Unlike a lot of people my defining moment was not so much the outfits getting tighter or a terrible photo but making a snap decision to sign up to an extreme survival challenge and then realising that A/ I am too stubborn to change my mind and admit defeat and B/ I somehow missed the ‘must be very fit’ in the title.

So I found myself committed both financially and mentally to heading to the Arctic in February 2017 and there I was with something I had been missing previously – a target.

A little about me then – I’m 43, married with 2 tweens and working full-time in London which means I’m usually on a train at 6 something in the morning and not back home until 7 or beyond – not the best mix for a fitness regime or always eating healthily. My weekends are equally manic ferrying children in different directions and catching up with the housework – ‘me time’ has always played second fiddle.

…

Sitting here, typing this, I can’t quite believe what I’ve lost; 20lbs, several inches and the wish to be invisible. More importantly I can’t believe what I’ve gained; strength – of all kinds – a fitness level that allows me to pull off my very best crazy lady dance moves without collapsing and a body that I genuinely never thought I’d see again.

There were several cringe moments that started me on the path back to fitness, but this before photo sums it up in one shot really, I was out with my Mum and beautiful daughter, eating Tapas to celebrate her turning 6 months old and I thought I wasn’t looking too bad that day – I’d made an effort for once, put on a colourful top and scarf and had even found some clean leggings. But looking at the photo I realised not only was I bigger than I’d thought, but I didn’t put make up on anymore and I didn’t know how long my hair was because it only ever got washed and jammed into a Mum bun….