You know that feeling of 'how did I get here'? Well that happened to me around about this time last year. I was in a job that was making me miserable and ill, I was overweight and unfit. I was a mess!! One day I decided enough was enough - I got a new job (step 1), was walking more (lost a stone just from doing that), joined the gym last April and have been going consistently ever since. I needed a goal to carry on so I signed up for Kilimanjaro in August and I've got various other sporting events in my calendar for this year, including Davina's DIVA100 50k bike ride on May 8th and a 10k at the end of May.
To remind myself of how far I've come in the last couple of years I just went through the iPhoto archives and dug out this dreadful picture of me!
This was me after I'd been going to the gym for a couple of months plus my daily 2-mile power walk to and from the office. I did a 5k, but very slowly and I really struggled.
And this is me now - I'm now able to complete 5k relatively easily in 35 minutes and I'm doing freeway to 10k now.
Don't get me wrong I'm no skinny minnie (and wouldn't want to be either frankly), but I had a silly set back on Thursday (I was tired) that really knocked me for six. I tried something on in a shop in Spitalfields that was 'large' and it didn't fit me. I then said to the shop assistant 'I don't think anything in here will fit me' and she agreed. It suddenly hit me - am I fat? Has all this hard work been for nothing? Am I ever going to be 'normal'? Of course, deep down I know I'm not fat, but it's doesn't take much to put these silly ideas into your head. I kind of understood at that point how easy it is for young people to become obsessed with dieting and being thin - if I, being a size 12-14, can't even fit into 'large' then who can?
Anyway, it just shows how messed up sizings are in this country as I tried on this lovely French Connection sale dress today (size 8 I might add) and that came home with me today. I know I'm not a size 8, but it made me feel better. :-)
I had some real luck in the charity shop this week too - I picked up 2 pairs of Zara shoes and another pair of leather shoes (not sure where from) and this bag (below) for £15.
