A mother of four has lost half her weight and is now competing as a bodybuilder.
Eva Underwood, 48, clocked 21st at her highest point but decided something had to change after a traumatic attack became a turning point in her life.
She had struggled with her size for most of her life, and despite losing almost 10st of weight due to a gastric bypass, she had regained the weight.
But the problem came when she suffered a serious attack and courageously decided to fight back against the fear that followed.
She joined a gym solely with the intention of facing her fears, but entered her first bodybuilding competition two years ago and has more events planned.
She now loves the gym so much that she even bought her own.
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Eva, a civil servant from Bradford, said: ‘The first time I ate too much because I was unhappy I reached 21st place.
“I had a gastric bypass but then started overeating because I was happy. I almost lost 10st and put things back on.
‘It wasn’t until I was attacked that my life really changed.
“I had to fight back so I started bodybuilding and I loved it so much that I now own the gym and focus on helping other women.”
Eva had weight problems as a child, and by the time she left school at 16, she was a dress size 16 to 18.
She said: “My mother was Italian and she loved to cook. We had three courses for each meal. Food was a big focus in our lives.
“At school the bullies called me ‘pizza face’ and ‘trunk legs’, which hurt, but I started eating to make myself feel better. I loved chocolate, especially pralines.
“After my children came, I gained weight.
“I couldn’t run after them or teach them how to ride a bike, and my self-confidence really suffered.
“I tried all kinds of diets, but nothing lasted. I was even prescribed appetite suppressants, but they didn’t work either.”
In 2007, at 21 and 6ft, Eva was classified as clinically obese and was offered a gastric bypass by the NHS.
She underwent surgery and almost managed to lose 10th place.
But then she met a new partner, had two more children and her weight gradually increased.
I became too scared to even leave the house, and I realized I had to do something to fight back
Eva Underwood
“The first time I ate because I was unhappy, but this time I ate because I was happy,” she said.
“Even with gastric bypass, I still managed to eat enough calories to gain weight.
“My marriage ended and when I was working full-time as a single mother with four children, I fell back into old habits of snacking and taking away.”
In 2015, Eva was back where she started: in 21st place.
Five years later, she was the victim of a serious attack and was left with severe anxiety.
“I became too scared to even leave the house, and I realized I had to do something to fight back,” she said.
“I went to a gym and jokingly posted on Facebook that I was going to be a bodybuilder.
“One of my friends told me that I had to go on stage and win a trophy to call myself a bodybuilder – and I took up the challenge. It was like a red rag to a bull.”
What Eva eats every day
TRAINING DAYS
- Meal one: 40 g oats with 200 ml oat milk and two scoops of whey protein
- Meal two: two scoops of whey protein with water
- Meal three: 150 g cod, 50 g rice, 50 g green vegetables
- Meal four: 150 g cod, 50 g green vegetables
- Meal five: one slice of toast with five egg whites
- Meal six: 200 g Greek yogurt without fat content with 10 g dark chocolate
REST DAYS
- Meal one: two scoops of whey protein with 200 ml oat milk
- Meal two: two scoops of whey protein with water
- Meal three: 150 g chicken with 50 g green vegetables
- Meal four: 150 g cod with 50 g green vegetables
- Meal five: one slice of toast with five egg whites
- Meal six: 200 g Greek yogurt without fat content with 10 g dark chocolate
In October 2021, Eva worked with coach Jaymal Dickinson to train for her very first competition.
“I had less than a year to get into shape and it took a lot of commitment,” she said.
“I was at the gym every day after work and ate a lot of protein and little fat.
“I did it all naturally, with no enhancements, and I lost half my body weight, down to 12.”
In July 2022, Eva competed in her first competition and finished fourth in three categories.
Her success gave her the boost she needed to continue and help other women.
She later took up Muay Thai kickboxing and her goal is to be there for others and give them the support she never had.
She has bought a gym, Sweatbox Fitness Studio in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, with co-owner David Sa and now runs classes and training camps aimed exclusively at women.
She even encourages them to bring their children.
“Working moms are busy, so I’m trying to find a way around all these problems,” she said.
“I have a place for the kids to play while the moms train and I work around their schedules.
“My own journey has been amazing and I just want to share my own joy with others.”
What is a gastric bypass?
Gastric bypass surgery is a weight loss operation.
It involves creating a small pouch from the stomach and connecting this new section directly to the small intestine.
This procedure then shrinks or “bypasses” most of a person’s stomach and first part of the small intestine to help them lose weight.
The operation can be offered by the NHS for adults with a BMI over 40 – meaning they are severely obese – or if they have a BMI of 35 to 40 and have a serious condition such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure.
Ineligible Brits who want to have surgery must go to a private clinic, where it could cost anywhere between £8,000 and £15,000, according to Britain’s health service.
Many choose to go to Turkey for cheaper operations, but at least seven Britons have died following a procedure there since 2019, according to a BBC investigation.
How to lose weight safely
Losing weight should be a long-term commitment to a healthier life, not drastic measures.
The NHS tips – which can be slowly adopted – include:
- Be active for 150 minutes a week – you can break this up into shorter sessions
- Aim to get your 5 a day – 80g of fresh, canned or frozen fruit or vegetables count as 1 serving
- Aim to lose 1 to 2 pounds, or 0.5 to 1 kg, per week
- Read food labels – products with more green color coding than amber and red are often a healthier option
- Replace sugary drinks with water. If you don’t like the taste, you can add slices of lemon or lime for flavor
- Cut down on foods that are high in sugar and fat – start by replacing sugary breakfast cereals with whole grain alternatives
- Share your weight loss plan with someone you trust; they can help motivate you when you’re having a bad day
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