What 2017 Taught Me

I’m not usually one for making New Years resolutions or planning my life to a T, but if there’s something I think we all should do then it’s looking back to see how far we’ve come. 2017 has been a whirlwind for me (an amazing whirlwind of unexpected happenings) and I am so damn grateful to be where I am today. This year I’ve accomplished so many things – all of which we’re completely unplanned and very unexpected. If anything, 2017 has been a year of many, many, surprises and in a nut shell, here’s what 2017 taught me…

Life can be so unexpected

Never, at the beginning of the year, did I think I’d bag the HBC Best Fitness Blog award in September and very soon after become a full time blogger (my dream). The month of September proved to be the most crazy, yet most incredible month of 2017 for me and I could not be anymore blessed, or grateful.

Sometimes you’ve got to put yourself first

I learnt this earlier on in the year and as selfish, or crazy as you may look to others, if you’re not happy in a certain situation then detach yourself from it.

Opportunities come when you’re least expecting them

Nowadays, I almost always come across the most amazing opportunities when I’m least expecting them. Simple. And as unusual as it may sound, I really do love that about blogging – it makes you appreciate it so much more. I also strongly believe that you should start asking for more. If you want it, ask for it. If you don’t ask, you don’t get!

Anything can happen if you set your mind to it

It became apparent to me during the Summer that whilst I loved Graphic Design, my heart was truly set on blogging, recipe creation and talking all things fitness and what not. So, I put my heart to it, went after what I wanted and alas, 6 months later, here I am… a full time blogger.

Hard work does pay off

There are so many times when I wonder if what I’m doing is worth it, but eventually the hard work does pay off. I promise.

Cauliflower oats are NOT nice

Period.

If it doesn’t fulfil you, leave it.

Over the past year or so, I’ve learnt to detach myself from the things that don’t excite or fulfil me. Opportunities, business, relationships, fitness training… anything!

The best relationship you can have is with yourself

I honestly believe that the relationship you have with yourself is the most important relationship you can have. It may sound silly to some, but learning to love your own company, finding out the real you and working on yourself is so damn important for your health. Cheesy, huh? 

Doing your taxes sucks

Simple.

It’s ok not to be ok

Bad days happen, shit days happen and then awful days happen. It’s ok. It’s called life. Deal with it, accept it and just remember that it could be so much worse. Easier said then done, I know. 

Tracking my macro’s is definitely not for me

At the beginning of the year I slowly underwent a cut from last year’s terrible ‘bulk’. At first, I found counting my macronutrients pretty easy (counting your carb, fat and protein intake) but then it became tedious and I became very, very number obsessed. I no longer enjoyed my food and all I thought about was when I could eat, what I could eat and how much I could eat. Dull. Very dull. Sure, it works amazingly well for other people but if you were to ask me to do it again… hell no.

Progress takes time

Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve always known that progress takes time. However, since joining the gym in September and recently making it one of my goals to grow my lower body, I’ve come to realise just how long the progress takes. You just need to remember to trust the process, continue to work hard and don’t give up – whatever it is!

If there’s one thing I’ve learnt this year then it’s that life is so damn unexpected and no matter how much you try to plan it, the unexpected will always happen.

A private life is a happy life

Very cliche (I know) as I post the daily happening’s of my life on social media, but I’d like to think that I keep my personal life off social media nowadays. There’s two reasons for this, 1 being that my blog is now a business and 2, the less people know about your personal life, the more you learn to value it.

Life it too damn short to care what other people think

My problem is that I’m a people pleaser and I care too much of what people think about me. Period. This year though, I’ve learnt to accept that not everyone will agree with you, like you or understand you and the worst thing you can do, is care about that. Life is too damn short. So do what you want, love who you want, go after the career you want and live the life you want.

Fitness comes in all different shapes and sizes

I cannot express this enough. Fitness isn’t just about running, lifting weights or about how many laps you can swim. It’s about whatever gives you the motivation to get up off your butt, get your body active and learning to love what you do. If you love walking, then walk. If you love boxing, then box. If you love CrossFit, then CrossFit. Just because one type of fitness programme works for someone, it doesn’t mean that it has to work for you too. Go out there and trial and error everything. 

CrossFit may be my new found fitness love in 2018

Although I’m yet to join a proper CrossFit box, I absolutely love incorporating the style of CrossFit training into my current schedule at the moment. Obviously I have to modify quite a few things for the daily WOD because I’m a newbie and my gym just doesn’t have the correct equipment/layout but so far, I frickin’ love the challenge and the mentality of wanting to improve myself every single day. CrossFit is however, the hardest training programme I’ve tried in my 3 years of working out but boy, does it keep you coming back for more!

Forgiving people isn’t a weakness

Another important lesson I’ve learnt this year – holding grudges is exhausting. Forgive, forget and move on. You can’t move on if you’re forever looking back.

In a matter of months (and days), your life can completely change

For the good and (unfortunately) the worse but it’s how you deal with it that’s the most important thing.

Reaching your dream job really is possible

Put in the work. Work hard. Work really damn hard, actually. Create mini goals. Work towards those goals. Create more goals. Ask for the things you want and don’t give up. Ask yourself this: what’s a life working for other people’s goals, to not go home and work on your own?

Do what you love and love what you do

If you know me, then you know that I preach this motto a lot. When it comes to life, I think you should try and live a life that you love. If you currently don’t, then work towards it. When it comes to fitness, I most definitely believe that you should only be doing what you love. Why? Because it’s that which make’s it a lifestyle and not a chore to get out of bed every single morning.

Your life will be nothing like what your teenage self visioned

When I was 14 years old, I thought that by the age of 24 I would be engaged, in my dream job (which luckily, I am), living in my own house and most probably about to walk down the aisle. Hahaha. And am I? Nope. Far from it, actually. If there’s one thing I’ve learnt this year then it’s that life is so damn unexpected and no matter how much you try to plan it, the unexpected will always happen.

Growing muscle is bloody hard!

Actually, I think everyone’s different. If you grow muscle quickly then I hate you. Especially leg muscle, then I hate you even more. Jokes aside though, growing muscle is probably the hardest process for me. I can do the gym thing and I can do the healthy eating thing, but waiting for my body to respond to my daily efforts? Man, that’s hard! One thing I’ve learnt though is that to grow muscle you’ve got to work hard, keep your body guessing, be consistent and eat to grow. 

Everything happens for a reason

Yes, I honestly believe this! Old doors close, so new one’s can open.

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