ADVERTISEMENT
The best way to lose weight is to forget about trying to
I cannot even begin to count the number of times I have attempted to lose weight and how unsuccessful i have been
The best way to lose weight is to forget about trying to, Betty Kankam-Buadu's experience
ADVERTISEMENT
Recommended articles
I cannot even begin to count the number of times I have attempted to lose weight.
Looking back, I think I lost about 5 kg in about 5 months during the middle of 2016. But then I broke my knee and I was bedridden for a while. After nursing my injury, I realized I had gained all the 5 kg back. So, as usual, I gave up.
I want to let you in on a few of the things I did just to try and lose weight.
ADVERTISEMENT
BTW this is me, putting myself out there because that is the stage I am in my life now. If this will help me and someone else I am game.
Attempts
Once, I paid 1000 cedis to a fitness trainer. But not for what you think, he had told me a certain magical drug did wonders for one of his clients. I should have questioned why a fitness trainer will recommend a drug to me when he claimed at that time he was good at helping people lose weight through exercise. But I guess I was desperate.
He gave me some powdered substance and told me to take it with water first thing in the morning. If I did number 1 more than my usual frequency it meant the drug was working. In retrospect, I am glad I did not die because till date I don’t know what I took into my system.
I have tried Herbalife, Calorad, Ez Slim and a host of others. They all didn’t work for me. At most, I just reacted in a funny way to all these products. (This is not to discredit these products-because they have worked for others. They were just not for me)
ADVERTISEMENT
Another time I tried a carbohydrate free diet and I gave up after a week. I am a rice addict. I don’t eat Banku or Fufu; yam is also not my thing but rice is everything food can be to me so I could not give it up for a week.
I have even applied products promising to burn fat just by applying it to my fat area.
The above are just a few of my many attempts I have made.
On reflection, I have realised that my desperation to lose weight was really born out of a need to feel good in my body and be healthy. It has never been about what I would wear and just how attractive I will become, because I feel attractive even at my current weight.
ADVERTISEMENT
People look at me and say why do you want to lose weight you look good the way you are until I tell them what I have to deal with as a result of the weight.
Just what is my weight doing to me?
I have constant back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain. If I had to rate the pain, I’d put it at an 8 on a scale of 10.
Yes, that is how bad it is.
Also, my father had a heart attack once in his life before he passed and my mom until few years ago was battling with high blood pressure.
ADVERTISEMENT
So yes, I have quite the family history, if you know what I mean. That is why I have been desperate to shed the calories.
Brand new conviction
I know exactly how to lose weight the healthy way, but I have always lacked the mental fortitude to be consistent in my healthy attempts.
But this week started with a new principle after I suffered severe neck and back pain Monday night.
ADVERTISEMENT
As I fought a war of pain, what to do and confusion in my heard, the urge to lose weight was strong.
And I had an Aha! moment.
I felt something in my spirit tell me “Just Take Care of Yourself Betty”
I immediately realized my mental approach had always been flawed and that was why I kept failing.
So now instead of my focus on losing weight, I am going to start taking care of myself. Start making the right choices everyday. Let my back, neck, shoulder and other related health issues remind me of why I need to take care of myself and i trust the other lines will fall into their right places. In the end, I am all I have.
ADVERTISEMENT
I am going to try to share with you my difficulties, failings and successes on week on week basis. We’ll see what happens.
Betty Kankam-Boadu is multimedia journalist with over seven years of experience covering politics, lifestyle and developmental stories for both online and radio outlets. She is currently the editor of Pulse Ghana.
FOLLOW BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA
ADVERTISEMENT
Recommended articles
Edward Howarth of DashTickets talks about gambling in Africa
Eco-friendly gambling: The impact of online slots on sustainability
Chad to become the first of Africa's current junta-led states to move to democracy
Russia spreads its military influence to another African country
A look into South Korea’s rice gift to Africa
FBNBank Ghana changes to FirstBank Ghana to align with group identity
Nigeria restricts power export to neighbouring countries to meet domestic demand
NOG Energy Week 2024: West African countries harnessing gas for industrialisation to boost economic development
