From not being able to fit into the clothes of your choice to low confidence levels, being overweight is a battle one fights daily. It not only changes the way you appear in the mirror but also transforms your closest relationships. But most of all, it is heartbreaking to see the number on the weighing scale going up, while you stand and stare helplessly.
19-year-old Anshul realised that he needed to do something about his weight if he wanted to lead a happy and fulfilling life once again. Read his inspiring weight loss journey:
Name: Anshul Pokharna
Occupation: Student
Age:19 years
Highest weight Recorded:115 kgs
Weight lost: 60 kgs
Duration: 21 months
The turning point: I still remember the date vividly. It was on March 18th, 2017 that I stepped on the weighing scale and saw that my weight had reached a massive 115 kilos. I could not believe my eyes and felt like a complete failure.
I realised that my habit of finding solace in eating an enormous amount of food was the reason I had reached this point in my life. The worst part? I was not able to fit into the clothes of my choice as well. That was the point I decided to take charge of my health and joined a gym.
My breakfast: I start my day with a cup of black coffee and I keep switching my breakfast menu. My ideal breakfast consists of protein shake, a portion of chocos/oats and a multivitamin tablet.
My lunch: Soya chunks and scrambled cottage cheese (paneer bhurji) with lots of green vegetables
My evening snack: A glass of milk and cheese sandwich
My dinner: A portion of rice, a bowl of dal and protein shake
I indulge in: I wouldn’t promote the usage of the word ‘cheat’ to a meal as it carries negative connotations to it and makes people feel guilty after having it. I believe in the concept of refeed meal which my mentor decides for me. I prefer having whole wheat flour halwa cooked by my mother.
My workout: I make it a point to work out at least 6 times a week. I focus on compound lifts and do HIIT after weight training.
Low-calorie recipes I swear by: I have my very own chocos shake recipe which I vouch on. Here is how you can make it:
Ingredients
30 grams chocos
1 scoop whey
5 almonds
100 ml of milk
Blend them until smooth and frothy
Fitness secrets I unveiled: I have realised that calorie is the king. No diet will work until and unless it puts you in a calorie deficit. Once you are in a calorie deficit all you need is patience, consistency and discipline to lose weight.
How do I stay motivated? In just 21 months, I have lost 60 kilos and gained some muscles as well. My clothing size dropped from XL to Medium. I was thrilled to wear what I wanted and felt good about myself again after a long time.
The happiness I felt from the progress was stronger than my excuses. It became addictive to work out regularly, especially when I started seeing the results.
What shape do you see yourself 10 years down the line? I aspire to compete as a professional powerlifter.
What are the lifestyle changes you made? I made a couple of changes and followed them pretty strictly. I started eating my meals on a fixed time, waking up on time and exercising regularly.
What’s the most difficult part of being overweight? The sad truth about being overweight is that you don’t really fit anywhere; not even in the clothes of your choice. I had stopped going to parties because I felt that I did not look good. I used to think that I am worthless as I had lost a lot of friends because of this. Additionally, I used to get tired pretty easily and did not want to work.
What was the lowest point for you? It actually took me years to go from a nobody to reach where I am today. Anyone who understands even a bit about fitness will know how difficult it is to lose fat and gain muscles naturally.
In the last 21 months, there came a point when my progress had stopped and I had hit a plateau and gained back 10 kgs. It was really heartbreaking for me.
Lessons learned from weight loss: Post my weight loss, I’m a completely changed person. I have learned that if you have patience, consistency and are disciplined, you can achieve anything.
If you too have a weight loss story to share, send it to us at toihealth1@gmail.com