I recently hit 50kg. I’ve never been 50kg so it’s quite a
messy experience being caught between, “you’re just growing” and “oh my I’m
getting fat”. Fortunately one thing is certain about me, when I don’t like
something I don’t like it. So I don’t like weighing 50 KG. So I decided to
finally follow through on my vow that 19 would be the age of healthy. I however
completely underestimated how difficult it is to be a fit African girl.
As is the case in most cultures, feasts are a common way of
celebrating anything.
Here in Botswana we glorify women and even babies with a
thick appetite and thick body to match it. When I was younger my “skinny”
figure was a cause for concern for my family, a little bit of teasing from my
cousins and once a partner that sat and watched me eat because he suspected I
didn’t eat much. Food is a form of bonding, it’s a way of interacting and
accompanied by the modern lifestyle it is really fostering bad eating habits
and unhealthy lifestyles.
I had no idea of this until I started my attempt at being
physically fit and healthy but a little secret on this side of the world is
that no one really likes and supports a fit black woman. The comments are
exhausting and I’ve stopped trying to share this part of my life with anyone. “Don’t
get that tight ass, that’s for white women”, “but You look perfect”, “are you
benching your boyfriend or?” just some of the comments I’ve received. I walked
into the gym and an instructor even exclaimed that I was attempting to ruin a
perfectly good body.
Honestly I’d like to
make it clear that it’s not about how I look really, actually never mind abs
are pretty cool. But this is about being Healthy and Fit: it’s about getting to
the top of the stairs and not needing a nap as well as oxygen mask, getting
through 8 hours of sleep as well as waking up with no trouble. Two weeks in and
I am already waking up before my alarm clock rings.
But the worst part is really how difficult it is to find the
foods that my new lifestyle requires. I’ve suddenly began to sympathize with
Vegetarians and Vegans because in this country well there is no healthy option;
Except for Green salad. There is always green salad for some reason. Living in
my parent’s house doesn’t make it any easier for the record. My father keeps
forgetting I do not drink Fizzy drinks while he laughs at my attempts at
working out. I forgive him because he has promised to buy me the Nike trainers
which all the cool fitblrs have.
Truth told if the tumblr blog community of “Fitblrs” had
more black women I’d probably feel less alone in my journey. But I’m finding it
hard to find body idols or role models that are anything close to what I look
like. Sadly the truth is being a fit black girl is proving to be a very
difficult and lonely path. Since I’ve been trying, failing and succeeding for
about the past 8months I’ve decided I’m not falling off the healthy living
train ever again, simply because starting again is so damn exhausting.
Honestly it is your body but I feel wonderful. So I thought
there is probably another girl out there who needs a start and well I’m going
to share what I’ve learnt in the past 8 months.
- Water and sleep are your best friends.
- Squats are your booty’s best friend, while running is the best all body work out there is.
- Eating clean isn’t dieting, it is the way humans should eat. Simply start by cutting packaged processed foods ( Fizzy drinks, crisps, etc).
- Eat. Eat. And Eat. Your metabolism needs at least 4 meals a day.
- Breakfast matters.
- Gym is not a delete bad eating button.
- You have the time to work out. 10min of skipping rope before your morning shower does wonders.
- Take the stairs. And the long way.
- Quitting is never doing it. Falling off is fine.
- You don’t have to give up your favourite foods.
- Also weights don’t mean bulk they mean muscle.
- The first two weeks hurt, and then it feels good. So don’t fall off.
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