there’s only one guarantee that I can give you when you’ve heard me speak and
give you when you’ve heard me speak and
give you when you’ve heard me speak and that’s that you’re going to die not
that’s that you’re going to die not
that’s that you’re going to die not right away of course but you are going
right away of course but you are going
right away of course but you are going to die before that point in time though
to die before that point in time though
to die before that point in time though I’m here to ask you to live as full a
I’m here to ask you to live as full a
I’m here to ask you to live as full a life as possible and I’m here to talk to
life as possible and I’m here to talk to
life as possible and I’m here to talk to you today about how I’m trying to do
you today about how I’m trying to do
you today about how I’m trying to do just that
just that
just that now I get that I don’t look like
now I get that I don’t look like
now I get that I don’t look like weight-loss inspiration standing on
weight-loss inspiration standing on
weight-loss inspiration standing on stage right here at the moment but back
stage right here at the moment but back
stage right here at the moment but back in 2012 I weighed over 43 and a half
in 2012 I weighed over 43 and a half
in 2012 I weighed over 43 and a half stone I was told that was going to die
stone I was told that was going to die
stone I was told that was going to die by the time I was 35 I am 35 I began
by the time I was 35 I am 35 I began
by the time I was 35 I am 35 I began documenting my journey for survival if
documenting my journey for survival if
documenting my journey for survival if you like which sounds quite dramatic but
you like which sounds quite dramatic but
you like which sounds quite dramatic but it was actually pretty accurate in a bid
it was actually pretty accurate in a bid
it was actually pretty accurate in a bid to help me work through some of the
to help me work through some of the
to help me work through some of the issues and challenges that I was facing
issues and challenges that I was facing
issues and challenges that I was facing a therapy of sorts if you like I also
a therapy of sorts if you like I also
a therapy of sorts if you like I also figured that if I kept my fingers busy
figured that if I kept my fingers busy
figured that if I kept my fingers busy typing they’d be less likely to find
typing they’d be less likely to find
typing they’d be less likely to find their way into a packet of crisps what I
their way into a packet of crisps what I
their way into a packet of crisps what I hadn’t planned on was the journey that
hadn’t planned on was the journey that
hadn’t planned on was the journey that it would take me on the past few years
it would take me on the past few years
it would take me on the past few years have been fraught with ups and downs and
have been fraught with ups and downs and
have been fraught with ups and downs and I’ve put myself in some incredibly
I’ve put myself in some incredibly
I’ve put myself in some incredibly challenging situations it’s being one of
challenging situations it’s being one of
challenging situations it’s being one of the hot chili I started a brutally
the hot chili I started a brutally
the hot chili I started a brutally honest yet online so to be brutally
honest yet online so to be brutally
honest yet online so to be brutally honest online social media account and
honest online social media account and
honest online social media account and what I wanted to do was hopefully share
what I wanted to do was hopefully share
what I wanted to do was hopefully share my story in the hopes that maybe a
my story in the hopes that maybe a
my story in the hopes that maybe a couple of people or a handful of people
couple of people or a handful of people
couple of people or a handful of people or in my situation would be able to
or in my situation would be able to
or in my situation would be able to relate to that story I was struggling
relate to that story I was struggling
relate to that story I was struggling along for a couple of years I had been
along for a couple of years I had been
along for a couple of years I had been told that I’d got type 2 diabetes I’d
told that I’d got type 2 diabetes I’d
told that I’d got type 2 diabetes I’d been told that I got cancerous cells I
been told that I got cancerous cells I
been told that I got cancerous cells I was in quite a bad place so I fought as
was in quite a bad place so I fought as
was in quite a bad place so I fought as hard as I could and I managed to shift
hard as I could and I managed to shift
hard as I could and I managed to shift 21 stone
21 stone
21 stone I managed to gain 13 of that back rather
I managed to gain 13 of that back rather
I managed to gain 13 of that back rather epically in the space of a year however
