Health is a very personal matter; we all have health challenges that we face in life—some we face as teenagers and others as adults. For me, my health problems started when I was a teenager and my eating disorder appeared.
Back then
When I was a teenager, I was faced with the struggles that most teenagers have: the desire to fit in and be liked amongst peers. For me, that was never really something that happened. I was the annoying kid in class that nobody liked, and I used to distract myself by engaging in hobbies and soothing myself by eating.
In my early 20s, I made a difference and underwent a drastic health change—I got fit. However, this wasn’t long-term, unfortunately. After losing a substantial amount of weight, around two to three years later I started putting the weight back on again. I hadn’t worked on the problems that put me in that position initially. So the cycle started again: I lost weight, and I put it back on.
Today
That brings me to today or rather, to a couple of weeks ago. Another health journey begins, but this time without the unhealthy starving or going a week without eating just to see if I could do it. That was not healthy.
This time, it’s going to be about sustainable habits instead of rushing to hit goalposts while barely eating. The compliments were addicting, but you know what’s better than that? Staying the same (healthy) weight for prolonged periods; hopefully decades. But it needs to start one day at a time. If I mess up, it happens. I’m human, and I pick myself back up and continue as if nothing happened. No throwing in the towel or denying it.
Sustainability. It’s sustainable to eat regular portions a day. It isn’t sustainable to eat the first thing you think about just because it’ll make you feel better. You’re not treating the cause, and the relief is only temporary. What’s the cause, you might ask? Mental health. How you deal with problems you face—stresses at work or difficulties in your personal life. We all deal with it differently, and for me, that’s ordering some food after a bad day. But in the end, it doesn’t really help.
What to take away
Having been through this a couple of times in my life, and I’m only in my mid-20s. I believe the best thing I’ve learned is that anything is possible. You can change. You can be a totally different person six months or a year from now. But don’t give up. I’m writing this for myself as much as I am writing this for whomever might stumble upon this.
I believe in myself, and I believe in you. You’ve got this!