I set out to lose 20kg in one year.

Why? Because weight has been sneaking up on me ever since I made the life-changing decision to move to the UK ten years ago . And frankly, I’ve had enough. But before we get to the “what” and “why” of the present, let’s rewind.

Ten years ago, I was living the translator–transcriber life, working from home while juggling a Management and Marketing course at my local university. It was all part of my grand plan to stay ahead in life—ahead of competitors, ahead of expectations, and, honestly, ahead of myself. To outpace, outgrow, and ultimately outdo… me.

Now, don’t let the academic setting fool you. I wasn’t just buried in books. I was a huge fan of the healthy, active lifestyle. And by active, I mean ACTIVE. I squeezed every last drop of value out of my student card, which granted me access to most of the lectures and activities at the Faculty of Sports. Whenever I wasn’t sweating it out in group fitness classes, you’d find me exercising at home, or skating along the river to a nearby town and back. Twenty kilometres. A day. For fun.

I loved my body. I loved exercise. I was super motivated. So motivated, in fact, that I went ahead and got myself certified as a Personal Trainer at the uni—yes, I was that dedicated.

Then came the big move to the UK. My PT certificate didn’t quite translate (see what I did there? 😉) thanks to qualification equivalency issues. But that didn’t stop me. Practically the minute I unpacked, I joined a gym. And I loved it. The classes, the community, the endorphin rush. Eventually, I started working one-on-one with a personal trainer. A perfect fit for me… or so I thought.

Then, I joined a university here in the UK (see what I did there? 😉). Shortly after completing my postgraduate course in Digital Marketing Management and proudly earning my degree, the pandemic struck. I took on a physically demanding role that allowed me to leave the house without breaking any rules. When restrictions finally eased, I was ecstatic—and like many others, I decided it was time to follow my other love: travelling. Because if endorphins weren’t going to carry me through life anymore, at least trains, planes, and overpriced coffees at airports would.

Nearly four years ago, I landed in a small village in Greater London and finally somewhat settled down with a part-time hospitality job and a virtual address—cherryontop.io—where I’m now welcoming visitors like yourself. :)

And honestly? Having a job that forces you to get up early, get dressed, and actually leave the house is great. It brings routine and habits back into your life—qualities that tend to evaporate when you’ve spent years working from home.

But…

The stress that comes bundled with any hospitality job, combined with the free (and let’s be honest—mostly ultra-processed) food on shifts, plus the exhaustion that takes over on my days off… well, that’s how I’ve ended up 20kg heavier than I should be. And that is, to put it mildly, concerning.

So I’ve decided to start anew.
Again.

Oh, hold on... you thought this was the end of my journey?
Nope, no way. It's called a journey for a reason, FFS.
So, get your popcorn and a chair and stay tuned.

I'll be back.