Nutri-first
Once upon a time, people say that YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT. Studies shows facts that nutrition is the most important thing that made your body today. What you put in your mouth is how your immunity is. I used to think that fitness is just staying fit, by exercising. I went from running 10k a day, to attending back to back spinning/body pump classes to gym-ing. Then I realised, my body was not improving. I was losing weight but it just did not feel right. I was lethargic and I plateaued( when you weight gets stagnant).
In 2014, my husband participated his first fitness competition. During his preparatory phase, it includes a whole lot of commitment from diet to the right supplements to getting to workout almost everyday. What amazes me most is that his diet changed drastically. He was eating white rice and any form of main dish at least 4 times a day before his prep time. Once he reached 16 weeks before the competition itself, he dropped his salt and sugar intake entirely from his diet. Any form of sugar and salt that was there initially was eliminated right away. So this was what he ate.
Breakfast :Oats with hot water and blueberries/bananas, 10 soft boiled eggs(all whites only 1 yolk).
Lunch, before gym, after gym(Dinner), Supper: Panfried minced chicken breast/tilapia/lean minced beef with brown rice and broccoli.
It was a little challenging thinking of how to cook his food as we have to constantly think of different seasonings so that it will be easier for him to eat. Of course he had his supplements in between. As for drinks, he was only allowed to have water, unsweetened tea/coffee. I believe it is not an easy diet but my husband was very dedicated.
The best part about all this is that, once he started his diet, he immediately dropped 6kg in a week. It was difficult to believe. I was thinking of trying it for myself but I failed terribly as I am a foodie and I love my food. My husband got placings in a few competitions after.
Few years on, I have been back and forth on my diet but I have been terribly delinquent. Till one day, I reapplied to go back to work as a flight attendant and it required me to be at a certain weight in order to fulfil the company’s requirements. I had to be of a BMI(Body Mass Index) of 18-22. Mine was 24. I had to bring it down fast and I only had 2 weeks left. I decided to follow my husband’s “prep” diet. Which is to
Eliminate all sugar/salts and carbohydrates. I was only drinking kopi o kosong(unsweetened black coffee) in the morning and having panfried salmon and broccoli throughout the day. I was doing cardio everyday and to my surprise, I was actually losing. Believe it or not, I dropped 5kg in 2 weeks. Alhamdullilah.
As time goes by, I decided to try intermittent fasting 2 years ago. I should say, this diet helped me a lot. It made me cut back eating and curbed my cravings. Last year, after the birth of my third child, I followed a strict confinement diet followed by a sugar/carb fast. And currently, I am an on a plant-based diet. During my confinement period and a little after, about 3-4 months post birth I was not exercising enough. I was only committed to doing squats each day. Just so I won’t lose my momentum. Truthfully, I am losing more than I did during my 1st and 2nd postpartum. I am not only eating less but I never felt this thin in a while. This is what my diet looks like now.
Breakfast: Protein Oats with berries/cereal with soy milk/wholemeal bread or toast with sugar free jam/ vegan pancakes with sugar free maple syrup
Lunch and Dinner: Rice with salad or any vegetable gravy, fruits/chia seed pudding.
I limit my sugar intake as I really feel like sugar is my weakness and it’s also the most harmful. I have not truly checked my weight as I no longer believe in weighing scales but I believe that most of pre pregnancy clothes are wearable. I am able to fit into my pre pregnancy clothes pre-Adrianna(my first daughter) and I have never felt more energised than before. I do not get ill easily but even if I do, I recover fast.
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