14 months in and not quite where I thought I'd be
When I started Move More Outdoors (MMO) back in August last year, I imagined that by the time I was writing my first year update, I'd have an amazing transformation story to share. I'd have lost 2 stone, be feeling in the best shape of my life and have built some incredible habits.
Well, it hasn't quite worked out like that.
A day trip over to the Toronto Islands, Summer 2026
I'm now 14 months into MMO and I weigh pretty much the same as I did when I started. And being completely honest, recently I've felt like I've really lost my way.
I've had some good periods over the last year where I've managed to get into a rhythm with working out and eating better, but I've just not been able to stick with it consistently. Work gets busy, life gets in the way and I find myself making excuses. Before I know it, weeks have gone by and I'm back to square one, struggling to get started again.
And that's been the frustrating part. I know what I want to achieve and how much better I feel when I look after myself. But I’ve just not been putting in the effort consistently enough to make it happen.
One of the reasons I started MMO was to share my journey towards building a healthier lifestyle, alongside all the adventures we go on and my love for spending time outdoors. I wanted to share the highs and lows, the challenges and hopefully some successes along the way.
The reality is that I've struggled to make the progress I wanted to over the last year, and I've reached a point where I know I need a different approach.
Trying something different
Three weeks ago, I started working with a wellness coach on an initial 12 week program.
I've realised that one of the things I've been missing is accountability. MMO has definitely helped with that at times over the last year, particularly when I've been posting more consistently. But I've not been consistent enough with that either, and I felt like I needed some extra help to get myself out of this rut.
I know I'm very lucky to be in a position where I can afford to work with a coach, and I appreciate that's not an option for everyone. But I've decided this is where I want to prioritise spending my money right now. Because quite frankly, if I'm not investing in my own health and wellbeing, what is the point of investing in anything else?
What appealed to me about this program was that it isn't about following some crazy diet or workout plan for 12 weeks, only to go back to my old habits afterwards. I've got daily nutrition targets (2000 calories and 150g of protein) and weekly workout goals, but there's flexibility in how I achieve them. The biggest thing for me is having a coach who I check in with every week and can message throughout the week for extra accountability.
I want to learn how to build a healthier lifestyle that I can actually stick to. Because let's face it, there are going to be busy weeks at work, dinners out with friends and weekends away. I want to be able to enjoy the things I love without feeling like I'm compromising my goals, while still making progress even when life doesn't go to plan.
Enjoying a glass of wine in the vineyards at Benjamin Bridge Winery in Nova Scotia, September 2026
Three weeks in, how's it going?
Well, week one was a complete disaster!
I let work and social events get in the way, didn't manage a single workout and was way off track with my nutrition. Not exactly the flying start I'd imagined.
Thankfully, weeks two and three have been much better. I've managed five workouts each week, three strength sessions and two cardio sessions. I've also been trying out different recipes, building meals around my macros and getting into a bit of a routine. And I'm feeling good about it.
I know two good weeks doesn't mean I've suddenly cracked it. I've been here before, getting into a good routine only to let things slip again. But having someone to hold me accountable is helping me stay focused.
The initial commitment is 12 weeks, but I can continue working with my coach on a month by month basis after that. The goal is to build habits I can stick to long after the program finishes.
We’ve started getting a family run in together at the weekend - this was week 1, Toronto, October 2026
What's next for MMO?
I want to get back to sharing more of the reality of trying to build a healthier lifestyle. Not just the weeks when everything is going brilliantly, but the weeks when I'm struggling too. Because I know I'm not the only person who finds it difficult to balance work, life, fitness and everything else.
I'll be sharing how I'm getting on with the coaching program, what I'm learning, what's working and what I'm finding difficult. Hopefully some of it will be helpful if you're on a similar journey.
And of course, I'll still be sharing our outdoor adventures. We've had some amazing experiences this summer that I haven’t made the time to write about yet, so there's plenty of that to come too.
I started MMO because I wanted to build a healthier lifestyle that would allow me to spend more time doing the things I love, particularly getting outdoors, exploring new places and having adventures with Jake and Tess. And that hasn't changed. I don't want to look back in another 12 months and realise I've spent another year talking about the changes I want to make without actually putting in the effort to make them happen.
I'm three weeks in and I'm starting to build momentum. Now it's about keeping that momentum going and putting in the work, even when life gets busy and things don't go to plan. I know there will be challenges along the way, but I'm determined to make these changes stick. Because ultimately, I want to be fit, strong and healthy enough to keep having adventures for decades to come.
Remembering that it’s all about being able to do more of this, a portage somewhere in Ontario, Summer 2026