Weight loss story: "I have boiled chicken meal everyday for weight loss"

Pankaj Yadav, a 24-year-old Software Engineer encountered a lot of hurtful comments and judgmental looks from the ones around him because of the way he looked. Instead of simply ignoring the comments, he felt the best thing to answer back would be to lose weight and prove them wrong. By doing so, he also learned some valuable life lessons.

Name: Pankaj Yadav

Occupation: Software Engineer

Age: 24

Height: 5 feet 11 inches

City: Lucknow

Highest weight recorded: 102 kilos

Weight lost: 26 kilos

Duration it took me to lose weight: 8+ months

I was constantly body shamed for the way I looked. I knew I was overweight, but being made fun of, joked on for the same was something which badly impacted my self-esteem and confidence levels. I used to feel extremely dejected and worried at times and it took me a while to answer back the naysayers was to lose weight and challenge them. So, I turned all that negativity into positivity and reversed my lifestyle.

Also See: How To Lose Weight

My breakfast: Oats + milk + brown bread + egg whites (4)

My lunch: Pulse + Chapati + Seasonal Vegetable

My dinner: Boiled Chicken + Raita

Pre-workout meal: 2 bananas

Post- workout meal: Protein shake along with some form of complex carb source.

I indulge in (What you eat on your cheat days): When it's time for a cheat meal, I indulge on foods to my heart's extent and allow myself to eat everything I wouldn't usually allow myself to have on the strict diet days. On some of my cheat days, I like to go out to my favourite restaurant and have meals there. Basically, fill up on your calories a single day, and sweat it out.

Low-calorie recipes I swear by: Definitely the chicken recipe which I have everyday. Boil chicken in water and lemon only, and then add some tomato sauce and seasoning on it.

I make sure that I walk around for 20-30 minutes on a daily basis, clock in the steps as needed. I also do a lot of skipping rope exercise, perform squats and pushups on a daily basis.

Fitness secrets I unveiled: A good, wholesome weight loss plan is based on 85% of what you eat (diet) and 15% derived from the workout you follow. Skimping out on any of these two could delay the results that you see.

The praise that I get now for the way I look and the discipline I have motivates me the most. It's a drastic change from the way people perceived me earlier.

How do you ensure you don’t lose focus? I make sure to keep tracking my weight every now and then so that if I happen to notice any deviation or slip ups, I keep my eye on the aim ahead and bring in changes accordingly.

Over time, weight gain didn't just make me experience body shaming, but it also made it difficult for me to buy clothes my size. I was also worried about the health issues which could develop if I didn't pay attention to my health.

What shape do you see yourself 10 years down the line? I wish to have less than 10% body fat.

I made physical activity a priority in my sedentary life. I now indulge in many sports and exercises such as badminton, cricket and walking, apart from daily hour spent working out.

What was the lowest point for you? Somewhere after losing 10 kilos, I wasn't able to lose weight because I couldn't stop myself from craving food and started eating junk food again. Luckily I managed to bounce back with a roar and got back on track.

Being in a good shape is the greatest gift you can give yourself in life- it instills confidence and keeps you away from illness.

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

DISCLAIMER

These views are not generic in nature. What worked for the writer may not work for you. So avoid following this article blindly. Find out what works for your body.