By SOLA OGUNDIPE

Slim with Ease, a healthy weight loss plan has been inspired by theremarkable weight loss programme Nina Ndubuisi has been following, that has enabled her to lose over 54kg in less than two years.

Nina will be in Lagos, November 8 , 2014 at Nouveau Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos to share her story in the hope that others will be inspired to join her on a healthy journey.

The objective is to bring the secret of her weight loss to Nigeria (Africa), proving that one does not have to be on a gdieth to lose weight and eat healthy. Here is Ninafs story. Excerpts:

For as long as I can remember I have been obese, actually not just obese but morbidly obese, despite a couple of health scares, warnings from medical personnel, sarcastic comments from ”friends”, being excluded by people socially etc.

I still did not do anything about my weight. , I fluctuated between a size 32 and a size 28, sometimes the size 32 clothes were even tight on me but I was able to get along by wearing skirts and jogging bottoms that had elasticated waistbands.

Knee problems

As they say;”whenever you wake up is your morning”, I got my wake up call in June 2012. I had been complaining of serious knee problems, I could barely stand for more than 5 minutes without looking for something to lean over (something that would actually take off the weight from my upper body that was crippling my knees), kneeling down at the altar for communion became problematic so I stopped going forward for communion.

Being medical personnel, the need to perform CPR (cardio pulmonary resuscitation) is inevitable which means regular training to update techniques is required.

Now for those who donft know, CPR has to be performed with the patient lying flat on their back on the ground and the person performing it on their knees, this was a major problem for me and I could not comply.

I then summoned up the courage to visit my doctor I use the phrase ”summoning up courage” because over here in the UK, whenever you fall within the category of being slightly overweight any ailment you present the doctor with, will be attributed to your weight. The doctor decided to refer me to the surgical orthopaedic consultant (Mr Thilagarajah-”my life saver”).

Wake up call

In June 2012, I had my first consultation with Mr Thilagarajah, he took one look at me even without asking me what my problem was or looking at the x ray that had been done prior to him seeing me and asked; “what are you doing about your weight?”

I was confused as I had come to see him about my knees and not about my weight and of course my knee problem had nothing to do with my knees or did it? (that was me being in denial).

After looking at my x ray, he told me that my knees looked like the knees of an 82-year old woman and that I was a candidate for knee replacement surgery in the next 5-10 years and concluded;”I doubt if you will live that long”. He requested to see me in a year’s time.

As I left the consultation room I was downcast, I knew it was time to do something about my weight seriously, but I did not know how to start, the mention of the word ”diet” petrified me, the thought of exercise scared me, I knew there were options out there that people had been doing and losing weight on them such as; Cambridge diet, lighter life etc, but I loved my food too much to live on milk shakes, soups and cereal bars, I knew these worked in the interim but I also knew that they are not sustainable.

A few days later I went to a shop and was looking at some healthy/diet magazines, I found one that I could relate to, I read it from cover to cover and was inspired, I then signed up with them although the menus/foods they advertised and talked about where mainly English foods, I used the principles and applied it to my way of cooking Nigerian food and surprisingly the weight started to fall off me.

Supporters

I admire anyone who has battled with weight issues and managed to successfully get rid of it and keep it off, as it’s not just about losing the weight, the main thing is keeping it off.

It takes a whole completely new change of mind shift. Find people that push and support you. I have 5 people that I would love to mention; Mr Uchechukwu Ndubuisi (my husband), Kelechi Umunna-Ubaha, Mrs Jane Akwani, Ezinne Kufre-Ekanem and Chin Akwiwu.

Message

Look for food plans that are not restrictive because I know that we Nigerians love our food and tend to shy away from any programme that restricts what we can or cannot eat. Also look for ones that are beneficial for the whole family including children and those who have underlying medical conditions.

Today

My first weigh in was over 160kg, I have since lost over 54kg and the weight is still falling off. I have since been back to see the consultant and he was shocked when he saw me, unfortunately I will still have to have the knee replacement surgery but the more weight I lose the longer I am delaying the process.

I am passionate about helping others fight obesity so that they don’t have to become a candidate for knee replacement surgery and that is why I have a coined the Slim with Ease plan. It’s a healthy food plan that incorporates the Nigerian menu because we Nigerians love our food. If I can do it then others can do it too.