Losing weight - how aware are Indians about it?

[JR]

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Namaste,

With continued exercising and dieting, I lost about 40 lbs weight recently (out of total 80 lbs). :high5: There is a definite change in my looks for the better and my Arthritis of the left knee feels better too. My fellow buddies at the gym told me that their BP and Diabletes also improved with weight loss.

When I grew up in India, some of my close relatives who had been overweight, complained about it but never took any action against it - as if it was impossible to lose weight. I noticed this tendency with a lot of people in India - if you are chubby, you are doomed for the lifetime with fat kinda attitude. Whereas in the West, it is considered really easy to lose weight. Not that there are fat and unmotivated people in the West, but the awareness is much, much higher and the stigma against obesity much lower. (And there are gyms that take a very nominal fee each month and let you train as long as you want each day).

I have been away from India except for visiting once in a while, and I wonder how the situation is right now... still people are there who complain about obesity and do nothing about it or they are taking active measures against it on an average? Any weight loss success stories to share?

Thanks,

JR

 

[B Suresh Kumar]

Are you joking. are you only 18 kgs now

 

[JR]

Are you joking. are you only 18 kgs now

Namaste Sir,

I am not sure if you are sincere in your query or mocking at me :help:.

I used to weigh 220 lbs, now I weigh 180 lbs, my ideal weight is around 140 lbs. So I have lost around 15+ kgs of obese weight.

Thanks,

JR

 

[Raji Ram]

Are you joking. are you only 18 kgs now

The extra weight was 80 lbs!

 

[B Suresh Kumar]

Dear JR,
I was not able to make out from your original post that you lost 40 lbs out of your total weight of 220 lbs.
Indians here have also become health conscious and have started walking and visiting GYMS

 

[renuka]

Is anyone having a 6 pack?(just kidding)

JR ji..why dont you share your weight loss tips with everyone.

It will motivate others to follow you.

 

[renuka]

If a person is young they tend to lose weight faster..as we age the basal metabolic rate goes down and for some people becos of stress the cortisol levels spike and even if they exercise or watch their diet the weight never comes down becos cortisol does not permit weight loss.

New studies say that Light walking for 30 -60 mins coupled with Dynamic Yoga can help reduce cortisol levels and make weight loss easier.

Also poses like shoulder stand and plough pose exerts pressure on the thyroid gland and its makes a sluggish thyroid gland kick into action to increase the basal metabolic rate.

So for older people who have joint problems...this combination of a slow walk say 30 mins..slow and not fast and then 10 mins of Suryanamaskar and then another 10 mins of target specific Yoga will help.

One will not feel too hungry too and will eat less with this method..so it aids weight loss.

Members can give it a shot.

 

[auh]

Fast walk, or, do light exercises, for about 20 mins and then start on more intensive ones as the fat burn starts by then.

Most Indians are conscious of their weight only on a diagnosis of cholesterol, diabetis, BP or the like. Till then exercise is for the uninitiated, uneducated lot who do not use their mind !

 

[JR]

I am actually in my early 40's so my weight loss goal is motivated both for looks as well as for health benefits - especially being overweight would aggravate my Arthritic knee problem.

Renuka ji, this is what I did:

1. Gave up regular sugar. They say sugar supplements such as Splenda (the Diabetic sugar variety) will increase risk for Cancer, but for some reason, I don't believe that, I have been consistently using that for sugar for a long time now.

2. Gave up anything fatty.

3. A big breakfast (usually a cup of skimmilk coffee, 1/2 plain bagel - this is about 125 KCal and a Banana or a 100 Cal Greek Yoghurt), then several cups of green tea till 12 Noon (Green tea - just dip tea bag in water and use tiny amount of milk) and then Brown rice lunch (very limited single-serving) with a lot of curry, 1 Multi-Vitamin tablet, again few cups of Green tea, 3 O'clock, fat-free milk coffee 8 oz, then dinner is Horlicks 8oz with fat-free milk and 1 more Greek Yoghurt (100 Cal). Overall, around 1200 Cal a day and NEVER exceeding that! This is my day-to-day food schedule.

