I still find it a little frustrating that I’ve had to start all over again. It’s been brick by boring brick for a while now, but today I reflected on how far I’ve truly come. 5 months ago, I couldn’t stand up straight, still struggled to shower myself and getting out of bed was such a challenge – both physically and mentally. Sometimes you just need to stop and appreciate the journey you’re on and be proud of what you’ve achieved so far . #instagram #rebuild #fitness #strongwoman #recovery #mindset
🎄 Merry Christmas to you all 🎄 – lots of love from Leigh & Macca ❤️
I’m gonna remain grateful till my last day. It’s so easy to get caught up in the “bad” in life. I’m still here, still breathing and wake up each morning with the ability to make changes in my life, that’s something worth celebrating ❤️
Recently I’ve laid low, life was becoming overwhelming. I forced myself to slow down which in turn gave me the space to reflect on what is important. Something that stood out to me was the importance of being kind – we can be so quick to judge, so quick to blame others and carry hate these days. Hate and anger is heavy and it’s not something I want to ever carry. The people who have done me wrong – I won’t carry anger for them, I’ll wish them well and say my goodbyes. Life is way too short to carry others perceptions of you. In a world that is so frantic, force yourself to slow down – its amazing what you’ll see.
As I reflect on this year – I think .. WOAH a LOT has happened. I started the year off with quite low self esteem, a single mother, full of unresolved grief who felt she carried a tonne of “baggage” . Just living day to day in survival mode. Then I got back into serious training and worked my ass off, my confidence began to grow and I travelled to Brisbane to compete in Her Roar – coming 2nd to one of the best athletes Australia has. Started my own business. My health has been up and down the past few years but this year things really ramped up. A trip to ED post a very scary event that ended up changing my life forever. A quick dash to Scotland to scatter half of my beautiful mums ashes. 2 weeks later – into hospital to have a significant operation to save my life, which ironically almost cost me my life. Recovery began – ups and downs, lows and highs, back and fourth not knowing what was going to happen. Back into nursing, which I didn’t realise how much I missed. Finally being able to lay the rest of my mum’s ashes to rest to have a place to “visit” her With soooooo much in between. I end this year as a PROUD single mum, with a high paying nursing job (no more financial stress) an unreal mindset towards life – my motto YOLO is in full swing. This year has taught me SO much. I am grateful to be here, I am grateful for my beautiful daughter Mackenzie who has been my driving force to keep going, I am grateful for the special people I have in my life. I am grateful for the resilience I have to be able to get through the past few years. I have worked so damn hard, consistently worked so damn hard to get where I am. I can breathe easier, I feel lighter, I can proudly say… I’ve survived it. Who knows what’s in store for 2023, but you can bet I’m gonna hit the ground running and live life to the Max.
First time getting covid and it wrecked me. Extreme fatigue and some major brain fog along with all the other fun symptoms. 3 weeks off rehab and it made me feel like dirt. I’ve been doing bits and pieces at home and working on stretching out my scar tissue (not a pleasant experience) but I’m now at the stage where I can get into a “cobra” pose . This is progress and I’ll take it.
2 0 2 3 . I love when I set my goals – I’m a VERY goal orientated person, and I always put 100% into the goals I decide to set for myself. Last year was TOUGH in so many ways. I bring even more strength and resilience into 2023. I made it ! Now it’s time to stop being in survival mode (literally) and enjoy all that life can offer me – Goals for 2023 – Compete back in Strongwoman in June – Buy a ute and make it look badass – Get outdoors and away for weekends more – Take on more online clients – Maybeeee find a good man 🙈 #thegoalsareset #bringiton #gratefulforlife #instagram #rebuildbyleigh #lifeismadeforliving
Medically cleared to be back at the gym !. I’ve worked so hard on my abdominal separation and all the boring exercises are truly paying off. My everyday pain is starting to settle a little bit which makes everyday life just that little bit easier ! The beauty of starting at the bottom is the amazing amount of progression you can achieve! Geee it feels good to be back ! ♥️
Huge thank you to @scotty_bossman for believing in me when I came to him with the wild idea of competing so soon. I was told by the oncologist surgeon that I’d need 12 months to recover from surgery and while I still AM recovering – I feel I’m very in tune with my body and what it can tolerate. Another huge thank you to @citystrength for always supporting me especially during my time away from the sport – I’m forever proud to be part of #teamcitystrength . All my work colleagues and adopted family who came to support me – it means so much – forever grateful to still be here and do what I love ❤️
Huge thank you to @scotty_bossman for believing in me when I came to him with the wild idea of competing so soon. I was told by the oncologist surgeon that I’d need 12 months to recover from surgery and while I still AM recovering – I feel I’m very in tune with my body and what it can tolerate. Another huge thank you to @citystrength for always supporting me especially during my time away from the sport – I’m forever proud to be part of #teamcitystrength . All my work colleagues and adopted family who came to support me – it means so much – forever grateful to still be here and do what I love ❤️
