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Sales Page- IELTS Training Program
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✈️ Do you want to settle abroad? Are you a student aiming at Higher Education Abroad? Or, are you a working professional targeting at a PR?
If you answered to any of the above with a ‘Yes’, don’t skip a line till you read till the end. This might be your gateway to success.
It doesn’t matter if you are a student soliciting to go abroad for further studies or a working professional…
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The Minimalism Saga | My Customer Avatar
Well, the challenge got marginally arduous with DigitalDeepak’s class 2 of Digital Marketing Internship. The creative hats needed to be put on along with a clear visualisation of ‘Who’ our would-be target audience or customer would be. While the demonstration of ‘How to Create Your Customer Avatar’ got down the throat of a few with ease, the majority was intrigued to the extent of being…
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Putting the Digital Marketing Jigsaw Puzzle Together with Digital Deepak
Putting the Digital Marketing Jigsaw Puzzle Together with Digital Deepak
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Discovery of the… Digital Truth
Attributed to the multitude of interests I enjoy, my career has been a highly dynamic roller-coaster ride. Eccentric- well yes, I happily am in ways more than one. Regrets about it- well, I have none. 2018 was a decisive year of my life. I bid adieu to my so called ‘successful’ and ‘skyrocketing’ senior management career in a Fortune 500 company to discover…
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I had my little munchkin, my bundle of joy in my arms along with my older naughty brat and life could not have been happier. Months rolled on taking care of my wonderful little treasure while pursuing a full time career that knew no hours of travel and work.
A year went by and it was little one’s first birthday. Saree was my choice for outfit for the party. To my worst nightmare despite all my endeavors to shrink myself and squeeze in, I had to put away one blouse after the other! Angered, I took out the weighing scale and checked the reading. Alarmed! As if it were a ghost. It read 74.6! I reset the scale to recheck as if the machine would show a different reading to please me! Again it said, 74.6.
I had always been in a great shape and looked younger than my age. Even after my first delivery, I shelled the extra pounds over couple of months. An unknown and undoubtedly annoying sound reverberated calling me FAT. I remembered my sister jokingly telling me that I looked like an amma. Though that time I had retaliated telling her that well yes I am amma of two!
I am 161 cm and medium built. By no means could I call myself fit at 74.6 kgs! That day I pulled up a pair of jeans with a pullover for the party. It was almost the end of December 2014. My New Year Resolution was Weight Loss. Weight loss! OMG that too almost 15 kgs! I was 26 years and 52 kg before my first pregnancy. Post-partum my weight stabilized at 57 kgs and since I looked almost toned, I really did not care about it. I had tried  gym once earlier out of hobby and I so well remembered how I wasted the subscription! The entire hour I spent there was at looking at the clock to shout out loud that it was sixty minutes and time to leave! Crazy dieting; well no way was this my choice. Outdoors anyways gave me nightmares with so many dogs around and my scared soul finding corners to evade them. In short, I was totally confounded with the how part. Eventually I resorted to Google baba to look for ‘my kind’ of means to smoothen my tyres.
Having done all this research, I realised working out was the only choice available apart from the 7 day GM diet (in which you can eat the permitted item/s for the day in as much quantity as your body demands) (you may like to read thru the link that acted like a blessing in that time of crisis https://www.thefitindian.com/the-fastest-indian-vegetarian-diet-to-lose-weight/).
My exercise regime comprised of-
10 minutes of warm up
45 minutes of cardio including treadmill, cross-trainer and stationary bike
30 minutes of strength training one body part each day
20 minutes of floor exercises and yoga on alternate days
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Photo by Isabella Mendes on Pexels.com
Photo by Nathan Cowley on Pexels.com
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
I had the temptation of climbing up the weighing scale every single day to check for any improvement but in vain 😦 But let me admit, though my body did feel soar with its new routine, even if there was no change in weight, I did feel more vibrant and energized even in the first week! I kept wondering how I had not enjoyed working out earlier! On the lighter side, maybe I enjoy bigger challenges more 🙂 After I got my body accustomed at the gym for a week, I started with first day of GM diet. Being a vegetarian, I searched for the veg version of the program. Exercise was supposed to be light to moderate on these days. Since eating was confined to select items on each day, I decided just to go for cardio, floor or yoga sessions on these days and skip strength that requires lots of protein intake after the regime.
Day 1       Morning weight 74.5 kg
The first day is supposed to be the Fruit Day (minus mangoes and grapes). It was the month of February and I spent the day munching on apples, pomegranates, guavas and oranges. The motivation to get lean was so strong that I truly did not feel hungry.
