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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!

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