My earliest childhood memories were of me being depressed because of my weight. As soon as I had more control over my body, I developed the eating disorders anorexia and bulimia. In my late teens, food became an addiction, and I gained a lot of weight. At my heaviest, I was 322lbs. In July 2019, I hit rock bottom and booked an appointment with a therapist to overcome my food addiction. It was the best decision I ever made, and I joined BodySlims in January 2020 to lose weight.
I chose BodySlims for several reasons, namely because they don’t only focus on diet. They teach that the most important aspect of your weight loss journey is mind set and how you see yourself. Also, I didn’t want to go on a diet feeling deprived, hungry, and miserable all the time. Although the focus is on healthy eating, it’s not restrictive. They gave me a ten-week diet plan, so I had plenty of meals to choose from. A typical day of eating included:
- Breakfast: Eggs and avocado on whole wheat toast
- Lunch: Baked potato and beans
- Dinner: Chicken, potatoes, vegetables, and gravy
- Snacks: Low-fat yogurt, rice cakes, unsalted Brazil nuts, fruit
The program is ten weeks long; during this time, I learned about nutrition, how to control my habits, the biology of weight loss, self-mastery, and much more. BodySlims also gave me some really great tips to help me stay on track and accelerate the weight loss process.
Water intake: Drinking two liters of water a day had me running to the bathroom every ten minutes, but it flushes out toxins and resets your system. It also gave me plenty of energy and kept me full, so I didn’t eat as much.
Avoid refined carbs: We all love white bread and pasta, but they’re processed and high in sugar. Instead, opt for whole carbohydrates such as brown rice, potatoes, and quinoa. They will keep you full for longer and increase your energy levels.
Meal prep: After a hard day’s work, the last thing you want to do is come home and cook, which is why it’s so much easier to pull in at a drive-through or order a takeaway. Unfortunately, processed foods are full of sugars, salts, and hidden chemicals which are terrible for your health. The most effective way to beat the temptation is to meal prep on Sundays. Cook everything you’re going to eat during the week and freeze it. All you need to do is take your meal out of the freezer the night before to warm up and eat the next day.
Balance: Fill your plate with a healthy balance of carbohydrates, proteins, healthy fats, and plenty of vegetables for every meal.
I kept this up for 14 months and lost 140lbs. My life has been completely transformed. I no longer worry about buying clothes, sitting next to people on public transport, and walking down the street. I’m free, and I’ll never go back to the person I used to be.
