Weight loss story: “I cut down on sugar intake and went for long walks to lose 15 kilos in 4 months”

Preetam Adwani was always a proud foodie! He ate what he craved and never really thought about the consequences. However, his unhealthy eating habits slowly got worse, especially with the lockdowns in play. He gained a lot of weight and eventually developed certain health risks. It was then that he decided to change his ways and resort to a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle. This helped him lose 15 kilos in just 4 months. Find out how he did it all!

Also read: Weight loss journey: “I had soaked almonds, substituted my masala chai with green tea and did 30 minutes workout to lose 10 kilos”

Name: Preetam Adwani

Occupation: Product Manager in French Multinational Investment Bank

Age: 38

Height: 6 feet

City: Bangalore/Pune

Highest weight recorded: 91 kgs

Weight lost: 15 kgs

Duration it took me to lose weight: 4 months

I used to be a proud foodie. I always believed that the only true love in today's world is one’s love for food. However, my eating habits were unhealthy and they became worse during the lockdowns, when I switched from working from office to home. People warned me against leading an unhealthy lifestyle and the dangers it posed to my health. But I turned a deaf ear to all the suggestions and continued eating the way I did until Nov 30, 2021 when I hit rock bottom.

This was the day when I was enjoying my 2nd cheese burst pizza, I had an anxiety/panic attack and had to visit a doctor. I was told that my weight gain and my unhealthy eating habits were the major contributing factors.

Although there are many who are obese and healthier than me but I guess my body is different and it couldn't tolerate it anymore. The anxiety attack was like a warning sign that told me to ‘STOP’.

The very next day, I started my weight loss journey.

My breakfast: Japanese Matcha tea with dry fruits, Oats, Eggs, Smoothies, Upma, Poha, Paratha etc

My lunch: A regular home cooked indian lunch vegetable curries with chapati

My dinner:Light salad or skip it whenever I do not feel hungry. Chamomile Tea before bed for good sleep and its calming effects.

I indulge in (What you eat on your cheat days): Sandwiches, Burgers, sweets.

I started with walking - from 10,000 -15,000 steps per day. Participated in competitions with friends at the office and continued with this habit.

I loved going on long walks listening to some podcasts - they helped me explore nature, myself and much more. Initially, I started going on long walks to lose weight, but now it has become an integral part of my life and something I look forward to.

I even started practicing Yoga and meditation to some extent.

In order to stay fit in the long run, I had to bring some sustainable changes. I consciously brought subtle & simple changes to my life which I can live upto at any given day. The support especially from my wife & family helped me a lot.

Competition gets the best out of me, so I participated in challenges with friends and walkathons organized at the office which helped further.

How do you ensure you don’t lose focus?: I reminded myself of my goal every day.

Being overweight made me lazy, looking for excuses to avoid any physical work. I used to get tired easily and was unable to live up to the energy & expectations of my 3-yr-old daughter. I looked older and was unable to compete well in any physical activity.

What shape do you see yourself 10 years down the line?: I plan to build on what I have already achieved and will work towards getting regular with cardio, yoga, meditation etc. This shall help me remain fit, flexible and at peace in years to come.

What I realised is that our body actually doesn't need a lot of food. From childhood, we have been asked/forced by parents to eat often to stay healthy. We continue with this habit eventually to put on weight. This realization helped me differentiate between the body's need for food and tongue's need for mere taste. More often we confuse the two. Our mouth doesn't like to be tasteless or at rest and we confuse that with hunger and end up eating in excess. To tackle this, I used chewing gums effectively.

Our body and mind are meant to process limited food and information respectively. I have cut down on what my body and mind consume now, drastically.

I am more conscious of my eating habits. I have reduced consumption of sugar and junk to a large extent. I am completely at peace now even if I miss out on the things that I craved before.

Lessons learnt from weight loss:

- How often you eat is as important as what you eat

- Will >> Skill

- Simple changes work and are sustainable

- Our body is our primary house where we live and it's important to take care of it first before anything else.

- The lighter & fitter you are - the better you think - the more confident you are.

- There is a meaning to every suffering.

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.