31/08/2026
This is a post I never thought I’d write, and one I’ve put off for quite some time.
The photo on the left is me one year ago in the gym. I was consistently hitting my steps, tracking my calories, prioritising protein and getting in the gym twice a week. Nothing too extreme. Just small habits done consistently.
Fast forward one year. I started the contraceptive pill, which made me lethargic, lacking in motivation and energy, and honestly, I could feel my body and mind slipping into a state of depression. My mood has been as low as it was in 2015 — the last time I was on it.
Add that to a new relationship, plenty of lovely dates, home-cooked untracked meals and a lot less movement... and here we are.
The point of this post?
Life happens.
Sometimes, you have to be in the right headspace to make changes. Especially when it comes to nutrition.
You can keep getting your steps in. You can keep working out. You can still be doing some of the “right things” and not make the progress you want.
And sometimes, the biggest thing holding you back isn't a lack of knowledge.
It's that emotionally, you're just not in the right place yet.
I haven’t been.
Probably since early 2025, when I went through a rough patch with my mental health and stopped running, stopped doing the things that actually kept me afloat, and slowly drifted away from the habits that made me feel like myself.
We all have a PhD in hindsight.
And of course, I wish I’d never let certain people or situations get to me. I wish I’d recognised sooner what was happening. I wish I’d kept going.
But wishing doesn't change where you are.
Starting does.
So here we are.
This isn’t a before and after.
This is a start point.
A reverse motivation post, if you like.
And a nod to anyone who is finding things difficult right now.
Because even as a PT and Instructor, I’m human first.
I have the knowledge. I know what works. I know how to train. I know about nutrition.
And still... life got in the way (and those pesky hormones...ugh)
Because nobody is perfect. We all have barriers. We all have obstacles. We all go through seasons where simply keeping our head above water is enough.
But here’s what I want my clients to remember:
You don't have to wait until you've got it all figured out.
You don't need the perfect Monday.
You don't need to suddenly become motivated overnight.
You don't need to change everything at once.
You just need to start with one small thing.
One walk.
One workout.
One meal that makes you feel good.
One earlier night.
One promise to yourself that you actually keep.
The small habits are still there. The knowledge is still there. And so is the person you were before you lost your way.
Sometimes we just need to find our way back to ourselves.
So if you're currently at a point where you feel like you've gone backwards, please know this:
You haven't failed. You're not starting from scratch. You're starting from experience. And when you're ready, we'll start again. One small habit at a time ❤️