Day 2       Morning weight 73.5 kg (OMG! OMG! OMG! 1 kg gone in a single day)
On the second day of the GM diet one is supposed to eat only Vegetables that could be raw, boiled or very lightly sauteed. However, one can start with a boiled potato with butter in the morning. I had bought the exotic vegetable stock the day before only and likewise commenced the day with paraboiled assortment of peas, beans, carrots, broccoli, red and yellow peppers and cauliflower. I added a little of lemon, white pepper and oregano to make it more sumptuous and had the same combo the entire day. The day went rather effortlessly with gym time in the evening.
Day 3       Morning weight 72.5 kg (Gracious God! another 1 Kg gone!)
Day three is a mix of fruits and vegetables. Apart from fruits and the remaining stock from day 2, I ate raw carrots, beetroot, cucumbers and lettuse leaves too. Again the day was not harsh on the tummy that otherwise solicited chocolates and pizzas! Ofcourse, two kgs lost in a matter of two days were an unmatched piece of motivation.
Day4       Morning weight 72 kg (Dissapointment followed by consolation… atleast .5 kg gone lady!)
The fourth day is the banana (upto 6) and skimmed milk (upto 1 litre) day. I prepared banana shake right in the morning with 5 bananas and 1 litre milk and kept sipping through the same the entire day.
Day 5       Morning weight 71 kg (yayyyy another 1 kg gone!)
On GM diet, Day five is a blessed kind of a day on which one can munch on soya nuggets, paneer, tomatoes, boiled rajma, soup made of capsicums, tomatoes, onion, ginger and garlic. While I preferred having boiled kidney beans with chopped onion, tomato and cucumber with lemon juice in the morning, I chose to eat brown rice with paneer and soya chunks for lunch and soup for dinner. In between meals I kept munching on raw salad.
Day 6       Morning weight 71 kg (Oops no change)
I surely was disappointed having lost no weight on day five and kept cursing myself for probably having eaten too much (while now I realise that was not true). Nevertheless, this was to be a tomato free day while all ingredients of day five could be consumed. Despite initial shock, I did not let my morale go down and ate safe meals comprising of raw fruits and veggies alsong with soup. I also had moong dal dprout salad for dinnere along with soup ofcourse hoping to see some better result the follwing day.
Day 7       Morning weight 70.5 kg (thank God for this .5 kg)
Well yes, I was feeling much lighter and brighter by day seven. I was happy to have managed to shell 4 kgs of weight which otherwise I could not do 14 months after my second delivery! The entire day was spent munching on fruits and vegetables. I had a bowl of brown rice with soup for lunch and sprouts with skimmed yoghurt for dinner.
Day 8       Morning weight 71 kg (.5 kg is back to my alarm)
I was happy that effectively I had lost 3.5 kg of weight and did feel better. And yes, immensely motivated too. With the resolution to tone my body further, I resumed my earlier exercise regime that included strength training. A lot of reading had me realize my body type that is endomorph. I inculcated a lot of HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) in my cardio sessions in a routine to boost my metabolism. I prepared home-made almond butter and experimented with many more healthy recipes. I ensured I did not have more than one cheat day in a week and that my resistance training was adequately supplemented by enough protein intake which for me was in form of soya chunks, paneer and other low fat dairy products apart from peanut and almond butter. Over all, I made a change in my lifestyle. Cravings for chocolates and sweets (mithai) did not deviate me from my goals. Thankfully, fried food has never been a teaser for me. Ultimately, after 10 months of patience driven due diligence, I finally hit 62 kgs and it has been almost three years now that I have maintained so.
The road I travelled from 74.6 kgs to 62 kgs was indeed tough. There were occasions when I was (pretty much humanly) tempted to give up. I remember when I hit a plateau at 69 kgs and despite all the endurance, it would not buzz an inch further. This was the most trying time when I kept going. I did more research on what to do when we hit plateaus. To my utter surprise one of the things I realized that though I was not losing weight any further, yet I was getting into a shape that was better than ever. You know what, the weight was owing to the lean muscle that I was gaining by doing the right kind of resistance training. Then I was not-so-regular with the workout for a fortnight while travelling to another city. And whoa, guess what? Despite not exercising, during this little break my weight dropped another 3 kgs all by itself! Another round of reading and I realised that taking small breaks is actually good. And yes, I had set small targets for myself. The day I got below 70kg, I gifted myself a new pair of Asics training shoes that I had been eying for long, and when I hit under 65, it was a (well deserved) wardrobe change (pretty much required as I had gone down two sizes by then:)!
