When Change Gets Personal.

Publishing articles to LinkedIn to share insight or opinion on professional or work related issues is often based on knowledge gained from personal experience and this article is about as personal as it gets. This is a somewhat self-congratulatory piece but if my story inspires just one other person then telling my story will have been truly worthwhile.

I have always considered myself to be a hard and diligent worker, going that extra mile for company, colleague and client. I lived my life by the old adage of work hard, play hard. And everything I did was aimed at winning business and influencing people. Work a full day, then wine and dine customers. Breakfast meetings followed by presentations, power lunches and some very long lunches before weaving and dodging through a round of sales pitches. Candle burning brightly at both ends.

This “lifestyle” went on for quite a while and while I grew in success, I also grew in width. From a racing snake to a good impression of Jabba the Hut. When friends and colleagues greeted me with “Hey big guy” they were not being rude, just literal.

By 2011, I weighed in at 156 Kilos (that’s 24.5 Stone or 343 Lbs) and for a chap not quite 6 foot, that made me fat by any measure. Actually, I was clinically obese. I knew it was not a good thing, but heck I was busy and couldn’t find the time etc. etc…

And then one day, on a flight back from a business trip, I could not get into the British Airways economy seat without lifting the arm of the seat next to me and required an extension to the seat belt to ensure Captain Blubber didn't become airborne during any turbulence.

This was my wake-up call. I wasn't so much ashamed of my size as I was angry that I had let myself go so badly. It was that dawning realization that I would be judged more on what I looked like and how I looked after myself than on any unseen sales quota I hit or creative solution I developed. It was also understanding that if I didn't do something for myself, then I would soon lose the ability to put in the hours and the miles needed to win the very business I wanted.

So time for change. Big change.

I didn't “diet” – I changed my lifestyle. My GP back in 2011, Steven Alden, gave me the only advice I needed – most adults do not need 2000 calories each day; eat less. I set my daily target at 1500 calories and made a determined effort to walk faster at every opportunity. The initial weight loss gave me greater confidence, and so I added cycling into my daily commute in London, and while I still needed a “wide load” sticker on my back, I was actually enjoying getting my health back.

From having no exercise routine back in 2011, I now power through a 1,200 calorie workout on my exercise bike and do my 10,000 steps each day and I still use Boris Bikes whenever I can in town.

Today, I weigh 96 Kilos and 15.5 Stone and feel a million dollars…and I while I did all the work, I could not have done it without the support of family and friends – so big thanks to you all.

The weight loss feels superb and I am very chuffed with myself, but I have won so much more too. My MoJo is back in high gear and my energy levels are hitting new heights. Long business trips are no longer tiring and in fact I relish new challenges. And I do not live a monastic life – I still eat, drink and make merry on occasion, but it is now the occasion and not the rule.

So if you are looking in a mirror, and are not happy with what you see or how you feel, then change what you’re doing. Do something good for yourself. Yes, it takes time, energy and work but don’t put an end date on your game plan – don’t “diet” – change your lifestyle permanently. If you can’t be seen to be taking care of you, how can people believe that you’ll take care of anything else?? You are so worth it, and clichéd perhaps, but heck, if I can do it, anyone can.

On on!!