Here at Preen, we’re fully aware that adult life doesn’t always go as smoothly (and look as beautiful) as curated Instagram feeds. We all face challenges amidst all the good things. Meet Mikka Wee, a former food editor-turned-working gal in Singapore, who’s about to share all the ups and downs that come with adulting and living. Welcome to Bless This Mess!
Being overweight is a common issue surrounding most women today. For the first time in 2018, I weighed myself, and to my horror I discovered that I am 32 pounds overweight. It makes me feel both disgusted and embarrassed at myself, knowing how much I let myself loose and how I’ve fallen complacent with my poor, unbridled eating habits. This is the heaviest I’ve been for as long as I can remember, and it’s quite ironic how I’ve always made resolutions to lose the weight—and keep it off—but alas, it’s the eighth month of 2018, and here I am, pinching the sides of my belly, cupping my chubby cheeks, and determined to melt this all away.
Another irony—when I was a food editor back in 2012, everyday was a feast for me, but I was able to maintain a strong, fit body thanks to constant workouts and strict meal planning. It’s also funny how I already felt overweight back in the day. I look at old photos of myself, compare my body then to the one I have now, and wonder out loud what went wrong.
For one, being in a relationship got me complacent. There was no more need to look “as good,” and my husband and I love to eat, so we just kept shoving plates and plates of good food down our throats. I could finish a bag of chips and a tub of dip without caring less because I knew my husband would love me no matter what. However, now that I see the results of how I’ve carelessly treated my body, I feel shame and regret because all this could lead to some serious health deficiencies, which could place my body in a highly dangerous spot, especially since we have a history of diabetes in the family.
Stepping on the scale was something I’ve held off for months (maybe even a year now) because I was so afraid of the numbers, but yesterday was a wake-up-call for me to get moving and to take my health seriously because 30 is not that far away (and I have secret goals to be a hot mom.)
Intermittent Fasting
I’ve been doing research on health trends, and I feel like Intermittent Fasting aka IF is something I can commit to given my schedule and eating habits. I actually tried IF last year, but I did it wrong. Once my eating window opened, I stuffed myself silly with chips, snacks, three cups of rice, and all the things that technically tripled my calorie intake of the day.
No more of that overeating and binging. I’m going to do it right this time around. I’ve downloaded an app called My Fast that keeps track of my fasting and eating windows, as well as my weight. It’s my third day, and so far, so good.
If I think I’m hungry (but in reality I know I’m just bored and want a snack), I drink some green tea or black coffee to trick my mind into thinking I’m consuming food. I also drive my focus elsewhere—like work, or a book, or a show to distract myself. It really requires a lot of self-control, but I guess I’m super determined to see results.
Tracking what I eat
I love to snack, and most of the time, I confuse thirst with hunger. I also eat when I am bored because in my opinion, food engages all five senses, and it’s always nice to have a little indulgence. The problem with me is I tend to go overboard. Give me a bag of chips, and I can inhale it all while watching Friends on Netflix. It’s horrible!
I used My Fitness Pal before, but I switched to this app called LifeSum, which helps me keep track of my calories and weight, at the same time, providing me with a plethora of easy, delicious, and healthy recipes to choose from. They say that losing weight is all about 80 percent diet and 20 percent exercise, so it’s really important for me to discipline myself and take note of what I eat.
Exercise
In a previous article, I shared my personal reasons for working out, and why I do it for my mental health. I’ve stopped working out for a while due to the past two months’ hectic happenings, but I’m back, and ready to restart my routine. I like working out, knowing the good it does to my mental health, but hey, shedding of some pounds and breaking a sweat is always a great thing.
I have never felt so intentional about losing weight and becoming healthier because knowing I am overweight and far from the peak of my health makes me feel like an irresponsible adult. Eating is fun, but I guess I never stepped on the brakes. Hell definitely broke loose, but I’m glad I became aware of this sooner than later, because I know this journey is going to be tough and challenging. I always run to food for comfort, but I am also uncovering other ways to enjoy myself that don’t even have to involve food. Here’s to being accountable to you guys—I’ll write another update in a couple of months.
If you’re starting on a health journey of your own, feel free to shoot me an email at [email protected]. It’s always nice to have accountability buddies in this sort of journey. Here we go!
Disclaimer: The views expressed here are solely those of the author in her private capacity and do not in any way represent the views of Preen.ph, or any other entity of the Inquirer Group of Companies.
Art by Marian Hukom
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