My Weight Loss Success Mantra
GM diet was absolutely not essential and I could have achieved my target otherwise too. However, I admit, for me it did work like a booster. Having lost 3.5 kgs right at the start kept me convinced that I could actually lose weight! For you, you yourself have to determine what could keep you best motivated.
Drink lots of water (preferably warm if not hot). For every 20 kgs of body weight, you need to intake 1 litre of water with a capping a 5 litres beyond which the kidneys get taxed.
Treat yourself like a human and not like a machine. While adhering to routines is a must, yet don’t be too taxing on yourself. If your body (not mood) solicits an additional break on some day, do allow it.
HIIT works wonders. In my personal experience too, a 20 minute HIIT can compensate for your otherwise 60 minutes of cardio. Aside, you keep burning calories for hours after finishing workout as it challenges the anarobic system. For me, now, cardio just means 20 minutes of HIIT apart from floor and strength training. It implies going to the maximum of your heart rate and then letting it get back to average or moderate state. Beginners can do it in ratio of 1:2 or 1:3 also depending upon their fitness level which later could be in the varying ratio of 1:1. For example 30 seconds of maximum heart rate followed by 60/90 seconds of cool down at slow/moderate pace, which later can be 30 seconds of maximum heart rate followed by 30/45 seconds of cool down.
Strength training is a must. While cardio helps us dissolve fat, resistance or strength training helps us build lean muscle and also catalyse the entire weight loss process.
Food Log. Sounds like heights of obsession but trust me it really works. There are several apps available like livestrong (www.livestrong.com) that can help you track your food, water, exercise and calories and keep you well motivated and on track.
BMI is not the only and actual indicator of fitness. There is a lot like age, child birth, muscle mass etc., that contributes to the weight you carry. As in my case too, considering just the BMI bit, I might sound kind of overweight at 62 kgs for my medium 5.3 frame but if I get on a scale that also measures other parameters, it is my muscle mass that contributes to this BMI and not body fat! So don’t let the formula of BMI depress you.
Never give up. While it sounds clichéd, there is a lot of fact in the statement. There are bound to be times when you would feel that it is too much, or too long, or too intense. But, keep yourself motivated. I would rather suggest you hang a picture of someone who you would like to seek motivation from for your fitness goal (think of the abs and toned body of a mom like Mandira Bedi at 45!)
Eat right. Make better food choices and believe me you, it works wonders. One of the mantras is not to stock the undesired items like crisps, biscuits, sweets etc. as when we are hungry we get tempted to munch on them. Instead, keep dryfruits, fruits, chopped raw veggies, seeds handy so satiate the hunger pangs. I have a sweet tooth and for me letting go of sweets (though not altogether) was a challenge. For this, I started moving to darker chocolates, sugarless tea and coffee, fruit cream with honey instead of sugar and the like. I did allow myself one cheat day in a week. And trust me, once the clothes start getting even a bit lose, your mind would not command you to eat unhealthy!
Supplementing the Workout pre and post. Irrespective of the time of the day, working out hungry, in my opinion, is never a good idea. Before a workout, eat a small snack atleast 30 minutes prior to keep yourself energized and give your best shot at the workout. Keep hydrated. And never neglect enough protein post workout in dearth of which one might lose muscle instead! Protein is an integral macro-nutrient that plays intrinsic role in repairing of damaged muscle tissue. The quantity depends upon your workout. In general, a person body needs .80 gm to 1 gm of protein per kg of body weight. I ensured to take 20-25 gm of protein in form of peanut/almond butter, quiona, soya nuggets, paneer, boiled eggs etc post my workout sessions.
Fitness Tracker. People have different views about it, but I love the idea of a fitness tracker. I use a Fitbit Blaze and I’m crazy about it. It helps keep a track of steps, heart-beat, actual calories burnt, exercise of different levels apart from other features like a watch, alarm clock and even relaxation device! There are multiple options available if one would like to consider any.
Right Bra and Shoes. While women do pay heed to workout attitre, I have felt that the right sports bra and shoes sometimes go lacking. Do invest in a couple of high-support sports bra with the right fit to ensure the boobies stay well in shape (sports bras are available in light, medium and high support. Depending upon our intensity of workout, we need to choose one). Shoes are another investment that is a must. Depending upon what sport you choose, select the pair of shoes technologically made to serve that purpose to ensure comfort and avoid any injuries (there are different types of shoes meant for trails, running, walking, training, hiking, dancing etc.).
