09/18/2024
My journey from overeating to a healthy relationship with food started when I got into competitive sports. Before that, I didn’t have many issues with my body, probably because I began working out at 16. But once I started following strict diets, my view of food completely changed.
My first competition diet was very strict (seriously, don’t do this). For three months, I ate the same things: buckwheat, rice, chicken breast, salmon, and a few green veggies. Cheat meals? Nope. Pasta? Forget it. My biggest treat was one apple a day. I’m naturally very goal-oriented, so I stuck with it. But this experience showed me a whole new world, even though it wasn’t a healthy one. When you take away the pleasure of eating—the quick dopamine hits—your brain starts looking for other ways to feel good. It really makes you see things differently, but it also has its downsides.
By the end of the diet, my body started having problems, and my menstrual cycle even stopped. But I became a champion. Still, the price was high: after the competition, I lost control and ate everything I could find. In just a couple of weeks, I gained 10 kilograms and felt awful. This was the start of an unhealthy relationship with food that stayed with me between competitions. I ate a lot of healthy food, but I also ate anything else I wanted.
Toward the end of my competitive career, I started looking for a different way. My last diet was totally different: balanced. I ate all kinds of food, just keeping track of my protein, carbs, and fats. The results were amazing—not just physically, but mentally too. I felt good, my body was healthy and strong, and I won again.
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