No more hiding behind clothes

by Ellie
(United Kingdom)

I have always been self-conscious and the older I got the worse I got. I had two children and my body shape inevitably changed. I put on weight and had bulges where I didn't want them. I felt fat and ugly which was not helped by my husband pointing out my weight on many occasions or commenting on how I looked in our wedding photographs.

I felt that I had no self-confidence left and then I made a new best friend. No! I'm not having an affair, he is married and so am I but he is the best friend I have ever had. He has given me the confidence to really change the person I am.

I started to exercise more which I wouldn't have done before because my husband used to laugh at me. My friend even came out running with me, encouraging me every step. I gradually lost weight, I toned up doing press ups and sit ups and have gone from 208lbs to 165lbs in 6 months!!

I feel great! I had my long hair cut into a short snazzy style and instead of hiding behind size 18 clothes which I used to do I am now wearing size 10-12 and instead of buying my usual black jeans and black tops I'm buying colours I've never dared to wear.

With the help of my best friend I have reinvented myself, I kept thanking him but he'd just smile and tell me that it was me who did all the hard work. I don't know about anyone else but even though I did the exercise it was he who helped my self-confidence and for that he'll always be my best friend. No more hiding behind clothes for me now.