Thread by @sindivanzyl, The topic of #obesity is always going to be a challenging one. [...]

The topic of #obesity is always going to be a challenging one. There are many things to consider and even though we don't always agree, we're having the conversation

I was born into an obese family. My great-grandmother was obese. My grandmother was obese. My mom was obese. I could go on. My understanding of #obesity was that it was hereditary and that was that.

Body positivity - there was lots of that! I was always affirmed and my Mom made sure that I was comfortable with my obesity

But I do not recall a discussion about the health risks associated with #obesity

I always talk about how accompanying my granny to the clinic helped cement my decision to become a medical doctor. Those numerous clinic visits were due to her #obesity and what I now recognise as metabolic syndrome. My granny had high blood pressure and diabetes

In 1992 my grandmother had a stroke and died in our house. My Mom was never the same again after that and our lives changed drastically. I was only 16 years old and I still desperately needed a Gogo. She was gone. Cardiovascular disease due to her #obesity

My Mom and aunt would get very defensive whenever they were confronted about her #obesity . Understandably so. Family, friends, and healthcare professionals can be quite insensitive when broaching this subject. And hopefully we're all going to learn from the TL discussions

2013

The unimaginable happened and my life was plunged into darkness. My worst nightmare came true. My beloved Mom died after a short illness. She had metabolic syndrome, was diabetic and had high blood pressure. Again linked to her #obesity

Her passing away came just seven weeks after my admission to a mental health facility for depression and my life fell apart. Literally. I've spoken about this on many occasions. My life fell apart in every possible way.

And for the first time ever, I took stock of my #obesity

I looked at my own life, I looked at the #Caramellos and I asked myself if I wanted them to be without a Mommy at the age of 37.

One day I had chest pain, and I called my GP Dr @MarlinMcKay . We chatted a bit and he said that I needed to take a look at my sugar intake

He was so chilled out about it. But his words struck a chord. December 2014 I decided to change my life for the sake of my children. And that decision started with me accepting that body positivity aside, I had to deal with my #obesity

#obesity

The first frame is my fave!

2014 vs 2016 with Bonsile. We decided to change our eating habits together

I've gained some weight since then but I have managed to maintain most of the changes that I have made to my eating habits by sticking to the food pyramid shared

That's my #obesity story

My life lesson has been the worst possible one. There is not a day that goes by without me missing my Mom. Those of you that are close to me know this. I'm doing my best and all but I'd give anything to have her back

August 2019

I started walking with @KamonaDanny

A year later we're still at it!

I'd walk 5km in 2 hours guys. Then we started entering races and my personal best is 5km in 56 minutes

One step at a time and maybe one day I'll run the Comrades with Danny!

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