This weight loss story is authored by Love Verma
I have always been guided by the principle that staying fit is a way of life, not a phase of life. But like many, gym or any physical activity did feature in my daily routine since the pandemic struck us. In this lull, I started making mistakes. I did not keep a watch or mostly ignored what I was putting in my body. Sugar loaded beverages, fried & high sodium foods became quite regular and alcohol, of course, was the loveliest of the lot. And as a byproduct of this, none of the clothes I had would fit. I was rattled, lost my speed, things became hard – all because the perfect 82 kgs for 6ft’1 inch length went to a whopping 98 kgs.
But as things started opening up post the second wave of COVID-19, I started getting back on track, for nothing but a strange encounter with reality. The one hour workout session did not show me any results in the first month. It was strange for me, as I never got a result for less than 4 weeks. Though I was able to regain some strength, I did not lose a kg or an inch, not even a single one.
I realized it’s time for me to change my approach. Instead of the mainstream, I used a more complex way of approaching the weight loss journey. This is when I started taking data more seriously and personalizing it as per state (then) to where I wanted to see myself.
I began by targeting two to three hours of physical activity per day. This included two hours in the morning for intense strength training, followed by an hour long badminton session in the evening. During the entire three hours, I tried to keep my BPM (beats per minute) above 120 mostly. A good fitness tracker usually gives accurate workout results and in my case, it was the Apple Watch SE – one of the best options out there. This way I was clocking upwards of 1500 calories burned per day and on some days even 2000 plus.
Secondly, I reduced my cravings. Distanced me from sodium abuse and sugar. As per my weight, I defined a macro plan – that consisted of 50 percent protein, 30 percent complex carbohydrates, and 20 percent good fats, split across 6 meals. For protein – I do not think there is a better source than eggs on the planet. It boasts a complete amino acid profile that supports recovery and muscle growth. My other sources of protein included chicken and sometimes fish. I consumed multigrain bread, and marked a home-cooked meal once every day but not as my last meal for the day. Carbs post 6 pm were a strict no. Nuts and peanut butter provided the required amount of healthy fats. This way I created a calorie deficit by consuming less than what I was burning and also keeping my metabolism cranking.
Lastly, and most importantly, I got my hormones in order, which I feel a lot of people ignore. If you get into the science of staying fit, you would realize that hormones and staying fit are interconnected. Hormones influence a lot that is happening in our body and by messing with them, you dwindle in your fitness journey. The best way to keep them stable for me was to ensure a good 8 hours every night, schedule a time to hit the bed and be consistent with it since food and workout were already in order.
Today I weigh 83, with a body fat percentage of 20. I continue the two hours of grind 6 days a week in the gym but miss the court. I occasionally cheat to shock my metabolism and sometimes take two to three days off from strength training for optimal recovery.
Love Verma is a communications professional based out of Delhi NCR.
