MY FAT CHANCE

My Fat Story

The last time that I updated this part of my blog was two years ago! Shocking I know, so much has happened since then but I’m happy to read through and see that the reason I run has still stayed true to my original thoughts. I run for the feeling it gives me. I don’t run so I can look good or show off I just run so I can better myself and the life that I live. A lot has happened over the last few years but I’m still here running strong.

I remember when I took my first steps in Victoria park, I was so happy to finally be doing something with myself and not just sitting around waiting for the world to keep on spinning without me. A couple years on now and I’ve got medals and plenty of memories to lay back on with a smile on my face.

So thank you, running.

I do not apologise for the horrific picture above. That’s the only picture I have of myself when I was topless and on fat, I deleted others. I weighed around 15 stone and 10 pounds there.

Read below for Part 1 of ‘My Fat Story’

My Fat Story Part 1

Two summers ago in May (2009) I weighed 17 stone. That was when I finished my first year of university, which consisted of an entire year of no exercise and very poor eating. I paid the price for that and I’m left with larger stretch marks and a body that needed MUCH improvement. Since then (that was summer 09) I got myself down to 14 and a ½ stone through better eating and regular exercise (Summer 2010). I find that when you’re bigger, the weight comes off a lot faster too and that NOTHING beats hard work. So during summer 09 I cycled around my local park, and ran through it too. Flash forward onto the beginning of my 2^nd year of university and dreaded Christmas period coming up…

I returned to University (Autumn 2009) at 15 and a ½ odd stone. I tried to run regularly and eat well but it just didn’t happen, laziness coupled with all-nighters doing coursework (those rare occasions) didn’t help me or my body at all. I went back up to a steady 16 stone for the first term of my 2^nd year and kept that on through Christmas (holiday weight right?).

Roll on to 2010 and it’s a new year, but a new Nathaniel? I wasn’t happy with how I was looking and more importantly, feeling. I continued with what I was doing in the first term to be honest, which included the same laziness, bad eating and general lack of exercise. The months were flying by with my coursework and driving lessons (I can gladly say that I passed my test too! Not bad for a first timer). We move on towards the end of my 2^nd year at University now.

March 11^th 2010 – This was the date of my first, real run, of many (that I kept track of). I had an iPhone, and found a nifty little app called Runkeeper. To sum it up shortly, it’s great! It tracks everything you do with GPS, gives you your average speed, distance, I recommend this to anyone who wants to come on a run with me some time! The distance was just under 2 miles (1.93) in 22 minutes and bloody hell I was knackered but I liked the feeling, I missed the feeling of actually doing something! However over the next couple of months some things popped up so I only managed 6 runs collectively over that time. I was lifting weights though in the house and eating a lot better by now.

As the months pass it brings us to May 24^th 2010 – This is where my plans really started people. The night before this I said to myself, I’m going to run every day until I move out of my university house (Mid June). That was a 2 and a half week period, I did 20 – 2.7 mile runs (well, something around that anyway). I got up every day in the morning and went for my half hour run - without fail. It had to be done, this was what I wanted to do and I wasn’t going to let myself down. There were some difficult times of course. Midway through it I started working and then ran after work rather than in the morning but I still did it. I shrugged off the fat had grown so accustomed to being on my body. I got down to 15 stone (from 16) and was a lot happier and healthier. When I moved back home (June 15th) I didn’t run as much at all, I wouldn’t say laziness set in but I was very busy (FYI when someone uses the excuse that they’re too busy for XYZ, it means that they’re lazy or not actually bothered). I did shed more weight though and got down to 14.5 stone for the first time.

On July 20^th 2010 – I came back from my 11 day holiday (Los Angeles with friends) I was eager to weigh myself and see how I managed with the fast food and stuff, GREAT SUCCESS! I was still 14.5 stone and feeling better about myself now. While I was out there we had a fantastic hotel that granted us access to the pool and gym. I used them a lot in the first 7 days we stayed there. I upped my running distance to 3 miles on a treadmill (which just ISN’T the same as running out in the open) and was using the beginner level gym equipment. My body would be aching but I really didn’t want to put on weight on the holiday so I made sure I swam in the pool every day. The bottom line is that I went away but tried to stick to healthy eating along with exercise as much as I could while I was away and I returned with no shame weight to show for it!

When I got back onto England time I was at it again with running and ran 3 miles for the first time ever, I was so proud of myself and was determined to keep my exercise going. Work was on Monday and my bike was in my kitchen, I knew how I would be travelling to work from now on!

August 2010 - And there you have it really, I wanted to lose more weight, gain more muscle and I was (and still am) working everyday towards a better lifestyle. I would cycle to work and run on days when I can’t cycle. Youtuber Phillip DeFranco is also on a similar journey to me and he’s one of the reasons I’ve decided to make this blog. His experiment is called “Project Lose an Olsen Twin” or more simply put on a twitter search PLOT I’ve been a consumer of information for far too long and now I want a slice of the cake!

So please, join me in this lads and lets live better lives, that’s what I want to do, I want to get people to read my blog and pick themselves up and do what I do so we can all be healthier together, I’m open to doing public runs with people too, there’s WAY more to come on this blog and you can take a fat chance and lose a couple stone next year, like I plan to!