It’s been a tough road. A series of personal trials that began in 2017 — the acceptance and not so much the realization (as this was known to me) that i have been morbidly obese for 3 decades and I needed to do something about it, the 2nd an end to a 10 year marriage (my second), 3rd, becoming a single mom at the time and stepping down from my dreams to maintain a healthy relationship with the past for my Son. This became my stepping stone, creating a step at a time. Turing my life around for his wellbeing.
After several trials on and off social media in I have finally found the what I would like to put out there for the world and Oman.
3 weeks ago I published an Instagram post that I was reinventing it, unfortunately I started to vomit pink and black. I glad to announce that this has evolved in the last few weeks.
Hello my name is Amal Al Khaburi! I am 44 years old current weight 94 kg finally heading to a healthy weight. Which started 2 years ago, where I weighed 396 LBS/over 180++ kgs.
You see I have never been “the skinny girl” in fact I have spent my whole life overweight. I have been the butt of many jokes, and in general I have used food to comfort myself. I have been through many trials in my 44 years that haven’t helped my weight situation. In 2013 it all changed. I gave birth to my perfect little boy, Noah, weigh was 352 LBS/160 kg give or take. He came into my life exactly when I needed him, as I was going through so much in my personal life. 2017 was when it all clicked. I saw him developing the same eating habits I had. I fought too hard to have him, and here I was allowing him to develop in the same manner as myself.
It’s amazing isn’t it that we cannot see yourself even when you looking at yourself in the mirror every single day. I honestly do believe I was in denial, and ignoring all the signs, like cloths we not becoming any smaller, I could not walk much, needed help in wearing my cloths so many I can’t even remember.
In 2017, I was fearful that if something didn’t change, I wouldn’t be around to see all of my Noah’s milestones. They say hindsight is 20/20, but if I could go back and talk to my overweight self this is what I would say to her and all those who are fighting this battle. I would also tell myself to take all the energy I was putting into self-loathing and all the negativity about myself and invest in the time for myself, turning my self into a better version of me, since I am the one who matters!
“Stop wishing for a better figure, and start loving yourself first”
I spent so much time wishing I had the perfect figure and trying to be that perfect woman/girl that you hear about, but they don’t exist. You know the one I am talking about, the one:
who never has had weight problems
that girl who can wear that dress and not have lumps and bumps
make the dress sway and flow too
and guess what I have come to discover that she doesn’t exist and that “perfect” girl has her own issues, sad but true, it is just that they aren’t as visible as being overweight.
I Embrace all the things that make me! I love myself so much even my Fab Mr. AS ❤️, asks me how can I love him and Noah so much, if I love myself so much first?
My reply is “if I didn’t love myself as I do now, then I would not be able to love them so much and always be grateful for all that I have. And that they would be miserable around me”
I don’t have a perfect life, I have my own struggles in raising our little boy and working on a beautiful marriage is not a walk in the park always, all relationships have their ups and downs. But I can promise you this, you will FLOURISH, as the conqueror of your own battle, only if you put all your energies into being the best version of yourself ❤️
the Battle of the bulge is not easy: we become moody, edgy, irritable, touchy and so much more. So its easy to give up and fall of the wagon. That is why a support group is necessary.
So I have been Lucky that I have my own little support group with me, its been a bumpy ride but we are getting there.
So when I started my weight loss journey and decided to join the GYM my mom laughed as did the immediate family who are close to me. You see I had done this so many times no one thought I would manage to pull it off.
Don’t get me wrong, they were tired of my joining the GYM and not going through and they all thought “ok another failed attempt” But this time what no one realized was that I have had blessings sent to me (everything happens for a reason)
So a while back the my Coach recommended that I try this diet that you have to fast in, i didn’t really listen and ignored it.
Just before Ramadan started I started following some really amazing people who did the whole fat to fit transformation (weight loss) with and without the gastric banding etc. So One of them mentioned it to me, this made me do some research and discovered that its called Intermittent Fasting.
What is Intermittent Fasting?
Intermittent fasting is a term for eating between periods of fasting and eating. (i hope this makes sense)
There is nothing about which foods you should eat, but actually when you should eat and that they have to be low calorie.
This is what worked for me and in 1 week they change was apparent even to those who saw me everyday.
I am sharing some of my food habits that I have made that have helped and still helping on my weight loss journey:
GRAPEFRUITS
Some compounds in grapefruits help your body use insulin more efficiently.
Keeps your blood sugar in check
Also help burn calories.
TIP: I usually mix it in my green salad with a touch of balsamic vinaigrette dressing that I make at home. NO JUICES!!
OLIVE OIL
Get rid the butter, the cooking spray
Replace it with olive oil. Like fish oil.
Olive Oil is full of omega-3 fatty acids that help keep the stomach less bloated, the brain, and other organs working more efficiently, & helps regulate the appetite
TIP: DO NOT over heat the olive oil in the pan, because it burns and then you loose all the effective properties of it
BANANAS
Generally start my day with a banana
It helps the metabolism due to all the potassium in them. “Potassium helps your body regulate minerals and fluids in and out of your cells”
TIP: Keeps you full, I blend it with my milk and use my protein powder to make pancakes
BERRIES
Did you know that berries are high in fiber (up to 8 to 9 grams a cup)
also have antioxidants, and contain less sugar than most fruits.
TIP: The combination of all the berries makes them a satisfying and healthy choice and sometimes I blend it with a banana and fat free milk
the Battle of the bulge is not easy: we become moody, edgy, irritable, touchy and so much more. So its easy to give up and fall of the wagon. That is why a support group is necessary.
So I have been Lucky that I have my own little support group with me, its been a bumpy ride but we are getting there.
So when I started my weight loss journey and decided to join the GYM my mom laughed as did the immediate family who are close to me. You see I had done this so many times no one thought I would manage to pull it off.
Don’t get me wrong, they were tired of my joining the GYM and not going through and they all thought “ok another failed attempt” But this time what no one realized was that I have had blessings sent to me (everything happens for a reason) :
My Son Noah – my Miracle (A gift from God);
A Girl Called Nadia Khan from London
there is so much I can say and yet it would not be enough (she is another beautiful soul that has walked the walk with me & still is)
she joined the GYM with me
she came with me relentlessly for months & due to busy life schedules we try to work out together when possible
stood by me through it all – a backbone
another called Christin from Berlin – but she’s more Omani now 🙂
a force to reckon with as well
my rock & backbone
another beautiful soul who has walked the walk & still is
and sitting in Budapest is my Sister Anna Maria who lives on the 4th floor, without a lift (you can imagine how many times I cursed her coz I had walk up 94 steps and down 94 steps) 😉
my globe-trotter
someone who has stood by me from across the continents
another soul sent to me, a force to be reckoned with and my pillars of strength
the above was how it started, along the way the circle increased
my Coaches
Mum & Dad, they started to believe (they are my parents always stood by me, but as far as loosing weight was concerned it was hard for them to believe)
Princess Ash & Khali (uncle) Shez from Manchester – my cousins
Hilal Al Habsi – Someone who Believes & true to his word
Ahmed Al Omairi – training us now a friend & brother
Eva Stanley Jones – Making it Happen, like a breath of Fresh Air
the gyms
my online supporters
those who only say they support – talk is cheap
There are those that would like to remain anonymous & those that breezed in and out of my life, bringing or teaching us something positive in life.
Everyone needs support something or someone to fall back on … as the shrinking arab feel free to contact me for that, I know how it feels:
BEFORE
TODAY
I will be the change and
