Weight loss story: “The diet I followed to lose 30 kilos and also fight type-1 diabetes!”

A 33-year-old teacher, Susheel Kumar Sharma led an unhealthy lifestyle like many of us and with time, it got the worse of him. He was also diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at such a young age and found it difficult to do even simple tasks. In a span of six months, he shed off all the extra weight and now looks fitter than ever. All this, while following a healthy home-based diet!

To know his inspiring story, read the details below:

Name: Susheel Kumar Sharma

Occupation: Government Teacher

Age: 33 years

Height:178 cm

City: Samba, Jammu and Kashmir

Highest weight recorded: 112 kilos

Weight lost: 33 kilos

Duration it took me to lose weight: 6 months

When you are overweight, life in general, is not very easy. Owing to all the extra kilos, I used to feel extremely lethargic. Plus, health complications made my life more difficult. In my 30s, I had diabetes and high cholesterol. Even simple tasks can become difficult to do. I had low self-confidence as well. All of this catapulted into making the changes happen. I followed a strict diet, started exercising and shed off all extra kilos in less than a year. As they say, health is indeed wealth!

My breakfast: I have a slice of brown bread, with a piece of paneer and tea. Later, if I have a smoothie which contains flax seeds, some fruit in half a glass of milk.

My lunch: Chapatis made out of overnight soaked lentils (2) with any sabzi made at home and a bowl of curd.

In the evening, I have a banana or black tea.

My dinner: Before dozing off, I drink a glass of turmeric milk and half a spoon of homemade peanut butter!

Pre-workout meal: Black coffee

Post- workout meal: I have started supplementing with whey protein now, but never had anything special during my transformation.

I am never once cheated on my diet. In fact! I carry my own lunch box whenever I go out, even if I am going to attend a marriage function.

My workout: I workout for six days a week, spending 1.5 hours in the gym (focussing on abs training) and go for a 5km run every alternate day.

Low-calorie recipes I swear by: Nothing in specific. Everything can be eaten, as long as you follow the rule of moderation.

Fitness secrets I unveiled: Dinners should be kept as light as possible and portion control should be strictly practiced, no matter how tempting the food looks!

It is important to determine a balanced diet for yourself which fulfils all your requirements of protein, fibre, vitamins, essential fats and carbohydrates.

I keep thinking of all the things I can do once I am fit and that is enough to motivate me.

My sole goal is to reach my target weight and getting to see the results I desire keeps me all pepped up. It doesn't matter how much weight I lose, but the only goal is to get fitter, by hook or by crook.

How do you ensure you don’t lose focus? Weight loss is a long journey, and sometimes, it can be difficult to maintain the pace and stay disciplined. But, I am happy that I never really went off track or lost focus.

Since I am also a diabetic patient, dependent on insulin, I knew that weight loss and healthy living was the only solution to my problem. I knew If I wanted to live for longer, I must get fitter.

What’s the most difficult part of being overweight? I think an overweight person finds it difficult to do normal chores which others can do so easily. You also look a lot different than others. It's a strange kind of feeling. I found it even difficult to even bend down and cut my own toenails.

I wish to see myself as fit as Ranveer Singh in the next ten years- well maintained and muscular.

What are the lifestyle changes you made? 7 months back, I used to eat everything without any control. I used to take regular insulin injections to control my sugar levels and never really fathomed that moderating my diet could help me fight diabetes.

Secondly, along with diabetes, I used to have extremely high cholesterol levels and was at the risk for developing thyroid. I controlled everything naturally without taking any medicines for the same and eating a clean diet.

My initial insulin dosage used to be around 130 mg, to be injected three-four times a day. Now, I just take 32 units a day.

Health problems and diagnostic tests made me face reality. My cholesterol levels were off the charts. That really hurt me!

Lessons learnt from weight loss: I have realized that everything can be achieved with hard work and discipline. Once you put in efforts, nothing can stop us from achieving our dreams.

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