In February 2023, I came to a realisation, and made a choice - that changed my whole life. It is the single most important realisation I've ever come to, and every step since then, has only led to growth.
Here's a little background - and don't worry, it's not my whole life and the free stuff will be linked below. But this is important, so read first.
In 2012, after a series of unfortunate and life-threatening events, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. My weight was out of control. Since the diagnosis, I've been having regular thyroid tests and taking the medication responsibly. But, as anyone who struggles especially with hormonal weight gain knows, that weight is virtually impossible to lose.
Virtually - not actually.
I lost some of it, but most remained. Start of January 2023 I still weighed more than 120kgs and was classified as "obese". Just look at those chubby cheeks.
By April 2023 I had lost 16kgs - and there was no soul-suckin restrictive diets or exhaustive workouts. No powders or pills or impossible to reach goals.
Now, in 2025, I am less than a 100kgs, the weight stays off, I am healthier, fitter and happier than ever before.
Obviously the journey goes on, but the progress is real, and the journey is awesome.
So - are you ready?
This one thing is going to determine your success or failure. This one, simple secret is the most important step you'll ever take to losing weight and becoming fit. It is the one that's always left out, skipped, or hidden from sight, and it is the reason so many weight loss programs fail in the first 28 days.
By the way - this one is going to hurt.
In February 2023 I sat writing, on a Saturday afternoon. A thought suddenly hit me, as I was creating the character in the novel.
We believe every single negative thing that's said to us. We believe we're fat, ugly, not good enough - name 'em, you've believed them.
People tell me so many good things about myself, but I don't believe those things. They say I'm intelligent, funny, charming, beautiful. I'm efficient, good at my job, I'm creative, innovative, strong.
What happens when I choose to believe them?
I literally sat back and stared at the ceiling for a few minutes. I nodded. And I said to myself, you are far too smart to be the only thing standing in your way.
I got up, told my brother I'm going for a walk. And that was it.
Sure, simplistically put. Apart from exercise, I worked daily to rebuild my self-esteem and self-confidence. I worked daily to rebuild my self-worth.
Because you see: you cannot wait until you feel good about yourself to start improving yourself. You have to go stand in front of the mirror AS YOU ARE and face that figure and say to that figure, I love you. You are worth it.
(And that hurts like hell)
If you accept yourself, overweight, lazy, unfit, full of procrastinations and excuses, moody and cranky and with a trunk full of baggage - you have taken the first most important step.
You are worth it.
You are worth being healthy, feeling good, fitting into those sexy jeans because you like them, not because society tells you to.
You are worth having energy and clear focus.
You are worth being able to laugh with confidence.
You are worth taking pictures without Snapchat filters to make yourself look thinner.
So accept that.
Accept all the good things that people say about you, embrace yourself, and go for a walk.
Let's go!
Nova