epically in the space of a year however
epically in the space of a year however so it’s not all being plain sailing
so it’s not all being plain sailing
so it’s not all being plain sailing I did manage to ditch my type 2 diabetes
I did manage to ditch my type 2 diabetes
I did manage to ditch my type 2 diabetes and I did manage to ditch the cancerous
and I did manage to ditch the cancerous
and I did manage to ditch the cancerous cells along the way as well but all of
cells along the way as well but all of
cells along the way as well but all of that stuff is minor in comparison to
that stuff is minor in comparison to
that stuff is minor in comparison to what I actually learned about myself and
what I actually learned about myself and
what I actually learned about myself and other people that face the same
other people that face the same
other people that face the same challenges that I do I struggled I I
challenges that I do I struggled I I
challenges that I do I struggled I I would eat my breakfast and I would be
would eat my breakfast and I would be
would eat my breakfast and I would be planning lunch as I was eating breakfast
planning lunch as I was eating breakfast
planning lunch as I was eating breakfast and I’d also be planning what I was
and I’d also be planning what I was
and I’d also be planning what I was going to have between breakfast and
going to have between breakfast and
going to have between breakfast and lunch and this cycle went on but I’d
lunch and this cycle went on but I’d
lunch and this cycle went on but I’d planned my weight-loss journey down to
planned my weight-loss journey down to
planned my weight-loss journey down to the nth degree and I was treating myself
the nth degree and I was treating myself
the nth degree and I was treating myself like a project at work yet something
like a project at work yet something
like a project at work yet something wasn’t clicking for me in fact these
wasn’t clicking for me in fact these
wasn’t clicking for me in fact these little cards that I’ve got here was
little cards that I’ve got here was
little cards that I’ve got here was something that I wrote way back when I
something that I wrote way back when I
something that I wrote way back when I was first trying to shift my weight and
was first trying to shift my weight and
was first trying to shift my weight and I’ll read them out to you when I’ve lost
I’ll read them out to you when I’ve lost
I’ll read them out to you when I’ve lost weight I’ll enjoy cooking nice healthy
weight I’ll enjoy cooking nice healthy
weight I’ll enjoy cooking nice healthy meals for my family and friends as I’ll
meals for my family and friends as I’ll
meals for my family and friends as I’ll be more confident and will feel more
be more confident and will feel more
be more confident and will feel more sociable happier when I lose my weight
sociable happier when I lose my weight
sociable happier when I lose my weight I’ll be able to enjoy trying out
I’ll be able to enjoy trying out
I’ll be able to enjoy trying out different activities that will make me
different activities that will make me
different activities that will make me feel happy healthy and alive my life
feel happy healthy and alive my life
feel happy healthy and alive my life will be full of fun things to do when
will be full of fun things to do when
will be full of fun things to do when I’ve lost my weight I was putting my
I’ve lost my weight I was putting my
I’ve lost my weight I was putting my life on hold when I’ve lost weight I’ll
life on hold when I’ve lost weight I’ll
life on hold when I’ve lost weight I’ll go rock climbing when I’ve lost weight
go rock climbing when I’ve lost weight
go rock climbing when I’ve lost weight I’m going to go swimming when I’ve lost
I’m going to go swimming when I’ve lost
I’m going to go swimming when I’ve lost weight I’m going to buy a bike and when
weight I’m going to buy a bike and when
weight I’m going to buy a bike and when I’ve lost weight I’ll wear a vest top
I’ve lost weight I’ll wear a vest top
I’ve lost weight I’ll wear a vest top because I won’t have my bingo wings
because I won’t have my bingo wings
because I won’t have my bingo wings anymore it was a struggle as I said you
anymore it was a struggle as I said you
anymore it was a struggle as I said you know there were ups and downs along the
know there were ups and downs along the
know there were ups and downs along the way but one of the things that I started
way but one of the things that I started
way but one of the things that I started to realize was that I needed to try and
to realize was that I needed to try and
to realize was that I needed to try and live life now instead of putting it on
live life now instead of putting it on
live life now instead of putting it on hold and I remember the lightboard
hold and I remember the lightboard
