like it was just I wouldn't believe it. It was the kindest thing but we had wanted to go on a retreat or something together and Mona did the leg work. I was like you can get. I'll come. Yes. He was just speaking to me because I think a lot of what he focuses on is health and it was like just that you are your own pharmacy the placebo effect. I mean you read these things. I haven't read his full book. I've really just done his courses but he's I mean you know in the week long he shares these stories that you're like. I mean the recoveries people have. So I think you know my stuff was just gut health but still it was really speaking to me because it had been like three years. It's been a very long journey for me. Like it's a lot. And I think also the stress of like then I go into if my gut's not healthy how what's going on with my immunity and you go down this hole especially when you're in this space. So there was just something at his week long and we knew no so just wait this is yeah. So we were supposed to go together and then I get there and find out as soon as we land in Cancun that I had been exposed to COVID I had a full meltdown and I was like what if I get stuck in Mexico. I left and I left you with her bag of snacks. She came with a like I was like I mean you know me I'm I love my stuff and I'm good but like no one's like Mona. Like I was like there was a refrigerator with us. She booked you baked something. I baked like breakfast bars I was like I don't know what kind of food you're in. I don't know we were supposed to bring that in. I probably not I left it all for you. I've literally had bags of like great free Cheetos all the entire week wait before you even say anything else because it was so interesting when we were doing I was like going through so much stuff during that time I was in like a very weird transitional space where we're like I remember it was like I was in a really heavy time. I know like building the app there was so much shifting and changing and for some reason on the way to the airport I have this like feeling come over me I meditated in the car and it was like you have to do this alone. No swear to you. I didn't tell you. No. Well because I didn't I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to think I didn't want to be with you. Of course right. But it's it was so interesting you got like it was vividly clear. Like it was like you need this experience for yourself. You have to because when you think about it too right when you go with someone which is so special and amazing and we will do things like that but there was something about this one where it was so deep it was that I needed to process it on my own. Oh my god that makes me so happy because I felt so bad leaving you there. No I was like I wasn't even I got it. Oh I was like go home like you know what I love about you can I just say you're so you're such an adult because I feel like one of the reasons I've never had a big girl group like I have close friends but never like a group of 20 you know how there's some girls that have that they're like girl because I can't deal with the like the getting mad you were like you're you handle what you have to do I am fine I will be good like no hard feelings like you just were so adult and mature about it so I didn't feel guilty leaving because it was another friend I might have been like I don't want her to get mad at me and like oh god I'm so over that you guys can everyone just stopping so fucking needy. So annoying yeah needy friends like needy friends I can't it's really hard to maintain friendships with needy friends no like you've got to work on your stuff like I cannot talk to you for a month and it's fine and I haven't even seen you since that gorgeous beauty just blasting me on her finger that will get down. Oh my god I'm so happy. So insane I keep looking at it. I stared at every day all day. Yes as you should. Yeah it was crazy like I ended up going through the experience myself it wasn't even I didn't want to I had to to process. Just love stories like that I nothing excites me more even like food I know I love food but when I see the universe working in its magical ways I just have faith in everything. Oh me too. I get so happy and I remembered one thing that you were really nervous about. COVID no it was remember like you something was happening. Yes. Tomona during the meditations like my body would move and I was like I don't want to like convulse a little bit. Yes like shake like I felt like it was like basically Kundalini she's like shaking I felt like in my stomach. Right. She was like I think it's energy yes moving and it it that's what it was does it still happen still it happens. It's funny I feel like my meditation so basically when I started Joe's that I finish his whole course the online course before the week long and one of the last things on it is like do he teaches you the breath work and what I didn't finish the course. You didn't want to do much better student than I like halfway and like I still listen to it honestly the week you don't need to go back if you did the week no I actually love going back. It's good but I my body started shaking and I was like what is going on and then ever since that moment it like opened up something where my body will just like move during different meditations and then I was like I wanted to tell you because I'm like what if something weird happens while I'm meditating for sharing a room luckily nothing did but when I left and you had the experience alone I remember you sent me a voice no after we were like you need to go to this yes you couldn't explain it and I went a month later I was able to go and I'm so glad I did it alone too. I'm so glad you did it alone. It was just one of those experiences like I mean I don't know about you but I was enamored the whole time right. Enamored right but I was also a little I don't love to use the word I guess you could say curious like I wasn't skeptical but I there were things yep that I know my go-bostock too it was like the voice and the I was just like I yes it's not vibing and then day three I was like stop judging because I was judging it I was like this no like I know a lot like yes and guess what and I threw that all out the window and I had such a transformational experience because I allowed myself to like be there be with it experience it and really do it and then see what was happening and I was feeling alive. What was your like what do you feel like was the most like how did you leave feeling because for me I mean I can't even put into words how I felt after it changed me forever ready to take over the fucking world inspired inspired mm-hmm but it's also like the energy of being around so many like minded people who are all there to like strive for the same thing yes right like that for me was like them I loved it I loved that element of like feeding off the energy of being around people who are all there. You know what else I love that like when I left my feeling was just like trust and joy like freedom I felt like something that was blocked inside me which like when I used to hear people talk like that I would judge and be like okay like what do you mean so woo woo right but that's exactly how I felt and what's cool about that week long is like it's not like you're going to a conference for business or for whatever like you had a totally different outcome from it than I did right you left feeling like really inspired maybe if I went again I would have the same feeling as you right no I mean I left and I was like I want to be speaking on stage more like I was just like and I'm going to do it it really moved something in me which just brings it back to like really tapping into those desires and like the future self and yes walking into my life like that like that those beach walks oh yeah oh yeah forget it forget it it's an experience it is so because of all of the like the work and the meditations because I know you I don't know if you are still working with Dr. Will yes I love him he's incredible but how like coming from the place of like feeling not great to to now feeling good right and yeah you're do you feel like you've gotten to a place where SIBO is non-existent are you still working with that still working with it I've definitely made progress and I hadn't made any progress in years so I know that's like a step and you know it's funny because I want to come out of it and be like oh my god I'm fully cured like I would love to write that book right but I still think there's a little more work to do as much as I made so much progress and Joe I noticed so as I've continued to meditate consistently every day for the last year now over a year I find that I don't know if this happens to you but I keep experiencing different things almost like going deeper like now one thing like I remember like a lot of times my meditations my hand will just raise up to one of my centers and just hold it there and it's these like kind of really gentle and voluntary things and that that kind of happened for a few months and every time I feel like I'm digging a little deeper so I've definitely made progress I'm not 100% there yet but I just feel like I'm so much more grounded in what work needs to be done versus like what diet can I do and how can I restrict myself and like what antibiotic can I take like how can I fix it right I love that shift in perspective since the moment I started working in this space one thing that I have always stayed true to is working with brands that I love that I believe in and that I trust the first ever brand I ever started working with was electric picks I discovered this python necklace from electric picks years ago and I wore it every single day it was like my signature necklace I still have it I love it I love pairing it with different pieces and it really just introduced me to this brand in the most organic way and first of all it's female founded by an incredible founder and all of their pieces that are amazing for stacking and styling I love throwing a bunch of different necklaces on they have incredible anklets and a great body chain that I love and I wear on repeat all of their pieces come with a lifetime guarantee and if you go to electric Hicks.com and use code golden this has been my code you guys since I started working with them years ago use code golden for 20% off it's amazing you will not be disappointed by these pieces they are so great and the collection has such a wide range of things from earrings to incredible necklaces and like I said anklets and body chains so go to electric picks.com and use code golden for 20% off. Oh I can't wait to go there with you with food because we've been on such a food journey together yes without even knowing at one point because we did it we both were