This isn’t typically the kind of post I write, but I wanted to share something personal. Over the last 18 months, I’ve gained 24 pounds (around 11kg). At first, I didn’t notice, then tried to ignore it, until it hit me how it was affecting my feelings, not just my appearance.
Once I accepted the weight gain, I found myself feeling anxious about my body shape—something I hadn’t expected since I usually feel quite body-confident regardless of my weight. Weight gain is personal and often feels isolating, even if we have those quick conversations about needing to lose weight. Deep down, the feelings linger and become personal. Reflecting on this, I noticed many pictures of myself enjoying delicious treats, which was a wake-up call.
I’m not advocating weight loss for feeling better, but my own weight gain affected my confidence. Although societal expectations about body type are unhealthy, I genuinely believe personal happiness and health are what matter most. However, my confidence took a hit, which is why I’m sharing this experience to show how body image affects everyone.
First, I had to understand why I gained weight, and the answer was clear. Over the past year, Yaya and I traveled a lot, savoring various foods like Turkish baklava and Italian carbonara. I’m not a gym person as I find it hard to get motivated in confined spaces, but I try to stay active with regular brisk walks around London. I realized my eating habits were the issue, not the lack of exercise.
I kept a food diary for about a week and found that I ate a lot of carbohydrates, often with wine, leading to a heavy diet. After researching online, I discovered ketosis, a metabolic state from reduced carb intake, which I tried for 14 days to see its effect on my weight.
I set up a diet plan focusing on lots of vegetables, proteins, eggs, and some fruits. I ensured I didn’t go hungry but was careful with fruit due to its carbs. My typical meals included:
Breakfast: Scrambled or poached eggs with bacon, a banana, or Greek yogurt with honey and blueberries.
Snacks: Options like pumpkin seeds, frozen grapes, dates, apples, and frozen yogurt with berries.
Lunch: Soup or skinless chicken breasts, sometimes mini tuna wraps made with spinach.
Dinner: Veggie-rich meals with lean meat or fish, like my favorite salmon dish or homemade cauliflower crust pizza.
Once a week, I allowed myself a treat meal, which was great for motivation, like a chocolate fondue or pizza.
After two weeks, I was surprised to lose 12 pounds (nearly 6kg). This was faster than expected, not something I suggest as a long-term solution. Now I’m adding carbs back gradually to aim for a more manageable weight loss of 1-2 pounds weekly. Carbs are needed, and cutting any food group entirely can be risky. The Mayo Clinic and Live Strong provided useful insights, making this an effective plan for me.
If you’re considering a diet change, do your research, and consult a doctor to ensure it’s right for you. The NHS website is also a great resource.
I shared this not to promote another fad diet but to open up about how weight gain affected my confidence. It’s challenging to be truly happy with your body, but by learning from these experiences, I hope to maintain a healthy weight that makes me feel good. I recently fit back into my favorite H&M jumper for a photo shoot with TimeOut Magazine—it was a wonderful feeling, like finding those long-lost skinny jeans!
