Day 365

SouthernSkylark · April 2013

Today is my one year anniversary of joining MFP, every day for a year I have (almost!) religiously logged my food and exercise. Whilst I haven't been (by any stretch) a prolific poster, this community has without a doubt been the biggest support in my journey to healthy living.

I may not have had has far to come as other people in terms of weight loss, but a year ago I was on a downward spiral towards obesity and a number of health problems. I recall visiting my doctor last April convinced there was something seriously wrong with me - I was depressed, no energy, skin conditions would flair up without warning, continuous bouts of thrush - I was a physical and getting to be a mental wreck. I just felt dreadful. My GP was wonderful, she listened to me, and even while she was taking blood samples for a full blood works she was saying to me that she was positive the bloods would come back negative of any illness. Her advice finished with "I can give you pills, but you don't want that do you? You know what you need to do, so go do it!" She was right, and it gave me the kick up the backside I needed.

I read everything, watched what I could anything to help fuel my motivation for change. I watched a program on HiiT exercise and that next day I climbe don my husbands exercise bike and did just 10 minutes of HiiT everyday, 6 days a week. I then met a wonderful new friend (fate sends you people when you most need them I have found!) and together we embarked on a lets get fit campaign! Let's run! I have never run. I hated running and I hadn't properly exercised in 20 years, let alone since having my 3 children. But we did it, and 5 months later I ran a half marathon! Me! It was such an achievement for me and a real milestone in my health and fitness journey.

I have since trained to be a gym instructor, with just one more assessment to go and then I'll be fully qualified.... But behind all this has been MFP, being accountable for what I put in my body has made all the difference, and for me personally my biggest demon has been SUGAR, of all the changes I have made ( which is still work in progress!) this has been the toughest battle. I can honestly say though, that today, day 365, I have never felt better. Physically or mentally. All my symptoms have gone (needless to say my bloods did come back negative!)

One thing I have learned is; whilst I can read how everyone else achieved their health goals, take inspiration and try different techniques, my journey is my own, learning about what works for me and my body, trusting myself to make decisions which may at seems counter-intuitive to what everyone 'appears' to be doing ... If I can do it, anyone can!

Thank you for reading this I think this must be the longest post I have ever written anywhere on line!!! :-D