Here’s how this man went from 91kgs to 71kgs in just 18 months!
Being overweight made Anand Mahesh Talari prone to several health issues. From borderline pre-diabetes, high cholesterol levels to sleep apnea, a lot of illnesses cropped up in a short span of time. However, it was when he suffered from a mild mini stroke that he decided to change the course of his lifestyle. Through portion control, healthy and clean eating and regular exercise, Anand was able to achieve his desired results. Read on to know how he managed to lose a whopping 20 kgs.
Name: Anand Mahesh Talari
Occupation: Communications Consulting
Age: 44
Height: 5’7
City: Mumbai
Highest weight recorded: 91kg
Weight lost: 20kg
Duration it took me to lose weight: About 18 months. Initially I lost weight rapidly but then slower burn.
The turning point
I experienced recurring health issues and even had a mini stroke. Fortunately, it was mild and I could recover completely with medication and physiotherapy exercises. At the same time, I read a book which motivated me to inculcate positive habits in the morning and I really took it up in a disciplined manner.
Diet followed
My breakfast: Based on a diet recommended to me, I have only hot water in the morning with some fruits like banana and papaya. This is followed by some sprouts and juices. Basically, I don’t eat any cooked food till lunch time. However, on some cheat days I have dosas etc. Since I start the day early I have fruits at around 7 am or so.
My lunch: Rice and dal with a dry sabji (it could be anything really – veg or non-veg). However, I exercise portion control and add salads to make the meal fulfilling.
My dinner: Typically it's either dosas or chillas made with batter of some dals. Again, this is supplemented with salad so that the meal looks fulfilling. Also, I prefer to have dinner by about 7.30 pm and then give it atleast two to three hours of gap before sleeping.
Pre-workout meal: I prefer doing walks and yoga very early in the morning and typically don’t have anything pre-workout.
Post- workout meal: Again, I stick to some fruits and juices in line with my natural diet pattern for mornings.
I indulge in (What you eat on your cheat days): I do eat aloo parathas, samosas and pizzas, burgers etc. but the idea again is portion control and ensure that I get my daily exercise. I also eat dark chocolate sometimes.
Low-calorie recipes I swear by: Has to be the chillas. It's low in calories, easy to digest and good with proteins. It can be made by soaking some three to four types of dals like Moong, Masoor, Arhar and Chana for 4 to 5 hours. Also, ragi flour can be added along with pieces of mirchi, adrak, grated carrot and beetroot. Prepare a batter and it can be directly prepared without any need of fermentation. It can be had with some freshly made chutneys.
Workout regime
About 7000 to 10000 steps of walking in a day (slightly impacted now due to heavy rains).
12 to 24 surya namaskars five days a week and 90 minutes sessions of yoga and meditation twice a week.
I also play box cricket whenever I am able to find time.
Read Also: http://thetimesofindia.online/life-style/health-fitness/weight-loss/weight-loss-exercises
Fitness secrets I unveiled
From an exercise perspective, it is easy to be fit if you take out sometime every day. It’s all about discipline. Surya Namaskars are a great exercise to stay in shape and give a workout to entire body.
From a diet perspective, giving up dairy or sugar is not difficult and you typically adapt to it within a month.
How do I stay motivated?: I think it’s all in the mindset and the amount of discipline you can get in. For me it’s fairly simple – Health is paramount and I don’t want my lifestyle to impact my health any longer. Also, the support and encouragement from my wife keeps me motivated.
How do you ensure you don’t lose focus?: I have made exercise part of my lifestyle. That’s the first thing that I do every morning. Now it’s become a habit and I feel restless if I don’t do it. Also, the desire to stay healthy keeps me focused.
What’s the most difficult part of being overweight?
Personally for me it was the health issues which cropped up with borderline pre-diabetes, cholesterol levels and things like sleep apnea which in turn lead to other complications. I used to feel lethargic during the day and had disturbed sleep.
What shape do you see yourself 10 years down the line?: I would hopefully be consistent with my disciplined lifestyle and exercise and therefore be almost in shape.
What are the lifestyle changes you made?
- Giving up dairy
- Giving up sugar
- Reducing intake of things like tea and coffee
- Drastically cutting down on intake of non-vegetarian food
- Eating more fruits, salads and nuts
- Taking up Exercising and Sports
Lessons learnt from weight loss: Your health is actually in your hands and if you are really willing and focused then you can do wonders. Also, once you lose weight your overall confidence levels go up for every other aspect of your life.
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.