In this segment of ‘That was My Year’, we sat down with Brid McGill, who is most well-known for her Fit with Brid fitness courses, Snapchats and blogs.
Brid is a wonder woman in more than just fitness. She manages to handle having two kids under the age of four, doing a Masters degree, managing her business and shows that it’s not always easy – and that we shouldn’t be convinced by social media that it is.
This is Fit with Brid’s year in review.
1. What was your personal highlight of 2017?
There were a few but I think the one that stands out the most for me was when the Portlaoise screening of Embrace (a fantastic documentary-film about women’s body image) sold out with more than 200 women attending.
I had seen the film in late 2016 and it had such an impact on me that I applied to be one of the Irish hosts.
When I released the tickets it was the fastest global sell-out of the film and we were immediately granted a bigger screen in the Odeon which then went on to sell out too. I was able to talk about the film through my ‘Fit with Bríd social’ media pages and Snapchat and let lots of women know about it and thankfully they all spread the word too and it was a great night.
2. Anything you would like to change from 2017?
I was too busy, as always! I had my second child in November 2016 so life with a two year old and a newborn was hectic for most of 2017.
I launched a new online course in January so that took a lot of time and work. I’m really going to try hard to make 2018 a calmer year and not take on so much.
3. Favourite moment of 2017 (apart from own personal activity)
I’ll have to admit to not having paid much attention to what’s going on in the world this year so I struggle to answer this one. I was delighted to see Ballyfin win the Senior A hurling because my husband plays for them and I was almost equally excited to see Milano opening in Newbridge!
4. Worst moment of 2017?
Easy. Falling on my backside in the middle of O’Moore Park on county final day while trying to stop my 3 year old from running onto the pitch during the match.
One of my “best friends” caught the whole thing on camera too which was just fantastic! I ended up sharing it on Snapchat so that other mothers who were possibly having a bad day could see that it could be worse!
5. Best learning experience from 2017?
My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at the end of 2016 and went on to spend most of 2017 having treatment so I’ve definitely learned not to take anything for granted (and not to take things like falling on your backside in front of a couple of thousand people too seriously either!).
She got through it all so well and is doing great now thankfully.
The future:
1. What would be the one thing you would like to change in 2018?
The influence that social media has on people. I feel grateful that I’m aware of how false a lot of what we see on social media is but a lot of people aren’t and they constantly feel like they should be looking better and “doing life” better. When I talk about health and fitness on social media I speak honestly and I try to help other women to understand that being healthy is as much about what is going on inside your head as it is what you eat or the exercise you take.
2. If you could attend any event in 2018 what would it be?
Electric Picnic. It’s been too long. I’d love to bring the kids into it for a day and then have a day to ourselves. I don’t drink but I’m a big foodie and there’s so much to choose from in there.
3. What would you like to achieve in 2018?
I’m doing a Masters in Primary Education at the minute so that’s the main focus this year. My business, Fit with Bríd, has gone from strength to strength over the last two years so it would be great if things could continue to get better and busier in 2018. I’ve become very interested in yoga this year so I’d like to try and improve on that too.
4. Where do you hope to see yourself at the end of 2018?
I’ll be heading into my final year of college in 2019 after five years of studying so just to be managing everything well would be great.
5. What would be your own personal motto to see you through 2018?
My father has always said, “Don’t sweat the small stuff” and I try to remember that when things get on top of me but it’s hard. I might need to get it tattoo’d somewhere I think!
