Cheerleading was so important to me in high school that I would subject myself to unpleasant dieting and strenuous exercise just to please the people around me. There was a constant pressure to be thin, and that pressure became a desire. We all wanted to be the thinnest. Now I look back in regret because I became so obsessed with my weight that even today, I still feel that need to be thin. .
Every year about a month before tryouts, I would began my diet. My goal was to lose 10-15 lbs in that month. I was already a strict vegetarian so my diet became even stricter. During this period I limited myself to fruits, vegetables, and water. I would even take diet pills called Xenadrine to help me achieve my goal weight faster. Xenadrine was clinically proven to boost energy and help weight loss, and it did just that. I would wake up every morning around 5:30 am. I would take my pill, and then I"d go out for a jog. I usually jogged about a mile or two. Sometimes I would jog up to three miles. It all depended on my energy level. After my jog, I would drink a bunch of water, and I would eat small piece of fruit for breakfast. It was hard to sit there and eat a banana while my brother and sister ate pancakes, but it was a sacrifice I was willing to make.
During school, I would carry a water bottle with me. Water helped curb my appetite and it made me feel full. It also helped calm me down because the Xenadrine I was taking would make me shake. At lunch I would take another pill right before I ate. It helped me eat less. I only ate a salad for lunch which included lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers and fat free Italian dressing. With my salad, I drank more water. Seventh period was my cheerleading class. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays we would stunt, jump, tumble and job. On Tuesdays and Thursdays we would stretch, lift weights, and do yoga or pilates. After school we had practice from 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm.