Weight loss story: "From 80 to 54 kilos, here's how I answered my body-shamers back!"

Losing weight is never an easy battle. There is a lot of negativity which surrounds you and people who try to bring you down. 28-year-old Vonita has a similar story to share and her weight loss journey is something which can inspire everyone. Read on.

Name: Vonita

Occupation: Business Analyst

Age: 28 years

Height: 5 feet 3 inches

City: Bangalore

Highest weight recorded: 80 kg

Weight lost: 26 kg

Current weight: 54 kg

Duration it took me to lose weight: 1 year and 6 months

I was getting criticised for my weight, week after week, by people I used to meet during the weekends. As I had recently shifted to Bangalore, I did not have any friends. So, these acquaintances used to make comments like, "Oh, lemon water will not help you lose weight" or "Weight loss requires a lot of will power." It felt like they were questioning my will power and it was really hard to accept that it was low, that too in front of people who barely knew me and were judging me on my weight.

My mom was my biggest support system during all this as she was always pushing me to take care of myself and watch my weight. I had reached a point where I weighed more than my mother and she got really worried. At this point, I became really conscious of my health and understood that being overweight not only impacts your fitness levels but also your mind. I realised that weight loss is an overall transformation and goes far beyond losing a few kilos. Hence, that was the time I decided to lose weight and get back in shape. It was truly my turning point.

My breakfast: I start my day a glass of lukewarm water. After one hour, I have a bowl of oats with fruits, dry fruits and honey.

My lunch: Two chapattis with dal, mixed vegetables and salad or two chapattis, a portion of chicken breast and salad.

My dinner: One big bowl of salad which includes everything from green vegetables, chicken, paneer (cottage cheese), eggs, green moong, chana to rajma. I used to change the ingredients of the salad depending on my preference and taste.

Pre-workout meal: One cup of green tea or homemade energy drink

Post-workout meal: Mausami juice and coconut water. I also have a protein shake after an hour.

I indulge in: I have a cheat meal twice or thrice a month and during those days, I eat whatever I feel like. However, I make sure that I do not overeat.

Low-calorie recipes I swear by: The salads that I prepare!

I dedicate two hours to my gym every day and I do a mix of cardio, HRX, CrossFit, weight training etc.

Fitness secrets I unveiled: I have realised that you can achieve anything with the help of your will power, consistency and a positive attitude.

How do I stay motivated? My mantra in life is that what you think is what you become. So, I follow this mantra in every phase of my life, be it my health or my career. Secondly, my mom was my constant support during my weight loss journey and kept me motivated.

How do you ensure you don’t lose focus? The only way to not lose focus is to be in love with your goal. If you really want something badly, you have to keep tabs on your progress and follow a routine religiously.

What’s the most difficult part of being overweight? It was definitely the point where I had lost my self-confidence and started believing that I wasn't beautiful or good enough! That feeling of inferiority complex is terrible! That was the most difficult part of being overweight!

My goal is to reach 50 kilos and maintain that weight. Losing weight is not difficult, the challenge, however, is to maintain it.

What are the lifestyle changes you made? I changed my eating habits and started maintaining a proper gap between my meals. I also try to be active most of the time and make sure that I sleep for at least six to eight hours daily.

Lessons learnt from weight loss: Positive attitude towards your goal can make everything possible. Will power and determination is the key to everything as nothing is impossible.

If you too have a weight loss story to share, send it to us at toi.health1@gmail.com