Almost everyone struggles with their weight. If this isn’t you, then you probably know someone who has at one point in their lives struggled with their weight. Najebah Marafi was that person for more than two decades. But today, she is literally half that person in the physical sense.
Unhealthy snacking and a love of fast-food kept her constantly battling her weight. Najebah spent her childhood gaining weight every year. By the time summer rolled around she would start dieting. But then her old habits would take over and she would be back to square one, before she got any results.
Her first major weight-loss win happened in her senior year of high school. Determined to reinvent herself before starting university. Najebah lost over 20KG, but it didn’t stick. The stress of graduating and entering the work-force post university unraveled all of her hard work. By 2011, she had hit an all time high of 108KG.
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Entering class II obesity territory was really tough on Najebah. Acquaintances and family members were constantly commenting on her weight and physical appearance. Finding shoes and clothes were a nightmare that made her hate social events.
She left Kuwait to pursue a Masters degree and decided that she was ready for a major lifestyle change. By the time she came back to Kuwait she had lost 19KG and looked and felt like a new person again. Unfortunately, the weight loss didn’t stick this time either. As soon as she returned to Kuwait, so did the weight.
It wasn’t until 2014 that she decided that she had had enough. Instead of focusing on the weight-loss she wanted to learn how to eat better without starving herself. It was a holistic lifestyle change that included cooking healthier food and exercising more effectively. First she joined a meal subscription company. Getting pre-portioned dishes helped her adjust and learn the right way what and how much she should be eating. It was great way to transition into cooking her own meals that were similar in nutritional value and quality. Najebah stopped using the service once she was confident she could do it on her own.
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With her food sorted out, Najebah stayed very active and managed an impressive loss of more than 40KG. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined she would be able to easily grab a size small off the rack after spending most of her life being a 2XL. But her dedication and determination definitely paid off.
It wasn’t always smooth sailing, and she hit a plateau halfway into her journey. But Najebah had already learned enough and could easily tweak her routine, exercise and food plan to stay on track. Instead of feeling deprived of foods she loved and craved, she learned how to cook lower calorie and healthier versions of her favorite savory and sweet dishes.
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After a long journey, Najebah is finally happy with how far she’s come. Not just with her weight, but with her fitness level. She takes parts in marathons, walk-athons and obstacle courses. She hasn’t stopped moving since 2014 moving and wants to keep it that way. Even when she travels and eats more than normal, the exercise helps her control her weight.
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In 2017 she decided it was time to share her story to help others out. Najebah shares recipes, daily workouts, advice and tips on her Instagram account. Her meals look colorful, inviting and healthy without being depressing. And they make us feel like we can do it too! It is motivational, inspirational and very real. She might have lost the weight, but it takes just as much dedication to maintain the loss and a healthy lifestyle.
It is also a reminder that even though she has already come a long way, she has no intention of stopping anytime soon.
Follow Najebah’s journey on Instagram @najmurphy and for healthy recipes @vimnaj.
