Q2 2024
April was so exciting! Back in January, I set a goal to find my own apartment in one of Calgary’s trendy neighborhoods. In true manifestation fashion, I wrote it down and trusted I’d find a one-bedroom apartment for a budget that felt borderline delusional given the market trends. Well, let me tell you, being a little delusional paid off—I found the perfect place in March, under budget, and moved in on April 1st.
A new apartment is a reason for a girls night with a spring themed Charcuterie and kombucha.
This move felt like a cornerstone moment for me. It was a fresh start and a chance to create the zen-den I’d always dreamed of. Before this, I’d been living with my parents for a year—something I’m deeply grateful for—to focus entirely on building my business. By April, I had laid a solid foundation and felt ready to live on my own again, with a newfound sense of stability.
At the same time as the move, I set another big goal: running a half marathon. Some might call it overly ambitious, but I’ve learned to embrace my moments of audacity. Training started in at the beginning of April, and by May 26th, I crossed the finish line at 2 hours and 11 minutes. I owe so much of this achievement to my twin flame and soul sister, Kelsey (not me—another Kels). We trained together and ran the entire race side by side, crossing the finish line hand in hand. Cue the epic movie soundtrack.
This was another cornerstone moment. Completing the half marathon taught me that I’m capable of anything I set my mind to. Given that just three months earlier I was grappling with serious nerve and soft tissue injuries, it felt like a miracle.
But life isn’t linear, and by June, burnout came knocking—again. This wasn’t the first time. It wasn’t the second time either. This was my third (maybe fourth) round of pushing myself to the point of pure exhaustion. If this sounds familiar to you, let’s talk, because this is NOT NORMAL. This is NOT HEALTHY. I’m not sharing this as a badge of honor—this is me storytelling. My achiever persona had always thrived on a “no pain, no gain” mentality, but by this point, it was clear: something had to change.
Here’s what hit me after that fourth burnout as a 26-year-old:
I hadn’t had a menstrual cycle in 3.5 years.
My body fat was so low you could see my abs, yet I still hated my reflection.
I was perpetually exhausted but pushed myself to run, lift weights, and stay busy—to the point that eating felt like an afterthought.
I felt disconnected from everyone around me.
June was a wake-up call to slow down—like really slow down. But, in typical fashion, I swung to the opposite extreme. Following what I now consider some of the worst advice ever, I stopped exercising entirely on the recommendation of a dietitian who said it might help me get my period back. [Note to self: credentials don’t always equal the best advice.]
Quitting exercise completely sent my mental health into a tailspin. You’d think I’d have anticipated this, given how long I’ve helped others use fitness to support their mental well-being. But we all have blind spots. All I knew was that I wanted my period back, and if stopping exercise was the solution, I was willing to try.
The no-exercise experiment lasted about a month. During that time, I became irritable, my body image plummeted further, I was an emotional wreck, and—no surprise—my menstrual cycle didn’t return. By July, I knew I needed to recalibrate. I went into the month determined to apply what I already knew about balanced fitness and nutrition, and to step back from work completely. But that’s a story for Q3!
