I can’t be your hero, baby 

So, recently a few people have said I’m inspirational. Now whilst this is a huge compliment, it is also extremely overwhelming. I may have always wanted to be a hero but we all have faults. Here are my hang ups and failings.

My failings
Now I call it failings but I shouldn’t really because nobody is perfect and this is not something to be ashamed of. If we were perfect life would be pretty boring. Anyway here are some of my recognised fitness failings that might make you feel a bit better when you have some of your own.

• I have days off. Even when it isn’t a planned rest day. Sometimes the motivation just isn’t there. That’s fine so long as it isn’t every day!
• I binge. And I mean binge. On the odd occasion when I’m feeling low or when lady menstruation comes to visit I will eat everything in sight. It isn’t unusual for me to eat a pizza, 2/3 cupcakes, a box of chocolates and a bag of crisps in one sitting. Again don’t do this often!
• I make mistakes. Yesterday I was so excited to write my running blog that I forgot to stretch properly. I even wrote not to do this in the blog! My legs didn’t thank me later. Today I’ve gone and forgotten to eat before my workout and I didn’t wear shoes, despite telling you all to wear shoes for ankle support.
• I don’t finish workouts. Sometimes I’m just too tired, to fed up or just plain don’t want to finish. It’s not often but it does happen.

Forgive yourself. You’re doing a good thing overall. Allow yourself failings other wise you will crash and burn!

My hang ups

Ok so recently I’ve been really pleased with how my body seems to have changed. I did a photo comparison in a dress from 2.5 years ago to today and I’m ecstatic with the change. In general I love my bum and my thighs although, they could do with a bit less cellulite but here are the things I don’t like about myself:

• My belly. Because of my yoyo weight gain and loss, I look like I’ve given birth to a 10lb child. Stretch marks galore and an overhang to match. It’s awful. I’ve considered surgery but decided to see if I can change it through more weight loss first.
• My bingo wings. Self explanatory. It’s a common dislike.
• My water retention. This is actually quite common with overweight ladies but my goodness I get it bad. My legs balloon from a day sitting at my desk. Gravity does not like me and it hurts. It’s also a bit of a pain as I can not wee all day and then as soon as I lay down and the water starts to be reabsorbed I can be peeing for England. I find it’s worse when I eat salty food. Sometimes I have to take prescribed diuretics as it’s just so uncomfortable. My jeans become right and so does my skin. To the point it feels bruised. During/after long flights I find it difficult to walk or even bend my ankles.

Anyway these are the things I don’t like about myself but I accept these and think at least I was dealt some decent cards. I seem to have a mostly functioning brain and I can’t complain about my face! It’s normal to have worries and dislikes so don’t beat yourself up about it. Seriously.

🧳 UNPACKED

The Reality Check: This was The Gym Era honesty that Instagram fitness influencers won’t give you. People called me inspirational, which was overwhelming because I wasn’t perfect – I had massive failings, serious hang-ups, and days where everything went wrong.

My Fitness Failings:

• Skipped workouts even when it wasn’t a planned rest day
• Binged spectacularly (pizza + 2-3 cupcakes + box of chocolates + crisps in one sitting)
• Made mistakes I literally just told others not to make (forgot to stretch after writing a whole blog about stretching!)
• Didn’t finish workouts when I was too tired or fed up

My Body Hang-Ups:

• Belly: Yoyo weight meant stretch marks everywhere and an overhang like I’d given birth. Considered surgery but decided to try more weight loss first
• Bingo wings: Classic problem area
• Water retention: The worst. Legs ballooned after desk days, couldn’t bend ankles after flights, skin felt bruised, had to take medication sometimes. Wee all night when lying down as water reabsorbed. Salty food made it worse.

The Seychelles flight photos show the brutal reality – incredibly painful, couldn’t walk properly.

What I Actually Liked: My bum, my thighs (minus cellulite), my face, my complexion. At least I was dealt some decent cards.

The Lesson: Forgive yourself. Nobody’s perfect. Allow yourself failings or you’ll crash and burn. It’s normal to have worries and dislikes – don’t beat yourself up about it.

Managing Common Issues:

• 📦 Pack here: Compression flight socks for travel swelling
• 📦 Pack here: Bio-Oil for stretch marks

Worth Knowing: Water retention after flights is common but if yours is severe (can’t bend ankles, skin feels bruised, medication needed), talk to your GP. It’s not just “being a bit puffy” – it can be genuinely painful and limiting. Compression socks for long flights actually help.