Why the Latina Diet Plan?
I wasn’t eating much but I kept gaining weight and got used to the excuse that I am obese because I am Latina but later in my research I found that psychological distress and emotional eating in overweight Latinas was very common. Is there a cure for it, rich people are not obese, how can I fight obesity?
In recent years the emotional eating habits has been increasing a lot especially in the Hispanic communities. I think I was born and minutes later my mom put me into a faja, I always wear one to make me feel better when in reality I was always uncomfortable if I was in it after 4 hours. Obesity is a major public health problem and a leading preventable cause of death, but how can I control my self from eating concon with that little salsita on top, or the pernil with rice and potato salad.
According to a thesis in ProQuest “It is well documented in non-Hispanic populations that emotional eating, is a response to psychological distress, can be an etiological factor of excess weight and obesity”.
Can the social issues have an impact in my weight gain…but I was already gordita since little, I truly believe that in my case is a combination of no exercise, bad eating habits and the socioeconomic status. As a single mom I always worry about everything but myself, a very unhealthy way but about a year ago I found a magic pill that suppress my appetite-and let me tell you that as a chef i love to pick of everything and that is how I end up with 200 pounds, keep in mind that I’m only 5’2 therefore everything goes to my hips. In NYC for couple of years now the bariatric surgery has gain popularity so I checked it out and visit a surgeon at the Bellevue Hospital, on my first visit I felt less gordita surrounded by so many ladies who were a bit more heavy set than me. I had so many doubts, the doctor told me my BMI or Body Mass Index was right on the line, I was secretly so desperate that I started eating more to gain more pounds in order to qualify for the surgery. I had some tests were performed and many more scheduled but one day at my beauty parlor my friend told me about this treatment and I decided to give it a try before surgery.
I lost 5 pounds the first week and I just couldn’t believe it so I went to Rite Aid, and after that to the Duane Reade scale, called mom and we just didn’t think it was going to work. Months later mama got into the plan and we were both losing weight-it was a magic moment because we have fight with this weight must of our lives. I lost over 30 pounds in about 9 months because as I Latina chef I had to re-train not only my body but my mind. I was never a big play eater but I pick a lot, in December I noticed I no longer eat 2 pasteles en hoja, my stomach was finally shrinking ?…wasn’t that the same purpose of the biatric surgery? , listen I’m a chef not a surgeon BUT what I can tell you is that the diet works, is not easy but neither is carrying 2 big butts and 4 hips.
I am now 172 beautiful pounds, the last time I remember to be 175 was back in High School. I have never felt this good in my entire life, and that is why I created a diet meal program call “Latin Diet Meals” in which I will offer prepared diet meals, a reference to my clinic for the suppressant for those ladies like my self that needs it, and me as a coach. We will be exercising as a group because I know how hard it is to do it all by your self. I now have a group of 140+ ladies and about 5 guys curious about how in the world Mimi lost weight surrounded by food. Below is a before and after, I never thought I was going to have one of those pictures so imagine how happy I am today, I still use my fajas but now I can breath better.