The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step!

Hi, I'm Lolu and yes, I'm starting this piece with one of the most quoted goal quotes in history.  Not because I want you to groan inwardly at the cliche but because this has been my experience.  I have always been one of these people who's great at starting things, making great plans, being greatly inspired, and even great at translating that inspiration to an action plan. "Let's go, let's do it! This is going to be the one, THIS is going to change my life!!" Then, two weeks later, the excitement's waned, the plan is too hard or doesn't suit. I don't really quit the plan, I just ease my way out of it!

I have walked where you walk.

Actually, more accurately, I have been on this path,  on this patch of ground, enough times that I can probably tell you how the branch on the willow tree at the bend swoops down precariously to brush your face when you least expect it.

I can tell you at what point in the journey, if you get there at just the right time, you can catch the most glorious of sunsets, cementing that sense of beauty and accomplishment

I can also probably describe to you in exquisite detail the earthy smell of falling flat, face-planted yet again in bitter failure, wallowing in inadequacy, self-reproach, and salty tears of disappointment.  Losing hope, giving up. Followed by the sound of creaking bones, when, muscles aching from disuse, I crawl away from my pity party of one and get back on the path again.

It has not been a solo journey.  I have had many helpers along the way, some of whose names I cannot even remember: a personal trainer in New York who first introduced me to HIIT; a friend who first mentioned the notion of "clean eating"; a conference on lifestyle medicine that I registered for on a whim last minute, and travelled 8 hours round trip in a single day to get to.

I have spent many years traversing this path to a healthier version of myself. There have been dull, "plodding-on" days as much as there have been days of much excitement, of gratitude, when, looking back, I realise how far I have come.

I am not the person I once was.  I am not yet "perfect". But I am much MUCH further than I used to be.

So what are you doing back here, you may ask? I have come to give you a hand. To walk beside you, to pick you back up, break up your pity party. To help guide you through the confusing mist on the search of the Holy Grail of the perfect diet.  To cheer you on when the road seems long and endless. To teach you to confront the lies with kind truth.  My name is Lolu, and I'll be your navigator. Welcome aboard!