Jacinta Felix: You have to eat to lose weight – Rock The Naked Truth

Jacinta Felix: You have to eat to lose weight

I used to be of average size before I had my daughter, but I gained about 20kg during my pregnancy and had difficulty losing these extra pounds after. I could not fit into any of my old clothing and had problems looking for clothes to fit me. Due to my busy work schedule and having to take care of my daughter, I couldn’t find time to exercise. I did lose a little weight in two years, but the truth is I gave up. Time just passed and my daughter is now 17.

Over the last few years, I was constantly getting comments from friends that I’ve put on weight. Hence, I was determined to get back into shape and I started going to the gym. But this effort was short-lived and I hardly went to the gym, wasting the membership. Once again, I slipped back into the life of no exercise or regard for my health.

In late 2011 at the age of 41, my life changed when I discovered a lump near my throat. I thought it was just a lymph node and left it as it is. After a few weeks, I noticed the lump was still there so I decided to see a doctor. I got an ultrasound done and it was a thyroid nodule. I did a biopsy next and at that point, I felt lost and afraid of the results. A lot of things flashed through my mind… “What if it was cancerous? What if I can’t see my only daughter grow up?” I had many sleepless nights.

After a week of waiting anxiously, I finally got the results and I was asked to remove the lump to make sure it was not malignant. And it wasn’t.

After going through this ordeal, I told myself that I really have to change and make the effort to lead a healthier lifestyle. This time I have to stop giving excuses. After the surgery, I was not allowed to do any exercise for about eight months so I had to wait.

However, before the eight months, the doctor discovered another lump at the back of my neck. My world came crashing down again – What is happening to me? Why am I going through all these? What’s happening to my body? The thought of not seeing my daughter grow up and not being there for her flashed through my mind again.

In 2012, I went back to the same surgeon and removed the second lump. Thankfully, it was only lipoma, an accumulation of fatty tissues.

In 2013, I started exercising but somehow did not see any improvement and I started to put on weight again. I attempted crash diets because I thought it’s an easy way out. I lost weight fast but I gained the weight back twice as fast. My weight fluctuated like a roller coaster and I was feeling very frustrated with the situation that I was going through. I lost confidence in myself and I was depressed.

I then shared my problems with a very dear friend of mine whom I grew up with. Understanding the struggles that I was going through, he helped me get back on track. He told me that skipping meals and eating less is not going to help me lose weight and or stay healthy. I needed a proper diet and exercise programme which he monitored and adjusted when required.

I learnt that exercise will help a person be fit, but having a proper diet and regular “educated” eating habits will contribute to better results. I took his advice and learnt how to prepare my food, eat right and understand the need for a balanced diet. The most valuable lesson I have learnt – “You eat to lose weight” .

From the start of my journey in February 2014 at 68kg, I was a new person at 52kg by the end of the year. I’ve maintained that weight since and I am still able to have chocolate and cakes whenever I want.

I’m very grateful and thankful to this dear friend of mine whom I’ve shared a special friendship of more than 30 years now. He has helped me be who I am today and has always been there for me. He has taught me to love myself and believe in myself.

I’m feeling fitter, healthier and I have more confidence in myself. I must admit that my body is still a work in progress and it may not be perfect, but I’m working on being the best I can be.

Last month I went for my medical examination and my doctor said I may be 46, but I am as fit as a 26-year-old. Thank you Andrew Johnson – you are the friend who was always there for me and believed in me.

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@goodity.co has the goods…

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Someone in your family, a friend or a colleague mi

Someone in your family, a friend or a colleague might be struggling with something. Perhaps they have been more distant and withdrawn, perhaps they have been excessively dieting and exercising; you sense that something is not right.

How do you approach this person without offending him/her?

@goodity.co has some amazing advice for this…

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Positive self-affirmations like, “You are enough”, “You are stronger than you think”, can sometimes make you feel worse. How else can you improve your self-esteem?

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People are often so quick to criticise and give ne

People are often so quick to criticise and give negative comments, especially about our appearances.

“Wah you gained weight leh”, “Why you exercise but still so fat ah”, “You better slim down if not nobody want you ah”.

How do we tell these people to stop commenting, especially if they are friends or family (eg. relatives, in-laws)?

Watch this video with advice from @goodity.co.

