Balanceophile

When people come to me and ask for dietary suggestions for them to lose ‘weight’, I usually tell them to consult a nutritionist who can guide them professionally. If that’s not an option, I tell them to take it slow and start having a balanced diet. But most of them would tell me they want to lose like 10kgs in a month, which sounds impractical and risky.

It is important to know that the fat that we gain over the years cannot be burned in just days as it takes time and patience. So, here are some strategies that worked for me to get into a sustainable lifestyle that is healthy and flexible.

Disclaimer: I am not a professional, and these are the strategies that I learnt with the guidance of a nutritionist. Please consult a health professional to get more guidance on this subject.

Let’s begin:

Getting a blood test

In order to understand the areas and factors to focus on, I started with a basic blood test covering aspects like blood sugar profile, iron profile, vitamins, etc. After analysing the reports with my nutritionist’s help, we figured the starting point of what needs to be fixed in my body and how to proceed. After about 6 months, I got another blood test to compare and see the improvements. It also helped us to decide to follow the same routine or make any changes.

Eating veggies

Who knew that adult life and responsibilities would let me like (in fact, love) the same vegetables which I was not a fan of in my childhood? In fact, vegetables play an important role in keeping my meal plates super colourful and versatile. Including 2-3 kinds of vegetables helps in covering multiple micronutrients in a meal.

Jumping on the protein trend

The protein trend is rising, and it should be, but for the right reasons. Our bodies need protein, the right and healthy kind, not the marketing strategy ones. From whey protein, eggs, to tempeh, paneer, etc., I pick my protein sources and consume them religiously. It helps that I try to have a protein-rich breakfast because it gives the right kind of energy for the day without any calorie overload.

Mandatory hydration

Water is bliss! It is my favourite drink, especially during pregnancy. You could say I am joking when I say that sometimes I used to crave water during pregnancy. The right way of drinking is to have it sip by sip and let the body take it instead of gulping 100ml at once only to lose it all via urine. Drinking water, the right way helps hydrate your body and get rid of all the toxins.

Supplements for your specific needs

Consuming the right food alone did not help me get better because to meet the requirements of certain vitamins and micronutrients, food alone did not help, in some cases, food was not even the source for me, like Vitamin D. Everybody needs some food supplementary assistance to cater to all its nutritional requirements.

Never miss strength training

A few years back, I got to know that strength training is important to women, in fact, more than men. I started with bodyweight exercises during COVID and slowly moved to weights. I used to strength train for 3-4 times a week and targeted all muscles in my body and did not stick to only those areas where I wanted to lose fat. By focusing on all kinds of muscles during strength training workouts, I gradually increased my stamina and improved my metabolism too.

Yoga, cardio, and mobility exercises are equally important

Along with strength training, I also actively included cardio, mobility exercises, and yoga too. It started with walking to and from the office to running 10kms and many 5kms. I also took up yoga classes to ensure that what I did was right and did not compromise on body flexibility.

 Sleep is bliss

If I could go back to childhood to change one thing, it would definitely be my sleep routine. During my high school and college days, my sleep schedule was pretty messed up due to the increased pressure of getting good grades. I was up until midnight studying and used to wake up super early to study again. This also increased my caffeine intake, thus compromising my circadian rhythm completely. Slowly, now I have started fixing it by ensuring to sleep and wake up early and maintain a schedule for it.

Conclusion

Being healthy is a choice, and it cannot be a temporary one. If you say you are going to do a particular kind of diet for 3 months and then return to your normal lifestyle with unhealthy habits, it is only going to harm your body more than doing any good. Instead of making rigorous changes, start with minor changes in your current routine for more fruitful results.