Weight loss story: “I had khichdi every night for dinner and lost 16 kilos”

Doing household chores from morning to evening left Neha Chaube with zero energy to look after herself. However, she found herself facing the reality at a family event when she did not like the way she looked. That day on, she decided to stop making excuses and work on herself in the lockdown. Read on to know the meticulous workout plan she followed and the diet which helped her get fitter for good!

Name: Neha Chaube

Occupation: Housewife

Age: 31

Height: 5 feet 4 inches

City: Mumbai

Highest weight recorded: 74 kilos

Weight lost: 16 kilos

Duration it took me to lose weight: 7 months

Being a housewife doesn’t leave you enough time to look after yourself, and I never really bothered about gaining weight, until one day, I saw how I looked at my sister’s engagement.

When I looked at myself in the mirror, I did not like the way I looked. I had gotten fat and gained weight and I understood, that was the sheer reason for my misery.

So, in the lockdown, I got plenty of time to start working out and get the results I wanted.

My breakfast: I believe one should start his/her day with energy-packed nutrition.

At 8 am, I would have a glass of warm water with turmeric.

An hour later, I would have 4 boiled eggs/poha/ idli or oats.

Along with this, I would have some dried fruits (4 almonds, 1 fig, 2 dates, 1 walnut)

My lunch: Sharp at 12: 30 pm- I would have 2 small-sized chapatis with a bowl of dal or sabzi and a very small amount of rice.

I always eat a complete meal of home-cooked food but avoid eating things from outside.

My dinner: My dinner is the lightest meal of the day, something like moong dal khichadi, which I have around 8 pm.

Half an hour before I go to sleep, I have a glass of turmeric milk.

Pre-workout meal: I workout early in the morning, empty stomach.

Post-workout meal: That would be my breakfast.

I indulge in (What you eat on your cheat days): I have never had a cheat day. I have not had a bite of sweet or chocolate since the past 7 months.

I have turned my junk food cravings into healthier ones. If I crave for non-vegetarian fried delicacies, I have tandoori chicken or grilled fish. If I crave ice-cream, I eat yoghurt. It’s all in your mind.

My workout: From the past 7 months, I have been extremely dedicated to fitness and workout at 6 am every morning. It’s a part of my routine now.

Workouts should never be forced. If you resist it, you will find it difficult to follow. I just used to get up and workout, as simple as that.

I start my day with walking for 10k steps, post that I either do a one-hour workout which includes( Plank jumping jacks, crunches, spot jog and many cross-training workouts) or 3 km running with one-hour cycling

If you find going to the gym or doing exercises difficult, make sure you walk daily, which also helps one tone up.

Holding up a plank for 30 seconds, 8 times is also good, if you cannot hold it for longer.

Apart from this, drinking warm water whenever I felt hungry or used to crave for foods helped fight irregular eating habits. I also include more fresh fruits and salads in my diet plan now.

I measure myself on the weighing scale every 15 days. With every 1 kilo loss, I feel more motivated and excited to workout.

I also make sure to keep before and after pictures handy and see the difference for myself.

The other changes came in the form of appreciation and flattering comments. First, people mocked me and suddenly, post my transformation, I started getting attention from everyone. People started calling me and asked for weight loss advice!

How do you ensure you don’t lose focus? I keep a set target for myself every month, like how much weight should I be losing. This keeps my focus stable and steady.

I also keep a daily tab on my calorie intake and burning. I ensure that I burn 500+ calories consistently.

What’s the most difficult part of being overweight? Earlier, I couldn’t wear anything I wanted. It was tough to find clothes in my size. Now, everything fits me. Also, I feel low on energy, and highly lethargic when I was overweight.

I desire to have a fit, healthy and toned body, like a physically strong person.

What are the lifestyle changes you made? Weight löss does not happen overnight, it requires lots of patience, focus and determination. It took me 7 months to lose a considerable amount of weight. I ditched outside food, baked goods, sugary and fried foods.

The first few months into my weight loss, I used to feel anxious as I thought my weight loss isn't working. I used to feel pain whenever I worked out also. But luckily, changes kicked in and I feel so much happier and healthier than before.

Weight loss has been a vital factor since it helped me gain my confidence levels back. I am a happier person now that I have started to take care of myself, how I look, what I eat and do. This journey was as beautiful and will be a change I make in the long-run. No going back.

Lastly, I would urge all ladies to start working on themselves. It’s never too late to do so.

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

DISCLAIMER:

These views are not generic in nature. What worked for the writer may not work for you. So avoid following this article blindly. Find out what works for your body.