As you read my career journey and know how I reached my long term goal, I decided to now share my transformation journey. I am blessed with 2 children, a girl and a boy. After having them, I decided that it was time to concentrate on myself and my well being. April 5th, 2015 was the date that I made changes within myself and my eating habits. I had woken up that morning crying not liking how I looked and felt huge, fat and ugly. Mind you I never reached obesity. But I felt ugly and fat and I knew I had to do something about it. So I called a one of my closest friends who is a registred dietitian, Dr. Lemia Shaban. I called her crying and she told me to make an appointment and come see her. I tried to see her months before but she kept telling me “ Dana you are not ready, don’t come until you are 100% committed.” I guess I had to be in tears for her to believe me that I was finally ready. I made the appointment and went few days later. April 19th, came and that was it. Time to change! The minute I sat she asked “Why are you here?” I broke down right then and there and told her that I didn’t like how I looked and that I always felt bloated and tired. She looked at me, asked me a few questions and based on my answers she knew and automatically said “Now you are ready mentally and are 100% committed.” She started by taking my weight and OMG when I saw kg79.8 (175.9 lbs) on that scale. I felt disgusted and FAT. I had never reached that weight before and the tears came rolling again. I sat down and I remembered her talking to me but everything was a blur because I was still in shock. She said, “I want you at 65”. I laughed so hard and told her “ YOU ARE CRAZY! I’d be happy if I ever reached 70 and would throw a party if I ever reached 68kg.”
She asked for specific blood tests. While waiting for those blood tests, I had to write down every single thing I ate that went into my system, even if it was a grape or a piece of chocolate! Writing everything down was hard as is. I had to keep a diary in my bag and jot down what I ate for the first two months of this journey. She also told me that I had to increase my water intake as I barely drank any water. My goodness, that was a mission by itself! The third step was to cut out everything that had wheat in it, and I could not believe that there was wheat in almost everything I ate! I had to do that for 2 weeks and then I went back to see her with my blood results. I also had to start exercising for 30 mins at least twice a week as I was unfit and didn’t exercise in years. Due to this, I had to find a trainer that could come to my house as I do not have time to go to the gym and I needed to be able to find a rehabilitation trainer as I suffer from severe back pains and have a bulging disc. My Dr. gave me a few numbers and I got home and began my research. I left her clinic feeling 1% better but I knew this was not going to be an easy road and that I had a long way to go. Knowing her weight goal for me vs my own weight goal scares me, yet I did laugh thinking she’s crazy and that it is impossible to reach it!