33-year-old senior dental nurse Michelle McDonald walked off an astonishing 8 stone 5lb during her 1000-mile challenge!
‘I was in Tesco looking for inspiration for a new hobby when I found Country Walking and saw the challenge. I signed up immediately! It was just the tool I needed after I’d been verbally abused in public one day about my weight. I was buying ice creams from a van for my mum and grandma who were sat in the car. The abusers assumed I was buying both for myself and told me so.
‘I thought then, I’m not doing this any more. Almost immediately the challenge made me fall in love with the outdoors, and combined with healthy eating, the weight started to fall off. I now hate being inside whereas before I loved my ‘lazy days’. I can’t think of anything worse now! In fact walking 1000 miles has changed my whole outlook on life.
‘The new-model Michelle is fun-loving and an explorer. She’s compassionate about people and animals and nature. I like her for her caring nature and her weird, funky uniqueness. She’s not afraid to be herself now, whatever others think. The challenge hasn’t just helped me lose eight and a half stone, it has given me more confidence. It’s helped toward curing my social anxiety too – I had my first badger meet and loved it! I’ll walk with anyone who’ll have me now! But I’m also happy to walk alone. My husband and my mum have been so supportive on my journey. Mum’s done over 800 miles and Barry 3000, too!’
But what’s the secret of it all Michelle? ‘No fancy plans, no faddy diets, just healthy eating and WALKING! If I can do it, anyone can! Thank you Country Walking for this challenge!’
