07/14/25
#217 Why All Change Feels Hard at First—And Why You Should Keep Going
“All change is hard at first, messy in the middle, and gorgeous at the end.”
This is a beautiful quote by Robin Sharma, author of The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, The 5 am Club, and The Wealth Money Can’t Buy, among other great self-improvement books.
He’s one of my favourite mindset gurus, and I’ve found some of his work very helpful over the last few years.
I think it’s important to read new authors and listen to new science with an open mind.
It’s very easy to become set in our ways and beliefs and stop being open to new philosophies and ideas.
Luckily, I love learning new things—whether they come from cutting-edge scientific studies or the classics of ancient wisdom, I’m open to it all.
But I take nothing as written in stone. I choose what I want to apply to my life and what I believe will benefit my message, my friends and family, and my clients.
Being open to change is so important.
When I was younger, I was very dogmatic—especially when it came to food plans and nutrition. It was my way or the highway!
Thank goodness for the wisdom that comes with time and life experience.
To celebrate 25 years as a nutritionist, I’m running a 12-week weight-loss challenge in August.
Earlier, I was reflecting on the structure of the challenge—the menus, exercise plans, and new lifestyle habits—and how differently people react to change.
Sometimes when you start something new, it’s exciting (hello, shiny object syndrome!), and it feels easy to follow it to the letter.
Then, after about four weeks, when the shiny newness has worn off a little, it starts to feel boring and hard.
You slip up.
Beat yourself up for not sticking to the plan 100%.
Blame the plan for being stupid—you knew deep down it wouldn’t work for you.
You give up and go back to eating like crap until you feel like shit and look for a new plan to follow.
And there goes the next few years on repeat.
You keep getting bigger, less mobile, and your health slips to an all-time low.
This reads as:
“All change is easy in the beginning, messy in the middle... and then I give up.”
It makes me so very sad.
Because consistency is key.
Don’t try to be perfect.
Take from the plan what works for you—and what you know in your heart, with the right kind of support, is a way you can eat and live forever.
Then keep going, even when the going gets tough.
That’s how you become a fit and healthy 90-year-old who gets to share her wisdom on how to live a long, happy, and vibrant life.
Let that be your legacy—and enjoy the ride as you create it.
Life’s too short to be unfit, unhealthy, and low on energy.
Let me give you a personal example.
I’m not a morning person—or at least I wasn’t. But now I’m up before 5 most mornings. I journal, head into my office, and do a couple of hours of my best creative work. At 7:00, I hit the gym, then walk the dogs and grab breakfast before heading back into the office.
This practice has genuinely changed my life. I get so much more done, I don’t feel stressed or under the pump, and I finish my workday earlier.
But it wasn’t always like this.
Getting out of bed was hard at the beginning. The alarm would go off and I’d hit snooze repeatedly. I had every excuse in the world not to get up. So I tried putting the alarm in my wardrobe. But then I’d just get up, grab it—and go back to bed!
So I got a bit smarter. I started putting the alarm in the hallway with my clothes beside it. I'd grab my phone and my gear, head to the kitchen, make a coffee—and bingo. That was the messy bit.
Now?
Getting up isn’t easy or hard—it just is.
And the result? Beautiful.
I’m more productive, calmer, and have so much more time in my day.
Let’s all live a life that’s:
“Hard at the beginning (as we learn new things), messy in the middle (while we implement them), but oh so gorgeous at the end.”
✨ Ready to stop giving up halfway and finally create real, lasting change?
Join me for the 12-Week Weight-Loss Challenge starting this August.
You'll get structured menus, movement plans, mindset coaching, and weekly support and accountability—all designed to help you lose 10kg in 12 weeksand age with energy, vitality, and confidence.