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Telegraph
3 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Walking 8 miles every day helped me lose 7st – and keep it off
In 2024, I weighed 18st 12lb. I was a binge eater and a food addict – I had no off switch. I knew I should be making better choices, but once you are on that food train, it is very hard to get off. I had a terrible addiction to secret binge eating. I loved carbohydrates – pasta, potatoes, bread, anything! As I began to have children, I slowly put on weight and was unable to shift it. I also got into a habit of having a cheese sandwich before bed every night. My husband worked away from home half of the week, so once the kids were asleep I'd be able to get away with snacking without anyone around to hold me accountable. As a regional manager in commercial property, I was always on the road. I had a property portfolio to manage so I was always in my car, living off service station meal deals. Maintaining a good diet and getting into shape was just not a priority for me. I had a stressful job and a busy life looking after my daughter, aged 14 and my son, aged 11. I have very active children and I felt the life I was living was not fair to my family. I was not fit enough to participate in any part of family life. In October I was going to turn 40 and I knew that this was it – it was time to make my health a priority. For months I'd been suffering from all sorts of aches and pains: joint pain, back pain – I couldn't walk up a flight of stairs without becoming breathless. I knew I could no longer go on the way I was, something had to change. Then I went on a trip with my son and some friends to France. Naturally, I wanted to live my best life, so I indulged in a lot of wine and cheese. The trip was lovely but it was emotionally draining. My friends, who were all running fanatics and enjoyed staying active, would be up in the mornings to run together and I wasn't able to go because of my health – it was isolating. My friend took a video of me one night, while we were drinking on the balcony of our chalet. When I look back at the video it makes me extremely sad. I was masking my sadness a lot at that point in my life and pretending to be happy but in reality I was devastated about the state of my health. I was not in a good place. It wasn't until I got home from the trip, stood on the scales and saw that I was the biggest I'd ever been, that I put a serious action plan in place. That number I saw on the scales reflected all the health issues I'd been experiencing. It was a defining moment for me. So for my birthday my husband and I were going on an amazing trip to Dubai. The countdown was on – I had seven months to get into shape. At my weight, exercise was not an option, so I committed to walking every day. In the beginning, just getting out there felt good. I was making better choices and felt positive about this new journey I was on. In addition to committing to moving my body every day, I decided to start intermittent fasting on a low-carb diet. To gain inspiration, I made an Instagram account and followed weight loss influencers. I noticed that there weren't any prominent UK health influencers who were losing weight in the same way that I was. I had significantly limited my eating window – I'd fast for 18 hours a day and eat between 1pm and 7pm. I truly believe that fasting worked so well for me because when I was addicted, I was so consumed with food that this method allowed me to control my eating habits. I used to binge so much during the evening that by cutting off my supply of food at 7pm, I was forced to occupy my time with something else. At first it was so hard to find the strength to control myself but the results were so transformative that it became a way of life for me. I still fast every single day because I will never ever go back to the way I was before now that I have this new found life. I've also significantly cut down on carbohydrates in my diet – while before I might've opted for potatoes or bread with my meal, now I focus on protein like eggs. One day a friend said to me: 'Alex, why don't you blog about your weight loss journey? It will hold you accountable and track your progress,' so I turned my Instagram account into a weight loss diary called 'theweightlosswife'. The impending trip to Dubai motivated my decision, but the Instagram page added excitement to the journey. I met a lovely community that was incredibly supportive and followed me every step of the way. I decided not to tell any friends or family about the page, or my goal as I didn't want to feel monitored: I wanted to work at my own pace and feel confident in the progress I was making. Getting started When you are as unfit as I was, even going for a walk is hard work. I started from absolutely nothing and downloaded the Couch to 5k app. Rain or shine, I went on a walk just to get my steps in. In the beginning, it did not matter how many steps I got in, just that I got out. It was an absolute struggle – I did not enjoy it at all. I had to really push myself and eventually the more I did it, the more I found myself actually enjoying it. When the weight begins to drop off and your body begins to change, it feels really good – it becomes quite addictive. Once moving got a bit easier, I began to set myself targets for the amount of steps I needed to get in each day. I started at 3,000 to 5,000 steps, then 10,000 steps, and now I do 20,000 steps a day (about eight