Before & after: from chubster to runner!

OpalLilyEats

Gold Member
Hi everyone :wavey:

I started SW back in May 2013 after one of my best friends got engaged and asked me to be her bridesmaid.

I had originally been a size 8-10 when I was in school but piled on weight when I was going out with a very tall and active guy who I ate similar portions to and when I moved away to university. My weight creeped up over a period of about 2 years to nearly 12-13 stone. I can't be sure exactly how much I weighed as I didn't weigh myself but I was a size 14-16 at only 5ft 2!

When I started working I naturally lost a little weight as I was in more of a routine and making better choices. I think age and maturity kicked in a bit too! I ended up hovering around 10st7lb -11st for a couple of years (a biggish size 12) but finally took action when the thought of being a chubby bridesmaid filled me with dread!

I decided on SW as I had gone to classes on/off before and knew it worked whilst still providing me flexibility to have a normal life with meals out, nights out with friends etc. This time I didn't join a class and did it on my own from home!

It took me about a year to lose 3 stone as I didn't deprive myself and still made sure I got the balance between weight loss / socialising. In this time I also joined a gym and took up running. I developed a major love especially for spin classes!!

In the past year I've completed a half marathon and 4 or 5 10k races. In 4 weeks time, I'll be doing my first ever marathon in Paris!!!

My weight still might fluctuate a little depending on how much fun I'm having but I will NEVER go back to the way I was. I have completely changed my lifestyle and adore this way of life now. People taking pictures of me is no longer a terrifying and embarassing experience which I want to avoid, and shopping for new size 8 items of clothing never gets old!!!

Here's a pic of my before and after :)

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May 2015 Update: I completed the marathon and enjoyed (almost) every minute!!

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Me and my lovely sparkly medal after finishing :)
 
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You look amazing well done on your new lifestyle :)
 
Well done you look great :) Im aiming for the same results slowly but surely. Getting better at the gym now and even started running which is an achievement for me to say the least. Having arthritis in both hips (already had surgery on one) and in 1 knee (im only 31) plus being overweight has been hard but im slimming down and seeing results on the scales and in my joints.

Great big well done!! :) :)
 
Well done you look great :) Im aiming for the same results slowly but surely. Getting better at the gym now and even started running which is an achievement for me to say the least. Having arthritis in both hips (already had surgery on one) and in 1 knee (im only 31) plus being overweight has been hard but im slimming down and seeing results on the scales and in my joints.

Great big well done!! :) :)

Good work!!!! Wow! Fair play to you for running with hip/knee issues. Do you do any other cardio? When my knees/hips are a little sore (happens now and again after very long runs) I do spin classes as they're great for getting my heart rate up but without putting any pressure on my knees/hips. They also burn way more calories than running does so that's a nice side effect too ;)
 
wow you look fab!!!!! Well done I bet its so nice looking at that and seeing how far you've come!!!! xx
 
Good work!!!! Wow! Fair play to you for running with hip/knee issues. Do you do any other cardio? When my knees/hips are a little sore (happens now and again after very long runs) I do spin classes as they're great for getting my heart rate up but without putting any pressure on my knees/hips. They also burn way more calories than running does so that's a nice side effect too ;)

I do interval training on the stepper and use the bikes. Then I do weights to bud strength which I think is working too. When I am sore I just do the stepper and incline walking :) great to be feeling healthier and slimmer isn't it x
 
Thanks everyone!!

I did it! I ran a marathon!!! Still on cloud 9 and loving life. Going to keep up the running but focus on shorter distances with the Great North Run (half marathon) in September and maybe a few 10ks before that.
I might do another half in a few weeks time but just to get a time to train to beat in the GNR!
 
Well done on completing a marathon, a great achievement. xx
 
you look fantastic Lily, well done! And big congratulations on the marathon! :winner:
 
You should be! What a wonderful achievement! Such a buzz, to have worked so hard on your weight and fitness, and then something like that shows you how far you have come and how far it can take you (literally!) :)
 
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