12/11/2022
When you are overweight, life isn’t exactly smooth. From battling unsolicited comments and the judgmental stares to health conditions which stem from all the extra kilos, Dr Garima had seen it all. However, when her confidence levels began to take a beating, she knew that she needed to pull her socks up and get back on track. Her weight loss journey is an example that when you start loving yourself more, anything is possible!
Name: Dr Garima Bhola
Occupation: Doctor
Age: 27 years
Height:5 feet 3 inches
Highest weight recorded:92 kgs
Weight lost: 32 kgs
The duration it took me to lose weight:6 months
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The turning point: When you are overweight, it is not only your physical health which takes the beating, but even your mental health goes for a toss. Case in point, I had always enjoyed dancing but I could never muster the courage to participate in competitions as my confidence was really low.
Also, you constantly feel that others will judge you or make fun of you because of your weight. However, the point where I realised that I HAD to do something to get back in shape was when I started wearing 42 centimetres waist of men denims. I knew that I needed to change my lifestyle and get my life back on track.
My breakfast: 2 chapatis, a portion of green vegetables, a glass of milk or oats or 2 brown bread sandwiches
My lunch: 2 chapatis, a portion of green vegetables, a bowl of pulses and raita
My dinner : 2 chapatis, a portion of green vegetables and a bowl of pulses
Pre-workout meal: I have 2 glasses of water 30 minutes before workout and any fruit of my choice
Post-workout meal: A cup of tea, coffee or milk. After an hour I have dry fruits or salad
I indulge in: I usually do not take any cheat days but if I feel the need to be rewarded for my persistent workout, I like to eat a chocolate truffle slice, pani puri or meetha paan.
My workout: My workout routine is as follows:
1. I skip rope to the count of 1000
2. 50 lunges each side
3.50 stepping up and down
4.Jogging or running for 2.5 kilometres
5. Brisk walking for 2.5 kilometres
Low-calorie recipes I swear by: Dosa, uttapam and Idli
Fitness secrets I unveiled: When you love yourself and your body, you begin to put your health first. So, instead of craving for tasty dishes and cuisines, I crave to stay healthy and fit.
How do I stay motivated? In addition to fitting in the dresses of my choice, it is the motivational stories of people on social media platforms that keep me motivated to stay fit. I see that so many people do not have enough time to get up and workout but they still manage the same. I also read motivational quotes to continue my fitness journey.
How do you ensure you don’t lose focus? Over a period of time, I have realized that I needed to love myself first and then work on reducing weight and getting back in shape. So, now because I put myself first in my life, I do whatever it takes to stay healthy!
What’s the most difficult part of being overweight? A lot of people don’t realise that it is not about a few extra kilos, it actually has a lot of impact on your confidence as well. So, all that extra weight used to suppress my ability to express myself. I used to love dancing but I could never dance because I was so under confident because of my weight. Moreover, even though I really wanted to, I could never participate in any competitions fearing that I will be judged and made fun of!
What shape do you see yourself in 10 years down the line? I want to stay in the same physique for all the years to come, just need to work on toning my body a little bit. I will also start doing yoga to increase my flexibility.
What are the lifestyle changes you made? I made a series of changes in my routine as I really wanted to come back in shape. Some of them include:
I drastically reduced my sugar intake and replaced all unhealthy food items with healthy fruits and vegetables
Even when I do take tea or coffee, I do not add any sugar in it
I haven’t bought chocolates for myself in years and I eat pizza once in 3 to 4 months
What was the lowest point for you? It was really upsetting when I could not fit into the clothes of my choice. Moreover, due to my growing weight, my nerves had begun to compress and my legs were becoming numb.
Lessons learnt from weight loss: When you are on a quest to lose weight, you have to become your own motivation and you have to convince yourself to keep going on, irrespective of the circumstances. Also, once you begin to see the results, there will be no going back!
