My Journey

Todays blog is straight from my heart. For the longest time I was very uncomfortable discussing my weight loss journey because at times I actually couldn’t recall how I got to my heaviest weight. However, somewhere along the way I started realizing the importance of community and how we all take something away from each others stories. So today I wanted to share a little insight into my journey to my half way mark. How I got here, what I am currently working on and what’s next.

Most of my late teens and twenties were spent trying every diet and weight loss gimmick under the sun, in hopes that I would find this one diet that would magically make all the weight come off. I guess that was my first mistake, thinking that there was a magic pill out there. I tried it all, high protein diets, boxed meals, meal replacement shakes, blood type diets and even hormone diets in which I consumed only 500 calories a day. I would lose 10 kilos just to gain back 20. Nothing seemed sustainable and thinking back on it now, I was never truly happy when the weight came off because I would be physically and emotionally exhausted. As I went through this vicious cycle of losing and gaining weight, my hormone health deteriorated and my PCOS ( polycystic ovary syndrome) became worse.

It was around the time that I was approaching my 30th birthday that I decided to take control of my life and most importantly my health. So instead of blindly following diets that left me feeling worse than when I started, it was time to educate myself and understand where I was going wrong. My education gave me a starting point, it simplified things for me and allowed me to fully understand that our health is not just the food we eat and how many hours a day we workout. Health is a way of life, it's the quality of your sleep, the nutrition you receive from food, the nature of your personal relationships and so much more.

Over the past three years I have managed to find a balance when it comes to health and happiness. Understanding and making sustainable changes in my life has led me to lose almost half of my bodyweight, improve my overall health, gain a new found love for exercise and appreciate the strength of a strong, supportive community.

My personal journey is still ongoing. In reality I am learning that the second half of this marathon is more challenging than the first. With the help of my amazing team of professionals, I am constantly challenging myself with my training, am more mindful of my nutrition especially my protein intake and am prioritizing sleep and recovery now more than ever. Everyday I gain more knowledge and understand what works for me and what doesn’t. I accept that there will be good and bad days, that plateaus are inevitable and that this journey is more emotionally exhausting than anything.

However through this process I have developed a strong sense of self awareness that has allowed me to focus on my physical and emotional needs so that I can find balance and a happy heart, because as you may have caught on by now, a happy heart and a healthy body is everything 💛

Here are some of the most important lessons I learned along the way:

Make informed decisions with the help of a professional and remember that there is never a quick fix or magic pill. This could mean different things for different people, but see that general physician, nutritionist, endocrinologist or physiotherapist to help you understand your health better and give you a starting point.
You cannot do this alone. The sole reason for me becoming a coach was to be able to give back because I was extremely lucky to have the best support system. My friends, family, coaches, doctors and trainers have all been an integral part of my journey so far and everyday I reminded of just how important it is to have a strong support system.
Sleep is one of the most important components of hormone health and weight loss.
This journey challenged me more mentally than it did physically. So it isn’t just about building a strong and healthy body, you also have to take care of your mental health because that’s where the biggest change happens.
Don't be scared of food. For the longest time I had the most unhealthiest relationship with food, which led to cycles of depriving then binging. It was only when I started to look at food as nutrition, focused on whole foods and found joy in cooking, that I realized food is there to fuel our bodies and provide nourishment.
It’s a marathon not a sprint, don’t be impatient. Transforming your life will take time, changing old habits won’t happen over night, plateaus are inevitable and consistency will produce results. In todays world we want everything with the click of a button and that is just not going to happen so put in the work and celebrate every small win.
Lastly don’t ever lose hope. No matter how lost, alone and helpless you feel there is always a solution. Our bodies are stronger and more resilient than we know. If you have the will to change and are determined to put in the hard work, nothing will stop you from seeing results.

However through this process I have developed a strong sense of self awareness that has allowed me to focus on my physical and emotional needs so that I can find balance and a happy heart, because as you may have caught on by now, a happy heart and a healthy body is everything 💛

Here are some of the most important lessons I learned along the way:

Sleep is one of the most important components of hormone health and weight loss.

This journey challenged me more mentally than it did physically. So it isn’t just about building a strong and healthy body, you also have to take care of your mental health because that’s where the biggest change happens.

Lastly don’t ever lose hope. No matter how lost, alone and helpless you feel there is always a solution. Our bodies are stronger and more resilient than we know. If you have the will to change and are determined to put in the hard work, nothing will stop you from seeing results.