14 October 2025
Why I Don't Post "Transformations"
Hashtag not a before photo!
The only type of progress photo I am interested in seeing is:
- Mental health progress
- Mental health gains
- Happiness gained
- Confidence growing
Story time. Yes, another one (you should know I’m like this by now).
Young Happie was very very shy, very withdrawn, lacking in confidence, couldn’t stand up for herself, bullied at school, bullied at home & so of course I bullied myself too (learned behaviour). I wasn’t very strong, I was lanky, I had awful acne (I’ll have to fish out those photos) & it was so bad I was on medication to treat it.
I was really lost too. I was told I was just “a creative type,” not academic, “away with the fairies,” doesn’t fit in. I actually had several teachers say I wouldn’t amount to much — which looking back was very messed up.
In reality, I was neurodivergent & needed support.
Trigger warning: food relationship
I had a terrible relationship with food, but I grew up in the 90s with ANTM, The Biggest Loser, celebrities being picked apart in magazines, and some troubling relationships with food around me. Family members constantly on diets, telling me certain foods were bad, cut out this, do that — & again it was learnt behaviour.
I still remember one of my aunties making this disgusting green smoothie drink & putting a raw egg in it. She had a personal trainer, meal plan & THAT was her breakfast. I still remember thinking I could never do “fitness” because I thought THAT was what fitness was. Ew.
I remember another auntie going on really rigid diets to lose weight for certain occasions. One in particular was just steamed fish, rice & vegetables with a lemon in the water. She was awful, called me chubby, picked me apart, put me down & made me feel like an idiot. A big bully, really. I don’t talk to her anymore & it was the best thing I ever did cutting such a toxic person out of my life.
This list could go on & on, but the emphasis is that I wasn’t a before picture. So much attention shouldn’t have been placed on appearances and that is why I won’t do that in my coaching practices.
