Out and About STYLE Magazine Issue 4 Vol. 2
Out and About STYLE Mag. was created out of the need to see more 'real people' in the media. As such, our content is completely celebrity-free. Instead, we focus on "real people living extraordinary lives" - People that can provide real inspiration. Our magazine is big on real stories and relatable topics. - Marsha Fry, Editor-in-Chief.
Out and About STYLE Mag. was created out of the need to see more 'real people' in the media. As such, our content is completely celebrity-free. Instead, we focus on "real people living extraordinary lives" - People that can provide real inspiration. Our magazine is big on real stories and relatable topics.
- Marsha Fry, Editor-in-Chief.
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EARLY YEARS OF WEIGHT LOSS OBSESSION<br />
I remember when I was at university, especially during<br />
my first year, going home for the holidays was a<br />
demoralising experience for me. The pressure that<br />
came with knowing that everyone I had not seen in<br />
a long time would be commenting on how much<br />
weight I have gained was truly disheartening. I started<br />
looking for weight loss products that could assist me<br />
to shed weight quickly. I found this miracle product<br />
which promised wonders. I used the product for like<br />
a week or so, <strong>and</strong> yes, I did lose weight, but I started<br />
developing migraines. I never wanted to associate<br />
the migraines with the highly caffeinated product I<br />
was taking, because that would mean I would have<br />
to stop taking it. I tried to get a comfortable pillow,<br />
maybe that will help me get a goodnight sleep along<br />
with some painkillers.<br />
Until one day, the migraine caused such dizziness<br />
that I nearly passed out. I knew that I couldn’t call<br />
any of my friends because they would ask too many<br />
questions. I called my pastor, who then rushed me to<br />
the hospital. We got to the hospital <strong>and</strong> my blood<br />
pressure was sky high, causing enormous pressure in<br />
my brain, which led to migraines. One would think<br />
that I would have learned something from this whole<br />
ordeal, but, sadly, I did not. After my recovery, I was<br />
back looking for another product that would get me<br />
to my target weight.<br />
PREGNANCY AND WEIGHT LOSS<br />
I got engaged <strong>and</strong> as our wedding day was<br />
approaching, the stress that came with the planning<br />
<strong>and</strong> the pressure to look your very best got to me. We<br />
then went to Thail<strong>and</strong> for our honeymoon. I bought a<br />
bikini set that I thought I would wear, but I could not<br />
get myself to wear it. I was scared of the stares I will<br />
get—an African girl with a big bum among the Asians.<br />
Mind you, I was at the smallest I’ve ever been.<br />
Soon the kids arrived. I had it all figured out. I planned<br />
on losing 5 kg before getting pregnant. When I found<br />
out I was pregnant, this really scared me, not because<br />
there was a human being growing inside of me, but<br />
the additional weight that I will gain. I really didn’t<br />
enjoy my pregnancy; I was forever stressing about<br />
the weight I was gaining. At around eight months<br />
pregnant, the stretch marks began to show, <strong>and</strong> this<br />
really made me depressed. After the birth of my first<br />
child, I was 30 kg heavier than I was at the start of the<br />
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