Have an active Day. Don’t freak if you are not able to make it for a work out some day. Stay active and do whatever is possible. Activities like squats, lunges, floor, yoga etc. can be done just anywhere.
Set small milestones and appreciate yourself once you achieve these goals.
Losing weight is definitely not all about looks. Being over-weight/having excessive fat hinders health and is also responsible for many health issues. It is about a lifestyle change and not weight loss alone. My target was to take baby steps towards the goal without being less Hitler-like on my own self. Well yes, I do feel much younger, more energised and healthier today than I felt in February of 2015 when I started this journey of getting fit. The compliments I receive, do add an extra glow to my face 🙂
Happy Fitness to You!
Loads of love,
  Do read thru my recipe for
Healthy, Yummy and Quick Pancakes https://ananyakatariya.wordpress.com/2018/09/01/healthy-pancakes/
From Fat to Fit- My Journey I had my little munchkin, my bundle of joy in my arms along with my older naughty brat and life could not have been happier.
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North Sikkim | Day 2
North Sikkim | Day 2 Much of the adventure remains...
https://ananyakatariya.wordpress.com/2018/11/19/north-sikkim-day-1-an-adventure-to-remember
We lazed out of the bed with heavy eyes ofcourse after ditching the early morning taxi driver who was supposed to pick us at 5 AM to take us to be lured by the sunrise view.  At 10 AM as the sun soared higher, we were all set to embark on our almost 7 hours journey to Lachen for our overnight home stay.
Neve…
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North Sikkim | Day 1 | An Adventure to Remember
North Sikkim | Day 1 | An Adventure to Remember
Sikkim was no where on our travel plan. However, it was probably meant to be. (Oh… well for those who don’t know it already, here is the link to melodrama story on how we landed in Sikkim https://ananyakatariya.wordpress.com/2018/11/10/jaana-tha-bhutan-pahunch-gaye-11-travel-lessons-learnt-the-hard-way/). Post our 45 minute ride on a local bus from Bagdogra airport to Siliguri, sweating and…
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Jaana tha Bhutan, Pahunch gaye... (11 Travel Lessons Learnt the Hard Way)
Jaana tha Bhutan, Pahunch gaye… (11 Travel Lessons Learnt the Hard Way)
So, the WhatsApp group named ‘Backpacking to Bhutan’comprising of two of my sisters and I was created within no time just as our sudden plan to visit Bhutan took shape and we were all set to visit the country that India shares a friendly border with and which is acclaimed for its being the only country across the globe that is negative on carbon footprint. We booked the air tickets to Bagdogra…
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Shahi Tukra (toasted bread loaded with thickened milk dessert) is a delicacy hailing from Hyderabad and is said to have brought in India by Mughals. This rich mouth-watering delicacy is indeed a delight to the taste buds. While a recipe for Shahi Tukra can be laden with calories, the one below would be a low-guilt lip-smacking treat to the sweet-tooth. Infact, what ever calories this exquisite dessert comprises of, they all are actually healthy. And yes, I love this recipe even more because it comprises of Zero Sugar 🙂
Preparation Time– 20 minutes
Cooking Time– 25 minutes
Ingredients
Bread of choice: 10 slices
Ghee: 1 table spoon
Dates: 1 cup deseeded and chopped
Almonds: 20 blanched and chopped
Pistachiu: 20 silvered
Milk: 1 litre (low fat or full cream as desired)
Recipe
Keep milk on heat to thicken till 60% done. Let it cool
Cut out circle or triangle shapes from bread slices
Heat a non-stick pan and put a little ghee
Toast the bread slices till brown and crisp on both sides
Mash the dates and add almonds and pistachiu
Divide the dates mixture into 6 portions
Take two cut shapes of bread and fill the date mixture in between
Soak these date sandwiches in milk for 30 seconds on both sides and keep aside refrigerated
Add the sixth portion of dates to the remaining milk and simmer for another 5 minutes till dates dissolve and the mixture gets thicker
Cool this mixture and top it on date sandwiches. Sprinkle some pistachiu silverings over them
Refrigerate for atleast an hour before serving
Whether you have a sweet tooth or not, this recipe is a must try. I am sure once tried, you won’t stop craving for more especially while being sure, it has zero refined sugar. The entire bit of sweetness to the dessert is endowed by the iron rich, healthy dates 🙂
Happy Indulgence!
      Here is lip smacking, healthy yet delicious sugar-free shashi tukra recipe with dates. Try it and you will love it :) Do try, like, comment and share. Happy Indulgence! Shahi Tukra (toasted bread loaded with thickened milk dessert) is a delicacy hailing from Hyderabad and is said to have brought in India by Mughals.
