#MyStory

Overworked, Overweight — and Done With Burning Out in my 30's

At 34, I looked around and realised I was sprinting through life at full tilt — deadlines, meetings, expectations — and still somehow falling behind. Burnout wasn’t a buzzword; it was my baseline. I was overworked, overweight, and out of breath — not just physically, but emotionally. I didn’t just want to lose weight. I wanted my life back.

So, I made a decision. Not a dramatic New Year’s resolution or a crash diet vow. Just a quiet, determined choice: I’m not going to burn out of my own life before I even hit 35!

Here’s how I started turning the tide.

Step 1: Know Your Gut — Literally

Before counting calories or swapping carbs, I got curious. I started tracking how food made me feel — not just in terms of cravings, but energy, bloating, mood. Eventually, I uncovered some food intolerances that were secretly draining me every day. Once I cut them out, it felt like someone had turned the lights back on in my body.

Hot Tip: If you suspect certain foods don’t sit right, don’t ignore it. Journaling your meals and symptoms for even a week can be surprisingly eye-opening.

Step 2: Track Before You Hack

Instead of diving into a calorie deficit right away, I spent a few weeks just observing my eating habits. What was my actual intake? When did I snack most? What triggered mindless eating? Once I had the data, I could set a realistic calorie target that worked with my lifestyle — not against it.

Hot Tip: Use free online calculators to figure out your Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE). It’s a great starting point for setting a sustainable calorie deficit.

Step 3: Pick Up Something Heavy

I used to think the gym was all treadmills and intimidation. Then I discovered weight lifting — and everything changed. Learning about progressive overload and hypertrophy wasn’t just empowering, it was addictive (in a good way). Instead of shrinking myself, I focused on building strength. I started recording every lift, every rep.

Hot Tip: Log your lifts. Seriously. Watching yourself go from struggling with dumbbells to smashing your PR? It’s one of the most underrated dopamine hits out there.

I’m still undercover. I’m not perfect. I still work hard. But now, I lift harder, eat smarter, and live with more intention. This isn’t a transformation story with a ‘before and after’. It’s a reclaiming story — one rep, one meal, one choice at a time.

If you’re tired of burning out, know this: You don’t have to overhaul your life overnight. You just have to decide it’s yours to reclaim.