My MFP story

A bit of background: I hail from Cape Town South Africa. I am 35 years old, 160cm short, married with two cats and, in the last week, one dog/ future running buddy. My weight loss journey started at 90 kg. T2D and Blood pressure/ cholesterol issues run in the family. Furthermore, I daily watch work colleagues struggle with T2D and their love of food. I really wanted to get myself under control while the choice was still mine to make.

For about two and a half months before my MFP story started, I was running 15km a week but this didn’t seem to have any effect on my weight. A year ago today I was in an “eat all you can find” mood and discussing my weight issues with my cousin. She suggested I give MFP a try.

It was a Friday. I got home from work, downloaded the app, filled in all my info and then put everything I could remember eating that day into my first food diary entry. In those few minutes I began to understand food. I committed to trying MFP for 10 days. In those 10 days my relationship with food changed and I lost 2 kg.

Some wisdom I picked up along the way:

• “Frankly, your mind is going to have to tell your body it can’t have all it wants” – Max Pemberton;
• The word ‘Self-control’ stuck to my computer screen at the office;
• Persistence over perfection; and finally
• The battle is won or lost in the mind.

I firmly believe that diets do not work. My choice is to eat more of what God created and less of what man creates: all things are permissible but not all things are beneficial (1 Corinthians 10v23).

I’ve learnt to manage my weaknesses. I know that I can’t keep big bags of chips in the house because once it’s open it’s game over; so I buy a small bag once in a while. If there are snacks at the office, I ask myself: The last time I had that, did I really enjoy eating it? I no longer want to waste my calories on luxuries just because it’s there. I also don’t deprive myself if I know it’s something I really enjoy, so I have enough to satisfy the taste buds. It’s also okay to fall off the wagon, as long as you pick a spot to get back on it again.

It’s been a whole year, I’ve lost just under 22 kg, 13 cm off my chest, 22 cm off my waist, 15 cm off my hips, from 35.9 to 26.6 BMI. I still have 8 kg to go and 7 cm around my waist but, in my adult life, I don’t remember fitting into size 10 or medium clothes! As the weight has come off, running has become easier and faster.

A recipe for success:

Faith + Food + Fitness

You need to get your head right first, and then it’s 80% what you eat and 20% exercise.