Page 68 - Masala E-magazine Vol 9 Issue 2 October - November 2017

What initially inspired you to lose weight?

Sanjeevni: My inspiration came from wanting to feel and look good.
I thought to myself, screw this unhealthy life! I don’t want health
problems. I don’t want to eat uselessly. Before, I would eat when I
wasn’t even hungry. So honestly, the inspiration just came from me
telling myself: “enough is enough.”

Nandita: I felt uncomfortable post my pregnancy, because all my
life, I have always been on the smaller side. When I was 58kgs, I
didn’t want to take photos. I didn’t know how to dress up. I didn’t
even know how to shop for myself. I always thought I looked bad.
What really pushed me was when my daughter turned two and I was
determined to get back to my ideal weight.

What were you like before you started your weight loss journey?

Pooja: When I was in high school, I used to go to McDonald’s and eat
cheesy fries every day. I was just eating and eating, and I didn’t feel
good. I just felt lazy, so I knew I needed to change for myself.

Sanjeevni: I was a person that never worked out before, so when I
started just a little I already saw changes. There used to be times
where I tried Boot Camp workout routines every day, and I still felt
like it wasn’t enough, so I swam as well. I became quite obsessed.
Now I know how to limit myself.
Sanjeevni

What were the initial steps you took to motivate yourself to
change your body?

Jessica: What I told myself was that I won’t stop myself from
eating but I will limit myself. For example, if I was really craving
junk food like chocolate, I would eat fruits instead, or if I wanted to
eat bread and butter, I would swap butter for avocado. Swaps like
these helped me lose weight in a healthy way.

Pooja: I wasn’t really working out as much as I do now, but I was
trying to understand how to lose weight effi ciently and healthily.
One of my friends at university got me into bodybuilding.
She was studying nutrition, and she told me what health and
fi tness articles to read. She also made sure my form was correct
whenever we went to the gym.

What happened after those initial steps? How did you shed
those pounds?

Sanjeevni: When I fi rst started, I knew nothing about health and When I fi rst started, I knew nothing about health and
fi fi tness, so I went about it all wrong. I was too strict tness, so I went about it all wrong. I was too strict
with my f
with my food intake. I didn’t allow myself to ood intake. I didn’t allow myself to
eat any carbohydrates and oily f
eat any carbohydrates and oily foods, and oods, and
I worked out every day. This was not
sustainable, because when I went to
university, I gained most of my weight
back. Now, I have decided to eat four
to fi ve small meals a day. Whether
I opt for a shake or a snack, I count
those as meals. I am also a vegetarian.

Jessica

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