hold and I remember the lightboard moment it’s going to sound really simple
moment it’s going to sound really simple
moment it’s going to sound really simple but I actually took my niece and nephew
but I actually took my niece and nephew
but I actually took my niece and nephew to the park oh yeah
to the park oh yeah
to the park oh yeah fabulous little monsters I took my niece
fabulous little monsters I took my niece
fabulous little monsters I took my niece and nephew to the park and I had the
and nephew to the park and I had the
and nephew to the park and I had the most amount of fern in that space of
most amount of fern in that space of
most amount of fern in that space of time I’d had in in a long long time and
time I’d had in in a long long time and
time I’d had in in a long long time and I got home and I realized something he
I got home and I realized something he
I got home and I realized something he didn’t actually think about food so what
didn’t actually think about food so what
didn’t actually think about food so what had consumed my every waking moment when
had consumed my every waking moment when
had consumed my every waking moment when I was out there having fern I didn’t
I was out there having fern I didn’t
I was out there having fern I didn’t think about it
think about it
think about it so I made it my mission right there and
so I made it my mission right there and
so I made it my mission right there and then to have a bit of fun to stop
then to have a bit of fun to stop
then to have a bit of fun to stop putting life on hold so I joined the gym
putting life on hold so I joined the gym
putting life on hold so I joined the gym I find it fern don’t shoot me I quite
I find it fern don’t shoot me I quite
I find it fern don’t shoot me I quite like the gym met some amazing trainers
like the gym met some amazing trainers
like the gym met some amazing trainers that have helped me out along the way
that have helped me out along the way
that have helped me out along the way I started going out more to comedy gigs
I started going out more to comedy gigs
I started going out more to comedy gigs to the theatre actually snuck onstage at
to the theatre actually snuck onstage at
to the theatre actually snuck onstage at the RSC once it was fantastic I’m sure
the RSC once it was fantastic I’m sure
the RSC once it was fantastic I’m sure I’m going to be on stage somewhere along
I’m going to be on stage somewhere along
I’m going to be on stage somewhere along the lines and you know and I drink
the lines and you know and I drink
the lines and you know and I drink cocktails yes there’s a few there and
cocktails yes there’s a few there and
cocktails yes there’s a few there and yes I’ll be having some later on I went
yes I’ll be having some later on I went
yes I’ll be having some later on I went rock climbing so I didn’t wait I went
rock climbing so I didn’t wait I went
rock climbing so I didn’t wait I went rock climbing
rock climbing
rock climbing I’ve been canoeing canoe safari for a
I’ve been canoeing canoe safari for a
I’ve been canoeing canoe safari for a whole day my delightful liver heart was
whole day my delightful liver heart was
whole day my delightful liver heart was taking the photos from behind me and
taking the photos from behind me and
taking the photos from behind me and Mitch later on in the day I realized
Mitch later on in the day I realized
Mitch later on in the day I realized that he actually wasn’t doing any
that he actually wasn’t doing any
that he actually wasn’t doing any canoeing at all he was leaving the hard
canoeing at all he was leaving the hard
canoeing at all he was leaving the hard work to me I went walking in the
work to me I went walking in the
work to me I went walking in the highlands and I got lost in the
highlands and I got lost in the
highlands and I got lost in the highlands and we sat on the rocket Aires
highlands and we sat on the rocket Aires
highlands and we sat on the rocket Aires I have to realizing I’ve gone three
I have to realizing I’ve gone three
I have to realizing I’ve gone three miles in the wrong direction and had to
miles in the wrong direction and had to
miles in the wrong direction and had to walk three miles back again and I went
walk three miles back again and I went
walk three miles back again and I went clay pigeon shooting and I’m actually a
clay pigeon shooting and I’m actually a
clay pigeon shooting and I’m actually a pretty good shot so so I did all of that
pretty good shot so so I did all of that
pretty good shot so so I did all of that canister I also bought a bike and I
canister I also bought a bike and I
canister I also bought a bike and I pedaled my way around the Warwickshire
pedaled my way around the Warwickshire
pedaled my way around the Warwickshire countryside despite it looking like my
