Confessons of a Yo-Yo Dieter

Trying out different diet regiments was one past time I had 4 years ago (or so). Looking back, I was motivated to do the diets for the wrong reason: to fit into a bikini or to fit into fashionable clothes. The pressure of looking “presentable” to be noticed by others was also a motivation. Now that I look back on how my lifestyle was, I’m sure my body was screaming for help. Now in my mid-20’s, the realization has kicked in that I have to be truly conscious about my health. Coming from a family of diabetics and a couple of family members dying from the fight against cancer, I don’t know what else would sound the alarm for me to get moving on my fitness regiment and start living my life with a healthy lifestyle.

From the Atkins diet, to a bit of the South beach diet and to the fat flush diet and so much more, I did lose all the extra weight I had. I diligently followed the diets with even the help of diet pills, I definately lost all the extra pounds I wanted to loose and even more, I was also lean in all the right places. So my bikini body was achieved and my wardrobe finally got updated with trendier looks that were revealing and flattering. My then exercise regimen worked wonders with the diets and diet pills. I looked good and I felt good but I wasn’t happy. All because of achieving instant gratification, loosing weight at once but in the unhealthiest way.

I forget what month or week that was when I saw Oprah on her show, she was talking about Yo-yo dieting. She is one of the many victims like myself (minus the superstar status of course). While watching her show I realized, loosing weight is not only a physical battle but an emotional one too. Too dramatic you might think, but it is the reality we are facing. Just in our own culture and the many other cultures around the world, food is always present in any celebration. May it be a person’s birth, to a person’s death- food is present. Just like Oprah, I was an emotional eater. When I was happy, I’d eat. When I was sad, I’d eat. Comfort food was always the way to go for a quick fix to make me feel happy. Lard and sugar were at the top of my list. To be more specific: burgers and fries, cakes, ice cream, chips, candies. You name it, I ate it. Then I weighed myself and the numbers on the weighing scale stared right back at me: 185 LBS. Wow that was the heaviest weight I have ever achieved.

Articles have been written and reported that the battle of weight gain and weight loss is unending. Many new diets and diet pills are still in the mass market, with the illusion of the figure in the packaging that you can achieve after purchasing or at least even trying them. So much studies have been authored on how genetics play a big part of why and how we look the way we are. I’m no health expert, I’m just a normal human being like everybody else. But struggling with my weight has taught me one thing: Are you happy with YOU? Inside and out that is. For me, if you are then stay that way, be that way. Hey, to each his own right? We don’t have to be the same figure as any of the Hollywood stars that we see. It might be in at the moment, but what does your heart say? Or the better question to ask is: Who are you REALLY? My conclusion, I’m a work-in progress. I still have my moments, but I’m less than 180 plus pounds. Because I occasionally exercise and discipline is currently found in my vocabulary, which should’ve been from the very start. The old saying, “Health is Wealth” is definitely true. We only live once, so we all should live happily and healthy.