New Year... Old You.

It has already been 6 days of the New Year, and I am already tired beyond belief. I am tired of “New Year, New Me” mantra’s being posted all over social media. Our culture of instant gratification neatly lends itself to the idea that the turning page of a calendar could mark the beginning of a whole new self. This new you involves pressing some kind of magical rest button on the old you, wiping clean those bad habits, embarrassing moments, and personal failures; out of the old, disappointing body comes the fresh, new self that you can finally be proud of. Or something like that, Right? Wrong.

You might have new intentions, you might have new goals, but you, you are the same. You are the same glorious human that woke up 7 days ago and planned what to wear for that New Year’s Eve party you were so looking forward to. You are the same cuddly babe who 14 days ago hugged your family a little bit longer, because it was Christmas, and you realised you hadn’t held your family enough in 2016. You are the same kind, generous person who gave their time and kindness to their friends throughout the past year, the same babe that did something that scared you, or inspired you, or maybe that motivated you to try something different. I hate to break it to you, but you, as a person, are the same as you were 6 days ago.

The things that will be...

So tomorrow will be the start of a brand new year. Can you believe it? If you are anything like me, you are ready. Ready for the new challenges, opportunities and experiences that a new year brings, and ready to see the close of the year that was. Of course, just like me, there might be a little bit of trepidation as the new year approaches. As much as it is a fresh start, there is also a bit of presumption that comes with that shiny number 1 on the calendar.Almost a heavy expectation that suddenly life is going to be better or something. Lucky for me [and hopefully for you] I don't tend to buy into that bullshit. New years resolutions fade, things happen, priorities change. In reality the 1st of January is just another day, in a series of days, to lead to weeks, months and years that make up our lives.

The things that were...

If you haven't walked past a calendar recently, you might not know that it is the end of the year. If you haven't been on the internet recently, you also might not know that 2016 has been a bit of a shit year for a lot of people. Now for me, personally, it hasn't been terrible, there have been some rough patches, but there have been some pretty awesome ones too. Taking a step back from me [because you know, its not all about me all the time] looking at the world around me, I get it. We have lost people, we have seen a changing political landscape, the environment has changed around us right before our very eyes. There has been war, and death, and senseless violence. Its been a big year. I have drunk a lot of wine this year. But hey, any excuse for champagne right?

Let's talk about secrets...

As a member of the a couple of online health forums, it has become increasingly clear to me that people are still, despite intuition and intelligence, looking for a quick fix to weight loss. One forum in particular, that for some reason I find completely fascinating, is filled with, among other things, posts of success stories. Women, and men alike, who have worked hard, eaten well, made changes to portion sizes, contents on their meals and added exercise to the equation. People who have lost the last 10 kilos they have been trying to shift for years, to people who have lost 30, 40 or maybe even 50 kilograms over a sustained period of time. Time and time again, I see the comments on the before and after photos. Generally full of messages of congratulations, sprinkled with a bit of hope and feelings of inspiration from people who desperately want to see the same results. And then, usually after a good handful of congratulatory messages have been posted comes the questions. How did you do it? What do you eat? How much do you work out? And the one that always seems to surprise me, no matter how many times I see it; What is your secret?

27 lessons from 27 years

I have been 27 for almost a month. Its a funny thing, getting older. I mean think about it, when you were 15, being 27 was like being a bonafide adult. I was going to have all my shit together by the time I was 25. I think I even thought I would be married and have kids by then. I dunno why, I wasn't brought up in a traditional household, or told that that was the way things should be. I suppose it was just an idea I had. Honestly, I am glad that it didn't quite work out that way. In my 27 years so far, I have had some pretty decent run. I have had some amazing experiences, made some fabulous friends, learnt things, worked in great jobs, in industries that I really care about. I have found my love, I have been passionate about my writing, and my photography. I have had the chance to do a bunch. And its been fucking good. This sounds awfully morbid doesn't it? I suppose reflections sometimes can. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel, I promise.

21 days, 15 workouts & 4 things

The last couple of weeks I have learnt some stuff. I joined the gym 21 days ago, I have worked out 15 times, and learnt, or maybe realised 4 things that are really fucking important. Its been three weeks since I made a decision to be better. Not comfortable, or happy. Just better. Its a scary thing to think about, and honestly, its been a great three weeks, but it also has been challenging, and tiring and there have been times where I have thought about throwing in the towel, making an ice-cream sundae and never leaving the couch. But, you know, I have to go to work and all that, so I haven't done it yet. I digress. Of course, I have been reflecting on all of this the last few days, I thought, yeah... fuck yeah... and so I wrote about it, because well, you know, that is what I do.

Young or old, fit or unfit. Its all good.

So. I don’t want to jinx it because you know, it is pretty early on in our relationship. But guys. I think I have found the one. Okay so its only been a week [I told you… Its new], so we are totally in the honeymoon stages but I am head over heels. It’s all shiny, and clean, with top of the line facilities. Its full of kind and encouraging people. It has a timetable packed with options that I am excited to explore. It has a spa, and a pool, and a place for me to nap. It’s basically perfect. Wait. I think I need to back up the bus here a little bit. I might have forgot to mention I am talking about a gym. But really, it is nothing like your 'usual' gym.

I don’t know about you, but gyms usually make me feel uncomfortable. I have never walked into a gym and thought ‘I can see myself working out here’. Over the course of my adult life, I have been a member at more than a handful of different gyms. Everything from a small womens group run out of a crossfit box, to a more traditional gym full of weights machines and cardio. I have done classes, I have done HIIT training. I have done bootcamps. I have done a lot. And while I have enjoyed some significantly more than others, there hasn’t been one that has whispered “hey girrrrrrl lets make this a long term thing” lovingly at me while I sweat my wobbly ass off… until now that is.