The journey so far- from a 3xl to M ...

GeetaKashyap · Feb 25, 2018

@Shanvy,

Thanks for sharing this link. You indeed had a tough journey and you are a winner. Thanks, I am Inspired and hope I can work up a good routine for myself.

Shanvy · Feb 25, 2018

thank you @GeetaKashyap it was just to share that it hasn’t been easy nor happened overnight. but yes i believe bejng committed consistent helps.

and yes sometimes fitness goes beyond the size, the girth and the scale. i huffed up a 300 steps up and down. last month.. keep moving and it pays even if it means keeping off my feet for the next few days the satisfaction of the feat is another victory.

Ana12 · Feb 26, 2018

Dear Shanvy,
I read your posts many times - and followed some of your recopies too..However today i am spellbound after knowing your story. I have no words to say..
Only thing that is coming to my mind is "It is possible."
I am highly inspired. Hats off to you.

Shanvy said: ↑

The start of the journey:

I officially weighed around 90kgs when I really started. I actually maintained the 84kgs for 4 years, and my cardiologist was always going mad when he could not find any problem with my diet and activities.

Now I think God wanted me to have a wakeup call.. the problem started when a check up of my bone density (because i was complaining of body pain, cramps and flashes frequently) indicated a below minimum number . And I covered all the risk factors for the onset of osteoporosis... bronchitis, obesity, heart conditions and menopause.

Around the same time I slipped in the kitchen, and had a ligament tear and at that point my ortho showed me that I have the onset of osteoporosis. My gynaec wanted me to be on HRT immediately and wanted me to get my cardiologist go signal. When I met my cardio(bless him) he told me very patiently that HRT will not give me relief but could land me with other side effects and since I tend to put on weight easily because of my history of steroidal abuse, I could touch 100+ soon. He said, though my heart was working fine at that point, he did not want to put more strain and advised me to reduce weight..(which he has always been telling me.) and take it from there.

As a part of this he recommended a dietician. she was so rude, that i felt like giving her a piece of my mind. she asked me, you know your bmi, you know what is healthy, and what is not, you know what are your restrictions, and yet you are this obese..i just kept quiet and came back..(Looking back I believe this was the turning point for me. I knew she was right yet, I was too sensitive to accept her rudeness that it haunted me for quite some time.)

That was the time I read about two success stories here in IL. One of vahee and another shiva. Initially I took it lightly. But as I read through shiva’s experiences, somewhere I could relate to the pain and the angst of losing weight and inspiration led to motivation.

I started my weight loss at 90kgs. I used to walk in the terrace. Slowly I changed my food pattern. I switched to no or less oil, more vegetables,fruits and a positive attitude. I stopped thinking whatever I do, I am going to be obese. I learned to think I am going to reduce and be healthy for my kids. My kids were the strong force behind me seriousness of weight loss this time. With crucial years of their student years, with DD getting into her 10th, I did not want to put her through my sick phases which should be already making them sick.

The eating pattern change and the walking did something that did not happen earlier. A dip in my scale..how do you express the feeling, when the scale that always had only one direction changed direction. I was elated and more determined..

I think in jan 2010 I lost around 2.5kgs and by may 2010 I lost 10 kgs. Well if only things sailed smoothly, I started having problems, of pain, of water retention and other issues. During the check up they found I had 5 stones in my kidneys. Back to diet restrictions.i was not allowed to eat tomatoes, cucumber, greens, ash gourd, and many more fruits, anything that could be good for weight loss was a no for me.

I lost another 5 kgs with lot of hard work and working with the menu. That was around dec2010 -jan 2011 and my cardiologist advised me to take it slow from there, that for every one kg I lost, I should be able to maintain that for a week/15days and then lose again. I believe this was one of the sensible ideas.
At my age (I was turning 40 at that time,) my skin was less forgiving to weight loss so this loss of 1 kg and maintaining helped me to keep my skin tone better. And he gave me weight loss target of 65 and said if I can reach 65, I would be doing myself a big favor and my body will thank me..:thumbsup

I was around 72 kgs in march 2011 when I started developing issues with uric acid formation, because of some side effect . The pain was unbearable. Moving my fingers both leg/hands was hell. I kept going with a smile as my dd had to finish her x exams. She did come out with a good grade. And by then inspite of all the diet restriction, I started gaining, I gained 5 kgs.

