I have to be honest here – losing weight and getting back in shape can be the toughest thing in this world sometimes. I’m one of those people who have always been a little cautious about their health. Ever since I was a kid, I used to wake up a little early and go out for a long walk. I believe walking is one of the most addictive exercises in this world. If you are a regular, you would find it hard to start your day without filling your lungs with some oxygen. I’m pretty strict with my diet and always prefer eating healthy food. Yes, every once in awhile I savor all those delicious cheesecakes from my favorite café, but that happens once in a month (sometimes even less).
My wife, on the other hand – well, she has always been a rebel. I saw her putting her health and fitness in the backseat and letting go of her diet plans every once in a while. She never really considered her health as one of her biggest priorities, which didn’t go well at all. The day she realized the importance of it, changed the entire course of her life. I have been a crucial part of her weight loss success story and lived each and every bit of it with her.
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Over the last six months, she was able to lose 18 kg (40 pounds) by following a remarkable fitness regime. Unlike others, she didn’t go for one of those quick fix routines or a crash diet. Yes, the thought of it crossed her mind plenty of times. After all, who doesn’t want to lose a few extra pounds in a week or two? But it can never lead to a long-lasting and sustainable result. There were plenty of things I learned from her weight loss success story. I have always admired her will and determination, but the way she has changed herself in the last few months has certainly left me inspired.
1. It all starts with self-realization
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No matter how many times your loved ones would remind you about the significance of being fit, until and unless you realize the importance of it, nothing else would change. I used to tell her plenty of times to focus on her health and maintain a diet plan, but nothing used to bother her. She knew she needed to lose weight, but deep within, she was waiting for an inspiration.
One day, I asked her to wear the dress she wore at our wedding reception. After trying for hours, she realized how much weight she has gained in the last few years. That incident was a turning point in her life. She knew she needed to do something and embarked on the most inspiring journey of her life.
2. Start with a plan
You can’t simply wake up one day and start exercising for hours to lose weight. It doesn’t work like that. One of the most thoughtful lessons I learnt from her journey is the way she approached her weight loss problem. She knew she needed a foolproof plan and did a lot of research before drafting her schedule. From her diet plan to her yoga lessons, she took care of everything before commencing her journey. This is one such step which is often skipped by a lot of people. Before you make a move, take a step back and prepare yourself for the long haul.
3. Set practical milestones and keep measuring your progress
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Without keeping a track on your progress, you won’t be able to know if you are doing it in the right way or not. Set both, long-term as well as short-term milestones for you to achieve. Sometimes, you won’t be able to meet your milestones and would get disheartened. This is exactly when you need to get inspired and push your limits. Don’t come up with the kind of milestones that aren’t feasible. We used to measure her progress every week, which kept her at the top of her game. She also got a fitness band that helped her keep a track of her body vitals, the number of calories burnt, and a lot more.
4. It’s okay to have a cheat day
When you are consuming only healthy food, you would get tempted to eat your favorite cuisines. I knew how hard it can get at times. To make it easier for her, we stopped going out for a few months. We unsubscribed ourselves from all those culinary magazines and online publishing websites that we used to love visiting. This is one such step that the two of us took together.
Yes, we had a cheat day, but unlike others, we had only one cheat day in a month. Gradually, we pushed it to once in 90 days. Dieting is one of the toughest things to do, but with some support, one can certainly resist the temptation. I’m glad that the two of us did this together!
5. Don’t compare your journey with others
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This will never let you gain productive results. When you draft your plan, don’t get intimidated by others. Yes, it is always a good idea to read the success stories of your idol to get inspired, but you can’t simply take their plan and implement it in your life. You can create a blueprint around it, but you need to understand that it is your journey. There would always be someone out there who is tougher or healthier than you. It is not a competition.
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6. Know your limits
There were times when she used to exercise for hours just to complete a milestone, but at the same time, she also knew her limits. Nothing great happens while staying in your comfort zone. She used to push herself to get up at 5 am almost every morning, but she knew when to give up as well. You can’t simply push your limits every single day. Have a thoughtful approach instead.
7. It’s okay to be emotional or ask for help sometimes
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These last six months of our lives were nothing less than a roller coaster ride. I saw her getting elated after completing a milestone. But there were times when she cried a few times as well. Plenty of times, she used to think of giving up. Though, she was wise enough to ask for help as well.
Every time she told me she can’t do it, I came up with some or other thing to inspire her. Whenever she found it hard to wake up in the morning, I dragged her out of the bed. Sometimes, she used to skip her yoga just to go out on a running session with me, and that was absolutely fine.
8. Be patient and consistent
If you are doing it the right way, then it is going to take a lot of time. Being fit is not an event, it’s a journey. Even after losing weight, you need to work out every single day. You can’t simply take your journey for granted. She has completed every single milestone of hers in the last six months. Nevertheless, she still wakes up every morning to meditate. Being consistent is the key to staying fit.
9. Learn to channel your emotions
Instead of feeling helpless, one should always know how to channel all that agitation and anger. Every weight loss success story is filled with emotions. You would cry, you would laugh, and you would do everything in between. Instead of letting those emotions take a hold on you, use them wisely. Channel them to your fitness regime and gain constructive results.
10. You don’t need to be an expert to lose weight
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It is one of the most common misconceptions about weight loss. You don’t need to get in touch with an expert to lose weight. Yes, you can always take the help of a dietician and come up with a regulatory diet plan, but if you are wise enough, you can do almost everything by yourself. She did a lot of research before coming up with a plan.
Instead of hitting the gym and doing it the regular way, she took control of her life. She came up with several creative ways to lose weight, without the need of visiting the gym even once. Together, we created an obstacle course in our backyard and bought some essential fitness accessories as well. There are lots of people who think they need a substantial amount of money to lose weight, which is a wrong perception. You don’t need money to stay fit. All you need is a solid plan and a lot of determination.
11. There is no easier way to get in shape
If you really want this, you are going to this the right way. You will be tempted by all those shortcuts and quick fixes, but they are not going to last forever. In order to stay healthy and bring a positive change in your life, you need to do it one step at a time.
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It has been over six months now since she started her fitness regime, but I still remember each and every day of it. It was quite tough for her in the beginning, but after a while, it seemed like the most effortless thing in this world. There were times when she gave up. She skipped her workout for a few days as well. It is okay to lose track every once in awhile. But it is all about finding your way back and never giving up.
Don’t give up – even when you are having a bad day. Keep going and inspire your loved ones as well. You never know, you might end up changing a life, and if you are lucky – that life could be yours!
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