Real life: “I lost 18 kilos in 3 months and overcame the accordion effect” –

January 3, 2014 was the date my world completely transformed. Not only because I decided to change my relationship with my body but also because of everything that decision brought: a shape I love, a healthy lifestyle, self-esteem and even a new job.

That day, when I got back from the trip, I couldn’t put on any clothes – even the pants that I thought were too big didn’t fit anymore! I’ve never been so depressed. Not that this was the first time I felt dissatisfied with my body. Since the age of 15, he lived in an accordion effect. Every year (always close to some important event), I threw myself headlong into a crazy diet and lost a lot of kilos (I’ve done the fruit, the soup, the tuna…).

But soon after, he returned to the banana split, the coxinha, the cheese bread and the cocktails. The consequences of this unruly eating were felt beyond the mirror – she was always indisposed and had constant headaches. When she ran, she would finish training completely exhausted.

Read more: Housewife loses 42 kg in five months with just walking

– (Eduardo Svezia/)

This time, I wanted to do something different and follow a healthy menu. I found the article Dieta da Proteína Enxuga 7 Kg em 14 Dias, in , and decided to give it a try. In two weeks, I lost 7 kilos. But after a while, it started to get hard to avoid the chocolate milk she had in the morning. [risos] So, I looked for a nutritionist, who put together a menu based on the one published by the magazine – rich in low-glycemic index carbohydrates and lean proteins. I learned to replace sweets with whey ice cream, to replace beer with non-alcoholic drinks and to leave pasta for Sunday. I followed her instructions until the end of 2015, when she had already lost 15 kilos.

Read more: She dribbled the symptoms of early menopause with sports and a healthier diet

But, to my surprise, throughout 2016 I put on everything I had dried up. It’s hard to explain what happened. I felt so comfortable that I thought I might release the treats. I went back to drinking frequently, dinners out became a routine and fit desserts fell by the wayside. In order not to face reality, I stopped buying clothes and started avoiding the mirror.

Until, in November last year, I found out about Pronokal, a method for weight loss that delivers food at home. I ended up falling in love with the practicality of the program, ideal for me, who live on the street and don’t have time to cook.

At the same time, I decided to complement my fitness routine. I’ve always loved running (I finished a half marathon weighing nearly 200 pounds!) and I run about 12 miles a week. I added bodybuilding two days a week and now I have the help of a personal trainer. He encourages me and never lets me down!

Read more: This woman lost 40 kg in 1 year and a half with a gluten and lactose free diet and functional exercises

Since then, I’ve lost 40 pounds and my fat percentage has dropped from 35 to 18%. I work out four times a week, and even when I don’t have the diet foods in my bag, I try to make good choices – lunch vegetables with a lean protein, leave the low-glycemic carbohydrates for the pre-workout and eat yogurt to disguise the hungry in the afternoon. I eat about two free meals a week and save the drinks for special occasions.

It wasn’t just my body that changed: I decided to create a blog (www.detopporai.com) to share my story, I gained more than 50,000 followers on my Instagram account and founded a consultancy for fitness and healthy brands. I am infinitely more professionally fulfilled than I was before and I feel that I can finally say that I have overcome the accordion effect and that I am fine with who I am – inside and out!”

Three tips from Cecília to overcome the accordion effect

1. Get help
“Doing a dietary re-education is not easy at all, especially if the people around you don’t make it easy. Ask them to be understanding and encourage you.”

2. Find a diet that fits
“It’s no use proposing to follow a diet rich in eggs if you’re not fond of food. Choose the menu that matches your taste and your lifestyle.”

3. Think about what got you started
In order not to lose focus, every morning I remind myself how unhappy I was with my previous shape.”