“I saw myself thin, but I had 35% fat and high cholesterol” –

“You know that feeling when your pants button won’t close? For me, it was always a sign of relief. I suffered years of bullying because of my shape: I only weighed 44 kilos. When I was in high school, I wore three pants so people would think my legs were thicker, and I only managed to wear shorts when I was 19.

In addition to adopting clothing tricks to change my body, I avoided the gym at all costs (I was very afraid of losing more weight) and lived on sweets: fried nuggets, frozen food, soda, chocolate and snacks made up my menu at all times. day. Wherever she went, she carried bonbons and candies in her purse.

As the tactic was not as effective as I would have liked, at the age of 20 I resorted to drugs that whet my appetite. It worked: I doubled all meals (I ate lunch, dinner and breakfast twice) and woke up in the middle of the night to snack. Before going out to dinner with friends (even if we were going to eat in a rodizio with dessert), I swallowed something very greasy still at home.

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In three months, I gained 12 kilos, which went straight to my stomach, butt and thighs. Even though I didn’t feel comfortable in a bikini (after all, I didn’t have firm curves like those who work out) and my body was showing signs that it wasn’t healthy (I slept badly, my hair fell out in droves, I constantly had broken nails and I wasn’t in the mood ), I was happy with what I saw.

– (Eduardo Svezia/)

Weight: 52 kg Height: 1.65 m Conquest: Swapped fat for muscle

I only realized that I couldn’t go on like that when my husband, who loved playing sports, convinced me to have a physical evaluation. I found that my body fat was 35% and that my cholesterol was sky high. I was so scared that I decided to consult a nutritionist to change my habits. But, as my palate was completely childish, it was difficult to find one that put together a menu that I could really follow and that made me understand that, even to gain weight, I needed a diet – I was scared to death of the word!

Also, I needed to change the whole environment in my house so as not to fall into temptation: instead of keeping stuffed cookies in the pantry, I started to leave the ingredients ready to make a cookie or a mousse fit. I adopted a diet rich in fruits, proteins (eggs, yogurt, chicken, whey), complex carbohydrates (sweet potatoes, seven-grain rice) and good fats (peanut butter, avocado).

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It is true that, in the beginning, I had some difficulty letting go of the nonsense and I still ate a lot of free meals. Over time, I changed my tastes and, today, I easily exchange a trip to the Italian canteen for a fit pasta dish. Starting to attend the gym was not easy. My husband had to carry me almost tied up and I couldn’t stand to stay there for more than half an hour. Short, high-intensity workouts (HIIT) were my salvation.

As they are super-fast, I can work out up to five times a week. My lifestyle changed completely and, in the first three months alone, I lost 10 kilos – or rather, I exchanged fat for muscle. I gained a lot of energy and my skin and hair became more shiny too. In a year, my body was different, much healthier and more defined, and the percentage of fat reached 12%. Finally, I found my best version.”

Maria Flor’s homemade protein bar
Ingredients

1 cup. (tea) peanut butter 1/4 cup (tea) honey or agave 3 scoops of whey 1/2 cup. (tea) oat flour Optional: 70% cocoa chocolate, cocoa nibs, dried fruits, oilseeds, chia…

Way of doing

In a container, mix the peanut butter and honey. Add whey, oat flour and optional. Place the dough in a plastic wrap-lined baking dish, kneading it with your hands, and take it to the fridge for about 20 minutes.

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