countryside despite it looking like my
countryside despite it looking like my backside is trying to eat the bike and I
backside is trying to eat the bike and I
backside is trying to eat the bike and I ended up in a ditch and again why
ended up in a ditch and again why
ended up in a ditch and again why delightfully other half rather than
delightfully other half rather than
delightfully other half rather than helping me out of that ditch decided it
helping me out of that ditch decided it
helping me out of that ditch decided it was a great photo moment so and I did a
was a great photo moment so and I did a
was a great photo moment so and I did a mud run now I’d like to talk you through
mud run now I’d like to talk you through
mud run now I’d like to talk you through the process of this mud run mid-walk
the process of this mud run mid-walk
the process of this mud run mid-walk should I say I didn’t run I would only
should I say I didn’t run I would only
should I say I didn’t run I would only run if there was an ice cream van in
run if there was an ice cream van in
run if there was an ice cream van in front of me
front of me
front of me I I entered this madryn mint cements
I I entered this madryn mint cements
I I entered this madryn mint cements before and I didn’t that typical Sarah
before and I didn’t that typical Sarah
before and I didn’t that typical Sarah thing of saying its final if lost layers
thing of saying its final if lost layers
thing of saying its final if lost layers await by the time the murdering arrived
await by the time the murdering arrived
await by the time the murdering arrived so ok I can go out there and do it but I
so ok I can go out there and do it but I
so ok I can go out there and do it but I didn’t so I had to do it anyway and I
didn’t so I had to do it anyway and I
didn’t so I had to do it anyway and I was in the first wave of people that
was in the first wave of people that
was in the first wave of people that were running that day and I was right at
were running that day and I was right at
were running that day and I was right at the front the warmup killed me so I
the front the warmup killed me so I
the front the warmup killed me so I stood there at the front with quite a
stood there at the front with quite a
stood there at the front with quite a lot of trepidation and anticipation and
lot of trepidation and anticipation and
lot of trepidation and anticipation and I set off everybody in the first wave
I set off everybody in the first wave
I set off everybody in the first wave overtook me rather quickly people in the
overtook me rather quickly people in the
overtook me rather quickly people in the second wave caught me up rather quickly
second wave caught me up rather quickly
second wave caught me up rather quickly just worried from being quite honest
just worried from being quite honest
just worried from being quite honest with you and my friends were in the
with you and my friends were in the
with you and my friends were in the second wave they caught up with me and
second wave they caught up with me and
second wave they caught up with me and they slowed down to walk with me and I
they slowed down to walk with me and I
they slowed down to walk with me and I said carry on carry on I don’t we’ll
said carry on carry on I don’t we’ll
said carry on carry on I don’t we’ll told you what you carry on and they’ve
told you what you carry on and they’ve
told you what you carry on and they’ve finished and they came back to get me so
finished and they came back to get me so
finished and they came back to get me so he could do the last couple of obstacles
he could do the last couple of obstacles
he could do the last couple of obstacles together which was marvelous of them so
together which was marvelous of them so
together which was marvelous of them so I just I’d crawled in the net so she can
I just I’d crawled in the net so she can
I just I’d crawled in the net so she can see from the delightful pictures there
see from the delightful pictures there
see from the delightful pictures there I’d clambered over things through tires
I’d clambered over things through tires
I’d clambered over things through tires second from last obstacle I had to climb
second from last obstacle I had to climb
second from last obstacle I had to climb into a pit of mud crawl under a net job
into a pit of mud crawl under a net job
into a pit of mud crawl under a net job done got out the other side walked to
done got out the other side walked to
done got out the other side walked to the last obstacle which was this cargo
the last obstacle which was this cargo
the last obstacle which was this cargo net I stood at the bottom thinking oh it
net I stood at the bottom thinking oh it
net I stood at the bottom thinking oh it looks like Everest to me and I very
looks like Everest to me and I very