4. Exercise - 6 times a week 45 min. walk on the treadmill at 3.6 mph, and twice a week Pilates (which are like Yoga) 1-hr / session.

I have been doing the above for 5 months consistently to lost 40 lbs so far... Now I have skipped Pilates class and started strength training as given in this video 3x a week - Weight Training Workout for Weight Loss - Fat Burning Functional Strength Training Workout - YouTube.

So that is how I lost my weight. No, I do not have 6 pack abs, I only have 6 packs of flab! .

 

[JR]

If a person is young they tend to lose weight faster..as we age the basal metabolic rate goes down and for some people becos of stress the cortisol levels spike and even if they exercise or watch their diet the weight never comes down becos cortisol does not permit weight loss.

New studies say that Light walking for 30 -60 mins coupled with Dynamic Yoga can help reduce cortisol levels and make weight loss easier.

Also poses like shoulder stand and plough pose exerts pressure on the thyroid gland and its makes a sluggish thyroid gland kick into action to increase the basal metabolic rate.

So for older people who have joint problems...this combination of a slow walk say 30 mins..slow and not fast and then 10 mins of Suryanamaskar and then another 10 mins of target specific Yoga will help.

One will not feel too hungry too and will eat less with this method..so it aids weight loss.

Members can give it a shot.

Yes, having hit the forties, my BMR is so much slower, while younger people can perhaps simply 'diet' and lose weight (though it is a very bad option as they will lose their muscle mass), it is impossible for me - I have to exercise to lose weight. No dieting will help me, because as much as I lower my input, as proportionate to that my BMR decreases. Thanks for the tips!

 

[JR]

Fast walk, or, do light exercises, for about 20 mins and then start on more intensive ones as the fat burn starts by then.

Most Indians are conscious of their weight only on a diagnosis of cholesterol, diabetis, BP or the like. Till then exercise is for the uninitiated, uneducated lot who do not use their mind !

Perhaps the obsession with looks of the West is in play here. There are so many who want to look good which motivates them to exercise. In my observation, chubby girls who want to get married exercise but once after getting children, to lose the baby fat, etc, or in general to feel good/look good, Indians are not that conscious and hence are not motivated to exercise for bettering their looks.

 

[renuka]

Yes, having hit the forties, my BMR is so much slower, while younger people can perhaps simply 'diet' and lose weight (though it is a very bad option as they will lose their muscle mass), it is impossible for me - I have to exercise to lose weight. No dieting will help me, because as much as I lower my input, as proportionate to that my BMR decreases. Thanks for the tips!

Dear JR,

Thin or fat everyone needs to exercise. I exercise 6x a week without fail.

All sorts of workout.

In fact I have noticed most Indian woman even where I stay in Msia do not take any time to care for themselves to look good and shape up.

After marriage 99% put on weight and after delivery I think you know how it is.

Its not that I am finding fault in being obese but it leads to many health problems later on.

Even thin people need to work out becos they could be having very less muscle mass to start with.

Some are thin but tend to have fat in the central portion of the body.

I wonder if you do interval training..that is quite a fat burner.

I also like Kettle bell work out...it works out the midsection well.

BTW the best motivator for exercise is Vanity..we Indian woman need to work on our Vanity a bit more..We need to hum "I'm Sexy and I know it!"

 

[JR]

Dear Renuka,

I would love to interval train, I am slowly getting prepared for that, as I have heard from TV news about it that it is not for everyone to do right at the outset. Especially since that I have Arthritis of the left knee, I cannot do things like jog or jump. Most people who interval train jog for about 5 min then take a break/cool down with walk for 2 min and repeat this process 8 or 10 times. Ofcourse there are other means to interval train too, at my old gym (a very expensive one) there were all sorts of workouts - including Zumba and several HIIT classes. I used to be scared to death looking at those insane workouts! So resorted to my version of workouts that still give results to me.

Posted another reply this morning as to your earlier query how I lost this 40 lbs - it hasn't showed up yet, waiting for mod. approval. In that post, I included a link to this site called 'Fitness Blenders' who offer many free videos on Ab and strength training exercises some of which I do 3x a week. This also helped me.

