Reflecting on the Experiment 1-Year Anniversary Celebration

On Monday night, more than 550 of our Experiment OGs (the women who said yes when Korey and I first brought this idea into the world) logged on to celebrate one year of The Wellness Experiment. I have been in many rooms throughout my career, but I have never experienced anything quite like that one. There were tears, there was laughter, and there was the kind of joy that only happens when women stop sizing each other up and start standing shoulder to shoulder (oh, and Korey and I almost ate a cupcake). If you were not there, please understand that this was not simply a celebration; it felt like confirmation that something meaningful and lasting had taken root. It was OGs (members of the Original Group)  cheering on newbies, newsies celebrating the pure JOY written on the OGs’ faces, and that energy was contagious. We’re officially one year in, and the biggest transformation has very little to do with the scale and everything to do with the shift in how these women think about their health.

What moved me most was not dramatic “then” vs “now” stories or the descriptions of the holistic changes in these women’s lives; it was the calm in their voices and the confidence in their language. They spoke about their bodies with respect instead of frustration. They talked about lifting heavier in their 60s and feeling strong rather than fragile. They spoke about caring for bone density, cardiovascular health, and cognitive function simultaneously because they now understand how interconnected they all are.

Donna shared that she has been an athlete her entire life and was once told by a trainer that surgery was her only option, and one year later, she is down four inches around her thighs and describes Korey’s workouts as “amazing”. You could hear the disbelief and pride in her voice, not because of the inches alone but because she had been told something about her body was inevitable, and she proved that it was not.

Women talked about understanding how much protein they need to preserve muscle and how that changes the way they plan meals and shop for groceries. How when their motivation dips, as it inevitably does, they adjust rather than unravel.

At one point, Patty said, through tears and with her hands over her heart, “This is the safest place in the whole world,” and she explained that when she feels uncertain or overwhelmed, this is the space she turns to rather than comment sections or social media noise. When someone entrusts you with their sense of safety, you feel the weight of that responsibility in a profound way.

In a culture where women are constantly told they are behind, too late, too much, or not enough, that safety is powerful. It means you can ask a basic question without embarrassment, celebrate progress without worrying how it will be received, and admit you are struggling without fear of judgment. That kind of environment does not happen accidentally; it is built through consistency, respect, and shared standards.

The Wellness Experiment was never intended to be a quick fix or a short sprint built around urgency. It was created to be steady and sustainable and was inspired by curiosity. We review blood work and make thoughtful adjustments, we focus on progressive overload, and we prepare for doctor’s appointments with better questions. We prioritize our meals around what we want our health to look like in ten and twenty years, rather than chasing short-term validation.

Karen captured it beautifully when she said, “I’ve lost pounds, I’ve gained muscle, and holistically, I just feel so much better. I’m much more empowered around the choices I make about my health. I have all the information that I need, and the feeling is just so wonderful. I want to share it with everybody because I promise you, your life changes.” Another woman laughed and said, “It’s all easy peasy, and I don’t even have to think about it. I gain so much knowledge from the weekly meetings.” What stood out was not just their results but the gratitude and honesty in their voices.

“We are only getting better” another said, and I believed her because I see women who are visibly stronger, clearer, and more confident than they were a year ago, women who understand their physiology and trust their decisions in a way they never have before, and this is happening with women in their 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s!

This milestone is not about perfection; it is about momentum, perspective, and the quiet, consistent work that protects strength and clarity as we age. Year two is going to be INCREDIBLE, I can feel it already, and we have a few exciting new offerings planned for you!

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