Lately, I have been starting to feel old, fat, and sick; that I assure you is not a good feeling at all. I tried diets, started talking with surgeons, exercised, meditated, took pills, and sessions with devices that doctors claim to reduce weight. Along the way, I got labeled as lazy, evaluated as uncontrollable, blamed for my genes, and given alot of irrelevant advice from people who are themselves struggling with weight and health issues–all kinds of roadblocks that made me shut down. I tried chemical diets, calorie based diets, single food diets (the list goes on as I experimented for almost 12 years). All diets weakened me and left me low in energy, sluggish, and with severe mood swings. I just snapped out and in of diets to take a break and compensate for what I missed just to find myself back at point zero. But I couldn’t give in to any of the above and couldn’t give up on myself either despite the low moments I had where I almost lost hope.
It all started after I got married and the differences in my eating habits and my husband’s. For him, lunch and dinner were not complete if there were no fries. For me, and due to my family’s history of high blood pressure, cholesterol, cancer, and heart conditions, veggies were steamed, and salad was an important element in addition to protein. So I usually didn’t crave fries – though when they were available I enjoyed them. But having them as part of my daily meal after marriage was not good. I knew it then but I couldn’t resist it. Quickly my weight escalated and when I got pregnant people thought I had twins or more and didn’t want to tell!! I had a lovely baby girl and after delivering I couldn’t think of anything else except her. I didn’t stick to my weight loss plan or exercise seriously. When I tried hard, I usually got episodes of very low blood pressure and would fall – usually in the street – and get injured. All of these toxic experiences were putting a lot of pressure on me and affected other areas of my life.
Then one day when I was searching online for some inspiration, I came across Dana’s program. I thought this is what I really need, professional support in transforming my eating habits and understanding more about what can work for me.
I really liked the options Dana provided in her program. The day by day plan was perfect for planning ahead of time and on those days when I felt bored, I had options to choose from – healthy alternatives that suit my specific body. My overall relationship with food improved. I can eat and be happy. I can eat and not feel guilty or bad. I can eat with mindfulness and enjoy every single bite.
Lemon water became my best morning buddy and green juices give me the boost I need to go through the day without binging. Super balls and chocolate pudding come in just right when I need a sweet snack. Soups were already a favorite meal for me, and with new recipes I just never have enough especially on cold nights. The healthy breakfast options were great. Flax seeds and castor oil for my skin were a discovery.
I used to enjoy cooking but had been put off. The new recipes in the program actually got me back in the mood; simple steps, delicate ingredients, and a meal that is gourmet looking, wonderfully tasting, and the assurance that it is healthy, good for me and my body and mind, and nutritious.
If it wasn’t for Dana, I would have slowly and painfully walked through illness, medication, and loss of faith in myself. I can now enjoy my food, my health, my body, and my life. Most of the days I still eat clean, but even when I don’t I enjoy it, let it go, and make up for it.
Now I feel calm, centered, and light. I am enjoying the clarity of thought that I have been longing for. The bloat all over my body has started to respond and come down. My shoe size went back to its normal size 39 after being a size 41. Yes I have lost a couple of kilos (almost 4) but what really matters to me is getting rid of the feeling of the incapability of finishing what I want to do due to low energy, sluggishness, tiredness, and low concentration span.
I am grateful to have Dana as my health coach and even more grateful that I went through the experience and got out of my comfort zone. I would definitely recommend everyone to get on board; it is a life changing experience that has started changing my health and life. My story about my new journey has just started and will hopefully continue until I become fit, shed off the unnecessary weight, and bring down my medication to the minimal. I really wish you enjoy your journey as well.
Ayah Sarhan