You are absolutely right! We are motivated to look good than anything else to lose/shed the weight (I don't blame anyone, afterall look at our middle-aged actresses - Sridevi, Aishwarya Rai - if they can maintain their figure, it should be doable at their age).

 

[renuka]

JR,

I will share with you tips on interval training for people with knee problems.
That is were Pilates and Yoga come in handy.

I am also in my mid 40's but I have always been fit through out my life partly becos I was a state athlete when I was in my teens.

So if I dont work out..I feel as if I am not healthy.

Diet is another important expect.

The reason I am recommending Yoga is it does not make one that hungry.

Off late I am doing lots of Yoga too and I have noticed that I can only eat 1 major meal a day.

Breakfast is just Soya milk.

Lunch is my only major meal.

Tea time..I take nuts and fruits and drink my own home made fruit tea with honey

Dinner: Milk and Fruits again.

And with Yoga we dont feel tired too and have more energy.

Lets wait for your post to appear then we can interact and share tips.

So its true that a Yogi eats 1 meal a day..Bhogi 2 meals and a Roghi 3 meals a day!LOL

 

[Raji Ram]

.......... So its true that a Yogi eats 1 meal a day..Bhogi 2 meals and a Roghi 3 meals a day!LOL

Dear Renu,

When some doctors advise people to eat six times a day, I used to think: Oh! Is this the fourth category (viz) 'Parama roghi'?? :hungry:

 

[Raji Ram]

These six meals should be in small quantities which many don't understand! :tsk:

I know a mAmA who ate his regular three course dinner AFTER eating two chapAthis!

Reason?? His doctor advised him to eat two chapAthis for dinner!! :dizzy:

 

[renuka]

Dear Renu,

When some doctors advise people to eat six times a day, I used to think: Oh! Is this the fourth category (viz) 'Parama roghi'?? :hungry:

I know RR ji..6 small meals..but Yoga tends to have a calming effect even o appetite..you eat less but you dont feel hungry.

 

[renuka]

Most important step for a woman to start fitness regime is to feel bold and beautiful.

When you look at yourself in the mirror..try not to find fault..look at yourself with love and tell yourself.."I will make you hot and sexy" and then work on it!

Treat yourself when you have lost some weight..go shopping!!!

Buy some dress that you have never thought of wearing before.

Keep yourself motivated by saying that even in death I want to look good.

It sounds vain..yes! in fact almost narcissistic to the core but believe me if we dont love ourselves nothing is possible.

 

[JR]

JR,

I will share with you tips on interval training for people with knee problems.
That is were Pilates and Yoga come in handy.

I am also in my mid 40's but I have always been fit through out my life partly becos I was a state athlete when I was in my teens.

So if I dont work out..I feel as if I am not healthy.

Diet is another important expect.

The reason I am recommending Yoga is it does not make one that hungry.

Off late I am doing lots of Yoga too and I have noticed that I can only eat 1 major meal a day.

Breakfast is just Soya milk.

Lunch is my only major meal.

Tea time..I take nuts and fruits and drink my own home made fruit tea with honey

Dinner: Milk and Fruits again.

And with Yoga we dont feel tired too and have more energy.

Lets wait for your post to appear then we can interact and share tips.

So its true that a Yogi eats 1 meal a day..Bhogi 2 meals and a Roghi 3 meals a day!LOL

Those are great tips, Renuka!

Somehow my previous post has taken too long to show up, still it hasn't... but I mentioned Pilates in it... they did help like what you say!

But also normal walking does... when walked consistently for atleast 3 miles each day...

Love all the rest of your tips! Will try to follow them. :thumb:

BTW: The earlier post I wrote to you is now post #9.

 

[renuka]

I am actually in my early 40's so my weight loss goal is motivated both for looks as well as for health benefits - especially being overweight would aggravate my Arthritic knee problem.

Renuka ji, this is what I did:

1. Gave up regular sugar. They say sugar supplements such as Splenda (the Diabetic sugar variety) will increase risk for Cancer, but for some reason, I don't believe that, I have been consistently using that for sugar for a long time now.

