Hello, I’m Adibah, a dietitian who has struggled with being overweight. After graduating, I started working for a health non-governmental organization. I’ll never forget when my boss mentioned that to be a successful diet consultant, one should have a good appearance. While he said it professionally, it felt personal to me.
I realized that I had gained a lot of weight since my school days. Standing at just 5'1" and weighing 68 kg, my Body Mass Index (BMI) classified me as overweight. Reflecting on my habits over the past six years, it wasn’t surprising. I had developed unhealthy eating habits during my time at university, often opting for convenience foods three times a day, plus snacking. My diet was high in carbs and fats, with little attention to calorie intake, as I found it too complicated and time-consuming. While I did consume some vegetables and fruits, they were not as prominent in my diet as carbs. As a student, I learned that excess carbs are stored as fat in the body.
Additionally, I was a busy student involved in various organizations, leaving little time for exercise. It didn’t shock me to find myself in this situation. My lifestyle was chaotic, and being busy isn’t always beneficial unless it’s productive and focused. I should have known that neglecting proper activity would lead to a sedentary lifestyle and weight gain. Over four years, I gained more than 10 kilograms. I still remember weighing myself monthly and noticing the gradual increase.
I deeply regret not adopting healthier habits earlier. I was too focused on academics and organizational commitments, neglecting self-care and self-awareness. Now, I’m working on improving my health and body, scheduling regular exercise, and trying to get used to it. While I’m not overly concerned about others’ opinions, I know my health is my responsibility.
My goal is to stay healthy and fit, increase muscle mass, and reduce fat. Being skinny and slim is just a bonus; the real aim is to achieve a normal BMI and reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases. As a woman, it’s important to have a waist circumference of less than 80 cm, and for men, it should be less than 70 cm.
Let’s start building good habits and invest in our health and future.
