Meeka
Meeka started gaining weight in middle age. Because there is a history of heart problems in Meeka’s family, and she has suffered a heart attack herself, Meeka is very aware of maintaining a healthy diet. Meeka manages her weight through counting calories and following a meal plan, although she tends to put weight on during the holidays. Meeka hopes to lose just under 2 stone in order to reduce her chances of suffering further health problems.
Meeka had a heart attack at 55. There is a history of heart conditions in Meeka’s family, and none of her relatives have lived past 70. Because of this, Meeka is very aware of her health, So, at sixty-six, I am more than conscious that I need to do everything that I can which includes weight issues to keep myself as healthy as possible. Although there have been times when Meeka has lost weight, she finds it hard to maintain weight loss. She attributes this to older age and complications with menopause, as well as lifestyle factors. Meeka finds she often gains weight around holidays and celebrations, where she strays from her usual eating habits. On a trip to the United States, Meeka gained weight rapidly, due to the enormous portions, and fat and sugar content of foods. For Meeka, bad weather is also a trigger for weight gain, as it becomes harder to exercise, and she can feel demotivated. Meeka describes weight gain as a cycle leading to low self-esteem, The more weight I put on the more difficult it is to do, and then the less I do, then, of course, the more weight I put on, so I get caught in this cycle.
Although it is time consuming, Meeka follows a strict diet plan, counting calories and planning her meals in advance. She eats lots of vegetables and eggs, and has cut down on carbohydrates and sugars, only buying foods she needs. Whilst there are times, such as family meals, where Meeka doesn’t restrict her calories, she has developed other strategies to manage these situations, I don’t count the calories when I go out with family and then I’ll have a couple of really low calorie days of fasting to try and make it up during the week. Meeka also avoids supermarkets at times she knows she will be tempted to buy unhealthy foods, such as Easter, shopping online instead. When Meeka finds she has gained weight, she goes on a fat attack fortnight, which she describes as a radical 1200 calories a day where I apportion 200 to breakfast, 300 to lunch, 400 to an evening meal and then 200 for my calcium. She sometimes does the 5:2 diet alongside this. Meeka has recently lost 13 pounds through this method.
Meeka seeks information about diet and nutrition from books and magazines. In the past, she joined a weight management group online, but was concerned by some of the advice they offered. When she was younger, Meeka also tried faddy things, such as the banana diet or the cabbage soup diet. Meeka now condemns these diets as nonsense, I actually think they can be quite dangerous to your health because if you’re not aware of basic nutrition for your body and you’re restricting calories‚ then you get bad tempered and your self-esteem goes down because you’re not coping with it and your blood sugar’s all over the place. Meeka feels that children today are unaware of what they are eating or the nutritional value of foods. She is also concerned how fast food chains market themselves to certain groups, including young people and those in social housing. She tries to educate her grandchildren on nutrition, and feels young people in general should receive more education around food, before they learn bad eating habits.
Meeka is reluctant to talk to her doctor about her weight due to demands on the health service. She would like to see clinics set up for certain age and gender groups, which focus on health and wellbeing. She feels nutritionists would have a lot to contribute in general practice settings, they could look at you as a person and take into consideration, your age, your health, your exercise level and also your preference for food and your alcohol and build it in and have a look and, and say, Yes or no’, and have you thought about this.
Meeka currently aims to lose around 2 stone for health reasons, I’m learning, trying to get myself past that magic seventy in our family that people don’t seem to be able to get beyond. Whilst she plans to continue her diet regime, Meeka also emphasises enjoying life, life is not long enough to become obsessed with it‚I’m enjoying my family. I’m enjoying our meals out and that’s fine.