2. Gave up anything fatty.

3. A big breakfast (usually a cup of skimmilk coffee, 1/2 plain bagel - this is about 125 KCal and a Banana or a 100 Cal Greek Yoghurt), then several cups of green tea till 12 Noon (Green tea - just dip tea bag in water and use tiny amount of milk) and then Brown rice lunch (very limited single-serving) with a lot of curry, 1 Multi-Vitamin tablet, again few cups of Green tea, 3 O'clock, fat-free milk coffee 8 oz, then dinner is Horlicks 8oz with fat-free milk and 1 more Greek Yoghurt (100 Cal). Overall, around 1200 Cal a day and NEVER exceeding that! This is my day-to-day food schedule.

4. Exercise - 6 times a week 45 min. walk on the treadmill at 3.6 mph, and twice a week Pilates (which are like Yoga) 1-hr / session.

I have been doing the above for 5 months consistently to lost 40 lbs so far... Now I have skipped Pilates class and started strength training as given in this video 3x a week - Weight Training Workout for Weight Loss - Fat Burning Functional Strength Training Workout - YouTube.

So that is how I lost my weight. No, I do not have 6 pack abs, I only have 6 packs of flab! .

Great!

Keep a watch in Green Tea intake..becos it does contain caffeine and for some people caffeine increases cortisol levels which can hinder weight loss.

Regarding fatty food..you can take natural fats which is present in Avocado and nuts.Some fat is needed by the body to form the myelin sheath in the body which is needed for neurotransmission..going too low on fats affects the speed of the mind an brain function..so you can take

1)Avocado

2)Macadamia nuts....I have a handful daily

3)Walnuts

4)Sans sugar peanut butter..I use this to make my own protein bars.


I will share with you my recipe to make home made protein bars next week or if I get time tomorrow.

 

[krish44]

all this is overdoing.

maintain simple living

walk twenty to thirty minutes a day.

do some house work yourself without depending on servants

eat anything until 90 percent full and never take left overs because it is going waste.

avoid starchy foods and fatty foods.

have a regular life style and do not pop up pills for various things and try to be happy.

think you are a poor guy and imagine you do not have money for the next meal when you go to restaurants and eat out

think like the poor when you eat out and eat meagre

skip a meal once in a while

these are some of my ideas for being trim.

 

[renuka]

all this is overdoing.

maintain simple living

walk twenty to thirty minutes a day.

do some house work yourself without depending on servants

eat anything until 90 percent full and never take left overs because it is going waste.

avoid starchy foods and fatty foods.

have a regular life style and do not pop up pills for various things and try to be happy.

think you are a poor guy and imagine you do not have money for the next meal when you go to restaurants and eat out

think like the poor when you eat out and eat meagre

skip a meal once in a while

these are some of my ideas for being trim.

You see what you said holds good if one is not vain..so doing what you have written is good if one wants to remain happy but if one is looking for abs of steel and wants to be vain and feel sexy..one has to overdo stuff.

Its nice being motivated to feel great and look great.

In fact I always motivate my female patients not to be too complacent..esp we Indian women need to be motivated to feel good and look good.

Its long overdue for us Indian woman..we need to be vain..we need to be mirror friendly..talk to the mirror..ask it want it wants and work on those lines.

In fact if I were an artist the first thing I will do is repaint all pics of Gods and Goddesses..the Gods need to have 6 packs or 8 packs..they need well defined biceps and prominent veins running on the body.

The female Goddesses shouldnt look Mataji sorts..they need to look desirable and with well defined and toned figures.

So Krish ji...this thread is all about trying to get fit and vain and healthy.

So its going to be over the top..there is more to come in fact.


BTW Krish ji..when you push the body to some limits..the dopamine/endorphins that get released becos of exercise gives a high feeling.

Its totally divine when you have finished a work out that needed full effort...its a Nirvana for the vain!

 

[krish44]

renukaji

Goddesses should not look like marilyn monroe either.

no one would like slim and trim Goddesses.

Goddesses normally look healthy[ north indian word for a little buxom].have not you seen tamil actresses playing Goddesses in films. How thin and trim they are?

