It’s hard to argue with results. And that’s what Ramie (@Ramie_isGorgeous on Instagram), a young lady on a mission, gives you. She was a self-proclaimed “pretty for a big girl” but it wasn’t until her 22nd birthday that she decided to do something and get serious about her health. BlackDoctor.org sat down with Ramie to explain just how she did it.
BDO: What was the defining moment that made you finally want to lose weight and be healthier?
Ramie: All my life I had been overweight and probably one of the most confident “big girls” you’d ever meet, but for some reason when my 22nd birthday came along I wasn’t “feeling myself” like I normally would. My clothes weren’t laying right on my body, nothing seemed to fit right and I was totally in denial about moving up to 26 pant size. So I guess it’s safe to say I was finally tired… It took me about a month after my birthday to finally start getting the ball rolling but I went out and bought a scale and I remember stepping on and it read 342 and I was totally disgusted with myself and knew I needed to make a change or eventually I would end dying from the only disease I could cure without a Dr. and refused to lose my life to obesity!
BDO: What were some of the hurdles you had to face to living healthier?
Ramie: Even though I did this for myself my biggest hurdle was learning not to care so much about irrelevant peoples opinion. When you start losing weight and youcan finally see changes in your body it’s addictive, you love the confidence, you love how you feel, you love your energy, and the compliments are a plus as well, but with the love also comes the hate. Although in the beginning everyone will be your biggest cheerleader, but not everyone will be as happy for you once they see how far you’ve come and how hard you’re going. My mom warned me that the people I start my journey with might not end my journey with me, and she was so right. Not everyone can take you going from the friend that watches the drinks or holds the purses while you’re out, so when the tables turn they don’t like that, and it hurts. Why can’t we just all be beautiful together and celebrate each other’s beauty together?
BDO: When you started losing weight, was there anything you were afraid to eat?
Ramie: Chinese food… I used to LOVE Chinese food so much, and then when I embarked on this journey, I told myself I would not eat that ever again. I wasn’t addicted to it but I REALLY enjoyed it, but mentally I can’t bring myself to eat it anymore. I still remember the taste and how much I liked it but I just STAY AWAY!!!! My guilty pleasure would have to be brownies lol. Like a lot of women, I LOVE chocolate, and there’s just something about a (homemade) brownie that is just EVERYTHING. But what I can say is now if I have the desire for a brownie and I decide to reward myself with it, I don’t need a big one, I don’t even need a whole one, I just need enough to satisfy the craving and I’m good.
BDO: When did you feel you started really making progress in losing weight?
Ramie: I didn’t feel I made progress until I made it out of the 200’s. That doesn’t mean I didn’t celebrate where I had come, I just couldn’t get too comfortable. Too many times I had started a “diet” lost a little weight and felt like now I can reward myself with a “cheat day”, and then a cheat day turned into a cheat week, and a cheat week into a cheat month. I was in middle school the last time I can remember not being in the 200’s. So with that thought in my mind that kept me going!
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