Estimated Reading Time: 8 mins
Introduction
I’ve had friends who to me, appeared outwardly healthy, yet complained about fatigue, back pain, high blood pressure, diabetes, and the like.
Our external appearance is never an accurate indicator of what’s happening within, so the sooner we begin to take care of ourselves, the more we will benefit in the long run.
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It feels wonderful to look good on the outside, however, our internal health matters more.
As we age, the natural cycle of wear and tear means things don’t get easier — and the overall nature of our lifestyle determines the extent to which our body declines overtime.
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Facing Reality
When I reached my unhealthiest state, I noticed that things I use to do with ease and without hesitation now required significant effort.
For example, I would become breathless more quickly than I did in my younger years, yet strangely enough, I would still cling to an unrealistic expectation.
That everything would spontaneously change for the better with minimal effort.
As you might expect, this didn’t happen.
Change only came when I began changing.
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Prioritise Prevention
We read and hear countless warnings about what our health may, or may not look like after a certain age, depending on our diet and lifestyle choices.
If we could glimpse our future and become aware of potential ailments, most of us would feel prompted to change the way we live — immediately.
While there’s no way of knowing, the principle remains; we must prioritise our health as prevention will always outweigh the need for a cure.
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Some of us have dependants, and most of us have a lifestyle we aspire to live once retired.
However, when we fail to look after our health, we risk diminishing our future quality of life and our ability to care for ourselves and others.
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The greatest source of inspiration for me was seeing the older members of my family suffer from restrictive and debilitating conditions.
It wasn’t until I saw the consequences of medical cautions playing out in real time around me that I truly took notice.
Witnessing the effects of a poor lifestyle firsthand solidified what I knew I needed to do for myself.
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Sacrifice to Sustain
My growth and development journey has led to an increase in my confidence and self-respect over the years.
Acting on this self-love has meant doing what I know will benefit my health, even when it feels uncomfortable.
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To address my shortcomings, I first needed to acknowledge them and identify the areas that required improvement.
I knew my dietary intake was poor, and my office-based career had left me living a sedentary lifestyle for far too long.
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Both were facilitated by the ease of online shopping, and my full-time driver status — I was already 32 years old, and things needed to change.
Any of us, regardless of age, can make changes at any point in our lives, but the sooner we start, the better it will be for the years ahead.
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Steady Progress Prevails
The most important thing to remember is that any changes we make must be gradual.
Like many, I had previously attempted the ‘get slim quick’ diets.
The problem with these approaches is that they are rarely sustainable in the long-term.
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Additionally, they are often unhealthy, as they tend to emphasise extreme adjustments to specific food groups.
Our food intake must be balanced.
This may not appeal to those seeking immediate results, but it’s necessary if we are to achieve lasting change.
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My own issue with ‘quick’ diets stemmed from a deeper question — why I wanted extreme weight loss in such a short period in the first place.
We are constantly fed society’s expectations of how we should look.
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We may have events to attend and aspire to fit back into clothes we’ve outgrown.
Or perhaps we’re single and want to find a compatible partner, so we seek to improve our prospects.
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Both are examples I have experienced at different points in my life.
However, once I shifted my intention and became focused on improving my overall health, my ‘why’ changed — and in turn, the changes I made became long-lasting.
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One Step, Then Another
I began by gradually changing my diet in 2019, spending that year building consistency until my approach to food became a habit.
By mid-2021, once my nutrition had significantly improved, I shifted my focus to incorporating physical activity.
At this point, I had already lost almost two stone and was developing my sense of discipline.
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I found it difficult to commit to the gym due to work, distance, opening hours and similar constraints.
So instead, I made use of my home, the fitness equipment I already owned, and free workouts on YouTube as an alternative.
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Summary
I can admit that since making these changes, I’ve had periods where I’ve gained weight from time to time.
The difference, however, is that it never returned to the state in which I began.
Whether I have gaps in training, or perhaps a weekend of indulging in food fancies, getting back on track has become second nature.
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Our level of commitment has to be built — and this is something we all too often overlook.
At the time of writing, I am 10 years older than I was at my unhealthiest, yet I look better and feel healthier than I did then.
The photos below should speak for themselves.
Confidence is not just about looking great, it’s about feeling great from within, which then radiates outward.
The biggest lesson that my life’s practices have taught me is that whenever you decide to make changes in your life, it must always begin with you.
Dedicate your life, to your life — because you deserve to be your best.
To read my detailed blog on my weight loss journey click here.