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Healthy PanCakes
Not all sweet delicacies need to be guilt-laden!
Here is my crafted recipe for really quick to make, healthy and delicious pancakes that I originally tried for my son. However, the regular pan cake recipes comprises of refined flour, sugar and oil which are a no-no from health perspective. I have substituted the unhealthy ingredients with all the healthy alternatives. And believe me you, grown…
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You are my home...
You are my home... Read thru this poem on love and longing :)
You are the home,
I wish to get back to,
Now, each time, every time;
  You are the smile on my face,
The twinkle of my eye,
Your arms are my solace;
  I wish to grow old with you,
Watching the morning petals with fresh dew
You are my home, you are my smile
Thinking of you, makes me agile.
  Your hand in mine,
My fingers laced in yours,
What heaven can be better,
What story better told!
  You are…
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I had my little munchkin, my bundle of joy in my arms along with my older naughty brat and life could not have been happier. Months rolled on taking care of my wonderful little treasure while pursuing a full time career that knew no hours of travel and work.
A year went by and it was little one’s first birthday. Saree was my choice for outfit for the party. To my worst nightmare despite all my endeavors to shrink myself and squeeze in, I had to put away one blouse after the other! Angered, I took out the weighing scale and checked the reading. Alarmed! As if it were a ghost. It read 74.6! I reset the scale to recheck as if the machine would show a different reading to please me! Again it said, 74.6.
I had always been in a great shape and looked younger than my age. Even after my first delivery, I shelled the extra pounds over couple of months. An unknown and undoubtedly annoying sound reverberated calling me FAT. I remembered my sister jokingly telling me that I looked like an amma. Though that time I had retaliated telling her that well yes I am amma of two!
I am 161 cm and medium built. By no means could I call myself fit at 74.6 kgs! That day I pulled up a pair of jeans with a pullover for the party. It was almost the end of December 2014. My New Year Resolution was Weight Loss. Weight loss! OMG that too almost 15 kgs! I was 26 years and 52 kg before my first pregnancy. Post-partum my weight stabilized at 57 kgs and since I looked almost toned, I really did not care about it. I had tried  gym once earlier out of hobby and I so well remembered how I wasted the subscription! The entire hour I spent there was at looking at the clock to shout out loud that it was sixty minutes and time to leave! Crazy dieting; well no way was this my choice. Outdoors anyways gave me nightmares with so many dogs around and my scared soul finding corners to evade them. In short, I was totally confounded with the how part. Eventually I resorted to Google baba to look for ‘my kind’ of means to smoothen my tyres.
Having done all this research, I realised working out was the only choice available apart from the 7 day GM diet (in which you can eat the permitted item/s for the day in as much quantity as your body demands) (you may like to read thru the link that acted like a blessing in that time of crisis https://www.thefitindian.com/the-fastest-indian-vegetarian-diet-to-lose-weight/).
My exercise regime comprised of-
10 minutes of warm up
45 minutes of cardio including treadmill, cross-trainer and stationary bike
30 minutes of strength training one body part each day
20 minutes of floor exercises and yoga on alternate days
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Photo by Isabella Mendes on Pexels.com
Photo by Nathan Cowley on Pexels.com
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
I had the temptation of climbing up the weighing scale every single day to check for any improvement but in vain 😦 But let me admit, though my body did feel soar with its new routine, even if there was no change in weight, I did feel more vibrant and energized even in the first week! I kept wondering how I had not enjoyed working out earlier! On the lighter side, maybe I enjoy bigger challenges more 🙂 After I got my body accustomed at the gym for a week, I started with first day of GM diet. Being a vegetarian, I searched for the veg version of the program. Exercise was supposed to be light to moderate on these days. Since eating was confined to select items on each day, I decided just to go for cardio, floor or yoga sessions on these days and skip strength that requires lots of protein intake after the regime.
Day 1       Morning weight 74.5 kg
The first day is supposed to be the Fruit Day (minus mangoes and grapes). It was the month of February and I spent the day munching on apples, pomegranates, guavas and oranges. The motivation to get lean was so strong that I truly did not feel hungry.
Day 2       Morning weight 73.5 kg (OMG! OMG! OMG! 1 kg gone in a single day)
On the second day of the GM diet one is supposed to eat only Vegetables that could be raw, boiled or very lightly sauteed. However, one can start with a boiled potato with butter in the morning. I had bought the exotic vegetable stock the day before only and likewise commenced the day with paraboiled assortment of peas, beans, carrots, broccoli, red and yellow peppers and cauliflower. I added a little of lemon, white pepper and oregano to make it more sumptuous and had the same combo the entire day. The day went rather effortlessly with gym time in the evening.
