Colleen Strauss - Life Coach

"We attract the things we need to sustain the story we're in."

Growth and contribution go hand in hand.
If you’re not growing, you’re slowly fading—this applies to everything on this planet. You are either moving forward or standing still… and the choice is yours.

Live life fully. Keep learning, keep evolving, keep pushing forward.
Choose growth. Choose purpose. Choose life.

Who could you be in the absence of your concerns?

Something we all need to remember

It’s not about the mistake, it’s about what you do next.

The Big Reveal – 🐎✨

For years, I’ve carried a quiet dream on my vision board — a picture of Tristan and me on horseback together. It felt impossible for so long. I wasn’t a rider, and at 132kgs, it wasn’t even something I thought I could attempt.

But this past Saturday, that dream took its very first step toward reality.

With the encouragement of a very special human — someone who truly saw my fears, worries, and uncertainty — I climbed onto a horse for the first time in nearly 15 years.

Meet Dream Hunter. 💙
The incredible horse who carried me through my nerves, my laughter, and finally, my joy.

I’ve never really ridden before — apart from a time or two with my dear friend Michelle. Throughout Tristan’s riding years, I was always the groom, the horse-box tower, the cheerleader on the ground. Never the one in the saddle.

But on Saturday, thanks to Gareth Mare's patience and encouragement, I finally found the courage to sit up there myself. And let me tell you… the smile on my face says it all.

This is just the start.
Mel and I are busy doing our groundwork, and with Gareth’s help, I know the day will come when she and I get to share this adventure together.

It may seem like a small step to some, but for me, it’s a milestone I will never forget.
A reminder that weight loss isn’t just about numbers on a scale — it’s about opening doors to moments like this.

🌟 One dream, one horse, one incredible leap closer to my goal. Thank you, Gareth Mare, for allowing me this experience

A Vision Becoming Reality

August has been a milestone month for me.
For years, I’ve had a goal sitting quietly on my vision board — waiting. Dreaming. Hoping.
And this Saturday… it’s finally becoming reality.

Thanks to the encouragement of a very special soul, I get to step into something that was once impossible for me at 132kgs.

This weight loss journey isn’t just about smaller clothes or lower numbers on the scale.
It’s about unlocking doors I thought were closed forever.
It’s about saying yes to adventures I never dreamt I’d be able to take.

What might look like a small step to some, is an enormously big achievement for me.
And let’s just say… it involves an adventure where I’ll need balance, courage, and maybe even a little bit of bravery. 😉

✨ I’ll share the full story soon — but for now, I just want to pause in gratitude.
For health. For hope. For possibility.

🌟 The Little Things That Feel So Big (Part 2) 🌟

Here’s the truth about weight loss:
The scale doesn’t just head one way — down.

There are mornings when you step on and your heart sinks, because instead of celebrating a drop, you’re staring at a number that’s crept up.
And if you’re not careful, that number can undo your joy, your drive, and your belief in yourself.

But here’s what I’ve learned — if you stay anchored in the little wins, those moments on the scale don’t have as much power over you.
Because the journey is not just about the number — it’s about the life you’re gaining back piece by piece.

When I first started, I was told I needed to lose 65kgs.
Honestly? That felt impossible.
How do you even wrap your head around losing a whole person?
I couldn’t.

So, I set a smaller milestone: 10kgs down.
That felt like something I could reach for.
But oh my word… that first 10kgs felt like it took forever.
I hovered between 9.5 and 9.8kgs for weeks. It was frustrating, almost maddening.

And looking back now, I think it was more mindset than anything.
I was waiting for permission from the scale to believe I could do this.

But the day I finally stepped over that 10kg mark, everything shifted.
It wasn’t just a number — it was proof.
Proof that even if it felt slow, even if it felt endless, I was moving forward.

And from there, my next goal became to see double digits on the scale again.
That milestone, honestly, deserves its own post (coming soon 😉).

✨ So if you’re stuck, hovering, or frustrated — keep your eyes on the little wins.
The scale will dance, it will go up and down, but progress doesn’t always look like a straight line.
Sometimes, it’s hidden in those quiet shifts, the almosts, and the moments where you don’t quit, even when it feels impossible.

