And in the spring, I shed my skin, and it blows away with the changing winds

Everyday when I'm getting changed, I look at myself in the full-length mirror. I especially look at my stomach which has shrunk massively since I started trying to lose weight. I think it's important to remind myself daily of how far I've come, and what it took for me to get here- blood, sweat and lots of tears. Hardwork, nothing more, nothing less. And I'm proud I've come this far and that I haven't quit. I haven't committed to something for so long before, I used to give up so easily. It makes me happy to think that I did this, with strong willpower I got here. I often think of how much weight of lost and how big I must have been when I started this weight loss thing! It's quite weird to think that.

And then I remind myself of how far I've still yet to go, that saddens me a bit, not because I can't be bothered working out anymore, but because I don't know how long it will take me till I've lost the weight to get at my target goal, and how long it'll take before I can finally be happy with my body.

Sometimes I forget how much weight I have lost. One week I was feeling a bit down and thinking to myself why am I not losing any more weight? I just don't notice it myself. I bumped into a friend at the library who I hadn't seen in five months and she commented on how much weight I've lost- she said "you've shrunk! you've lost so much weight, you can really tell!" and that really brightened my day, I love it when people comment on my weight loss. My doctor even said it once, when I went for an appointment after a couple of months she told me the weight loss was really noticeable and told me to keep going :-)

I remember after just two weeks of going to the gym (when I joined in October 2010), I already felt so much better; more agile, more flexible. My joints were so rigid before I started exercising, my energy levels were so low, I'd get stressed and upset too easily (especially at the time of the month or during exam times), and I had no real outlet to vent all this energy. I really hope I continue exercising at least three times a week, if not more, until I take my last breath. I never realised how truly important exercise is until now, even if you don't want to lose weight, you should still exercise.

I keep thinking to myself- this time last year if someone would have said to me next year you'll join the gym and you'll be there every day- I'd have laughed in their face. It's funny how things change. I thank God so much that I got here- in the end ! My Mother always said to me- the doctors can keep telling you to exercise, I can keep telling you to lose weight, but in the end, if it doesn't come from within- if you don't want to do it, then you won't, but if you really do, then you will.

And I'm so grateful that it has "come from within" this time :) 

I watched the London Marathon a couple of weeks ago, and I felt so inspired and so emotional for all the people taking part. I feel certain that God willing I can complete it myself before I'm 25, and I really hope I achieve that goal.

Until next time...