Is Eating Junk Food Once in a While Bad for Your Health and Weight Loss Progress?

The foods that made you overweight may not be the foods you feel most guilty about eating.

You did not gain weight because of the once-in-a-while birthday cakes you ate at your kid's or friend's party.

Neither did you gain weight because of the twice-a-month treat where you take your family out to enjoy some chips/fries and nyama choma/braai with a glass of soda or fresh juice.

And neither did the once in a while ordered-in pizza or chicken make you fat.

No.

What got you to the body you now dislike is the everyday snacks and bites you take without even noticing them.

The sweets you eat on your way to work.

The biscuits or doughnuts you just have to have with your tea when you're sitting watching the news or during your job's tea break.

The excess body fat that accumulated, the one that makes you question your worth every time you have to force your trousers over it or avoid wearing short sleeves because of your arms, that extra unwanted fat came from the little, often overlooked habits that, when you get asked, "why do you think you are overweight?", will never come to mind.

The crisps, Ringo's and chips mwitu you snack on every day with your kids when they come home from school.

The maandazis and bread you swear with your life you can't live without.

Not only at breakfast, but with every cup of tea throughout the day.

And let us not even talk about the "tea" itself, which often contains enough sugar to leave residue sitting at the bottom of the cup after you've finished drinking it.

Not the 3 chapatis you indulged in on Sunday that make you feel like you've messed up.

Not your love for ugali that you just have to eat with every beef or fish meal.

It is in the little things.

The small frequent bites that go unnoticed.

That no one questions you about or tries to stop you.

Those are what made you fat.

And those are what make you wonder why, despite reducing your food portions and avoiding soda, you still are not losing weight.

So before you rush to "cut out all carbs" from your diet...

Before you make your plates of food look depressing or like something you may as well put on a tray in the field and enjoy with cows and goats...

Before you fear every bite of bread when eating a sandwich or think that "maybe I'm eating too much meat," despite meat being a nutritious superfood blessing nature gave us...

Reflect on these little things.

Because when you find a healthy and practical way to take care of those, then you will win.

Then you will start seeing your clothes get smaller.

And you will be able to lose weight in a way that is easy to maintain.

And hey, just between you and me, let me share with you a secret.

If that plate of food you sit down to eat, whether breakfast, lunch, or supper, is delicious, packed with nutrients, and still leaves you feeling satisfied, then there is a much higher chance it will become easier to avoid the "pretty little devils" that keep you from progress and your desired body.

But don't tell anyone I've told you that. Hehe.

All the best on your journey.