If you are a hardcore foodie, also a great cook, but are blessed with a metabolism rate where even water adds on to your weight then we share a similar fortune. On top of this, I love wearing trendy outfits, however, my passion for clothes could not keep a check on my weight for long, as over time I moved from size M to L and then XL. I tried various diets, exercise regime, etc. but could not pursue anything for too long. Fitness for common citizens like us is a choice, unlike in military where fitness is a mandate.
Last year in the 2nd week of January, I decided to make fitness a mandate and not a choice and today I’m proudly back to size M and in some cases even S. I’m sharing with you some insights from my journey from XL to M
A strong reason/desire: You need a strong motive that you can’t take lightly, maybe an illness you are trying to fight, love for clothes, love for your spouse/children(unhealthy body is a burden on your family)
Make the Right choice: Choose the workout as per your liking so that you do it willingly like walk, jog, gym, Zumba, yoga, cross fit (I chose a gym with a combination of cardio and weights). Surprise your body with adequate variation (a different form of workout every day, or increase the intensity)
Cultivate a Habit: Don’t take a break for the first 21 days even if you are unwell/traveling or any emergency. Try to find alternatives for a workout (during monthly cycles walk instead of run, focus on upper body workouts, carry a skipping rope while traveling etc.)
Eat Right: As they say 20% is workout and 80% is your diet, substitute carbohydrates with proteins (reduce intake of roti/bread and increase intake chicken/egg/dal and veggies, control/eliminate direct sugar intake (only form of sugar advisable is fructose we get from fruits), reduce oil/ghee/butter usage, reduce intake of processed food and cold drinks/fruit juices.
Try Intermittent Fasting (IF): It works wonders and my observation is that the weight loss due to this isn’t regained easily.
Indulge on Cheat Days: You can have cheat days once a week/fortnight so that you don’t crave for food entire time.
Be Patient: As Rome wasn’t built in a day, a body that you have ignored and abused for years will take its own time to come in shape. My experience says it takes at least 1 year for a noticeable change in you.
Celebrate Success and Restart: It is easy to lose weight but difficult to maintain the same. Break your journey into milestones and cherish each milestone achieved. You may come across times when you take a break, but genius is to restart.
Quote for Life: “Take care of your body, it’s the only place you have to live.”
By
Tina Kataria,
Mumbai, India
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