Today we’d like to introduce you to Meghan Swidler.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
As a Canadian native (Montrealer!) and Cornell University graduate working for a hyper-growth tech startup in both San Francisco and New York City, everything seemed great on paper. However, more often than not, I found myself feeling disconnected, lethargic, lonely, anxious, and low energy.
Over many years throughout this period since I graduated from college in 2013 and saw a naturopath who changed my life, I set out to change my own habits and to transform my body and mind through food, movement, mental/emotional well-being, and spiritual growth. Every free moment I had was spent studying and practicing holistic health and healing through guidance from my master teachers, books, healers, events, podcasts, and anything that I could get my hands on. This still holds true today.
Instead of taking a new job in venture capital back in California in early 2021, I finally took a leap to follow my long-time passion for health and wellness and turn it into a profession by becoming a Holistic Nutrition Health Coach and Wellness Consultant with a focus on gut health, hormone health, cleansing and detoxification, and cellular regeneration. I now want to share what has made (and continues to make) a tremendous impact on my life more broadly and hope to partner with individuals and companies in their transformational journeys towards better holistic health and wellness, which is the foundation of an abundant life.
My holistic nutrition coaching practice is grounded in plant-based whole foods, the principles of food combining, and bio-individuality, understanding that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to sustainable health and well-being. Whether you take part in a 1:1 personalized holistic nutrition coaching program, join a corporate wellness workshop, or buy my book, my intention is to help you get back to basics, adopt a healthy lifestyle through sustainable practices, and reconnect with your most vibrant and radiant self from the inside out. Everything you need to feel your absolute best comes from within, and I want to empower you with that truth.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I was very much a Type A, overachieving perfectionist pursuing a very different path, as I was working for a hyper-growth tech startup in San Francisco and New York and was about to pivot into an operational role at a venture capital fund in Los Angeles. While my true passion was always focused on health and wellness, I felt like I had to live up to certain peoples’ (and societal) expectations of me for many, many years and didn’t listen to the strong gravitational pull inside of me pointing me in a drastically different direction.
I finally had an ‘awakening’, realizing that I just wanted to start living my life for ME instead of for other people around me. Having this life-altering realization allowed me to finally take the leap into the unknown, quitting a venture capital job with financial security and stability to pursue my long-term passion for health and wellness.
It has certainly not been a smooth road since January 2021, when I took the initial leap of faith. Not only was I stepping away from financial security and stability to go back to school and build a business from the ground up, but I also went through some challenging personal obstacles, including feeling ‘stuck’ back at home for almost a year during the pandemic instead of being in Los Angeles (where I ultimately wanted to be), the very sudden death of my golden retriever Tommy, and a difficult breakup with a romantic partner. While I couldn’t see the gift in any of these obstacles at the time, I knew that they were not creating turmoil in my life but rather clearing a path for me to finally move to Venice in January 2022.
What one of my business coaches once said to me has always held true: “Focus on taking aligned action, and the Universe will take care of the results”. Instead of being paralyzed by fear, doubt, and worry and therefore being unable to make any intuitive decision, I now consistently focus on listening to my inner knowing and taking one small micro action each and every day towards my goals, knowing that the Universe will actually take care of figuring out the results for me if I am living in true alignment and am pursuing my soul’s higher purpose / ‘reason for being’.
So, if you feel stuck/lost or are paralyzed by fear, doubt, and worry, these are the questions you should be asking yourself right now:
– If I were to die tomorrow, what would I want my legacy on this earth to be? How would I want people to remember me and speak about me at my funeral? Open a journal and write it down.
– What’s one small step I can take today to achieve that dream? It can be anything. Now, go do it!
As I like to say, life is meant to be lived, so optimize for that living. You are in charge of your own life, so be whoever you want to be! The only reward for conformity is that everyone likes you but yourself. Start doing more of what you love to do with the people you love to do things with. It’s really that simple! Your life will change when you do.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
My holistic nutrition coaching practice is grounded in plant-based whole foods, the principles of food combining, and bio-individuality, understanding that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to sustainable health and well-being. I currently specialize in gut health, hormone health, cleansing and detoxification, and cellular regeneration.
Whether you take part in a 1:1 personalized holistic nutrition coaching program, join a corporate wellness workshop, or buy my book, my intention is to help you get back to basics, adopt a healthy lifestyle through sustainable practices, and reconnect with your most vibrant and radiant self from the inside out. Everything you need to feel your absolute best comes from within, and I want to empower you with that truth.
I am most proud of my latest endeavor – FROM WITHIN. This 164-page guided handbook will help you resolve your gut issues and live a happier, healthier, more meaningful life. By way of this book, you will be able to adopt a plant-forward food routine, increase your energy, reduce digestive distress, boost your mental health, and regain your confidence.
If you need more support and accountability as you embark on your health journey, feel free to check out the following resources:
– Visit my website (https://www.meghanswidler.com/) to learn more about me and my programs / areas of focus, find client testimonials and recipes, and buy my book FROM WITHIN (launching soon!).
– Check out my Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thatplantbasedgal/) to find simple, healthy recipes, the real truth about ingredients and brands, nutrition/health tips, and a sneak peek into my everyday life.
– Book a free 30-minute consultation (https://calendly.com/meghanswidler/) to connect with me directly and further discuss my 1:1 coaching programs. If you currently feel stuck/stagnant, want to expand and grow into the next chapter of your life, and are truly ready to start your transformational journey towards better holistic health and wellness, this is for you!
– Look through my Linktree (https://linktr.ee/MEGHANSWIDLER) to find discounts for brands/products I love and use regularly.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I absolutely love the healthy food, the organic fresh produce and weekly farmer’s markets, the sunsets by the beach, the daily access to nature (beaches, ocean, hiking), the fun events and gatherings (like plant-based potlucks with friends instead of expensive dinners at restaurants), the weather, the like-minded people with shared interests and passions, the close-knit community (especially in Venice where I live!), and the proximity to so many beautiful and enjoyable outdoor adventures.
I don’t like the fact that I need to drive mostly everywhere (and often sit in traffic), the lack of public transportation, the feeling I have that there is a lack of safety in certain areas/neighborhoods, the homeless encampments, the overall cost of living, the LAX airport, and how to spread out each neighborhood is. I’m not used to the latter after living in New York City!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.meghanswidler.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatplantbasedgal/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thatplantbasedgal/
- Other: https://linktr.ee/MEGHANSWIDLER
