[UAH] Selfishness ~ Ugandans At Heart (UAH)

Rose Birungi,

I don't know when I fist bumped on Ndugu Mujungu's name   but I don't remember all body saying that he was selfish-- but from his story below I think he had that element of selfishness in him - Thank to  Grace I think he now knows that he had that element.

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                              Losing weight was tough!Publish Date: Jun 02, 2013
                                                                                              
                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                    
                                                                    
                                  
                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                                  
                      
Mujungu before the weight loss. He had just been diagnosed with pre-hypertension. He says his weight made his wife cry
newvision
                  
By Carol Natukunda 
SUNDAY VISION - Johnson Mujungu says his life has improved greatly after a strict diet that led to the weight loss. Mujungu   is an IT supervisor at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London and the   president of the International Community of Banyakigezi — an  NGO that   promotes culture in south western Uganda. 
He shared his experience with SUNDAY VISION. 
How much did you weigh before you realised you needed to cut weight? I used to weigh 105kgs. I currently weigh 80kgs.
What were you eating before the weight loss? I loved   cheesecakes, muffins, burgers, beer, chips; all this in the comfort of   my couch with no exercise or work out of any kind. This was worsened by   over eating. Anytime was eating time, not because I was hungry or needed   to, but just because I could. 
What prompted you to cut weight? Various reasons.   But what woke me up was being diagnosed with pre-hypertension and   actually being told I had to quickly embark on taking pills for life.   Diabetes and hypertension run in the family. My dad actually died of   hypertension at 67.
I have a wonderful wife, Grace and we have three sons. I realised   there was no way I was going to leave them just because of my lifestyle.
Did people ever laugh about your weight gain? There   were a few hurtful comments. People can be completely oblivious to the   fact that they are hitting where it hurts the most when they make   comments about your weight.
One night, my wife, Grace, wanted me to watch a television programme   about the psychology and science of eating called Secret Eaters. She had   been on my case about my weight and eating habits. After I was   diagnosed with pre-hypertension, tears flowed down her cheeks and she   accused me of being selfish and not thinking about our family. I was   deeply hurt because I was already intensely unhappy inside and afraid   for my life, only that I was still in denial. I told her off and went to   bed without saying good night to her for the first time in the six   years of our marriage. 
Go on........But it was the timing. I had to face   it. My wife had been secretly looking at various weight loss programmes.   And we picked on Lipotrim, a rather specialised weight management   programmme. I asked her about it and she directed me to their website   and a video. She never looked me straight in the eye, perhaps to hide   the tears in her eyes or avoid being told off again. She would sooner   than later be pleasantly surprised! I went through the drill – watched   the video, consulted my doctor, met a nutritionist and then enrolled in   the Lipotrim programme at a pharmacy not so far from our home. 
The programme is not for the faint hearted. It was very hard because I   literally did not eat at all. The entire diet was based on three shakes   a day with the only other thing allowed to pass my lips being black tea   or coffee and water. The shakes were milk-based chocolate flavoured.   They also had vanilla and strawberry variations, which I did not fancy.   It was a complete and total food replacement. No cheating either as that   derails the effectiveness of the programme.
How did you manage to keep on? A lot of people start a weight loss programme and give up soon after. With   self-discipline, almost anything is possible. I soldiered on with an   unbent desire to succeed. Grace also supported me selflessly. I shed off   10kgs in the first 10 days. I saw my goal within reach and stuck to the   diet. I eventually lost 25Kgs overall. I wanted it so bad, I had more   than enough motivation.
For how long were you on this programme? For two months. I lost 10kgs in the first 10 days and the other 15kgs in 50 days or so.
How Mujungu looks now. Photo by Carol Natukunda
Do you work out? Like go jogging? I do work out   albeit not very diligently, but I am determined to. It is a total   lifestyle revamp. In the same spirit, my wife and I just completed our   first ever 5km race a few weeks ago. We plan on regularising it. 
What is your diet like now? I have increased   consumption of fruit and vegetables, as well as legumes and whole   grains; massively reduced fatty and sugary foods, avoiding processed   foods whenever and wherever I can. I deliberately cut out soda and drink   only water and sugar-free tea/coffee. I also scaled down on booze. I   started eating vegetables and fruits for snacks instead of things like   muffins. 
How do you feel at 80kgs? It is liberating. You   truly feel like weight – no pun intended – has been lifted off your   shoulders. And I think people respect your discipline, because losing   weight is difficult, but sticking to it is even harder. I am and feel   healthier. My blood pressure is now in the ideal range and the headaches   I used to have every day are gone. I can now ably race with my   four-year-old son and go out dancing with my two elder sons, aged 22 and   24.
I am also able to buy the clothes that I like — something I could   never do before. And yes, it has also improved things in the bedroom. I   could go on and on, but life is just more enjoyable and less work now   that I have lost weight.
How do people react when you tell them your story? My   real friends and family are happy for me and they have continued to be   supportive. I tell them how I did it — diet and exercise, with selfless   support from my wife. Some have asked me for my programme and I have   gladly given it to them. But I still advise that one should work with a   doctor to know the ideal weight programme they need.
There were those who initially doubted and dismissed my effort, but   have now come to believe although they occasionally still say things   like "you are so lucky." But none of this was luck. It was a lot of hard   work and self-control.
And then the nonbelievers who tell me how I will be back to my   previous self. Unknown to them is that they are providing extra   motivation for my continued success.
Then there are those who did not react well at all. I actually lost a few 'friends' When I told them my story.
What is your word of caution to someone desperate to cut weight?  Find   something that works for you and stick to it. It may take several tries   or just one, as was the case with me. Our bodies are all we will ever   live in on this earth, so we may as well make them interesting and   livable in. 
 One thing I have been careful not to do, is judge others who are   overweight. Sometimes I will be having my salad or pumpkins for lunch   while others are eating their biscuits, chips or burgers and fries. But I   hold off commenting although I honestly do cringe. I wish we could all   join in the quest for good health.
Life is brighter for Mujungu  now. 