Caren Parkinson (49) from Rispark lost over 87 kilograms
“I’d always had a weight problem since being a teenager and I was teased and called jumbo at school. Children can be very cruel and as I became older I became an emotional eater and just ate more and more when I was down or upset,” said Caren.
CAREN Parkinson (49) from Rispark in the South of Johannesburg, has undergone a huge transformation in her life and after losing over 87 kilograms since January 2017, when she first began a new way of eating, she still intends to lose even more before the year is over.
“I’d always had a weight problem since being a teenager and I was teased and called jumbo at school. Children can be very cruel and as I became older I became an emotional eater and just ate more and more when I was down or upset,” said Caren.
Over 10 years Caren tried every diet in the book and nothing seemed to help her. She weighed 177 kilograms and suffered serious health problems. After suffering heart problems, she had two heart failures, her kidneys failed and she suffered from severe sleep apnoea which resulted in her stopping breathing throughout the night.
“After my last kidney failure I knew I had to do something to lose weight and saw a specialist who advised I try banting as a way of life. Banting has quite literally saved my life and I would recommend it to anyone who battles with trying to lose weight. On other diets I was always hungry, now I can eat bacon, steak, eggs, avocado and lots more delicious food and the great thing is, I feel full and still lose weight.
Since bringing her weight down Caren has been discharged from both the heart failure and renal clinics and she only has to go every six months to check up on her health. “What I really love is I can drive again. Before banting I couldn’t even fit behind the wheel of a car, and now I can enjoy a fun and active lifestyle. I’m quite literally a new woman,” Caren enthused. A mirror used to be Caren’s worst enemy and she asked her son to remove all of them in her home. “I couldn’t face looking at myself and wanted to hide away from the world.”
By the end of 2019, Caren would like to reach her goal weight of 77 kilograms and look like the amazing woman she feels she now is. “I need to have a hernia operation and the doctors at the hospital are gifting me an operation to remove all my loose skin. Now I just need to stop smoking completely and remain not smoking for 40 days before they will operate. Another battle but I’m absolutely determined to win this one quickly.
“Having my two sons certainly gave me lots of encouragement to lose weight and now I have a darling grandson who I don’t want to disappoint. I’m walking again and looking forward to going back to the gym. Life is great and when I see other women and men who are very overweight I want to say to them, ‘don’t give up, try the banting way of life and see how it can work for you.’”
If you are suffering from being overweight and feel there’s no hope for you, phone Caren on 084 561 2078 or email: bantifiedcaren@gmail.com or visit her Facebook page – Caren Parkinson #AliveAnd Bantified