Huge thank you to @scotty_bossman for believing in me when I came to him with the wild idea of competing so soon. I was told by the oncologist surgeon that I’d need 12 months to recover from surgery and while I still AM recovering – I feel I’m very in tune with my body and what it can tolerate. Another huge thank you to @citystrength for always supporting me especially during my time away from the sport – I’m forever proud to be part of #teamcitystrength . All my work colleagues and adopted family who came to support me – it means so much – forever grateful to still be here and do what I love ❤️
Huge thank you to @scotty_bossman for believing in me when I came to him with the wild idea of competing so soon. I was told by the oncologist surgeon that I’d need 12 months to recover from surgery and while I still AM recovering – I feel I’m very in tune with my body and what it can tolerate. Another huge thank you to @citystrength for always supporting me especially during my time away from the sport – I’m forever proud to be part of #teamcitystrength . All my work colleagues and adopted family who came to support me – it means so much – forever grateful to still be here and do what I love ❤️
Huge thank you to @scotty_bossman for believing in me when I came to him with the wild idea of competing so soon. I was told by the oncologist surgeon that I’d need 12 months to recover from surgery and while I still AM recovering – I feel I’m very in tune with my body and what it can tolerate. Another huge thank you to @citystrength for always supporting me especially during my time away from the sport – I’m forever proud to be part of #teamcitystrength . All my work colleagues and adopted family who came to support me – it means so much – forever grateful to still be here and do what I love ❤️
Can I just say … being a parent is tough, being a single parent is tough, co-parenting is tough, not having parents is tough. To me I have the most important role in the world, it is my role to ensure this beautiful little girl is financially, physically, spiritually and what I feel is the most important, emotionally supported. Some days I feel like im slaying it, some days I feel like motherhood is kicking my ass but yesterday, little mackenzie gave me a hug and said “mummy you’re my hero” and it made me feel so warm. Parenthood is wild, it’s taught me patience, it’s taught me true unconditional love, it’s gifted me this insane amount of mental strength. Without this beautiful little girl, I wouldn’t be who I am today. She’s the perfect balance of kind and caring but is headstrong in what she wants and stands strong when she deems something wrong. I love you my little macca pacca ❤️
Week 2 of an 8 week Hypertrophy block. Regaining lost muscle mass post surgery. @teampowerelite @citystrength @sbdapparel #powerelite #justdothework #rebuildbyleigh #instagram #reels #fitness #strength #strongwoman
Meet some of our Sisters in Strength volunteer coaches! Big props to these incredible humans who volunteered their time to help coach at our last event in Sydney. We couldn’t run these large scale workshops without you & your support. There is so much heart at the community of strongwoman, and you definitely feel it here with these incredible women! NEXT TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR MELBOURNE Reposted from @sisters_in_strength_aus
Alright- time to keep it real. I’m struggling and I’ve been struggling for abit now. I feel stretched in every domain of my life. For the past month I feel I’ve been continously saying “sorry” for – not replying, not being the first to msg, not making contact with people sooner, forgetting things, not being present – the list goes on. My energy has been zapped from every angle and I’m left in a state of feeling exhausted and frustrated every day – which is not who I am or what I want to be. I’ve kinda stopped enjoying life, still incredibly grateful but just going through the motions and I don’t want to live like this. I’m burnt out and I can’t keep thinking little bandaid solutions are going to work so I’m taking some much needed downtime to try take care of myself. ❤️ I’ll be back x
Being a mother is learning about strengths you didn’t know you had, and dealing with fears you didn’t know existed. Forever my number one in life ❤️ #motherhood #motheranddaughter #abondlikenoother
First time deadlifting since April 2022. It feels foreign getting back into training but little by little I am making improvements and progressing – which makes me happy 😊😊 . Trained with my favourite @redalicious_strongwoman ❤️ at @ptcmacarthur . Excited for what’s to come ! #ptcmacarthur #strength #training #strongwoman #Sydney #recovery
When mummy makes a promise, she stays true to her word. 🎄🎅🎄
Happy 4th Birthday my macca pac ❤️.
Training program and nutrition has been written by @scotty_bossman – now all I have to do is put 100% in, which I will. Day 1 done . First session of conditioning since surgery. It’s uncomfortable, some exercises are painful but I knew it would be an uncomfortable journey back. 5 months post surgery and 6 months out from my first competition. Let’s do it ✌️ @teampowerelite @citystrength @strongwoman_australia #rebuildbyleigh #strongwoman #recovery #postsurgery #cancerwontruleme #strong #instagram #instastrong #whataride
Be the woman who encourages others to step outside their comfort zone Be the woman that gives others the confidence to use their own voice Be the woman who tells others to stand up for what they believe in Be the woman who provides a safe space for others to confide in Be the woman who uses their own experiences to help others Be the woman you needed as a little girl. @sisters_in_strength_aus @fionabarrettphotography #sistersinstrength #Strongwoman #encourageeachother #learnfromothers #teachothers #sticktogether #insta #fyp #forevergrowing
Just over here, exhausted but doing the work. @ptcmacarthur #ptcmacarthur #strongmangym #nsw #Sydney #strength #instagram #rebuildbyleigh
