Name : Nivedita Balyan
Age: 28 years
Highest weight recorded: 69 kilos
Weight lost: 11 kilos
Duration it took me to lose weight: 5 months
The turning point: I always had a slim physique and used to work out every day to stay fit. But after my marriage, I started gaining weight as my mother in law did not allow me to workout. The worst part was when in 2017 I had to undergo some hormonal treatment due to which my weight reached at an all-time high of 69 kilos. Because of this, I started to look like I was in mid-30s, while I was still in my mid-20s. In my full body checkup, I discovered my cholesterol was very high and I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, and it was then when I decided to lose those extra kilos.
My breakfast: I begin my day by drinking three glasses of water. About half an hour later, I have my morning tea with two biscuits, followed by one boiled egg/one scrambled egg with one bread. I also take a handful of dry fruits mixture which includes pumpkin seeds, almonds, walnuts and cashews.
My lunch: Curd or salted lassi with two chapattis and any green sabzi.
Evening tea/ coffee: One cup of tea with two biscuits/ some light snacks like khakhra or rusks.
My dinner: I eat very light dinner like dal soup or one chapatti with sabzi and salad. Dal soup is my favourite and I can have it daily for dinner. I have half a liter of toned milk before going to bed.
Cheat days: I have a sweet tooth so whenever I crave for sweets, I eat chocolate, doughnuts, cake etc. But I make sure to have only cheat meals not cheat days. However, I have them only once in 15 days.
My workout: My in-laws did not allow me to join a gym. So, I worked out at home only.
I work out daily for at least 45 minutes every day.
My workout includes some warm up, yoga, legs workout, some upper body exercise and abs. I also do skipping (1000 skipping) and on weekends, I go for a 4 – 5 km run.
Low-calorie recipes: I enjoy poha, upma, besan chilla, scrambled eggs, chickpea salad with vegetables, chicken soup and paneer burji.
Fitness secrets unveiled: When you start your weight loss journey, avoid these 3 things: sugar, salt and refined flour. Limit your oil consumption. Drink plenty of water every day and try to exercise daily because a little exercise is better than no exercise.
What was my motivation to lose weight? I never want to be unfit again. All my life, I have been health conscious and I want to remain that way. Honestly, it was not an easy journey because I had to face resistance from my in-laws.
How do I stay motivated? I am a self-motivated person and I think I am addicted to working out. If I don’t workout for even a single day, it feels like something is missing from my life. Compliments I get from people and peers also keep my spirit high. Also, nothing can make you as happy as compliments! Now I feel confident and more energetic throughout my day. It also increases my productivity at work. Working out helps me to release stress and negative energy.
Lessons learned from weight loss: I started working out seriously from April 2018 and lost around 10 kilos till December 2018. I have reached the plateau phase now and I am just maintaining my weight by working out daily. But I don’t get disappointed because now I have muscle weight which is a good thing.
Hard work and persistence are the only keys to success. Initially, you might need a push but after some time you will get addicted to it.
