My Weight Loss programme: How I made it happen.
By: Ndyaluvane Aviwe

Ever since I have lost weight last year; from a size 42 to 34, people have been timelessly asking me how I miraculously lost weight. This enquiry has became inevitable when long last seen friends see me. It has now became a tag line that people unconsciously say when they meet me- for instance they say "Hey Aviwe/Cherry long time no see! You have lost weight! What's your secret?" I even get this tag line on Facebook, Twitter, My Space and whats app accounts. I literally can't go a day without bumping into this tag line. It's with being bombarded with the same inevitable question, by the same people that I have decided to deem the spotlight on me and disclose how i have lost this much weight literally in 6 months! *Girl power-high fives you*

I have always been a thick girl, since my primary grades there isn't a single time in my life that i remember being a slander woman (except now of course). I come from a family of 'thick skins'; because every family member is thick-however in different sizes e.g. my mom is thicker than me, but I'm thicker than my Lil sister. Secondly, we are 'thick skins' because throughout my life, even through the drilling stage of high school years-I have never suffered from low self-esteem nor self-confidence. However, I will not accept your praises for my exceptional behaviour, because my parents deserve this credit. They're the ones who nurtured and taught me self-respect and self-appreciation.

It is true that the media does play a crucial role in influencing our self-image, world-views, ideologies of what's acceptable and abnormal et cetera. Thus, it presents to us what they term as 'acceptable social behaviour and conduct' that we bluntly conform to i.e. we strive to look prettier by wearing weaves, make-up, try to lose weight and buy skin products to either enlighten our skins/remove marks/ fight pimple growth etc. We only look natural and normal in our bedrooms before going out.

However, if one has equipped themselves with their own values, beliefs and positive self-image, whatever the media may present to them is blocked away by these. It is through a positive self-image and self-respect and values that my parents instilled within me that I was able to stand firm against whatever came my way. Through my parents' guidance and my determination I was able not to underestimate myself.

Throughout my life experiences I have learnt that the people you surround yourself with have an essential influence on you. It sounds like a cliche, but don't be sceptical and discard this easily, because throughout my life I have had friends who don't judge me, belittle me or try to change me. I have always had supportive friends and friends who did not define me by my weight. Of course, they wouldn't be able to do so, because I never let my weight define me i.e. whatever my slander friends did physically...I did too.

As expected there were fellow classmates who used to mock me and made fun of me, but because I had a great self-esteem and girlfriends who had my back, I wasn't much affected by those petty silly remarks. I mean imagine how it must feel like having 'supposed friends' who giggle along to whatever silly remarks that ignorant school boys have to say about you-supposed friends who are meant to be there for you, but find opportunity to flirt with these school boys when they tear you apart. It must feel like shit and is sure to set any walls that you have built around you to protect you trembling down.

I don't think you guys get the clear picture, I was always the fat one within my group of friends.

Even after i lost weight...I still hold the title.

It was only in University that I managed to slightly shake a little tiny bit of that title. By now you must have guessed that i tried ridiculous diet plans/injections/plans to lose weight...yes, that's an obvious guess-but you're wrong. I have 3 main reasons that made me lose weight and I call them "My weight loss programme" and this is how "I made it happen".

1. Moving to Port Elizabeth: (Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University) to study meant not leaving with my parents-something that I have never done before. I have never lived without my folks or family (we are a total of 6) so you can imagine the cohesiveness we have. Moreover, anyone who knows me personally, knows that I hated P.E for my entire 1st year-I even applied to UKZN (Durban) and for student exchange programmes just to leave PE. So, I yes I felt lonely and depressed a bit and greatly homesick.
2. My wasteful ways caught up with me: I am an extreme money spender and can't manage my finances well-it took me my entire 1st year to know how to spend money wisely. I would mostly focus on 'me'- the physical and materialistic Aviwe and left little to nothing for groceries.
3. Lastly, the widely known second 'girls bestfriend' after jewellery-Fashion, got the better of me.

I got burnt by University's pressure to look good at all times. To us girls, being known for being 'swaggarific' is important and honorary.So instead of delegating my monthly pocket money adequately and evenly on my needs and necessities, I focused mostly on Fashion trends and trying to 'look presentable at all times' (as I would sugar coat it).

After all these mistakes, I gradually started to lose weight and people started to notice this change. Obviously, I never took notice as I was looking through a hole of a broken window and changed my direction. Thus, I tried to lose weight 3 months before my matric dance, but I failed and never thought of looking that direction again. I guess some cliches have truth...."Everything happens for a reason" or better yet "Oko nakala kwenye, kuku lunga kwenye"


In a nutshell the reason for this blog was to show you guys that you need not to lose weight because you feel obligated or pressured to. Yes, I look better now :) and you probably feel like if I can do it, so can you...True, but it's best you lose weight when you ready and for the right reasons.

You are welcome to leave a comment on this blog or follow me on twitter @Aviwe_N