Identity

It's the beginning of a fitness routine - or any new habit - that's the hardest. Going from unfit to fit enough to enjoy working out, this is the biggest step.

In my early twenties, I was very fit. I was "The Sporty One" and "The Adventurous One". I loved it! It was like a badge of identity. Random people in my department would ask me how the running was going. My boss would ask me it I'd won a football match at the weekend. Lab colleagues would comment on my biceps. I ROCKED! Then somehow I became "The Hungover One" and things changed.

But while I was The Sporty One, I never felt self conscious of pulling on my running gear or coming in all pink and sweaty, because people accepted it. In fact, I felt the opposite, I felt really proud and good, because this was ME (I miss her). People like things that they are used to, it just disturbs them when things change.