MY DIET  

Up until three months ago, my diet consisted of junk for breakfast, junk for dinner, and junk for tea. I was even more overweight than I am now, had bad skin, and felt bloated all the time. For some unknown reason, one day I just thought to myself: “Medication has not solved all my problems, let’s see if a diet works.”  

    I had experimented with my diet several times before, but ultimately failed for a variety of reasons: this time, I was determined to do it properly. I went to my fridge and threw out all meat (except fish and chicken), processed food, sugary snacks, and soft drinks. My next step was to write a food plan for each day of the week and stick to it: that way, I’d be getting a steady supply of vitamins and minerals, as well as making the diet simple to follow.  

    I started replacing red meat and processed food with healthy options, such as more fruit and vegetables, and vegetarian grills. Instead of chips, I have polenta or couscous, and instead of soft drinks, I have pure orange juice, water, or tea. If I feel like snacking, I snack on bananas or apples. My only vices are beer and cigarettes, but I am cutting down on those.  

    It is important to mention that I have cut out sugar as well. Some people are sensitive to sugar, meaning that they get a mental high from it. With sugar sensitive people, a chain reaction takes place: 1) After a sweet snack, blood sugar levels rise, giving an emotional high; 2) The body is then flooded with a hormone called insulin; 3) The blood sugar level drops in response to this; 4) A severe drop in blood sugar can then cause you to become irritable and moody or, in rare cases, manic.  

    Within a couple of weeks, my skin felt a lot healthier. Then I felt physically fitter and more alert. Within a three week period, I lost 4 kilograms. At the day centre, people have been commenting on how much fresher and healthier I look. From a mental health point of view, I feel more confident and less anxious. If you’re suffering from depression and/or anxiety, try eating less red meat, sugar, and processed food, and eat more fruit, vegetables, white meat, and vegetarian products.  

ADVANTAGES OF MY DIET

1)   I’m getting a steady supply of nutrients.

2)   I feel more mentally alert and confident.

3)   My skin feels a lot clearer.

4)   My blood sugar levels are more stable.

5)   I feel physically fitter.

6)   I’m slowly, but surely losing weight.

DISADVANTAGES OF MY DIET

1)   Junk food can be addictive.

2)   I miss the smell and taste of hotdogs, hamburgers, etc.

3)   A vegetarian diet is slightly more expensive than a junk food diet.

4)   Due to farming methods, you’ll still be consuming pesticides and other chemicals, unless you can afford to go organic.