Ever since I can remember I have been on almost every kind of diet out there with my mom and sister. I hardly think I was overweight as a child but I was always bigger than the other girls my age, I was constantly teased as a result of that and I was extremely self-conscious, It would be blistering hot outside and I would be wearing my black rain jacket to cover up. Ridiculous now when I think about it because I really wasn’t that overweight, children are just nasty!
My love for food started at a very young age. In almost every baby picture you see of me I’m holding something food related, If I cried I was handed a piece of bread and there my relationship with food probably started.
In high school I picked up a bit of weight and never fully gained confidence in myself. Afterwards I went on a massive diet and lost 21kgs in 3 months and weighed 71kgs. At 1.7m in height that’s pretty average and i looked great, started gaining some confidence… Started gaining a little bit too much confidence and once I met my husband it was tickets.
I no longer felt the need to impress anyone and I over indulged in all the foods I loved! Pizza, pastas, bread and potatoes!!!
I fell pregnant and gained a further 10kgs+.
Our son was born prematurely at 28weeks and I was weighing 130kgs+. I had totally lost sight of my health and I had forgotten to look after myself.
I no longer looked in the mirror, I had no pride in myself and never set a foot into clothing stores. I started wearing hand me down clothes from a family member and lost hope that I would ever lose weight again.
As my son got older I started to reassess my situation. I wanted to be able to run around and play with him without being exhausted all the time.
I knew I had a long road ahead of me but was prepared to do it the natural way. I knew diets and pills were out of the question and I just never got around to using any gym contract I ever had.
If I was going to do this properly I needed to be realistic with myself.
I started off small, cutting down from two sugars in my coffee to one, a week passed and I started having no sugar.
The next week I stopped milk, then breads and pastas and replaced all those things with veg. Instead of sunflower oil I have olive oil or coconut oil.
I knew I needed some support and encouragement and Sleekgeek Facebook Group was mentioned to me, I had never been so inspired and determined in my life and that was all thanks to this incredible group.
I started planning my meals and threw away all temptation in my home, I started exercising on my stationary bike at home and running around the garden when my son would nap. I took photos of myself as I started this journey and would check my progress monthly. I drink at least 3L of water every day and the only alcohol I have is whisky and soda water on weekends.
In just over a year and a half I’ve lost 40kgs and have another 20kgs to go.
The journey is never over and I often have low days where I want to throw in the towel and pig out. Sometimes I treat myself to a bit of pizza or other things I enjoy. We are only human, what is important is that our next meal choice is a healthy one. Just a few of the things I have learnt from Sleekgeek…
Consistency is key, You won’t always be hyped and motivated but you need to be disciplined and If you fall down get back up. You only fail if you never try. It’s not easy but it most certainly is worth it.
I feel my own age now, I can run around with my son and jump on the trampoline. I am no longer controlled by my obsession with food and I am not trapped by the four walls I put around myself. You don’t need to spend thousands of Rands to be fit, healthy or thin. You need to plan, take action, change your habits and make time for your goals.
Life is so short, You really don’t want to be lying on your deathbed one day full of regrets and thinking about all the opportunities and experiences you missed because your health or weight kept you back.
Start now, Start today Don’t wait for Monday because there is no better time than the present. Time is a human concept. The watch on your wrist means nothing to Mother Nature. Life is one evolving moment. Don’t be caught up in regrets of the past that you prevent opportunity blossoming in the present. You’ve got one life, live it today.
Some of my personal tips and advice:
- Plan your meals in advance.
- Always have water handy so you don’t drink the wrong stuff.
- Eat on a smaller plate and don’t have seconds.
- If you have a bit of pizza so what just ensure your next meal is a healthy one (one bad day won’t make you fat, just like one healthy meal won’t make you thin.)
- Replace pastas for veg (There are loads of great options and varieties now)
- Replace sugar with xylitol.
- Get more active, join a club or group like parkrun and start walking its free, exercise at home or in your complex, You don’t need lots of money to get active.
- Stop punishing yourself we are only human and you will get to eat the things you enjoy, you just have to learn how to eat all those things in moderation!
If you read my story and have reached this far without being bored to death I hope I could inspire you a little to take some action in your life. I have a long road ahead of me but I have a great support system at home
And the best Group in the world to Inspire Uplift and support me!
Much Love
Candice
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