2022 has been a bit of an up and down year for me as it has held illness, an operation and just an absolutely chaotic lifestyle for the most part, I feel like I haven't made as much progress as I would have liked on my weight loss journey as the scales haven't moved too much however, looking back on the year I have changed so much and it isn't just the number on the scale I should be looking at the year and the progress I have made has actually been made off the scales and it has benefited me in so many different ways off the scale which I am really happy about as is it means plenty of impact has been made on my life for the better and overall I am just a much better version of me than I was last year. So here are some of the benefits I have gained from the changes I have made on my fitness & weight loss journey this year...

Much more confident

Now I have to say I believe this is the biggest benefit I have gained throughout the year. As the year has progressed I have just grown in confidence and I have seen the changes in myself month by month. This has led to me being more confident in front of the camera & having a lot of pictures taken even ones on my own. I have put myself forward into situations I would usually avoid too, one of those being queuing at Wembley for a pic with Katie Zelem the Man Utd Women's captain, a year ago I wouldn't have dared do that but 2022 me was over the moon to do it. the confidence has led to me having more pics taken for the blog too and again I can only see these getting better and better in 2023 as my confidence grows more and more.

Gone back to playing football & made friends

I have said previously that I never thought I would be back playing football and to be honest I still can't believe it. Being back playing though has done me the world of good and I wouldn't have done it if I hadn't made the progress on my weight loss & fitness journey that I have done so far. Being back playing is the best feeling after so long and it has led to me actually having friends, something which I never thought would happen as for so long I have just enjoyed my own company. Having a great team and group of new found friends has been brilliant and training & game days are becoming my favourite days of the week. 

Gone places on my own 

Back in 2021 I wouldn't go to boxing sessions without my sister however, 2022 Lucy really doesn't mind going on her own now and working with different people on those weeks has been fantastic. Going places on my own is something I am really getting used to and I no longer feel like all eyes are on me for going alone. In 2023 I am hoping to do a lot more on my own alongside meeting up with friends I have made online, I will really be putting this new found confidence to the test.

Trying different clothing styles

For so many years I have stuck to the same sort of clothing, usually dark and plain as I didn't want to draw attention to myself. however, throughout 2022 I have been pushing myself to try new styles and I am loving it. I spent summer in shorts and bright t-shirts or printed shirts and as for the rest of the year I have just been mixing things up as much as possible and I am loving it. It has really been a step out of my comfort zone and I am looking forward to seeing what I can do in terms of my style in 2023. 

Feel so much healthier & have more energy

I know I said at the start of the post I haven't made as much progress due to illness but at the same time I am feeling much healthier than in previous years. I have been ill however, I haven't been as ill as I have been in previous years and I am honestly putting this down to me being much more active & eating much better. I think as things continue to head in the right direction I will end up feeling much healthier in 2023 too. I also feel like I have a lot more energy than previous and I am looking forward to that continuing to grow.

Done different activities

I have stepped out of my comfort zone in terms of the activities I have done throughout the year too I have been to play gyms with the nephew and actually gone on the equipment with him, we have been to inflatable fun zones and I have even been trampolining. These are all things I would have previously avoided but I have braved them, not worried about my weight impacting the day and I have actually loved every second of doing these things. I even confidently got into a swimming pool in a swimming costume on holiday without worrying how I looked and had hours of fun. It is funny just how much you can do when you stop worrying about your weight & how you will look doing it.

I am actually going into 2023 really looking forward to the year ahead rather than dreading what is to come like years previous. I really do believe if I take this progress into the new year and continue to build what I am doing and gain some consistency that I could really see some big benefits and have a big push towards my end goal in 2023. I am 100% ready to see what 2023 has in store for me and to see just what I can do to make some huge steps in my fitness and weight loss journey. Could it be the year I smash all those goals I set for myself?