It was August 2007 and my baby daughter had just turned 10 weeks old. I was 12 stone and feeling extremely uncomfortable and heavy. I'd had a planned c-section due to my first child weighing in at 9lb 6oz and getting stuck. The trauma of pushing a big baby out still lingers in the back of my mind so when I became pregnant again it was agreed that my 2nd child would be born by c-section.

I really struggled with the aftermath of the c-section and the six weeks recovery time was spent on the sofa. I was suffering with baby blues and hated my swollen jelly belly and large thighs. So after 10 weeks I was at the gym engaged in a steady gentle exercise routine. I wanted to run but I was advised not to and my doctor had told me off for swimming 50 lengths and suggested a gentle 10 minute swim of maybe 5 but no more than 10 lengths. I just couldn't do that. I've been a swimmer for years, I wasn't new to it so I just did what I could and 50 lengths comes easy to me. I stopped when I felt tired.

The thing was I was the heaviest I'd ever been and I couldn't handle it. I had been slim all my life and I was struggling to deal with my knew larger appearence.

After the birth of my first child the weight fell off quickly and I swam four times a week and was back to normal within 5 months. This time round it wasn't happening. I suppose my body was healing from the c-section and I was a bit older but the weight was harder to lose.

Then I started to run. I used to see people running outside and honestly thought I could never be that fit. I would run for a minute and die! How would I ever be able to run, I was so unfit.

I started a routine on the treadmill. I ran for 1 minute and then walked for 2 minutes. The 2 minutes walking would be time to get my breath back and then I would run again for another minute followed by a 2 minute walk and continued this for 30 minutes. I did this four times a week and after 2 weeks I ran for 17 minutes before I stopped to walk. Within a month I was getting on the treadmill and running for 35 minutes and finishing off with a 30 minute swim. It really does not take that long to build yourself up, you just need to get past that barrier first.

The exercise was making me ravenous and my food intake was bigger but I was getting fit and the buzz was brilliant. It made me realise how important exercise really is. I personally believe that if you are overweight and have more than 1 stone to lose you will lose it quicker if you exercise with a diet. If you just diet then it will take ages and I am an impatient person.

After a year I became stagnant. I could now run for 45 minutes but I was still unhappy. I was back to my size 10s and looking nice and slim but sticking out in front of me was a little pot belly. I know I shouldn't complain but my tummy hanging over my pants was making me unhappy so I had a consultation with a personal trainer. She was brilliant and changed my exercise routine and taught me that when you raise your heartbeat you burn fat.

In order to lose that extra bit of fat around my tummy I needed to put a bit more effort into my running. I was just running at a steady pace and my body was used to this so it was suggested that I incorporate some fast sprints at regular times throughout my run. After my 5 minute warm-up I would sprint as fast as I could for 30 seconds and then go back to my normal running speed. This raised my heartbeat and when I finished my workout I felt like I did when I first started out. Exhausted! Within a month my belly was flat and I'd run the last bit of my baby weight off.

It frustrates me when I see my colleagues at work trying to lose weight with dieting alone. I always urge them to join the gym but they just shrug away my comments. They might lose a few pounds here and there but they always put it back on. There's always someone coming in with cakes or a team meal out.

If you engage in a running regime you will lose your body fat in no time. Then after this if you keep up to it you can eat what you want as long as you still run 2/3 times a week. The thought of running might not appeal to you, it didn't to me. I had to force myself but once you get into it it’s addictive. It’s such a good feeling and it’s healthy.