doing it on our own like she's not talking about it and then during really during like COVID times but this was like as things were really loosening up and not in the heart of it but like we were spending like weekends quarantining together and I think it was remember we used to do our like FaceTime dates too like we would set up I highly recommend those by the way they were so cute and fun but I would I think I told you like I am like experimenting with eggs and Gary was like oh she's experimenting she's experimenting too and so he's like see babe don't feel bad like oh my god he's so cute that's a hundred percent right he was like the fish she's trying the fish yes and it's so funny see babe it's fine I mean he's like the king of don't judge yourself oh yeah yes I started I mean I had started experimenting because I mean all these functional medicine doctors I was working with were like you need to try something else and it really did honestly adding in animal protein has really made a huge shift for me and digestion but I was so scared to say it and I mean god it's if we put so much pressure on ourselves you're one of my best friends and I was afraid to tell you same and then as soon as you told me I felt this like okay every time you share it can I just say like it's funny you I don't consider my friends people I like watch as influencers quote unquote right but then I always love those moments when I'm like really inspired and motivated because I watch you do it and I'm like oh she makes me feel like I can share it more too because there's still a little bit of that are people going to judge me of course you know I feel it too just so you know like it's it is hard for so many reasons I don't know if you feel like this but for me there were so met there are so many incredible aspects right to eating a plant based diet I primarily eat mostly plant base yes with dabbling and things here and there but there was something that happened to me when I stopped feeling like it had to be this one way and what if I just leaned in to trying the things and seeing how I felt plus coming from like for me I run so anxious like I naturally run really anxious and even with like my acupuncturist and osteopath it's like well let's try some other foods and I have to say like I do feel more grounded from it but there is this like I think about the animals and it's really hard it's really hard and I'm like when I visualize and I'm really thinking about it I'm really torn I'm just I'm being honest and I know I'm eating things and trying things but I still am not in that space where I'm like not entirely not feeling bad about it right I mean it's not refreshing but it's just comforting to know that you still feel that way because I do too and I actually like taste wise I loved being vegan like I thought it was so easy for me same but I just I don't know if it was more of like a mental shift for you if there was just something that you felt like you felt drawn to trying something else or maybe just the freedom of not restricting yourself in eating a certain way both I just feel like once I started adding it back in I was like oh yeah I remember what this is like it wasn't it wasn't like this crazy shift for me but then when I do see videos or people do talk about animal cruelty you know the place I go to is like okay there's so much that we do that we'd have to live we'd have to live such a perfect sustainable life to not harm anything I know it's kind of part of how the world works I know you know it there there are elements where I'm like tell myself that and I just like I'm sharing this because listen when I put a video out there sharing them living in the space of really this freedom with food and just allowing myself to try things on that I told people even not to eat in the past like I got slammed for sharing that like I've been trying turkey bacon I saw your video I was so perfect it's not I'm not going to but I also battled in eating disorder for a good number of years of my life and there it the thing that triggers me it's funny because people always ask me like now that I am no longer a bulimic like do you feel triggered do you like do you ever feel this urge I don't but what triggers me is when I get shamed but not in the sense that I want to be go back to that way because I fully feel like I've you know worked really hard at just healing my relationship with self it I get like oh I don't want to share anything I don't and I'm just avoiding reading the comments if I'm going to be really honest protect your piece yeah and I'm just sharing the truth just like really I don't know I hope people are more mindful with their words because you luckily won't go back to that space and you have support and you've done the work but there's so many people who could get triggered to go back yeah I know it's just like everyone's trying their best and when you know someone has good intention that's my thing like if you know that someone is a good person and they have good intention just like leave it alone I know I've really enjoyed broadening my diet honestly I don't know I shared this in my video I'm like I don't know if I'll eat this way forever same I might be vegan in two years same like don't quote me on it no I say the same thing about not drinking alcohol I don't know I could have a drink tomorrow but I'm just really enjoying the space of being where I am I