Wildly Capable: The Entrepreneurial Journey of Jen Wheeler
Stories of Light #2
How do you navigate the transition from one life path to another while staying true to your purpose?
Jen Wheeler, a former teacher turned female founder and podcast host, has done just that. Her journey began after a personal transformation following the birth of her children. What started as a health and weight loss journey evolved into a mission to empower women with the knowledge and tools to navigate healthy eating, weight loss, and overall well-being. Today, Jen is the driving force behind The Active Bod, The Healthy Her Podcast, and Real Nourish—a trifecta aimed at helping busy women take control of their health without sacrificing their time or energy.
From Teaching to Entrepreneurship: A Shift in Identity
Jen’s entrepreneurial journey wasn’t just a career change; it was a complete shift in identity. "One of the biggest challenges I faced was the shift in identity from being a teacher to becoming a female founder and entrepreneur," Jen recalls. This transition required a significant mindset shift, one that didn’t happen overnight. Jen had to let go of the version of herself she thought she would be forever and embrace this new path, building her entrepreneurial identity piece by piece.
"Over time, I learned to navigate this transition by focusing on my passion for helping women and allowing that to guide my growth and evolution as a business owner."
Empowering Women Through The Active Bod
Jen’s business, The Active Bod, simplifies healthy eating and weight loss for busy, time-poor women. She understands the challenges of balancing work, family, and personal health. "My goal is to help women navigate the confusion and overwhelm I experienced while trying to balance healthy eating, work, and family life," she explains.
The Active Bod offers a signature membership, The Healthy Eating Hype Gal Membership, designed to provide practical, sustainable solutions for women. This membership includes meal planning, nutrition tips, and support to help women take control of their health without the stress. "I achieve this through my signature membership, my podcast, and my Real Nourish meal prep mixes, which are designed to save women time in the kitchen," Jen adds.
The Healthy Her Podcast and Real Nourish
In addition to her membership program, Jen hosts The Healthy Her Podcast. "The podcast is an extension of my mission," Jen says. "Through The Healthy Her Podcast, I provide women with practical advice, expert interviews, and real-life stories to inspire and empower them on their journey to better health." The podcast covers a range of topics from healthy eating and weight loss to mindset and personal development.
Real Nourish is another innovative offering from Jen’s business. "The Real Nourish meal prep mixes were born from my kitchen bench while I was juggling a teaching career and a young family," she shares. These meal prep mixes are designed to make healthy eating easier and more accessible for women who are short on time. "There wasn’t anything on the market tailored to women’s needs like this," Jen notes, highlighting the unique value of her product.
Overcoming Doubt Through Purpose
Jen’s journey wasn’t without its doubts, particularly when she first decided to create Real Nourish. "That’s when self-doubt really set in," she admits. "Questions like, ‘Who am I to do this?’ and ‘What if it doesn’t work out?’ were constant companions." But what pushed Jen to take the leap of faith was her ‘why.’
"I kept reminding myself why I started this journey—to help women who, like me, struggle with healthy eating and weight loss while balancing a busy lifestyle."
By staying focused on her purpose, Jen was able to navigate through the doubt and move forward with confidence. "There is no way you have worked this hard for it not to all work out," she emphasises. "Just keep showing up, stay committed, and trust the process."
Balancing Business and Personal Life
Balancing the demands of entrepreneurship with personal life is a challenge Jen knows all too well. "It comes down to being planned, organized, and prepared," she says. For Jen, organisation, meal planning, and meal prep are essential tools—not just for maintaining a healthy lifestyle but for running a successful business. "As women, we often suffer from decision fatigue, especially by the end of the day after making countless decisions. This exhaustion can lead to poor food choices or ordering takeout."
By prioritising her health and her business through exercise and healthy eating, Jen ensures she can show up as the best version of herself—for both her business and her family. "Staying organized doesn’t have to be time-consuming; it can be as simple as planning your dinner the night before or scheduling your workouts into your diary like important meetings you keep with yourself," she advises. "These small steps make a big difference in maintaining balance and being successful in both my personal and professional life."
The Role of Spirituality and Intuition
Spirituality and intuition have been guiding forces in Jen’s business decisions. "When you choose to go against societal norms and start your own business, you need to believe in a higher purpose and that you’re being guided on your journey," Jen shares. She speaks of a powerful manifestation story that set everything in motion for her, one that she details in her co-authored book, Curiosity Killed the 9-5.