Day 3       Morning weight 72.5 kg (Gracious God! another 1 Kg gone!)
Day three is a mix of fruits and vegetables. Apart from fruits and the remaining stock from day 2, I ate raw carrots, beetroot, cucumbers and lettuse leaves too. Again the day was not harsh on the tummy that otherwise solicited chocolates and pizzas! Ofcourse, two kgs lost in a matter of two days were an unmatched piece of motivation.
Day4       Morning weight 72 kg (Dissapointment followed by consolation… atleast .5 kg gone lady!)
The thirst day is the banana (upto 6) and skimmed milk (upto 1 litre) day. I prepared banana shake right in the morning with 5 bananas and 1 litre milk and kept sipping through the same the entire day.
Day 5       Morning weight 71 kg (yayyyy another 1 kg gone!)
On GM diet, Day five is a blessed kind of a day on which one can munch on soya nuggets, paneer, tomatoes, boiled rajma, soup made of capsicums, tomatoes, onion, ginger and garlic. While I preferred having boiled kidney beans with chopped onion, tomato and cucumber with lemon juice in the morning, I chose to eat brown rice with paneer and soya chunks for lunch and soup for dinner. In between meals I kept munching on raw salad.
Day 6       Morning weight 71 kg (Oops no change)
I surely was disappointed having lost no weight on day five and kept cursing myself for probably having eaten too much (while now I realise that was not true). Nevertheless, this was to be a tomato free day while all ingredients of day five could be consumed. Despite initial shock, I did not let my morale go down and ate safe meals comprising of raw fruits and veggies alsong with soup. I also had moong dal dprout salad for dinnere along with soup ofcourse hoping to see some better result the follwing day.
Day 7       Morning weight 70.5 kg (thank God for this .5 kg)
Well yes, I was feeling much lighter and brighter by day seven. I was happy to have managed to shell 4 kgs of weight which otherwise I could not do 14 months after my second delivery! The entire day was spent munching on fruits and vegetables. I had a bowl of brown rice with soup for lunch and sprouts with skimmed yoghurt for dinner.
Day 8       Morning weight 71 kg (.5 kg is back to my alarm)
I was happy that effectively I had lost 3.5 kg of weight and did feel better. And yes, immensely motivated too. With the resolution to tone my body further, I resumed my earlier exercise regime that included strength training. A lot of reading had me realize my body type that is endomorph. I inculcated a lot of HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) in my cardio sessions in a routine to boost my metabolism. I prepared home-made almond butter and experimented with many more healthy recipes. I ensured I did not have more than one cheat day in a week and that my resistance training was adequately supplemented by enough protein intake which for me was in form of soya chunks, paneer and other low fat dairy products apart from peanut and almond butter. Over all, I made a change in my lifestyle. Cravings for chocolates and sweets (mithai) did not deviate me from my goals. Thankfully, fried food has never been a teaser for me. Ultimately, after 10 months of patience driven due diligence, I finally hit 62 kgs and it has been almost three years now that I have maintained so.
The road I travelled from 74.6 kgs to 62 kgs was indeed tough. There were occasions when I was (pretty much humanly) tempted to give up. I remember when I hit a plateau at 69 kgs and despite all the endurance, it would not buzz an inch further. This was the most trying time when I kept going. I did more research on what to do when we hit plateaus. To my utter surprise one of the things I realized that though I was not losing weight any further, yet I was getting into a shape that was better than ever. You know what, the weight was owing to the lean muscle that I was gaining by doing the right kind of resistance training. Then I was not-so-regular with the workout for a fortnight while travelling to another city. And whoa, guess what? Despite not exercising, during this little break my weight dropped another 3 kgs all by itself! Another round of reading and I realised that taking small breaks is actually good. And yes, I had set small targets for myself. The day I got below 70kg, I gifted myself a new pair of Asics training shoes that I had been eying for long, and when I hit under 65, it was a (well deserved) wardrobe change (pretty much required as I had gone down two sizes by then:)!
My Weight Loss Success Mantra
GM diet was absolutely not essential and I could have achieved my target otherwise too. However, I admit, for me it did work like a booster. Having lost 3.5 kgs right at the start kept me convinced that I could actually lose weight! For you, you yourself have to determine what could keep you best motivated.
