This story is from September 23, 2019

Weight loss story: "My maa helped me with my weight loss journey and I lost 30 kilos!"

"I have understood the importance of a balanced diet in order to lose weight and get fit. No transformation would be possible if you don’t pay attention to what you are eating."
Weight loss story: "My maa helped me with my weight loss journey and I lost 30 kilos!"
Imagine living with all sorts of rude and nasty names, just because you are overweight. For 25-year-old Navin Jain, battling unsolicited comments had become a way of life. Slowly, he realised that he had stopped doing the things he loved, including shopping for himself. That was the point he decided to put sincere efforts to bring out the best version of himself and the result is there for all to see.

Name: Navin Jain
Occupation: Pricing Analyst
Age: 25 years
Height: 6 feet 1 inch
Highest weight recorded: 120 kilos
Weight lost: 30 kgs
Duration it took me to lose weight: Six months
The turning point: I was really irritated with all the name-calling and body-shaming.
People used to call me all sorts of names including Motu, Jadiya, Mota Bhai etc. which was really damaging for my self-esteem and confidence levels. It was especially hurtful when I had to hear such statements from people who used to matter the most to me.

As my weight grew, my fondness for shopping and trying different things started decreasing. That was the point I realised that I needed to put sincere efforts to bring out the best version of myself.
My breakfast: I start my day with a glass of warm water with a teaspoon of jeera (cumin seeds) in it. My ideal breakfast consists of 3 rusks, one teaspoon of peanut butter and 1 cup of green tea.
My lunch: My mother played a major role in my transformation, as she experimented with different recipes and ensured that I was never short of healthy yet tasty dishes. For lunch, I used to keep switching between vegetable rava upma, oats corn upma, poha and curd, 2 slices of brown bread with mint chutney, and sauteed vegetables.
My dinner: I have something nutritious like a big bowl of dal or 1 bowl of vegetable soup or apple milkshake with black dates or cooked vegetables with paneer depending. My dinner depends on what I had for lunch.
Pre-workout meal: A cup of black coffee and four almonds.
Post-workout meal: My post-workout meal depends on my work out time. If I workout late in the evening, I directly have my dinner.
I indulge in: I used to eat whatever I craved for but in small quantity. I used to keep in mind that my weight loss journey should not get affected because of my cravings.
My workout: I started walking and jogging in the garden and later joined a gym. My workout routine consisted of basic cardio like jumping jacks, crunches and squats. Later, I started weight lifting as well.
Low-calorie recipes I swear by: Two slices of brown bread with mint chutney.
Fitness secrets I unveiled: I have understood the importance of a balanced diet in order to lose weight and get fit. No transformation would be possible if you don’t pay attention to what you are eating.
How do I stay motivated?
When you start losing weight and get fitter, people’s attitude towards you starts changing. A lot of people started complimenting me and asked me about my transformation journey. That feeling in itself is really motivating.
How do you ensure you don’t lose focus?
To make sure I stayed right on the path of fitness, I used to repeat, "I create my own security" and "I move beyond old limitations." It really helped me to stay focused.
What’s the most difficult part of being overweight? From people giving you terrible nicknames to not being able to fit anywhere (not even in the clothes of your choice), being overweight was definitely challenging. The most heartbreaking aspect was when a salesperson would say, “sorry sir, we don't have your size".
What shape do you see yourself 10 years down the line?
I expect to be fit and healthy and bring out the best version of my body.
What are the lifestyle changes you made? The biggest change I made in lifestyle was to eating only healthy food items and completely avoiding junk food. I have realised that it is important to stick to diet plans because your diet plays a major role in losing weight.
What was the lowest point for you? Thankfully, I never quite hit a low in my quest to lose weight. I would always remember about my goal weight and keep going on.
Lessons learnt from weight loss: I have realised that mindful eating is extremely important in your journey for weight loss. Moreover, you need to stay away from negative people who try to distract you from your ultimate goal. Patience, consistency and discipline will help you achieve anything you want.
If you too have a weight loss story to share, send it to us at toi.health1@gmail.com

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