A Nigerian woman named Amaka Onyema has embarked on a weight loss journey after facing numerous challenges due to her excessive weight. According to Amaka, her weight gain began during her time in school, but she didn't take it seriously despite warnings from her friends. However, after getting married and having children, her weight became increasingly burdensome to the point where she could no longer lift herself. To make matters more challenging, her husband, who had initially expressed an interest in women with a larger build, changed his mind and started expressing concerns about her weight becoming too pronounced.
Motivated by these circumstances, Amaka, who is in her 40s, decided to take drastic measures to reduce her weight. She has noticed significant differences and is pleased that her husband and children are supportive and happy about her weight loss progress. Speaking to BBC News Pidgin, Amaka described her struggle in vernacular, stating, "To carry myself has become difficult; I have become so big that I can only stay in bed. I can't get out of bed unless I want to go to the bathroom. I eat on the bed, and I do everything on the bed."
Amaka expressed her happiness and satisfaction that her weight loss journey is yielding results, as her children have confirmed the positive changes in her body size. She shared, "My children have been telling me, 'Mommy, you are melting,' and it brings me joy. I realized that even my children were not happy with my size before." She also revealed that her husband, despite his initial preference for larger women, started feeling tired as her weight reached 150kg and 160kg. The way he looked at her also started bothering her.
Amaka began her weight loss journey by initially focusing on portion control and modifying her diet. She reduced her intake of carbohydrates, including rice, eba, and fufu, to the point where she eventually eliminated them completely from her meals. She explained, "At first, I didn't start with exercise; I started with portioning my food. I cut down on carbohydrates. I reduced rice, eba, and fufu until there came a time when I completely eliminated them from my diet."
She further elaborated on the physical discomfort she experienced due to her weight, saying, "Before, I couldn't sit like this and have a conversation with you; I had to lie down because sitting caused pain all over my body and my back would ache."
Amaka's initial motivation stemmed from her desire to avoid health complications and the realization that her excessive weight was putting her at risk. However, as she progressed on her weight loss journey, she began to feel better both physically and mentally. Her children found joy in witnessing her transformation, and even her husband became happier with the positive changes she was making.
Ultimately, Amaka's weight loss journey serves as a testament to her determination and resilience in overcoming the challenges brought about by her weight, and she continues to strive for a healthier and happier life.
Speaking to BBC News Pidgin, she said in vernacular:
“To carry myself come dey hard, I don come big reach wey na only bed I dey stay. I no fit comot from bed unless I wan enta bathroom. Na on top bed I dey eat, na ontop bed I dey do evritin.
She expressed happiness that her weight loss journey was working as her children confirmed the change in her body size.
“My pikin don dey tell me say ah, mummy you don dey melt oh, di tin dey sweet me. I come realize say even my children bin no happy wit my fatness before.
“I marry husband wey say im like women wey big, but as di weight come dey enta 150kg, 160kg, di weight come dey taya am. Di way wey im dey look me sef, come taya me.
“I no first start with exercise, na portioning my food, I first start with. I cut down my carbohydrates. I reduce rice, eba, fufu sotay e get time wey I comot dem completely for my food.
“If na befor,e I no fit siddon like dis dey follow you tok, I must to lie down cos to siddon go make all my bodi dey pain me, my back go dey pain me”.
“At first, wetin bin dey ginger me be say I no wan die, dis my weight don too much, but as I come dey do am, I come dey feel beta. For my children, e dey sweet dem, even my husband dey happier”.