"Manifestation isn’t just about wishing for something and expecting it to appear,"
"It involves three key steps: 1) Getting truly clear on what you want, 2) Trusting your intuition that this is the right path for you, and 3) Taking aligned action and small daily steps toward your goals." This approach has proven effective for Jen, as she’s seen her desires manifest in ways that affirm her belief in the power of intuition and self-belief.
"I’ve come to realize that weight loss and personal development are two of the most profound internal journeys you can undertake," she reflects. Through this process, Jen has discovered aspects of herself she didn’t even know existed.
"Self-awareness has proven to be crucial for success. The more I tap into my intuition, trust in my purpose, and embrace self-knowing, the more I continue to grow and evolve into the highest version of myself."
Journaling and Personal Growth
Journaling has also played a crucial role in Jen’s journey. What started as a practice she initially viewed as ‘woo-woo’ has become an essential part of her routine. "Writing down my intentions every month, then revisiting and reflecting on them at the end of each month, has been incredibly impactful," she says. This practice has helped Jen stay focused, track her progress, and make intentional steps toward her business and personal growth.
A breakthrough moment for Jen was the realisation that "imposter syndrome," or as she calls it, the "inner mean girl," never truly goes away.
"I used to think that once I reached a certain point, I’d feel different, but it doesn’t work that way. Every time you step into a higher version of yourself, that inner critic reappears."
Over time, Jen has learned to acknowledge this inner critic and continue moving forward regardless. "It’s about recognizing those doubts and continuing to take action despite them," she advises.
Advice for Heart-Led Entrepreneurs
Jen’s advice to other heart-led entrepreneurs is simple yet powerful: "Keep going! It might sound simple, but remember this: 'There is no way you have worked this hard for it not to all work out.'" She cautions against getting discouraged by stories of overnight success, reminding others that true, lasting success takes time. "Just keep showing up, stay committed, and trust the process."
To maintain resilience and motivation during tough times, Jen always returns to her 'WHY.' "If my membership and meal prep mixes can help even one busy, time-poor woman take care of herself, make healthy meals, and feel less overwhelmed by food and weight loss, then I’m fulfilled." This sense of purpose is what keeps Jen going, even when the journey gets tough.
Redefining Success and Looking Ahead
Jen’s definition of success has remained consistent since she started. "Success for me means knowing that I’m helping others on their journey to becoming the healthiest, happiest, and most confident versions of themselves." This commitment to her purpose has been the cornerstone of her business from day one.
Looking ahead, Jen has big goals for The Active Bod and Real Nourish. She’s focused on expanding the Healthy Eating Hype Gal membership, growing her podcast audience, and getting Real Nourish meal prep mixes stocked in all major stores. "I’m aiming to reach a broader audience and help more women," she says enthusiastically.
Final Thoughts: "Wildly Capable"
When asked to sum up her entrepreneurial journey in a few words, Jen chose "Wildly Capable." "It reflects the truth that you can achieve anything you set your mind to. The only challenge is convincing yourself of that capability," she explains. Jen’s journey is a powerful reminder that anything is possible with passion, persistence, and a deep belief in your purpose.
Follow Jen Wheeler and The Active Bod:
Website: The Active Bod
Instagram: @theactivebod and @realnourish_
Podcast: The Healthy Her Podcast
As I learned about Jen’s journey and her incredible work with The Active Bod, I was genuinely inspired by her resilience, passion, and dedication to empowering women. Jen’s story is a powerful reminder that with the right mindset and a deep belief in your purpose, you can overcome any challenge and create something truly meaningful. I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to share her story with you, and I hope it inspires you as much as it has inspired me. Here’s to being wildly capable and embracing every step of our entrepreneurial journeys!
If Jen’s story resonated with you and you have your own entrepreneurial journey to share, I’d love to hear from you. Reach out to me via Instagram or by replying to this email, and your story could be the next one featured in our Stories of Light series, inspiring others on their path. Let’s uplift and empower each other as we navigate this journey together.
Jen is the real deal to helping busy working mums with nutrition and health, her tailored approach and genuine care are second to none.
Reading this took me back to all those pivotal special moments! Thank you Sam for sharing my journey