I’ve never been one to be easily bothered by other people’s opinions of my physical appearance — in particular, my weight.
As a varsity swimmer during my school days, and as a field biologist in my adult life, I’ve always maintained an active lifestyle. My personal experience from both also gives me the benefit of knowing my body better than anyone — I know what it is capable of, and how far I can push it to perform, in the same way that I know when it is in pain, and when something isn’t right with it.
It’s this detailed attention to my body that tipped me off to a mysterious, gastro-intestinal illness while on a three-week field expedition in Bohol Sea back in 2011 which had me losing weight for the next two months, barely able to eat anything over four spoonsful of rice a meal.
People were quick to compliment me on my weight loss, oblivious to the reasons behind it.
But my real internal struggle with my weight began in 2016 when a series of personal setbacks had me spending most days at home, on a couch, and binging Netflix.
The weight gain wasn’t noticeable until I’d see photos of myself from the few professional events that I attended that year; also noticeable was how changing into my clothes took a few minutes longer.
As I’ve said, what other people say about my body hardly ever gets to me but when I began to comment on it myself, I knew I was at a threshold.
So I decided to make 2017 my #BalikAlindog year, and I was off to a good start until a bad stumble changed all that.
While walking on my street one night in April, I tripped and fell forward. I narrowly avoided face-planting; however, my left knee hit the rough pavement.
I initially thought my knee only got some minor wounds and bruises but two weeks later, the bruises — and by then, with excruciating nerve pain — were still there.
A few more weeks and two doctors’ consultations later, I found out I had a partially torn ACL. I was recommended to limit my mobility and physical activities — a nightmare of an existential crisis, as I questioned my future as a field biologist.
The recurring pain in my left knee meant that I couldn’t participate in some fieldwork activities, and even travelling for meetings and workshops became moderately difficult.
This also meant I couldn’t partake in my most accessible workouts — walking, running, and biking; prior to my injury, these were activities that were easily incorporated into my daily life since I would often just walk or bike to and from places.
A lot of friends suggested yoga but I had tried it every so often, and it’s never been an exercise activity that motivates me to go back for more.
The most reasonable low-impact workout option left to consider was swimming.
However, as natural as swimming is to me, it is not quite easy to fit in to my daily routine; for starters, I’m not a morning person, and now in my adult life, the best time — and only time — I have for swimming is in the rising hours of the sun.
I was never the type to monitor my weight and watch my diet, instead relying on good genes and an active lifestyle.
So how have I managed to stay fit these past few years, given the limitations brought about by age and injury? It’s been with a combination of self-awareness, stock knowledge from my biology degree, common sense, and the advice of health professionals.
During my 2019 fieldwork season, a colleague noticed I was limping in pain, and suggested that my weight gain was affecting my knee.
For the first time, I seriously considered addressing my weight — not just for looking and feeling good, but for staying functional, and a shot at longevity in my chosen career path.
Later that year, I also had to get a medical certificate upon which my doctor so bluntly wrote her assessment: “Overweight but otherwise physically-fit” and with it, a stern verbal warning to maintain my weight of 69 kg or better yet, to lose a few more kilograms.
That year, I started to make time for swimming, to incorporate more walking or biking into my daily routine, to cut back on rice and sweets, to choose healthier food options — or at least, home-cooked ones.
But as the CoViD-19 pandemic stretched long into a second year (with a third looming over us in 2022), I gained more weight than I could lose.
Before I knew it, I was at 74 kg!
So in mid-November of 2021, I decided to try a two-week plant-based meal subscription plan advertised on The Green Chef Dumaguete (TGC). My goal was to lose enough weight that would enable me to comfortably exercise at home. By managing my weight, I manage my knee pain.
Now, I don’t mind eating plant-based meals but in my past experiences, I could physically survive a whole afternoon on just a vegetarian lunch but mentally, I would be clocked out by 3:30 pm.
This caused me to be a bit apprehensive of subscribing to TGC. Deep down though, I knew I had to at least try.
For P2,800, I subscribed to their Weight Loss Plan. I got lunch and dinner delivered to my residence every weekday, and a written plan of recommended meals for my breakfast, snacks, and weekend meals.
If I’m being honest, two weeks (or even just 10 days) of eating food that tastes and feels the same can get boring, but I felt surprisingly full and, on some days, I didn’t even feel like snacking.
More importantly, it didn’t leave me sluggish or diminish my brain power. I also knocked off two kilograms!
Overall, I think what really convinced me to sign up, and to declare it a successful attempt was an honest conversation I had with TGC’s nutritionist/dietician beforehand.
I was honest about my concerns; I asked a lot of questions, such as “Would there be eggplants?” [Eggplant is my least favorite vegetable].
I was also realistic and clear about my goal of losing one to two kilos in two weeks. Despite the success, I did not renew my subscription with TGC simply because it wasn’t financially-sustainable for me.
However, I am glad I tried it, and that they helped to give me that initial boost of motivation for getting fit again. I’m happy to report that I’m currently at 70 kg as of writing this.
My background in biology has also provided me with a better understanding of how the human body works, and has allowed me to be a bit more forgiving and kinder to myself when it comes to my weight.
I know genetics has gifted me with a few advantages, and understanding how our ancestry ties into diet, and our ability to digest certain foods has really helped me build a better relationship with food. [I’m not in the right head space right now to talk science but for those interested to learn more about this subtopic, I recommend Ed Yong’s fascinating book on gut microbiomes, “I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life”].
Yet, the most important thing that has helped me stay fit all these years is my relationship with my body.
I may struggle with discipline and consistency when it comes to diet and exercise, but I always try to listen to what my body is telling me: My body tells me that I can’t work as late as my younger self used to.
It tells me I need sleep, but that too much sleep will make me unproductive and cranky.
It also tells me that I can gorge on donuts, chocolates, and yema whenever I want to, but that eating too much too fast will make me feel sick for the next day or two.
It told me I can do 25 pushups, and that I can lift and carry a 20-kg sack of dog food. It told me I can still clock a one-kilometer pool swim under 30 minutes, and that I can finish a five-kilometer open water swim course.
My body may not be someone’s ideal shape or size or weight, but I am still physically fit — and on most days, this is all that matters.
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Author’s email: [email protected]
