SallyO’Neil - Mode Ambassador
Have you ever had a conversation with someone for the first time, and thought - “I feel like i’ve known you forever?”
Well, that’s how you feel after chatting with Sally O’Neil of @thefitfoodieblog. Sally is a clinical nutritionist, fitness and food influencer and stylist who keeps our Instagram feeds full of healthy tips to incorporate into our lives. Plus we are stoked to call her a Mode Ambassador.
On top of that, Sally is about to launch a new education app called www.status8020.com
which we can't wait to use.
Jordy and Sal caught up for a quick chat to see what’s been going on.
Hey, Sal, thanks for taking the time to hangout with us! What’s new in your world?
Thanks for having me. SO much newness at the moment its hard to know where to start - but as they say - nothing changes if nothing changes! Recently relocated from Sydney to Brisbane, and am about to launch my own Fitness and Nutrition Education app which launches 5th September at www.status8020.com
What got you into fitness and nutrition?
It was originally under instruction of my GP - when I in university (the first time around) I was struggling with recurring panic attacks. They prescribed a Benzo but said as conjunctive therapy I must go burn off excess adrenalin at the gym. So when everyone was out drinking, I’d take myself to the local fitness club.
On that, if you could give anyone looking to improve their fitness and nutrition routine, what would it be?
Get back to basics and make it routine. 2.5-3L water, 7-8 hours of sleep, 10K steps. Repeat. If you can add in strength training 3-4 times a week, you’re onto a winner. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Consistency over intensity will always win in food and fitness.
Can you give us a little insight to what your day typically looks like?
It’s super random because I run a few different (but related) businesses. I’m a clinical nutritionist so I take clients in clinic over zoom 2 days a week - sending my time prescribing and writing treatment plans. Other parts of the week I’m a fitness / food influencer OR a stylist and photographer for commercial clients - so I’m jumping around with different hats on. What is consistent is my morning and nighttime routine - that’s what keeps me sane. I wake up, take the dog down to sunrise with a coffee from my local cafe, and get my steps in. Then I get home and grab my gym bag and head to train, enjoy breakfast and then log into the computer or begin content creation.
What is your one non-negotiable when it comes to wellbeing?
Routine. I would be able to get half as much done if I didn’t have a schedule that I repeated day in and day out. That goes for simple meal-prep recipes I make, to the morning routine I mentioned, to scheduling in appointment for self-care. I run on a pretty random schedule but much of it, where possible, is repeatable and planned. I know if I try to wing each day, I wouldn’t get anywhere, miss deadlines and workout, and generally feel ‘off’. Atomic Habits by James Clear is a great read on that topic if you haven’t dug into it already.
