From super healthy to super ill in eight years

As part of the forced psychiatric assessment in 2008, it was also required that I saw a doctor of their choice for blood tests of which the outcome was conveyed to me as follows: I do not know what sort of diet you follow but your [blood test] results are that of a woman much younger your age. Later, in the Family Court, during my 2 ½ year divorce, one of the issues brought before the Judge, by his female lawyer, was that I had a habit of fasting which irritated the hell out of him so I was portrayed as the one who invited the abuse. Yes, I regularly went on salad fasts eating only salad for 21 days and then normal again with lots of meat as most South Africans do. I was super healthy! So, I was super skinny when I met my Kiwi bloke but by the time we married in 2012, I had begun to gain weight; in hindsight, looking just right. We have had completely opposing perspectives on all things health which resulted in food becoming a topic that I was better off just joining in. I was living with a Kiwi man who grew up being more involved in the kitchen and laundry, so I accepted that the cook decides what goes on my plate. I also changed from eating one or two big meals a day to six little ones and everything in-between. Financial constraints and difficult circumstances, both having had to create our own j.o.bs., made us slip into eating mainly carbs and often fast food. I was never fond of exercise but formerly, when I did not have to worry about the basic essentials of life, for long periods of time went for early walks on my own. Later, when I was single and had no car, I walked wherever I had to be and at least to bus stops; I was young and as fit as a fiddle at the age of 48. Now almost 54, my body feels old – I have never been this ill; I am ready for drastic measures though to restore my health.