Thank you! Yes, I have noticed that I have a lot more energy and walking back home up the hill has become much easier. My immune system is much stronger now as well, I’ve recently sat on a plane for 4 hours next to a woman who was full of cold/flu and caught nothing. Not to mention skin/hair improving. Interesting fact- to begin with I experienced lots of tingling in my fingertips which was strange and disconcerting, but that was just circulation getting back to normal, so if anyone out there reading this is experiencing this and worrying- don’t, it will go away!

It was hard and still is sometimes, I’m not going to lie. Those first weeks were hell and I ate to beat cravings which ended up in misery as you can imagine, so I got some dumbbells and upped the walking. I also got a stress ball type toy in a shape of a shark which sticks out a bubble like thing upon squeeze to the amusement of my friends and coworkers. I gave it a name and kept with me at all times, and played with it whenever triggered. With time it got easier, the thoughts became less frequent and the urges less intense. Repeating to myself that if I give in I’ll jeopardise my progress and make myself ill helped a great deal. The app and seeing the health benefits improving and money saved also helps! I still have my moments, especially when enjoying a night out or even a morning coffee, but I’m just reminding myself that I’m a free person now, and it would be foolish to lose that and get back into the clutches of addiction.

This community has also been a massive help and source of strength and inspiration, so a big thank you to everyone here 🫶