And put it all back on again.
I was a very active healthy child with a normal weight, however during puberty at around the 13-15 mark I put on a bit of weight - about 1-2 stone in total. I felt heavy, tired and my parents often commented that perhaps I should loose a little for health purposes and also because it was costing them a fortune re-stocking the fridge! I used to hate my parents commenting on my weight, I'd get so angry, stop eating then feel awful and turn to food for comfort. It was a dangerous cycle. A few months later and I was stuck in a rut. Then I spied one of my mums books in the cupboard, it was Gillian Mckeith's 'You are what you eat' book, and I read it from cover to cover. That book and her story inspired me and from that day I decided I had to do something about my weight, and went about changing my lifestyle. I starting eating loads of fruit and veg, plus porridge, brown rice and oily fish etc. My diet was great and I looked and felt AMAZING! I had never had so much energy and weight was quickly coming off at a healthy 2 lb's a week.
As the weight came off it drove me to diet further, I didn't have a goal, I just wanted to be 'skinny', and so I started to restrict my diet and calorie count. I started halving my portions, then skipping meals. In the end I was eating about 500 calories a day. I would have a muller light or fruit for breakfast, 2 ricecakes for lunch and s small carb free meal for tea. I would make excuses so I didn't have to go for family meals, and if I went out for meals with friends would complain I didn't feel well or had eaten earlier to excuse my tiny portions. I was starting to look very skinny, my friends told me I was silly and should eat more - but I used to maintain I ate plenty (out of their sight, of course).
Added to that I exercised. I used to get up at 6am and do a fitness DVD for about 30-40 mins. I would also do the gym 4 times a week and go for walks every chance I got. I would aim to exercise for an hour every day. I'm not sure what weight I got down to, but I remember trying on a pair of trousers in river island and a size 8 was far too big. I was overjoyed.
Then I started being a teenager. I started going to a lot more nights out with friends. Then I had my first 'serious' relationship, which meant I had to eat with his family and in front of him or else he would get worried. So my weight began to creep up, I had spent so long practically starving myself I couldn't keep it up anymore, and you know what, food was great!
So, as the story goes, I put all the weight (and more) back no. I lost little bits at a time (through my usually method of starvation and exercise) but each time I would put it back on again, plus a little bit more. I have tried all sorts of diets in the time between then, and of course they have all been successful in getting me to loose weight, but not in keeping it off.
The sad fact is yo-yo dieting doesn't work. We all know this, yet we still do it. However I want to make you aware of the psychological, emotional and health consequences od such activity.
I now have a warped relationship with food. I don't know when I'm full, I don't know what 'normal' diet is and I go from binge eating to starving myself on a regular basis. Food turned into my comfort, and I used it to mask a whole load of psychological feelings, which now bring themselves forth whenever food is around. Added to that the health risks, god knows what I have done to my heart, bones and risk of disease in later life.
So please, to anyone considering a 'quick fix' or stupid fad diet STOP. The only way to loose weight and keep it off is to change your lifestyle, not for a month, not for 2 weeks, but for LIFE. I have made a lot of stupid choices and they will cost me greatly, I just really hope that others can learn from my mistakes and not go through the pain of them.
As for me, well I still hope one day I can get to my ideal size. I think one day I will, but it's going to be a long, slow and hard process.
Thank you for reading. Please leave some comments, tell me about your weight loss journey. Do you agree or disagree with what I'm saying. Share your thoughts, I dare you.
Much love
xx
12 comments:
I agree. I have seen a LOT of people resorting to 500 calories a day and frantically trying to lose weight in a short amount of time and it really frustrates me, but nothing you say or do seems to make them realise what they're doing is unhealthy!
As you know, if you have read my blog posts about losing weight, I'm going for the good old fashioned exercise and eating less crap route and it works! Does it make a drastic difference? No. But I feel better for it and have lost a couple of pounds.
Life is too short to obsess over being skinny. I would love to be slimmer but there is no way I will make myself miserable to do it. xx
Fab post I've been there and done it all - I am now adjusting my diet permanently to eat everything in moderation and be sensible. Quick fixes never work, nor does denying yourself the things you want - a huge thumbs up for your post x
Great post & I agree. The only way to loose weight is change your diet for life. You cant just loose the weight and go back to how you used to be.
xx
I think far too many people focus on their actual number weight rather than looking at true health. Being active and healthy doesn't mean you'll be skinny and whatever. It's all about your personal, individual make!
I had a friend restrict herself to 400 calories a day and it worked...but she was very very unhealthy!
I know that I don't eat enough food...but I can't afford it all..and I'm not as active as I should be...but I do know that I won't restrict myself to starvation nor make myself anything more than just ME!
This is a fantastic post and I really want to thank you for your honesty - I def agree that the way forward is slow and steady... xxx
thanks for sharing, that was really interesting! I've always wanted to lose weight since I was about 10! But i find it so hard to resist food so diets are no use, i think increasing exercise is the way forward. xx
What a good post, was brave and honest of you shring all that :)
I think weight is something that many girls battle with either physically or mentally for many years and it's such a shame.
I totally agree with everything you said - a point well made :)
Wow this really hit home for me. I was pretty much the same but now thankfully i'm at a stable weight (except those last 10lbs that i can't shift)
Slow and steady is the only way to keep weight off. It worries me that people resort to quick fixes. It works short term but the damage done to your body is stupid.
xxx
Cheers for all your lvoely comments, I know it's a common problem and a lot of people do it, but it's so, so dangerous.
We will get there girlies!
Thank you for sharing. It's not common for people to be so open about past experiences.
Wow, thanks for that. I too had similar problems, parent are no help either. I was teased pretty much my whole life an dthe saddest part is when I look back at pictures of my childhood, I wasnt even fat, i had teeny bit of baby chub, but not even anything noticeable, unfortunatly I'm kin dof branded now for life. My main issue is that I am an emotional eater like 95% of women, and my main hurdle in life is to lose weight for myself and because I want to do it.
Hahaha, its quite strange to open up like this to a stranger but I feel like alot of women go through it. Either way, thanks for the post.
Wow, thanks for that. I too had similar problems, parent are no help either. I was teased pretty much my whole life an dthe saddest part is when I look back at pictures of my childhood, I wasnt even fat, i had teeny bit of baby chub, but not even anything noticeable, unfortunatly I'm kin dof branded now for life. My main issue is that I am an emotional eater like 95% of women, and my main hurdle in life is to lose weight for myself and because I want to do it.
Hahaha, its quite strange to open up like this to a stranger but I feel like alot of women go through it. Either way, thanks for the post.
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