By the time I turned 21, I was horrendously obese. I can still vividly remember the awkward glares and shocked gasps I got from total strangers, the insults hurled at me as I walked down the street trying my best to be invisible, wishing that the pavement could just open up and swallow me whole. I was mocked, called names and told that I was fat and disgusting.
I remember the endless lectures I got from skinny people who had absolutely no idea on what I was going through about how “easy it is to lose weight and get into shape.” Yeah right!
I recall feeling inferior to my peers and not being able to wear the cute, trendy outfits which were the in-thing at the time because I could just never get a size big enough for me to fit into. I remember withdrawing from the rest of the world and spending most of my time at home alone, missing a lot of birthday parties, picnics and social gatherings for fear of being mocked and ridiculed out there.
I remember the tears I cried into my pillow at night, praying and wishing that I could just lose a few pounds and enjoy life like other girls my age. I tried EVERYTHING - medical treatments, tests, special diets, with no success whatsoever.
So how did I lose all the weight?
1. Think positively
Researchers have established a close connection between positive thinking and good health. Contrary to popular belief, being gorgeous and confident starts from the inside out. When you embrace your uniqueness, make peace with your flaws and begin to celebrate everything that makes you "you", it will eventually translate into outward beauty.
It's sad how most of us girls can write mile long lists of all the wonderful things we envy and admire in others, but struggle to come up with just 5 things we love about ourselves.
If you're battling with feelings of inferiority and worthlessness, sit down and make a list of every little thing that's sweet, cute and adorable about you. If you can't think of anything, ask others to tell you what they like about you and write those attributes down. You'll be amazed at what you'll find. When you've completed your list, stick it up somewhere you can see it every day. It will motivate you to work towards your goals and not give up.
2. Deal with unresolved hurt and anger
I'm sure we've all heard the popular adage "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." It's no secret that many of us ladies pride ourselves in being able to throw an earth-shaking fit and hold life-long grudges if we're offended. However, harbouring anger, hurt and resentment actually poisons your life and damages your body with time.
Health problems such as Hypertension,Asthma, Obesity, Diabetes as well as accelerated aging have been associated with poor stress and anger management patterns. (http://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-management/features/10-fixable-stress-related-health-problems)
I did lots of soul-searching and found that deep down I had felt unworthy, neglected and angry for years. Ultimately, I had taken it out on my body by eating recklessly and never working out, which of course led to the weight gain.
So, I let go of grudges I'd nursed for years, forgave Exes who had broken my heart and stopped punishing myself for old mistakes. Instead of emotional-eating, I dealt with my feelings head-on. For the first time in years, I began to love myself, and that completely turned my life around. When you are happy and at peace, you'll have a healthy glow about you and your body will follow suit.
3. Change your attitude about eating well and working out.
Most of us associate healthy eating and physical exercise with torture. But if you're going to succeed at losing weight and getting healthy, this attitude needs to change, BIG TIME. Find a form of exercise that you can enjoy and look forward to, for example walking or dancing. Get a friend to join you and turn it into a fun activity. If you're walking or jogging, take some music with you and enjoy some sensational beats as you move.
Build momentum and increase the intensity of your work-out sessions as your endurance levels increase. Instead of rewarding yourself with food, find alternative ways of celebrating your successes, for example buying a new outfit, jewellery or some new perfume. Your soon-to-be-gorgeous body will thank you for it!
4. Be consistent
Achieving success in anything takes lots of hard work, sacrifice and determination. For most people, looking great is not as easy as snapping their fingers and voila, they're hotter than a summer day in the desert. The naked truth is that getting in shape is hard. You may not see any obvious results for a while but keep pressing on!
It's important to exercise self-discipline on a daily basis. Don't work out and eat healthy for a few days / weeks, only to revert to your bad habits later on.
Continue making healthy choices even after you begin to see results. Maintaining the body of your dreams will require you to eat well, think positively and exercise consistently. It's about lifestyle. The good news is: after a few weeks of making healthy choices,it becomes second nature. Greasy food seems disgusting and working out becomes a normal part of your life.
I'm here today to testify that you can break out of obesity and body-image issues, even if you've been battling with them for years. Don't let anyone tell you that you're a failure, that you'll never make it. With persistence, courage and focus, you can rise above every challenge that life throws at you.
A fresh start is possible! It's time to step up and claim your freedom. This is your moment! Your best life is waiting!
Please feel free to share your thoughts, comments or ask questions. And remember, sharing is caring!
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