So I was back to being 77kgs and starting again. I started walking with leslie sansone inside the house rather than walking on the terrace. I used to walk a mile early morning. Then another in the afternoon and then again in the evening..split and rule my weakness. I lost the 5kgs around September 2011.

And was becoming more fitter, and more determine, as I have tasted success. So I was again at 72kgs. Well I wanted to be more fit for my daughter who had a very tough period ahead her xii board exams.

I had restrictions on milk, curds, proteins, vegetables, and to work around my allowed food was a nightmare. I started using all the cereals that we get. Made use of allowed vegetables. Somedays it was so boring to eat them. I started taking extra effort cooking for myself even if I was tired. I made a lot of healthier versions. So the trials sometimes added a kg here or there..

The best part of the whole exercise was my family learning to understand living fit and healthy.

I think I was 72-71 when I met shiva in may 2012. And I was inspired seeing her looking so fit,svelte inspite of being pregnant. I was back to walking more again. I would think of my dd’s board exams every time I wanted to bunk my exercise. Inspite of that weight I was so fit, I trekked and scaled new dunes in the desert at that time.

I was around 70 in august 2012, my birthday. I could easily fit into L and squeeze into a m size of a particular brand of kurthas.

Around September 2012 I sprained my spine. I was bedridden for month. I could not move, walk. I slowing started piling back a lot of the lost weight.i stopped checking my weight, as I did not want to go into stress or depression. I wanted to be back on my legs. The day I was brave to check my weight, it was at my doctor’s and it was 75..i gained back 5 kgs. So it was difficult to reduce the gained weight this time. My body has learnt my yo-yo and did not budge a lot. I was still on kidney stone medication and diet restriction.:bonk

Somewhere around December I lost tht 5 kgs and came to 70kgs. And I was elated and I remember I told Shiva I hit a plateau and I would be happy if I even reduce 1 kg a year. In January 2013 my daughter fell seriously ill, it was a touch and go. With the board exams, her sickness, taking care of her alone had its toll and I lost another kg.

I moved to the much coveted 69kgs..and I must say it is a magical number that I saw after almost 16 years. Wow, I did it was the feeling.

I had reached 68.5 only to bounce back to 69.5 because of a recent sickness. And back to being 69now.

In the whole journey, I have lost around 42kgs ( losing and gaining a few times). The best part is by just walking and eating sensibly. With the health issues, nothing strenuous is allowed. Many are surprised when I say I walked my way through weight loss literally.

I have moved from dress size of xxxl to m. I have fit into a pair of my daughter’s jeans and kurthas. A great achievement in itself. today I can get into m size from any brand. (all brands have their own sizes) there was a time when I would not get a dress for my size in any of the reputed brands..i used to get 2/3 sizes bigger salwar sets, re-stitch them to fit me

today it is a pleasure that I can pick a dress off the hanger and not be pointed madam you are in the wrong section.. I have lost a 16 inches at the hip, 10 inches at the waist, and my tailor tells me that everytime I keep on changing my measurements..and advices that after a point I should not loose much.

I still have health issues, but that does not stop me from trying. There are days when the spinal injuries make it debilitating painful and there are nice fun loving days. I take both as they come.

In the process of the weight loss journey, I have rediscovered my strength, both physical and emotional. I have learnt that I am my own first priority. I need to take care of myself first to help others.

I have gained a lot of patience because of the yo-yo.it has been a very very difficult, frustrating journey at times. If I was a determined person earlier I am now a stronger never say die person.

Today, I don’t look the mother of two teenagers, especially a 18 year old college going girl. (well that is the verdict by few of my friends who know me before and after, blushing)

It is all about fighting against all odds, in something you believe you can do,it is more about believing in ourselves, and doing something for self, which we forget during the course of our married life, where our priorities change and SELF goes down the table.

The journey continues..it is a life time journey of being fit and not losing the focus..of not losing track of SELF..
Click to expand...

Shanvy · Feb 27, 2018

Ana12 said: ↑

Dear Shanvy,
I read your posts many times - and followed some of your recopies too..However today i am spellbound after knowing your story. I have no words to say..
Only thing that is coming to my mind is "It is possible."
I am highly inspired. Hats off to you.
Click to expand...

rhanks ana12. i am inspired by many out there who conquer with a smile..

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