Because one day, you’ll step past that milestone — and it will mean more than you ever imagined.

And as I share these pieces of my own journey, I can honestly say this:
The Re-Discovering You coaching program I designed a number of years ago now carries so much more meaning when I facilitate it. I’ve lived the lessons, faced the battles, and celebrated the victories — and that changes everything.

🌟 The Little Things That Feel So Big (Part 2) 🌟

Here’s the truth about weight loss:
The scale doesn’t just head one way — down.

There are mornings when you step on and your heart sinks, because instead of celebrating a drop, you’re staring at a number that’s crept up.
And if you’re not careful, that number can undo your joy, your drive, and your belief in yourself.

But here’s what I’ve learned — if you stay anchored in the little wins, those moments on the scale don’t have as much power over you.
Because the journey is not just about the number — it’s about the life you’re gaining back piece by piece.

When I first started, I was told I needed to lose 65kgs.
Honestly? That felt impossible.
How do you even wrap your head around losing a whole person?
I couldn’t.

So, I set a smaller milestone: 10kgs down.
That felt like something I could reach for.
But oh my word… that first 10kgs felt like it took forever.
I hovered between 9.5 and 9.8kgs for weeks. It was frustrating, almost maddening.

And looking back now, I think it was more mindset than anything.
I was waiting for permission from the scale to believe I could do this.

But the day I finally stepped over that 10kg mark, everything shifted.
It wasn’t just a number — it was proof.
Proof that even if it felt slow, even if it felt endless, I was moving forward.

And from there, my next goal became to see double digits on the scale again.
That milestone, honestly, deserves its own post (coming soon 😉).

✨ So if you’re stuck, hovering, or frustrated — keep your eyes on the little wins.
The scale will dance, it will go up and down, but progress doesn’t always look like a straight line.
Sometimes, it’s hidden in those quiet shifts, the almosts, and the moments where you don’t quit, even when it feels impossible.

Because one day, you’ll step past that milestone — and it will mean more than you ever imagined.

And as I share these pieces of my own journey, I can honestly say this:
The Re-Discovering You coaching program I designed a number of years ago now carries so much more meaning when I facilitate it. I’ve lived the lessons, faced the battles, and celebrated the victories — and that changes everything.

It’s a 12-week program available online, or in person if you’re near Howick.
📞 Contact me on 061 541 1631 or 📧 email: [email protected] , and let’s journey together in Re-Discovering You.

🌟 The Little Things That Feel So Big 🌟

Weight loss isn’t just about numbers on a scale.
Sometimes, it’s about the tiniest, unexpected victories — the ones that sneak up on you and suddenly remind you just how far you’ve come.

It was few months in and a load of weight off, I was at a family braai, I had one of those moments.
There weren’t enough seats at the table, so I plopped down on the couch next to a friend. Plate in hand.
Halfway through my meal, it hit me:
👉 I was eating off my lap.

Now, if you’ve never struggled with weight, you might think, “So what?”
But if you know, you know.
I honestly can’t remember the last time I could sit comfortably, plate balanced on my lap, and just eat without feeling awkward or cramped or like the plate was one wrong move away from disaster.

I felt like a kid with a brand-new toy — grinning over something so small but so huge at the same time.
On the way home, I told Mark (my hubby) how excited I was about it.
I don’t think he fully got the depth of it… but I know some of you will.

Because it’s these little milestones that matter most.
The moments that remind you, in the middle of the grind, that this is working.
That it’s worth it.
That you’re not just lighter — you’re freer.

✨ And it’s those moments that keep me going.

So here’s to the “non-scale victories.”
The ones that look ordinary from the outside, but feel extraordinary on the inside.
The ones that give us the spark to carry on.

✨ Looks like I might be due for a new photo shoot soon! ✨
This advert has been such a beautiful reflection of what I offer as a Holistic Life Coach — but with my journey of change and transformation this past year, I think it’s time for my photos to catch up with me.