I know many ladies overdoing the exercise bit by repeatedly going to gym. but they become irregular and start blowing up again .

also these gyms are expensive propositions.

how many middle class can go to gym. regularly?

if they maintain themselves even regularly walking or jogging[ I meet many youngsters on morning walk doing jogging with music to keep them company]

simply sweeping, cleaning and some gardening that should keep most fit.

more than anything it is regularity that matters .

also reducing intake helps a lot.

for ladies to be motivated , self motivation is difficult.

it requires a man to motivate them by admiration.. I have yet to meet a lady complimenting another for looking trim and nice.lol

 

[renuka]

renukaji

Goddesses should not look like marilyn monroe either.

no one would like slim and trim Goddesses.

Goddesses normally look healthy[ north indian word for a little buxom].have not you seen tamil actresses playing Goddesses in films. How thin and trim they are?

I know many ladies overdoing the exercise bit by repeatedly going to gym. but they become irregular and start blowing up again .

also these gyms are expensive propositions.

how many middle class can go to gym. regularly?

if they maintain themselves even regularly walking or jogging[ I meet many youngsters on morning walk doing jogging with music to keep them company]

simply sweeping, cleaning and some gardening that should keep most fit.

more than anything it is regularity that matters .

also reducing intake helps a lot.

for ladies to be motivated , self motivation is difficult.

it requires a man to motivate them by admiration.. I have yet to meet a lady complimenting another for looking trim and nice.lol

Dear Krish ji,

Many ladies always ask each other the secret of how they are slim and many share tips.

I guess you havent being hanging around too many ladies!LOL

But when men are around usually ladies dont discuss all these too! Ha Ha Ha.

Self motivation is the most important..I motivate myself like this..on mornings when I am lazy to exercise I tell myself this 'hey you fool..do you want to look like some Tamil Mega serial retired actress who is overweight?"

Then right away I jump out of bed and hit my thread mill which is in my gym room at home.Once you are regular even missing exercise for some time does not make one fat again if we watch what we eat.My home gym is fully equipped with cardio and weights machine..its worth an investment.

And I blast music when I work out..mainly lots of rock based songs like "here I am..rock you like a hurricane..you give love a bad name"

Most other Indian women love to buy jewelery..I buy exercise equipments becos they keep you healthy.


Further more genetics too count..no one is my father's family is obese all his brothers and sisters and lean and fit...so I have inherited their non obese genes.

But at the same time those who are not genetically pre determined to be lean can make changes in their life style and sculpt their body to look lean and healthy.

There is nothing which can not be changed with hardwork and determination.

Coming to the fact that you feel a woman needs a man to motivate her..I dont know how far its true..cos its me who motivates my husband to exercise..I buy for him nice shirts and make him look handsome and then tell him to work out. I show him I admire him.

For me I dont need others to admire me becos I have a mirror!LOL(I told you..this thread is all about vanity)

 

[JR]

Great!

Keep a watch in Green Tea intake..becos it does contain caffeine and for some people caffeine increases cortisol levels which can hinder weight loss.

Regarding fatty food..you can take natural fats which is present in Avocado and nuts.Some fat is needed by the body to form the myelin sheath in the body which is needed for neurotransmission..going too low on fats affects the speed of the mind an brain function..so you can take

1)Avocado

2)Macadamia nuts....I have a handful daily

3)Walnuts

4)Sans sugar peanut butter..I use this to make my own protein bars.


I will share with you my recipe to make home made protein bars next week or if I get time tomorrow.

Dear Renuka,

Thanks for the tip regarding the Green tea. Will remember that.

Avocado - never tried it raw! But they make this preparation called 'Guacamole' with it in Mexican restaurants and serve it with say, burritos - tastes great! I heard that Avocados are dense in fat but as you say, rich in heart-healthy fats.

I serve lots of cashews and almonds for my daily naivedyam to gods and take a handful of them following the prayer. Hope they are as good as the rest of the nuts... somewhere I read all nuts are good.

Would love to hear your recipe for protein bars.

Thanks,