I Accidentally Lost 20kg In Corporate Life | Darren O’Reilly

Darren O'Reilly spent his early years on the professional rugby pitch, representing giants like Leinster and Harlequins and playing in an underage World Cup for Ireland. In that world, his nutrition was meticulously managed by club staff; every meal was tailored for recovery and performance.Then he made the transition to corporate life, and the system broke.Without a team of nutritionists, Darren found himself skipping breakfast and relying on "nutritionally disastrous" meal deals, leading to an unintentional 20kg weight loss. He realized he wasn't alone; the corporate office was a breeding ground for poor nutritional habits that affected focus and energy.In this episode of ScrewItJustDoIt, Darren explains why he teamed up with senior nutrition lecturer Dr. Brian Carson to launch Wholesup, how they spent two and a half years bootstrapping the business before seeking investment, and the massive logistical hurdles they faced navigating Brexit shipping between the UK and Ireland.We also unpack the science behind functional superfoods like organic cherries and beetroot, the decision to invest in home-compostable packaging that costs two-thirds more than plastic and why being "all in" is the only way to survive the manufacturer "plug-pulling" of the startup world.This is not just about a protein shake. It is about redefining the ritual of functional food for the modern lifestyle.Key Takeaways • How to transition the discipline of a professional athlete into the startup world • The reality of bootstrapping a physical product for over two years • Navigating the "silent pandemic" of poor nutrition in the corporate environment • Why sustainability and B Corp values must be built into the brand from day one🎧 This episode is powered by WorldFirst, specialists in international business payments. If your business pays overseas suppliers or receives payments from abroad, those transaction fees can quickly add up.As a Screw It, Just Do It listener, you can get 50 international transactions completely fee free for 60 days. 👉 Create a free account and claim the offer at worldfirst.com/screwit🎧 Don’t miss a moment of entrepreneurial insight. Subscribe to Screw It, Just Do It wherever you get your podcasts. 🎟️ Join us at the Festival of Entrepreneurs, November 3–4 at NEC Birmingham 👉 www.festivalofentrepreneurs.co.ukConnect with Darren: Email: darren@wholesup.com Website: wholesup.com Socials: @wholesupTimestamps:00:00 Global Obesity Pandemic 00:40 WorldFirst Partner Ad 01:25 Business Origin Story 02:40 Professional Rugby Career 03:55 Flexitarian Market Trends 05:15 Scientific Formulation Process 06:40 International Expansion Strategy 07:35 New Product Development 08:35 Choosing Expert Co-founder 09:45 Manufacturing Resilience Journey 11:10 Future Company Vision 11:45 Official Podcast Outro----------------------------Connect with me:👉🏼 https://www.festivalofentrepreneurs.co.uk👉🏼 Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/screw-it-just-do-it-with-alex-chisnall/id1236788872👉🏼 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6zGHXSlJZSzaYEvDAIVYmT👉🏼 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-chisnall/👉🏼 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alexchisnall_/👉🏼 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/alex.chisnall/👉🏼 X - https://twitter.com/alexchisnall👉🏼 Threads - https://www.threads.net/@alexchisnall_👉🏼 TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@alex_chisnall?lang=en👉🏼 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@alexchisnall/