Health, Fitness & Finding Balance

My metabolism was at warp speed throughout my teens, twenties, and even into my early thirties. But as my thirties progressed, I began to notice a shift. My metabolism slowed down, and for the first time, I actually had to think about what I was eating, drinking, smoking, and how much movement I was getting each day.

Then came Covid. Like many people, boredom and isolation pushed me into trying to stay active. We worked out online with friends, took long walks for fresh air, and some of us even attempted running. For me, the running lasted all of 120 seconds. My chest burned, my throat dried up, my head hurt, and I had to stop immediately. It then took me at least 30 minutes to feel normal again.

If I’m honest, for most of us that period involved more drinking, eating, and sitting than anything else.

In November 2022, I had a full body assessment and let’s just say, my body was in survival mode. Even the back fat was holding on for dear life. That moment became a wake-up call. I realised I needed to make serious changes, not just for appearance, but so my body and organs could function properly long-term. The toxins had to go.

Fast forward to 2026, and I can genuinely say I’m in the best shape of my life. I can now run multiple kilometres without feeling like I’m about to pass out. I avoid processed foods as much as possible, limit refined sugar, and focus more on nourishing my body with the good stuff.

What started as a physical transformation has become something much deeper. Of course, looking good still matters to me, especially as, by God’s grace, I’ll be entering a whole new decade in just 10 months, but it’s now more about honouring this body as I mature. Giving myself the best possible chance with the things that are within my control.

And yes, feeling and looking good is empowering. It boosts your confidence in ways that have nothing to do with fitness itself. Your clothes fit better, your skin benefits, your energy improves, and quite frankly, breathing becomes easier.

Now, I do recognise that I’m a Black woman born in the ’80s, so naturally I already look 10 years younger anyway. But in a world filled with artificial everything and where healthy food prices seem higher than ever, I still choose goodness. I still choose the habits that help keep that natural glow glowing.

Health and fitness quite literally save lives. But in 2026, the conversation around wellness has evolved far beyond aesthetics and body goals. More women are recognising the importance of balance, mentally, emotionally, hormonally, spiritually, and physically.

Earlier this year, I met Rachel Louise, a PT and online coach whose own health journey has shaped the way she now approaches fitness and wellbeing. Through her platform, B.Balanced, she is championing a healthier and more sustainable way of living, one rooted not in perfection, but in balance.

Instagram: @rachlouiseb.balanced

And honestly, balance feels especially important right now. Burnout, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion have become incredibly common, particularly amongst women juggling careers, businesses, relationships, and everyday life. So many of us are constantly switched on, overstimulated, and running on empty without even realising it.

Rachel believes the problem isn’t that women are incapable of handling pressure, but that we’ve become disconnected from what truly matters while trying to keep up with endless demands, expectations, and noise. The stress created by that disconnection doesn’t stay isolated in one area of life either, it spills over into everything. Work suffers, relationships suffer, confidence drops, and eventually the body starts sending signals that something needs to change.

Her perspective on balance is deeply personal. In her final year of sixth form, just before leaving for dance school, Rachel developed anorexia. At the time, she believed it looked like discipline, drive, and control. But in reality, the tighter her grip on control became, the smaller her life grew. Food, movement, relationships, rest, everything became governed by fear and rigid rules.

What followed was a long journey of recovery and rediscovery. Not just physically, but emotionally too. Through that process, she began to understand that true balance isn’t perfection, stillness, or having every aspect of life flawlessly managed. It’s the ability to listen to your body, adapt, recover, and return to yourself when life inevitably wobbles.

As a former dancer, Rachel explains that what looks like “perfect balance” is often years of practice, focus, and tiny adjustments happening in real time. And maybe life works the same way. Balance isn’t a permanent destination or a flawless spreadsheet where every area aligns perfectly all the time. It’s a practice. A constant recalibration.

“The most balanced people I know,” she says, “aren’t the ones who never wobble. They’re the ones who recover quickly.”

As women, we often carry so much while forgetting that our hormones, nervous systems, and emotional wellbeing are all deeply connected to how we function day-to-day. This year, Rachel is encouraging women to move away from extremes and towards healthier, more realistic balance, creating lifestyles that not only look good from the outside, but feel good from within too.