Being overweight is now among the top diseases our civilization faces. According to recent records, over 50% of the American people now suffer from the problem of obesity. But all these statistics couldn’t ease my feelings and despair. It was awful when I realized I belonged to this circle of overweight people.
It was extremely terrifying, because I had never faced such a problem before. As a child I had always been a very thin girl, even skinny. My sisters and parents were also average people. I never thought of dieting or of some special exercise, as I simply didn’t need them.
But my shock came later… I was going to return to my work, and decided to try on my wardrobe… Frankly speaking, I was horrified. None of my clothes suited me in a proper way. I couldn’t even fasten the trousers I had worn when I’d been pregnant.
I gathered all my forces and bought a scale. I placed it in the bathroom, so that none in my household would see it. In the evening I closed my eyes and stood on the scale… Oh my God… My assumptions proved to be true! Forty pounds of increase in my weight! It was awful.
I felt completely disappointed. I didn’t know what to do. One thought gave way to another in my mind… I realized precisely that I had to change the style of my life, but I couldn’t guess what steps I would have to take.
That night was the most terrible of my life. I had insomnia almost the whole night long. In the morning, I was in a complete depression, but I knew that I would never put up with this problem.
I went to a bookshop, surprised by the fact that there were a lot of shelves filled with literature about the problem of obesity. I was taken aback… I had never been interested in such books before, and didn’t know what to choose. I didn’t have the courage to ask the advice of a consulter, for I was very embarrassed about my problem.
So, I bought the first book I found. It was under an ugly title, “Problems and Consequences of Obesity in Our Civilization.” I went home and started to read it.
I was horrified upon reading the first page. It stated that a number of diseases resulted from obesity, the first of which was diabetes. Most overweight people are under the principal risk of suffering, even dying, from this disease.
I then read about a lot of other problems, like heart attacks, breathlessness, varicose veins, etc. I didn’t want to aggravate my depression; thus, I decided to put this book aside.
I tried to calm myself down and develop my own strategy to overcome this problem. It is a common truth that nothing can be achieved without a strong will and a good mood. So, I said to myself: Excess pounds are not an incurable disease. I’ll manage with this and return to my ordinary weight, whatever it costs.
The next step was an attempt to develop patience. I clearly understood that I had put on a lot of weight, and not in two days, either, so I needed time to lose it as well. I stopped trying on my trousers every forty minutes, expecting my waist to become thinner so quickly.
I decided to achieve my dream of losing weight without any medication or magic dust. For this purpose, I tried to design my own diet. I tried to integrate a balance and variety of healthy foods into my daily routine. I understood that it’s impossible to refrain from all food, as my body needs a constant supply of energy to power the continuous processes of life, such as the heartbeat, breathing and digestion. Energy is also needed to grow and repair the body's tissues, and to power the muscles for movement. This energy is provided by food and drink. The food choices we make will have a long-term impact on health. There is good evidence that eating a healthy diet can reduce the risk of illnesses, such as diabetes, obesity, coronary heart disease and several cancers (especially bowel cancer). I think that all the products are necessary for the body, but in correct amounts. So, I tried to develop some rules for my diet:
- Eat more whole grain starchy carbohydrates, i.e., whole meal bread, brown rice, whole grain cereals. As I’ve read, it can help to alter the balance of everyday meals. For instance, more bread and less sandwich filling, more pasta and less creamy sauce.
- Eat more fruit and vegetables, aiming for at least five portions a day. Include fruit at breakfast and salad at lunch.
- Cut down on salt by eating less processed food, such as ready meals, and adding less salt to food.
- Control the portion sizes so that, the amount of energy I consume over time, if not every day, matches my level of activity.
- Drink more pure water.
I completely agree with the statement that the best way to lose weight is a combination of less food and more physical activity. I tried to choose activities that I enjoyed, which were practical and easy for me to include as part of my lifestyle. I always use the stairs, instead of the elevator. I try to bear in mind that every single step helps. I get off the bus a stop before the usual stop and walk the rest of the way. I try to use commercial breaks between television programs to stand up and do exercise, or consider using an exercise bicycle in my living room while watching my favorite program.
I’ve made a lot of efforts, but I’m so happy that they were not vain. I lost about a pound or two each week. About six months have passed and I feel myself on top. I’ve succeeded to lose the excess forty pounds which I hated so much. I don’t have to worry about changing my wardrobe any longer, as I wear all the clothes I wore before even being pregnant.
I want to give advice to people suffering from being overweight: Don’t fall into depression; you are strong enough to overcome it.
Kate Nelenson, programmer
|
|
| Back to top | Back to list |
Please Note: The information presented throughout Lose100Pounds.org is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Please see your physician before starting any diet and/or exercise program.
Design by Hardy