feel like people are going to be dying to know this from you and I know you recently just launched your podcast with Chloe who absolutely love I can't wait to listen what's the name of it? Coracell Coracell love the name give us just a taste of foods that fuel you not even what you eat in a day like what's breakfast lunch and dinner because you do eat really clean I do that's so new and I love it I really I think regardless of what type of diet I eat ever whether I'm going to be vegan or not or keto or paleo whatever I decide to do eating clean does feel right in my core and you know I just and it's so easy it's like when everyone asks what that is it's like the least amount that a food like how a food is originated the least amount of messing with and processing and adding and whatever to it so I just I feel the best when I eat that way and there's something about making a meal with like fresh herbs my one of my favorite things is like fresh mint fresh dill basil there's like something that's released like happiness inside of you I don't know if it's just coming from the earth and you're just making it yourself and there's love and care that goes into it like I truly feel happy and nourish so I get excited to make recipes like that you you put love into your I put love into I love it like I love that's my love language is making healthy snacks for people and I love letting people try something healthy and seeing if they like it and how they react to it so the things that I feel the most nourished I would say I'm doing a lot of gear right now I know I saw you post it yes I cook with it because you can cook at high temperatures it's just really good for your gut health I like it so it's that's good it tastes good it's been one thing that I've really enjoyed adding back like I actually never ate it before I didn't even know what he was before when I wasn't vegan I do like bone broth a lot and I'll do it there's a couple brands like bonafide or brodo where you buy it frozen and it's like organic and pasture raised so I'll do that and I'll actually take like a bunch of fresh parsley and cilantro and like cook it in there and then drink it together it's very good chia pudding has always been one for me that really does it for me I just do you love it I love it I love one that you guys Mona how long is daily dose we don't have an end I feel like you should keep it going you guys Mona has the most incredible collab with daily dose meals these are at home delivery yep and they are the cleanest they're so good so good I mean I spread because I had eaten out and like you know when you have food you're like I can't waste the food and literally brought the food in for look at Frank Frank and Tom and like I made us a feast it was insane oh my god thank you so clean so clean you know I think look price point I wish we could make it less expensive or you know it's just it's hard because everything's organic biodynamic and it's made fresh so when you're it's still better than ordering out like if you really want to eat clean and you don't want to do it yourself this is the best way to go and we do have an omnivore option too yes so you can add you don't have to be plant based you can you talk about steaming your fruit are you still steaming fruit yes and let it salads yes so this was something I just kept hearing across the board this was even before I like got deep into meditation but Ayurveda was saying it and then functional medicine doctors were telling me and then I got into Iranian traditional medicine my grandmother one day it was like yeah don't ever eat cold fruit so cooking food basically just makes it easier for your digestion and depending on your body type like my body type across the board does better with like a warming like cinnamon cloves warm food cooked food right like we tend to be more a little more dry and cold so we need like warming foods doing that has definitely helped me like when I eat a lot of raw fruit which is my absolute favorite I just want a big bowl of raw fruit and a big raw salad and I can't do it right now that's all I want but it really makes a difference like I feel more bloated uncomfortable so it just helps me I steam it a little bit a little water and cinnamon and then salad to it I the big believer that you can make yourself like anything like if you if you know it's good for you if you know it's helping you and you just adjust not that you can make yourself you can learn to adjust we adjust to everything like at first I was like oh this is the worst and now I love it you even got getting the salad the arugula salad yeah he loves that that salad I don't want to chew my own horn but like it is really good it's a rugula salad it's just massaged do you share recipes on your site yes okay yes not as many as I should but I do more I'd say more in Instagram tiktokmoana-vand.com yes okay yeah amazing I feel like since the moment I met you it was like you want like you just like wanted love like you were just someone who you were like you can feel it and like you're such a little lover and now just like seeing you so in love and also like intuitively in which like remember at the time you were like I have to tell you something can we share that yes let's share it Mona was like I have to talk to you in person so she came over to my old apartment in the city I was visiting New York yeah and I came over and she was like can I