It is fair to say that when I saw the group leaving school for their DofE expedition, excited and chatting amongst themselves, I felt embarrassed and sad.

I felt this way because I knew that this time next year it would be my group heading off on our expedition, and I simply wasn't fit enough. Walking for five days seemed impossible. On Day 1, I would have been lucky to walk a mile. I knew I was overweight, and it was stopping me from doing lots of things. That made me feel unhappy.

When I came to choose my DofE sections with my leader, I selected fishing for my Skills section because I love it, and there is always something new to learn. However, when it came to choosing my Physical section, I didn't feel the usual dread that I normally felt whenever somebody mentioned exercise. Instead, I saw an opportunity to make a change.

My leader, Matt, discussed some options with me. We already had PE at school, which filled me with fear and anxiety, but there was something about the gym and lifting weights that intrigued me. I wanted to know more. Could I really step inside a gym and feel comfortable? What if everybody looked at me and laughed?

We started on a Tuesday evening at an after-school gym club. It was quiet—not at all what I expected. Slowly, I got to know the other people there and learned exercises that targeted different muscle groups. Before long, I loved it. I also began exploring the nutrition side of fitness and learning more about healthy eating.

As I finish writing this story, there aren't enough characters left to say everything I would like to. But I will say this: now it is my turn for the expedition. I am standing here two stone lighter, fitter, and happier than I was before.

Warren S.