‘Getting in shape restored my self-esteem’

After a traumatic break-up and a long battle with a chronic illness, Caroline North, 31, a broker from Kent, turned to exercise to rebuild her life

THEN

Sport was everything to me as a child: hockey, netball, swimming – I did it all and loved the buzz it gave me. But I developed ME at 13 and the extreme fatigue that came with it forced me to stop exercising. I was bullied for being lazy, so took to comfort eating at home instead of socialising. At 5ft 6in, I was a size 18 by the time I turned 16. At university, I got a boyfriend and settled into coupledom almost immediately – sofa nights took priority over my health. Ten years later, he cheated and we split, but the damage to my body was done: 16st and a size 20.

HOW

Newly single, low and deeply unhappy with my body, I knew I had to take action. I cleared my cupboards of junk food, and instead of having a shop-bought mayo-loaded sandwich and crisps for lunch, I’d eat a chicken salad and escape my desk for a 60-minute walk. I swapped takeaways for protein-rich dinners of chicken breast or salmon with veg. With medication keeping my ME under control, I channelled my energy into workout DVDS and dropped to a size 16 within a year. That gave me the confidence to join a gym in 2015 – I went hard with six weeks of PT sessions* and haven’t looked back.

NOW

I swapped the PT for twice-weekly spin classes to shift the pounds, but once I reached a size 10, I changed my focus to weights. I train up to six times a week, so I’ve upped my intake of wholegrain carbs to keep my energy up. I’ve also steadily built up my endurance; starting off with 5k runs, then 10k, and I completed my first half marathon last October. Next on the list are a triathlon and a full marathon – I love seeing how far I can push my body. But getting in shape hasn’t just been about the fitness gains; I’ve regained my confidence and rebuilt old friendships, too. I never imagined that I could be proud of myself or my body, but now I am.