tell you and what did I say you were like you and guess can I guess I was like what and you were like you and Gary are gonna live together and you're moving to New York and I was like yes why did you know that and I like knew nothing you knew nothing literally nothing but like I just picked up on like this smart like there was like something that shifted with you yes and I just I'm so happy for you and to see you with someone who just like supports you to know and and doesn't just want you I think this is really important for anyone out there and especially like you know I think of like you and even myself with dating men that are very powerful men right or just dating someone in general it's just so important to always maintain like this sense of independence yes for yourself and what I really loved like getting to know with you guys is that he's always supported that and like wants those things for you doesn't just want you to like morph into his world and it's I just think it's so important for all of us women and men to have this self independence it's it's important for your soul like you know you just need to have your sense of self it I mean I feel like I've lost it in past relationships even and you know where I know we're both with these men who are very powerful and successful but we have really good ones because they're so kind and so supportive honestly I feel so lucky I know you and Noah are so like sweet friends I like love Noah you know me and Gary the other day we were with you and Gary's like Melissa do you know that once every 10 to 12 days me and Mona have a combo about how much we love Noah and I was like you're like what about me I know I need to know his help on something good their night he calls us a health 30 he's just oh my god he's just the most lovable like kind loyal like he's just I love Noah he's also a little sweetie he is I think that's why the four of us get along so it's true right it's true we have such a nice like friend group it's so fun to and now okay she said I could talk about this you guys give me that hand because you can't not notice this beauty motor than Gary are in can you tell and like what tell us anything that you can tell yeah you know I we just didn't just we decided not to do an actual post about it I like that you know like good our friends know our family knows what the smile say it all the glow yes oh god I mean I'm just so happy he's the love of my life I know and it's just one you know when you're like thank god I didn't work out with anyone else because I was there you were there there I was like oh jeez this isn't looking good I was like oh god it was not looking good that's not even bring that up you gotta go through it listen honestly for anyone who's single I just want you to know I was single for so long I refused to settle it and like there were so many nice guys I met there were some not nice guys but I was just like if I'm not 100% in love and like in my gut like obsessed with this person I couldn't do it I would just clearly would have rather been alone so I met my person later in life and it was just worth everything like worth the wait full body chills and let me just tell you Mona and Gary are no no they are the friends that you like go to dinner with and they're just like inner twine their hands are like this and they're and no one I are like this far apart and we're like watching Mona and Gary and I'm like get over here and we're like really so we're like yeah we're happily married no but it's just and they sleep like this like we're getting locked in they're not kidding no it's just I mean we're very soul connected very they're like annoyingly in love but I love you guys so much I tell them I'm just like you guys really make us all think we need to go therapy I know Simon's always like Phil we need to work on some things it's just it's just so sweet you know I love your love oh my god I know you've been seeing you happy for me it's just the sweetest thing because like you said not everyone truly truly loves seeing their friends or family happy and you're one of those people Melissa's a crier like you when you see love or anything sweet like you actually cry tears and it's just one of my favorite things about you it makes my heart happy and you guys if you have people in your life who you claim to be your friends and they are not so ecstatic and happy for you when things in your life are going well reassess the people at your table you guys and like even I remember like you were going through you were going through it you weren't in the best but like if something was happening great for me you were the first person you and you know I have so many great supporters in my life but like those are the people you want to surround yourself with yes and that's why even like meeting you later in life like you're meant to be connected with certain people to show you maybe your other friend sock yeah right like there are things in life that we need to just be honest with and about and I love when you say let them let it go with love like with just so much with so much love it's like you know they're just not meant for you at that time and I just I want people to know like you were so good to me from day one you know I was this single girl just trying to figure out life and you and Noah like just brought me into your family we traveled together I stayed with you and the Hamptons