We had the good fortune of connecting with Wendy Traylor and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Wendy, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
I help people who want to move more, eat better, feel better, and look better. I help them find balance from a wellness perspective so they can live their lives fully and filled!

What should our readers know about your business?
My business is Wellness With Wendy and I share nutrition, fitness, and wellness solutions. I recognize that people are so stretched for time these days, yet they want to live a better, more balanced life. They want to move more, eat better, feel better, and look better! The struggle is how to do that in a way that’s sustainable and realistic for their lifestyle. Wellness With Wendy meets people where they are by way of virtual fitness classes, and online wellness and nutrition tips through my blog. In the near future, I’ll offer a 6 week wellness program which will focus on fitness and nutrition as well! People always ask me: “Why should I work with you, Wendy?” There are two great reasons: 1. No matter your fitness level, I can curate an effective home-based workout that is fun, challenging, and will help you reach your goals. 2. I offer wellness and nutrition tips to complement your exercise based on my nutrition training and coaching experience. My journey to Wellness With Wendy started with my own experience. For 18 years, I worked within Corporate America and every one of my corporate jobs was fast paced and stressful. The stress only intensified when I got married and had children because I had to balance my work and home responsibilities. It was during those intense years that I discovered how much exercise and nutrition helped me find focus, balance, and self-esteem. Keeping up with my health and wellness literally saved my sanity, and when my last corporate job left me by way of a massive corporate downsizing, I decided to follow my passion for fitness. So what did I do first? I became a fitness instructor and worked for the company that helped me get through my worst corporate days. It was a perfect way to give back to others what I’d received personally—focus, balance, self-esteem, and also a sense of community that I cherished. I also became a blogger, certified personal trainer and nutrition coach because I had a deep desire to learn more about fitness and nutrition and share that knowledge with others. In 2020, my beloved fitness studio closed and I was forced to start writing a new chapter in my life. That’s when Wellness with Wendy was born! I’ve been writing, teaching HIIT classes, and coaching ever since, and it’s been so great to do something that’s fulfilling. My journey has definitely not been easy. Most of the time, I’m usually the only person of color in the room (or one of a few). I’ve gotten used to that because I’ve dealt with it all of my life, but too often it means that others don’t necessarily embrace me as quickly as they may embrace/accept someone who looks like them. It also means that others may exclude me from invitations and/or opportunities. Furthermore, it means that others may have preconceived notions about me even if they don’t know me. Believe me, overcoming these challenges is an everyday process; however, I always tell myself that God didn’t make a mistake when He created me, and there’s no one on Earth like me! I bring a unique perspective and set of gifts to the world, and I’m meant to share them. That is what keeps me motivated to do what I do, and overcome obstacles and challenges. I’m truly thankful for my journey because I’ve learned so much! I’ve learned to: • Expect the challenges (that I mentioned above), and keep moving • Remember that everything is “figureoutable” (I love that book, by the way!) • Accept “failures” as learning opportunities…they are not wasted efforts • Not waste too much energy on people who let me down and/or act weird. Instead, I choose to learn from it, forgive them, then move on • Recognize any forward movement as forward progress • Establish goals, but to not overcommit myself • Always keep learning and growing I want the world to know that if you’re someone who wants to look and feel their best but struggles to do so, you aren’t alone. You deserve to live your life fully and filled and Wellness With Wendy is here to help you get there!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
OK, this is fun to think about, but it’s also challenging. I have so many favorite places in the city, and it’s hard to narrow them down to just a few. But I’ll give it a shot! For Brunch or Lunch: • Field & Tides – Such a cozy spot and I really like the vibe of the Heights. • Tiny Boxwoods – I love the ambiance and the chocolate chip cookies are to die for! • Bosscat Kitchen & Libations – Always upbeat and fun! Their dishes are always tasty and unique. • Snooze – Because their pancakes are amazing and they deliver! For Dinner: • State of Grace- Never disappoints, and I always enjoy their menu because it’s seasonal and changes frequently. • Mia’s Table- Laid back atmosphere that’s great for a family dinner. • Hungry’s – Nice casual environment with a great outdoor patio for days when the weather is just right. • Nancy’s Hustle – The food makes the trip to EaDo worthwhile. It’s so good! For Shopping: • Highland Village – Some of my favorite shops are here including my all-time fav—Anthropologie! • City Centre – Great shopping and restaurants make it a perfect excursion for a day. • Rice Village – I have so much fun exploring all of the shops in this area. It never gets old! And if there’s time, Sixty Vines is great for lunch, happy hour, or dinner. For Exercise • BeYoga – Beautiful new studio in the Heights. • Memorial Park Eastern Glades – I love to get outside whenever I can, and this newly renovated section of Memorial Park is a perfect location for a walk, jog, or picnic. • Buffalo Bayou Park – Excellent hiking and biking trails plus the views of the skyline are breathtaking!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband deserves a lot of credit because he’s my personal cheerleader, collaborator, photographer, videographer, and producer! He’s been with me through every step of my journey and I truly would not be where I am today without him.

Website: wendytraylor.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/traylor.wendy
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-traylor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/livefullyandfilled
Other: Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/traylorwendy

Image Credits
Steven Traylor

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