Weight loss story: “I ate home-cooked meals, indulged in home workouts to lose 33 kilos”

Ramnik Saluja Agarwalla was distraught when she was separated from her 7-year-old daughter due to COVID-19. During the course of her illness, she lost all her mental peace. But on the bright side, she realized the value of good health and chose to get her fitness back on track. With consistency and by switching to a healthy lifestyle, she managed to lose 33 kilos in just 1.5 years. Here's her weight loss story:

Also read: Weight loss story: “I had 7 egg white omelette for breakfast and did Dhyana Yoga to lose 66 kilos in 8 months”

Name: Ramnik Saluja Agarwalla

Occupation: Homemaker, fitness and nutrition consultant at Fittr

Age: 39

Height: 5’3”

City: Karanjia (Odisha)

Highest weight recorded: 89 kgs

Weight lost: 33 kgs

Duration it took me to lose weight: Almost 1.5 yrs

When I contracted COVID-19, my 7-year-old daughter was separated from me. During that time, l started losing my mental peace and was very low. However, slowly and steadily I realised the importance of fitness, gathered myself and took charge of my health. After all, a healthy mind lives in a healthy body.

My breakfast: 2 slices bread, paneer/ cheese-25gms, tea without sugar

My lunch: Dal, rice/roti, green vegetables, soya chunks, curd

My dinner: Dal, rice/roti, paneer, vegetables, soya chunks

Pre-workout meal: Black coffee + apple

Post- workout meal: Whey protein 1 scoop

I indulge in (What you eat on your cheat days): Stuffer parathas, pani poori, nuts, home made ice cream.

Low-calorie recipes I swear by: Soya chapati, whey shake, oats with milk, whey and fruits, banana whey shake with nuts n chocolate syrup, ice creams under macros made at home

I started with a 4-day home workout and trained each muscle twice a week.

Fitness secrets I unveiled: There are a few fitness secrets I learnt during the course of my journey:

- Whey is not harmful

- Paneer, cheese, rice, sugar, ghee are bae

- Motivation is a mirage, consistency is what gives you results. Focus on long term consistency than short term intensity

- Trust the process; it takes time to build habits.

- Stop comparing yourself with others

Consistency is what keeps me going! I make sure I do not lose focus and keep myself motivated all the time. I get up at least 1 hour earlier than the rest of the family so as to male time for the gym.

Being overweight impacts your confidence and self-esteem. It leads to self-doubt and you do not love yourself as much.

What was the lowest point for you?: Being overweight affected my mental health and cognitive abilities. I couldn’t remember even the smallest things like whether I changed the diaper of my 3-month-old baby. I lacked self confidence and it broke me further.

What shape do you see yourself 10 years down the line?: I aim to be an athlete soon, and have targets lined up by the end of the year.

- Cooking healthy home-made food so everyone from the elders to the kids get the right nutrition.

- A big NO to bhujia packets especially being in a marwari family.

- Involving outdoor activities to my kids’ daily routine to help them stay active and fit.

- Staying hydrated

- Now that I am a fitness and nutrition consultant myself, I love helping others stay fit by eating simple family food.

Lessons learnt from weight loss: Weight Loss is not about how much you lose rather about the life you gain. Afterall you didn’t gain all that weight in one day, so how can you lose it in just a few days? Staying disciplined and consistent matters above all.

If you have a weight loss story to share, send it to us at toi.health1@gmail.com

These views are not generic in nature. Weight loss results vary for individuals and the views shared in this article offer no guarantee of specific results. The content is not intended in any way as a substitute for professional advice.