One thing I could always count on was a 28-day cycle - but it was clear that my perfect record was about to be wiped out. First I skipped a cycle (I knew I was neither stressed nor pregnant), the next one came at 26 days, then it went to 34 days, and finally I had the two-for-the-price-of-one period experience!

What the actual bleep ?

People pleasing often stems from a desire for approval or fear of conflict. Hello mirror!! For years, I stayed in an unhealthy work environment for years, hoping that working harder and achieving more would finally earn my brother’s respect. But instead, I walked away with my self-esteem in tatters. 

Take it from someone who knows - there are real and damaging consequences to people pleasing when it’s misdirected or abused. For me, the stress of my job, the deterioration in relations with my brother and feeling worthless would eventually catch up with me—leaving me on the brink of burnout, my hormones a mess, and unable to get pregnant when I wanted another child.

Training for a half marathon is no small feat. It takes dedication, resilience, and smart recovery strategies—not to mention the right fuel to power through training and race days.

Now I’m not a sports nutritionist (nor do I pretend to be one) so if you’re thinking it’s a bit odd and random that I’m giving tips to runners (see the last paragraph), let me reassure you, that unless you’re an athlete or someone with serious performance goals, there’s enough in here to get you over the finish line…….in one piece!