the progress you can’t see (yet)
Please excuse my language here—but let’s be honest, it’s been a bit of a shit year so far, hasn’t it?!
If you’ve had an amazing start to 2025, brilliant—no need to read on. But if you’re like many others, it’s a case of ‘when will this ever end?’ - carry on.
Since October 2024, we’ve had storm after storm, relentless rain, and barely a glimpse of sunshine. We’re six weeks into the new year, and the rest of it just feels long, dark, and cold. Today is another day of ‘greyness’—about as grey as John Major on Spitting Image...
(just showing my age here…)
And if you’ve been feeling quite low – ‘down in the dumps’, brain-fogged or just stuck since Christmas, you’re not alone. A lot of people have been struggling (even me)—whether it’s post-viral fatigue, aches and pains that won’t shift, recurring illnesses, or just that general sense of ‘meh.’
I get it…when you’ve been out of the habit for a while, coming back to life – ‘stepping out of the cave’ can feel very tough. But this is WHY people need people like me! Not just a personal trainer, but a mentor, a guide, a confidante – a coach. : )
The Part No One Sees
Take a look at the image above. Look beyond the medals, the podiums, the achievements. What we don’t see beneath is how they got there.
The slow rebuild. The setbacks. The doubts. The tiny, invisible choices that made the difference. No one feels motivated all the time. No one wakes up feeling suddenly fit. Believe me even top athletes have really crap days – sometimes it simply doesn’t flow. Our legs feel heavy, our balance feels off - we’re just feeling human.
Progress happens in the quiet, messy, ordinary moments.
Look at the words in that image. They’re a mix, aren’t they?
Bravery, spirit, patience, passion, perseverance
But also loneliness, failure, blood, sweat, tears—even pain
That’s real progress. It’s not always perfectly tidy, neat or comfortable.
This morning, I bumped into my neighbour. She was heading off somewhere. Do you know what I admired when we chatted? It wasn’t about how fit or motivated she was – it was the fact that, despite today’s miserable, grey weather, she had decided to break out of the house and was heading to the local golf course.
She told me, ‘You’ve just got to get on with it. – Go and practice some technique – get a few rounds in.’
She wasn’t waiting for the sun to shine. She was simply just doing it.
The First Step Back
Progress doesn’t start when you feel ready—it starts when you take the first small step, even when you don’t feel like it.
If you’ve lost momentum this year, or if you’re hesitating because you don’t feel ‘good enough’ to start again, or you feeling overweight or crap about the way you currently look – it’s time to move on. Leave those feelings in the past..
Maybe for you, the first step is:
✅ Rebooting your thinking and taking one step forward (Come and chat with me)
✅ If you’re injured or constantly unwell, you can start planning instead. Don’t wait until March! You could be also be tackling other areas of your health instead – sleep, water, eating and drinking – plotting HOW to feel alive again…
✅ Learning HOW to pick up the weights – HOW to increase lean muscle tone and slow the cycle of ageing. It’s not about lifting them perfectly from the outset – it’s about starting.
You don’t need to be fit to begin—you just need TO BEGIN.
No judgment. No pressure. Just one small step forward.
Maybe your choice is just going for a short walk today. Maybe it’s eating something nourishing. Maybe it’s booking back in for a personal training or group session, even if you take it easy. Maybe it’s about learning something fresh and new about yourself that will help you later on?
You don’t have to be at your best right now. You just have to show up for yourself.
You know who to contact – I’ve got lots of free afternoon space, where Cosy Moose in Dorking can be a warming environment over coffee to get you feeling better about yourself!
Don’t forget!
or pop me a text on 07858 731890
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