Wins, Fails, and Everything In Between

This fortnight hasn’t exactly been a walk in the park. In fact, it’s felt more like a sprint through chaos, tripping over life’s hurdles and landing face-first in a puddle of my own emotions. But somehow, amidst all the madness, I’ve found moments of clarity - whether it’s through a blissful yoga class, frosty walks under blue skies, or just surviving a gym session without needing CPR.

It’s weird how life changes when you’re not drowning it in wine. You feel… things. All the things. And as much as that sucks, it’s also why I keep dragging myself back to the hard stuff - the workouts, the yoga, the awkward self-care attempts that make me feel like I’m winging it in the game of adulthood.

But here’s the thing about starting over: it’s a bit crap. Nothing stings quite like realising your body has forgotten how to smash out a 5k or do burpees without making you question your life choices. The burpee-loving version of me feels like a myth now. But instead of going full speed and breaking myself (again), I’m learning to slow down and be kinder to myself.

For instance, when my knee screamed “Nope!” at the idea of an hour-long run, I opted for a cheeky treadmill 12-4-30 instead. Small wins like that matter. It’s less about smashing goals and more about showing up, trying, and occasionally laughing at the comedy of my fitness fails.

Speaking of laughs, here’s a quick rundown of this week’s wins and fails:

WINS

☀️ Smashed my booze-free streak, survived three Pilates classes, and even managed some tough gym sessions without throwing up.

🐺 Bonus time with my little wolf (my dog, not an actual wolf), who greeted me with the happiest of dances. Winter walks and her wagging tail = pure joy.

🧠 Said no to plans when my brain begged for rest. Learning to put myself first without drowning in guilt is still a work in progress, but hey, progress is progress!

FAILS

🫣 Almost gave the Pilates class a free peep show after getting the crotch of my leggings trapped in the Reformer straps. Let’s just say it was a close call.

🩲 Dressing disasters galore: slippers instead of shoes, inside-out leggings, and a hoodie I accidentally wore backwards. Fashion icon, who?

🥨 Attempted a pose in class, only to end up resembling a Pretzel. My gangly limbs were not winning any games of twister.

And then there’s the emotional overwhelm - big feelings I usually drown in Pink Fizz. This week, I had to cancel plans and miss out on seeing some favourite faces, which was shit. But my brain and body thanked me for slowing down and taking time to just be.

It’s funny, isn’t it? Life without booze hasn’t magically made everything perfect, but it’s given me some clarity. I’m feeling things I haven’t let myself feel in a long time, and it’s both awful and amazing. I’m not smashing self-love or silencing my inner critic, but I’m inching closer to the version of me that feels like sunshine.

So here’s to two weeks of fitness faffery, awkward efforts, and showing up - even when it’s hard.

Let’s laugh through the chaos!

💛