There was another girl who had the same first name and surname in my class (I know… what are the chances). She was called Big Minna, I was called Little Minna. It was very cool to be called “big” and rather mortifying to be called “little”. I did eventually grow, and these days I’m very much an average height.
It was during Covid lockdown in 2020, at the age of 42, that I finally decided to take full responsibility of my situation, to freaking own it… It may sound rather silly but it started by me accidentally stumbling on Melissa Wood’s IG. (If you don’t know who that is check her out, you’ll love her too!) I became curious: hang on, it’s possible to eat healthy and exercise out of LOVE for yourself, not out of punishment? There is a bunch of people out there who choose to be fit and healthy because they want to live the best life they can, to be the best versions of themselves? Sh*t, I’ve been looking at it wrong, sign me up please! I started dewouring information and inspiration through podcasts. Instead of following the likes of the cast members of RHOBH, I started following influencers in the space of wellness and personal growth. (Don’t get me wrong RHOBH is still my guilty pleasure!) Soon I embarked on my Health Coach studies with Institute for Integrated Nutrition, which was the icing on that cake that changed everything for me.
In my first years in school I was bullied and humiliated by my form teacher. This didn’t do wonders to my shyness. In high school I somehow managed to be included as a very shy and small member of the cool girls gang. This was my ticket to get through those years unscathed.
Nobody told me why one should maybe consider further education so I didn’t bother… Fresh out of school I ended up working in my uncle’s company first as a secretary later as a bookkeeper and partying away my salary.
I overcame my shyness as my curiosity and yarn for life (and party…) won. This same curiosity lead me to leave Espoo and move to London at the age of 24. There, through many adventures and encounters I ended up working in finance in the City of London and at age 30 meeting my husband, Jeremy.
I’m probably on a long walk in Dubai sunshine (yes, we ended up moving to Dubai and have lived here for a total of 6 years), listening to a podcast about the harms of UPF (ultra-processed food) whilst sipping on a matcha and thinking of new ways to help more women live in a body they love and feel good in. Or I might be on a Zoom call with one of my groups or 1:1 clients! One thing is certain: I’m wearing leggings.
Maybe it’s the fact that I was brought up in an environment that didn’t support growth and reaching high that I’m now so passionate about helping women live their best lives. (I’m not blaming anyone for that environment btw, people around me did the best they could.) Every single woman has the right to live in a body they’re proud of. A body that is capable, strong, beautiful and will take them to their later decades in good health and ability.
Everything in our life is linked, why not start with your wellbeing and health and see how that spills into all other areas of your life? And I mean ALL! There is no better feeling than waking up in the morning full of energy and purpose and looking in the mirror liking what you see when you pull your favourite trousers on. It’s possible for you. Yes, even you who’s thinking: “that will never be me, I’m a lost case”. No you’re not. I’ve met many of your fellow lost cases and they’ve proved themselves (and therefore you) wrong.
Remember those…? The fun of filling them out in with your friends!
1) MY FAVOURITE CUISINE: Greek or Turkish.
2) MY LEAST FAVOURITE CUISINE: Indian. Also British… I’m so sorry my old adoptive home country: I love you but Sunday Roast with gravy and boiled veggies just doesn’t do it for me.
3) IF I COULD EAT ONE FOOD FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE: Eggs.
4) MY FAVOURITE “NAUGHTY” FOOD: Mortadella! Piles of it! Melted ham & cheese croissant. Pad Thai. Prawn tempura sushi rolls.
5) FAVOURITE DESSERT: Frozen Greek Jogurt in Gaia. Cheesecake in Il Borro. French Toast in LPM. Butter biscuits with cream cheese icing that Milla made the other day.
6) BEST FINNISH DISH: Creamy salmon soup!
7) FOODS AND FLAVOURS I CAN’T BEAR: Oysters, gravalax, roll mops, dill, mustard, horse raddish, wasabi, coffee.
8) FAVOURITE HOT DRINK: Matcha. I’ve never in my life drunk a cup of coffee.
9) MY FAVOURITE ALCOHOLIC DRINK: Champagne. No snobbery here, I just love the taste.
10) FAVOURITE COLOUR: Blue (and some shades of green).
11) I’M MOST LIKELY TO BINGE WATCH: Scandi thrillers.
12) I’M AFRAID OF: Heights. Sharks. Slugs (yuk). Robbers (sadly I have a lot of experienc with them).
13) WHO WOULD I LIKE TO MEET: Mel Robbins. Mark Hyman. Melissa Wood. (Actually I did see Melissa, twice, but I felt too shy to say anything. Can you believe that?) I’d also love a night out with Lisa Rinna (told you, guilty pleasure).
14) FAVOURITE HOLIDAY: Skiing. I get bored in a tropical paradise kinda place. I also like a city on a beach such as Miami. Lucky I also live in one!
15) WHERE WOULD I LIKE TO VISIT: Al-Ula in Saudi. Petra in Jordan.
16) NOTHING NO OBJECT, WHERE WOULD I LIVE: Dubai. Right now it suits. In future this may change.
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