Putting on weight is easier than losing it. We all know it. For 32-year-old Manisha, a professional, the problem got so bad that she stopped looking in the mirror.
Nonetheless, she decided to lose her weight and become the better version of herself. With dedicated efforts and strong willpower, she shed all of the weight in 6 months. Read this story to know how she did it.
Name: Manisha Bahuguna
Occupation: Private Employee
Age: 32 years
Height: 5 feet 3 inches
Highest Weight Recorded: 82 kilos
Weight Lost: 24 kilos
Duration it took me to lose weight: 6 months
The Turning point: I started to dread looking at myself in the mirror. One such day I decided to make the switch to a healthier lifestyle.
My Breakfast: The biggest change I made in my life was my diet. In the mornings, I have a cup of skimmed milk with 2 egg whites. A while later, I have a serving of seasonal fruits.
My Lunch: Daal is a must-have for me! I usually like to have one big bowl of daal with one chapati. Having curd or buttermilk is also essential in my lunch plate.
My Dinner: I make sure that I have my dinner no later than 7:30 p.m so that I am able to digest it better. For my dinner again, I have 2 chapatis with a bowl of daal and stir-fried vegetables.
I usually avoid eating non-vegetarian food ever since I have been dieting. However, if it is a cheat day, I like to have butter chicken!
Pre-workout meal: Mostly, my workouts begin with a warm glass of water with lemon juice, grated ginger, and honey mixed in it.
Post-workout meal: 4 boiled eggs with a glass of double-toned milk. If I feel hungry, I snack on fruit.
My workout: My workout is a mix of various regimes. This has helped me shed kilos faster. In the morning, I start with some running and follow it up with a session of power yoga.
In the evenings, my workout involves practicing some Pilates, planks, pushups, and all its variations.
Low-Calorie recipes I swear by: The one thing that has actually helped me get in shape fast and is something I would suggest everyone to do is to remove oil from their diet. Trust me, cooking food in less oil can be tasty too! I also make sure to eat all the high protein vegetables. This has helped me sculpt the muscles around the stomach.
Fitness secrets I unveiled: There is no secret formula, you just have to workout like a beast. When it comes to working out, there is no in-between. Training and sweating it out like a beast is what works the best.
How do I stay motivated: I have been working out for myself. However, I remember this one time, somebody looked at me post-transformation and said that I reminded them of a model from a commercial. People couldn’t believe that I had two kids!
How do you ensure you don’t lose focus: My phone is loaded with inspiring quotes, messages and workout videos! After all, we stay glued to our phones 24*7 so why not make good use of it?
What’s the most difficult part of being overweight: When I was overweight, it was very difficult to even walk a little distance without losing breath. This always bothered me. I am not that old and my body had zero stamina.
What shape do you see yourself 10 years down the line: I want to encourage all women and mothers like me who are obese and want to shed weight and tell them that nothing is impossible. Finding time seems difficult at first but once you get into the routine, there is nothing like it. You just need to prioritize your life and you will soon start seeing the changes.
What are the lifestyle changes you made: I was never a morning person but now I am. I wake up around 4-4:30 am now. It has definitely helped me get better. Also, I don’t eat anything any time of the day. I follow a rigid schedule and stick to it.
What was the lowest point for you: For me, it was after I started working out that I hit the lows. When I started working out, I experienced a lot of pain which made it difficult to move. I wanted to quit but I never gave up.
Lessons learnt from weight loss: Positivity is the key. Once you believe in yourself, there is no going back.