Drink lots of water (preferably warm if not hot). For every 20 kgs of body weight, you need to intake 1 litre of water with a capping a 5 litres beyond which the kidneys get taxed.
Treat yourself like a human and not like a machine. While adhering to routines is a must, yet don’t be too taxing on yourself. If your body (not mood) solicits an additional break on some day, do allow it.
HIIT works wonders. In my personal experience too, a 20 minute HIIT can compensate for your otherwise 60 minutes of cardio. Aside, you keep burning calories for hours after finishing workout as it challenges the anarobic system. For me, now, cardio just means 20 minutes of HIIT apart from floor and strength training. It implies going to the maximum of your heart rate and then letting it get back to average or moderate state. Beginners can do it in ratio of 1:2 or 1:3 also depending upon their fitness level which later could be in the varying ratio of 1:1. For example 30 seconds of maximum heart rate followed by 60/90 seconds of cool down at slow/moderate pace, which later can be 30 seconds of maximum heart rate followed by 30/45 seconds of cool down.
Strength training is a must. While cardio helps us dissolve fat, resistance or strength training helps us build lean muscle and also catalyse the entire weight loss process.
Food Log. Sounds like heights of obsession but trust me it really works. There are several apps available like livestrong (www.livestrong.com) that can help you track your food, water, exercise and calories and keep you well motivated and on track.
BMI is not the only and actual indicator of fitness. There is a lot like age, child birth, muscle mass etc., that contributes to the weight you carry. As in my case too, considering just the BMI bit, I might sound kind of overweight at 62 kgs for my medium 5.3 frame but if I get on a scale that also measures other parameters, it is my muscle mass that contributes to this BMI and not body fat! So don’t let the formula of BMI depress you.
Never give up. While it sounds clichéd, there is a lot of fact in the statement. There are bound to be times when you would feel that it is too much, or too long, or too intense. But, keep yourself motivated. I would rather suggest you hang a picture of someone who you would like to seek motivation from for your fitness goal (think of the abs and toned body of a mom like Mandira Bedi at 45!)
Eat right. Make better food choices and believe me you, it works wonders. One of the mantras is not to stock the undesired items like crisps, biscuits, sweets etc. as when we are hungry we get tempted to munch on them. Instead, keep dryfruits, fruits, chopped raw veggies, seeds handy so satiate the hunger pangs. I have a sweet tooth and for me letting go of sweets (though not altogether) was a challenge. For this, I started moving to darker chocolates, sugarless tea and coffee, fruit cream with honey instead of sugar and the like. I did allow myself one cheat day in a week. And trust me, once the clothes start getting even a bit lose, your mind would not command you to eat unhealthy!
Supplementing the Workout pre and post. Irrespective of the time of the day, working out hungry, in my opinion, is never a good idea. Before a workout, eat a small snack atleast 30 minutes prior to keep yourself energized and give your best shot at the workout. Keep hydrated. And never neglect enough protein post workout in dearth of which one might lose muscle instead! Protein is an integral macro-nutrient that plays intrinsic role in repairing of damaged muscle tissue. The quantity depends upon your workout. In general, a person body needs .80 gm to 1 gm of protein per kg of body weight. I ensured to take 20-25 gm of protein in form of peanut/almond butter, quiona, soya nuggets, paneer, boiled eggs etc post my workout sessions.
Fitness Tracker. People have different views about it, but I love the idea of a fitness tracker. I use a Fitbit Blaze and I’m crazy about it. It helps keep a track of steps, heart-beat, actual calories burnt, exercise of different levels apart from other features like a watch, alarm clock and even relaxation device! There are multiple options available if one would like to consider any.
Right Bra and Shoes. While women do pay heed to workout attitre, I have felt that the right sports bra and shoes sometimes go lacking. Do invest in a couple of high-support sports bra with the right fit to ensure the boobies stay well in shape (sports bras are available in light, medium and high support. Depending upon our intensity of workout, we need to choose one). Shoes are another investment that is a must. Depending upon what sport you choose, select the pair of shoes technologically made to serve that purpose to ensure comfort and avoid any injuries (there are different types of shoes meant for trails, running, walking, training, hiking, dancing etc.).
Have an active Day. Don’t freak if you are not able to make it for a work out some day. Stay active and do whatever is possible. Activities like squats, lunges, floor, yoga etc. can be done just anywhere.
Set small milestones and appreciate yourself once you achieve these goals.
