My story-a little different

So this isnt your run of the mill success story, I havent lost a large amount of weight. I havent updated my ticker in forever. Im posting this over from facebook, which is why the format may seem a little strange as I had tagged people in it. Hopefully some of you can identify with it

Today is a very special day for me. One year ago today, I decided to start lifting heavy, a decision I really didn't know could impact on me in so many different ways.

All I'd ever wanted was to be skinny. After I lost weight I'd spend a good couple of hours in the gym every day, desperately trying to get thinner. Trying to stick to that golden '1200' calories a day, eating low carb, eating low fat. My body never really changed after the initial weightloss. I just sort of stayed the same, and it seemed like a constant uphill battle.

I decided I was going to be a runner, runners are lean right? I did my first run, 5k, and was quite pleased with myself. Then I sprained my ankle. The next day. The first thing that went through my mind (apart from £$%^*!!!) was 'Im not going to be able to run tomorrow'. And I couldnt, not the next day, or the next week, or the next month. Torn ligaments are no friend of running

I'm not going to pretend that I started heavy lifting with a noble cause...I wanted to get stronger, but my main goal was to get 'ripped' and look like those other strong, lean girls. So I started 5x5 and slowly but surely I started to get a little stronger. And a little leaner. I added the 'fitness girls' pages on facebook, and followed their 'motivational' posts. And then things started to change.

The first time I noticed was walking out of a shop with some yoghurt's and realising I hadn't looked at the calorie count.

Then I discovered Nerd Fitness. I was linked to the article about Stacy, and couldnt get enough. I continued doing 5x5 and finished in August. I started working on my lifting form more, trying to get stronger and stronger. I have a lot to thank nerd fitness for, not only is the site inspiring, but a link in an article led me to a site which has genuinely changed my life. In September of last year I followed a link to Lift Big Eat Big. Something caught me. I'd always wanted to be less, and here was something telling me I could be more, so much more. Out went the fitness girls and 'strong is the new skinny' (which seems to only really still apply to you if you are actually skinny....if youre Kristin Rhodes you're still missed out on all the 'inspirational' photos) and in came the whole milk. H3 Performance Nottingham opened and I became unstoppable. With the support and friendship of some amazing people! I♥ you all.

I went from average, to skinny, to, well, Now. My body is stronger, leaner, faster and BIGGER. I weigh more now than when I started his journey (and I'm still wearing the same clothes size, go figure). My deadlift has increased by 65kg in a year. I'm inspired by strong women (and men), who are genuinely strong. Who eat, who love, who WORK! You all know who you are.

I just want to say thank you, to everyone who has inspired me and supported me on this journey. I finally feel sane about food AND exercise for the first time since, well, ever. And I cant wait to see what the next year has in store