looks like Everest to me and I very slowly indeed tried to climb the cargo
slowly indeed tried to climb the cargo
slowly indeed tried to climb the cargo net now for those of you who’ve done mud
net now for those of you who’ve done mud
net now for those of you who’ve done mud runs I’m sure you’re kind of health and
runs I’m sure you’re kind of health and
runs I’m sure you’re kind of health and safety people out there as well well
safety people out there as well well
safety people out there as well well know that they let a few people attempt
know that they let a few people attempt
know that they let a few people attempt the obstacle at any given point in time
the obstacle at any given point in time
the obstacle at any given point in time so they were holding everybody back and
so they were holding everybody back and
so they were holding everybody back and I had my cousin on one side of me and my
I had my cousin on one side of me and my
I had my cousin on one side of me and my friend on the other side of me and they
friend on the other side of me and they
friend on the other side of me and they were actually helping me get my feet
were actually helping me get my feet
were actually helping me get my feet into the right places because my poor
into the right places because my poor
into the right places because my poor little feet had swollen up and my
little feet had swollen up and my
little feet had swollen up and my fingers had swollen up like sausages
fingers had swollen up like sausages
fingers had swollen up like sausages what I failed to tell you it was the
what I failed to tell you it was the
what I failed to tell you it was the hottest day of the summer nightmare
hottest day of the summer nightmare
hottest day of the summer nightmare and I made it about a third of the way
and I made it about a third of the way
and I made it about a third of the way up the cargo net and I stood there I
up the cargo net and I stood there I
up the cargo net and I stood there I didn’t stand I was clinging on for dear
didn’t stand I was clinging on for dear
didn’t stand I was clinging on for dear life actually just don’t know how I can
life actually just don’t know how I can
life actually just don’t know how I can do this genuinely did not think I would
do this genuinely did not think I would
do this genuinely did not think I would be able to do it my cousin said to me
be able to do it my cousin said to me
be able to do it my cousin said to me Sara do you want to get down I said no
Sara do you want to get down I said no
Sara do you want to get down I said no give me a moment give me a moment so I
give me a moment give me a moment so I
give me a moment give me a moment so I clung on a bit longer I just I can’t I
clung on a bit longer I just I can’t I
clung on a bit longer I just I can’t I haven’t got any strength left my legs
haven’t got any strength left my legs
haven’t got any strength left my legs are about to give up my little fat
are about to give up my little fat
are about to give up my little fat sausage fingers just couldn’t hold on
sausage fingers just couldn’t hold on
sausage fingers just couldn’t hold on for very much longer I was covered in
for very much longer I was covered in
for very much longer I was covered in mud and I just wanted to go home
mud and I just wanted to go home
mud and I just wanted to go home so I made a little movement as if I was
so I made a little movement as if I was
so I made a little movement as if I was going to get down and the people who
going to get down and the people who
going to get down and the people who were backed up it looked like there
were backed up it looked like there
were backed up it looked like there about as many of them behind me as there
about as many of them behind me as there
about as many of them behind me as there are here in this audience and the crowd
are here in this audience and the crowd
are here in this audience and the crowd started to cheer me on her I can’t
started to cheer me on her I can’t
started to cheer me on her I can’t effing get down now can I
and I don’t quite know how I did it but
and I don’t quite know how I did it but I somehow managed to get to the top of
I somehow managed to get to the top of
I somehow managed to get to the top of that cargo net what I didn’t tell you is
that cargo net what I didn’t tell you is
that cargo net what I didn’t tell you is that the other side of the cargo net was
that the other side of the cargo net was
that the other side of the cargo net was a slide into a pit of mud and as I’d
a slide into a pit of mud and as I’d
a slide into a pit of mud and as I’d approach the car gonna I could see all
approach the car gonna I could see all
approach the car gonna I could see all of these lovely gazelle-like creatures
of these lovely gazelle-like creatures
of these lovely gazelle-like creatures running along clambering up the net
