Then and now

I still have a long way to go in my journey but wanted to share my 'then and now' pics from now and 4 years ago.

I was having a moment this morning where I couldn't be assed to go to the gym and didn't feel like I was making progress. Hubby showed me some pics from 4 years ago and I was shocked. I didn't realise just how dramatic the difference was.

For me it hasn't just been about weight loss. It has been about improving my fitness and body shape overall. Yes weight loss has been a part of that but it hasn't been everything.

I never thought that I could do this. I lack willpower, I'm lazy and I certainly don't eat clean. I looked at all the things I couldn't do and accepted that as part of life. I can remember how I felt 4 years ago when I look at those pics. It's bittersweet because I know how far I've come yet I can remember how desperately unfit I was and how I was dragging myself about. Walking up a hill would leave me breathless and sometimes I'd avoid going to the toilet in a restaurant if it was upstairs because that walk up the stairs would leave me puffing, red faced and breathless.

I kinda knew what I was doing to myself but I blocked it out. It was too difficult to do anything about, there was always tomorrow.

There wasn't really any lightbulb moment. There were a series of things that I suppose all larger people can relate to - I couldn't buy clothes in the high street shops, furniture listing when you sit down, other people's insults because you being fat offends them so much....the usual.

So, if you have a long way to go, remember that you can do it. I never thought I'd be posting in here. It seemed like an unachievable goal. More a hope or wish than anything I could actually do. But you can do it and it is worthwhile when you get there and start to make those changes. I'm not just talking about the superficial things (although it is nice to be able to shop in high street shops!), I'm talking about how you feel in yourself when you do start to make those changes and improve your fitness.

I still have a way to go but I'm on the way and I'm proud of my journey so far. It's different for everybody but even on those tough days, remember that you can do it. One bad day doesn't make a failure, just pick yourself up, dust yourself down and carry on tomorrow.