Fitness Mantra: 140 to 115 kg: Man’s 4-month journey from obesity to healthy living

Finally, his neighbour’s nutritionist told him of a diet plan that would not only help him lose weight but make conscious and healthier choices that would improve his lifestyle. In July this year, he started following it and has lost 25 kg since, without excessive exercise. Here’s the diet he follows:

Morning: Two egg whites, one/two raw tomatoes and any fruit like apple, pomegranate or guava.

Lunch: No rice or chapati but only a healthy portion of vegetable curry cooked in mustard oil followed by salad containing tomato, onion, carrot, capsicum and so on.

Evening: Biscuits with tea/coffee.

Dinner: Paneer in any form with 2-3 chapatis or serving of vegetables and a cup of rice.

He elaborates, “I eat more fruits and vegetables and changing the cooking oil from refined sunflower to cold-pressed mustard oil has drastically helped.” Anirudha has a list of ingredients and dishes he can’t consume — instead of dal, the required protein comes from paneer and cheese slices. Bread, mayonnaise and ketchup are huge no-nos. “I would consume a lot of rice and pickles too, which I have cut down on. I followed this diet very strictly in the beginning and now that I have become fitter, I relax a bit on festivals and eat some sweets. I avoid fried savouries though,” he adds.

Anirudh says this is the first time a diet has really worked for him. He shares, “After I was told that I was borderline diabetic, I began working out at the gym and lost around 10 kg over a year but I never paid attention to the food I was eating. Hence I didn’t see great results. However, the weight loss seems consistent now and these changes in have mainly helped reduce my food cravings or binge eating.”

His journey over the past four months has also improved his health. “I am sleeping better these days so I don’t feel as heavy or tired. I am asthmatic but going from 140 to 115 kg has helped keep asthma attacks at bay. On the whole, I’m glad I could incorporate healthier ways of living into my routine, which I shall now stick to for life,” he concludes.