Can I boast a little with my "story"?
Before this year, I had an absolute crap diet and lived off pizza, fast food, rice, white bread. I had almost no exercise (except some swimming, which was just fun rather than a hard-core workout). I was getting bigger and more bloated and beginning to have to think about a new wardrobe.
In August I cut out sugar and processed foods, including bread, and I stopped using salt on everything. I started logging calories and eating lots of eggs, vegetables and fish for the first time. For context, I'm autistic and have always hated these - now I love them and can't imagine not having a plate filled with them - seriously for me this was bloody hard and I'm so proud of myself. I also started exercising with an indoor bike and rebounder, and going out for walks every day.
I've lost over two stone, I'm just about fitting into size 8 clothes now, and I have muscles developing all over my body, its amazing. I have so much energy and my moods are more level, my periods are less painful, my anxiety is lower.
All of this is probably "no shit Sherlock" to everyone else but to actually feel the difference has been amazing. I almost feel evangelical about it, and if I can manage a big change like this, anyone can.
Yes its tough and the first few weeks were really difficult, but its so worth it. I couldn't care less about what I look like, but feeling slim and agile again is amazing.