running along clambering up the net
running along clambering up the net sitting on the top of it spinning around
sitting on the top of it spinning around
sitting on the top of it spinning around holding hands and we down the other side
holding hands and we down the other side
holding hands and we down the other side I did not do that I got to the top I
I did not do that I got to the top I
I did not do that I got to the top I just clambered over the top I slid down
just clambered over the top I slid down
just clambered over the top I slid down on my stomach got myself up at the
on my stomach got myself up at the
on my stomach got myself up at the bottom my cousin came down behind me hit
bottom my cousin came down behind me hit
bottom my cousin came down behind me hit the back of me and I went back down into
the back of me and I went back down into
the back of me and I went back down into the mud but I did it we crossed the
the mud but I did it we crossed the
the mud but I did it we crossed the finish line together and it was at that
finish line together and it was at that
finish line together and it was at that point I realized I’d forgotten my change
point I realized I’d forgotten my change
point I realized I’d forgotten my change of clothes and had to drive home in my
of clothes and had to drive home in my
of clothes and had to drive home in my knickers I mean right off wasn’t the
knickers I mean right off wasn’t the
knickers I mean right off wasn’t the best of days but actually it’s probably
best of days but actually it’s probably
best of days but actually it’s probably one of my fondest memories of the things
one of my fondest memories of the things
one of my fondest memories of the things I’ve done you know it was a challenge
I’ve done you know it was a challenge
I’ve done you know it was a challenge and I did it now all of that stuff that
and I did it now all of that stuff that
and I did it now all of that stuff that I’ve shown you the rock climbing the
I’ve shown you the rock climbing the
I’ve shown you the rock climbing the canoeing or swimming I didn’t tell you
canoeing or swimming I didn’t tell you
canoeing or swimming I didn’t tell you about swimming I guess swimming and I
about swimming I guess swimming and I
about swimming I guess swimming and I don’t hide in a towel I sashay around
don’t hide in a towel I sashay around
don’t hide in a towel I sashay around the edge of the pool like Beyonce would
the edge of the pool like Beyonce would
the edge of the pool like Beyonce would and say there’s the swimming this is
and say there’s the swimming this is
and say there’s the swimming this is cycling mr. canoeing this is a
cycling mr. canoeing this is a
cycling mr. canoeing this is a rock-climbing there’s all of this sort
rock-climbing there’s all of this sort
rock-climbing there’s all of this sort of stuff I’ve done that pretty much
of stuff I’ve done that pretty much
of stuff I’ve done that pretty much around the 30 stone mark while in excess
around the 30 stone mark while in excess
around the 30 stone mark while in excess of 20 stone probably closer to 30 stone
of 20 stone probably closer to 30 stone
of 20 stone probably closer to 30 stone I just want people to realize that you
I just want people to realize that you
I just want people to realize that you don’t have to put life on hold
don’t have to put life on hold
don’t have to put life on hold I think I’d been waiting for this
I think I’d been waiting for this
I think I’d been waiting for this Cinderella story I’ve been waiting for
Cinderella story I’ve been waiting for
Cinderella story I’ve been waiting for life to be perfect before I took action
I’m not so bad about Cinderella story
I’m not so bad about Cinderella story anymore if I’m being quite honest with
anymore if I’m being quite honest with
anymore if I’m being quite honest with you because I’m out there creating my
you because I’m out there creating my
you because I’m out there creating my own story life isn’t about perfection
own story life isn’t about perfection
own story life isn’t about perfection life is about progress life is about
life is about progress life is about
life is about progress life is about having fun life is about going out there
having fun life is about going out there
having fun life is about going out there and doing it now
and doing it now
and doing it now you can my plea to you today is to go
you can my plea to you today is to go
you can my plea to you today is to go out there and inspire as many people as
out there and inspire as many people as
out there and inspire as many people as you can with your imperfections thank
you can with your imperfections thank
you can with your imperfections thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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