miles). There is a walking track around the back of my house which I use to take my dog out for a walk at least twice a day, and then I go to the gym after work. I just try to walk absolutely everywhere, especially on the weekend – by Friday I've had enough of being in my car! I began to see a positive change in my body after three weeks and I started to feel great. When I was heavier I avoided social situations because I couldn't find anything to wear. I also hated people taking pictures of me, so I actively avoided them. Since losing the weight, my confidence has grown so much and I find it extremely enjoyable to visit different places and to meet up with friends and family. I'm now 11st 7lb and have never felt better after losing 7st. After a couple of weeks, I also noticed the health benefits: I had a lot more energy, I wasn't as tired and my joint pain eased up. Also, I'd always struggled with constant heartburn and acid reflux but that completely disappeared once I started eating better. My family and friends have been so supportive and encouraging. They can see that I've got a whole new life – I'm out every weekend, spending time with my family and engaging in activities that I just could not participate in before. I feel like now I can capture all these moments that I couldn't before. I have noticed that people treat me differently since I lost weight. I used to tend to fall into the background. I had these long hair extensions to somewhat mask my size, but since losing weight, I embraced my bob and feel more confident in my skin. To push myself, at the end of April, my husband, a group of friends and I decided to climb Snowdon. It was the most exhilarating, rewarding experience, and I was so proud of my progress. The whole way up I was worried that I wouldn't be able to do it – that I wasn't as fit as I thought. The experience made me realise how far I'd come with my fitness and once I got to the top after two hours of climbing, I was astonished at myself. Following that life-changing experience, I signed up for Macmillan's Jurassic Coast Mighty Hike in July, and the Great South Run in October. I also placed a ballot for the 2026 London Marathon, my next big goal. To run the marathon would be a bucket list activity for my life and I'll be devastated if I don't get in. Runners get informed whether their entry was successful or not in July, but I've read that this year has seen a record number of ballot entries, so I think my chances are unlikely. I feel like I'm still on my journey – it is not over just because I've lost weight. I want to focus on the fitness side of my well-being now and use my Instagram to spread knowledge and awareness. I've gained 56,700 followers in the space of a year, and I'm so proud of what I've managed to achieve in such a short space of time. What I ate before Breakfast Cheese toastie and a coffee from a Starbucks on the side of the motorway. Lunch Prawn Mayo or BLT sandwich, a packet of crisps and a Pepsi Max (I used to drink two to three cans a day). Dinner Cheesy pasta or something with chips. I also had a fair amount of takeaways on the weekend. Alcohol Fizz, vodka cranberry or a gin and tonic. What I eat now Breakfast Egg white omelette with cream cheese, smoked salmon and a side of grapefruit and strawberries. Snack Fruits – grapefruit, passion fruit, strawberries, oranges. Dinner Steak with courgette, rocket and parmesan. Alcohol Stayed the same – it's the one thing I didn't change, but I don't drink at home.
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Demand for student digs and plush offices helping buoy commercial property 'revival'
Demand for student accommodation and high-quality sustainable office space is fuelling a commercial property 'revival' in Britain, new research claims. Having grappled with inflationary pressures, a 'punitive tax regime' and new development regulations, commercial real estate is 'turning a corner', exclusive dat from Together shows. Together said its average customer commercial loan size in the year to date was £252,707. More than 80 per cent of property professionals, investors and developers surveyed said they believed investing in purpose-built student accommodation over the next five years represented a 'good opportunity.' Around 18 per cent of those surveyed said they expected to boost their revenue from student accommodation investments by between 11 and 20 per cent in five years. One in 10 said churning money into student accommodation would help them boost their revenue by between 31 and 40 per cent within the next five years, Together said. It said in its latest Cities in focus 2025: Commercial property insights report: 'At a time when universities are struggling to manage and government funding has been frozen, the private sector is being increasingly relied on to meet the shortfall. 