When Lucja Leonard hit nearly 16 stone, she knew she had to do something to turn her lifestyle around. Despite hating running as a kid, she was determined it could help her make the changes she craved and now she’s preparing for her fifth marathon.

Read more inspirational real-life stories here.

This is her story

I’ve spent my life in a love hate relationship with food and with my body and always felt like I was larger than life itself!

I hit my lowest point when I weighed my heaviest, 98kg (nearly 16 stone), and was having trouble getting into a size 16. OK, let’s be honest, I was starting to buy size 18, and this was Australian sizing which is bigger than the UK. Enough was enough!

So when I moved to the UK, along with my supportive hubby, we started ‘wogging’; jog a bit, then walk a bit. I always hated running as a kid. I always coming last at athletic events at school so to willingly go out and run… you know I was serious.

Seeing the weight drop off spurred me on

I started eating healthier as well and, bit by bit, I started feeling fitter, being able to run more than walk, and the weight started to drop off which just spurred me on to keep going.

I loved how good I felt after going for a run and loved the changes that were happening to my body. It was so great to be able to go into a shop and buy clothes that fitted and look great!

I lost 20kg in the big first push over about two years so it was slow and steady. Nine years on, I now weigh a very respectable 73kg and fit into a size 10.

My first race nerves

My first 10km was a nerve-wracking experience and my first marathon in 2010 was an emotional experience. I’ve run endless miles, entered lots of races from the highly subscribed 10km races and half marathons to some weird and wonderful lesser-known races like the Wincle Trout Run (free trout for every entrant) and the Marathon Du Medoc, where I could enjoy all my pleasures in life, with a wine stand every km of the 42km – highly recommended for the experience.

I’m back in training and now ready to stand at the start line of my second London Marathon, my fifth marathon to date.

See the Virgin London Marathon 2012 Guide for more information.

To say I am hooked on running is an under statement, my hubby sends me out for a run if I get in a bad mood; the cause of the mood is normally because I haven’t been for a run for a couple of days and it just kills me mentally!

I am always going to be scared of letting go and piling the weight back on, but now I am fitter in my mind and I know to keep eating healthier, enjoying treats in moderation, and knowing that by keeping up my running, I can enjoy all the good things that life has to offer.

Want to know how to run for weight loss? Read more in our running to lose weight section. 

Read more inspirational real-life stories here.