Nontobeko 'Nonto' Mbambo
Founder of SenseofBloom
About Me — SenseofBloom
This weight loss journey is not about perfection, but about healing, self-care, and showing up for myself one gentle day at a time. It is about me — Nonto — and it is hard to believe that roughly four to five years ago, I would have laughed at you if you had suggested I start a blog to assist me with my weight loss journey and rebuilding my life in my 40’s. I would have laughed at you because I did not feel as though I had enough to give. I would have simply turned my head from you because I felt stuck in my own life. For many years, it seemed as though the rest of the world was advancing, and I was stuck in one spot. I tried various jobs/careers, relationships and other dreams — however each of these experiences either came and went, or when they did arrive they slipped right through my fingers. The weight of the disappointments, the deafening silence of the pain I kept hidden and the exhaustion of pretending I was okay — all of this weighed upon me.
There were times in my life that broke me in ways I never thought imaginable. There are wounds I still do not have the words to describe. These wounds shaped how I view myself, and allowed me to hide for so long. My comfort zone was once a safe haven for me to escape into and hide from the world. At the time, I believed that was peace — but the reality is, I was slowly disappearing.
The Breakthrough Moment
One day, while sitting in the bathtub, I remember thinking that if only the water could remove some of the weight I felt inside. When I got out of the tub my knees hurt so badly it caught me off guard. That moment my body was saying “we cannot carry this anymore.”
At 5 feet 2 inches tall and 236 lbs, I realized that I was not taking care of my body; I was just existing within it. Given that diabetes runs in my family, I knew I could not wait for “that day” to take charge of my health. That pain became my wake up call — and that is when SenseofBloom was born.
Why I Started This Blog
If there is one thing I have learned, it is that it is hard to begin again, but it is always possible.
After attempting to lose weight and lead a healthier lifestyle many times unsuccessfully, I decided to cease looking for quick fix solutions, and instead document the real process — one meal, one day, one small success at a time.
SenseofBloom is my journal — the section of this blog in which I will share my experiences as a woman in her 40’s as I pursue weight loss, as well as my experiences with discipline, self-discovery and the ups and downs of health. I will document every detail of my transformation here — including the food I eat, the workouts I try, and the effects of intermittent fasting on my body, skin and hair.
For many years I have struggled to find and maintain consistency — starting strong and then losing motivation during difficult times in my life. But this time around, I want to be held accountable by making my journey a living story. Writing allows me to stay honest with myself. Writing allows me to stay grounded. Reading about others who are also finding their way back to themselves after struggling with similar issues provides me with hope and motivates me to keep going.
The Space You’ll Find at SenseofBloom
SenseofBloom is Not About Perfection — It is About Progress
What You Will See As We Continue On This Journey
- The Details of My Weight Loss Journey : What works for me, what doesn’t, and how my body has been changing over time
- Healthy Meal Ideas & Recipes : Affordable, easy-to-make meals to help me find the consistency without feeling deprived
- My Experience with Intermittent Fasting : How fasting affects my energy levels, and what I’ve learned along the way
- Exercise Routines : Simple, realistic workouts that allow me to become active, while building strength gradually
- Self-Care & Skin Care : Real changes I’m seeing in my skin and hair as I focus on healing from the inside out
- Discipline, Healing, Confidence-Building : Thoughts on Mindset & Motivation
In addition to documenting my personal journey, I envision this blog becoming an environment for all women who are either feeling stuck, tired or invisible — for those women (like myself) who have started over multiple times, yet still believe it is not too late.
Together, we will celebrate each small victory, learn from each setback, and grow our strength and confidence from the inside out.
A Message of Hope to You
Regardless of whether your reason for being here is for inspiration, healthy ideas, or just to remind yourself that you are not alone — I’m really glad you are here. I hope that SenseofBloom will feel like a dialogue rather than a monologue. A chance for healing doesn’t always appear like progress — it usually appears like falling apart and starting over again until one day you realize you are no longer in the same dark place. Losing weight is not the goal of SenseofBloom; the objective of SenseofBloom is to regain life — energy, confidence, and joy. It is about growing again — blooming again — after the storm.
If you have lost your way many times, if you feel invisible, or if you are afraid to try again — know this: it is never too late to bloom.
- Even After 40
- Even After Pain
- Even After Silence
🌿 This is my time to begin again. And I am thankful that you are here to witness it.
💚
Nontobeko ‘Nonto‘ Mbambo
Creator of SenseofBloom — a journey of healing, self-care and discovery.