It All Started On The Track
I spent 12 years as a professional athlete, competing for Ireland on the biggest stages in the world. I became a World Indoor Champion, a European gold medalist, and a three-time Olympian. I wanted to take everything I’d learned and use it to help others feel good in their own lives — the routines, habits, meals and mindset that kept me going through the highs and lows. It wasn’t about perfection. It was about showing up, doing your best, and knowing how to look after yourself along the way.
2014
Food for the Fast Lane was never meant to be more than a side project. But then it took off. It hit the bestseller list, and suddenly I realised that maybe my next could be about helping others to feel their best — not on a track, but in everyday life.
2015
This was the year my gorgeous daughter Dafne was born. Those early days were full of love, chaos, and figuring it all out. Somewhere in the middle of it all, the idea for Derval.ie started to grow — a small spark that stayed with me as I found my feet as a new mum.
2016
My second cookbook The Fit Foodie launched in 2016, and I was proud to get it out into the world. I also built two websites that year — and both were complete disasters.
It was frustrating at the time, but looking back, I needed those failures to learn what not to do. That’s where the real groundwork for Derval.ie started.
2017
I completed a women’s entrepreneurship course and started properly trying to figure out Derval.ie. I worked with lots of different people, tested ideas, and slowly started shaping something that felt real. The first pieces of the community started coming together.
2018
Derval.ie officially launched and started welcoming its first online members. We didn’t have it all figured out, but we had heart — and that helped the community grow. This was the year Derval.ie truly became a place people could count on for support, motivation, and practical tools for feeling better.
2019
Derval.ie had grown into a thriving community. Thousands of brilliant women were showing up for themselves — working on their goals, sharing their wins, and supporting each other. Our coaching team expanded, and so did our reach. We were building something special, and we could feel it. On a personal level, it was huge too. My son Archie was born, bringing even more energy and joy into my life.
2020
When Covid hit, everything changed — but our community didn’t skip a beat. In just four weeks, over 20,000 home workouts were completed on Derval.ie, and our recipes were viewed more than 10,000 times. People from every county in Ireland logged in to move, cook, and support each other.
2021
Derval.ie reached over 12,000 members. The community was thriving, with members engaging in fitness, nutrition, and wellness activities. The platform's growth reflected a collective commitment to health and well-being, even as life began to return to normal.
2022 - 2024
Coming out of Covid, everything shifted. People’s routines changed, priorities moved, and what worked before didn’t always fit anymore.
At Derval.ie, we had to pause and listen. We asked our community what they needed now — not just workouts and recipes, but real-life support that fit into their new normal.
We tested, tweaked, and kept showing up. It wasn’t always smooth, but that period helped us evolve, and it laid the groundwork for what came next.
2025
We launched a brand-new Derval.ie. A fresh site, a stronger focus — and a new 6-week Strength Plan to help our community keep moving forward.
We're excited to continue supporting our members with practical tools and a supportive community. Here's to growing stronger together.
Success Stories From Derval.ie Members
At Derval.ie, we’ve helped over 12,000 people take control of their health, fitness, and well-being. We believe that small, sustainable changes lead to lasting results, and our incredible members prove it every day. Here’s what some of them have to say about their journey with Derval.ie!
"Hi guys, I'm on week two of joining this group and week one of the sculpt challenge. Been a great few weeks and I don't think I have had this much energy since my J1 over 12 years ago now! 😅 Love 'my' time and the classes of course. Here's to another great week ahead all and THANK YOU to everyone & especially to the Derval team."
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"I joined Derval.ie 1 year ago. The monthly challenges are great, they are practical and cover not just movement but also nutrition and mindfulness so a full holistic approach to health is provided. The Derval.ie team are very professional and answer all queries."
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"I'm halfway through the tone at home challenge and I can't believe the difference in myself. I love doing the workouts even though I find them tough at times, and I've added in a small bit of Pilates to improve my movement and give myself a good stretch. I'm really enjoying the change in my diet and have found I don't have the sugar cravings I would normally get."
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"On Derval.ie I’ve found so much material to help me with my physical and mental fitness. It’s difficult to describe how I’ve easily incorporated so much into my day without any fuss or drama - it’s the little things every day that are adding up to bigger things and bringing results."
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"Goal wise I think I mastered the mindset around food & eating for stress versus eating for fuel I was able to notice when I was mindlessly eating which I still did an odd day but it’s so much more improved."
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"Well I listened & got a measuring tape for the January challenge and delighted with 8 inches lost in total. No more focusing on the weighing scales. Here's to February. Thanks to team Derval for the motivation."
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"I'm a member of Derval.ie since it was set up and highly recommend. Its filled with loads of workouts,pilates, yoga, cooking demos and nutrition advice. Derval and the team are fantastic!"
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"I love everything about Derval.ie. Derval.ie has shown me that you don't need a lot of fancy ingredients or a lot of time to make tasty nutritious meals. Exercise-wise, it has also shown me that you can do a good workout or Pilates session in 20/30 mins."
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