and we were new friends so I just think we had this instant connection where it felt like family and I don't forget that I love supporting you and I mean I'm so proud of you I remember it's just you and Dylan in your apartment with Benjamin and it was just I don't know you've done so much and you're so inspiring to everyone around you I love you. I love you. She's so sweet I love it. I love you and you love my kids too which is just our nanny always says she's like Mona really loves your kids. I really do I really love them. I love you. I love you too. Okay it's just like not an episode if I don't cry but we're gonna end with our rapid fire questions I feel like we already need to schedule a part two because there's so many things that we need to talk about but I always end with just a few questions. Okay these make me nervous. They do. No not in a bad I don't know why. They're not like that. What gets you out of bed in the morning? Meditation. Oh. Meaning is that what you mean like what's the thing that like gets you inspired or motivated to wake up. Oh it's me inspired just building I love building and creating. Great answer. What motivates you when you're feeling down? Meditation. It makes me trust that everything's in perfect order. This makes me so. And Gary. I was gonna say Gary. Honestly Gary like he is just my supporter and rock and like cheerleader and he always makes me feel calm but I would say the two of those things. What is your end all be all self care ritual. And all be all like one thing meditation. See this is why he rapid fire. I want to tell a story with rapid fire. I can't rapid fire. Yeah I'm like what can you elaborate like how many words. What is a one thing in your life that's like your go to like I mean is it like infrared sauna cold got it got it. Okay I love a cold shower and a hot bath an Epsom salt bath I do probably four nights a week. Oh wow. I love it. I do too. They're cult favorite beauty product. Cult favorite beauty products. Probably juice beauty CC cream sunscreen. You've always been. You turned me on to that. Honestly like they were the OGs. There's a lot of good sunscreens out there now but that CC cream gives you a little glow non-toxic. Amona's the best too when it comes to like sunscreens you've turned me on to so many. There's just so many good ones. There's so many. It's so important. There's so many good ones and so many bad ones. Yes. Okay last but not least what does moving with your heart mean to you. God when I really think of my heart and like the thing that connects to that the most it's Gary and family and love just the people around me like that's really the most important thing to me if I had to pick one it's that keeping that in mind and it helps me silence out all the noise you know when work can get stressful or you get caught up in like your ego. I close my eyes and I meditate and when I want to feel love I picture us and our family and we're just home and it's Christmas and that's it. She's not kidding. I'm not kidding. I know you've just always that's what you've wanted. It's been my North Star. It's my number one. I just and it's you know it's different for everybody but I think it's just the one thing I've always wanted and I think Gary came into my life like just the most loving and affectionate loyal person. I'm so happy for you guys. Like it just makes my heart so warm and seeing you just like in your essence and all of the things that you wanted like just you're like you're just a living breathing example of what it means to like never give up on the things that you really deeply desire and the way that you want to feel. And it's in everyone has different desires I just think in your partner that person should make you the best version of yourself. You should feel so free and like the most like yourself because none of my other partners did that and I didn't realize how bad it was until I found the right one. So I just want everyone to know that you should feel like you're absolute best with a person that's in your life. A hundred percent. Where can everyone find you? You can find me at Mona Band on website TikTok and Instagram. I love you. I love you so much. Like die heart supporter. Give me that ring. I hope you guys enjoyed that episode. God I have to say it still feels so good to share that the evolution of the MWH platform is finally here. And we are giving you so much more on the platform with your membership. We have a very special offer for our move with heart listeners. We've never done this before for new members in addition to your seven day free trial. We are giving your first entire month for free. That's another 30 days free. You guys, we never do this. All you have to do is head to Melissawoodhealth.com and use code movewithheart. All lowercase, no spaces when you sign up for a monthly membership. Let me tell you, if you did not know this already, MWH now offers so much more. I cannot emphasize that enough in every category to help guide you in both movement and meditation so you can feel not only your absolute best in your body, but most importantly in your mind. So don't forget to get your first month free use code movewithheart when you sign up for a monthly membership at Melissawoodhealth.com and follow me on Instagram at Melissawood Tepperberg and MWH at Melissawoodhealth on Instagram and TikTok. I cannot wait to see you all on the map. . You Thank you.