2025 HARD CHALLENGE - March

March Update: A Month of Change and Focused Intentions

I promised you an update, and though it’s a couple of days late, here it is—better late than never, right?

March—what a month! It’s the month when the clocks change in some parts of the world, signalling the shift in seasons. From winter to spring, and from summer to autumn, this is the time when nature transforms. Some places see rain, others face storms, and in many areas, people get a much-needed break from snow. It’s a time of change, and that’s something we can all relate to.

Just like the seasons, change is constant. In fact, I touched on this in my recent Coach Catchup. I’ve been reflecting on how important it is to not overwhelm myself with too many goals and expectations. The last thing I want is to load my days with so much that I can’t keep up with everything. It’s all about balance.

So, where do I stand now? Well, January and February were great! I’m happy to report that I’ve successfully stuck to my 80% No Treats Rule—have I been perfect? No, but I’ve made progress, and that’s what counts. The 70-80 minutes of learning a new skill each week? It’s been a success, and I’m continuing with that practice.

Working with people every day, I see first hand how habits and decisions shape their lives. Whether it’s making small changes to improve fitness, mental health, or well-being, the choices we make have a huge impact. We all want to feel better, be stronger, or healthier, but it’s about creating habits that last. And this is where I come in.

One of my core principles is to never ask someone to do something I haven’t first tested, trialled, or experienced myself. Even if it’s for a short time, I need to know what it feels like, what impact it has on my body, and what kind of commitment it requires.

Which brings me to March. This month, I’m continuing the principles I’ve worked on in January and February, but with a new level of focus. I’m prioritizing my nutrition even more—especially how I plan and prepare my meals. Life is busy, and as a business owner, my days don’t always fit into the typical 9-to-5 routine. I’m working when others are off, but that doesn’t mean my work is ever done. The admin, the payments, the check-ins—they all fall on me.

The Power of Planning

The key to staying on track is planning. Planning my meals in advance allows me to avoid the mental load of worrying about what I’ll eat next. I’m putting into practice everything I teach my clients: focusing on whole foods (foods without labels), ensuring I’m getting enough protein, fiber, and nutrient-dense foods.

I follow what’s called flexible dieting, which means I track my food intake to ensure I hit my caloric and protein targets. And I teach my clients to do the same. I could give you a specific meal plan or a menu, but here’s the thing: How does that help when you’re standing in the grocery store, and the ingredients you typically buy aren’t available? How will you know when you need to buy that adhoc pre-prepared meal....read the label and it says it has 520 Kcals/2173KJ - Firstly what is the difference between Kcal and Kj and Secondly if that 520 Kcal meal is balanced, and fits into your nutrition plan.

Here’s a real example.

I could tell you to eat 120g of grilled chicken (skin-on), 10 grilled asparagus spears, and half a gem squash. This meal would roughly have 450 calories, 38g of protein, 28g of fat, 11g of carbs, and 3g of fiber.

It makes up about a third of the average person’s daily caloric intake when they’re on a weight loss journey.

But simply telling you that doesn’t teach you anything about how to make informed decisions on the spot. It doesn’t help you learn how to build meals that fit your needs and lifestyle. You need to understand the why and the how behind your choices. This is where the true learning comes in.

My Focus for March 2025: A New Challenge

For March, I’m focusing on cleaning up my nutrition even further. My goal is to refine my food choices and make more mindful decisions, all while aiming to shed around 5-6% of my body weight—while maintaining as much muscle mass as possible. It’s not just about weight loss, it’s about finding balance.

Why does this challenge feel hard for me?

Well, I’ve been on this health and wellness journey for a long time. Before my autoimmune disease diagnosis, I had a different relationship with my body and my health. After going through that, trying various medications, and gradually healing, I’ve learned so much. I continue to push myself every day—making choices about the nutrition brands I trust, choosing supplements that support my health, and creating food plans that my body responds well to. But even with all this experience, it’s easy to get comfortable and complacent.

So, this March, I’m stepping out of that comfort zone. It’s time to refocus, push myself, and remind myself that change is always possible—no matter how long we’ve been on this journey. It’s about consistency, staying present, and challenging ourselves to keep moving forward.

I’ll be back soon with another update, but for now, I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on your own habits. What do you want to change? What can you do to challenge yourself this month? Let’s all push ourselves to be a little better—every day.

Stay strong, stay focused, and as always—keep moving.