Setbacks are natural but I’ll just keep going

My Fit for 40 journey suffered a setback this week.

Those of you with students in your life will know that the last few weeks have been a stressful time, between exams and graded unit deadlines.

As a full-time media student, even one who should know better than leaving things to the last minute, I have been under pressure.

On Thursday, I was in college working hard to complete my radio project.

I treated myself to some caramel cake as a reward.

The next day I had another piece of cake on my morning break, then cookies in the afternoon.

By the weekend, I was fuelling myself with grab and go junk food as my head was stuck in the computer.

My friends did the same.

One said:“I’ve put on a stone”, another said:“I’m getting a double chin”.

I remember exams the first time round and the ritual of buying‘munchies’ for study time. I’m not sure why we do it.

I’m too scared to stand on the scales. I don’t need to.

The mirror is enough to tell me I’ve gained more than a pound or two.

The good news for my friends and I is that when we get our act together, the weight will come off as quickly as it went on.

I’m actually looking forward to putting all my energy into diet and exercise when the deadlines are met and the college year over.

Just in time to get my 5K walks up to 10K between now and August.

The old me would have thrown in the towel by now and eaten myself back up to 22 stone, then probably 23 or 24 stone. That was the pattern. The me who started this journey in February knows that setbacks are part of the process, and if you don’t overcome them you never achieve anything.