Before: 15st 10Ibs
After: 12st 4Ibs
When I was at school I played football for a Sunday league team, played basketball for the school and ran and went to the gym regularly in my own time, so I was in great shape. Then I went to uni at 18 and fell straight in to the trap of no exercise, takeaway food and drinking. I kind of thought that all the work I’d done to stay in shape would see me through this phase, but obviously it didn’t.
I’d just been on holiday with a group of friends and had a great time, but when I got home and was going through pictures I saw a picture of me standing next to my friend Chris and thought, “Woah, I need to sort myself out!” I looked like I’d been inflated. I think it was the first time I’d actually acknowledged that I’d gained weight and it was quite hard to come to terms with. I was 15st 10lbs.
It took me a while to get started, but eventually I roped in a friend and we agreed to meet at the local park after work for a jog. We met up and set off on a short route around the park – about 1.5K. Around this time I also started a pretty strict diet, replacing fast food and sweet stuff with healthier options. It was tough. Sweat was lashing off me and my legs felt like jelly, but it also felt good, like I could feel the benefits starting straight away
Couch to 5K
I started out trying to commit to one night a week after work. After a few weeks, that run became much easier and I upped it to twice a week. Then I moved from 1-2K to 3-4K and, eventually, managed a 5K and thought, “Right, I’m going to enter a race.” I made sure I had practiced a few 5K’s beforehand so I knew I could manage the distance, but I wasn’t sure how I would be able to manage my pace and was worried about trying to go too fast too soon. Fortunately, I found a good pace and managed to finish in 25:33mins. I was chuffed to bits!
Since then, I have taken part in another few small 5K races, the Great Scottish Run 10K, the Men’s Health Survival of the Fittest event in Edinburgh, which worked out about 12K, and the Great Winter Run 5K in Edinburgh.
The best moment so far was when I managed to break the 20-minute 5K barrier. At the start of March this year I managed to run in 19mins 52secs and I was ecstatic! Apart from that day, generally the best part of the whole change has been compliments from friends and family. It makes it all feel worthwhile. Being back to a 32” waist also feels pretty great.
I now weigh 12st 4lbs. This is the lightest I’ve been since school! I feel great for it and much more motivated in my day-to-day life. I’m happier, healthier and genuinely enjoying keeping fit. I know it sounds clichéd, but running really has changed my life!
