Back to Square One: Starting Another 8-Week Challenge with Ruairi Croskery
Despite being in my mid-40s, it seems I still don’t learn my lesson. I still vacantly promise to “get my life together” — and then don’t. My last serious attempt at sorting my sh*t out (ok, fine, my health) was two years ago. Before then, I was dabbling in diets — the shakes, the meal replacement rubbish, the usual nonsense. Spoiler: none of it worked. They never do, at least not for anyone I know.
So, what does work? What actually helps you lose weight and get fitter without feeling the need to gnaw your own arm off and grill it for sustenance?
That’s where I stumbled across Ruairi Croskery on Instagram. Straight-talking, no magic potions, no “eat dust for six weeks and call it progress.” I watched one of his 8-week challenges go by, told myself “maybe next time,” and then, when the next one opened in August 2023, I bit the bullet.
The First Challenges
And somehow — miracle of miracles — it worked. I ended up doing not one, not two, but three of Ruairi’s challenges back-to-back.
What hooked me? The simplicity. No banned foods, no weird detox teas. Just:
- Move more (steps and workouts).
- Eat enough protein to actually stay full.
- Stay in a calorie deficit without making yourself miserable.
It wasn’t perfect, but it was doable. I even joined Bare Rooms gym (still there now), where I could book a private space and lift in peace without waiting for some bloke to finish his 20-minute bicep curl set. Slowly but surely, I got stronger. At one point, I maxed out with a 105kg deadlift PB — not bad for someone who, a few months earlier, could barely squat without looking like a newborn giraffe.
Health-wise, I was flying too. My blood pressure dropped, my diabetes risk went from prediabetic to not even close, and fibro flare-ups became easier to handle. I lost weight, lost inches, and gained a bit of swagger back.
Where It Fell Apart
But, because this is me, it didn’t all stick. Injuries crept in — shoulder and bicep problems that benched me for months. Peri-menopause hit like a freight train, and suddenly my body had a mind of its own. Worst of all, I lost the accountability that came with being in Ruairi’s challenge groups.
And once that slipped? So did I. Slowly but surely, the weight came back. Inches, too. Basically, all those “before and after” photos flipped the wrong way round.
The Habits That Stuck
I won’t pretend I kept everything up perfectly — far from it. The steps disappeared, the weights gathered dust, and peri-menopause turned me into a walking hot flush with brain fog. But I didn’t throw everything out the window. I still know my 35g of protein rule, ie I need around 35g of protein per meal to keep me full. I still drink my fake Stanley cup most days, I try to balance my meals even if it’s just on my knee, and now I’ve even got a treadmill glaring at me in the corner.
So yes, two years older, three challenges down, and somehow I’m back at the starting line again. Call it a failure if you want — I call it being human (and maybe a bit hopeless at sticking to things without someone telling me what to do). The method works. I’ve proved it before. The issue isn’t Ruairi’s programme. It’s me. Always me.
But the good news? Physio’s finally signed me off to lift again, Bare Rooms is still my safe space, and I’m back in another 8-week challenge. Fake Stanley at the ready. Let’s see if I can keep myself from sabotaging it this time.
Why Ruairi?
Because he’s the coach who cuts through the noise. No diet culture nonsense, no toxic “good food/bad food” chat, no cheat-day circus. Just sensible advice, realistic goals, and a good kick up the backside when you need it.
If you’re curious, he’s worth a follow on Instagram: @ruairicroskery. You’ll find practical tips and the occasional blunt reminder that you don’t need another juice cleanse.
The Frazzled Truth
So yes, I’m back where I started. Mid-40s, peri-menopausal, covered in dog hair, and apparently a glutton for punishment. But I know this works when I work it. I’ve seen it improve my blood pressure, my strength, my waistline, and even my fibro symptoms.
Will I nail it perfectly this time? Absolutely not. But will I come out stronger, healthier, and slightly less inclined to grill my own arm for protein? Here’s hoping.
Ask me again in eight weeks.
