The Saga that is My Weight

Everyone has a history. Mine was an unending saga. One thing's for sure, my obesity did not happen overnight.

I started gaining weight at 8 years old. My mom thought I was too thin and put me on several vitamins, so that I would look "cute" -- as many moms describe a chubby child. And boy, did I become CUTE!!!

At 8-12 years old, they labeled my weight problem as "baby fats". Through my teenage years, a new label came about -- "chubby". When you're a teenager, you want to be like everybody else, wear clothes that everybody else is wearing. Of course, I could not do that because I was "big for my age".

A few months before I turned 18, my mom promised a grand debut party. She said I'll be wearing 2 gowns and a dancing dress for the party implying that I have to get in shape for those gowns. So, I started going on a diet. In the 90's "after-six" diet was big and so, I tried going for it. I ate breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks. At dinnertime, I just ate one ripe mango. I did this for more than a month. The preparations also included dance rehearsals for the cotillon/discotillon. So, on top of the weight I was losing because of the diet, I was also losing weight from all the cotillon practices we were doing 2-3 times a week. I lost 15 pounds in less than 2 months, had a 25-inch waistline and a body that would fit the gowns my mom made.

After my debut, everything went downhill. I slowly gained back the pounds I lost and gained even more just before my college graduation.

Then, my mom once again, had a brilliant idea of a gift. As a reward for graduating from a premier university, and as preparation to my adult life, she bought me a lifetime membership in Slimmers World. She figured, since I had no work yet, I could spend some time at the gym to "improve my personality" read: lose some weight.

I just went with my mom. Back then, I would squeeze in walk-in applications and job interviews between my gym sessions. With no work and no money, I became addicted to working out. There were days that I spend 6-8 hours in the gym (which was strategically located inside a mall). Three months after I graduated, I still had no job, but I was 118 pounds.

Then, I found a job. I was slim and earning my own money. I couldn't be happier. Too happy, in fact, that I started eating again. Then, the law of gravity happened, for what comes up must come down. Only, for my weight, it was the other way around.

The demands of my job left me with no time to go to the gym as often as before. Countless overtimes and out-of-town trips also offered access to excessive eating. In no time, I was overweight again, but I didn't mind. Somehow, I got tired of watching the scale.

Even my wedding was not enough of an inspiration for me to lose weight. I did lose some weight but not enough to wear just any cut for my bridal gown. I had to carefully choose a cut that would look fab and hide the flabs.

Now, 5 years after the wedding and one baby later, the fitness bug bit me one more time. I'm now back to the gym and dieting. I know that the road ahead is tough, but it is a road I am willing to take. And so, the saga continues...