Thuy had always eaten what she wanted when she felt like it since she was a child.
As an adult, she lost complete control of what she was taking into her body and she gained a lot of weight.
She didn’t like it, but she also had no motivation to lose weight.
The situation lasted until she met Nguyen Viet Dung, her current husband, during the social distancing period of 2021.
The two first met on the internet, but it didn’t affect their thoughts on how they matched. They decided to meet in person once the pandemic was under control.
After the two set up a date, Thuy finally felt the need to lose weight, although she had started to feel exhausted while walking shortly before. But only until now did she have a reason to be even more determined to lose weight and regain her slender, attractive figure.
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Thuy (L) when she weighed 102 kg. Photo courtesy of Thuy |
After studying various forms of weight loss, she tried to adapt her diet. She began to carefully compose her meals: each would consist of 50% protein, 30% carbohydrates and 20% good fats.
By maintaining this high-protein diet, Thuy was able to avoid losing muscle while losing weight, which prevented his skin from wrinkling and sagging.
She also prioritized steamed and boiled foods in her daily meals, while avoiding fried, sautéed, processed and salty dishes. Animal skins and organs were also limited.
Thuy also strictly controlled the amount of calories she took in and burned. She said experts have proven that one of the most important principles behind weight loss is keeping calories below calories out. The former refers to the energy taken in by the body through food and drink, while the latter refers to the energy expended on daily activities, including breathing, sleeping, and exercising.
Thuy calculated how much water she needed to take into her body using the formula of 40 milliliters of water per kilogram of body weight per day. This is in line with the recommendations of Dr. Huynh Tan Vu, a professor at the Faculty of Traditional Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, HCMC.
Drinking plenty of water also helped reduce Thuy’s hunger pangs and therefore helped limit the amount of food she ingested.
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Thuy after losing 42 kilos. Photo courtesy of Thuy |
According to Thuy, the thing she found most difficult after embracing this new lifestyle was how she had to force herself to follow her new diet and exercise rules.
“I constantly reminded myself of my date with Dung to control my appetite,” she said.
With a sweet tooth, Thuy gradually turned to a healthier diet.
Along with adapting his eating habits, Thuy picked up new habits such as exercising for about 30 minutes a day, five days a week. She alternated between running, doing yoga and going to the gym.
All of these efforts have helped her burn calories, gain muscle and reduce body fat. In turn, since muscle burns more calories than fat, the more muscle she gained, the more calories her body naturally burned.
Thuy managed to reduce her weight to 60 kilograms from 102 kilograms after six months. Her body measurements have also become fitter.
She and Dung first met in person in late 2021 as promised. The two then started dating and got married soon after. Thuy became pregnant in June 2022 and the husband and wife welcomed their first son earlier this year.
Thuy gained weight during her pregnancy and weighed 96 kilograms when she gave birth to her son. But she quickly reclaimed her pre-birth and post-weight loss body with her healthy diet and exercise habits.
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Thuy and her husband, Dung, after getting married and welcoming their first child. Photo courtesy of Thuy |
Recalling their first meeting, Dung said he thought about cutting off contact with Thuy the moment he saw her picture. But he ditched the idea after realizing how well they complemented each other personality-wise. So he started encouraging Thuy to lose weight, not only to look better, but also to lead a healthier life and become more confident.
“I admired his attempts,” he said.
Meanwhile, Thuy wanted to spread a positive message with her weight loss battle. She believed that those who want to lose weight without harming their health should educate themselves well about their body condition and strictly control their eating habits and physical activities.
“I hope people who have bodies like mine don’t give up,” she said.
