My name is Yaya and I’m obese. 

deep breath in…and exhale, ahhhhh

Current State as at January 7 2026
Height: 5ft 1
Weight: 189.2 lbs

I know, I know, I know. BMI isn’t the be all, end all. 

However, I know that I am obese, my blood pressure knows it. My clothes know it, my joints know it, the skin tags starting to develop on my neck know it, many parts of me feel it. I’m not muscular, and won't be bothered to look into a DEXA scan for now.

So, BMI is the metric of choice as this new journey begins.

A familiar pattern

Over the years, I’ve started new diets on countless Mondays.

• Calorie counting.
• Intermittent fasting (over 2,200 days and counting)
• Keto.
• Meal plans I couldn’t keep up with.
  
  

Sometimes it worked. I’d lose some weight. Then life would happen, habits would creep back in, and I’d end up right where I started, usually with a few extra pounds added on.

Intermittent fasting is the one thing I’ve managed to stick with long-term. But at my height, fasting alone hasn’t worked because I still ended up overeating foods that didn’t support my goals.

What finally clicked

The last time I was at my ideal weight would be close to when I graduated Secondary school. That’s the last time the daily routine of controlled food and daily activities of the boarding house kept things in check for me. About a year or 2 after I left that environment, my weight started to be a problem.

Recently, I came across Ultra-Processed People by Chris van Tulleken. I’m still reading it, but the core idea immediately resonated with me:
ultra-processed foods are engineered to keep us eating, often beyond hunger or awareness.

That description matched my experience far more closely than the idea that I simply lacked discipline.

Yes, there are debates about definitions. Yes, avoiding ultra-processed foods entirely can be difficult in modern life. That’s fine. I’m not interested in extremes.

What I’m doing instead

I’m approaching this realistically.

I started making small changes in March 2025, nothing dramatic. I lost 11 lbs over 9-10 months. Not a huge amount, but without "major effort," I still made progress. That tells me this approach works when I'm even somewhat consistent.

But here's the thing, at that pace, it would take me 6+ years to reach my goal. So while I've validated the approach, now it's time to actually commit.

I'm not in a rush but also not willing to have weight loss on my to-do list for 6 years. Life is moving and I'd rather just live the lifestyle where ulta-processed foods are not part of my life.

Starting with the 80/20 rule at the back of my mind. You know aim for great 80% of the time and leave some 20% room for “life” happening. I do feel like if I’m able to gain traction with this and rewire my cravings though, then junk food will not have a strong hold on me anymore.

Recall I mentioned being on a ketogenic diet previously? It worked great! My hunger levels were under control, I lost weight and felt good in my skin. So I do know what nutrition feels like. But, I simply cannot live a keto way for the rest of my life. Sometimes I just want an apple, or a potato.

Avoiding ultra-processed foods feels different. It feels sustainable. It feels logical. And it feels like a place I can build from.

What this site is

I’m not a nutritionist or a coach.

This site is me documenting what I’m learning as I simplify how I eat, pay attention to my habits, and try to build something that actually lasts.

No perfection.
No moralizing food.

Just honest learning, shared in real time.

If that sounds helpful, you’re welcome to follow along.

Come along on the journey

I share reflections, things I’m learning about ultra-processed foods, and what changes as I simplify how I eat.

If that sounds helpful, you’re welcome to join.