'I Was Always In War With Myself So It Was Either I Die Or Survive. I Chose To Thrive.'

After years of struggling with weight issues and bulimia, Masyitah Mohd, 32, decided to choose life and thrive. She conquered her mind and trained herself to get fit, using the internet as a resource.

- V.Durga

Tell us about yourself

“When I was a kid, I was taller and bigger than the other girls my age. I wasn’t fat but I was called a giant in school. I was quite active in sports but when I went to boarding school for my secondary education, I became less active and started gaining weight. I weighed 75kg at14 years old, this unhealthy BMI continued till I turned 17. I felt the pressure to be thin and pretty like all the popular girls in school. No one in my family struggled with weight issues except my father and his siblings. They are all living with diabetes, heart problems and high blood pressure. My aunt and an uncle had their toes and legs amputated. This scared me because when I was younger, relatives always said I took after my dad’s side of the family whereas my mum was petite.”

What was the turning point?

“My mum was diagnosed with breast cancer a few months before my SPM exam. She underwent a mastectomy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Seeing her condition added pressure on me and I fell into an eating disorder. Whenever I was sad, I would binge eat and throw up to feel better. I lost 12kg. The bulimia continued for several years throughout my university years and worsened when my mum was in critical condition, and eventually passed away. After a couple of months, I fell in love with a man and life changed for a bit. I picked up some hobbies and started playing tennis though it never occurred to me to eat healthy. The relationship didn’t work out. One thing led to another, and I found myself at the lowest point in my life. I felt completely broken, alone, weak, depressed and suicidal. I was stuck. I did not know what to do. I needed support but was too embarrassed to seek help.”

How did you overcome your bulimia?