'Even with a recent dip in student dorm reservations, demand is still high for student accommodation, particularly purpose-built student accommodation.' Honing in on demand for student accommodation in the city of Manchester, Together said: 'With currently 2.5 students per bed, demand for the vital rental accommodation is set to see further opportunity-seeking investors get involved in the sector.' It said the average monthly private rent in Manchester currently stands at £1,310, having risen significantly in the last decade or so. Demand for houses in multiple occupation and co-living spaces was also helping buoy the sector, Together claimed. Conversely, Together said the most common reason for buy-to-let landlords to quit last year was capital gains tax, at 13.76 per cent, followed by stamp duty changes, rising interest rates and energy efficiency targets costs. Some landlords also said they had quit in order to move their funds to a 'less volatile market.' Together's research was conducted by Censuswide, which carried out a survey of 500 commercial property investors, developers and property professionals in April. Office space in demand - but only if it's top notch The return to office-based working, either hybrid or full-time, looks set to continue over the coming years, Together said. Four in five industry insiders surveyed said they believed offices represented a strong property investment opportunity over the next five years. Together said: 'But it's evident that businesses aren't just settling for any office space as we've seen an increasing demand for higher quality stock (Prime and Grade A) whilst the available supply of lower grade premises (Grade B and C) largely goes ignored. 'Sustainability has become one of the key drivers of this trend as businesses become increasing conscious of their carbon footprint, implementing initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of their operations.' As well as being high-quality and sustainable, many businesses are on the hunt for new premises which 'cater to hybrid working patterns and lower overheads', the report said. Demand for modernisation and technology upgrades across existing premises is also strong. Ryan Etchells, chief commercial officer at Together, said: 'Attracting and retaining the bets talent is also a major reason for businesses moving to higher quality offices.' Outlook for retail spaces Many high-street retailers have been hammered by high business rates and dwindling footfall in recent years. High parking charges imposed by councils are also a major problem. However, last year the value of retail sales rose 1.4 per cent to £517billion and the number of transactions increased by 0.7 per cent, according to the Office for National Statistics. Together added: 'And 2025 has started off in similar fashion, with the ONS announcing that sales volumes in the first three months grew by 1.7 per cent when compared to the same months in 2024. 'But the overall outlook remains optimistically cautious as we wait to see the economic effects of National Insurance rises, export tariffs and inflation on consumers and retailers. 'The number of sales made online grew again in 2024. So, we're expecting to see the continued increase in quality logistic and distribution hubs popping up around the country in strategic locations.' Together said it had seen an increase in the number of property investors considering snapping up 'semi-commercial' property. Chris Baguley, a managing director at Together's corporate arm, said: 'I'm happy to see how many have thought about investing in a semi-commercial property (94 per cent) as it's a sound way to offset risks and generate multiple incomes from one property. 'At Together, we expect to see a rise in these mixed commercial and residential rental properties in 2025.' Seventy-nine per cent of industry experts surveyed said they viewed retail shops as a good investment for the next five years. However, only 32 per cent expect an increase in revenue from these investments over the same timeframe. How to find a new mortgage Borrowers who need a mortgage because their current fixed rate deal is ending, or they are buying a home, should explore their options as soon as possible. Quick mortgage finder links with This is Money's partner L&C > Mortgage rates calculator > Find the right mortgage for you What if I need to remortgage? Borrowers should compare rates, speak to a mortgage broker and be prepared to act. Homeowners can lock in to a new deal six to nine months in advance, often with no obligation to take it. Most mortgage deals allow fees to be added to the loan and only be charged when it is taken out. This means borrowers can secure a rate without paying expensive arrangement fees. Keep in mind that by doing this and not clearing the fee on completion, interest will be paid on the fee amount over the entire term of the loan, so this may not be the best option for everyone. What if I am buying a home? Those with home purchases agreed should also aim to secure rates as soon as possible, so they know exactly what their monthly payments will be. Buyers should avoid overstretching and be aware that house prices may fall, as higher mortgage rates limit people's borrowing ability and buying power. How to compare mortgage costs The best way to compare mortgage costs and find the right deal for you is to speak to a broker. This is Money has a long-standing partnership with fee-free broker L&C, to provide you with fee-free expert mortgage advice. Interested in seeing today's best mortgage rates? Use This is Money and L&Cs best mortgage rates calculator to show deals matching your home value, mortgage size, term and fixed rate needs. If you're ready to find your next mortgage, why not use L&C's online Mortgage Finder. It will search 1,000's of deals from more than 90 different lenders to discover the best deal for you. > Find your best mortgage deal with This is Money and L&C Be aware that rates can change quickly, however, and so if you need a mortgage or want to compare rates, speak to L&C as soon as possible, so they can help you find the right mortgage for you.
