I think most of us have probably got a few extra pounds we wouldn't mind seeing the back off after Christmas. It's usually a simple enough process: eat less rubbish and maybe actually go and use that gym membership you've been paying for.
But, if you've got a lot of weight to lose, where do you start?
If you were to look at Eoin Fehily you'd never guess that at one point he weighed 23 stone, you'd never guess that he's suffered with his confidence and was so self-conscious that he couldn't even go into a gym, because he felt 'inadequate; but Eoin over came all of these things, going on to lose 10 stone and setting up his own gym to help others who are in the same situation he was 10 years ago.
29-year-old Eoin, from Cork, Ireland, spoke to TheLADbible for our FIGHTING FIT campaign, to share his story: "I was always the 'big guy'. All through school I was overweight, but the weight really crept on after my GCSEs and I ended up at 20 stone by the time I was 18. I was just drinking a lot, eating whatever I wanted and spending too much time on the couch."
Credit: Eoin Fehily
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Aged 19, Eoin weighed 23 stone and was feeling the strain on his body: "It got to the point where I thought 'if I don't do something about this I'm going to die', that might sound dramatic, but it's true. I was 23 stone at 19, if I'd have gone at that rate, I think I'd probably be dead now."
And, it wasn't just his physical health that was suffering, being overweight had a serious impact on Eoin's confidence and he was missing out on all the typical stuff a teenage lad should have been doing. "Being overweight, like I was, it just means you miss out on so much. I didn't really want to go out with my mates and stuff, I wouldn't like anyone to see me without my top on and my confidence was pretty much rock bottom."
Deciding enough was enough, Eoin made up his mind to lose some weight and enrolled on a sports science course at college, began eating sensibly and started walking.
He managed to lose five stone just from walking more and going on a low-fat diet, but it was then that Eoin hit a bit of a stumbling block. "Weirdly, probably the worst head-space for me was when I'd lost the first five stone. I thought that by just doing what I had been doing, a low-fat diet and lots of walking, I'd be able to carry on losing, so hitting the wall was really difficult for me. It was very frustrating. At the time, I was avoiding carbohydrates, because that's what everyone was telling me I needed to do to lose weight, and I was just running on empty. It really took its toll on me mentally.
Credit: Eoin Fehily
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"So, I started looking at nutrition and how to fuel my body properly. Everyone always tells you if you need to lose weight you need to cut carbs, but you need carbs to be healthy. You need protein, carbs and good fats; once I knew about nutrition, it got easier."
Incredibly, he did it all on his own with no meal plan, help from a trainer or even the use of a gym. "My confidence was so low I wouldn't even go into a gym. I had a phobia of gyms, which is funny considering I now spend most of my time in one. I didn't go into a gymnasium until 2010, when I decided I wanted to work in one.
Credit: Eoin Fehily
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"I just went from walking to doing circuits and some weights at home. Even after I lost a fair bit of weight I was still too self-conscious to go to a gym, so I was working out in the park or in my bedroom; I ended up getting a multi-gym for the garage."
He continued to lose weight and within two years he had lost a massive 10 stone. He then went on to set himself up as a personal trainer, and now runs his own gym called Fehily's Fitness, so he can share what he's learnt with others.
Credit: Eoin Fehily
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"The important thing to remember, and what I always tell my clients, is always put your health first - there is no quick fix. People come to me and they want a six pack fast or they want to slim down quickly for a wedding or an event. I think it's even harder now, because social media just bombards us with photos of 'perfect bodies'. I don't have mirrors at my gym, because I know how much it can affect confidence. I want everyone to know we're all in the same boat.
"The other thing I see a lot of is issues with anxiety and self-esteem. People come to me and mention they have these problems and they always think they're the only one; but they're not. I'm not saying exercise and diet will cure your problems but it can be a massive help."
We want to hear your stories. Has fitness and wellbeing changed your life? Had it helped you overcome obesity, drugs, mental issues or been a defining factor in your life. Let us know about it. [email protected]
Featured Image Credit: Eoin Fehily