Losing weight is definitely not all about looks. Being over-weight/having excessive fat hinders health and is also responsible for many health issues. It is about a lifestyle change and not weight loss alone. My target was to take baby steps towards the goal without being less Hitler-like on my own self. Well yes, I do feel much younger, more energised and healthier today than I felt in February of 2015 when I started this journey of getting fit. The compliments I receive, do add an extra glow to my face 🙂
Happy Fitness to You!
Loads of love,
The beautiful experience of Pregnancy often reflects as added fat on the new mum. Read thru the link to know my journey of 13 kg of weight loss, achieving my fitness goals and much healthier lifestyle. Like, comment, share Much Love, I had my little munchkin, my bundle of joy in my arms along with my older naughty brat and life could not have been happier.
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Partial Freedom. Hollow Patriotism. Happy Independence Day!
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Partial Freedom. Hollow Patriotism. Happy Independence Day!
Hey! We all seem to love our country, don't we? We won't have missed the Independence Day laddoos indeed! Read thru to check the hollow facts of our self acclaimed patriotism. Happy Independence Day! Like, Comment, Share
This 15th August, India celebrated its 72th Independence Day. Just as every other time, I was getting goose bumps since morning while listening to patriotic songs.  My eyes welled up over and over again each time I tried to hum these songs through my chilling spine or endeavored to explain my kids how much this independence matters to us. Through all these overwhelming emotions and celebration, a…
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The Soul-Stirring Ferry Trip- Bali to Gili
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As we shoved the kids accompanying us into the ferry through the crowd, I could still feel the sweetness of ripe sliced mangoes being sold by that dusky women with wise large black eyes and messed up hair just as dark as her eyes. Messed up, well her hair was messed up but there was something far too dignified in her smile, in her willingness to have us taste the mangoes she was selling. Having seen her was a noble realization that being happy has very little to do with how much we earn – it actually reflects from somewhere deep within for reasons unknown. I did yearn to buy her mangoes not only for a desire for us to taste them but also because it was winter back in India and we had last tasted this ambrosia like fruit not less than three months before. Nevertheless the pushing in the queue to the ferry to Gili islands from Bali kept me devoid of this pleasure to soothe my taste buds.
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We showed the passes and rushed into the huge white ferry sweating almost profusely. While our older accomplices grabbed their seats to breathe comfortably in the air conditioning, my adventurous siblings and I along with two older kids climbed up the two small flights of stairs on opposite sides at the backside to reach the weather deck. As we found space for ourselves to settle, my brother and I chose to lean over the corner of the ferry and admire the infinity of the clear blue sky and the sea which looked over us with just another shade of blue with hues of green, both merging into each other somewhere in the horizon. This unison somehow reminded me of a marriage where two hearts, two souls, two fragrances become one merging colours of both into each other as the years go by.
My reverie was broken by my sister diverting my attention to the four year old rather handsome brat who was busy admiring a blonde beauty of probably the same age group in yellow goggles sitting aside a man who seemed related. We tried teasing him calling out his name but no, nothing could divert his focus. Indeed, as Shakespeare too said, ‘Beauty is a thing to behold forever.’
As the ferry surged ahead towards Gili Air (one of the three Gilis), I could spot the mesmerizing Gili T at a distance, covered with lush soothing greens. The force of the loaded white vessel kept bothering the serenity of the sea and in turn it seemed as if the waves of the sea were lashing on to it! Dancing towards the nose of the ferry was a group of carefree youngsters with cans of beer soaking their throat. As the music played louder, my little sweetheart who now seemed to have befriended the pretty lass, also started tapping his feet. His sun reddened cheeks turned even redder as he blushed seeing us observe him dance. The two ladies sitting at the front row soaking themselves in the sunblock turned around and started clapping which further embarrassed the kid and he hid himself in the folds of my off-white dress.
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The rowdy breeze that messed up my hair, as I stood engulfed in the vastness of the mix of blues and greens, was tantalizing me, intoxicating me! The blaze of the sun got shadowed by the unexpected drizzle and it in turn also soothed my distressed soul. I removed my goggles, closed my eyes and stretched my head up soliciting to feel each drop of it. As I was deep mesmerized in this soulful journey, I realized with the hullabaloo that we had hit Gili Air and it was time to alight from the ferry.
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  Hey Travel Lovers, The link takes you to the mesmerizing horizons, vastness of the clear blue sky, sounds of the sea that I experienced on the trip from Bali to Gili Air. Do Like, Comment, Share Much Love, Soulful Explorations As we shoved the kids accompanying us into the ferry through the crowd, I could still feel the sweetness of ripe sliced mangoes being sold by that dusky women with wise large black eyes and messed up hair just as dark as her eyes.
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