Since some people were asking about my progress, here are few photos showing my progress. I've started proper training with fitness goals in the beginning of this year, but let me just briefly step back to the end of 2011, when all those changes actually started. Current photos are at the end of this post.
In the summer of 2011, after trying few times to quit smoking, working at nights, drinking 2 litre bottle of coke each day and not moving from the computer, I hit my maximum weight of 88 kg. I think that was when my alarm bell started to ring. Later that year I moved to London, quit smoking and decided that it's time to do something.
On the left, summer of 2011, on the right - the end of 2011. Both photos around 85 - 88 kg.
I knew from past experience that after quitting smoking I will gain some weight, so I decided to start running. I did that on and off for few weeks, and in February 2012 I brought my bike here and started cycling to work almost every day. Now that's when I started to notice positive changes. My weight dropped to around 82 kg, and cycling on my mountain bike was not enough anymore, so around summer 2012 I signed for the gym (first time in my life, I was 30!). The rest of 2012 was some gym, some bouldering and cycling to work. Without a real goal, just to “get fit”.
By the end of 2012 I dropped below 80 kg.
Then 2013 came, together with new bike, new gym and new goals. Last few months of training have been covered here already, but to summarise - I weight 73 kg right now and I've never felt better. I've never looked better either (and I'm not done yet, hell no!).
So, the biggest progress happened definitely in the last few months. I know that I could've achieved more in terms of body fat %, and there are people that have achieved much more much faster. I'm proud of myself anyway! Also, “the look” is just a side effect, not the goal itself. I swim, bike and run more and more each month and I'm getting stronger that ever. And that's just a beginning!