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We have a tendency to compare ourselves (what we have or don’t have) to others and that can leave us feeling bad about ourselves. What can we do to stop this?

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I had a very unhealthy relationship with my body w

I had a very unhealthy relationship with my body when I was in my early 20s and the relationship carried till Circuit Breaker. This period of isolation forced me to reflect on my own inner child wounds.

I was born with big hips structure and damn jialat metabolism. At 24, I tried to lose weight by jogging every morning and only having yogurt for the whole day. I did lose some weight but I also lost a lot of my hair. That lifestyle lasted for 2 months and I was not in a good mental space. Then I went back to my usual diet and gained all the weight back.

In 2021, I got molested in the bus by this Gray Hoodie Ah Pek. He sat beside me, pretended to fall asleep and circled his thumb on my thigh. He then alighted the bus and looked back at me with a smirk. I swear I was beyond disgusted.

Due to genetics, I have a heavier bottom and the yoga pants and bicycle shorts that I buy online are not squat-proof (very transparent at the butt area) so most of the time when I head out for training I would need to double wear my yoga/bicycle pants with shorts. But that day, I was in a cover-up dress that showed nothing and was feeling disgusted and fat. I reported him to the police anyway.

Later, I released myself from a very toxic situation when I was constantly seeking for acceptance and at the same time, I received news that Gray Hoodie Ah Pek was sentenced to 2 counts with 4 months imprisonment.

At that point of time, it was very dark and I questioned myself frequently, “Is it because I am not good enough?”, “Confused, I was fat but why did that ah pek still touch me?”, “Guilty, because I was one of the reasons that sent him to imprisonment and he might have a family to feed.”, “Why me?”.

To cope, I went back to doing yoga and also started Muay Thai. I felt more balance, love and acceptance towards myself; learned self-defence, resilience, discipline and how to stay grounded.

Definitely, there will still be days when I question myself with my own self-acceptance, but I made a promise to myself to continue to learn and grow mentally and never stop.

Thank you for reading my story. Namaste.

- Val (@soundslikehokkienmee)

Came across this photo taken in 2010 and I had pos

Came across this photo taken in 2010 and I had posted it on Facebook with a caption “omg I look so fat here”.

This was when I was struggling with my eating disorders. I was starving myself, taking slimming pills, counting calories and I remember feeling so miserable all the time.

How was this fat?! I clearly was struggling with my body, with my self-worth, with my confidence. And this lack of self-confidence showed in many different ways.

For example, I was constantly in relationships or dating because I needed attention for validation. I would stay in toxic relationships even though I know it’s bad, and I would enable it further, because at the back of my mind I just want to feel loved.

It took me over a decade to reach where I am now and it hasn’t been easy at all. There are days when some of these past demons rear their ugly heads but I am able to better deal with them now.

Self-love is a journey, so be patient and keep working at it!

“I hated my body with a passion, the entire preg

“I hated my body with a passion, the entire pregnancy, and after my pregnancy. I hated it. I felt like it failed me. I felt fat my entire pregnancy instead of embracing the fact that my body was growing a human and creating a life and just being all around awesome.

I was still weighing myself and going, “Well, how much does the baby weigh and how much weight have I put on?” I couldn’t find clothes that fit me.

Part of my trauma (on top of PCOS, lupus, endometriosis, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome) during my IVF journey as well, was multiple people saying, “Oh, when are you due?”, when I wasn’t even pregnant. I’ve had two flight crew in the past saying, “I do have your letter of authorization for travel.” I’m like, “What are you talking about?” “Well, you’re pregnant. You must be due soon.” And that was when I was just fat and trying to get pregnant.

My body issues and my self-esteem issues followed me into my pregnancy. I gained 27kg while I was pregnant and it was because of the meds. I wasn’t eating everything or anything I wanted; in fact, I was vomiting every day and still getting fat.

I gained more weight after I gave birth and got to 129kg, which is the heaviest I’ve ever been in my life with a baby going, “I’ve done this bit. Why aren’t I having the other bit now?” I literally was worse after I had the baby in terms of my mental health surrounding my weight.”

- @jazskimo keeping it real and sharing her thoughts about her first pregnancy and childbirth. This was after 7 years of IVF and S$130,000 spent. She’s in a better place mentally now with a beautiful son and is on her next IVF adventure to try for her second child.