Back in 2015, simply climbing the stairs of Robinsons Place was such an exhausting task for me. Weighing more than 70 kilos for a 5’3 guy is too far from ideal.
Two years ago, I would indulge myself on about six meals a day; with multiple random snacks after breakfast, after lunch, and after dinner, and a sizable midnight snack, morphing me into a walking ball of fat.
In addition to being overweight, high blood pressure, failed urine examinations, and high sugar levels plagued my medical records.
Back then, I never realized the huge trouble I was in. At 22 years old, I didn’t mind that I was experiencing health problems associated with 50-year-olds. So I went on with my happy voracious appetite of having to eat at will, without any hesitation.
Until laboratory tests showed that I had blood in my urine. I was told that in three years, I could have kidney problems. It was a shock to me and my family. Flashback of relatives dying due to this same sickness continued to replay in my mind. The thought of me, in my 20s, suffering the same fate was killing me.
That was the turning point in my life.
And just like that, I decided to gradually cut my rice intake. Fruits and vegetables became my alternative source of carbohydrates.
Then I realized it wasn’t enough. My ultimate target: Do away with rice completely. [A serving size of rice is a half cup or 100 grams. A half cup of plain, steamed rice contains 140 calories. — livestrong.com]
In a span of four weeks, I achieved my target: I deleted rice from my diet. For the next three months, I only ate bananas (rich in potassium) and chicken (my source of protein). I believe it was bananas that helped stave off my hunger pangs.
Needless to say, it wasn’t easy. During that period, I couldn’t properly accomplish my regular daily activities. I would need extra motivation from family and friends to move on and to just get going. My girlfriend never ceased to always put up with me whenever I would experience extreme mood swings, and have temper tantrums when I felt hungry.
The first few weeks seemed the most impossible for me to overcome but in the end, I nailed it.
Three months of mental torture of not having rice and sticking to this unimaginable diet, my weight dropped to 57 kilos (125 lbs).
After more than a year, my body got used to the regimen. I started to gain back some weight but this time, I knew what to do, and how to do everything in moderation.
Then a friend of mine, Shubb Zerna, introduced me to mountain biking. It was just timely since I was searching for adventure and an effective exercise regimen that would complement my healthy diet.
I have since been able to manage to shed the weight I needed to lose. This new-found love of MTB has earned me not only many new friends, it has also taken me to exciting places right here in Negros Oriental. I have also managed to bike from Dumaguete to Bayawan and back, which is a good 200 kilometers. That long bike ride is a testament to my stamina and endurance, and that, yes, I am in good shape.
Just six months ago, together with the no-rice diet, I also started to do away with softdrinks and other colored drinks. I may gain some weight again but I already know I can manage to trim down easily.
Everyday I do MTB with friends (and my boss at work) who continue to inspire in their own healthy ways. Maintaining my desired weight is not that hard anymore. This has become my way of life now, and I am committed to doing this until my body will allow me.
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Cyril, now 24 years old, is Marketing &Promotions officer at Foundation University. He earned an AB Political Science degree.
Author’s email: cyril.mapula@foundationU.com
