Can I turn my health around after 4 terrible years?!

[NameChangeLifeChange]

Two kids + covid + huge amounts of stress have meant for the past 4 years I've basically treated my body terribly. Put on a stone and half, eating so poorly (some days zero fruit and veg, carbs +++) and joined a gym but hardly go.

I feel incredibly angry and annoyed at myself and guilty. My grandfather died young of a heart attack and I'm worried I've done irreversible damage. I'm only 32 but ate healthily (or at least normally!) before.

I've made some changes- cycling to work, walking as much as possible. Cooking from scratch and long walks with the kids at weekends. Can I turn this around? I plan to go to the gym twice weekly and start cutting out all the sugary, high processed food. I feel huge guilt and embarrassment, I then comfort eat and feel worse.

Has anyone else had a health overhaul in their thirties and undone poor habits?

Yes, you absolutely can turn it around, and from what you've said here, you have already begun to do so. Keep going!

About 3-4 years ago I put on around 3 stone, ate rubbish, felt grotty, greasy, and out of breath. My work involves a lot of sitting. Didn't exercise. Went to the docs for a different reason and he decided to do some blood tests. They came back with me being borderline diabetic which shocked me to the core as my mum was diabetic for most of my life and I saw what it put her through.

It was the wake up call I needed, and so like you I took matters in hand. Stopped eating all the takeaways, fish n chips, cakes from the bakers etc, chucked out all the biscuits, and started walking a mile a day followed by stretching exercises I can fit in through the day at home. Instead of sitting at my work I now stand, and I cook from scratch using a steamer for most of it. I also still have treats but rather a couple of squares of chocolate once a week, rather than the whole bar, you know what I mean.

Today, I am 4 stone lighter, very much fitter and I feel well - regardless of the fact that I have fibromyalgia and asthma as I can manage it much better. Re the borderline diabetes, my blood sugar levels are where they should be.

As for turning it round in your 30's, well I was in my late 50's when I decided to sort myself out.

Forget the guilt and embarrassment, start from the moment you posted online. You really can do this.

Thank you @JasperJohnsPaintbrush what an inspirational story well done you!

@NameChangeLifeChange - Well done you too. It's not easy to admit to yourself, let alone the world of media how you're feeling, looking etc. There is so much social pressure to conform. Well, at 5ft 11 I could still drop another stone but feel comfortable, happy and healthy where I am, and that's what you need to feel too - not guilty and embarrassed.
So, keep going for it. Throw out those sugary buns and fill the fridge full of fruit n veg. In time, you might even lose the taste for sugar - I know I find it really sweet now when I do have something. I mainly keep it for special occasions, like next week when I'm meeting up with a lovely friend for the day. We shall have tea and cake at least twice, with lunch in between.!! But probably do a lot of walking in-between, so I shall feel like I've earned it, burned it off, and no guilt whatsoever.

Keep posting on here as I'd love to hear how you're doing.