The challenge facing my trainer David was enormous – about 90 extra pounds in this picture. A year later, when I started training at the gym, I had gained even more weight and had to stop riding my bike.

Excerpt from Chapter 3, “March of Shame”:

I arrived for my first session dressed in a low-cut purple V-neck t-shirt and some leisure capris. This outfit was the closest thing I had to gym clothes. I didn’t realize we’d be leaning over so much and of course the loose top proved to be a disaster.

I didn’t have a proper sports bra and my chest ─ which had grown to an enormous 44 inches by that time ─ appeared to be the largest physical thing in the gym. The walls were covered with mirrors and my purple bust loomed right back at me, quickly followed by the spectacle of my 54 inch bottom. I couldn’t seem to get away from the absurd sight.