From Banking to Kebabs

The Next Level

In the previous post, I discussed the lifestyle I was living, my food choices, and my first job in a pizza restaurant. In this section, I reflect on my mid-twenties, and whether my food choices improved... but nope they didn't. During this time, I make some big jumps in my life beginning a more professional job and moving out from home but whilst being in my twenties, still being ignorant and partying as well as still making terrible food choices. Throughout these posts, I want to provide insight into my life but also how food has influenced it, along with my relationship with food. I'm now working on retraining my mind about food, using these experiences as learning curves for the future.

Making Life Jumps

In 2010, after spending eight years in the fast food industry, I decided to enhance my career and improve my quality of life. The catering and hospitality sector was not my intended career path, and I always aspired to achieve more. Consequently, I transitioned to a position as a telephone adviser at a high street bank, which was entirely different from what I was accustomed to. This role involved regular hours and was decidedly more professional, as I swapped a scruffy pizza apron for a shirt and tie. Shifting from making pizzas to discussing finances with clients was certainly challenging, but I embraced it and embarked on this exciting new journey.

In amongst moving jobs and getting settled in a unfamiliar surrounding I had also made a brave but maybe silly decision to move out from under my parents shelter and scrutiny and move in to my own place where I was free to do as I please.... and yes eat as and when I want, little did I know this would just make things worst.

The Move To Independence

Moving out of my parents' home to live independently and starting a new job was definitely challenging. Along with this came difficulties related to diet and food choices. Although I was excited to be free from my parents' scrutiny over my eating habits, it meant I had to shop for food myself and prepare my own meals daily... or perhaps more accurately, my lack of meals.

I had my own place, I had a car, I had a job, typically these are all pluses for most people when I think about it this was a recipe for disaster for me.

In the initial years of living independently, I relished the freedom to eat whatever I wanted at any time of the day. I often went out partying on weekends and regularly invited friends over to hang out. While I was enjoying myself and embracing the life of an eligible bachelor, I was unaware of the impact on my body, gradually gaining weight due to poor food choices and a lack of healthy eating habits.Working in a professional setting was rewarding, and I noticed my confidence increasing as I became a role model in the office. However, despite this, I started feeling uncomfortable with the clothes I wore and my appearance. I was aware of my weight gain but chose to ignore it yet again.

Eating Habits and Health & Weight Gain Challenges

Describing my food choices as terrible is an understatement; honestly, I'm embarrassed to admit it. Despite having a well-paying job and life progressing, I should have been able to manage my eating habits and make better choices, but I didn't, I remained ignorant to it.

I rarely cooked at home, and when I did, it was something quick and thoughtless like a microwave meal. Typically, I made the poor decision to opt for takeout like McDonald's, kebabs, pizzas, or just general junk food. My diet lacked stability; I would go to work and usually start my day with bacon and sausage baps, a Red Bull, and a Kit-Kat, often repeating this at lunchtime or choosing a baguette meal deal. After work, I would pick up a takeaway to bring home, and it was never just a small meal.

Weekends weren't any better, as I would go out, indulging in excessive alcohol and fast food binges. It was never just a quiet drink; it was always a heavy session, inevitably ending with a stop at Domino's Pizza or a kebab house. This was a regular pattern for me throughout my twenties, and I remained ignorant of the consequences, believing I was indestructible.

In summary this part of my life didn't improve and my battle with my weight and body image just continued to spiral. Writing this I think back and try to think about why I had this ignorance and disconnect with food and a healthy lifestyle choice.

My weight gain was always gradual and very rarely did I lose any, I can't say that I weighed myself probably out of fear as to what I was really doing to myself. work clothes were starting not to fit and I was finding extremely difficult finding clothes to buy in the shops that fitted or show off my love handles, except maybe Tesco or George that had slightly bigger men's sizes. One thing for sure was that I certainly started to take more notice of my body image in work and how others looked at me (Not in a positive light), I was certainly one of the bigger people in the office not just in stature.

Self Reflection

I hadn't given much thought to how my weight gain affected the way others saw and perceived me, but it began to weigh on my mind and affect me mentally. Despite being happy and making little progress in my job, my weight started to impend on my career. Needing a larger chair or people avoiding getting into the lift with me due to limited space were experiences I hadn't encountered or considered before, and they really began to affect me mentally.

One thing that began to become apparent was the concept of "face fits." This was a corporate job, and I underestimated how much body image influenced significant career advancement. I didn't realise this would soon become the case for most of the jobs I held or applied for throughout my career. Some might read this and think perhaps I wasn't good enough, qualified enough, or maybe just bitter. While that might be the case, observing others who weren't large and were under-performing yet still receiving opportunities weighed heavily on my mind.

Reflect on this.......Do you think about how your current circumstances influence your diet? Do you sense a gap between your lifestyle and a healthy life?