76 to 67…
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I rubbed my eyes and looked for my glasses. It was still 76…
Life never runs out of shocks. Right when we become comfortable with the status quo, it throws a googly on us. That number on my weighing scale was exactly that googly for me. Highest weight so far…
I looked at my clothes: They seemed pretty heavy to me. Plus that watch might also add some weight, and don’t forget the glasses. My search for the real culprit behind this weight gain spared no one — not even the ring on my finger. I was floating between denial and acceptance. Finally, the rational voice in my head stepped in and I stopped. Reality check Seema, Mind whispered. More than weight, related health problems were my concern. A harsh turning point, if I ever had one.
It was the start of the pandemic era. No gym, no yoga sessions, and no walks. Getting control of my increasing weight seemed like a difficult task. I was looking for excuses while my body needed a solution. I decided to make a plan. But this time I wanted a lifestyle change, not a temporary diet plan.
I started to focus on my diet. This seemed like the obvious first choice during the lockdown. I began monitoring my portion size, nutrition, and meal timings. After a little research, I zeroed down on Intermittent Fasting. It was certainly not easy at the start but, I got used to the new patterns and started liking them.
The next task was to incorporate some exercise into my daily routine. I could not go out, so I started walking in my space-starved Mumbai apartment. I also had a few weights, a sandbag, and a pull-up bar, courtesy of my son. I thought I was sorted, with no excuses left.
But my challenges were not over yet. I wondered why gaining weight is much easier than losing it — almost a “fevicol” bond! “I wish I could lose weight as easily as I lose my keys, pen, cell phone, temper, and even my mind.” I could not understand why we feel most hungry when we are not supposed to — for example, midnight cravings during my fasting windows. For all these hunger pangs, I told myself; “Dear stomach, you are bored, not hungry. So shut up.”
The next obstacle was self-created. The start of my fitness journey coincided with the discovery of my newfound love for baking. Trust me, the smell of a freshly baked cake is the most challenging thing to resist. So here was a real fight between my willpower and temptation. I have read somewhere that “Good habits result from resisting temptation.” I finally started believing in it.
I had my lows and highs during this journey, but I kept working on it. After many months that had some cheat days but many good eating days, I could say that I had a healthy body. I was 67kg. But losing 9 kgs was not as great as gaining stamina and a fit and pain-free body.
Picture abhi baki hai doston. I need to work on myself more and more consistently. In simple words, I just want a healthier version 2.0 of myself. Wish me luck and patience. Looking forward….
“It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you don't stop.”
