Skip to main content

Steps I took to be healthier than before

Over last 3 years or so, I have made conscious efforts to be in a better health and have taken some steps toward slowly reaching some milestones. There have been several small triggers for the same and several omens which pushed me towards pursuing a healthier lifestyle. While there is still a long road ahead, I believe that some habits which I have adopted are for good!

So, While my weight was  in early-mid 90s back then (I stopped checking at around 93kg), it is now a shade under 80kg, and my BMI just under 25. From my peak to lowest in last few years, I must have shed 15 kg or so. 

Just sharing few thoughts on this journey & the steps I took:
  • Overhauling the diet - I believe that there are several good tasting things available and I can't have them all. So one can prioritize such that healthier things get more space in diet! I didn't reduce eating as such, but I have, to an extent, changed what I eat. Some of them are elaborated below.
  • Reduced intake of sugar. Most of my (~99% of times) tea/ coffee consumption is without sugar. That I need to reduce tea/ coffee consumption is a different matter altogether! It took few days to get this into habit. Now I like sugarless tea/ coffee more.
  • More proteins (partly driven by generous quantity of dal/ lentil & dairy products). Less carbs.
  • More fruits & vegetables in diet. Usually a total of 4-5 serving of both combined.
  • Have regular intake of other healthy stuff like almonds, walnuts, figs, dates, sprouts etc. 
  • Workouts - I started with walks, started slow jogs, and now I can run 10Km once a while. Still far from being even a first time half-marathoner, but hope to reach there eventually. I do some Suryanamaskar and a bit of other exercise once a while. Over next few months I intend to focus more on non-running components of workout & maybe take a break from running, so that there is good body infrastructure created for running! 
  • Being more active. Try to walk more even while doing daily chores and other activities. 
  • Reduced junk food. Reduced intake of processed food. Occasional indulgences are OK. And yes, my sweet intake has gone down but occasional craving of 5 pieces of sweets at one go doesn't go away!


I didn't follow any specific diet like Atkins diet (also, it is difficult for a vegetarian!!) or take any gym membership. While that may have given faster results, I tried to make the above changes  a part of my life. So I am OK with losing 7 kg or so in a year kind of weight loss gradually. And if asked, this is the approach i suggest, mostly to be ignored in favor of glamorous gym membership with personal trainer/ Atkins diet or something similar. Not that I have anything against these, but I would rather prefer changes as a part of life ...

Hope to stay on course!

Comments

Shop @ Amazon

Popular posts from this blog

Snaps from The Himalayas

Some glimpses of one of the best landscapes in the country. Why long for Alps when our own old, enigmatic yet beautiful Himalayas provide such magnificent and picturesque sceneries!! Have a look. Enjoy. Location - Garhwal Region, Himalayas which lie in the state of Uttrakhand.

Assorted Random Semi-Verses

Memories Isn't every memory a magic? Making you lose the sense of time. Which is so much beyond the realm of logic. Though sometimes they are mere illusions But they keep coming back to you, And make you feel nostalgic! ___ The Dark Side With every talent comes a curse, From every gift speaks a caveat aloud, Even the beautiful moon has a dark side, And every silver lining has a cloud! ___ The Race Somewhere in this race, Some time during the run, I lost myself in between, And forgot to have fun. ____ I write ... I sometimes write random words, Which hardly make any sense; But I just felt that you should know, That in some corner of this little world, I do have a little presence!

destined for greatness ...

He had one final look at his work. The ending was perfect. The beginning was perfect. Yes. The pace slackened a bit in middle, but it was acceptable. A handful of people may not like it. He couldn't please all. But he was sure that he would please most of the people, the ones who mattered. Above all, the work would impress him. He had surpassed his own expectations. He had read the final draft for the 27th time by now. It was perfect. Next day he would contact the publishers. He was sure that nobody would refuse. They would lap up his work and offer him some handsome sum of money. Probably much more than any of the first time writers could ever dream of, at an age of 29. That would bring it all - name, fame, recognition, money ... everything! He was destined for greatness, as a part of the title suggested. Maybe in a year ... or two years at max, the world will recognize his greatness. Maybe, that would be fitting reply to the world which had branded him as a insecure, reclusive, w...

Financial tips for a 25 year old

Originally published at  BeingfinWise __ If you are 25 year old, there is a good likelihood that you would have started working or are likely to start soon. And hopefully start(ed) managing your own finances. So, what do you do next? The good news is that having a profession can soon lead to cash flows which perhaps wouldn't have seen in your student days. And that can be empowering in many ways. The bad news is that, if you are reckless with spending money, it can soon lead to a downward financial spiral. Managing your finances well can be a good first step towards a healthy financial life. And it starts with small steps.

What's the purpose of investing?

"Investment" - This word is much used and often much abused one. One keeps on hearing this almost all the time be it in office or catching up with friends or attending a family functions - almost everywhere. More so when we are fed with lot of information about how one needs to make money work to get more money. However, for a lot of people, the clarity on one question is often lacking - What is the purpose of investing? And even if one knows his/ her purpose of investing, it is often not implemented in real life. For instance, purpose of one's investments may be having sufficient funds in times of need. Yet they may opt for a personal loan when faced with pressing need for money. Based upon my observations, below are some of the most common purpose of investments (in no particular order) I invest because there is some sufficient funds lying with me and I can get great returns. I am investing for some specific goal - buying a house, education of kids, m...